Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C"- Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Spiritual Considerations from my Trappist Retreat

The chapel at the Abbey of the Genesee

Dear Parishioners,

I am writing this column as I attend my annual retreat, again with the Trappist monks. A silent retreat affords me much time to think and pray.  My stay at the monastery is often described as a type of desert experience, withdrawing from the world and primarily praying the Liturgy of the Hours (also sometimes called the Divine Office or Breviary) and concelebrating daily Mass with the monks.

Away from my parish routine, I realize just how noisy our world is. We seem to be controlled and dominated by the internet, the television, the radio, our cell phones, etc. These factors make it very difficult to listen to God. Silence is very necessary to our daily lives if we want to have a serious spiritual life. Noise often distracts us from the quiet voice of God.

What does God say to me in the silence? I will try briefly to summarize my various ongoing thoughts. I heard these words read at night prayer this evening:

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith . . . .  (1 Peter 5: 8-9)

We are in a period of intense spiritual warfare and confusion in the world. If we just ignore the signs of the time and go on with our routines, at some point—perhaps at a time of sickness or death—we will have a serious spiritual awakening. We need to pay close attention to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and to the over 2000 years of rich tradition faithfully handed down to us in the Catholic Church.

Satan is very real. He is a fallen angel, a spiritual being.  As God is the essence of love, the devil, in contrast, is pure evil. He hates humanity. He tries to destroy it, debase it, confuse it, cause it to abandon the true God and serve false gods. Satan is not our friend. In fact, he seeks the following:

• The destruction of humanity.  Think of the destruction of our preborn children by the millions. Think of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Pay attention to the contraceptive mentality when it comes to families. Consider the continual violence, war and terrorism throughout the world.
• The debasement of humanity.  Pornography reduces the human person to base animal acts rather than life-giving love. Artificial contraception and abortion throw human fertility back in the face of God claiming a type of absolute control of our “reproductive rights.” The rampant addictive behavior (drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, etc.) of so many illustrates a loss of control within human nature.
• The confusion of humanity.  We have faced many scandals in the Church, the undermining of the moral credibility of the church hierarchy, the questioning of traditional institutions such as marriage and family, etc. People embrace the delusion that they can identify as whatever they want, even if it directly contradicts God's design for us.
• The abandonment of the true God.  Consider the outright denial of God, the apostasy in the Church, the lukewarm or abandoned practice of the faith by the majority, religious indifferentism (one religion is as good as the next), etc.
• The serving of false gods. Materialism, secularism, the “sports” god, hedonism, the “sex” god, etc. have all taken the place of the true God for far too many.

Humanity, as a whole, is not in a good place in its relationship to God. Yes, there are some (a faithful remnant) who take the message of the Gospel seriously and repent. However, for far too many there is indifference, apathy, ignorance, or outright opposition to God. 

During this month of October, the month of the Holy Rosary, may I recommend that we pick up our rosaries and seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We, no doubt, need supernatural help in this cosmic battle!                                                              

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The chapel from outside

Our Lady of the Genesee

In Pursuit of "Truth"

 

Dear Parishioners,

Listening to lies, deceptions, half-truths, cover-ups, etc. can become exhausting. Add to the this the endless political messages this time of year as we approach the election of a new governor (and others) for New Jersey in November.

There’s a tremendous amount of confusion circulating today. My head continues to throb daily as I, like many people, question and seek out the truth. Pilate once questioned Jesus as He stood before him in judgment:  What is truth?  (Jn. 18: 38) It seems we are still looking for the answer to this question.

Going back to my days as a philosophy major in college, truth is defined as the conformity of the mind to reality. Jesus declared himself to be the way, the truth and the life. (Jn. 14:6) If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God Incarnate, then we had better pay close attention to Him and His teaching. Contrast this with Satan who is seen as the father of lies and we can begin to see the battle lines being drawn.

