Mother's Day 2010 Homily

Deacon Bruce Maltzen's Homily for May 9, 2010 6th SUNDAY in EASTER, CYCLE C

Being Mother’s Day – I need to tell you a story that both exemplifies the Gospel words, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our dwelling with them.” And the story lets us hear of the qualities of motherhood.

This woman was married early in life to a man of some means and influence. The man was not a Christian and though he said he believed in God, his religion was no more than a name. He had a violent temper and was not what we’d call an example of chastity and charity. The woman was a devote Christian and gave generously to the poor and spent generous amounts of time in prayer for her children and her husband. These habits annoyed her husband, but also made him hold her in reverence as he saw something in her that he wished he could be.

By her sweetness and patience she gathered other women around her who suffered as she did and taught them how to follow Christ more closely.

She had 3 children, a boy and two girls. Her husband refused to have the children baptized. The boy grew up to lead a lazy, wayward life. The woman continued to pray for all her children and her husband, but especially for her son. Eventually, her husband, seeing his wife’s peace and steadfastness in faith, became a Christian. Her son traveled away for his studies and fell into group where he began to commit grievous sins.

Later he joined a group who went so far as to present heresy as the true faith. When he came home from his studies abroad, he continued to profess these heresies at home. She made him leave the home, as she would not accept that at her table. Later, in prayer, she felt that she was supposed to call him back to her. After seventeen years of adulthood in continual resistance to her requests and prayers, the son finally yielded and was baptized. Her steadfastness in faith and prayer led him to write a book about his life, faith and conversion which is revered in the church today. She is St. Monica and her son is St. Augustine. The book he wrote is “Confessions”

She is a true example of being a Christian mother on this day when we extol all mothers.

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Now back to our gospel. An important concept in Christianity is the fact this world is not our home. Yes, we were born here, and we live out our natural lives here in this world, and we pay property taxes here—usually a sure sign that this is home. But the real us, our minds and souls and spirits rather than our physical flesh and bones, will not rest until we are with our Almighty Creator in Heaven for all eternity.

We are just passing through this world, strangers in a strange land. So Christians who understand this concept accept the fact we will never be able to experience perfect peace and serenity as long as we are in this fallen world. There is simply too much pain and suffering and despair and death.

Now, in the Gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples and us

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

By this he states that the peace He gives us is radically different than our concepts of peace. What we consider peace and what God considers peace are two different things. For us, peace means not to have conflict, to not be at war, or to not have conflict or arguments with neighbors or family. But Christ called us into conflict with the world. He told us that He came to divide. He sends us into conflict. Still, God gives us peace. A different peace, this is a peace within each of us, a peace that only comes through union with Him. That peace would be a lack of fear about the future, a quietness of heart that is based upon a deep relationship with God.

We are not to be troubled. We are not to be afraid. How many times did Pope John Paul say that to us, “Do not be afraid”. Rather we are called to embrace the Lord and His Way. Then the Father and Son will love us, come to us and make their dwelling with us.

But we are afraid. We are afraid that if we abandon our pre-conceived notions of happiness we will be left with nothing. So we work like dogs not merely to provide for our families, but to purchase happiness. Isn’t that the message of our materialistic society? Happiness can be bought. Or can it? It takes a huge step to trust God to bring us happiness.

Life here on earth certainly is not pure torture, with every waking moment filled with despair and pain. It’s just that we all long for perfect peace and serenity, a feeling that everything, both in our personal lives and in our community, is safe and in harmony. A situation where there is no strife, no stress, and no worries—and never will be again. That is PERFECT peace. Deep down we all want it, and deep down we all know that whatever peace we do experience in this world will be either very fleeting or artificially induced. (Why do you think alcohol manufacturers are so wealthy and drug dealing is so lucrative? People crave comfort and serenity, even if it’s extremely temporary.)

The fact is we CAN experience peace and serenity in this world. Mind you, it won’t be the perfect and everlasting peace that awaits us in Heaven. Instead it will be a sample, a small taste of the wonderful peace and comfort and joy that we will experience forever. And the peace we can have in this world is a lot more real than the artificially induced type—plus you won’t have a hangover the next morning.

The important point is that this peace comes only from Jesus. He calls it “my peace,” and says “I leave (it) with you.” If we don’t look to Him for this peace, we’re not going to find it. And it makes sense if you think about it. Our hearts crave that perfect peace found only in Heaven. It only stands to reason that the One who came from Heaven is the only One who can give us a foretaste of that type of peace here on earth.

Finally, we must note that Jesus clearly says that His peace is “not as the world gives.” And before we continue, let’s be clear about the definition of “the world.” When speaking of “world” or “worldly,” Jesus means the secular value system that is focused on short-term physical pleasure, power, and prestige. It is a view that ignores the eternal truths of Heaven and mankind’s spiritual dimension—our need for a relationship with our Creator. In short, the values of the “world” are selfish and shallow and unfulfilling and therefore – even if we get to experience the world’s peace, we will never see it as such.

The world offers many enticements, all of which promise to provide peace and comfort and happiness. But it’s all a lie. These promises couldn’t be more false if they came via unsolicited email from a supposedly former high-ranking finance minister in the Nigerian government who wants to transfer several million dollars into your account to hold, if you’d only send him your account number and social security number. Just think of some of the worldly things people chase after today:

We look for comfort in food. Instead we get obesity and poor health.

We look for fulfillment in casual sex. Instead we get disease, shattered emotions, destroyed families, and oftentimes death.

