TOP 14 THINGS OF 2014

As I look back upon 2014, I stand humbled at the breadth and depth of God’s blessings on our parish family. Together we have done many wonderful things in service to the Lord and to help all the members of our parish family grow in the ways of the Lord. Thank you! May God bless you for all you do to help our parish be a “light on the hill” – a strong community of faith, centered on Christ - who truly is everything for us.

TOP 14 THINGS OF 2014

1.  Dedication and Opening of our fourth parish school – St Gabriel Catholic Elementary School.

2.  Children’s Ministry launch of Kids Zone and Atrium of the Visitation. Reaching the milestone of over 100 children weekly in our programs. Expansion in 2015 to 11:30am Mass and recruitment of 20 new catechists to allow this expansion to occur.

3.  Homes for Haiti Campaign began. Funds raised for 5 of the 10 homes – and the building has begun.

4.  Our Local Outreach Efforts: Two “Service Saturday” events were held this year providing assistance to Carmelite Sisters in St Agatha, meals at Bridges Shelter, Blankets for Out of the Cold Program, “Green Bag” items for St Vincent de Paul Store, New born items during “Baby Shower” for Michael House.

5.  “Ready Day One” Back Pack appeal (140 collected), “Kindness Counts” Toy Drive (170 collected) and Red Stocking Campaign (512 collected). Plus over 30 new Haiti Sleep Mats made this year alone.

6.  Welcomed 14 adults, who received Sacraments and became part of the Catholic faith and 5 young adults who participated in Catholic Update series and received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.

7. Tuesday Night Together in February and October – over 100 people weekly during those months.

8. Vocation weekend in February with displays by religious communities and Serra Club. Three young men and one young women from our parish in religious discernment.

9. VBS (27 children) and Summer Camp programs record amazing numbers. A total of 183 children and teens were prepared for Confirmation and Holy Communion this year.

10.  Steubenville Conference with 15 young people participating and the resulting launch of our Youth Choir.

11. Expansion of Small Group ministry to include “Iron Men” and “Mother’s Group” and our new “Starting Point” group for Catholics seeking to “Come Home”.

12. Technology enhancements in our Parish Centre, new welcome desk and parking lot ministry started, Expansion of parish library to include new children’s section, enhancements to Website to include Podcasts of Homilies and Talks. Increase in weekly Sursum Corda, Facebook and Twitter subscribers. 

13. Chris Bray “Night of Worship” and Black Family “Evening of Seasonal Song”, Parish Spaghetti Supper, Visit of the Icon of the Immaculate Conception, Parish Picnic, Catholic Café, Devotions to St Anne in July, Pilgrimage to the “Cathedrals” of Hamilton, Advent Day of Mercy.

14.  Welcomed 111 new families into our parish community. Finished the year with 253 individuals involved in Liturgical Ministries alone.

Without you, none of these great things would have been accomplished in 2014. May God Bless YOU in this New Year. May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our inspiration, model and guide. 

How Brightly Is Your Star Shining?

Most often we think of the Feast of the Holy Family as being about Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Let’s expand our thinking today to a much broader concept of family.

In today’s first reading the Lord takes Abraham outside to see the countless stars in the sky and tells him his descendants will number like these. Abraham trusted God and believed When Anna and Simeon first saw the Christ child, they were in awe. They knew what they had heard about this Savior of the world and they trusted and believed. But they saw Jesus as Savior not just for them but also for the entire universe. They got it! Now think about Mary. From the Day the Angel Gabriel appeared to her she trusted and believed even knowing the responsibility she assumed in giving birth to this child--not only within her small town of Nazareth but also in “big picture” salvation of the world.

Yes, when we think of family we need to go beyond the small circle of believers we’ve created and see the world as our family. If the rest of the world is falling apart and we do nothing about it, are we really doing justice to our “small” family? Are we teaching them to see the bigger picture? Do you see your star as one of many in God’s world or do you see it as the only star?

This is really what the Feast of the Holy Family is all about—seeing that we are just a small part of a much larger family and then trust and believe.

What does our “Yes” look like? - Week # 4

The last candle on the Advent Wreath is lit. For 3 weeks we have heard about the signs God gives us, the people he puts in our lives pointing us to those signs, and the call to do something. There’s one piece missing and that piece is our response to the call. That piece is our “Yes.”

Perhaps the first thing to come to mind is, “I don’t have time to respond. I don’t have time for one more thing.” It’s easy for us to justify the tasks we fill our lives with. Most of them are good, necessary to satisfy our family, friends and co-workers. But at the end of the day, or in this case at the end of Advent, what have we accomplished? What amount of that time was given to God? Did we hear that small, quiet voice in our hearts? Did we answer?

We hear two stories today about David and Mary—both very uncomfortable with the call they received. The message, though, is in spite of their discomfort, their response was, “Yes.” A total leap of faith! No map and no set of instructions! Their “Yes” was placing their trust in God and His plan. God has a plan for us as well. There may not be a prophet to tell the story or an apostle to narrate the call, but the call is real nonetheless and it takes only two things to answer: be quiet enough to hear it and then say “Yes.” God will take care of the rest.

It’s time to do something! - Week # 3

We begin the 3rd week of Advent with the word, “Rejoice”. Rejoice for the coming of the Lord is near. However, the tone of the readings changes somewhat this weekend. The First Two Sundays of Advent we focused on signs— signs we are given and signs we follow, and heard we must not be so inwardly focused to miss the signs. We also reminded ourselves that God always allows U-turns and that’s what Advent is all about.

This week we hear that we have been “clothed in a robe of salvation and wrapped in a mantle of justice…” We’re told, “Do not quench the Spirit” and retain the good and refrain from evil. What in the world does that mean? To follow a sign usually leads us to an action or a destination. The message this week is—Jesus is coming. His whole life is an example for us to follow. Following is not watching. Following is doing. Doing what? Evangelizing. Reconciling both with God and with others. Showing others the face of Christ that we should be seeing in everyone. As Pope Francis said, “an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” There’s a real challenge here and a message we should carry not only through the rest of Advent but the rest of our lives: it’s time to do something!

Pace of Peace - Week # 2

"Knowing Jesus is the best gift anyone can ever receive, that we have encountered Him is the best thing that has ever happened in our lives, and that making Him known by our deeds and words is our greatest joy."  Pope Francis

Our parish prepares this week for our Day of Mercy – a moment to receive and experience the forgiveness of God. In the Gospel we are told to prepare the way for the Lord. We are introduced to John the Baptist – the forerunner of the Messiah. In our pace of preparation we can at times be moving in such a way that we wonder if any of our tasks will ever be done. We can get so rolled up in the duties of the day that the sense of the season is lost on us. Thus our mission must be mercy. For in mercy we not only recall that which must be done at a pace of peace in our own lives (keeping sane), but we also ensure that we are aware of others in our life that still need us, depend on us, require us in their circle during this time.

Our Advent hopes remains that we live knowing Kindness Counts - being grateful is essential to happiness - complaining has no place. Yet we know moments come when we forget this; therefore Mercy must be present. This is where the Sacrament of Reconciliation has a power of preparation to bring peace. It has the ability to permit us to encounter Christ, receive His finest gift of forgiveness. So much can keep us from the Sacrament; and yet so much can enrich us by the Sacrament.

Remember last week’s reflection on the Password of God? Gratefulness was key. It is an ingredient of Mercy. If we have forgotten the password – Mercy is the hint to get us in. To unlock the frantic pace of preparation and open the pace of peace that brings the Season into perspective and allows us as the Gospel instructs – to prepare the way of the Lord.  To live in a season of gratefulness at a pace of peace.

Advent and the Advent Wreath - Week # 1

Today, November 30, is the first day of Advent and the first day of the Church’s new liturgical year. Advent is a Season of Anticipation, Repentance and Preparation for the Birth of Jesus at Christmas. It begins 4 Sundays before Christmas, so its length in days can vary from year to year, as long as 28 days and as short as 21 days depending upon the calendar, but it always includes 4 Sundays.

The color purple marks the Season of Advent—a color traditionally associated with fasting and repentance, similar to Lent, when we anticipate the birth of Christ. The church is sparsely decorated during this four-week period for the same reason.

The Advent Wreath has a long Catholic tradition of German origin. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. One belief is that each week represents one thousand years, to represent the estimated 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior.

The three purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, preparation, sacrifices and goods works undertaken during Advent. The rose (pink) candle is lit on the third Sunday, called Gaudete Sunday, it is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and we are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming at the end of time.

Keeping up on your Catholic terms

Advent—derived from the Latin word “Adventus” meaning “coming”.

Gaudete—a Latin word meaning “Rejoice Ye”

Christ the King can lead to a New Year of Encounters!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This is the last Sunday in the current Liturgical Year. Next week, we begin the Season of Advent. Rather than looking at Advent as a stand alone series of Sundays leading up to Christmas Season, this year what if we tried to focus collectively on these days as an entire season until we return to “Ordinary Time”.

Why this theme? Well, it’s interesting that of all 4 Gospels, John does not start with the birth of Jesus but starts his Gospel with, “In the beginning was the Word…” emphasizing that “The Word” was with God from the very beginning and “…the Word was God”. This is our first glimpse into the mystery of the Trinity. For all time, Jesus co-existed with the Father and was God. John then goes on to tell his readers of John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of the Lord and concludes with the verse, “And the Word was made Flesh and made his dwelling among us…”.

The apostle John felt it necessary to establish that Jesus was God and came to earth to dwell among us. During these seasons and feasts, we anticipate and prepare for the coming of Jesus, honor Mary as the virgin mother of Jesus, celebrate the humanness of Jesus’ birth, His place as a member of the Holy Family, the significance of Mary in Salvation History and the recognition by the magi that this child, unlike anyone before or after Him, was special.

While the major focus is on the preparation during the 4 weeks of Advent, there are many opportunities to prepare for the coming of Jesus and to continue enhancing our relationship with Him in these days:

• Consider joining one of our Heart to Home or Small Groups - even for just the Season of Advent - be bold enough to “step-out” of your comfort zone, participate, and make this season a turning point on your Spiritual Journey.

• Read the Gospel prior to the Sundays in Advent and reflect on them.

• Attend Mass at least one other day besides Sunday. 

• Take Advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

As we get ready for our "New Year" - may this Season of Advent bring us toward new encounters with Christ.

A Popular Question About the Our Father

During Mass, why do we pause at the end of the Lord’s Prayer for the priest to add his part, and then finish? There are actually 3 different things being said (prayed) at this time.

