Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Getting Ready for Lent

Dear Parishioners,

Consider me strange, but I am actually looking forward to the beginning of Lent.  I see it as a special time to be introspective, to think about where I am right now in my relationship with Jesus, and to attempt to make some positive changes that I hope will result in a growth in holiness.

Traditionally, the practices recommended during this season are prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charity).

How can I pray better?  I can begin by finding and keeping a set time each day to pray.  (My own preference is praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.)  I also should be reading and reflecting daily on the Sacred Scriptures, praying the Rosary, making the Stations of the Cross and reading an inspiring Catholic book regularly.  When I am driving in the car, if I do not take advantage of some quiet, I like to put on an informative or uplifting Catholic talk or discussion to listen to while driving. It certainly beats the garbage that we often find on the radio.

Fasting includes food but should go beyond simply not eating.  The only two fast days (one simple meal) required by the Church during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence (no meat).  However, we can also fast from things like the TV, the computer/internet, video games, the radio, from smoking or drinking, from superfluous shopping, etc.  In essence, we can do without—make an act of self-denial—and try to incorporate into our lives something more spiritually beneficial.

How charitable am I?  Do I regularly contribute to and support my church?  Do I have some other favorite charity to which I give?  Do I volunteer my time or my skills to help others without seeking compensation or recognition?  Do I call (or visit?) the sick or the elderly?  Do I think of others more than myself?

The practices that I observe for Lent can really become an opportunity to change my way of living.  I can incorporate more permanently various ways of behaving that open my heart and my life more completely to God.  I can turn my life over to Jesus and take up my cross daily and follow Him.  (See Luke 9:23)

I realize that I am a sinner continually in need of the mercy of God.  Like all humans (except Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, of course!), my life has not been without sin.  I am not proud of this.  Therefore, I should seriously consider some acts of penance during Lent in reparation for my sins.  Making a thorough, heartfelt sacramental confession is a good way to start.

We should be spiritually mature enough to realize that the more we keep trying and letting God control our lives, the more we open ourselves to His grace of conversion.  Conversion is a lifelong process of turning away from sin and turning towards the Gospel message.

On Ash Wednesday, when the ashes are sprinkled on our heads (yes, there is another change this year), do we actually intend to change, or is this just an act of empty show?  Only God knows what’s in our hearts and how much we really do love Him.

Please make this Lent a time of deep, spiritual conversion.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Listening to God

Dear Parishioners,

Many years ago, at a Day of Recollection for my high school students, the priest who was speaking held up a portable radio.  He turned it on, tuned it into a channel, and it played some music.  Then he turned it off.  No music played.  Yet, he pointed out that the same sound waves were still passing through the airways.  Even when we were not tuned into them and the radio was off, the sound waves were still out there waiting for us to listen to them.

A good lesson is here for all of us.  God tries to speak to us constantly whether we are listening to Him or not.  He is always out there whether or not we are tuned into Him.

How do we listen to God?

First of all we have to learn to be quiet for at least some time each day.  Turn off the TV, iPod, computer, cell phone, tablet, etc.  These may all be useful or entertaining for us but ultimately they distract us when trying to listen to God.  Consider the following passage from Sacred Scripture: 

Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by."  A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake--but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire.  After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.   When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13)

Next we have to learn to be patient and to wait for the Lord.  We live in a time of instant everything.  We use microwave ovens, the internet takes us around the world in what seems like nanoseconds, most of us are seen walking around with cell phones connected as an added appendage to our bodies so that we can talk to or text someone whenever we want.  Get the picture?   We don’t like to wait and we have very little patience when we don’t get what we want immediately.

God doesn’t work that way.  He is not at our beck and call and He doesn’t have to react to us just because we have decided to fit Him into our lives at some particular point in time.  People joke about how slow the Church moves and reacts because she thinks in centuries.  What about God who has been around for all eternity?  Time for God is not the same as time for us.  God is not bound by time.  We are.

So find some time each day to stop, be quiet, and listen.  We don’t have to do all the talking.  If we are patient, God will speak to us in our thoughts and imagination.  He will move our hearts.  He’s there waiting for us.

Tune Him in.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor