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!
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!