First is the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Next, what the priest says is called the embolism. (GREEK, meaning ‘insertion’) It simply expands upon the last words of the ‘Our Father; it is a prayer that continues the final sentiment of what we all just prayed, to deliver us from all manners of evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Finally, what comes next is called the Doxology (a ‘prayer of praise’). For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

These words were never originally part of the Lord’s Prayer. Jewish custom included doxologies in communal prayer, particularly at the end, and the doxology is seen as an addition used in early communal worship. The earliest christian writing that includes the doxology is the Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles). Didache [Didah- kay] simply means ‘teaching.’ The “Our Father” in the Didache had the doxology tagged onto the end without the words “the kingdom,” which were added later. The tradition of the doxology was carried into the Liturgy, and became so closely associated with the Lord’s Prayer that it is now often considered to be part of the prayer itself.

The Eucharist

Following is a brief explanation of the term and of the beliefs Catholics hold concerning the “Blessed Sacrament”. 

Since the Last Supper, when Jesus broke the bread and distributed the wine, saying, “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood”, Catholics have believed that the bread and wine are no longer merely bread and wine, but are the actual presence of Jesus in His resurrected, glorified state. We also believe that Jesus, through the action of the priest in the act of consecration during Mass (the Liturgy of the Eucharist), changes the substance of bread (usually in the form of a wafer or “host”) and wine into His living presence. The Blessed Sacrament, also called Holy Eucharist, is received by the faithful in Holy Communion. We believe that the Real Presence of Jesus in the form of the Blessed Sacrament does not end when Communion is complete. The Blessed Sacrament, in the form of consecrated hosts, is reserved in the tabernacle. The presence of the Eucharistic Jesus in the tabernacle is indicated by the burning candle in the red sanctuary light located near the tabernacle.

Since we hold our belief in the Real Presence, Catholics show signs of reverence such as genuflecting or bowing toward the tabernacle on entering and leaving the church as well as a reverent, not necessarily silent, demeanor while in the church when the Blessed Sacrament is present. The words: “Be still and know that I am God...”(Ps.46) come to mind.

Many Catholics find that being in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament is a source of comfort and consolation and consider frequent meditation and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed (displayed in the ornate vessel called the monstrance) to be a path to spiritual growth. This devotional practice is known as Eucharistic Adoration.

Our parish is blessed with a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel opened in 2004. There is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day here in our chapel with someone always present spending some time with Jesus in the Tabernacle—the chapel is open for all to come and visit

God is still On Mission - but we need to change Hearts.

"Missio Dei." God is on mission.  His on-going mission is to reach every man, woman, and child with the message of hope in His Son, Jesus Christ. God has called us to join Him on this incredible Mission. Yet the fragility of humanity is such that evil enters. It has been so since the story of the apple in the Garden of Eden. This past week we saw such frailty, such evil, approach our Nation and even infect its Capital; resulting in the injury, and loss of human life, including those who have dedicated themselves to the service of the virtues and ideals for which we stand strong, proud and free. While this is a time of shock, it is not a time for despair.

We on our part, within our circles of influence, must name what we saw for what it is – pure evil - and pray for its revoking from further hearts, wills and lives. We will accomplish this through working in unity with others, expressing as the Body of Christ, Hope in the moments of fear, Calm in the times of storm and Peace in the occasions of aggression. This comes by our lives of prayer.

Let us this Lord’s Day Weekend gather as a Family of Faith, and offer prayers for those slain in the acts of violence in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Let us pray for families mourning, for lives affected, and most of all for our nation and our world. A book of remembrance will be available in our Parish Centre this Lord’s Day and special prayers will be offered. May the shining light from our hill remove the shadow and retrench in human hearts the only beacon that can abolish evil - Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace in the World by St. John Paul II

Immaculate Heart of Mary, helpPrayer for Peace in the World by St. John Paul II us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today, and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down upon our modern world and seem to block the paths toward the future.

From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us. From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.

From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.

Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies. Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin: individual sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all its manifestations.

Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the infinite saving power of the redemption: the power of merciful love. May it put a stop to evil. May it transform consciences. 

May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope. Amen

CONFIRMATION: Why do we choose a saint’s name?

This week I have run into several of our young people who are seeking to be leaders for our "Searching in the Spirit" program which helps to prepare their peers for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Do you remember your Confirmation? Do you remember choosing the name of a saint? As Catholics, have you ever been asked, “Why do you choose another name in addition to your own?” What’s the best way to answer that question?

As we go through our sacramental preparation for Confirmation, saints are chosen to be a person we want to  be like, as well as someone who can pray for us from heaven. Through the process of canonization (when someone is declared by the Church to be a saint) the Church is proclaiming that this member of the faithful practiced heroic virtue during their life on earth, ‘the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors’ (CCC 828). 

To aspire to be like a saint is the same as trying to imitate an actor, musician, or athlete; a confirmation saint  is someone who we want to be like! You may have a famous actor, musician, or athlete that you really admire for their talent and skill. What many  people don’t realize is that there are good people to look up to within our Church, for us to try to be like as well! It is common for us to think that only adults are able to become saints, but that is wrong.

As a young teen in the early 4th century, Saint Agnes was martyred because she refused to denounce her faith. Saint Aloysius, a young Jesuit in the late 16th century, helped care for people who were sick with the plague, giving them care and love as they left this world. His close contact with the disease took his life soon thereafter. Both these young saints bear witness to having love of God as their first priority.

It is important to remember that as members of the Church, we are never alone, as St. Paul said, ‘We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrews 12:1). These witnesses are the saints who continually intercede for us (CCC 956); in choosing a confirmation saint, we are choosing a special friend to intercede for  us in heaven and after whom we can model our lives while here on earth.

You can’t call up a famous person you want to be like and ask them for help, but your Confirmation saint is someone who you can talk to whenever you need them and they will always have your back!

