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A collection of homilies and liturgies from St Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are Christian disciples in mission.
As Roman Catholics, we are very familiar with the crucifix. There is a cross, but I think the question we might ask ourselves tonight, why for Catholics and other brothers and sisters who are close to Roman Catholicism, why is the crucifix so important and not just the cross? Some of our Christian brothers and sisters really say that the cross is a sign of victory. We've already have been saved. And so if the emphasis is on victory, on salvation, there's no need.
Speaker 2:Christ has already died once. Well, here's the thing about our theology of God. God takes on humanity, and we're all gonna celebrate that next month. The whole theology is God touches humanity because he created it, founded to be good as scripture says, but that God identifies with all humanity. So God identifies with our suffering.
Speaker 2:If all we talk about is victory, if all we talk about we've been saved, if all we talked about is we're going to heaven, What does God say about suffering? When we have a serious illness, when we experience failure, when we experience brokenness and pain and sorrow, We have a God that identifies with it and that's what the crucifix is about. The worst form of human torture which not Roman citizens were allowed but other people, criminals, those who were against the state. That's why they put the sign here as the king of the Jews so that Pilate and Caesar know that anyone else wants to be against the state, this is what's gonna happen to you. And that the gospel talks about today is how God sees power.
Speaker 2:How God sees power versus humanity. Notice the jeering and mocking that's going on today. These are people who see powerlessness, who see weakness, who see failure. Religious leaders, save yourself. If you're God and look where you're at, there's your throne, the crucifix.
Speaker 2:Soldiers jeer at him. And those who are there mock him and make fun of him. Even one of the criminals does as well. And the reason for that is because they see power differently than god. Why does god see power in crucifixion?
Speaker 2:Because from it is still mercy. That's why that criminal, some of you think he got away with it. He didn't go to confession. He didn't do his penance. And yet, god tells him through Jesus, today, you will be with me in paradise.
Speaker 2:From weakness, from powerlessness, god's mercy still goes through because god does not use power for selfish reasons. He speaks to human power. Notice the number of times he says, do you see how kings of Gentiles, power and authority over you, do not be like them. Have we listened in two thousand years? He says, if you expect to be great in my kingdom, the kingdom of Christ, okay, the kingdom of God here on Christ the king, he say, you must be the servants of others, but there's no power.
Speaker 2:There's no control and greed and thinking of oneself because God begins out of love, not self serving. And yet the world always mocks that including Christians. Let me give you an example. I talked to father Stefan and Eric Tamayo who also went through theology. And here's what used to happen when us when we take church history.
Speaker 2:When you come out of a mindset that it's all pure, the church is always right and I'm giving my life to the Lord. And yay, Catholics number one. And then we take church history. Your whole world falls apart. Do you know that?
Speaker 2:Scandal, brokenness, people misusing power. It begins with the disciples who misused power. And for two thousand years, the church in authority and those who call themselves Christians misuse power all the time, and yet here we are two thousand years later. That somehow there are enough people who get it. So we used to have to, in the seminary, watch over the younger students taking church history for the first time because their world was falling apart.
Speaker 2:Some lost their faith and left the seminary. Others could not handle mistakes and sins from people who claim to be leaders, and that happens all the time. Many people left Jesus. And I'm sure some of the disciples, by their behavior, was not good. And so the church for two thousand years has misused power.
Speaker 2:Have there been popes that have done sinful things? Yes. Hierarchy, lay people, priests, we've all done things to misuse power. It's been self serving and greedy and cruel to people. And that's last for two thousand years up to right now at 04:30 mass in this country and throughout the world.
Speaker 2:We see it every day how power is misused, and that's why we celebrate Christ the king. Not just so that you can put a crown on Jesus, it's because God is speaking through scriptures of how power ought to be. Power is meant to lift people up to serve, and these the example that we follow. The powerless comes then when people say, no. You are powerless.
Speaker 2:You are weak. You can't help us. You're good to no one. Power means you have to rule and go over people, and that's what we're comfortable with because we can see that with our eyes, and yet we're impatient with the power of Christ because we don't see it. You rule from a crucifix, a sign for losers, enemies of the state, criminals, people who are despised and looked down upon, and yet there is our savior teaching us how to use power.
Speaker 2:I can only speak for myself but I've lived long enough to know when people are in power and authority, when people around them are better, they win my heart. I'd like to tell you every pope and every bishop is a good leader and they're not. There are a number of bishops I've absolved of any authority over my life. I'm respectful, I respect their office, but I see how they make people worst around them. Any leader who misses his used power has no authority over them.
Speaker 2:I absolve them of any authority because the ones that keep my faith going, after learning church history, I've seen enough people who do it the right way and that's why I'm Roman Catholic. How many leave because all they see is misuse of power, of authority, and being cruel and mean to people, and only thinking of self serving oneself. That happens for two thousand years. But I choose to follow and make my leaders those who do it right, and I've lived long enough to know the difference. Right now, we have many Christians who take the name Christian, and yet they're seduced by power.
Speaker 2:They are silent to mistreatment. Even my own parishioners here, who are okay or silent or have other agendas when people are treated cruelly, denied basic benefits because we look through the lens of politics, ideology, of power, and what is right, and what is us first, and you're so blind to the crucifix. You see the cross, and the cross is beautiful, and it is saying a lot. But if we only have the cross, many times we'll believe just in victory. And there is meaning in suffering, in dealing with others, in caring, and having compassionate for though compassion for those who are hurting right now because of misuse of power.
Speaker 2:Happy feast day, Christians. I invite you to absolve people to have power over you who abuse, who misuse, who wound people. And I think that's what Jesus teaches us to do. That doesn't mean we're disrespectful. It doesn't mean you don't recognize some authority they have, but I choose not to follow them and I choose not to listen.
Speaker 2:Because there are enough good leaders in the church who do it right. And that's the only reason I'm well, besides God and Notre Dame football. But really, there are people who are living the gospel rightly. And you know what I have to tell you? Many of you sit in the pews right now.
Speaker 2:I've heard your stories. I've seen how you struggle with things. I see unconditional love from you. I see struggle. I see people who are sinful who keep coming back for mercy.
Speaker 2:You do it well, and you inspire me, and I give you leadership over me. My God, I went to eight years in the seminary. Did you know that? Almost a doctor, not quite. And I don't make enough money, but you know what?
Speaker 2:The real teaching isn't in the books. It's in what you have taught me. I love you parents. When you struggle to love family members that disappoint you and wound you, and you're worried about their soul and all, and you know what? You still invite them to dinner.
Speaker 2:You still support them. You still lift them up. You still love them. You don't close the door. That has the biggest effect because if all I saw was brokenness and you close the door and tell them to get lost, I would be a different priest today.
Speaker 2:And I would preach to you then anybody that disappoints you, cut them off. There are some Christians that teach that. But I can't help it because many of you have taught me to love people who are broken. Man, I've seen a lot of disappointment in your kids. Isn't that right, parents?
Speaker 2:I've heard your stories. I've disappointed my parents too. And yet, you love unconditionally. It doesn't mean it's easy. It doesn't mean it's black and white and perfect.
Speaker 2:You've struggled and walked through it. You are my leaders because I've seen good behavior. I know the difference between misuse of power and good power because I too have power just like you. Who do we wanna follow? What is real power and what is abuse of power?
Speaker 2:I think you know. It's whether you wanna do something about it or not.