Christmas 2013 - Let Us Set Out to Be His Light and Warmth

• Only a few days ago downed power lines and collapsed tree branches greeted us
• Only a few days ago road ways were blocked and water lines were clogged
•  Only a few days ago candle light and battery power lead us along the way
•  Only a few days ago darkness enveloped and dampness encircles us

The storm which hit us only a few days ago shook us to the point of not knowing if light would return. For some - including several parish families in Puslinch - this darkness remains this Christmas! For some they now - in a very real way - know what it means to be out of their home for Christmas as they stay with relatives, celebrate Christmas in a motel, seek shelter with a neighbor - they feel the cold not of a stable but of a shelter unfamiliar to them and a next day not completely known. But not just for them. Darkness and Dampness remains too:

•    For those who at this time of year recall a loved one - son, spouse, sibling who has died.
•    For those who at this time of year revisit a Christmas of old where more was possible financially and a future seemed secure.
•    For those who at this time of year remember a time when cancer was not a word they knew, where chaos was not a sentiment they felt, when caution was not an approach they undertook.

And yet today we gather - size and shape, young aged and anxious teen, adult at their prime or senior walking cautiously - we gather to celebrate a mystery that even in darkness is seen, even in uncertainty is heard - the mystery ...the message

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Our new Holy Father, Pope Francis - who celebrates his first Christmas with us as Universal Pastor wrote some time ago: “Knowing Jesus is the best gift that anyone can ever receive. That we have encountered Him is the best thing that has happened in our lives. Making Him known by our deeds and words is our greatest joy.”

You see that is the light. You see that is the warmth. You see He is the Way ! But that light is seen.That warmth is felt only ....only....in an encounter with Christ found when we share Him. As a Family of Faith we have sought to be that encounter with Christ  - it has been seen - the light has shown : a light ................

- made with 480 red stocking of school supplies collected given to an African school
- made with 210 toys available to children and families in need in our own community
- made when we collected blankets and back packs, served meals for the homeless and offered shelter and bought generators for those truly Out in the Cold.
- made when a hosting a baby shower for young mothers, or collecting food, toothbrushes and even electronics
- made when constructing a well of water for a village in Haiti or blankets made of milk bags to mothers seeks a place of rest for their baby
- that light has been present in prayer 24 hours a day - 365 days a year in an Adoration Chapel and seen in a glowing red light a top our tower to say He is here!

As a Family of Faith we have sought to be that encounter with Christ  - it has been felt - that warmth has been sensed ................

- when we have received and distributed mitten and toques to children and teens in need
- when we have offered compassion to those bereaved, a gathering place for those divorced, a stop over for those seeking a place of prayer, a small group for those who wish to grow in faith
- when we have dropped off a meal to an expectant mother, when we have purchased a portable air conditioner for an elderly apartment dweller, when we have ensured a hearing aide for one in need or a kind card for a lonely soul that proclaims you are not forgotten

As Pope Benedict XVI would often say - ‘Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.’”

This is our family of faith - we encounter Him, we engage with Him....We like those Shepherds say “ Let us go and see what has been proclaimed to us...and so we too set out....”

• Set out - even though darkness still exists        

• Set out - even though barriers still block our way

• Set out - even though dampness surrounds us    

• Set out - even though the storm may come again

We set out - because we have met Him, and He knows us - We Set out because we have been told of Him and now seek to tell others of Him.

Do you know what my Christmas Wish is ....
▸    That this Christmas you will see His Light
▸    That this Christmas even in a season of storms you might sense His warmth
▸    That this Christmas that  winds of sorrow, sadness, uncertainty, confusion might be calmed
▸    That this Christmas you might truly be able to say I have encountered Him...in the light and warmth of this family of faith - and as a result - set out with us to let His light shine!

Advent 4 - Don't Let them Steal Christmas

As the fourth Sunday of Advent arrives I must tell you that I love Christmas  The lights, the music, the beauty, the decor, maybe not the weather of Christmas, but everything else of Christmas I truly do. Christmas is a season that intensified everything in our life - the relationships - the beauty and the challenges. Now, I am not sure about you - but I am generally open to both traditional and contemporary things. But when it comes to Christmas - I am a bit of traditionalist. I like the traditional hymns of Christmas, I like a good size Christmas tree. I enjoy the traditional actions of Christmas and checking my stocking for a visit from you know who... I am pretty "possessive" of Christmas. Have you ever thought about what steals Christmas.

......for example according to Statistic Canada we will spend a total of $23 billion in gift giving this year and some 63 billion on Christmas related items - (you might think I spent that just myself yesterday at Cambridge Mall).

...for example more family disagreements, more relationships, more occasions of misunderstanding happen at Christmas then any other time of the year - the number one day of the year when boyfriend/girlfriend break up - Christmas !

This is not the traditional Christmas

Now don’t get me wrong - this is my favorite time of the year....and gift giving is a part of it - after all we celebrate the greatest gift and Advent has been about preparing and giving the gift of kindness,   but there are things that sometimes strive to take us away from the traditions of Christmas - so I guess the question that always comes before us “The Secret of a Spiritually Jolly Christmas” - how do we do it !

So - the Gospel to day brings us back ... it brings us home...

• Home to the real meaning of Christmas
• Home to the most magnificent truth in the entire Bible 
• Home to our Lord's greatest promise 
• Home to the reason we celebrate Christmas         Namely this: "GOD IS WITH US!"

When we decide that Christ the great gift will be first - and the other things we do represent that great gift - well we keep things in perspective It is what Christmas is about. God is with us. The four weeks of Advent are about getting us ready for a traditional Christmas!

• They are about seeing all we do through the lens of kindness

• They are about noticing what we celebrate through the window of care and justice

• They are about celebrating those who are filling the chairs around our table not in an unhealthy way lamenting the empty chair or wishing more chairs were filled

• They are about viewing our choices not as spur of the moment reactions but responses in love to the truth that "GOD IS WITH US!"

So don’t let your Christmas be stolen "GOD IS WITH US!"  - all four candles are lite.  Christmas is here and we can make it traditional if all we do is about seeing, speaking and serving one another knowing "GOD IS WITH US!"

Advent 3 - Rejoice in Grace

The Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday – a Sunday for rejoicing! On this Rejoicing Sunday, a good question to ask yourself is this: in these times and in this culture that is so negative and cynical and seemingly without hope, about what do you have to rejoice?

Halfway through our Advent pilgrimage we pause for a moment for rejoicing. The readings are generally happy readings and provide us with a glimpse of our final destination. A wonderful sight is set before us, one that is truly a reason for rejoicing. However the readings are not all scenes of peace and tranquility. There is a paradox here. On the one hand, there is a scene of blossoming life and beautiful restoration; on the other, there is a picture of John the Baptist languishing in prison.  

We all need to have some empathy for John the Baptist. He appeared to do everything right. Even the public historian Josephus describes John the Baptist as a very gifted and popular preacher, while he has very little to say about Jesus. John’s expectations of the Messiah were not in synchrony with what he saw in Jesus. So he was very confused. Have you ever had a situation or an experience, similar to that of John the Baptist where you did everything that you thought was right but nothing seemed to turn out the way you wanted? Yet, it seems that in the midst of his “prison”; John the Baptist is awaken not to sadness or despair but to hope and grace. Grace is the unmerited blessed of God in our life.  Have you ever experienced a ‘grace filled’ moment?

Can you name a moment in your life when you were “awaken” to rejoice not in despair, fear, punishment, but rather to a blessing that was not merited – a grace filled encounter.

So what do we have to rejoice for ? So why are we pausing to rejoice? Well because we are His children and because of that - well - we live in Grace.

Advent 2 - The Heart of the Matter

Several decades ago a story has been told of a young couple in the north shore of England who had wanted a child of their own. Unable to have such they allowed their name to be on a list for years in the hopes of one day being able to adopt a child. Their happy day arrived shortly before Christmas one tender year when a young boy waited in his crib for his new parents.

As they arrived at the adoption service, they heard in a room the muffled cries of what seemed to be a young mother. Aware that they had arrived the compassionate case worker came toward them and walked them into another room where this small boy lay with a days worth of clothes and diapers in a small bag beside. As the parents gushed over their new child they noticed in the crib was also a pair of letters - one from the child’s mother to the adoptive parents and the other addressed to the child himself.

With the letter to the parents were the simple words of thanks and a request that when the boy turned 18 years of age he be told of this letter - which did not share any details of who the birth mother was but simply had a message. The parents agreed to never share the name, but yes they would give the letter. As the new proud parents left the agency they spoke about what they would have written in such a letter.

