Homily – Saturday Daily Mass 2014/08/02 - Matthew 14:1-2 - Peace

Homily – Saturday Daily Mass

2014/08/02 Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 14:1-2 View readings
Deacon David Lewis
Saint Charles Catholic Church, Imperial Beach/San Diego, CA
    

           I remember when I was young, probably about nine or ten, I saw the coolest green huffy bicycle. It was green and had a number plate and a plastic gas tank, fake shocks. It looked just like a racing motorcycle, I could only imagine how fast that bike would be compared to the steel framed rusty yellow bike with its solid rubber tires that was handed down from my older brother. Man I would have done anything to get that bike for my birthday that year. But when we look at today’s Gospel reading, what does Herod’s niece ask for, not a huffy bike, not a doll house, or even a doll, she goes to her mom for advice and comes back to her uncle and says… “I want John the Baptist’s head on a platter.” WHAT!?!?!

            The young girl’s mother, Herrodias, was upset with John the Baptist for calling an attempt at marriage between Herrod and her, his own brother Philip’s wife, unlawful, and she was seeking revenge. It only goes to show the great divide between the people in the government and people of faith at that point in history. Shamefully, two thousand years later, while Malia and Sasha Obama haven’t asked for anyone’s head on a platter, we sure seem to be at a point in American history where those that govern us have turned a deaf ear to the Church on many topics.

            In fact I think it will get worse before it gets better. We have seen the government recently mandate that non-profit ministry organizations fund insurance plans for their employees that include abortive agents like the morning after pill, organizations that clearly are part of the Church, but are not “a church” so they do not fall into the religious exemption, organizations like Catholic Charities, our Catholic schools, Saint Vincent de Paul, and Catholic Hospitals. No longer are the rights outlined in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America being given priority, but are looked at as secondary to the will of the government by those ruling over us.

            While I don’t want to be an alarmist, we must be realists, and acknowledge that the current administration has done little to acknowledge the concerns brought forth by our Bishops, concerns over so called “gay marriage”, concerns over abortion, and concerns over religious freedom. It seems only a matter of time, if nothing is changed, that our views of marriage, abortion, as well as others will become a reason for persecution of Catholics, and other Christians that hold on to the same beliefs. Worldwide Christians continue to be persecuted, and even martyred, with little reaction from our government. Overall, our world is in a state of turmoil, Russia and Ukraine, Iraq and the ISIS, North Korea and South Korea, Israel and  Palestine, and then there is also the violence in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, just south of Mexico from which we see so many people seeking shelter from and coming towards the United States.

            It is times like this we need to pray for peace. To pray to Jesus, Prince of Peace, for peace throughout the world. To pray that all will come to know Him, and rest their hearts, for nothing is beyond the power of God. But we should start our efforts of peace here, starting with ourselves. We will find inner peace when we find our relationship with Jesus. We will find peace when Christ settles our hearts of those things that cause us anxiety. We will find peace when we accept the limitations in which we have been given to live. We will find peace when we give to others the same love of Christ that he gives us. We will find peace when we live our lives contently, satisfied with the graces God has given us. We will find peace when we humbly accept God as Lord over our lives. We will find peace.

            During the liturgy of the Mass today, and nearly every Mass, we are given an opportunity to share a sign of peace. Let that moment be one of reflecting on Jesus in the upper room just before the turmoil in his life is to hit an all-time high as he faces his Passion and crucifixion, reflect on the moment that Jesus says, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give you.” As we offer the Peace of Christ, let us stay peacefully still, offering not a greeting, not a moment of “good morning, good to see you” not a moment of “best wishes to you and the family” but a moment of “May Christ settle all that bothers your heart” a moment of “May you find the peace that only comes from Christ himself” We will find peace in Christ.