"Rebuild My Church"

It seems that the Church is collapsing all around us.

For decades, the number of people regularly worshiping and participating in their faith communities has plummeted. Ideology has displaced the role of theology. Values contrary to the gospel have crept into our Church. Most devastating of all, vulnerable children became victims of sexual abuse committed by clergy and their crimes were covered-up by ecclesiastical leaders.

In light of these troubling realities, it is worth reflecting on the call of Saint Francis of Assisi to give us guidance.

After years of partying, living extravagantly, and violent fighting, Francis began to journey back to the Christian faith. During this period of re-conversion, Francis lived more simply and generously.

Francis performed works of mercy.
He also began to pray more.

One day, as he prayed before the cross in the dilapidated ancient chapel of San Damiano, Francis heard a very distinct voice saying:
"Rebuild My Church!"

Initially, Francis believed that he was being summoned by God to rebuild the chapel of San Damiano, which he did brick by brick. However, the more Francis embraced the Gospel in his life, the more he realized that the Lord was actually calling him to rebuild the Church - not necessarily brick by brick - but rather person by person.

Throughout his life, Francis worked to rebuild the Church. While some in the Church marginalized the sick and suffering, Francis cleaned and kissed their wounds. While some in the Church acquired unbridled wealth, Francis embraced voluntary poverty. While some in the Church clung onto their individual power, Francis gathered together a community of brothers and sisters. While some in the Church became greedy, Francis lived peacefully alongside all of God's Creation. While some in the Church condemned sinners, Francis preached the good news of salvation. While some in the Church called for war with enemies, Francis risked his life to make peace.

San Damiano Crucifix

Person by person, Saint Francis helped to rebuild the Church in the 13th century.

You and I know the many, many problems facing our Church today. We know that so much needs to
be rebuilt. Right now, just as it happened 800 years ago, the crucified and risen Christ is speaking to our hearts from a place of ruin and decay. He is saying: "Rebuild My Church." 

We might be tempted to think we are not equipped for this mission, that we don't have the proper background, training, or education. But neither did Francis. However, Saint Francis did embrace the values of the Gospel: He was prayerful. He sought community. He preached. He lived simply and humbly. He listened. He acted. He loved.

If we are guided by the Spirit of God and the example of Francis, then you and I also can help rebuild the collapsing Church... person by person.

The Broken Body of Christ is Still Here

Last Wednesday, our parish community hosted an evening of silent prayer before the Eucharistic Lord. We described this prayer moment as "The Broken Body of Christ: A Time to Pray for the Victims of Child Sexual Abuse and Betrayal". The invitation to pray was extended to our parishioners as well as to the Christian faithful throughout the city of Scranton.

Through simple exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a reading from 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, a brief reflection, and prayerful silence, we, the members of Christ's broken body, offered our prayers for healing for those members of the Body who were violated, sexually abused by clergy, and disregarded by ecclesiastical leaders.

The most profound moment in prayer for me came near the end of this time in silence. I recall looking around our spacious worship site. Though few members of the Body were present, what I did notice nevertheless filled me with great hope:

I noticed three married couples, spanning ten to fifty years together. 
I noticed several religious sisters, most with eyes closed in silent prayer.
I noticed the shrill laugh and scream of a young child echo through the church.
I noticed the tears on the cheeks of an older member of our community.
I noticed the Episcopalian priest and her intent gaze at the Eucharist.
I noticed the languages of Spanish and English spoken in the peoples' prayers.

I noticed that the Body of Christ, though broken, is still here.

Yes, we are the Broken Body of Christ. We continue to pray for the victims of child sexual abuse and betrayal. We pray for justice for the survivors of abuse and we pray for authentic reform of those structures that allowed this to happen. We pray that this Broken Body might one day be made whole again.

Christ is still here in this Broken Body. And this gives me hope.

The Relevancy of God's Word

Yesterday's first reading from the prophet Ezekiel was immensely relevant to all that is transpiring in the Church. Yesterday's reading points to the utter moral failure of Israel's leaders to care for the people entrusted to them. Once again, we have witnessed this failure in moral leadership and guidance, this time by those Roman Catholic priests who abused children and those bishops who chose to hide these crimes.