"I wonder what she wrote? "They asked each other. "If I had to condense all I feel about life and love into a few precious words what would I say?" They inquired of each other. "I would have no time for trivia. I would not be concerned about economics, politics, the weather, the size of house or the type of car. At such a time I would want to dwell on what life was all about and what things were absolutely essential."

John the Baptist in our Gospel today started going around trying to get people to be on track - to not miss the mark - to focus on what really matters in the course of life The second candle on our advent wreath beckons not only more light - but also an urgent call - time is fleeting. And while the message might be the same as Black Friday sales conclude and 50% off sales begins - the message of urgency speaks not of the number of shopping days - but the fleeting passing of time. For we do not know what the future holds - we know only the passing moments of today.

The letter to the Romans in the Second Reading proclaims a clear but close message when it invites us to be steadfast in encouragement, welcoming and in the service to another.

•    We see this in our parish theme of Kindness this Advent - the desire to look for ways to demonstrate kindness in the midst of the busyness and demands of our day.

•    We see this in our Red Stocking Campaign as we seek to reach out and make a difference in one school community in Africa where school supplies make possible a lunch program which results in learning.

•    We see this in our commitment to Haiti and the water system we have made possible allowing a hospital to care for those in most urgent need and in the Milk Bag Mats we send, the support we give to the mission we support.

•    We see this in our openness to aiding in the relief work in the Philippines - helping a nation  recover.

•    We see this in the openness of our Neighbourhood Ministry which is seeking to help some 160 children this Christmas by collecting a simple toy and making it available to them.

It’s the core of what we do. It is at the heart of what we are about.  It is Faithfulness to Who God Made Us to Be.

And yet Isaiah (1st  Reading) remind us that at times we fail to truly understand what we are about

There was a man who went to the doctor and after his physical took place he said to the doctor who was a family friend “ I am really concerned about my wife, I don’t think she is feeling too well and I know she is having problems with her hearing.” The doctor, concerned, because he knew her, said “well if you are really that worried I will get my nurse to go and see her and we will check it out. But, in the meantime there are a few simple things you can do in order to determine just how bad her hearing loss is .”

When you walk in the door tonight - some 40 feet way - normal conversational tone - ask a simple question. And if you don’t get a response then move in 30 feet, and then 20 feet etc.... The man thought that was a great idea and so when he got home he walked in the door and asked “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the living room and asked again  “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the dinning room and asked “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the kitchen and asked again  “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved right behind her and asked “What’s for supper” - and she said “ Oh Harry, for the 5th time we are having chicken.”

Sometime we get confused about where the issue really is, and who really has the issue and what the heart of the matter is truly all about.

So the second candle is lite - what can’t you see yet ?
•    Is there anything in your life right now which is preventing you from getting to the heart of the matter - and see who ....what...really matters?
•    Are there things in your schedule, processes in your life, policies on your radar, that are hampering you from sincerely serving the one who matters
•    Have you surrounded yourself with choices, company, commitments, conversations which take away the scent of goodness and kindness from your life
The Sacrament of Reconciliation this coming Thursday at 7:00pm is a good way to start

This year "kids" of all ages want the Apple Mac Book Air, the iPhone 5s, the Xbox-One, a Kindle Fire, or Play Station 4. These gifts will be used and will enhance for a time. But might I suggest a greater gift - ensure the ones you love have your time  and help them, ans yourself, keep focused on what really matters this Advent Season - because its  the heart of the matter.

Advent: A Change of Heart

Have you ever had reason to think about your heart ? I have - been thinking about it a lot in fact. The heart is the indefinable part of ourselves that causes us to do so many things - go places, buy the things, date the people  - incredibly powerful tool in our decision making - when we set our hearts on something - it is so difficult to change our minds about it - tough for anyone to talk us out of something.

Have you ever had a change of heart about what you believe in?
•    I’m talking you use to be a die heart Penguins Fan and now you cheer on the Bruins
•    I’m talking you use to be a fried chicken, fast food, cup cake for Breakfast (after all it’s a pastry) type of guy and now you are watching every calorie and reading the ingredients
•    I'm talking you use to a part of a political party - and now you have switched sides

Have you ever had a change of heart about a person?

A dad - when their daughter brings that boyfriend home - and all you say to your self “over my dead body you are going to date my daughter”...but as you got to know him - now you can’t wait for the day you walk her down the isle.

A employee - you meet your boss - all he cares about is the bottom line, profit, profit, profit and you say to yourself - I can’t wait til retirement - and now, as you have seen him in action - you know compassion is really his bottom line and understanding rates on his balance sheet

If you ever have had that type of change of heart - you know how difficult it. Our heart goes into defense mode when someone tells us something we are not ready for - don’t tell me how to parent, how to work, how to change - don’t tell me who I need to love, be generous to, help out, talk to - let my heart do its thing ! Its tough to change your heart !

Have you ever had a change of heart about what you believe about God?  Sometimes we  have an idea of God -what He considers a sin & even how He thinks we should act;  how we should worship God; how we should pray and how we should this or do that. Yet sometimes we need a change of heart     - so how do we do that ?

During Advent - I would like us to look at that - why ? Because Christmas was a time of changing hearts  - the baby in the manger - changed the hearts of Shepherds,  the baby in that crib changed the hearts of Innkeeper, the babe of Bethlehem born in a way that surprised even the heart of Mary and Joseph about where the child would be born  - changed the heart of a wise men and every Christmas - Christ wants to change your heart just a little bit - about a certain family member, about a friend, about society and even about ourselves and him. So be patient with me during Advent - because heart work is delict but its life saving - and in this case maybe even soul saving.

This past week our Holy Father – Pope Francis - wrote an Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”, In it the Pope invites the reader to “recover the original freshness of the Gospel”, finding “new avenues” and “new paths of creativity”.  He warns against “defeatism”, urging Christians to be signs of hope, bringing about a “revolution of tenderness”.

Change of Heart comes first as our Gospel (Matthew 24-37-44) reminds us by ‘Staying Awake”. By not falling asleep to need, by not falling asleep to caring, by not falling asleep to hurt, sadness, loneliness. As Pope Francis - wrote  It is necessary to seek refuge from the “spirituality of well-being … detached from responsibility for our brothers and sisters”

How many of us as December begins - are getting ready for hectic lines, faster pace, busier schedules, tough times - I bet we have even set our hearts on it !   - yet ! - how many of us also know
someone close to home who could use some extra support, some extra love this time of year. There are people in our lives (coworkers, neighbors, extended family) who are tired, overwhelmed, stressed out, and lonely.  How many lives and heart could we touch this Advent?

The first step to changing a heart - remember that Kindness Counts  - three ways:

First, this Advent, If you know someone who’s lonely, take him out for coffee. If you know  someone who’s stressed out, help them with a project or watch the kids for a few hours. If you know someone who’s down, bake him some cookies, send her a note, or invite him to church with you!  As you do; fill in your act of kindness on the Kindness Counts Card - and hang it on our tree.

Second, back in September - remember the back packs we collected - 106 back packs of supplies. This Advent we wish to assemble “Heart Packs”   - a simple set of small gifts which we invite you to bring (e.g. a toy, trinket, puzzle) and place in the large gift box in the Narthex of the Parish Centre and we will distribute to one of these 106 children in our parish schools and also some with Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region.

Third, Red Stocking Campaign. By taking and filling a Red Stocking with school supplies, we will ensure these are, with the help of Canadian Food fro Children, distributed to school in Africa and provide the school supplies they need for the full school year.

During this Advent - let’s make a difference in a new way! By changing Hearts - and lets’ begin with our own!

Christ the King - A Call to Loyality

I got my hair cut this week - thank you to everyone who noticed - to those of you who said it makes me look younger - God Bless you - but I know your lying :).  As I was sitting waiting for the barber - I came across an interesting article in the magazine there. It really clicked with me - it shared three interesting stories about Dogs - which just lead from one thing to the other. Here are some of the facts these articles shared

✓    Don Dolan was from Long Island, NY. In October 2012 he made a routine trip the Hospital. Once he got there, he had to be admitted. He had a dog named  Zander (a Husky) who when his owner did not return from what was to be a day appointment, made his way out of the house and traveled some 4 km and arrived at the door step of the hospital and made his way into the Hospital and arrived at the doorway of his owner’s room - to the shock of all.
✓    Maria Lucci was an elderly Italian women who would come to Mass daily in Florence Italy. She had some physical challenges and so the priest allowed her to bring her Dog - Tomaso - into the Church with her. Well she died, and now the dog now arrives every day and sits at the very spot where the casket was placed some 8 months before in the Church.
✓    Miguel from Argentina - he had a dog named Captain - who for the past six years since his owner’s death stands at the grave of his owner - but here is the thing - Captain was never brought to the cemetery. He stands at the grave for hours during the day even though no one understands how he discovered where it was.