Lies and deception can potentially take place in any situation, circumstance and institution—unfortunately, even in the Catholic Church. That is how we find ourselves in cover-ups and scandals. The reason why a person traditionally was sworn in (with a hand on the bible) when giving testimony or taking an oath of office is to call God as a witness to what is being said “so help me God.”  When someone lies under oath, this is seen as committing the crime/sin of perjury.

Unfortunately, oaths and vows before God apparently are not taken too seriously anymore by far too many. Married couples walk away from their marriage vows exchanged with each other before God. Priests and religious are seen breaking their promises/vows of celibacy or chastity. While people may not admit to lying under oath, they may have lapses of memory, inadequate recall or parse words or phrases. “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” May I remind you of these words from a former President of the United States regarding his sexual indiscretions?

When searching for the truth, we need to look to Jesus.  We need to look to the Gospel and its eternal wisdom:

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (Jn. 3: 19-21)

When no wrong is done, there is absolutely nothing to hide. There is no need for continual silence, stalling tactics, deflection, or cover-ups. This is true in politics, church management, and in a person’s personal life and morality.

To the faithful Catholics in the pews seeking truth, I predict the days ahead will get even more ugly as various hidden things are brought to light. However, through it all, Jesus and His Church will endure in the end.  He promised it would. (See Mt. 16: 17-19) Unfortunately, it can be relatively certain that there will be many battle scars and casualties. 

There already has been.

Fr. Ed Namiotka 

Pastor

Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

The Bible on Beads

Dear Parishioners,

In one of my previous parishes, my predecessor, as pastor, put out a challenge to the parishioners to read the Holy Bible each day.  He even distributed bibles to anyone who asked for one. Being a priest who majored in Sacred Scripture in the seminary, how could I not be an advocate of such an initiative as well?

While I still believe in the importance of reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, I also think that our turbulent times necessitate a revival/renewal of an ancient, time-tested practice—praying the daily rosary. After all, these are days of intense spiritual warfare and in such circumstances we need spiritual weapons to do battle.

The history of the holy rosary reveals its power combating heresy (against the Albigensians) and providing victory in battle (the Battle of Lepanto). It was requested by our Lady herself during various Church approved Marian apparitions (Fatima). It has tremendous spiritual benefits for those who faithfully pray it.

Simply stated, the rosary traces the highlights of the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ and the life of his Mother Mary as found in Sacred Scripture and Church Tradition. It is, in a sense, the bible on beads. We can use the rosary to help us spiritually each day as we recall and reflect on various mysteries of our faith and our salvation.

The repetition of the prayers is meant to help us get into a spiritual rhythm and a reflective mindset. The meditation on the mysteries helps us to recall and reinforce essential truths of our faith. The rosary also seeks the intercession of Our Lady who is essential to the plan for our salvation. She is our spiritual mother guiding us and accompanying us on our journey of life.

If you are unfamiliar with the mechanics of praying the rosary or do not know the various mysteries given for meditation, these can be found very easily online and then printed out for reference. The rosary has evolved with time even adding elements such as the Fatima prayer and the Luminous Mysteries.

The challenge that I put out to all of you who will read this is to pray the holy rosary daily. Maybe it has to start with simply praying a decade each day (perhaps, before going to bed?), but I hope that it will grow into a devotion that will bring much peace and consolation to your soul. May I suggest that you pray it with the intention of bringing back to the faith someone in your family or among your friends who has left the Catholic faith or no longer practices it? That intention should keep us all busy for quite some time.

October is the month traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary. It is also Respect Life Month. Why not pray the rosary with the intention of ending the scourge of abortion in our country and throughout the world? We can pray that all human life be seen and treated as sacred from conception until natural death. We can pray for the conversion of the hearts of those politicians who continue to support this unjust practice.

Please take the time to strengthen, renew or begin this devotion in your personal spiritual life and in the life of your family.     

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Our Lady of Fatima and the 3 Visionaries

Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Setting Some Priorities

 

Dear Parishioners,

As a pastor for many years with a few previous assignments, I have observed how people often have various ideas regarding how a parish should be organized or operate. We certainly can differ in opinion when asking some important questions: What should a parish's priorities be? What activities or programs should we support? Where should we place our time, energy and resources?

