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Walking humbly in the footsteps of St. Paul, today I want to reassure you. Not that you won’t have to face difficulties in life—haven’t we all this year? But that no matter what happens God is always with us, offering signs of love and compassion to those with eyes of faith. Saint Paul was one of those visionaries who saw God’s presence and became deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News. His faith was unshakable even in adversity. Remember, the early days of the Church were full of conflict and struggle. Francis of Assisi was another visionary—the saint whose feast day we celebrate today. He abandoned a privileged life—among the 1% of his day—to follow the Gospel. When he heard God calling him to “fix my Church,” Francis first thought that meant fixing the small chapel in his beloved Assisi. But God had bigger plans. Once again, the Church was in disarray and Francis was called to be a reformer. He began a movement known as the Franciscans who witnessed God’s love for the poor by living lives of poverty, prayer, and peace. Humble Francis would transform the world, performing work that has lasted nearly a thousand years—carried on now by missioners like you. He led by example, famous for having said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” This is the saint that Pope Francis honored by taking his name. Friend, perhaps you are grieving a loss or a personal setback right now. Our Maryknoll family has suffered losses this year, too. But I know that saints like Paul and Francis live among us, witnessing God’s love. They are the healers, the peacemakers, the friends and parish neighbors who always manage a kind word. They are the candles that light our way home to God. Through them—and with prayer—God is always at work. As Paul says, make your requests known to God. Then, yes, be assured.

I think of kindness and everyday concern for others in the same way you probably do: These are the virtues that civilize our time on earth and give us a sense of completeness as caring human beings living the Gospel of compassion.St. Paul has sound advice for those of us trying to improve our human condition. Care for one another as Jesus would: love one another as you love yourself, as God loves you.When relationships are built on a mutual caring, the outcome is always the same: give more/get more. The more a married couple gives to one another in honor and respect, the closer they become. The more family members accommodate one another’s needs, the stronger the ties. We can apply our formula to relationships in our parish and neighborhood, and into bigger circles beyond that. Not surprisingly, the foundation first built at home is often the one we carry with us throughout life.Today’s Gospel reinforces a second important message that all relationships flourish when we’re honest, especially with ourselves. We may have a tendency to see faults in others before we see our own. But Jesus showed us the way: everyone has the possibility of redemption, even the most sinful among us. The first step is looking at ourselves honestly and then asking for God’s blessing. Friend, our actions can always be a reflection of God’s love if we make it so. And isn’t that our goal? The greatest gift we have is the invitation to eternal life, the very gift we celebrate as missioners. By caring for one another as Jesus has asked, we are giving and receiving in great abundance, and inviting everyone we know to salvation in Christ.

The idea of fairness is ingrained in us going all the way back to childhood. From the playground to the classroom and back to the dinner table, our caregivers always told us to treat people fairly. So what’s wrong with today’s Gospel? Nothing really.Jesus gives us an important lesson in understanding God’s concept of fairness—or better yet, generosity. In a telling parable, he recounts the story of aggrieved laborers who were paid the same amount as workers who came into the fields later in the day. “Why should they get paid the same as us when we did most of the work?” went the argument. After listening to the grumbling, the wise landowner explained that he paid everyone exactly as promised. You could say God wasn’t playing fair. But you could also say that God is all about giving us more than we deserve according to our needs. In fact, if we only got back in divine grace what we earned, we would be an unhappy lot! We depend on God to shower us with blessings. So today’s lesson, for me, is practice generosity and don’t look back.When I first went to Peru as a young missioner, I had to learn something about generosity myself. Every year, the Aymara people would hold an extravagant fiesta for the entire community that cost what I’m sure was a small fortune. I was scandalized. What a waste of time and money, I thought. Eventually, I learned that this annual event was one of the things that held the community together. A celebration of life with food, music, and local custom was an act of generosity, and a community-building experience. I realized that I was wrong, and they were right. Being generous is a reflection of God’s infinite goodness.Friend, no one is unemployed in the Kingdom of God as Pope Francis is fond of saying. We are all called to do our part, toiling in the vineyards of life. If we have moments when something seems unfair, we can remember that the compensation we seek—salvation in Christ—is not always merited but freely given by...

I hope you enjoy a good challenge. Today is Part II of the conversation I began with you last week about seeing God in everyone, including people we disagree with. The challenge I have in mind today is forgiveness. Do you think of forgiveness as something you measure out, depending on the why and wherefore? That must have been Peter’s thought when he asked Jesus if it was OK to forgive someone “seven times,” using an expression that in ancient cultures signified completeness or perfection. To Peter, that must have seemed like quite the gesture. But to Jesus it left a lot of room for improvement. “Seventy-seven times” is what Our Lord said in reply, taking Peter and the rest of us beyond our human calculations to the expansiveness of In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to forgive generously—even extravagantly—just as our Father in heaven is forgiving. The reason why was never more clear to me than when I served in mission among the Aymara of Peru years ago. They taught me that forgiveness brings as much reward to the one who gives as the one who receives. Before the start of Mass, the Aymara would hold a communal pardoning. If there were 100 people there, it didn’t matter. However long it took, each person asked someone for forgiveness. They would repeat this ritual at planting time or any public event. What I came to understand is that each of us has something that needs forgiving. The only way to restore a relationship is to take the first step—and that’s asking for forgiveness. Friend, the “arithmetic of the day” is simple: forgive, then be forgiven. No matter the challenge, recognizing the presence of God in everyone is where the healing starts.

Love is always easy… when we’re the one being loved back. But loving the way Jesus asked—unconditionally and without exception—well, that’s another story. What to do when love isn’t exactly a two-way street?I can only tell you how I try to live up to God’s expectation of me: first, by recognizing that each person I meet may be different but still created in God’s image and therefore worthy; and second, by admitting that it’s always more fruitful to sit in judgment of my own actions before judging someone else’s. Learning about differences and discovering God in the process is the essence of our mission lives. It’s certainly true for our fathers and Brothers who witness the Gospel in many countries amid many cultures and traditions. And it’s true for those of us serving closer to home where relationships within our own families and circle of friends can be challenging—and instructive, too.St. Paul isn’t saying we can’t—or never will—have differences worth arguing over. Remember, Jesus himself didn’t hesitate to call out the hypocrites of his day. His message is more about bringing God into the conversation, recognizing the divine source of all life. Once we have that insight, the possibility for being true missioners becomes a reality. We see creation for what it is: a reflection of God’s infinite love, full of differences and rich in beauty.Friend, the presence of God is everywhere, waiting to be acknowledged and received. Through it all, we are being called as missioners to move beyond our differences to fulfill the law by living as Christ did. Hard work, yes. But as St. Paul reminds us, love is always the answer.

Knowing what God wants of us… that’s the challenge for every person of faith. And I am one of them. Sometimes life tests us more than we would like—and that’s when our relationship with God can change. We’re convinced we have the answers as is “I know what’s best for me, Lord. Are you listening?” Today’s gospel reminds us with a bit of urgency that God’s ways aren’t always our ways. When Jesus foretold his own suffering and death, Peter became agitated and rejected all such talk. Jesus immediately reminded him that he was thinking the way human beings do. Not as God does. Honestly, I have some sympathy for Peter. After all, who among us can think like God? But what Jesus is saying is that God’s plan may be beyond our comprehension. We must have faith that God’s way is always better than our own. Our role is to be open to our special calling, and to serve others with the gifts we were given, especially the gift of salvation in Christ. And that means sharing our hope of eternal life in the face of happiness as well as sorrow. Friend, conforming to the expectations of the modern age isn’t always a winning formula, as St. Paul reminds us. But placing our trust in God is. So always have hope. Believe that you are in God’s hands. Answer your call to serve with grace, and you will gain new life just as Jesus has promised.