These stories connect with us I think because they speak of Loyalty, and Loyalty is a lost art in the world we live in today. People jump around from job to job, team to team, relationship to relationship - go where they want to go and do what you want to do. We have lost a sense of loyalty. Yet, when loyalty is the mantle of our life - everything and everyone takes a back to seat. Loyalty in friendship, in family, in marriages & in relationships  - is what we want and desire to see.

When it comes to our relationship with God - we can easily say - well God is first in my life - I am loyal to Him - when: we see God as a ‘Far away God in a far away sky’ we can say He owns everything - we are comfortable with that, but when God moves into the neighborhood in the person of Jesus - and says I want to be in your life and I want to guide, direct, position, determine, and set the goals and values for your life  - well that becomes a little uncomfortable for us - yet that is what it means to celebrate Christ as our King. It means that what we do we don’t do for applause, for gratitude, for appreciation, for acclamation - we do it because we are loyal. Jesus doesn’t want to be first, He wants to be all. But He can’t be all until He at least is first - and if Jesus is first and we are really loyal

A couple of the young adult from our parish who came to the Theology on Tap event for young adults our parish participated in were speaking with me about the courses they were taking. The usual business and arts courses that are part of a university program, but then came an interesting one - Eastern Asian Studies. As he was speaking of the assignments came an interesting topic - the role of the Emperor.

As he spoke of it - and as I look into it a bit more this week - came the very clear reality that the Emperor in the historic Eastern Asian culture was not just the King, the ruler, the one who guided the culture and society - well he was - a lot more than a political figure head - he was - well THE ALL IN ALL  - and the one everyone was CONNECTED TO - I thought -that‘s it!

✓    If Jesus is our King - it does not mean He is a political force or figure.
✓    If Jesus is our King - it does not mean He is a Sargent barking orders .
✓    If Jesus is our King - it does not mean He is a baton waving runway agent telling us where to land and when we can take off.

It means we are CONNECTED TO HIM AND HE IS OUR ALL AND ALL - and WE ARE LOYAL.

When we are connected to the well of love, we will love well.
When we are connected to the spring of patience, we will spring through life patiently.
When we are connected to the fountain of all answers, we will get replies to questions in a dry life.
When we are connected to the source of all light, we will have a path well lite in the darkest times.

Last weekend I invited you- as we spoke about predictions and the competition for our time - to take a minute and ask yourself - what pulls the most hours out of your day?  - is it rooted in God? Now I ask you - are you rooted in God ? Jesus doesn’t want to be first, He wants to be all. But He can’t be all until He at least is first.

    - are you connected to Him        - are you loyal to Him
    - are you making Him the King of your life - not at a distance - but right up close?

Padre Pio once said the most powerful prayer is “Thy will be done” - when you say or sing it - do you mean it ? He is the Lord of Surprises, the God of the Unexpected, He is our King - we simply need to allow Hi, become connected to Him and live Loyally with Him

Heart to Home - Small Groups are Important!

A little twist to the blog this week. Our parish really believes in Small Groups. In fact we have over 60 parishioners involved in various kinds of small groups. One such is what we call "Heart to Home". Heart to Home is a unique reflection series written by myself as a continuation of weekly homilies. It a way to help parishioners come connect with other parishioners in an informal setting to share and grow in God’s Word. It is a continuation of our focus to make Sunday Matter. 

So this week I am sharing a link to one of the Small Group sheets which all members receive. I hope you will use it individually and maybe even consider being a part of a small group. By the way; there are some great advantages to joining a small group:

1. Community: At Sunday Mass, when your double parked and the kids want to get going, it is difficult to really get to know other people. But in a group of 6-10 people meeting regularly it is only natural that close relationships and friendships develop. You will have a sense of stability and security knowing there are people who really care for you and are committed to standing with you. 

2. Ask Questions: Have you ever listened to a homily and wanted to say, “I don’t understand!” or “But what about...?” In small groups you are encouraged to ask questions, participate in discussions and listen to others as they share insights and applications from the Bible. 

3. Support ‘One Another’: God never meant for you to go at it alone in the Christian life. Over fifty times in the New Testament the phrase “one another” is used to describe our relationship to other believers. We are instructed to love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, accept one another, bear one another’s burdens, and build up one another. The best way to obey these commands is in a small group. 

4. Personal Growth: Ever feel stuck in your Christian life or just want to find out more about Christianity? A small group provides the opportunity to observe other Christians up close, learn from their experiences, meditate on the Bible, participate in discussion and then reflect on what God would have you do in response to his leading. 

5. Meaningful Prayer: Many people are hesitant to pray in front of others. In a small group of 6 to 10, you will learn to participate in prayer by having a conversation together with God. No one is pressured to pray, but as you become comfortable, you will be able to pray sentence prayers and join in. In prayer we are drawn together and we find answers to the needs in our lives. 

6. Practical Service: When someone loses a job, or a family member is ill, or a mother needs a babysitter - these are practical needs that will be taken care of through your small group. Many people can testify that they would not have made it through a difficult time if it had not been for the support of their group. 

Pope Benedict XVI said it best on May 26, 2009,"Strive, therefore, in every parish...to restore life to the small groups...who proclaim Christ and his word, places where it is possible to experience faith, to put charity into practice and to organize hope. This structuring of the large urban parishes by the multiplication of small communities allows the mission a larger breathing space, which takes into account the density of the population and its social and cultural features which are often very different." Don’t Get Lost in the Crowd ........ Get Involved ...Get Connected! Join a Small Group! We have four active groups that meet in the Parish Centre, contact the Parish Office for details and come, be part of Heart to Home and continue to make Sunday Matter! Here is the Link

A Month of All Souls

Most recently I was in attendance at an office waiting to see an individual when I noticed that the lamp on the desk near the waiting area kept flickering. At first I thought that it was because something was wrong with the plug, maybe with the bulb, or even with the electricity itself in the room.  I continued to notice and explore this when I noticed that actually the flickering occurred as people walked by, as a door opened or closed.

It became obvious that the flickering of the light was being determined by a sensor that permitted the light to be stronger in greater darkness and less bright when it seem there was already light there.

After leaving the place of my appointment I kept thinking about this lamp - and its unique feature - but even more so - began to realize that like that lamp - we too as people of faith rely on God to be the same for us ....we rely on Him to be brighter for us when the darkness is greater; and present but not so strong in presence, when the darkness is not so great.

During this month of November, a month of All Souls - His light burns bright! His light burns bright because we pause to recall individuals who from this parish family saw His light is the brightest and greatest way

- who experienced not sadness in the darkness - but light.
- who experienced not hopelessness in the darkness - but the flickering of His light signally them forth.
- who experienced not emptiness, in the darkness - but the full capacity of His light.
- who experienced not coldness, not abandonment - but the full strength of the lamp of His Love.

And yet, there is still darkness...not for them...for us. There is darkness when we recall lovingly their gentle embrace, their inviting  smile, their encouraging voice, their engaging laughter. There is darkness when we remember the fullness of their comfort, the totality of their presence, the completeness of their memories. 

Yet - just like that lamp - it is in those moment; when the darkness comes, the brief moment or the lengthy episode - the light seeks to shine the brightest - if we will simply recognize it and not think it is a fluctuation, a short circuit or a something wrong with the bulb.

During this month of November - there may well be some sadness - emptiness - darkness - but the light is here ! He is here - flickering, adjusting.  May we ask God to offer His light in a special way, may we seek from God to see clearly their presence - in memory and thought - and may we invite God to give us peace as we remember...as we once again in light...His light...and remember in the darkness - He is there .

Don't Go Squirelly

I feel sorry for squirrels. I know some of you don’t like squirrels because they can be such a nuisance. They eat your bird food, chew through wires, get in your attic. But I feel sorry for them. They are so indecisive and often their indecisiveness leads to tragic results. You know how they are.

As you approach in a car if there is a squirrel on the side of the road, you can bet they are trying to decide whether to go or stay. They dart out, come back, and zig zag. You try to avoid hitting them, but often you don’t know which way to go because the squirrel can’t decide. Because squirrels can’t decide, often it doesn’t work out too well for them

Humans can be indecisive, too. But, life boils down to the decisions made or not made. It is interesting that in making decisions we often go one of two ways.

•    We either decide too quickly without proper consideration of the facts and consequences, or we consider in such detail that we never decide.