Thanksgiving Prayer

O God, when I have food,

help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work,

help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home,

help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain,

help me to remember those who suffer,

And remembering,

help me to destroy my complacency;

bestir my compassion,

and be concerned enough to help;

By word and deed,

those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Amen.

-Samuel F. Pugh

Four Authors

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the four authors of the gospels) have traditionally been represented by four symbols:

St. Matthew: a divine man

St. Mark: a winged lion

St. Luke: a winged ox

St. John: a rising eagle

These symbols are taken from scripture, specifically Ezekiel (1:1-21): and Revelation (4:6-8). These images in both the Old and New Testament prompted St. Irenaeus (140-202) to liken them to the four Gospel writers. He felt each writer had a particular focus on Christ. More specifically, St. Irenaeus explained the symbolism as follows:

St. Matthew is represented by a divine man because the Gospel highlights Jesus’ entry into this world, first by presenting His family lineage — “A family record of Jesus Christ, Son of David, son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1) — and His incarnation and birth: “Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about” (Mt 1:18). “This then,” according to St. Irenaeus, “is the Gospel of His humanity.”

The lion is the symbol of St. Mark because his Gospel begins with John the Baptist, whose preaching is described as a voice crying in the wilderness like the roar of a lion. He said, “The voice in the desert crying” reminds one of a lion’s roar.” The lion also signified royalty, an appropriate symbol for the Son of God.

The winged ox represents St. Luke. Oxen were used in temple sacrifices. For instance, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, an ox was sacrificed every six steps (2 Sm 6). St. Luke begins his Gospel with the announcement of the birth of St. John the Baptizer to his father, the priest Zechariah, who was offering sacrifice in the Temple (Lk 1). St. Luke also includes the parable of the Prodigal Son, in which the fatted calf is slaughtered, not only to celebrate the younger son’s return, but also to foreshadow the joy we must have in receiving reconciliation through our most merciful Savior who as Priest offered Himself in sacrifice to forgive our sins. Therefore, the winged ox reminds us of the priestly character of our Lord and  His sacrifice for our redemption.

Lastly, St. John’s symbol is an eagle because his Gospel has a “lofty” beginning with Jesus existing in heaven as “the Word of God” before he came to earth: “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. He was present to God in the beginning. Through Him all things came into being, and apart from Him nothing came to be” (Jn 1:1-3). The Gospel of St. John, unlike the other Gospels, engages the reader with the most profound teachings of our Lord, and the beautiful teachings on the Bread of Life and the Good Shepherd. Jesus, too, identified Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life,” and anyone who embraces Him as such will rise to everlasting life with Him. The wings on all of the symbols of the gospels are to symbolize their connection to the divine. Like eagle wings or angels (who were the messengers of God), they deliver this story and good news.

While each of these symbols focuses on the particular theme of each Gospel, only in penetrating all four Gospels do we encounter fully our Lord.

Our Liturgical Colours tell what Season it is.

The Catholic Church uses different colors for the various seasons and occasions during the Liturgical year. You will notice these colors on the priests’ vestments, the covers of the books, decorations in the church, etc. All of the colors have different meanings.

GREEN is the default color and represents nature and life. It is used for Ordinary Time, the Sundays between Epiphany and Lent (roughly January to March) and the Sundays after Trinity (roughly May/June to October/November). These two seasons are also called ‘Ordinary Time’ because the Sundays have no names, just ordinal numbers, like The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

RED is the color of blood, and therefore is used for the feasts of saints who are martyrs (those who have died for the faith). It is also used on Palm Sunday when we remember...and read...the Passion of the Lord. Because it is also the color of fire and, therefore, the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:3), red is used for Pentecost Sunday and for priests’ ordinations and installations. 

In antiquity, purple dye was very expensive, so purple came to signify wealth, power, and royalty. Therefore PURPLE is the color for the seasons of Advent and Lent, which celebrate the coming of the King. Since, as Christians, we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, purple also represents penance and humilty. The priest also wears a purple (violet)stole when hearing confessions.

Angels announced Jesus’ birth and His Resurrection, and the New Testament consistently uses white to describe angels and the risen Lord. Therefore, WHITE is the color for the seasons of Easter and Christmas. It represents light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph, and glory. White is used for funerals, since it is the color of the Resurrection, for weddings, regardless of the season, and for secular holidays that are observed in the church. It is also used for feasts of saints who are not martyrs.

GOLD vestments are often worn on solemnities in lieu of white as a sign of joy and great celebration, as at Christmas and Easter. 

ROSE represents joy, and is always used on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent), and Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent). This is the Church’s way of further heightening our expectation as we draw ever nearer the Solemnities of Christmas and Easter.

Take notice of the colors used on any given Sunday. As you can see, there is special meaning and significance!

Why We Do What We Do

The vestments worn by our priests are not only beautiful and decorative—they have significant meaning. 

Alb - The alb is the long white, robe-like vestment worn by all clerics at liturgical celebrations. White is the symbol of purity and the term alb, from the Latin word albe, means white. It can be traced to the Roman alb worn under a cloak or tunic. The priest prays: “Purify me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart, that being made white in the Blood of the Lamb, I may come to eternal joy.”

