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High in the Andes Mountains, 14,000 feet above sea level, stands a majestic statue of Jesus on the border of Argentina and Chile. It was constructed to celebrate the peaceful resolution of a border dispute between the two countries. In fact, the metal for the statue comes from guns the two nations had intended to use against each other. An inscription at the base of the statue reads: “He is our peace who has made both one.” This famous statue serves as a sign of the peace that the Son of God came to bring. We know that the risen Jesus greeted his friends by saying, “Peace be with you!” We might understand his words, however, as being intended for the whole world.

The truth is, Jesus wants peace amongst nations, within societies, and between people. Conflict, warfare, and division were not part of his Father’s plans for us. God created us to live in harmony with him and with each other. But when sin entered the picture, everything got fouled up.

That’s one lesson we take away from the story of the Tower of Babel, in our first reading. People, acting with sinful pride, attempted to displace God by constructing a tower into the heavens. And the results were disastrous! Humanity became scattered and divided- a division symbolized by the confusion of their language. Because they couldn’t understand each other anymore, chaos ensued, and there was no peace.

That kind of describes the situation today, doesn’t it? Our world is divided by culture, faith, wealth, and even more by attitudes towards power, authority, and cooperation. As a result, we experience a lack of peace.

Thankfully, God hasn’t left us to flounder in the mess we’ve made. He saw the situation, and he sent us the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to bring people together in peace. At that first Pentecost, the disciples proclaimed the good news of Jesus, everyone understood what they were saying- regardless of what language they spoke. The curse of the Tower of Babel was undone! The Holy Spirit, then and now, heals the divisions created by human pride and sin, by allowing people to communicate and understand each other once again.

Pentecost is traditionally referred to as the “Church’s birthday,” because the outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked the beginning of the Church’s mission to bring all people together in peace by being united in God. You and I participated in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and you and I are members of the Church. This means we have a responsibility to share in the Church’s mission by being agents of peace. To fulfill this mission, our recent popes have suggested several things we can do.

First of all, we can resist the pressures of our materialistic culture to possess more and more and to consume things at levels that ultimately deprive others. A world divided into “haves” and “haves not” is a world that will inevitably experience tensions and war. As Christians, we should strive to live simply, so that others may simply live. One way to do this is by being good stewards of the world’s resources and taking care of the environment. As Pope Benedict recently said, “Disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa. It becomes more and more evident that there is an inseparable link between peace with creation and peace among men.”

Another thing we can do to be peacemakers is to learn to be good communicators. As John Paul II said, “Language is made…for uniting.” We need to honestly but gently share our thoughts and feelings with others, seeking to be understood without resorting to threats or insults. At the same time, we can strive to really listen to others by giving our full attention and respect, and if they yell at us, we need to try to understand what might be the cause of their hurt.

Being a good communicator is never enough, however. The language of peace must be matched by gestures of peace. “It is the practice of peace that leads to peace,” to again quote John Paul II. We can strive to be forgiving, gentle, and generous. We can reject old rivalries, hatreds, and prejudices that history or our culture may try to impose on us. We can try to build bridges between societies and nations by reaching out in friendship, learning new languages, and offering any help we might be able to give. And we can work for and promote human rights like the right to life, religious freedom, freedom of thought and expression, and the rights to decent work, housing, education, food, and health care. “If you want peace,” said Pope Paul VI, “work for justice.”

In addition to working for peace, we must also pray for it. Peace will never come through our efforts alone, because peace is always a gift from God. It is human sin that creates divisions and destroys peace, and it is only by the grace of God that the effects of sin are undone and peace is restored. That’s why we must pray. We can pray for an end to warfare and violence; we can pray that world leaders will strive for peace; we can pray for justice and forgiveness between enemies; we can pray for our conversion, that we may turn from sin and give our lives to Christ, the prince of peace; and we can pray that God will help us to be peacemakers. Holy Spirit of Pentecost, help us all to spread your peace.

 

“10,000 people could do a better job than you!” Sr. Briege McKenna told a gathering of priests. “But that’s beside the point. God chose you.” No priests are perfect, in other words, but God calls them to service anyway. This was true for St. Peter, as we see in today’s gospel. Jesus chose Peter as his chief shepherd, the first pope. At the same time, he acknowledges Peter’s weaknesses and limitations.

The three times Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love recalls Peter’s three denials during Jesus’ trial. The first two times, as originally written in Greek, Jesus asked Peter if he gave him “agape” – sacrificial love. In response, Peter answered that he gave him “phileo” – brotherly love. So when Jesus spoke the third time, he asked Peter not to give him agape love, but brotherly love. And Peter said he could.

Peter knew that he wasn’t yet capable of “agape,” and Jesus knew it too. But Jesus also knew that one day Peter would be. That’s why he said that Peter himself would die on a cross.

Jesus doesn’t wait until we’re perfect to call us to service, either. Instead, he meets us where we are, and gives us grace to grow. Jesus knows that we’re broken sinners. Yet still he loves us, and uses us to build up his kingdom.  Jesus doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/061011.shtml

Photo of the Denial of Peter: Allie_Caulfield via Creative Commons

If someone is especially arrogant, it’s not uncommon for people to say: “He really thinks he’s God’s gift to….women, soccer, the sales team, whatever.” It’s not meant as a compliment. It’s a put-down.

We don’t wish to be seen by others in this way. At the same time, Jesus does want us to see ourselves as God’s gift. “Father,” he prayed in today’s gospel, “they (meaning us!) are your gift to me.”

We are God’s gift to Jesus. And we aren’t a gift he wants to return or exchange. We’re a gift he wants. Because he prays for us, we might even say we’re a gift he asks for; he included our names in his wish list.