•    We either look without leaping or leap without looking.

Some folks are ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire.  Others are ready, fire and never aim. Which one are you?

There is a time to study and think and weigh things out, but when it comes to faith there is a time to step out and trust God and believe.  So much that is so good, so many of God’s blessings are missed because we never step out in faith. If you want to know what God can do, then give Him a chance to do it.  Step out in faith.

In the Gospel ( Luke 18:1-8) we are introduced to the Pharisee - now he was in prayer - but not stepping out in faith  His prayer, if it can be called that, is largely an advertisement for himself. He's selling himself to God. The tax collector, on the other hand, didn't have to tell God who he was.  He knew who he was and he knew that God knew who he was.

His prayer is not an exercise in self-promotion, but a confession and a plea for mercy. He is not selling himself, but opening himself. And Jesus says, "It is this man who went home justified." To be justified means to be declared "not guilty." It means to be declared right.

The famous actor Brad Pitt was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Brad Pitt's friend became impatient, and he said to Brad Pitt, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' that you’re a famous actor?" Brad Pitt responded with great wisdom. "No," he said, "if you have to tell them who you are, then your not that famous."

Part of getting over indecisiveness and living confidently and abundantly - is to always remember who we are and whose we are and not get too caught up in ourselves but rather that God is the famous one:
•    God has a plan
•    God can make a provision
•    God gives the growth
•    God has the solution

And if we live our lives not ready, aim-aim-aim-aim and never fire nor ready, fire and never aim - but rather ready, He will Help Me Aim and Show me when to fire - that God is decisive

Not only is indecision taken away, but so too is the pride of thinking we are someone more than we are - but rather we are His and He is with us -we can’t do it all-but He sure can!

As we arrive on this Lord’s Day - how do we pray ?
•    Is our prayer a resume of accomplishment or is a plea for mercy?
•    Is our prayer a list of what is wrong or a litany of thanksgiving?
•    Is our prayer totally focus on us or does it include the needs of others?
•    Is your prayer dependent upon God’s answer or are you giving God the answer - FYI?
•    Is your prayer a leap to call it a prayer - or a leap in prayer & faith- dependent on Him

So don’t so squirrelly in life
•    God has a plan
•    God can make a provision
•    God gives the growth
•    God has the solution

Leave it with Him in prayer. He is never indecisive trying to figure whether to aim or fire - but rather God is always ready.

Let us Pray!

The theme of faith on which our readings have been focused these past two Sundays, takes a different turn in today's Word. The image of Moses in the First Reading of today (Exodus 17:8–13) intently observing (and helping) Joshua's battle with Amalek is both amusing and striking. There he leans, sitting on a massive rock, his arms outstretched, propped up on each side by his two aids, Aaron and Hur. Whenever Moses begins to lower his arms from fatigue, the enemy begins to prevail; so Aaron and Hur stay at his side until sunset and ultimate victory, serving as living crutches for his aching shoulders and arms. The author of this passage clearly wants to impress on the reader the need for persistence in prayer.

Many of us have false notions of prayer. The purpose of prayer is not to make God feel good, nor to win personal merit points, nor to change God’s “mind,” etc., etc. Rather, prayer is an expression of a relationship and the way one prays reveals the nature and intensity of that relationship. If, as disciples of Jesus, we do not cry out day and night (as the widow in today’s Gospel - Luke 18:1–8), if we are not persistent in prayer, and if we do not believe with all our heart that our prayer is being heard, then our prayer simply has no faith foundation. A person of faith, on the other hand, persists in prayer, and is long-suffering – never gives up despite the pain or the suffering or the long periods of darkness and silence. A person of faith fervently believes that his/her prayer is always received, and that God, in receiving our prayer, now has a way to connect with us, to empower us with God’s own presence and Spirit.

It is not always convenient to be a good steward in prayer, especially when all the temptations of our busy and materialistic world get in the way. Yet, we must be persistent even when it is inconvenient. This persistence marks the true follower of Christ. As we live our life, and do our best to live a life of Christ, we often meet obstacles. As we strive to be a disciple of Christ, standing up for our values and the dignity of others, let us remember to always turn to prayer first, and even at the most difficult times, eventually we will find reconciliation, eventually we sense peace.

Prayer, at root, is our relationship with Jesus. And so the nature of our prayer is essentially a reflection on the quality and intensity of that relationship. Blessed Mother Teresa puts its best “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself." The author of our second reading speaks of it well; (2 Timothy) “I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable…."

1.    What do you think the great challenge is to being a person of prayer today?

2.    Is there a format, a way, a method of prayer which you find helpful?

3.    Can you think of a moment when you persevered in prayer? 

With hands uplifted O God, like Moses at prayer, we long for Your response to our prayer lets conclude with the model of all prayer.  OUR FATHER.

Don't Forget to Say Thanks

My memories of Thanksgiving celebrations when I was growing up were always divided into two parts - before the meal and after the meal. Before the meal - the 3 "F's" : fun, family, food. After the meal - the 3 "S's": solemn, somber, sleepy. There was something about eating that turkey and ham - that made us all want to fall asleep on the sofa after our big feast. And I have to admit - sometimes I did. And it was a deep sleep, a sweet sleep, an angels surrounding, plucking at their heavenly harps type of sleep.

In the Gospel of today (Luke 17.11-19) we are introduced to the story of the ten lepers. This story has always surprised me a little. Here are ten fellows who are pretty much isolated from society, one might even say - on the very edge of even normal human relations. People saw Lepers, in those days, as individuals who were being punished by God - so they put them aside. Now Jesus comes upon them and these lepers were all shouting, "Master, Jesus! Please have mercy and do your best to heal us!" Now Jesus was the sort to be merciful and kind, He heals them and sends them off to the authorities so that they might be declared “welcomed” back into the community. So - here is the part that always gets me:

Jesus has done an amazing thing for them - life transforming thing in fact
•    He not only healed them of a dreaded disease
•    He not only gave them the ability to be come back into human interaction
•    He not only permitted them to once again be accepted by others
•    He gave them dignity - human dignity - once again!

And what do they do - they go off and only one of them - says “thanks”. It is almost like they had there life before the meal....had a great meal...and then well...went and fell asleep on the sofa - without even saying thank you !

Now here is the human thing to the story - it can happen to all of us - but just in case you are not clear on what I am trying to say - because well - we have not met a lot lepers in our life and we can’t even imagine what their realize from this disease would be like -  let's come at it in another way. Let’s reset the story in the modern day.

Let's say that ten kids are playing out in the yard and thinking how nice it'd be to have an ice cream bar. When along comes a mother, and they start to scream and shout for that wonderful ice cream that they've been dreaming about.  The mother loves them so she gives them each a dollar and tells them, "Go to the store and buy that for which you hollar." If those kids did exactly as she said and just went to the store and not one of them thanked her, well, that'd be pretty poor.

The best thanks come naturally, don't you think that's true? I mean, thanks should be an echo when we're given something great  Thanks should be the shadow which from the gift you cannot separate. Yet how many parents remind their child, "What do you say?" and keep on reminding kids a hundred times a day? But I won't pick on you kids, for we grownups forget too, and perhaps in even more important matters fail to say Thank you.

So we observe Thanksgiving - not as a forced moment to give thanks but as a reminder that we should. Luke tells the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers is told for the same reason; to remind us, to recall for us, to invite us to say THANK YOU!  So, here is my question for all of us - when was the last time you said THANK YOU

•    to the person who opens the door for
•    to the individual who prepares a meal for you
•    to the group that prays for you
•    to the family member who sacrifices for you
•    to the sibling that plays with you
•    to the parent who loves you
•    to the constable that protects you
•    to the teacher who instructs you
•    to the driver who gets you there
•    to the God who heals you    
Its not just a Church thing - a what happens in Church; stays in Church thing.

It’s a life thing - because without thanks in our life - well we are lepers - self created - who walk off in the sunset unaware of all the healing that happens in our life. So don’t fall asleep on the sofa - or if you do this Thanksgiving - before you enter the sleep of angels - say thank you.

A Guide to Prayer

The month of October is the month of the Rosary; a great opportunity to reflect on prayer.

A mother once taught her child to
pray using her fingers. The thumb is the nearest to
the heart, so pray for those you love – your family,
your friends and you. The second finger is for
pointing; pray for your pastor and your teachers,
those who show you the way and inspire you. The
third finger is the longest; let it remind you to pray for
your leaders, those in authority in the church and in
the nation. The fourth finger is weak; pray for those
in trouble or in pain; pray for the sick and the
abused. The firth finger is the smallest; pray for
those who suffer loneliness or deprivation.