Peter was absolutely sure. He knew that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the living God. More than 2000 years later, Jesus is asking us the same question: “Who do you say that I am?”If we agree with Peter—and I certainly do—then the choices we make in life will inevitably line up with our Christian faith. In fact, it can’t be otherwise because sharing the joy of our faith is what mission is all about: going out into the world, just as Christ did, to witness God’s love through acts of compassion and charity… always giving more than we think we can… and by our actions, proclaiming salvation in Christ who gave us the gift of eternal life. We proclaim Christ as the Son of God when we do things that seem next to impossible. I think of our heroic first responders and service workers who continue under life-threatening conditions because they are bound by conviction to honor their calling. I think about the example of our fathers and Brothers on the frontlines of care, especially in the pandemic hotspots of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They are bound by conviction, too—to love and serve the Lord by caring for others. Father Joseph Healy, M.M. tells me that the small Christian communities of East Africa where he serves are proving to be lifesavers in the age of COVID-19. These small groups, a new model for the Church in Africa, care for their members through prayer and the safe practice of good works. In Peru, Father Joseph Fedora, M.M. is restricted in his prison ministry. So now he accompanies inmates by phone or via the Internet. When love is the motivation, expressions of mission are always possible. Friend, we proclaim Christ as the Son of God each time we witness the endless love he has for us. Peter was relentless in spreading the message. In fact, his life can be summed up in the final words of his second epistle: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).” That is my prayer for...

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things… nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 Maybe you have been to Mary’s Knoll—the place I call home. Or maybe one day you will visit us. The first place I will take you to is our chapel, Our Lady Queen of the Apostles, where we gather in prayer. Outside the chapel is a dedication plaque embossed with today’s scripture from Isaiah.I love pausing here to remember the role of prayer in our lives. Prayer is our personal lifeline, something as basic—and necessary—as the air we breathe. It’s the centering experience that places us in God’s good care. What then is a house of prayer and where might it be?A house of prayer is certainly our chapel and your parish church. But it can also be inside your heart where you have your deepest conversations with God… the place you share your troubles, ask for help, and give thanks. Inside the heart is where we can also grow as missioners. One of my most fervent prayers as a Maryknoll priest is for an understanding that we are all God’s children tasked with caring for one another… that we acknowledge the worth of all people, especially those struggling with sickness, job loss, family separation, and personal tragedies. That we become the missioners we were called to be. Like the woman in today’s gospel, our faith will be rewarded with the presence of God. And we will become pillars in the one true house of prayer that is our Church, welcoming all to salvation in Christ.Friend, let me add a personal note about the power of prayer: I know you have been praying for the Maryknoll family overseas and those of us who live in the New York area where the pandemic has taken an enormous toll. I want to assure you that you are present in our house of prayer and in our hearts. And your good will...