Similarly, people can disagree on their expectation of the role of a pastor. We need a pastor who is a holy, spiritual leader . . . a  talented administrator . . . a gifted fundraiser . . . a creative, dynamic shepherd . . . a riveting preacher . . . a brilliant teacher . . . etc., etc. Let me remind everyone that although Jesus was indeed the Son of God and the most perfect man who ever lived, even He did not meet certain people's expectations and was nailed to a cross by His dissenters. Any pastor, with his human flaws and weaknesses, will sadly fall short of some people's expectations.

People should know that a priest, by his ordination, is meant to offer the sacrifice on behalf of the people. I was ordained to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for my people. I am not primarily a counselor, social worker, fundraiser, etc. I am a pastor/priest whose primary roles are to preach and teach, to sanctify (administer the sacraments) and to govern (the parish). These are my priorities here or wherever I may be assigned by the bishop. 

So, I want to spell out as clearly as possible how I envision the situation here at St. Thomas More, having been pastor for about five years. You should know what I am thinking.

Since we are a very small parish, we necessarily must emphasize the need for continual parish growth. To achieve such, we should see a commitment by parishioners to regular Mass attendance, to adequate financial support, and to volunteering. Sadly, many of our older, established parishioners have passed. Without younger families, more children and young adults as well as faithful Mass attendance by all, we will be heading down a dangerous path with a very uncertain parish future.

Priority One. Pray more. Attend Mass weekly (especially, if you are not currently doing so). Go to confession (the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation) regularly. Be an active part of the parish.

Priority Two. Bring people to Christ. We must evangelize! Invite people to Mass. Ask people if they ever thought about becoming a Catholic. Talk about your faith. Any future parish activities or suggestions first need to ask this question: How is my idea going to bring people to Christ and help to grow our congregation? How am I making new disciples for Christ? In my opinion, this will be time well spent.     

Priority Three. Seek out our lukewarm or inactive Catholics. There are far too many non-practicing Catholics. We need to counter any utilitarian mentality where people come to the Church only when they need something or find it personally convenient. A sad joke that has circulated church circles for years was that people would seek out the Catholic Church only to be hatched (baptism), matched (marriage) and dispatched (funeral rites). We have frequently labeled inactive members as Christmas and Easter Catholics. The point behind the labels is that too many Catholics no longer practice their faith regularly. Catholics primarily worship through the Mass. The term "New Evangelization" has been used to indicate the task of bringing back those baptized Catholics who no longer practice their faith. This should be important to us all. Start with any inactive family members.

While the above list is by no means complete, we have to start somewhere and this is where I think our collective energy currently needs to be spent.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor   

Coping with the Chaos in our World

 

Dear Parishioners,

With all of the craziness and divisiveness in our world today, I am careful not to become another polarizing figure contributing to the chaos. However, I believe we must always try to speak the truth with love (see Eph. 4:15) as St. Paul encourages.

The recent death and injury of school children trying to attend Mass in Minnesota was tragic and heinous. I dare say it was diabolical. So was the murder of an innocent Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the train in Charlotte, North Carolina. She did absolutely nothing deserving death. Whether a person liked or agreed with Charlie Kirk or not, an assassin’s bullet is never the answer to solve any disagreement. Yet, some people took a type of sick and twisted pleasure in witnessing another human being’s tragic demise. Can’t we see how cheap life has become to various disturbed people in our society?

Moreover, as a remedy to any problem or injustice, people should never riot and destroy property, burn down buildings, loot retail stores, throw rocks at cars, or justify causing physical pain in the name of some cause. We can all remember times in the not-so-distant past when this all occurred. Will pulling down historic statues actually change history or make life better? Will murdering or assaulting people in the cities, towns or villages make people want to live in those areas? Where has the moral compass gone?