Is our Life - well - a Reality Show?

The most popular show on television today? "Duck Dynasty." After that there are the programs about "The Kardashians," "Housewives," of various postal and zip codes, and "Hoarders." Reality Television programs have taught us that we like to watch the inner-workings of the lives of others. The interesting - and yet tragic thing - about it is that while we follow and know the happenings in the homes of characters on these shows - well - we don’t know our own neighbor.

The Rich Man and Lazarus in today’s Gospel (Luke 16.19-31)were neighbors, you know. They saw each other every day. Oh, not socially you understand, but there was contact. Every day the Rich Man saw this beggar at his front gate - yet they did not know each other. Who were these men?

To put it into the context of our present time. The Rich Man was a progressive kind of a guy. He was self-indulgent. He was a connoisseur, a lover of the arts, one who knows and appreciates fine living, four star restaurants.

The other man in the story is Lazarus. How can we describe Lazarus? Lazarus is homeless. We are told in vs. 20 that he was a cripple. Lazarus barely made it from day to day, living off the leftovers thrown to him by the Rich Man as he daily passed him. He is just a survivor, that's all you can say of him.

It is easy to read about a rich, self-absorbed, politically important man who is so involved in his own life, so busy orchestrating his own pleasures and perks, that he completely ignores the plight of Lazarus, a man who falls inside his gate, but far outside his pay-grade.

It is easy to turn it into a reality show and speak of it as something that occurs elsewhere. But that is not the shock-treatment that Jesus' parable is administering. Instead - Jesus is asking - do you know your who your neighbour is?

Now an easy way to answer that and then move on is simply to look at it as the physical neighbour who lives in the home or apartment unit next to us. But that approach would not be a Christian one.

•    Are you aware - instead - of the people you interact with each day ?
•    Are you aware of what they endure?
•    Are you sensitive to what they are going thru?
•    Are you seeing them not as someone on the side of the road of your life or someone who sits at the gate of your conversation - but are you seeing them as your neighbor ?

It is very easy to just become so absorbed in our issues and our world - our reality program!

•    the economic news which has put us in a tail spin
•    the medical diagnosis which has made us re evaluate things
•    the family issue which is causing us to loose sleep
•    the school related problem which is making us question life

These our realities - realities which we in faith turn over to the Lord each day - but there is still the danger that they become our show! These concerns, as serious as they are, must not take possession of our life in such a way that they make us less aware of our neighbor

The Rich Man allowed his reality to take possession of his life so much so that it became his show, his focus, his total reality. He lost sight of Lazarus who needed the reality of being recognized, of being shown dignity, of being understood.

There is no doubt that all of us - no matter, race, status, position, occupation, vocation, inheritance or poverty carry realities in our lives - some amazing,  others challenging - but they can’t become our show. We can not loose sight of our neighbour and their reality. For if we do; then they become nothing more to us than beggars that we pass by each day and offer them what falls from our table

What happens in Church - stays in Church ???

A good friend of mine a few months back went on a short vacation to Las Vegas. And he kept repeating the mantra as he prepared to go - and you know how this saying goes - “ What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas”! Now of course for those who stated this it usually means they are planning on doing something in Vegas that they don’t want the rest of the world to know - especially people back home.

Now I’d like to turn that saying on its head and say this - doesn’t it seem at times that when it comes to the Church - we sometimes say “ what happens in Church stays in Church”.

We are a little hesitant - especially as Catholics to share the good news of all that is happening.

We have no problem sharing our complaints at times - but when it comes to sharing the good news - well - “what happens in Church stays in Church”. We do our “church things” and then we go back to our work or our homes and the stuff that awaits us in life and what ever took place in Church stays in Church and has nothing to do with or any application to our week. But we know that is not God’s intention.  - His word, His will, His way for our life is not that at all. Our participation in Church is a not a time card we insert, get checked off, then run along in life.

In the Gospel (Luke 16:1-13) we are introduced to a Manager who was living "the Las Vegas life!" All of a sudden his master wanted an accounting- and what does he do - well he gets his time card in check - he lines up everything so that if he gets caught in the lifestyle that his Master does not wanted of him - well he can at least prove his attendance.

But the Master says - that is not the way  - why is it not the way? - well St Paul - as he writes to his young friend Timothy (2:1-7) tells us why - “because I have appointed you a herald, an apostle, a teacher {model} in faith and in truth.”

You see because of our Baptism, due to our First Communion, as a result of our Confirmation - each of us is a herald, a model in faith and in truth. Its not about the time clock - but the life clock - and ensuring that what happens in Church actually leaves Church and goes into out world!

Pope Francis this week made a number of comments in an interview - and well depending on the media source you listen to you received mixed messages about what he said - but in fact it was nothing new in doctrine  - but he did invite the Church to make sure we are out in the world - sharing the good news and in the darkness of tonight - sharing our light!

This week - as part of our Generations projects - which by the way are coming along very well; I  found myself very excited. We had.....
✣     energizing meeting with our Children’s Ministry Team.
✣     wonderful response to our Kids Klub program - over 50 kids registered and active already!
✣    great progress on our new Children and Youth Wing 
✣    we received word from the City that they will install a “Pedestrian Crossing Sign” on Cooper St to help those who will cross the street from the new parking areas across on to the Church

But what got me so excited was on Thursday evening was the installation of the new “Red Glow” that you can now see from our Bell Tower from different points of Hespeler in the evening. The tower not has inside of it a red light which glows from every corner - this red light of course represents the Tabernacle Light ........that says - Christ is Here!”

But here is what it also says .....The Church is Here...St Mary of the Visitation is Here

So here is what our Catholic tradition tells us
1.    That when we see that red glow - we know Christ is present in the Tabernacle and so we give thanks and we proclaim with our life, we teach by our example, we model by our way of living

2.    That when we drive by that red glow - we know that Christ is present - and so we make the sign of the cross upon ourselves - it is the Lord after all - really and truly present in the tabernacle (its also why we genuflect or bow before we come into and sit in our pew.)

3.    That when we see that red glow - we know Christ is present - and we ask ourselves - how I am telling others about what is happening in Church or am I here for my time card?

Its Why - As a Family of Faith our Core Values are:
✣ Eucharistic Spirituality
✣ Hospitality and Welcome
✣ Evangelization
✣ Faithfulness to Who God Made Us to Be

Its why as a parish our mission statement is that  “We are connected to our past, committed to our future and compassionately focused on being a Family of Faith with something for everyone.”

Because our lives are to show that glow, to share that glow, to shine because of that glow! Since that glow says to the world, it says to our city, it says to all who drive by here in Hespeler - Christ is present and we don’t want what happens in the Church to just stay in the church - we want it to shine from our Church for all Generations!
                   
A few days ago I was getting into line for a movie and I realized I forgot my phone and so I was running back to my car and I turned to my friend and said “save me a spot”. Did you catch that - “save me a spot” with my group of friends I have a spot - well right here in our Family of Faith - that is what we are about “saving for each other a spot” in the plan and the glow of Christ for our world.  Let’s allow Him to glow not only in but from us as a parish that is a herald, a model in faith and in truth!

In the Pit - You Don't Quit!

You know the feeling.     It is between 2 and 3 in the afternoon — the "pit in the pm". Energy ebbs. Eyelids sag. Your attention span becomes goldfish-short (3 seconds). In fact there are workplace statistics that show that if you telephone a work environment to speak with someone the time most likely to get voice mail is between 2 and 3 in the afternoon - people walk away from their desk. You are wiped out, woozy and snoozy. The urge to grab a cat-nap becomes overwhelming. God invented coffee for this time of day. Fighting fatigue we all look for ways to revive, refresh ourselves for the second half of our day.

St. Paul (2nd Reading) wrote to his co worker Philemon (9-10,12-17) in order to refresh him. Philemon was fatigue - he was in the “pit of the pm of his life.” From the initial greeting Paul asserts that Philemon is a "dear friend and co-worker." He gives thanks for him, assures him of faith, invokes the saints toward him and asks that he continue to effective and active.

Now here is something you need to know - Paul has been imprisoned at this point.   
    - he was sent to a solitary island with some of the worst criminals of the Roman Empire.
    - abandoned on that island permitted only occasionally to meet with someone
    - he had to fend off others for food and his very survival each night was not guaranteed
He was not the poster child for the most glorious time of the year!

Yet - Paul encourages another - why? Paul had a deep relationship with Christ that reminded Him in the pit you don’t quit. You see - Faith alive is not static. Faith alive is an active, growing, dynamic thing... Now Paul wasn’t unique in this....let’s look at the life of the early Church - apostles....

