self-examination
Where Is God?
11th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: June 13, 2021
Churches closed for Mass, rainbow flag disputes, residential school tragedy, four Muslims killed in an act of hate. We might be asking, is God at work in the world and church today? If so, where?
In particular, it has been a difficult time for the Catholic Church, for us Catholics, particularly in Canada. There are many reasons for discouragement, even for shame. Many have wanted to speak to me about some of these issues and I sense the struggle of many.
We might be asking, is God at work in the world and church today?
For most of 2021 our churches have been closed due to a once in a life time world wide pandemic. We have been unable to gather for the Eucharist on Sunday, something so central to our faith and our communion as the body of Christ. Many of our parishioners who have never missed Sunday Mass in their entire life, have now been unable to come for months.
Where is God at work in this moment in history?
Second, in the past few weeks there were disputes and struggles over the flying of the rainbow flag at our Catholic schools. Some boards have agreed to this and some boards have not. Some people are very upset with the idea, others are very upset that it would not be allowed.
Where is God at work in this moment in history?
Third, we had the terrible news of the unmarked graves of children at the former Kamloops Residential School. As a Church we were confronted with one of the really sad chapters in our history. There is a certain shame that our Church could be involved in such a terrible system.
Where is God at work in this moment in history?
Fourth, a young man in an act of hate drove over a family of Muslims killing four of them. All of Canada is faced with the reality of racism and prejudice within our country capable of instilling such hatred. Where is God at work in this moment in history?
Jesus uses the image of a man who scatters seed in the ground, then while he is sleeping, the seed sprouts and grows without his knowing how. God is usually at work bringing new life while we are sleeping. We often do not even recognize what God is doing in the world or the church. It is happening in quiet and hidden ways.
Jesus also uses the image of the mustard seed, the smallest seed that eventually grows into a large shrub whose branches provide nests for birds. God is often at work in the smallest, simplest way that we do not think is important.
The work of God in our world and church often goes unnoticed. It is often in small and quiet ways that God is bringing change and healing.
So, what do we do in the midst of these challenging times for the Church and for us as Catholics?
Where do we find God at work in such situations?
Begin by a good self-examination. In what ways can I be an instrument of God’s grace. How can I join what God would want to be doing in this moment of time?
Begin by looking at our words. How do I speak about other people? How do I speak about other religions? How do I speak about people who are different in any way? Is my way of speaking leading to hatred or division? Or is my way of speaking leading to peace and healing?
Is the way I speak reducing the dignity of others or is it leading to deeper recognition of the dignity of others?
We need to examine honestly the way that we see others. Do we see other races, other religions, other cultures, other minorities in a way that reduces their humanity?
This is the challenge for the Church in this moment and so the challenge for each one of us as Catholics.
Where is God at work in this moment in history?
Look at yourself and honestly reflect if your words and actions would truly be in union with what God would want to be doing in this moment.
Does the way I see others, the way I speak of others increase their dignity and lead to peace?
God is at work even when we are sleeping, even when we do not see any signs of that work of God. Even the smallest acts of goodness, the smallest words of kindness, are able to be like that smallest mustard seed bringing forth the kingdom of God in our midst.
What To Do During Lent: Two Suggestions
8th Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year C
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: March 3, 2019
This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. The beginning of the season of Lent. An ancient time of preparation for Easter.
For adults who are to be initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil, this Lent is a special time of spiritual preparation for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist as they become Catholic. We have several adults who have been preparing in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in our parish this year. Please keep them in your prayers.
For those of us who have already been baptized, Lent is a time to prepare to renew our baptismal promises at the Easter celebrations. We are all called to conversion during the Lenten season. That conversion is expressed on Ash Wednesday in the words that are pronounced over us when we receive those ashes on our forehead.
There are two options, the minister may say, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” The call of Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel of Mark. Repent means to turn around, to change. We are all called to some sort of repentance during Lent.
The other optional words are, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” You could say that during this Lenten season, as catechumens prepare for baptism, and as we the baptized prepare to renew our baptismal promises at Easter, we are all in a sense preparing for our death.
We do not like to think about our death, in our society today we often hide from this reality. But, life and death go together, and facing our death helps us to live wisely now.
Sometimes monks would keep a skull on their desk as a constant reminder, to help them live in a wise way, that kept them focused on what really matters.
For us believers, death is not to be seen as a terrible thing. St. Paul declares that in our second reading today when he proclaims, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Being free from fear of death sets us free to live our lives wisely and with courage.
So the season of Lent is a time of conversion to prepare us for Easter and in a sense for our death. To the extent that we are free from sin, to the extent that we are in union with God, to that extent death loses its sting.
What could we do during Lent that will lead us to conversion and prepare us for Easter and our death? Two suggestions come from our Gospel today. Jesus speaks about blind guides. We want to look for a good guide during Lent. Find some good spiritual reading to do during this season. For some of you it might be reading one of the Gospels, others might find a good spiritual writer to read during Lent. Good spiritual reading is like a good guide.
Jesus also speaks about taking the log out of our eyes, before we try to take the speck out of other people’s eyes. This requires serious and honest self-examination. Many of us will want to do a good examination of conscience during Lent, perhaps leading to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to confess our sins. What are the logs that prevent us from seeing with the eyes of God? What are the logs we need to remove? We need to be very honest with ourselves.
This season of Lent is to prepare us for Easter and for our death. It is to be a time of conversion, to become free from sin, to be united more fully with God.
Two possible acts for you to consider for your Lent. Find a good guide to lead you through some spiritual reading. Remove any logs from your eyes through a good self-examination and confession.
If we live Lent well we will be able to celebrate Easter with great joy and be able to cry out with St. Paul, “O death, where is your sting?”