And in God's providence, today's reading from Ezekiel offers a word of hope. It is God alone who is the true shepherd of God's people. God will transform our cold, deadened hearts - made so by the gravity of the sexual abuse crisis and the cover-up scandal - into living, loving hearts once again. It is through the tender compassion of our God that all who have been scattered will be re-gathered together and made whole again.

There is hope in the midst of the scandal of these crimes and sins. Our hope is in the Lord. We put our faith in the justice, the mercy, and the peace of God. It is God alone who gathers, God alone who heals, and God alone who transforms. In God, we put our trust.


Yesterday's first reading (Ezekiel 34:1-11):
The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep,
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.

For thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.


Today's first reading (Ezekiel 36:23-28):
Thus says the LORD:
I will prove the holiness of my great name,
profaned among the nations,
in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
For I will take you away from among the nations,
gather you from all the foreign lands,
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors;
you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Jesus Descends Into Hell

Last week's release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report regarding the sexual abuse of at least 1,000 children (it is so painful to even write that number) by 300 Roman Catholic priests and its subsequent cover-up by bishops and other Church officials in Pennsylvania has been nothing short of devastating, particularly for the survivors of sexual abuse.

These victims were innocent children who were preyed upon in terrible ways. And then, their horrific ordeal was silenced by bishops and other officials. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and struggle endured by these survivors. They are brave and they have waited a very long time for justice. I pray that they might begin to experience healing and hope.

It was also devastating for many Catholics - laity and priests alike. Those of us who depend upon our faith, no matter how weak it may be at times, have been shaken by the findings of the Grand Jury: How could a priest commit such a grievous crime against a child? Why did our bishops move those priests accused of sexual abuse from parish to parish? Why did they continue to put children in harm's way? Our hearts are broken for those who endured such suffering. And we want justice and accountability from our leaders... now!

In the midst of this swirl of emotions - anger, frustration, deep sadness, and devastation - I celebrated the Sunday Eucharist with my parish community, just as I have been doing every Sunday since my arrival at the parish two months ago. And just as we have done every Sunday, we professed the Apostles' Creed. However, unlike all other previous Masses, one line in particular from the Creed grabbed my attention in a new way: "He descended into hell."

As Catholic-Christians, we believe that Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. But the story of Jesus' suffering does not stop there. As if this suffering of Jesus was not enough, he then enters into the very realm of the dead. Jesus goes to the place of no hope. Jesus enters the places of emptiness, of pain, of betrayal, of lies and darkness. Jesus journeys to that pit of devastation. 

There, in hell, Jesus finds all those who suffer, those who have been harmed, those who have been neglected, forgotten, and silenced. Jesus descends into their personal hells, not of their own creation, but imposed on them. Jesus descends into hell in order to seek out all who suffer. Jesus finds each and every hell where there is pain, suffering, and death. Jesus descends into hell so that he can rise again. Jesus does not rise, however, until he has entered each personal hell and lifts up all those who have died a thousand deaths inflicted on them by their abusers and those who covered up these crimes. 

No word, no promise, no program, no amount of support, counseling, and assistance will ever be able to blot away the devastation of child sexual abuse and its subsequent cover-up by Catholic clergymen. There is no quick fix for them. It is a lifetime of suffering. Many of the victims continue to experience hellish pain and ongoing trauma.

Abusive priests and bishops who abused their authority imposed this hell on thousands of victims.
And so, Jesus descends into hell.

"He is Our Priest"

Last weekend, I was honored to preside at the Marriage Liturgy and witness the exchange of vows of my brother and sister-in-law. After the ceremony, the bridal party was subjected to a barrage of photos. When the photographer saw me join in the photos, he asked the bride how I was related to her.

"Ryan is the brother of the groom. But he is also our priest."

He is our priest. This phrase captures for me the experience thus far of being ordained a priest and serving the People of God in the local Church of Scranton. This phrase points to the joy I've felt in being able to be a priest with and for others. There have been so many moments of grace, laughter, love, and peace during my brief time in this particular ministry. It is overwhelming, in the best sense of the word!