But as today’s gospel reminds us, Jesus does far more than pray for us. He also dwells with us and in us, shares his glory with us, reveals his name to us, guides us to perfection, unites us with our Christian brothers and sisters, and showers us with the same abundant, unconditional love he’s shared with the Father from all eternity.

Jesus tells us this, not to make us arrogant or smug, but to fill us with gratitude and hope. So hopefully no one will put us down by saying we think we’re God’s gift to something. But we can thank Jesus, that he embraces us, as God’s gift to him.

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060911.shtml

Photo Credit: stevendepolo via Creative Commons

When I’m behind the wheel, I try to make driving time into prayer time. I pray for my family, my ministry, and my parishioners; I ask to be a better husband, father, and priest; I lift up the sick and the deceased, and the special needs of people God has placed in my path. I also thank God for my blessings, and even some of the crosses I bear.

I don’t always offer all these prayers on any given day. Sometimes I have a short commute, and sometimes I get lazy and daydream or listen to the radio instead. Whenever I find myself losing the motivation to pray, however, I find it helpful to remember that wherever I am and whatever I’m doing, Jesus is constantly interceding for all of us.

This is precisely what Jesus does in today’s gospel through his “High Priestly Prayer.” The “hour” of his passion and crucifixion had arrived. Yet even then, Jesus prays for his friends. He does so still, as he reigns in heaven.

Our Lord’s example challenges us to take prayers of intercession seriously. Through intercession, we can change lives and even the course of history; we acknowledge our complete dependence upon God; and we can continue the priestly work of Jesus, in our world, today.

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060711.shtml

Photo Credit: Lingaraj G J via Creative Commons

An online message board asked: “Describe a time that contributed to your faith in God’s loving presence.” In response, one person wrote of caring for a dying friend; another spoke of struggling to raise two children after a painful divorce; and a third recalled nursing an elderly mother through a series of debilitating strokes.Each storyteller had learned to depend on the Lord for strength. Through faith, Jesus had replaced their fear with courage, and their anxiety with peace.

This was Jesus’ hope for his disciples in today’s gospel. Although they had just professed their belief in him, Jesus warned that they would soon abandon him at his crucifixion. Jesus knows how easy it is, when hardship strikes, for faith to be replaced by fear.

That’s why it’s important to cultivate our faith while things are going well. We can fill our days with prayer, count our blessings and give thanks to God; and be soaked in Scripture and sanctified by sacrament, so that when we face life’s inevitable difficulties, our faith will hold firm, instead of falling apart. We’ll know that when we can’t handle things on our own, we won’t have to, because Jesus is with us. This world will surely give us “trouble,” as Jesus said. But we can take courage, because he has “conquered the world.”

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060611.shtml

Photo credit: andyarthur via Creative Commons

Women in labor are often encouraged to focus upon an object in the delivery room, such as a photograph, flowers, her husband’s eyes, a cross. This helps with relaxation, and takes an edge off the pain. By keeping their eyes on a “comfort object,” as they’re sometimes called, they’re better able to keep their eyes on the prize: the happy moment they first cradle their newborn in their arms.

Jesus used the image of a woman in labor in today’s gospel to prepare his disciples for the anguish and fear they would experience after his death. As a woman’s labor pains are forgotten after her child is born, so the disciples’ suffering would be replaced by the supreme joy of seeing him risen.

Jesus’ words can assure us too, when we experience pain and loss- times we might be tempted to despair and lose hope, because the agony and stress seem too much to bear. Jesus encourages us, much like a woman in labor, to stay focused on the joy and peace that he promises those who are faithful to him.

Our focus may not eliminate our pain, but will help us endure and persevere. Mother Teresa knew this well. “Never let anything cause you so much sorrow,” she said, “that you forget the joy of Jesus risen.”

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060311.shtml

Photo Credit: salimfadhley via Creative Commons

Pain- be it psychological, emotional, or physical- can affect us deeply. When we hurt, the world can seem a very bleak place. We can feel alone, scared, helpless, depressed. We might become angry at God, wonder if he cares, or even doubt that he exists. At times like this, we need to hear Jesus’ words in today’s gospel. “You will grieve,” he promised, “but your grief will become joy.”

When Jesus first spoke these words, he was assuring his disciples that their sadness over his crucifixion would be replaced by the joy of his resurrection. But the Lord intends these words for us as well, because resurrection joy has the power to transform our grief as well, by offering us hope.

The resurrection gives us a present hope- a hope for the healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, courage, and strength that Jesus offers us as gifts. And, the resurrection gives us a future hope as well- a hope for a life not only free of sorrow and pain, but one filled with a love, a joy, and a peace we can only begin to imagine now.

Thanks to the resurrection, beyond every one of our Good Fridays lies the hope of an everlasting Easter; beyond every cross we carry, is the promise of an empty tomb.

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060211a.shtml

Photo Credit: pol sifter vis Creative Commons

“It is not good for man to be alone,” declared God at the dawn of creation. God said this because we human beings are created in his image. And God, who has existed for all eternity, has himself never been alone. God is a community of three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- who are united as one in perfect love.

Today’s gospel spoke of how this love is demonstrated in three ways. First, this love involves sharing. “Everything that the Father has is mine,” said Jesus, who in turn shares this with the Spirit. Second, we heard that this love builds each other up, in that the Spirit glorifies Jesus, who in turn glorifies that Father. Third, this love leads all involved to possess a common mind. The Spirit does not speak on his own. Instead, he declares the mind of Jesus, which is one with the Father.

We can see that within the Trinity, there is sharing, cooperation, mutual encouragement, and a common purpose springing from a united will. As Christians, this should be the model and goal of all our relationships too. The gospel challenge today is for us to love each other in the same way the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit love each other. A love that has already been shared with us.

Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/060111.shtml

Photo Credit: John Workman via Creative Commons