Christ at the Center

April 17, 2022 - Truly, Christ is Risen!

The triumphant and festive celebration of this Easter Sunday of the Resurrection is not matched in the Gospel Reading (cf. Luke 24:1-12). We do not hear anything like the triumphant greeting, “Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!” Instead, the disciples were asking, “Christ is risen? Truly?” As demonstrated by the journey of the women to the tomb, many disciples thought that the Lord Jesus Christ was still dead. Initial reactions to the empty tomb and the angelic message were puzzlement, fear, disbelief, and amazement. As we read further in this chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Luke, they began to accept the truth when they met the Risen Lord. This led to a transformation in their lives as they identified with the Risen Lord through Holy Baptism. They were not afraid to testify about what they had seen and heard. We accept the truth about the resurrection of the Lord through His Church. This is also the context in which we experience transformation in Christ, dying to sin and glorifying God in our thoughts, words, and actions. As we renew our baptismal promises, we are encouraged to testify in our conversation and our conduct, “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!"

March 27, 2022 - Rejoicing in Our Inheritance from God

Part 4 of the series, “Growing in Faith: Our Identity in Christ.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is secure in His identity and steadfast in fulfilling His mission. His disciples must be secure in our identity in Christ so that we are steadfast in fulfilling our mission from Christ. What choices do we need to make as a result? This Sunday's focus is rejoicing in our inheritance from God. Saint Paul has described the Church as the “household of faith” (cf. Galatians 6:10c). In what is known as the ”Parable of the Prodigal Son,” Jesus describes two sons who became lost when they failed to understand the meaning of their relationship to their father as they engaged in the rituals and responsibilities in the household. Only one son came to realize it, reclaimed his identity, and rejoiced in his inheritance. But the father was still waiting for the other son to realize it. Deepening our understanding about what we believe and why we believe it will influence our behavior. It will lead us to remember our identity in God and to rejoice in our inheritance from God.

March 13, 2022 - Courageous Commitment to Christ

Part 2 of the series, “Growing in Faith: Our Identity in Christ.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is secure in His identity and steadfast in fulfilling His mission. His disciples must be secure in our identity in Christ so that we are steadfast in fulfilling our mission from Christ. What choices do we need to make that will influence the course of the life that our Lord wants us to undertake? This Sunday's focus is to be courageously committed to Christ. Practicing the virtue of fortitude is to be faithful to God amid difficulties and dangers for doing so. Several days before the Transfiguration of the Lord, Jesus taught that His mission as the Messiah of God would be fulfilled through His passion, death, and resurrection. Moreover, His disciples must take up their crosses in union with Him. During the Transfiguration, Peter the Apostle wanted to avoid the way of the cross. Peter needed to learn that we must strive to conform our lives to the teaching and example of Christ. Otherwise, our profession of faith is lip service. We carry the cross as we undergo conversion, deal with the circumstances of life, and live according to gospel principles that the world does not accept.  

March 9, 2022 - Triumph Over Temptation

Part 1 of the series, “Growing in Faith: Our Identity in Christ.” As we emerge from his pandemic, we do not want our parish just to survive but to thrive. Remaining steadfast in fulfilling our mission from Christ is dependent upon remaining secure in our identity in Christ. This is done in cooperation with God, including the graces that we are receiving in the Sacrament of Baptism. We are preparing to renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. Growing as disciples of Christ within His Church is a lifelong process. It influences the choices that we make and the course in which our lives will take. Today, we learn anew that we can triumph over temptation. Jesus does not engage in a debate with the devil. Jesus does not give any consideration about accepting the invitation to sin. Jesus is secure in His identity. In response to the devil’s temptation, Jesus immediately states what is the truth. When we resist temptation, we remember that we are beloved children of God. We are refusing to be seduced by lies because we rejoice in living according to the truth that God has revealed.

March 2, 2022 - The Purpose of Penance is to Praise God

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father'" (cf. Matthew 6:1). It is important to understand our purpose for participating in the imposition of ashes on our foreheads. We want people to be drawn to God through us. On Ash Wednesday, we remember the commitment of God toward us as the ashes are imposed with the sign of the cross. In His love for us, God does not abandon us to sin and death. Receiving the ashes is a penitential action. We resolve to undergo conversion because we have not fully loved God and our neighbor. We renew our cooperation with God to follow though on our commitment. If we engage in this action without being conscious of its purpose, then we are just parading around with ashes on our foreheads.