Andrew died on a cross, Simon was crucified, Bartholomew was flayed alive, James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded, the other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death, Thomas was run through with a lance,    Matthias was beheaded, Matthew was slain by the sword, Peter was crucified upside down, Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows,Philip was hanged.This record was not great for recruitment. Yet the Church flourished during this time..its grew in leaps & bounds - in the pit you don’t quit

In July when I was leading some talks at a young adults conference in New York state I was enjoying my mid afternoon cup of coffee (probably between 2-3pm) when an older gentleman sat at my table and drank his coffee with  his newspaper in hand. After a few moments he said to me - “well isn’t that interesting ?” I honestly thought he might be speaking on his blue tooth phone or something so I didn’t reply until he said it again and this time looking right at me said - “Have you ever thought how amazing an oyster is?”

Feeling somewhat awkward I just stared for a minute and he kept talking - now I am going to tell what I remember from what he was reading to me but I will admit to you I might have missed a line or two because honestly when he was speaking I was at the same time looking for the emergency exits because I thought he might be a bit wacky!

The oyster one day finds a tiny grain of sand has slipped into its shell. The sharp edges of the sand create a wound in the oyster’s muscle, and it is painful. It hurts. The oyster feels helpless. He has no hands or tweezers to remove the grain of sand. What was the oyster to do? He wants to know how he can stop the pain and heal the wound. He has choices.

He could do what humans do. He could rebel against God. He could get angry with God. He could ask, “Why did this happen to me? I have been a good oyster; I don’t deserve this.” He could choose to be bitter and miserable. He could have a pity party, a bad case of the “woe is me.” But none of that would help his pain. He could be a martyr. He could say that it was his cross to bear, and he could enlist a lot of sympathy by telling everyone his pain and gossiping and telling stories about how it the stand got into this shell. But that still would not help the pain.

What was he to do? He does what God equipped him to do. He begins to secrete a white milky substance that over time builds layers over the grain of sand. Over time the sharp edges dull and the painful point was rounded, and from the pain of that grain of sand, a pearl was made. It is a thing of beauty wrapped around nothing but trouble. Trouble can turn into a pearl.

God is in the pearl making business. He has a yes for us in every mess.

When the pains and sufferings of life come your way, when life breaks your heart, you have a decision to make. In the pit you don’t quit. The choice is yours.

•    You can break down into self-pity;
•    You can break out with resentment and bitterness;
•    You can break up in misery,
•    or You can break through with faith in Jesus, trusting God to bring a pearl from the pain.

Some people call September the “pit of the year” - so much happen/so much has happened. Is it between 2-3pm in the afternoon for you? God is in the pearl making business. He has a yes for us in every mess - so don’t quit

Are you Mold - able?

Last week while taking a little personal time I was waiting in a line when I decided I would check my emails a bit as I waited and so I pulled out my Blackberry. There were two young adults behind me who instantly began whispering and pointing. I thought it was odd and so I turned and asked if everything was ok?

One said, "Oh yes, we were just noticing your phone." I thought to myself - thats odd - "what about my phone" I asked them. "Well its old school." I thought to myself - old school - I bought it two years ago; so I asked for a little clarification and was told that if its more than a year old - well you are the proud owner of a dinosaur.

I resisted my cave man instincts and left these learned “smart phone “ gurus where they were at with a little chuckle and thought to myself “ the newest thing!”   It’s the mantra, and a great temptation of our society today.

We are not satisfied
    - our job is not what we thought it should be - so we quiet and look for a new one
    - our clothes don’t look like we want them to - so we toss them and buy so more
    - our phone is not the newest or our car the shiniest - time to start shopping

I even saw in a store recently the sign “ O you were here last week - well you didn’t buy this - but others have it already!”     As if to say - well you are loosing out! You’re a dinosaur!

We live at a pace that wants new, fresh, shiny and relevant - all the time - its hard to keep up - not the neighbors - but with ourselves - because we want so much. In fact recently it was noted that the average duration of a person under 35 holding a job today is less than a year - not because they get fired - but because they get bored!

The Gospel (Luke 14:1,7-14) of today presents something different - an interesting story - a wedding banquet at which a person wanted the best seat - the shiniest seat - and what happens - well they got humbled - move to the back - they were not satisfied, they wanted too much

Often so do we. - so how do we live in what the Prophet Sirach (3.17-20,28-29) of the first reading speaks to us as - the humility of living.

As we get ready for the Fall, I would like to share four very quick things which I think will help us live our lives, serve the Lord and enjoy each step along the way!

1.    Know Who You Are
One my favorite passage - St John - “ you are a child of God; live as you are”. (Galatians 3:26)

In the words you use    (that means don’t gossip)     choices you make    possessions you keep
the stories you tell        the life you lead        the hope you possess  - “ you are a child of God; live as you are”. God has imbued in our very soul the desire to know what life is all about and who we are - why because the answers are a key to knowing Him!

The major question of so many - who am I? Why am I here? and What is my purpose in life? - are important because if you can’t get an answer; it minimizes your ability to enjoy the journey

Social Scientists at John Hopkins University in Washington DC did a survey of recent graduates and asked what is the most pressing issue of life for you right now . You would think - career, marriage, health issues - nope- 75%- said we want to know what life is all about!

In our culture today the blank is filled with destructive things, teens and young adults fill it with experimenting, middle agers fill it with impulsive things,  older adults fill it at times with gossip and malicious things - but the answer is knowing actually that  “ you are a child of God; live as you are”.

2.    Know that You are Mold-able - Live as a seeker - have an urgent desire to understand God

Last week I got up early each day and went for a walk before enjoy a coffee. Lots of time to think when you walk. I spend some of that time talking to God, sometimes even out load - people walk by and stare and me and probably think “God bless His little heart he forgot to take his medication today”

But one thing I really want in my life is to be His child - that means not only that I be dutiful but docile - that means mold-able - shaped by Him -so I gotta listen to Him, talk to Him or how will know Him - if you are not talking to God and asking Him the questions and listening for the answers - start - do it !

3.    Know that you have a Divine Appointment - You are Where You Are for a Reason

There was a very rich man always had the custom of giving his relatives a very generous financial gift on special occasions. Well his niece was getting married and sent an invite to the wedding to her rich uncle. He was unable to go to the wedding but he sent a gift and inside the box was a bible. It was a very nice one; had their new married name engraved; but this couple who had heard the stories of the thousands of dollars he had spent on others in the family were - well - a bit disappointed.

Six weeks later, the uncle comes by and asks "so how did you like the gift?" "Oh, it was so nice of you." He could see there disappointment and asked them to get the bible which they did, still in the box, put away in a corner. He opened the bible at to 2nd Book of Peter and read the words which were covered “ if you read this word happiness follows rooted in His word” and there was an envelope for $25,000. Disappointed that they did not open the Bible he ripped the cheque disappointed they did not understand a principle of happiness - the gift you have, the place you are in is all for a reason and richest are found if you are faithful.

As we begin the Fall - let’s know who we are, let’s be mold-able to His will, let’s understand we have a divine appointment and are where we are for a reason, because if we do it will help us live our lives, serve the Lord and enjoy each step along the way!

Back to School Time

Recently I was invited to speak at a young adult event. It was a wonderful experience of meeting dedicated young adults (18-25) who generously and genuinely wish to serve the Lord and do His will in their lives. At this conference I met many of them, but one in particular echoes in my mind; a young man named Chad. He was from Utah and had traveled to this conference. He lives in a part of the United States which is not primarily Catholic and to live his faith has been a genuine challenge. 

On this particular morning as we both grazed at an amazing buffet breakfast, gorging on far too much bacon, I asked him - simply trying to make conversation in order to save the arteries of my heart from further clogging - “Are you ready to go back to school?”. He paused, looked up “which school?” he replied. “Well the University or College you attend”, I quipped. “Oh, that school - yes, guess so - final year - it will be fine.” Puzzled by his initial reply I followed up; “what school did you think I meant?” He replied sincerely “ Well I thought, ya know you being a priest and all, that ya meant the school of life.” “School of life?” I asked this obvious prophet that was now in my midst “Ya, everyday just saying ‘Lord teach me something !’ and then going to class - starting life.” 

I have to admit, I got choked up (and it wasn't the bacon.) He humbled me. So often I look at my day as a series of tasks, appointments, meetings, events or engagements. The prayer I often say is "Lord, get me through the day". Yet, now here was a whole new way - ‘Lord teach me something !’ and then going to class - starting life - The School of Life. Chad was speaking to me - well before I had a chance to speak to him and others at this conference. 