The problem with modern society is complex, but underlying it all is a spiritual warfare taking place before our eyes. There is a battle for the soul of each person, the soul of our nation and the world. Chaos, destruction, lies and falsehoods are products of the devil and his legions. Do not deceive yourself. Satan hates humanity and wants to see its utter destruction. In his mind, God was a fool creating us and even more absurd in becoming one of us and redeeming us through the Blood of Christ. Death on a cross? We were never worth the effort. Abortion, euthanasia, a redefined marriage and human sexuality, a self-imposed gender identity, and anything distorting Almighty God’s plan for us are seen as good things—within our “rights” as humans—rather than evil and contrary to His will.

The only lasting solution to our problems is a turning (a conversion) to Jesus Christ and His message of salvation. The Gospel is good news for a reason. And, I did not simply say a return to god, because not all images and understanding of the true God (the Holy Trinity) are equal. There are many, many false gods in the world. Jesus is the Son of God and He came to establish God’s Kingdom on this earth as it is and will be forever in Heaven. He came to do His Father’s will. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect the Church.

The spiritual battle will continue, I fear, because of the stubbornness of our hearts, the abuse of our free-will, the enticements of the devil, our lack of concern or initiative, our pride and arrogance toward God, and many other reasons. However, time will run out for all of us. Whether it be by death (which comes to all) or by the Lord’s return in glory, we will soon be facing God quicker than most of us would like to admit. Judgment and eternity are right around the corner, especially as we age and realize our limitations. Act now while there is time.

The Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and Holy Communion (Mass) are the most important spiritual helps for daily living within the Catholic Church. Participate in them often. Attend Mass in person every week (when you are physically able). Sacraments bring us grace (God’s life) unlike anything else. Yes, we need to pray, to read the Bible, to participate in works of mercy and demonstrate charity as well. We need to be other Christs—Christians. 

But time will run out.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

“The One with the Man on It”

Dear Parishioners,

Some time ago a person related to me her experience of attempting to buy a cross/crucifix from a jewelry store. As she questioned the salesperson about various crosses/crucifixes that were on display in the store, the salesperson innocently asked, “Do you want one with the man on it or not?”

Hmm. I was left speechless when I heard this story. Sad, I thought. Very sad. Doesn’t everyone know who Jesus is? 

Didn’t this person know what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross?

Truth be told, I really don’t know what the person knew, understood or believed. The experience, however, got me thinking. Why would someone in this day and age—with all of our technology and resources—not know the Gospel message. Why would someone not know who Jesus is and what He did for us? How do we relate to them this Good News?

“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Rm. 10: 17)

We are currently in a Jubilee Year of Hope.  It is an invitation to have faith and hope in the Person of Jesus. We believe He is the Son of God sent to us to reveal to us the love that God has for us. He suffered and died on the cross for us and for the forgiveness of our sin. Most importantly, He conquered sin and death—giving us eternal life—by His Resurrection from the dead.

That’s the basic Christian message. It’s pretty simple. All people need to hear it somehow.

If a person doesn’t go to church, where the message is routinely proclaimed, then there has to be various other means to get the message out. Besides preaching, I try by putting something out in the church bulletin and on the internet weekly. I also try to live out my faith—albeit imperfectly—in the community in which I live. I certainly need to be a living Gospel message.

In the end, this message of salvation in Jesus Christ has to get out into the world through a united effort—all of us.  It’s not the just the priest’s job. I (or any other priest) can only reach a limited number of people. They are mostly those who are already coming to church.

We all have to be what we say that we are—followers of Christ, Christians. We have to bear witness to others the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Don’t be afraid. Tell them the Good News:

Yes, my friend, I would like a crucifix with Jesus on it. He is truly the Man, par excellence. He suffered and died for me and you on that cross. And I want the entire world to see it and to know it!

As we celebrate the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross this weekend, remember how strange is must seem to non-believers and the uncatechized that Catholics honor an instrument of execution from Roman times—a cross. Hopefully, we understand what was accomplished for us by Jesus’ death on a cross. The Son of God suffered and died on that cross for us and for our eternal salvation.