He is our priest. This phrase is also a challenge to me. It is a reminder that I must always remain close to others. It is an invitation to patiently journey alongside fellow Christians, with men and women of other faiths, and with non-believers. It means I am called to be selfless in my ministry and to collaborate with other ministers, especially lay and religious. I am summoned to be a priest for others, to love without conditions, and to serve the needs of the poor and the suffering.

He is our priest. This will always remain true, as long as I follow the gentle and compassionate ways of our High Priest: Jesus Christ!

Chosen in Different Ways

As the legend goes, a pastor of the inner-city St. Matthias Parish received a complaint from a disgruntled parishioner about the parish's upcoming summer festival, which included raffles and small games of chance. The parishioner barked out: "How dare the Church participate in such activities!" With a tinkle in his eye, the old priest responded: "Sir, the namesake of our parish was chosen by a game of chance. I think we'll be just fine."

Saint Matthias: Apostle 

I'm not sure the veracity of the above-mentioned story. However, what is true is the fact that Saint Matthias was indeed chosen by casting lots to replace the deceased Judas Iscariot. The remaining eleven apostles felt called to replace Judas with somebody who had followed Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. And not only that, the apostles wanted this twelfth member to have experienced and witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

From this criteria, two men were nominated: Justus and Matthias. Ultimately, after a brief prayer and the drawing of lots, Matthias was chosen as Judas' replacement.

On this feast of the apostle Matthias, we celebrate his role as witness, apostle, and martyr. We also recall on this day that our Christian faith is not limited and confined to one historical moment or one specific group. Rather, faith in the resurrection of Christ is always handed on to each succeeding generation.

Still, there is always one last detail that seems to be glossed over on this feast day: what about Justus? We don't hear much about him after his second-place finish to Matthias. But maybe that's exactly the point.

Even though Justus was not given a place of apostolic leadership, we can presume that he nevertheless continued with his principle ministry of preaching faith in Christ Jesus. Even though Justus may have experienced some embarrassment of not being chosen as apostle, he still remained faithful to Christ. Justus did not focus on himself, but on his mission of sharing the good news of the crucified and risen Lord.

Saint Justus: Chosen Not to Lead, but to Witness to Christ

There is a lesson in this for us. We may be passed over for positions of leadership or we might find ourselves embarrassed at the prospect of a second-place finish. But our dignity as Christians does not rest solely in positions of authority nor in our success. What is most important is our faithfulness, that we who have personally experienced the love of the Risen Lord Jesus share this encounter with others. All of us who have been baptized are called to this mission of evangelical love.

We may not be chosen to lead like the apostles, but all of us like Matthias and Justus have been chosen to be witnesses to the grace, the power, and the electric love of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Saint Matthias, Apostle and Saint Justus, not-Apostle, pray for us!

Faith and Humility

In his Second Letter to Timothy, Paul reminded his pupil Timothy about the faith example of his mother and grandmother:
"I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you." 
(2 Timothy 1:4-5)

Just today, I read a reflection on today's Gospel passage written by my mom, Maria, which was sent through the Office of Alumni Relations at King's College.

Her beautiful and humble faith is on full display in her composition. It is a faith that I was blessed to experience while growing up. Her faith shaped my own understanding of God. And hers is a faith that continues to inspire me.

I share her reflection on the virtue of humility as found in today's Gospel from Matthew 23:1-12:
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Driving Directions

Earlier this month, I was driving out to the Midwest with my friend Kayla. We had been asked by our friends to serve as the godparents to their son. In my hasty preparation for the lengthy drive, I mistakenly plugged in the wrong address into the GPS. Actually, I typed an entirely different state into the GPS. (Though in my defense, both state's have a town with the exact same name!)
For most of the ride, we were directed toward Missouri and not Illinois, where our friends live.

After hearing me endlessly blabber on about crossing the Mississippi River and nearing the city of St. Louis, Kayla gently challenged me to look again at the address. Sure enough, it was incorrect. We were supposed to be arriving to our friends' house in Illinois, not Missouri. Thankfully, Kayla noticed my mistake while we were passing through Illinois. If she had waited any longer to point out my misstep, we potentially would have driven an two additional hours past our actual place of arrival.

