Saturday, February 11, 2023


How’s That Working for You?
Homily for the 6th Week of Ordinary Time
February 12, 2023
9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. – St. Hilary – Fairlawn, Ohio


1.  CBS just announced this week that it canceled the Dr. Phil show after 21 years of
     being on the air
     - Dr. Phil McGraw was made famous when he appeared on Oprah and was great at
       giving people some common sense advice for their ordinary and extraordinary
       problems
     - he became known for his blunt and no nonsense responses to folks
     - I remember an interview in which a woman confided in him that 2x month
       her husband would come home drunk and become violent
     - her plan was to become a more docile wife, hoping he’d stop drinking
     - Dr. Phil asked, “How’s that working for you?”  “Are you getting what you want
       or need?”
     - of course, it wasn’t working at all – that’s why she was on the show in the first place
     - Dr. Phil’s approach seems so obvious
     - but what’s obvious to us is that we often not only make mistakes – but we make
       them over and over again

2.  Today’s 1st Reading from the book of Sirach would appreciate Dr. Phil’s
     methodology
     - it lays out our moral choices in a blunt – no-nonsense way
     - our choices are good or evil, life or death, water or fire
     - we can choose any one
     - but if we choose the evil, we shouldn’t be shocked to find out we’re unhappy
     - if we put our hand in the fire, we shouldn’t be surprised when we are burned
     - Sirach is telling us that God’s commands are not an arbitrary set of rules to test
       our obedience
     - God’s commands are the way to life
     - if we follow them, we will be happy.  If we choose something else, it will harm us

3.  We all have made choices that have harmed us
     - we know that Jesus tells us to serve others – especially those in greatest need
     - we should be people of generosity who give to others out of our abundance
     - we have received a lot – enough to make a difference
     - but if we choose to sit in front of the TV or computer screen and waste our time,
       life becomes smaller and smaller
     - it takes on an emptiness and we wonder, “why does my life have so little meaning?”

4.  Jesus tells us that all people have value and everyone deserves respect
     - yet it’s so easy to become biased, to base opinion on what we hear or see without
       delving deeper
     - we may demean a group because of our strongly held opinions
     - for a while it may feel good to feel superior
     - but, in time, we our prejudice hardens us
     - in refusing respect for any part of humanity we reduce the ability to love the
       people we want or need to love
     - at times we may think – it’s okay to be harsh or judgmental or intolerant
     - but, over time, it piles up and we can become angry and bitter and negative

5.  Each time we choose selfishness or prejudice Jesus is at our side saying, “How’s
     that working out for you?  Is it making you happy?  Do you feel whole and complete?
     Is it leading you to life?  If not, it might be time for a change

6.  Life is about choices
     - if you decide to spend more time on your career, your family may suffer
     - if you decide to spend more time with your family, your career may suffer
     - if you decide to give to the poor, you may be happier
     - if you decide to hoard what you have you may be miserable as a result

7.  In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks with great authority
     - the word used in Greek is “exousia” which means that he was authentic
     - Jesus’ power wasn’t dominating, it was contagious – others saw his life and said,
       “whatever he’s got, I want”
     - he had the ability to influence others for good
     - his message was convincing people that their choices mattered – here, and in the
       life to come     
     - he talks about the law’s fulfillment – in other words, it sets forth a way of life
     - it assumes that God has the whole picture, God understands humanity better than
       we do

8.  God sets before us life and death, water and fire
     - the scriptures today call us to choose life instead of death
     - to put our hand in the water and not the fire
     - to live in such a way as to fulfill the demands of the law

9.  Our God is not a dominating God who demands or dictates what we should do
     - he gives us free choice – he sets before us life and death
     - how we decide makes all the difference in the world
     - Like Dr. Phil, we may need to ask, from time to time, “How’s that working for you?”
     - if the choices we make are not working, it may be time to make another choice


Friday, February 3, 2023

My Uncle Bill


WILLIAM FRANKLIN SCHMITZ July 09, 1927 - February 03, 2023 WILLIAM FRANKLIN SCHMITZ, age 95. Beloved husband of the lateMildred Hayek-Schmitz and Sara (neeMuraco). Dearestfather of Robert(Kelli), Rev.James,Judy Strodtbeck (Mike), Janet Crute (Roy) and Barbara Fodor (Mark). Stepfather ofJeanne and Janice. Grandfather of 14. Great grandfather of 4. Brother of Carol Schlegel and the late Kenneth Schmitz. Passed away February 3, 2023. Williamwas devoted to his faith, his family and his friends. U.S. Army Veteran. Funeral Mass Monday, February 6th, 11:00 AM at St. Leo TheGreat Church, 4940 Broadview Rd., Cleveland. Friends may call at THE McGORRAY-HANNA FUNERAL HOME OF LAKEWOOD, 14133 DETROIT AVE. SUNDAY FROM 2-5 PM. In lieu of flowers William’s family suggestscontributions to St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St.Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. Cemetery Events Tribute Wall HOLY CROSS CEMETERY 14609 Brookpark Road, Brook Park,OH 44142 VISITATION 5 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Feb McGorray-Hanna Funeral Home of Lakewood 14133 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood,OH 44107 FUNERAL MASS 6 11:00 AM Feb St. Leo TheGreat Church 4940 BroadviewRd., Cleveland,OH 44109

I will miss my Uncle very much.  He was my godfather and a very good man.  Rest in peace Uncle Bill.


 In Praise of Salt

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Sat, Feb 3 - 4:00 p.m. Nativity BVM - Lorain, Ohio
Sun, Feb 4 - 8:30 a.m. - Nativity BVM - Lorain, Ohio
Sun, Feb 4 - 5:00 p.m. - St. John Neumann - Strongsville, Ohio

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WTKyRoZw3JFn6FQGS-EbvAq422jOAiSR/view?usp=sharing



Friday, January 27, 2023

 

More Than Just a Motto

Homily for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary time, Cycle C

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YLVDDt7ebSiVHSaFR3K6dvnxdegVJ2m/view?usp=sharing

Masses - St. Luke Parish - Clifton and Bunts Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio

Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday - 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.


Saturday, January 14, 2023

 

What's My Line?

Homily for the Second Sunday of the Year - January 14/15, 2022
Navity BVM - Lorain - 4:00 p.m. Sat, Jan 14
St. Barnabas - Northfield, Sun Jan 15 - 5:30 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/188zrSEU4RuK85AINcwBz8V0MPpLM0uhJ/view?usp=sharing


Saturday, January 7, 2023


The Irony of Power

Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany
January 7/8, 2022

4:30 p.m. Mass - St. Joseph, Strongsville

9:00 a.m. - Carmelite Monastery

10:30 a.m. - Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U8ietlaytjsSiO35hN9e_V3mR_1AzDtw/view?usp=share_link