Mercy Triumphs: Weekly Homilies of a Catholic Priest

Growing up, I loved being with my grandparents. I’d sleep over at their house all the time and they would make me desserts and amazing breakfasts. But, there was one thing I didn’t like doing with them, and that was going to Mass. They would get there so early because they had to get that parking spot near the door and, then, we would sit in the pew for half an hour until Mass began. I much preferred getting to Mass late, like after the first reading, because it felt like getting a head-start in a race. I even remember my favorite part of Mass. It was the “Our Father” because I knew, if we were praying the “Our Father,” Mass was almost over.  But, today, one of the things I'm most grateful for to my parents and grandparents is…getting me to Mass; teaching me about our faith; showing me how important it is to have a relationship with Jesus and the Saints.  But, obviously, I didn’t always feel that way. …My grandfather used to do the readings at a 6:30 AM weekday Mass...

This past November, I attended a one-man play about venerable Father Baker, which was put on by a gentleman from our diocese, hosted by Fourteen Holy Helpers. Within the play, several parts of Father Baker’s life were reenacted. One of them was when he heard news about how the Buffalo River was being dredged and the remains of many newborns were found. In response, Father Baker, with the support of many other Catholics, did the truly Catholic thing: Created a home for these women to either anonymously leave their children or be a place for them to give birth and live where they would feel supported. And, as history shows, hundreds of babies were left and hundreds of unwed mothers were taken in and shown the respect and love they deserved. So, today, many current Buffalonians are indebted to Father Baker and so many Catholics who supported his ministry for the Christian love they were so brave to show. And we do need courage to show Christian love. We can imagine that Mary, the...

You know how, when, you were growing up, you did something wrong, and your mom would say, “Wait til your father gets home?” And you, all of a sudden, were struck with fear, anticipating his arrival. Well, this is not what the first reading is taking about because people are rejoicing that God is on his way to them. Why? Because they knew that God was going to correct their misfortunes. It’s like when the good guys in a movie are surrounded, perhaps about to lose a fight but, then, the hero shows up and saves the day.  That’s more like what’s happening in the first reading: The people of Israel have been oppressed by their enemy for so long and the prophet Zephania has received word that God is on His way to them; not to punish but to rescue and make things right. Then, in the Gospel, John the Baptist is giving advice about how to get right before God comes on the scene because his coming back will be very good for those who prepare but not so good for those who do not f...

I remember some lady, who I didn’t know, ask me, “Who made Adam eat the apple?” And I said, “I dunno. Eve?” She said “No, it was the snake.” And she very passionately explained why it was the snake and not Eve. It was evident that she was very concerned about gender roles: Women versus men. But, for very non-sexist reasons, the story was written the way it was. And, the story goes, the snake tricked Eve, Eve convinces Adam to eat the fruit, and then God visits and punishes each in the order that they sinned, punishing the snake first, then Eve, then Adam. The story writer isn’t concerned about who’s to blame. Because, as we can see from this scripture passage, the original intention for men and women were to be equals in dignity. That was the original plan. And we know that was the original plan because Eve’s punishment was to be subjugated to her husband. Meaning, that wasn’t the case originally. And, then, when Jesus comes, He works to elevate women in every interaction...

Did you notice how precise the gospel passage started in regard to the historical situation?   Luke wrote, "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.” Notice how he didn't write, "Once upon a time,” or, “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” Why was it important to Saint Luke to record the names of those leaders and their positions? Because he wanted to tell the audience that what he was about to share actually happened. It would be as if, 30 years from now, I wanted to tell people about something that happened around this time, so I would say something like, "Remember when Joe Biden was in his fourth year as president, Kathy Hochul was governor of New York, and Byron Brown just resigned as Mayor of ...

When I first moved into Fourteen Holy Helpers, I was pretty relaxed because I had just begun two weeks vacation; a staycation. But, when that vacation ended, I realized I needed to set up my office. So, I busied myself with getting a cheap computer, monitor, downloading software, updating software, etc. Then, I was made aware I needed to have a second office at Saint Gabriel’s. So, I purchased another cheap computer through Facebook marketplace, worried about getting robbed during that transaction, updated software, got another cheap monitor, etc., etc.  And, in that time, I was filled with anxiety; anxiety for seemingly no reason. Nothing important was happening; I was just setting up my offices.  Then, I understood why I felt the way I did. It wasn’t for no reason. It was because I wasn’t praying as I should; my relationship with Jesus was suffering. The source of my peace was being neglected. And I was trading that peace from Jesus for the busyness of purchasing and se...