(Trust me, I took a lot of flack for this navigation snafu from my friends!)

I recount this story not only for a chuckle at my expense, but primarily because had I not listened to Kayla and went in a different direction, I would have totally missed the destination of my Midwest journey. This experience during my road trip reminds me of yesterday's Gospel passage in which we hear Jesus begin his public ministry with these words, "Repent, and believe in the Gospel!" Perhaps put another way, Jesus is saying, "Check your location, and go in a different direction!"

All of us - whether seasoned Christians or neophytes - are in need of constant conversion and transformation. As human beings, it is our natural inclination to wander from the ways of love and traverse the roads of sin. Sometimes, even our best intentions can lead us down a rocky path. We can quickly become lost.

And so we need to hear that gentle, but firm voice of Jesus, challenging us to look at the direction we are currently taking in our lives: Where am I right now and where am I going? What map am I following? We are challenged to listen carefully to that voice of Jesus, to that good friend who speaks up when we are moving in the wrong direction, and return to the right path. In doing so, we will experience true and lasting peace, an abiding sense of joy in our lives, and we will arrive safely at our destination: life in God.

If We Are Pro-Life...

Yesterday was the 45th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thousands of peaceful protesters, many of whom were Christians, gathered in the nation's capital to rally and march in support of the rights of unborn children, hoping to call attention to the injustices that have emerged from the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

Certainly, being pro-life means opposing the practice of abortion. As people of faith, we recognize the awesome gift of life that God has given to each one of us.

In the 1980's, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago advocated for an integrated vision to all life issues. He called this approach the "seamless garment of life," based on the Gospel values of life and the teachings of the Church. Each issue is, in some way, tied to the other. As Christians, we are challenged to be fully "pro-life."

• If we are pro-life, we are to oppose those conditions which often lead expectant mothers to choose to terminate their pregnancies, especially poverty and lack of support.

• If we are pro-life, we must support life in all its stages. To be authentically pro-life means we advocate for healthcare for all. To be pro-life is also to provide educational and work opportunities for people across the spectrum. 

• If we are pro-life, we honor those nearing the end of life. We oppose euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Life is hallowed, even at its natural end.

• If we are pro-life, we will make sure that the poor, the elderly, and those on the margins for whatever reason will have meals to eat and a roof over their heads. 

• If we are pro-life, we oppose violence in all its forms. 

• If we are pro-life, we oppose the death penalty. We will realize that capital punishment is often based in revenge, not true justice. 

• If we are pro-life, we will reject war. And we reject any language which heightens conflict between peoples and nations.

• If we are pro-life, we will never discriminate against any person based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation. To be pro-life is to reject racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

• If we are pro-life, we advocate for families. We want to see families thrive, especially immigrant and refugee families who are escaping the violence, oppression, and economic stagnation of their homelands in order to have a better life. 

• If we are pro-life, then we are also to be pro-immigrant and pro-refugee.

• If we are pro-life, we are also pro-woman. We oppose human trafficking. We oppose the business of sex slavery, including pornography. We must also advocate for equal standards of pay, treatment, and safety in the workplace. 

• If we are pro-life, we will protect the vulnerable and fragile environment. We need to recognize the earth as a gift upon which all human life exists.

As Christians, we must strive to be authentically pro-life in all these areas. As the Church, we must not allow ourselves to be hijacked and co-opted by any one particular politician or party on these life issues. Neither the Republican party nor the Democratic party embodies the entirety of this "seamless garment." 

There is much work for us to do in our society to promote life and oppose practices which diminish human dignity. Each one of us will constantly need to be open to transformation and conversion regarding all of these life issues. We may need to gradually grow to embrace some of these pro-life stances and recognize the ways in which we might be violating God's command to protect human life in all its forms and stages.

We entrust our lives and our advocacy for life in all its forms to our Lord Jesus Christ who came so that we all might have life, and have it in abundance.