Loving our Enemies: Meeting the Chalennge

Hearing the challenging teaching of the Lord may tempt some Christians to conclude that they do not have the capacity to live according to it. However, the Lord Jesus would never command us to do something and not enable us to do it. Jesus knows about the human condition. During his ministry on earth, he engaged in conflict with religious and secular leaders. People lied about what He said so they could bring up charges against Him. One Apostle betrayed Him. Other Apostles and disciples abandoned Him when He took up His cross. The Chief Apostle denied knowing Jesus at one point. As He was being crucified, Jesus asked the Father to forgive. As He suffered on the cross, He was ridiculed. The Lord Jesus bore the wounds of rejection but overcame them in His Resurrection. It is the Lord who enables us not to become prisoners of past and present hurts. As recipients of God’s kindness and mercy, we must reflect God’s kindness and mercy toward others. What are the practical ways of loving our enemies? Due to this sensitive subject, Father Harris repeat several points.

February 5, 2022 - Fundamentals of Christian Discipleship

The call to follow Christ within the fellowship of His Church is the context is which Christ forms us to be His disciples. We cannot say that we are inadequate to fulfill this calling when God provides us with the same grace as He did for Isaiah, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, along with men and women across the centuries. The call to follow Christ is His initiative. He invites us to trust that as we cooperate with His grace, it will not ineffective (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:10a). Following Christ cannot be separated from living in fellowship with His Church. Those who claim that they can do that are not fully following Christ. It is important to remember the fundamentals of being a disciple of Christ. Following Christ within the fellowship of His Church is the context in which Christ is forming His disciples. 

January 23, 2022 - Reverence for the Word of God

Since 2020, the universal Church has observed the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the "Sunday of the Word of God." Pope Francis instituted this celebration to emphasize the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church, helping to make disciples and mature disciples of Christ. This universal observance is being held during the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Year of the Eucharist. The theme, "Encounter Christ's Presence," looks at the four ways in which our Lord Jesus Christ is present during Holy Mass. One of these ways is the Word of God. We show reverence by listening to the Word of God intently, learning its meaning intimately, and striving to live according to it with integrity. [Father Harris regrets the error of stating that Assyria liberated the Jews from the Babylonian exile. It was the Persians and Medes led by Cyrus.]

January 16, 2022 - Persevering in Prayer

Prayer must be a priority as a disciple of Christ within His Church. Good communication contributes to the building of good relationships. At a wedding feast in Cana, the dialogue between the Blessed Mother and Our Lord teaches us about prayer. Trusting in God is first action. This means to have confidence in God and never putting God to the test. Following the teaching of Christ is the next action. Mary told the servers to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Transformation by God is the action that happens as we pray and act. God will respond in a way that is better than we have expected These intentional actions by God and ourselves are expressions of a relationship, not a mere formula. The bond of life and love with our God is our motivation to persevere in prayer. The gift of faith enables us to approach a situation from God’s point of view before we can see it. When God enables us to see it, we must never forget it, and thank God for it.

January 9, 2022 - Resvolved to be a Witness for God

This is the fifth and final part of the series, "The Gift of God: Presence for Christmas." During the Christmas season, Jesus is revealed to be the Christ, who is the Savior and the Lord, in several event: To the Blessed Virgin Mary, during the Annunciation; to Joseph, during a dream; to Elizabeth and her baby John the Baptist, during the Visitation; to the shepherds, during the Nativity; to the magi, during the Epiphany; and to the assembly near the Jordan River, during the Baptism of the Lord. While the baptism of Christ is not the same as our baptism into Christ, there are similarities. They help us to renew our resolutions as beloved children of God. We will continue living in solidarity with Christ, experiencing salvation in Christ, and being servants of Christ. If we fail in these resolutions, then we repent and renew our resolve with the help of God. God has never given up on us. This is part of the good news of Christmas.