Stole - The stole symbolizes the clerical office, immortality, and the Yoke of Christ. This, matching the liturgical color, is a long, scarf-like vestment worn over the alb and under the chasuble. This is presented at Ordination when made a Deacon and worn diagonally across the body. When ordained Priest, the stole is ceremonially untied and from then on worn hanging equally down the chest. (A Bishop wears the stole in the same way because he never ceases to be a priest.) The origins of the stole are the towels that slaves wore around their necks. When bending down, or kneeling, they would use the towel to wipe the feet of guests or their masters. Jesus wore a towel around his waist and washed the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper. The stole is seen as a symbol that the cleric is to serve the people of God. When putting on the stole, the priest kisses the Cross on the stole 

Chasuble - The chasuble symbolizes charity and the Yoke of Christ. This matches the liturgical color and is a long, often ornate, sleeveless poncho-like garment worn by priests and bishops over the alb and stole during the sacrifice of the Mass.

In future articles we will look at the meaning of the different colors of the vestments and church decorations.

Why We Do What We Do

Ten Signs from the Sign of the Cross

This Sunday we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Here are ten ways the sign of the cross is a sign of  God’s presence in our lives:

1. It begins our prayers with prayer. The sign of the  cross is itself a prayer, lifting us up to God and reminding us that God is always present.

2. It renews our baptism. We use the same words that made us members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

3. It affirms the Holy Trinity. Naming God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit places us in the mystery of the Triune God.

4. It grants us the power of God’s name. Scripture continually reminds us of the power that God’s name holds for our daily living.

5. It recalls the passion of Christ. We remember Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection to the new life that has been given to us.

6. It reminds us that we are disciples. As Jesus himself taught-in order to follow him-we must take up the cross daily.

7. It signs us with Christ. Signs and symbols are ways we make divine realities truly present in our lives; so too with the cross.

8. It commits our whole being. We give our mind (Father), heart (Son), and daily labors (Holy Spirit) to God.

9. It witnesses. At times like Mass or other community prayers, at mealtime, and elsewhere, we show our faith publicly.

10. It concludes our prayers. The name of the Trinity and our “Amen” seal our prayers.

What is the difference between a cross and a crucifix?

a) They are two terms for the same thing.

b) A crucifix has an image of Christ’s body on it; crosses do not.

c) Crucifixes are found only on rosaries.

d) (b) and (c)

Answer: (b) The official rites of the church rarely use the term “crucifix” but will instead use “cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified” or some other phrase based on “cross.”

A Walk Through the Mass

For the next several months I would like to use the blog and each week take one part—one moment—of our weekend Mass and ‘break it open.’ Did you ever wonder why we sign our forehead, lips, and heart with the Sign of the Cross before the Gospel Reading? Or why we bring the bread and wine up the center aisle during the collection? Why not just put it on the altar from the beginning? We will also address some questions about the ‘mechanics’ of the mass. 

For example, ‘Where do all the hosts come from? Do we buy them? Do we make them? What about the wine? The palms for Palm Sunday? Why do we use different colors for different seasons, and what do they mean? The mass is a beautiful celebration, rich with tradition, art, symbols, sacred texts, and meaningful rituals (rites). A deeper understanding of ‘why we do what we do’ will hopefully enhance our own participation in the Mass. Look for it here beginning next week!

“Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

For those born before the 1970’s we have a recollection of the “Baltimore Catechism”. A series of questions and answers regarding God and faith. While it had its pluses, for example you knew how to reply to faith questions when they were posed to you, it also had its disadvantages, you did not have a personal answer – just a rote one.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus poses a question to His Disciples, and at first they just give Him the standard rote answers. But then He makes it personal, and well, you can hear the pauses and stuttering, at least until Peter speaks up.  “Who do you say I am?” it is the most important question in the Gospels.

Simon, son of Jonah, who will deny Jesus three times, who doesn’t understand so many things — this time understood not the rote answer by the heart reply and this same Simon is given a new name: Peter, the Rock – why? Well because Peter knew Christ and was able to move beyond the answer; to a point of personal  faith. And that’s what can happen for each of us. 

Jesus can make new openings in our lives, break the molds we’ve shaped for ourselves, draw us toward new realizations, fashion new understandings. He can re-name us. If we allow it.  Jesus can construct within each of us a tenderness that puts our pettiness to shame, and an experience of freedom that will release us from all  our enslavements. But only if we allow it.

“Who do you say I am?” Too often we answer easily that He is our God, even when He is not at the center of our lives. Too often we answer easily that we confess Him to be our Lord, even when we live with our backs turned to His project of forgiveness and mercy. Too often we answer easily that He is our Teacher, when we barely listen to His lessons. Its rote for us. But today we are challenged to make it a heart rooted answer and honestly answer this single most important Gospel question: “Who do you say I am?”

How are you going to answer it?

“Amid the Chaos”

We’re in the midst of a rolling sea, in a boat that seems fragile, and there are howling winds and enormous waves that threaten to capsize us. 

At some point in time this may describe anyone’s life — one’s parish or school or one’s business or neighborhood or family; one’s personal life as our employer tells us our job has been outsourced or downsized; or our doctor explains our test results; or we get that call in the middle of the night, “Is this the mother of …?”

This has been the life of the community of the church many times since Jesus walked on water and it is what today’s Gospel story is about.Jesus is there to help us negotiate the trials. As long as we keep our eyes on Him, we can walk on water; that is, we can do the impossible. When we focus on the power of the winds and the depth of the waves and how wet and cold we are, then we panic and grasp and clutch and … sink. When we give up our life to the care of Jesus, we save our life. When we grasp and clutch, we lose it. This is the counter intuitive lesson Jesus taught over and over again.

When we look back on harsh events in our lives, so harsh we thought we might not even survive, sometimes we see that these events were the making of us. The trick — and the measure of the disciple — is to remember the resurrection when we are on the cross; to remember that it is Jesus whose hand is stretched out to us in the midst of the storm.