While to unbelievers Jesus' crucifixion may have appeared merely an execution, to believers it was a redemptive sacrifice of love on our behalf.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Breaking News: Jesus Encourages Hatred of Family Members

Dear Parishioners,

There are some very strong, radical words spoken by Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel:

If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Lk. 14: 26-27)

For those who may like to sugarcoat the Gospel message, avoid the tough sayings of Jesus and sometimes paint Jesus as some type of pushover, think again. Jesus was often bold in word and deed. Did he not ridicule the Scribes and Pharisees as being hypocrites (Mt. 23: 13, 23, 25, 27, 29), blind guides (Mt. 23:16), a brood of vipers (Mt. 23: 33) or whitewashed tombs (Mt. 23:27)? Did He not refer to Peter as Satan (Mt. 16:23)? Did he not overturn the tables of the money-changers in the Jerusalem temple (Jn. 2: 13-16)? While, at other times, he could be most gentle and merciful in the Scriptures, he definitely could call people to task and raise great challenges. 

How, then, are we to understand the above statement when placed up against other times in the Gospel where Jesus teaches us to love one another? (See Jn. 13:34, 15:12) Jesus could use types of hyperbole in his speech to jolt people. By this technique, He made a most definitive point: nothing can get in the way of our Christian discipleship. I suggest we should think and act in terms of making an absolute, radical commitment to Jesus. No, not even family members, or, most especially, our own particular wants and desires can get in the way. Absolutely nothing!

Is this a tough challenge? Most certainly it is! But do we really think that if we put the love of Jesus Christ first and foremost in our lives, that we will neglect and show no love for our family and others? On the contrary, loving Jesus completely, while imitating His self-sacrificing love, helps us to experience what true love is all about! Christian love will flow most naturally to those in our family and, as it is perfected, will extend mysteriously even to our enemies.

Self-sacrifice (carrying the cross) has become a foreign concept to many in our society who regularly seek self-gratification and personal gain. Jesus teaches us that it can never be all about me, myself and I. The universe does not revolve around what I have planned, no matter what I may think. 

We are instructed to pray in the Our Father: Thy kingdom come, (the Kingdom of God), Thy will be done (God’s will). Isn’t it abundantly clear? It’s not about me. It is about putting God first in our lives, above and beyond everyone and everything else. Our first love must be God. Love of family and neighbor should naturally flow from this.

I do not think Jesus would fare too well in any society where people are continually offended by what others say. The news media could often take a statement, sometimes obviously out of context, and run with it for days. Imagine the headlines: Jesus Encourages Hatred of Family Members. 

But is that what He really meant?

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Learning Humility

Dear Parishioners,

When I was a seminarian preparing for ordination to the Priesthood, I thought that it might be a good idea to pray for humility.  It seemed, at the time, to be a wise aspiration.

Gradually, things were brought to my attention concerning the topic of humility—now on a somewhat regular basis. I heard things said to me like: Be careful of what you pray for, you might get it and The quickest way to humility is through humiliation.

On the day of the senior class graduation from the college seminary, there was a well-planned Baccalaureate Mass. I happened to be the sacristan of the seminary chapel at the time. I would be the person leading the reader to his appropriate place at the pulpit during the proclamation of the readings from Sacred Scripture. The chapel was packed. Family and friends, the entire faculty and various dignitaries were present for this momentous occasion. The homily was thoroughly prepared by the priest assigned to preach, based primarily on the first reading, which I later found out had been chosen from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

I led the reader to the pulpit after making the appropriate bows. As we looked at the Lectionary and the reading set open in front of us, he whispers to me, “This isn’t the right reading.” In a state of panic I said quickly and without much thought: “Well . . . read it anyway.” I instructed him to read the incorrect reading in front of everyone. It was from the Acts of the Apostles. It had multiple difficult names to pronounce. The homily, I came to find out, had been based almost entirely on the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah. I was humiliated. I guess I began to learn humility.