As I walked away from breakfast, I was satisfied more so spiritually than physically. I get it! The Lord is teaching us every moment. There is a lesson to be learned, but we must be attentive, alert, awake to the task at hand. The lesson is now. The moment is before us. As Chad and I walked toward the elevator I asked him - "what do you find most challenging in your school of life? Instantly he said “that I encounter hostility much more than hope” I wanted to shout "Amen!" It’s the truth - there is hostility in our world,especially when we seek to live faithfully, and when we encounter hostility - well we want to skip class - we want to give up hope! 

There are so many moments that can be discouraging and tempt us to skip and loose hope! We encounter them when neighbours are unreasonable. We sense it when a colleague lets us down or a friend is not who you thought they were. We see it when family members don’t share our conviction of faith. We live it when the traffic circle of life becomes a round a bout of yet more changes at work and society. We inhale it when others use words which defame the name of our Saviour. We breath it when worry or strife hits our marriage or illness impacts our families. We ponder it when the future is uncertain. We think we perceive it, when it seems that our God has become unseen to us. And when this happens - don’t skip class and loose hope - go back to the school of life and try and learn the lesson! 

In the letter to the Hebrews (11:1-2, 8-19) we read “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It is in the very moment when we are tempted to skip that we must walk - by faith - for in that instant we are learning the lessons of the School of Life. "Lord teach me something" becomes not our mantra or crutch, but our heart centered plead and prayer, and from it we go see all God has in store for us. 

So, get back to school. Go live the classroom that is your workplace; even if all your boss wants you to do is sell, ask what can I buy from the experience and the engagements I have? Go embrace the text book that is your shopping outlet, your local garage, your comfortable bank. What can you withdraw from the encounters there? Go grab the pencil that is your conversation at Starbucks or Tim Hortons, or the wait before a movie, or the line up at the gas station; what is God writing to you in the people around you? And then, at the end of the day, go unpack the back pack that holds the notes of the lessons you have learned, the people you have met, the experiences you have grown from, and in prayer, offer them all up - this day in the school of life - not in hostility but in hope. For hope is where faith is found, serenity is sensed, sanctity is seen and eternal life is gained. 

Chad taught me a lot as I had a couple - alright several - pieces of bacon. What lessons this week will your encounters bring? How will faith “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” be taught to you, in the school of life.  The bell is ringing - let's back to to school.

So What's New ?

Thank you for all of the emails which I have been receiving asking one simple question "so what's new?" I guess they have been coming in my direction because the blog has been silent for a couple of weeks. Well, it is vacation time after all, but also it is because I have been away doing a few talks and presentations associated with my recently published book "Are We There Yet?". I have had the chance to travel to Buffalo and Toronto and thank you to my hosts and to those who purchased the book. There are a few more speaking engagements being planned for the Fall, and hopefully I will get a couple more days off before September roars in. So What's New?

Well, the month of July went by very quickly to be honest. A good portion of my days have been divided between two places so far this summer. Our parish and also Camp Brebeuf , our Diocesan summer Camp and retreat Centre, where I serve as Chaplain. At the Camp, well the energy and volume are both high as  Leadership Camp for our (high school aged young people) and Residential and Day Camp (elementary school age) is underway. It has been a true joy and blessing for me to be a part of Camp Brebeuf since 2002. I am at the stage now that many of the youngsters who came as campers are now leaders and counselors. What a joy to work with them. What a Blessing to see them grow and mature.

At the parish it has been very busy also as our parish gets ready for a new exciting chapter in our history called "Generations". This Fall, we will be adding on a Children and Youth Wing, expanding our parking a little, offering new programs and opportunities to serve and expanding our staff. The Lord has been blessing our parish greatly and Generations is our attempt to continue to respond to the blessings. So my days have been filled with meetings, meetings, meetings and oh, did I mention, meetings as we try and get everything ready for the Fall launch of 'construction season' - which we trust will also become a season of Grace for us.

I hope your summer has been one of blessing and that each day you might ask the Lord - " What's New?" - I guarantee He has not only an answer but also a blessing in store for you.

Doorways of Forgetfulness or Opportunity?

Is it just me or does anyone else have the problem of going from one room to another room to get something and then forget what you went to get? How does that happen? Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why? You have a clear purpose in mind but, by the time you take a few steps and walk through the door, you forget what that purpose was. That happens to me all the time. Am I just getting old? Is my brain wearing out? Am I crazy?

If you have that problem, I have some good news for you. Recently, psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing through a doorway triggers what is known as "an event boundary in the mind," separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next. Your brain files away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate for the new locale.

Now I’m not sure what all that means, but what I got out of that is this: it’s the door’s fault. I’m not getting old, I’m not crazy, my mind’s not fading, it’s not aging. It’s the door’s fault. I thought that was good news.

Good news is something our world is searching for. One needs only to review the headlines of any newspaper to become discouraged; and yet the Good News is ours as believes in the Lord, but we must know who we are - and whose we are. In the Gospel of Luke (10:38-42) we are introduced to two individuals - Martha and Mary.

Martha entered the room and immediately what came into her mind was work, action, activity, duty. Busyness was her mantra and getting it done was her method of life. Martha did not even take a break when the Son of God showed up at the door. Tasks to do. Things to finish.

Mary on the other hand, well, she was interested in presence not activity. She was willing to relate to the person who was at the doorway and to be with them. Relationship was the passage way she wanted in her life, and she walked through it often.

It is so important to know who we are and who other people are. If we know what makes us tick and what makes other people tick, we get along better. If we understand where we are coming from and where other people are coming from, we relate better. There is more compassion, more empathy and more kindness. When Jesus looked at Martha that day, He saw some warning signals, some danger signs within her which were more harmful to Martha herself than to anyone else. Jesus loved Martha. They were good friends and that day, He saw in her some doorways that were making her forget what was really important in life. This forgetfulness was harmful to her soul.

But we are people of Good News. Read Revelation 3:20-21, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends." Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts. When you open the door and invite Him in, He is promising us, "That in my Father’s house are many rooms." (John 14:1-6) When we make room for Jesus in our hearts, He makes room for us in His house forever.

Have you opened the door of your heart to Jesus? Are you so busy walking thru the doorways of tasks, duties, lists, accomplishments, that you are forgetting Him. Are your weeks so packed, your days so filled, your hours so few, that when it comes to the doorway of Sunday morning - well you have forgotten to honour Him?

Let’s be people of Good News. Let’s not become forgetful. Let’s not permit busyness to be our mantra, but let’s make the method of our lives always have time for family, friendships and above all faith so that one day we might walk through the doorway of the rooms of the Father’s House.

Summer - its time for M.T.C.

The start of summer often means - well its time - for a road trip! Whether it is a short trip from a small town to a big city for the weekend, a coast-to-coast marathon to see part of Canada in a small over-packed car, or a backpacking Euro-rail adventure - which ever it is - a road trip is often an adventure - and maybe even a first step in finding our own unique life path.

No matter our age, adults and the aged, there is nothing like a road trip to get us out of our familiar, comfortable ruts, and give us a new perspective on the world. Yet road trips don't come with guarantees of safety and success.  Road trips come with potholes and pitfalls, genuine dangers, and encounters with the unknown and unpredictable.

In the Gospel of today - Luke 9- 51-62 Jesus starts off on the ultimate road trip — his journey to Jerusalem and to the cross. The world views this journey as the epitome of a "bad trip” — a trip that ended in Jesus' betrayal, rejection, torture, and death. But Jesus' disciples — whether in the first century or the twenty-first century — view this Jerusalem road trip as something quite different: the start of a great journey that transformed the life paths of all subsequent generations who have followed Jesus.

But here is the question - if you knew that your road trip would end in what the world would think is failure - would you go on it ? If you knew that your road trip would conclude with the termination of your life - would you engage in it ? If you were aware that your road trip would mean sacrifice, surrender, and so called death - would you be prone to begin it ? Yet Christ did - so why - I think for two reasons - and these two reasons should guide our summer

1. Christ knew the Father had a plan

Several times in scripture we hear it references that Jesus had His faced set toward Jerusalem. He was pointed in the direction of the Father. He was determined to walk the way of the Father. He was open to who He met, but toward the way of the Father is where He must go. Over and over Jesus does good in town after town, but He does not rest on His accomplishments, He presses on because toward Jerusalem He must go !  This has only one explanation - because He believed the Father was sending Him there for a reason.