“But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”(Matthew 14:30)Trust. Where does that come from? How do we know we’ll have enough of it when the time comes? Like the apostles, we can find ourselves out on the water when a strong wind comes up. Suddenly we’re frightened. In fact, we’re not sure we’re going to make it. Today’s gospel is a study in placing trust in God, even when we have our doubts. The apostles had set out on the Sea of Galilee to fish, planning to return to shore with their catch. (Life as usual.) But a storm came up and suddenly things turned dangerous. (Also life as usual.) When the apostles caught sight of someone on the water, they panicked until they realized it was Jesus. It was only when the apostles, Peter especially, kept their focus on Him that the storm subsided and they returned safely to shore.In Old Testament stories, the sea symbolized chaos and danger. So Jesus walking on water is a complete reversal—an expression of divine mastery over the universe and an invitation to place our trust in God no matter what. Friend, having doubts is part of life, something we all experience at times. But trusting in God is the greater part of who we are. Faith is what makes the difference. When Jesus invites us to draw closer, he isn’t saying the winds won’t blow. He’s saying that regardless of circumstance, He has our back. We can have faith that nothing is ever going to separate us from the love of God.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things… nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 We can all be tigers at times when it comes to defending an opinion or a point of view. When I’m convinced of something, I’ll argue my case as well as anyone!But today I’m going to challenge myself. In light of St. Paul’s ringing proclamation of Christ’s love, do I have the same kind of conviction about my faith that he does? Does God really love me that much?When the rhythm of life is steady and sure—I think back to the beginning of the year—it’s easy to overlook God’s presence. We’re enveloped in the normal flow of everyday living and have no need to believe it should be otherwise. These are the times I tell myself to pause for a moment and think about the inevitable bumps in the road, and yes, the losses: the times I felt rescued, forgiven, accepted without prejudice, cared for and loved despite the circumstance. I think St. Paul is saying, “There are lessons here…”Life’s difficulties—and how we react to them—define us as faithful followers of Christ. Being convinced of his love is recalling the time we were healed because someone extended us mercy… or the time we restored a relationship because someone else took the first step. And especially the times we are big enough to admit to an error in judgment. These are the conversations I have with God to help me recall that every act of love comes from a divine source, and that every act of love is a reflection of the infinite good that is God. That is constant and unchanging. It’s the source of my confidence and St. Paul’s, too.Friend, life may not always unfold the way we would like. That was true even for St. Paul. But that doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us. The door to healing and the greatest love imaginable is always open....

“We know all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28)Paul’s reassurances are always welcome and this week his timing is perfect. In the coming days, all active Maryknoll Priests and Brothers would have participated in a first-time week of Assembly to examine the future of mission. What are our goals? Where are our resources needed most? How can we best steward our gifts for the people we serve today and in the future? As with many things these past months those plans had to be changed. We still face these fundamental challenges. With encouragement from St. Paul and your love of mission, I’m asking for the comfort of your prayers as well so that after the past 109 years as Maryknoll we can stay open to understand where God is calling us today. All along our pastor, Pope Francis, has been our rock. In messages to both Catholics and the world, he has made mission the centerpiece of today’s Church. He calls us constantly to go out in service to others. In fact, he says the Church must be “a field hospital” that takes in the sick and the marginalized even when our actions are not welcome by some. As a Society and with your prayers, I believe we are ready to take on the challenges of a world dramatically altered by the pandemic and the realities of a new global economy. With that in mind, even though the assembly is canceled our Fathers and Brothers will continue to reexamine our role in the world. What missions can we turn over to the people because they are now self-sustaining? What new places need our help? How can we more effectively call members of the laity to mission? How can we better reach young men who are considering a religious vocation? How can we enhance our use of the media and the vast array of digital tools?Friend, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and your prayers, we will find the answers. Paul says emphatically that all things work together for...

Good things come in small packages… remember that saying? The parable of the tiny mustard seed is our teaching moment of the day.We easily notice people who are called to great achievement and succeed in their calling. How can we ever forget all the magnificent souls serving on the frontlines during our global pandemic, at home and overseas? But there are everyday heroes as well that don’t get the headlines, and I’m sure you know them: a family member who stays up all night with a loved one who is ill… a teacher who takes extra time with a struggling student… an employer who encourages a worker to go on to night school. Maybe you’re one of these people. I wouldn’t be surprised.Rather than get caught up in trying to do what the world calls “big things,” let’s acknowledge how much good the “small things” can do. Plant one mustard seed—a kind gesture, a spontaneous hello—and see how it often grows into life-changing things like hope, gratitude—and a desire to return the favor. Then there are the “mustard seeds” you loose track of. During my days in the Altiplano of Peru, I returned to a village I had visited sometime earlier. A woman greeted me and said, “Father, do you remember how much the words you said during Mass on All Souls Day helped me?” Honestly, I had no memory of this. But she did. She was grieving for a loved one and whatever I said at the time was a comfort. You never know how your mission spirit is going to impact someone’s life. So just be generous. Plant mustard seeds every day—as many as you can. And then watch the kingdom of heaven come to life in all its glory.