Fast forward to when I initially became a principal of a diocesan high school. It was the night of the open house. I was hurrying around the buildings trying to make sure the bathrooms looked clean and presentable for any guests. I began to clean things up. Not really a pleasant job for anyone, I thought. Then I recalled the brilliant words of advice that I had given to my students at various times:  Stay in school. Get your degrees so that you don’t wind up cleaning bathrooms for a living. Who was it now cleaning bathrooms? Humility? Hmm . . .

At other times humility kicks in as well. One Sunday the deacon had preached during the Mass that I offered. We went to the back of church to greet the people as they exited. “Great homily Father!” One particular gentleman had said that right to my face with all seriousness. I hadn’t preached at that Mass.  He hadn’t a clue. Great homily . . .  Oh well! Humility . . .

Be sure to heed the words from a passage from St. Mark's Gospel:

[Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Mk. 9: 33-35)

May I also add my own words of caution when praying for something (like humility): Be very careful; you might actually get what you pray for!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Narrow Gate

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?" [Jesus] answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. . . .” 

(Lk. 13: 23-24)

Dear Parishioners,

For many years this passage from Sacred Scripture has really troubled me.  What if those who find the road to (eternal) life are actually few?  In this day and age when many (most?) people are canonized at a funeral, when society refuses to be told what to do because of a type of unbridled freedom (actually license), when the moral credibility of the Church has eroded to the point of collapse, and when the most severe sin in our culture has become lack of tolerance, shouldn’t we be a wee bit concerned?

What exactly constitutes the narrow gate?  Bear with me as I do a bit of soul searching.  Traditionally, there have been certain sins that by their nature are considered grave matter—one of the three necessary components of mortal sin. Such sins include (but are not limited to) murder, rape, incest, adultery, perjury, blasphemy, idolatry, sacrilege, fornication, masturbation, euthanasia, abortion, apostasy, homosexual acts, prostitution, et. al.  Realizing also that there is the necessity of sufficient reflection (knowledge) and full consent of the will, people who commit these acts risk being in a state of mortal sin.  In other words, if they die unrepentant of these sins they risk eternal damnation (the fires of hell).

Now let’s take a step further into other more common occurrences of potential mortal sin.  The Church has traditionally declared that it is a mortal sin to intentionally miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  What of the approximately 80-90% of Catholics who no longer practice their faith regularly?  A wide path? 

The Catholic Church teaches that the use of artificial birth control is a mortal sin.  Some contraceptives (types of the “pill”) are actually abortifacient in nature, meaning that a fertilized egg (post-conception) is prevented from embedding itself in the mother’s womb.  Hence, a mini or microscopic abortion may have occurred.  Nonetheless, those who use any artificial birth control risk being in mortal sin. One headline I googled while writing this article stated boldly: Most Catholic Women in U.S. Use Birth Control. Another article by the Catholic News Agency (CNA) examined: Why do so Many Catholics Use Contraception? Experts Weigh In. Again, a wide path?

What then do we do with the number of people who use sex recreationally and sleep with each other outside of the context of marriage, or cohabitate outside of marriage, or are in a second marriage “outside” of the Church (divorce and re-marriage without an annulment)?  What about homosexuals who engage in sexual activity, regardless of whether or not they have some “committed” relationship?  What about the rampant use of internet pornography (frequently accompanied with masturbation)?  Sexually active teens?  Sexually active college students?  Friends with benefits?  If all of these people are in grave (mortal) sin, again we seem to have a wide path here.

I conclude this reflection with the scene of the final judgment in St. Matthew’s gospel (Mt. 25:31-46).  Read it when you get a chance.  In essence, the separation of the sheep from the goats involves a condemnation to eternal punishment for failing to do good to/for others.  There is no mention here of any of the grave sins listed above.  Rather there is damnation for what someone fails to do.  Another wide path? 

I suggest we all be a little more hesitant before we assume that somehow we all automatically go to heaven. There is a reason that Jesus called for repentance and conversion.  And this message is meant for all of us!