We look for security in money. Instead we get worry, exhaustion, and the all-too-common paranoia that comes with trying to hold on to the wealth we have.
We look for prestige in being beautiful. Instead we become obsessed with appearances and depressed that the aging process cannot be stopped.

The peace that Jesus gives can be ours—IF we realize it is based on His view of reality, not the false view promoted by “the world.” And it’s not a complicated formula. We simply need to stop focusing on ourselves for a change and, instead, focus on Christ and bask in the love He offers us, we will have peace.

A great Christian paradox is that we will never be happy if we are focused on happiness; we will never be at peace if all we think about is finding peace. You see, happiness and peace are by-products of being in a proper relationship with the Lord.

We must deny ourselves—stop being so self-centered all the time and stop comparing ourselves to others so often. If we look upward to Jesus, rather than inward to ourselves, and focus on Him, we will have peace and serenity. It won’t be the overwhelming PERFECT peace and serenity that await us in Heaven, but it will be a whole lot better than the false promises of this world.

Your brother in Christ,
Deacon Bruce

Catholics who don't represent

For those of you who have read my blog. Please read !

After watching President Obama sign the act which rescinds the prohibition of spending federal dollars (translated: Our tax dollars) on Embryonic Stem cell research, I decided I'd had enough of watching on the sidelines as the moral and ethical backbone of this country is sliced away by those who could care less. As I watched, there in the crowd around President Obama was Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, a "renowned" Catholic. I went right to my computer sat down and wrote the following to the Archbishop of San Francisco:

To the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer

Dear Archbishop

Considering the following articles (excerpts) and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s outspoken support of Embryonic Stem Cell research and her specific appearance at President Obama’s signing of the act rescinding the prohibition of using more lines of Embryos for research, I believe it is in the Church’s interest and need that public scandal by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi be met with a public ex-communication by her Bishop. She has for several years now been consistently on the morally wrong side of the life issues (specifically Abortion and Stem Cell Research). These are paramount issues in the Church’s eyes as expressed by Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II before him. I respectfully request that you consider this means of stating the Church’s ultimate decision on these matters and as necessary for the teaching of the faithful.

Respectfully yours

Deacon Bruce and Pat Maltzen
Archdiocese of St. Paul – Minneapolis

I now also plan to write emails to President Obama and to other members of congress identifying for them the wonderful things that have happened with ADULT stem cell research in just the past several weeks. Including the ability to program Adult skin stem cells to act EXACTLY LIKE embryonic stem cells. We have transgressed the line too many times and I believe we don't have forever to wait for God to bring us back into line like he did wiht His Chosen People, the Israelites, so many times before.

Please, please, please - write your congressman and senators. Write the President, write your bishop. Tell them all how you feel about the way we have ignored God's word and how we desparately need to come back to the founding faith and the Church.

Excerpts from previous statements by the church:

Vatican City, Oct 11, 2007 / 09:49 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict issued a plea to all scientists today to stop using human embryos for research because it violates their God-given human dignity.
However, Pope Benedict was adamant in condemning the destruction and manipulation of embryonic humans: "discoveries in this field invite man to a deeper awareness of the weighty responsibilities involved in their application," and "under no circumstances may a human being be manipulated or treated as a mere instrument for experimentation.”
He continued his warning saying, “[t]he destruction of human embryos, whether to acquire stem-cells or for any other purpose, contradicts the purported intent of researchers, legislators and public health officials to promote human welfare.”
Making sure that people realize that the he is not against all forms of stem-cell research, the Pope pointed out that the Church does not hesitate to approve and encourage somatic stem-cell research: not only because of the favorable results obtained through these alternative methods, but more importantly because they harmonize with the aforementioned intent by respecting the life of the human being at every stage of his or her existence."

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Thursday (Jan 31, 2008) that embryonic stem cell research, artificial insemination and the prospect of human cloning had "shattered" human dignity.
In an address to members of the Vatican department on doctrinal matters, Benedict said the Church had a duty to defend the "great values at stake" in the field of bioethics.
He said this included total respect for the human being as a person "from conception until natural death," and respect for the natural transmission of life through sexual intercourse.
Practices like freezing embryos, suppression of embryos in multiple pregnancies, embryonic stem cell research, the prospect of human cloning and artificial insemination outside the body had "shattered the barriers meant to protect human dignity", he said.
"When human beings in the weakest and most defenseless state of their existence are selected, abandoned, killed or used as pure 'biological material,' how can one deny that they are being treated not as 'someone' but as 'something,'" he said.
Such practices "questioned the very concept of the dignity of man," he said in the speech to the department known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Bishops Urge New President to Keep Laws on Conscience Rights,Foreign Aid for Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research
January 19, 2009WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops urged President-elect Barack Obama not to rescind current policies that protect conscience rights of health care workers, prevent foreign aid to organizations promoting abortion, and ban funding of stem cell research that encourages destruction of human embryos.
They made the request in a January 16 letter from Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, shortly before President-elect Obama's inauguration. The letter followed by less than a week a previous letter outlining the bishops' broad policy agenda as the new Administration and Congress begin their work.
Cardinal George said some would expect the new president "to take executive action soon to reverse current policies" that uphold people's rights to follow their consciences and that respect innocent human life. Giving in to these expectations, he said, could be "a terrible mistake -- morally, politically, and in terms of advancing the solidarity and well-being of our nation's people."


Your brother in Christ,
Deacon Bruce