Fortunately, as we’re negotiating a storm and forgetting to keep our eyes on Jesus, He does not forget to keep His eyes on us. He understands. He knows what it is to pray for “this cup to pass by.” And He knows what it is to trust — “Father, if it be your will.” As Elijah discovered God’s presence in the “tiny whispering sound,” so with our eyes on Jesus we find the still place amid the chaos.

BE THE MIRACLE

In the Gospel of today Jesus performs a great miracle - the feeding of the thousands with simple loaves and fishes. Ever thought that as a follower of Jesus we are called to be a miracle? To be a miracle doesn’t necessarily mean tackling problems across the globe. It means making a difference, believing change is possible, even in your own living room, cubicle, neighborhood, or family. We need a miracle. How often have you heard people say that? How often have you said it? In times of trouble or despair, we want someone else to take action, someone stronger, smarter, more powerful than ourselves. The truth is we all have just enough strength, smarts, and power to make a difference, to be the miracle for someone.

We pass by miracle-workers every day. They’re often disguised as ordinary people, teachers, barbers, nurses, secretaries, cashiers, cabdrivers. People in all walks of life who don’t just go to work to bring home a paycheck. People who go to work to make a difference in the lives of others. People who remind us that no one is too small to make a big difference.

I’ve never forgotten the day I was a ball of stress and stopped to pay for parking. In most parking lots, you pull up, the person takes your money, gives you change, and you pull away. Your eyes never meet and neither of you remembers the encounter. This time, the attendant looked me in the eye, greeted me, shook my hand. He told me he loved his job and saw it as his ministry to bless people as they passed through his parking lot into the rest of their day. Where I saw a mere money collector, he saw a mission in life. He left me feeling renewed and calm.

We’re all here to matter for others, to be the miracle someone else needs. How do you do that? We can’t do everything, and what we can do, we can’t do perfectly, but that’s okay. All we need to do is make a beginning, right here, right now. If we just do that, it will make all the difference in the world

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Jesus had just finished explaining to the disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the  “kingdom of heaven.” He expressed truths about the kingdom in three pairs of parables in Matthew 13: the seed and the sower  (vv. 3-23) and the weeds in the field (vv. 24-30); the mustard seed (vv. 31-32) and the leaven (v. 33); and the hidden treasure (v. 44) and the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46).

The similarities of these two short parables make it clear they teach the same lesson—the kingdom of heaven is of inestimable value. Both parables involve a man who sold all he had to possess the kingdom. The treasure and the pearl represent Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. And while we cannot pay for salvation by selling all our worldly goods, once we have found the prize, we are willing to give up everything to possess it. But what is attained in exchange is so much more valuable that it is comparable to trading an ounce of trash for a ton of diamonds (Philippians 3:7-9).

In both parables, the treasures are hidden, indicating that spiritual truth is missed by many and cannot be found by intelligence or power or worldly wisdom. Matthew 13:11-17 and 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 make it clear that the mysteries of the kingdom are hidden from some who are unable to hear, see, and comprehend these truths. The disobedient reap the natural consequences of their unbelief—spiritual blindness. Those whose eyes are opened by the Spirit do discern spiritual truth, and they, like the men in the parable, understand its great value. Notice that the merchant stopped seeking pearls when he found the pearl of great price. Eternal life, the incorruptible inheritance, and the love of God through Christ constitute the pearl which, once found, makes further searching unnecessary. 

Christ fulfills our greatest needs, satisfies our longings, makes us whole and clean before God, calms and quiets our hearts, and gives us hope for the future. The “great price,” of course, is that which was paid by Christ for our redemption. He emptied Himself of His glory, came to earth in the form of a lowly man and shed His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

The parable teaches us that the Kingdom of God is a mixed bag. It is composed of saints and sinners. The Church is not a showcase for saints, but a refuge for sinners. Jesus came, not for the just, but for the sinners. Catholic means universal. The Kingdom is a mixed bag because reality is a mixed bag good and evil are found together. Each one of us is a mixed bag. Yet, God is patient and merciful. He wants everyone to be saved and come to the  knowledge of the truth. There is always the possibility of  conversion, God also wishes to give us a second chance.

If Simon Peter had been uprooted when he denied three times that he even knew Jesus there would be no St. Peter. If Saul had  been uprooted while he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there would be no St. Paul. If Thomas had been  uprooted when he refused to believe that Jesus was risen there would be no St. Thomas. And what about Augustine, Francis, Ignatius? What about us? If we had been uprooted when we were  sinners this church would be empty.

This leads me to ask - when was the last time a little "pruning" took place in your life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Consider learning a little more about it and consider celebrating it soon.

Hear Then The Parable Of The Sower

The story is simple. A farmer sows seed in a field:

· Some seed falls on the paths, and the birds quickly eat it.

· Some seed falls where there are rocks, and not much soil. Plants grow quickly, but soon the sun dries them. There is not enough soil, and the plants die.

· Some seed begins to grow in a place where there are too many weeds. The weeds stop the growth of the plants, and the plants die.

· But other seed falls on good ground. So, the plants grow well. The farmer has a harvest from these plants.

The explanation of the story is also simple. Jesus Himself explained it to the disciples. The farmer is like Jesus. The seed that he sows is the seed of the good news about Jesus. The farmer sows the seed in many different places, just as Christians tell God’s good news in many different places. What happens to the seed is different in different places. It is the same with the good news about Jesus. It has a good result in the lives of the people who choose to really hear and live it.