Enter through the narrow gate . . .

Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor

“I Have Come to Cast Fire Upon the Earth”

Dear Parishioners,

The Gospel reading for this Sunday (Lk. 12: 49-53) might make a person very uncomfortable or even troubled. If you have been fed a type of sugar-sweet Jesus most of your life—being presented only with an ultra-compassionate, always-forgiving, never-judgmental savior—then you could seriously doubt that Jesus would ever say such things. One reaction to this Gospel might be to gloss over it quickly. Let’s pretend that it does not exist. This is not the Jesus I know.  He is merciful, forgiving, and patient. He prays in St. John’s Gospel (17:21) “that they all may be one. . . .” He would never want any division among us.

There’s a problem when we do not see the more complete picture of Jesus as presented in the Gospels. Jesus is the one who called the scribes and Pharisees a brood of vipers (Mt. 12:34), hypocrites and white-washed tombs (Mt. 23: 27). He told us to pluck out our eyes and to cut off our hands (Mt. 5: 29-30) to avoid sin. He made a whip out of cords and overturned the money changers tables in the temple (Jn. 2: 13-16). He called Peter, his close friend, “Satan” and told him to get behind Him (Mt. 16:23). In the Gospel this Sunday, He speaks about casting fire on the earth and creating division—even within families. What gives?

How we react to Jesus’ teaching might just depend on how we are living our lives. Jesus sometimes has to jolt people out of complacency or erroneous thinking: “You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.” (Mt. 16:23) He requires a radical change in our way of living when we are headed to eternal destruction: “Go [and] from now on do not sin any more.” (Jn. 8: 11) He demands things from us that are not appealing: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and pick up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk. 9:23) One thing that can be determined upon thorough investigation: Jesus was not some pushover and his teaching inevitably made an impact on people. “ . . . For he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (Mt. 7: 29)

Jesus’ chosen path to freeing us from sin and eternal damnation was through the cross. It involved suffering and a sacrificial love. It involved the Son of God being put to death by His creatures. His life and teaching cast a fire upon the earth. He jolted those who were complacent in their sin. He upset the status quo and the religious leaders of His time. And some totally resented Him. Some wanted to see Him dead. Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

The reaction today to Jesus’ teaching and to his actions can and does create division in families, in communities, and in nations throughout the world. The call to conversion and repentance does not necessarily bring peace to those resistant to change. People can become very, very comfortable in their sin. "Nobody is going to tell me what to do." Some might follow Him, while others reject Him. His moral requirements require a decision from us. If one tries to straddle the fence, it promises not to go well. “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3: 15-16)

Does Jesus’ teaching upset you?

Is it hard to take?

Will you resist His challenges or acknowledge them and be willing to change?

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

The Assumption and the "Wedding of the Sea"

Atlantic City

Dear Parishioners,

There is a Holy Day of Obligation coming up next week: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass this day just as they are every Sunday (Saturday).

The Assumption celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary, after her earthly life was complete, being taken up body and soul into Heaven. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):

“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians. . . . (CCC, #966)

Growing up in Wildwood, NJ leaves me with many fond memories. One of these was the celebration of the vigil of the Assumption at St. Ann’s Church each August 14^th. When I was young, the Vigil Mass was usually packed (standing room only). St. Ann’s could hold approximately 3000 people and I can recall seeing it year after year wall to wall with people. Unlike the famous celebration in Atlantic City which took place during the day on August 15^th, the Wildwood tradition was a vigil Mass followed by a candlelight procession down Glenwood Avenue to the beach for the Wedding of the Sea ceremony. For many years, Bishop Sullivan would preside during this ceremony in both locations. This will be the first time for Bishop Williams, as the Ordinary of our diocese, to officiate at these festivities.

