My dear parishioners, the principalities and powers of this world march by, indeed they trample over countless persons deemed to be expendable. Two words describe well “little ones” who are left behind in the global dust, even crushed and left for dead. They are abused and forgotten. To them Jesus opens his arms, saying, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”  [Mt 18:10] 

Beloved of St. Philip, grace and peace in the Lord’s name! The times we live in are not just edgy but deeply tormented. Violence, drugs, perversion, lawlessness and civil anarchy are widely accepted behavior models. Our dysfunctional political leaders loathe the citizens who elected them. Through the smoke and haze of lawless cities and mangled borders, our natural human confidence falters and dread of the future grows. Through all this noise and claptrap, our loving God speaks to us a word of courage and fortitude. Courage is the giving of self to others even at great price. Fortitude is the strength to bear up when good things and good people are taken from us.

My dear parishioners, study is never complete, practice never comes to an end. Whenever a gifted figure dies, our sadness encompasses more than the loss of the artist’s personality and flair. We mourn the passing of genius as well. If only the artist could be permitted a little more time to achieve perfection. If only he could have another day.

My dear parishioners, you’ve heard it said, I’ll never love again, My hope is gone, or I don’t need faith. Though such thoughts suggest awful experiences of some sort, you don’t hear forlorn people claiming that faith, hope and love or similar “goods” of character are in themselves worthless. To clarify, the person who says I’ll never love again -- whatever that may mean -- does not attack love as an idea or as an ideal. To the contrary, he is expressing his own personal inadequacy and unhappy history in matters of love.