The first seed fell on the path, where there was no soil. Some people hear the good news but give no attention to it at all. This is like the seed on the path. These people do not change their behaviour. These people do not think about other people. They are selfish. They quickly forget about the good news. Some seed falls where there are rocks. It grows quickly, but then it dies. This teaches us that some people listen to the good news. They seem to like what they hear about Jesus. But this does not last. They have a difficult time, or other people laugh at them. Then they have no more interest in Jesus. They never really trusted him.Some seed began to grow among weeds, and the weeds killed it. This teaches us that some people have no time for Jesus. They are selfish, and they want things for themselves. Perhaps they want to be rich, or to be powerful. They worry all the time. They are anxious about their possessions.

Finally we hear in the story about seed on good ground. The good ground is like people who love the Lord. They believe in Jesus and they trust Him. God will bless these people. His Holy Spirit will help them to love other people. They will be able to forgive other people, and to live in peace with them. They will be joyful. This is because God can  change them. He changes the inside of these people, and this changes their behaviour.

This parable can teach us about ourselves. God will bless those people who trust Him. We learn from this parable the same truths as we learn from the beatitudes. When we know that we need Jesus, we should trust him. When we really trust Him, He will teach to us. We will change, because Jesus will change us. But ask yourself this question: what kind of soil are you like?

Yoked with Christ

In a Bible study on today’s gospel passage, a priest started off by asking the college student participants whether they really think that the yoke of Christ is easy, and his burden light. The answer he got was a resounding “No!” Asked to explain, the students went on to recount the daily pains and discomforts they suffer in their attempt to be faithful to Christ’s teachings. “I have this problem,” said Elena. “I pray about it constantly and I make all the effort I can, yet I keep falling into the same temptation over and over again.” Johnson spoke about all his efforts to fight an addiction. “I have prayed about it. I have sought help. And I really try. Yet after a few days of apparent success,I find myself falling right back to where I started.” Many of us can identify with the predicaments of these young people. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus offers us a way out: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The rest He promises is a release from the experience of serving God as a fatigue and a burden. The promise means that serving God could be transformed into a sweet experience of rest. Jesus then goes on to show how: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (verse 29). Looks like we have a problem here! Is Jesus calling on those who are carrying heavy loads to come and add a yoke to their burden? Doesn’t that sound like adding affliction to the afflicted? No; Jesus is asking us to cast away our burdens and take on His yoke. This is because, unlike the burdens we bear, His yoke is easy and His burden light.

So, then, what is this yoke of Christ? Among the Jews, the yoke was put on the necks of two cattle so that together they could pull the plough as one. It always takes a pair to work a yoke. When Jesus asks you to take the yoke, you might as well ask who is your yoke-mate. Your yoke-mate is none other than Jesus himself. The yoke, in fact, belongs to Him and He only invites you to team up with Him. The yoke of Christ is not just a yoke from Christ but also a yoke with Him. To take the yoke of Christ is to associate and identify ourselves with Him: our destiny with His destiny, our vision with His vision and our mission with His mission. It is to know that we are not pulling the yoke alone and by our power but together with Christ and by the strength that comes from Him. It is to know that Jesus is not just a teacher who gives you homework but also a friend who helps you do it. We should never forget that we are yoked with Christ. 

To this end, it helps to start each day with a prayer like this: “Lord, help me to remember that there is no problem I am going to face today that you and I together cannot handle.” This is how the yoke becomes easy and the burden light.

St. Peter and St.Paul - Pillars of Faith for Us

Peter denied Jesus…three times… in order to save his own life. Paul persecuted Christians. So…why do we celebrate these two apostles with a special feast day? Because the story doesn’t end there! In a word: conversion.

Peter and Paul became amazing models for the Church…for us. We do not focus on their failings, but rather their new found message of mercy and reconciliation. By celebrating the conversions of these two apostles, the Church teaches us that it welcomes sinners and failures into the grace and mercy of God. That is good news for us. They, in fact, became powerful preachers of the Word. So can we.

Two different men. Two different lives. Two different opinions on the direction the Church should take! Peter was mostly concerned with preaching to the Jewish communities around him, while Paul was reaching out to the Gentiles. Instead of standing their ground and staying divided, they talked it over. Paul confronted Peter and they found a solution. Led by the Holy Spirit, they were both willing to change for the better of the Church. Listen to the following as it is laid out for us in the Preface of today’s Mass: (The Preface is always said before the Eucharistic Prayer. In a way, it ‘sets up’ or prepares us for the highest point of the Mass. It occurs right before the ‘Holy, Holy.’)

“For by your providence the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul

bring us joy:

Peter, foremost in confessing the faith,

Paul, its outstanding preacher,

Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of

Israel,

Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call.

And so, each in a different way gathered together the one

family of Christ;

And revered together throughout the world, they share one

Martyr’s crown.”

We, like Peter and Paul, are not always going to see eye-to-eye. We all have our own opinions of how things should go. Will we, like them, allow the Spirit to work in our lives to iron out our differences with discourse? Will we, like the early church, be open to change as the Spirit guides and leads us? We, like Peter and Paul, are going to make mistakes and fall down from time to time. But the story doesn’t end there for us, either. Just as they both experienced the amazing grace of God, so does God offer that same grace to us. Are we ready to receive it? Are we ready to share it with the world?

[Saints Peter and Paul share the same solemnity on June 29 (today) to honor their martyrdom. Each, however, has their own Feast Day: the Chair of Saint Peter on February 22, and the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25.]

