Second Sunday of Lent

Divine child

What identity

Matters more

Gn 12:1-4a / 2 Tm 1:8b-10 / Mt 17:1-9

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Brothers and Sisters
Be gentle and generous
With all of your kin

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 / Col 3:12-21 / Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Sublime truth exposed.
Their glory, for us to see.
Siblings, your siblings.

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 / 2 Pt 1:16-19 / Lk 9:28b-36

Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

The trumpet's echo:
You did not create your feast.
Deal fairly. Forgive.

Lv 25:1, 8-17; Mt 14:1-12

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We are Their children.
Friend and foe, all family.
Behold, the kingdom!

Ex 14:21-15:1; Mt 12:46-50

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Behold, the kingdom!
Your resume matters not.
Did obey their voice?

Gn 16:1-12, 15-16; Ps 106:1-5; Mt 7:21-29

Independence Day

"Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me burnt offerings, then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream."

I am a native Californian. I went to college in Berkeley. So I know something about "noisy songs" that preach the good news, but never actually deliver. I left the Bay Area upon graduation to get away from the hypocrisy of "limousine liberals" who spout off about social justice while enjoying all the fruits that wealth provides. Los Angeles might be fake, but at least we are honest about it!

Yes, I admit it, I loathe utopian politics. And nothing seems dumber to me than the hashtag armies of our present moment. Enough with the #Resistance. Enough with #MAGA. These are not blueprints to the kingdom. They are tribal power plays, pure and simple. They will certainly benefit some, but most will be left disappointed, bitter, miserable, or some unpleasant combination thereof.

As I have said many times, the kingdom is not a thing to be built, but rather a whom to be embraced. And so, let us today declare our freedom from the faux salvation of American tribalism. In its place, let us surrender our hearts to the most profound truth that we as a people have been fortunate enough to stumble upon: E Pluribus Unum. We are indeed one family. So let us act like it.

Amos 5:14-24; Psalms 50:7-23; Matthew 8:28-34

Solemnity of All Saints

"When our Lord saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, he whipped out his smartphone and began to tweet at them, saying: 'Shame on them who ...'"

How many of us long for that version of "The Sermon on the Mount"? How many of us look around at our brothers and sisters and struggle to find any worthy of the label "blessed"? How many of us prefer our petty little tribes to the strange and confusing beauty of our Parent's family?

There is a certain smallness to American culture and politics at our present moment in time. Everyone is stuck in their corners, bleating about this wound or that slight; each tribe attempting to outshout the others, but none succeeding. It is more tiresome than I can possibly describe, especially standing in comparison to that which we celebrate today: the Communion of Saints, aka our family.

In saying such things, I do not deny the reality of injustice and sin. But the Beatitudes are creatures of the kingdom, not the world. They are meant to be lived in the kingdom, not the world. Yes, this realm exists in the here and now, but not as the utopia of any of our plethora of isms. It cannot be found via human ingenuity, nor built by human institutions. The kingdom is a choice of heart and soul, a path to be trod each and every day; not the easiest to be sure, but the only road worth traveling.

So how does one get there? Choose the simplicity of loving your neighbor. Choose the nobility of doing good to those who hate you. Choose the truth that no amount of "progress" in technology or ideology can ever transform the world into something other than an unholy mess. And despite the latter, choose the honor of bearing grace to your siblings, starting with the most sinful and unworthy.

This is a vision made tangible in a set of tapestries hanging in the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles: a true communion of saints, ancient and new, famous and ordinary, a rainbow of diversity, all reveling in God's light and love with absolutely no regard for "official" saintly status.

This is the kingdom. This is our family. This is who we can be, if we so choose. It is perhaps a foolish vision. But if thus, then let me be an eternal fool, for it is a vision blessedly wonderful.

Revelation 7:2-14; Psalms 24:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord." Yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. As long as we are human, we will give birth to ruin and misery. Sometimes, this is the product of greed and envy. But oftentimes, it is the result of a lack of patience in our Parent's vision; for in our rashness to help the kingdom along, we inevitably replace God's plan with one of our own. We are neither masters, nor builders, but merely servants, and unprofitable ones at that. And therein lies our greatest freedom: our Parent does not expect us to end evil and suffering; that is their work, not ours. No, our obligation is to love our siblings as best we can, no more, no less; and then to trust God to do wonderful things with that love. That is a faith that sings joyfully. That is a faith that moves mountains in hardened hearts. That is a faith that brings forth eternal life.

Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Psalms 95:1-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-14; Luke 17:5-10

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." We pray, but do not receive peace. We march, but do not find justice. Is our Parent failing to live up to their end of the bargain? Or are we refusing to step through the door that has been offered? The enemy in need of empathy. The stranger in need of mercy. The friend in need of truth. These are the opportunities for grace for which we have pleaded. These are the solutions to the chaos and confusion surrounding us, not programs or politics. Family is what we need, and it is waiting just beyond the open door.

Genesis 18:20-32; Psalms 138:1-8; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

Pentecost Sunday

"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." What image did you hold in your mind as you sung these words today? Are you waiting for a miracle, of either divine or political origin, to get us there? Or are you willing to be an instrument of the Spirit right here and right now? All our Parent asks of us is that we acknowledge our neighbors as our family, then allow grace to take over our hearts. It is the only renewal we need. And also the only one with even the slightest chance of success.

Acts 2:1-11; Psalms 104:1-34; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-26

The Resurrection of the Lord – The Mass of Easter Day

Today we are called to rise alongside our Brother. So let us step out of our tombs, open our eyes, and see, really see, perhaps for the first time in our lives. Let us see what is true. And let us see what are just the games we play down here "on earth." And once we have seen, let us seek.

Acts 10:34-43; Psalms 118:1-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

We are the children of God. You. Me. And everyone else on this little rock. We are siblings. Brothers and sisters all. And not in some hippy-dippy sense, but in our blood and bones, our hearts and souls. For we are the creation of our one Parent. Every last one of us. We are bound together in the deepest of ways, whether we like it or not. We are family. And that truth matters more than anything corporate religion or the prophets of tribalism can ever devise. You may not always agree with or even like your relatives, but they are always your family. Some bonds cannot be broken. And if we listen closely, we will hear our hearts and souls demanding that those bonds be recognized and honored, even with our worst enemies. So dare to follow the Spirit's call. Claim your place in the house of the Lord. It is your home too, and one far grander than any temple or cathedral, because it is simply our family.

1 Samuel 1:20-28; Psalms 84:2-10; 1 John 3:1-24; Luke 2:41-52

Third Sunday of Advent

"What should we do?" Be kind to all. It really is that simple. We get so caught up in grand plans to fix the world, that we are blind to the power of ordinary kindness. The Lord whom we long for this season came to us as a brother and a friend, not as some sort of social justice warrior-king. Yes, he baptizes us with fire, but the fire of grace, not zealotry. A fire meant to drive us to recognize all those whom we meet as beloved members of our one family and to treat them accordingly. Listen to them, even when you do not like what they say. Embrace them, even when you fear that they might hurt you. Share all you possess, and refuse to use them as tools for personal profit. And when you inevitably fail at such tasks, apologize and make amends. Yes, grace really is simple and ordinary. So as we finish Advent and begin the Jubilee of Mercy, let us "cry out with joy and gladness": for the great and holy family to which we belong; for the opportunity to be generous with our Parent's love; and for the knowledge that she is near, patiently waiting to gather us into a kingdom that surpasses all expectation.

Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

We do our family a disservice if we focus only on divorce today. If we "all have one origin", then all of us together are "one flesh", not just the married couples. How often do we seek to deny or even break the bonds we share with our brothers and sisters? And how many laws and customs exist to facilitate such actions, not for the sake of justice or love, but because of the hardness of our hearts? From the beginning of creation, we have been family. And from the beginning of creation, that truth has terrified us. It is hard enough being bound to those we love, but to strangers and enemies as well? Only a fool or a child would embrace a truth like that, and the latter for only a short while; we adults make sure of that. But what if we chose to live as fools? Would we open our hearts and recognize that the kingdom we crave was right there in the "bones of our bones and flesh of our flesh"? Would we come to accept that what our Parent has joined together can never be separated? May we be blessed to live like fools all the days of our lives! And may peace be upon our family until the end of time!

Genesis 2:18-24; Psalms 128:1-6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

"All lives matter." We do mean these words. We fail to live them out, however, because we believe in them in a conditional sort of way: yes, all lives matter, but some matter more than others. The sin of partiality is so ingrained that it has become common sense. Of course the rich matter more than the poor; it's the economy stupid! Of course CEOs matter more than line workers; it's just business! And of course white lives matter more than brown or black ones; it's the way it's always been. Some of us are essential, and some of us are kind of like extras in a movie. Where the true dignity of our family is concerned, we are blind, deaf, mute, and exceedingly lame. So let us beg our Parent to lay their hand upon us, that our impediments might be removed and our hearts and minds opened.

Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalms 146:1-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life." These words should be in the back of our minds every time we seek to do right by our brothers and sisters. Yes, we must eat and drink to stay alive. And yes, we must make our cultures and societies more just and merciful to keep us all well. None of this, however, is what we truly need. We need to experience grace. And we need to recognize one another as family. But this latter need cannot be fulfilled through our default mechanics of law and politics. Family cannot be mandated or regulated. No, we must choose to have empathy for those siblings who have done us wrong. And then we must choose to love them.

I write these words with recent headlines in mind. Abortion videos. Police misconduct. Trophy hunts for lions, tigers, and bears. Children growing up in seedy motels. Oh my indeed. There is no shortage of evil in this world, and we must do our best to fight it. But we must never be under the illusion that we can fix it. We are called to be the kingdom, not to build one. Sometimes, oftentimes, this will not feel like enough, but it is. Faith, hope, and love are always enough, if we choose them.

Exodus 16:2-15; Psalms 78:3-54; Ephesians 4:17-24; John 6:24-35

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Scripture tells us that we were created in God's image. So if they are three, plural, a we are instead of an I am, then what does that make us? If the Trinity is truth, and we take that truth seriously, can we continue to worship our sacred cows of freedom or tribalism? Parent, Son, and Spirit are bound to one another as a family of love. Like it or not, so are you and I and all the rest of our brothers and sisters. We are family; bound to one another in a sacred dance that takes us far beyond our comfort zones of tolerance, sentimentality, or utilitarian convenience. A true we are, not just a collection of I ams.

So how do we tap into our trinitarian nature? How do we act more like the family that we are? Perhaps it is as simple as being gentle to one another. Give your siblings the benefit of the doubt. Try with all your might to see the best in the person you like the least. Do less agitating and more listening. And take a lesson from some anonymous Turkish villagers who in the midst of genocide mourned the loss of their neighbors: "The Armenians were the salt of our land … that which gave us taste and aroma is gone … may God look after us all." Yes, may We Are look after those she has chosen to be his own, those whom they have blessed with the greatest of all inheritances: family.

Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Psalms 33:4-22; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

Thanksgiving Day

It is hard to feel thankful today. Too many of our children have died a violent death lately. And the air is just too thick with anger and despair. So some of us march and rage against the darkness. While others of us bury our heads in the sands of denial and privilege. But neither reaction truly soothes our aching souls. For the truth none of us wants to face is our impotence to prevent such death. As long as we are human, we will hurt one another. Pride. Ignorance. Fear. Do the motives really matter? At the end of the day, over and over again, we will kill one another. Yes, we have a duty to struggle with all our might against injustice and evil. But we must also remember that Jesus never cured leprosy, only a mere handful of lepers. If it was not his job to fix the world, why do we think it is ours? No, our task, our calling, is to open our eyes to the glorious kingdom already in our midst. A kingdom that is not a what or a where, but a whom: our brothers and sisters, our family.

Yes, our Parent has truly "done wondrous things on earth!" And so we have much to be thankful for today. For the gifts of Michael Brown, Rhasson Hamilton, Tamir Rice, and Christopher Walker. And yes, for the gifts of Timothy Loehmann, Darren Wilson, and killers still unknown. They are not friends or foes, nor demons or monsters. They are our brothers, one and all. And we are called to love them, one and all. It is perhaps our greatest cross to bear, this call to recognize both victim and murderer as our siblings. And it is something else to be thankful for this day.

As for me personally, I am thankful for a special group of hundreds of my brothers and sisters here in Los Angeles County, whose unclaimed bodies will be buried in a mass grave early next month. I did not know any of them, but I mourn their loss and celebrate their lives. I am thankful for the residents of the International Space Station, who provide a glimpse of our family's grandeur. I am thankful for the wild green parrots of my hometown, whose chatter and aerial acrobatics bring laughter to my lips and joy to my heart. And I am most thankful for my best friend, my lover, my partner in this journey, the woman who eleven years ago tomorrow became my wife.

I could go on and on. I have much to be thankful for. We all have much to be thankful for. We belong to a family whose glory cannot be measured. So let us give thanks and praise our king's name, today and every day until we draw our last breath, for we are their mightiest work.

Sirach 50:22-24; Psalms 145:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19