As the road trip of summer begins for you

- do you believe that God Has something He wishes to show you

- do you consent that God Has as plan for the next several months for you

- do you concur that though schools are closed, summer hours begin in many places, routine slows, pace ponders a bit more - that God is still at work - full time - every day ?

Is your face still set toward His will for your life ?

But here is the second thing that guided Christ - and us should guide us also - I call it M.T.C.

2. Make Today Count

Jesus knew where He was going - the destination of the road trip was clear - faithfulness to the Father was the GPS direction and the Jersusalem the home port. So Jesus went about each day - MTCing - He Made Today Count.

- He feed those who needing feeding

- He healed those who needing healing

- He taught those who needed teaching

- He embraced those who needed embracing

- He scolded those who needed scolding

- He touched those who needed touching

- His destination was set - His path was firm - His will was certain

- His determination was concrete = His will was iron

He didn’t worry about so many of the things we worry about; because His Mission was set. Jesus just had to be faithful; and so He Made Today Count; and truth be told; that is all we need to do too. Toward the conclusion of being who the Father was calling Him to be - that was the road trip

What a road trip we would have this summer - if we MTC’ed it all summer long !

Make today count - have a picnic lunch with your spouse, child, grandchild

Make today count - go for a walk in the evening with someone important in your life

Make today count - break that diet and have a scoop of ice cream with your child, grandchild

Make today count - run around in the park, playground - sure your muscles will hurt tomorrow but your memory will say - yes I’m glad we did that

I hope your road trip this summer will be amazing - and it can be - if like Jesus you simply do two things:

Trust that the Father has a plan - so don’t sweat the small stuff

Make Today Count

I Love a Good Story

We all love a good story. In fact at times a good story makes aspects of ourselves come alive; they touch our hearts, enact reflection in our lives and maybe even make us in thought go where we might not have gone otherwise. Have you ever told anyone - your story ? In many ways that is exactly what Jesus was asking the Apostles in the Gospel of today (Luke 9:18-24).

You see the Apostles had been traveling with Jesus - maybe about a year at this point - and Jesus wondered if they were getting it or not - did they understand who He was - what His story was all about ? So Jesus asked them “who do people say that I am ?” He got a variety of tales, but then Christ the most important question - “who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who declare it - “You are the Christ !”. Jesus must have thought - wow - they get it - they know my story !

But that is not where the story ends. Then Jesus told them the next step - because you know my story - you will have to take up the same cross that I do and follow me

- you are going to have to become like me

- you are going to have to do the things that I do

- you are going to have to undertake the values, the vision that I do

Here is what I have discovered: The more I walk with Jesus - the more I understand Jesus - the more I understand my own story.

This week as we were undertaking the first exciting step of Generations - which is the new im pactful chapter of our parish life, a rather bitter person from another Church came up to the workers and I who were making room for more join us with our new parking spaces across the road and said “so you must really be trying to covert a lot of people.” I smiled and said - I am not into conversions I am about conversations - and all we are doing is making room for more of that to take place.

My friends - that is our story - we are about advancing the conversation of Jesus - telling His story. Our extra parking spaces, our children and youth wing, our additional staff, our lay leadership, our continued stewardship of our resources - is not about kicking open the doors of conversion and saying do you know Jesus, - but providing opportunities for the conversation to take place. For the more I walk with Jesus - the more I understand Jesus - the more I understand my story/our story

Part of our story is about advancing the conversation. You and I don’t have to convince anyone of anything. I don’t have to come up with a list of 5 people that I am going to convert. I am just going to come up with a list of who I might invite to come and see. It’s Jesus job to convince the heart - and He does it well. Its our job to live like He did - and do it well....and if we get it - His story - and live by ....if we get it His story - and adopt His vision and values.....if we walk with Jesus - you have opportunities dropped into your lap where you can speak of Jesus. Where you can tell His story and how His story has changed your story - its not about conversion - it about conversation !

Your story does not have to be intense. His story is intense - He died the painful death of the cross - your story just needs to be a conversation. You don’t have to committed murder- to have known a heart of darkness & how Jesus changed it. You don’t have declared yourself as an atheist - to have known real doubts & how Jesus changed it. You don’t have to have been kidnaped - to have known loneliness & how Jesus changed it. You don’t have to have been in jail - you have known a prison by sin & how Jesus changed it. If by your actions - walk with Jesus faithfully - live by His vision and values - and this summer - make room for and tell His story by what you do - you will be shocked at the conversations ! He will take care of the conversions!

Being a Man of Steel

One of the most anticipated blockbuster movies of the summer is released! It is finally here! Man of Steel - the epic new production of the Superman story - it has arrived. Not only do I like Spiderman, but I am a Superman fan - in fact before I wanted to be anything - I probably wanted to be Superman!

I rooted for Superman against all odds and every size of criminate. Whether it was the comic strip Jerry Siegel first drafted, or the TV George Reeve in his saggy suit or Christopher Reeves in his vilant pursuit - I was there as a child - cape made of a pillow case on my back - cheering Superman on! There is something about being known as the Man of Steel which screams out - you can tackle anything and never fail.

As we honour Dad’s this weekend in a particular way; we believe that our dad’s are men of steel, but we also know that to be a man of steel in faith in the world of today - wow it’s a battle against a whole planet of criminate! Yet for Men, for Dads;

✓ God’s word is a beacon here that Dad’s need

✓ In the Eucharist - the Blessed Sacrament - is the strength Dad’s must have.

✓ And our common prayer as we gather on this Lord’s Day - well is the powerful cape that will truly let every dad leap tall buildings in a single bound. There is power in this hour together. There is a strength that comes when we are here in prayer as one.

So briefly I want to address this to all dads and men of God - - and if your not a dad: be praying for your dad:

• If your dad is still living - that God’s grace might touch him and strengthen him.
• If your father is with the Lord - that God will be embraced your dad today with a special glance of love by the Lord.
• If your dad and you- well had differences, huge rifts or a cavernous emptiness due to abandonment or because of human failing & sinfulness - ask God’s forgiveness to touch all today.

In the promo for the new Superman movie is a moment in which Clark Kent has arrived at point of knowing there is something special about his abilities. He can do things nobody else can - including well fly - and he arrives at a moment where he kneels to the ground - sets his face toward the sky and places his fist to the ground, and with an intensity and force from within, shakes the earth, rises the dust and with a strength from his very inner core Superman rockets into the air for the first time. But just before, however, is a very telling moment. As he kneels - he decides his strength will not be used for him but for others.

St Paul,  (Gal 2:16,19-21) says “ I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I but Christ who lives in me.” St Paul came to that point has he knelt not on earth but in the presence of His God, St Paul realized that God had placed a burden on his heart to live not for himself but to use his gifts, his talents, his abilities for the Kingdom of God. St Paul set his faced toward the sky and decided who he was living for.

Dad’s - Men of God - who are you living for ?

 Is it the power of a career?

 Is the prestige of a neighbour?

 Is the precarious trap of wealth, worldly success?

 Is it the pit of selfishness found on a internet screen, a chat room or a relationship not rooted in Gospel values?

 Is it the pith of vocabulary with other men that builds not the dignity of other people?

To be a man of steel is to decide who you will live for?

David - a King - believe to be a man of steel - in (2 Sam 12. 7-10, 13) had failed. He wandered in his actions and choices from God - and he went to the Prophet Nathan - a true man of steel - and said why has this happened to me? Nathan said to David because you forgot you have been anointed.

Dad’s - Men of God - when the burden of responsibility of leading a home, providing for it, and being a role model of Gospel values within it, seems to become too great. When you feel alone or unsupported - remember this - you have been anointed by God for the role you have, and God will give the grace for you to be faithful. But you must turn to Him, and decide before Him

 That you will use your abilities, talents, strengths to build up a home that will honour God.

 That you use hear the sound from heaven and allow God to lead you to be the type of dad, husband, role model to your children and grandchildren, that He has burned into your heart.

 That you will allow the power of a rushing wind of His love for you, permit you to remember that even when you fail you can arise, begin again because you have been anointed!

It takes you deciding to be a Man of Steele, to bend a knee every day, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament if you can - but anywhere - and look up to heaven and with a determination that shakes the earth and rises the dust of mediocrity to instead with an inner convinction proclaim “it is no longer I but Christ who lives in me.”

At the end of the day Dad’s you might not in reality be Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive or even able to leap tall buildings in a singlebound, but ..... you can still change the course of the mighty rivers in the life of your family. You can still bend the steel of disharmoney in your home with your bare hands. You can still undertake the fight for the never ending battle for Truth, Justice and the Gospel Way. If you do - well then - you are a Man of Steel!