At many seashore towns, the Assumption has become somehow tied into the Wedding of the Sea ceremony which had an entirely different history and origin. Apparently the custom found its way here from a couple of Venetian historical commemorations and a ceremony in which the Doge (chief magistrate) of Venice would "marry" the sea each year, and throw a blessed ring into the lagoon as a sign of eternal fidelity. (Interestingly, the original Venetian ceremony apparently took place in conjunction with the celebration of the Ascension of Our Lord rather than the Assumption).

The Press of Atlantic City reported a variation of the origin of the custom:

According to tradition, the ceremony commemorates an event in the life of the Bishop of Cervia in Italy, Paul Barbo who later became Pope Paul II. The Bishop is said to have been returning by ship from Venice on the Feast of the Assumption in 1445 when he was caught in a storm. The Bishop, it is said, calmed the storm by prayer and throwing his pastoral ring into the sea. (6/16/10)

Throughout history, it was not unusual that Christians would attempt to “Christianize” various secular customs and traditions. No matter what the exact origin of the Wedding of the Sea is, as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, it is more important to recall the honored place that Mary, the Mother of God, has in salvation history and that her life on earth was worthy of an eternal reward in Heaven. Where Mary has gone, we hope to follow!  

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Venice

Treasure in Heaven

Gythion, Greece

Dear Parishioners,

Our cruise in the Mediterranean is coming to an end as I write this bulletin article. Visiting seven countries (Spain, France, Italy, Vatican City, Malta, Tunisia, and Greece) in a short span of time was quite the challenging task. However, our floating hotel, the Holland America Oosterdam proved a worthy means of accomplishing our journey. As stated last week, I travel with a brother priest, Fr. Larry Polansky.

We are currently anchored off the shore of Greece. To reach the little port town (Gythion) we need to take a tender (small transport boat). I would rather just walk off the ship, but small ports often necessitate the tender process when it comes to cruise ships.

While waiting for the transport to shore to begin, I glanced at this Sunday's Gospel passage and readings. Jesus relates a parable regarding storing up treasure in heaven. Hhmm . . . I have just seen a multitude of beautiful countries, cities, and towns. Spending much time in various cathedrals and churches, I continue to be in awe of the works of art contained in each, in addition to their ornate, massive structures. I walked through the immense Vatican museum, gazed at the ceiling and walls of the Sistine chapel, and marveled at the beauty of Michelangelo's Pieta. Concentrating especially on works of art primarily intended to glorify Almighty God, I pondered how they will all pass away some day. No matter how beautiful, they are only temporary and intended for this world.

What really matters in the grand schema of things? . . . The spiritual, the eternal, those treasures in heaven. The Catholic churches all had a Blessed Sacrament chapel or chapels. It soon became obvious to me how many people are truly unaware of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Tourists walk by the Tabernacle often without any acknowledgement or realization that Jesus is there. Yes, the buildings and works of art are beautiful and should be photographed or captured on video. Yet, Jesus is there, right in front of us all. He is God. He will reign for all eternity.

For a brief moment during each hectic day, I would often stop to pray where I could find some private space. The hurried movement, the noise, the pushing and shoving, and all of the other elements and traits of travel and tourism can get to a person. To find that quiet space, whether it ideally be in a church before the Blessed Sacrament, or a corner of the ship away from the massive crowds, a person needs to realize what is truly important in life, its treasures. The intimate relationship with Almighty God in prayer is more valuable than all of the sightseeing adventures and works of art. The opportunity to offer Mass for the group of fellow travelers was another blessing given us on the journey. To meet and get to know some fellow passengers – like a Catholic deacon and his wife and a Jewish doctor and his wife – and many others, added to the blessings of the journey, its treasures. And to travel with a brother priest who had never been to Europe or on a cruise . . . Blessing? Curse? Both? The jury is still out. (Only kidding, Fr. Larry.)

As you read this, I should be back in the parish offering the Sunday Mass (barring any unforeseen circumstance). Once again I get to experience another spiritual treasure afforded to a priest and pastor –ministering to my congregation and seeing my parishioners! It will be good to be back home!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Holland America Oosterdam