How Can Bread and Wine be His Body and Blood ?

Most recently a good friend of mine who is a Baptist Minister asked me " How is it that you Catholics believe a piece of bread and a cup of wine are the real body and blood of Jesus Christ?". Let me share with you my answer to him. 

Consider this:

In Mark 4:39, ‘He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.’

In John 9:6, ‘He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The mans earthly eyes obeyed His command and were cured of their blindness.

In John 2:7-9, ‘Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. The earthly water obeyed His command and changed to the finest wine.

In Mark 7:34, He spoke the word “Ephphatha,” and the deaf man’s ears were opened and his tongue was loosened to speak.

In John 11:43, at the grave site of his friend, He said ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And he did. A dead man came out of a tomb. Because Jesus told him to.

The list goes on and on. The elements of the earth obeyed Jesus’ very command without hesitation. Last week on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we were reminded that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one…separate, yet one. God the Father who spoke creation into existence by His very Word, is the same Son who speaks with equal power and conviction!

So I say to you: when Jesus held up the piece of bread and said the words: ‘This is my body...’ did that bread have a choice? When He held up the cup and said, ‘This is my blood...’ what else could that wine do but obey his command? Yes, it looks, tastes, and acts like bread and wine, but, by the power of Jesus’ word, it becomes His flesh and blood.

God So Loved the World

We have seen and recited the verse a thousand times: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...”. We see “John 3:16” on a sign held up by a fan in the crowd of every sporting event. But have we ever really thought about the meaning of this passage? REALLY thought about it? It’s so easy to just go on autopilot, reciting by rote what we learned when we were younger: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty...” or “Our Father, who art in Heaven...” It is challenging to concentrate on every word and meaning of these prayers we recite daily or weekly, year after year. We’re all human. 

But this week, take the Gospel passage and replace “the world” with “me”. Then, take it a step further and replace “the world” with your name. Finally, the most challenging step, replace “the world” with the name of someone whom you find difficult to love, someone with whom your relationship struggles. In a very simple way, it will give you a personal understanding of how much God truly loves us...every one of us, no matter how many  times we may fail.

God so loved __________ that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn _______
but that ________ might be saved through Him.

Receive the Holy Spirit

For us Catholics, Pentecost is best described in the second chapter of Acts which we heard in the first reading today. Pentecost, sometimes called the “Feast of Weeks,” was an old Jewish feast celebrated 50 days after Passover. It was a time of the spring wheat harvest where the first fruits were offered to God. It was also a time to celebrate the covenant between God and the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai. In the New Testament, Pentecost took on the meaning of a “new covenant” where the harvesting of souls is celebrated. Pentecost, for us, marks the end of the Easter season, but is also the birthday of the church, the day on which the infant church began to expand. Pentecost marks the beginning of the work and activity of the Holy Spirit. Before His ascension, Jesus promised that He would not leave us orphans--that He would send the Holy Spirit who would teach us all things, remind us of all things and help us to carry forward Jesus’ mission on earth. In a most unique way, Pentecost is the feast of the Holy Spirit.

Today, the Spirit’s activity in the Church and in our souls should awaken us all over again. We need to give more attention to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in our soul. Since baptism, the Spirit has made our body and soul a house of God. How differently we would lead our lives if we would remember that the Holy Spirit is within us! In today’s Gospel, we hear three things: First, Jesus offers us Peace—not just “well wishes,” but true peace that comes from following Him. Second, He tells us to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Again, not just another party favor, but a commissioning! Third, He entrusts to us, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them…” All of a sudden, everything becomes clear to His disciples and hopefully to us. Their life was not ending, but just beginning. This man they followed for the past 3 years was no longer with them, but His message and His example was. The Holy Spirit, then, gave them the strength to carry on the mission. They were no longer to be timid and afraid. 

Pentecost is our day, too. It’s the day when we should be reminded of the Gospel we heard last weekend, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” and how we should draw strength and purpose from the Holy Spirit to carry out that mission. That Gospel was not written to relate an historical event. It was written as if Jesus was standing before us with those same words today. Joy should fill our hearts today as we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. In the Preface of today’s Mass (and on no other occasion) we hear the words, “Wherefore the whole world rejoices with unrestrained joy.” How fortunate we Christians are! We feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as if we can see those tongues of fire hovering over our heads. So let us pray fervently: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful!”

Go, therefore, and Make Disciples of All Nations…

Forty is a significant number in scriptures. Moses went to the  mountain to seek the face of God for forty days in prayer and fasting. The people of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years in preparation for their entry into the Promised Land. Jesus went into the desert and fasted for forty days just like Elijah fasted for forty days as He journeyed in the wilderness to the mountain of God. So, for forty days after His Resurrection Jesus appeared time after time to His disciples to assure them, first that He had truly risen  from the dead and second, to prepare them for the task of carrying on His work that He began during His public ministry.

Jesus’ departure and ascension into heaven was both an end and  a beginning for His disciples—the end of Jesus’ physical presence  with them, but the beginning of His presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that He would be with them always to the end of time. Now, as the glorified and risen Savior ascended to heaven,  Jesus promised to give them the power of his Holy Spirit, which we will see “fulfilled” next Sunday on the Feast of Pentecost. When Jesus physically departed from the apostles, they were not left alone or powerless. He assured them of his presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ last words to his apostles were, “Go, therefore and make  disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” 

Those were Jesus’ last earthly words  to us as well because that is the mission to which we, too, are called. There’s an old saying, “The main thing is to keep the main thing  the main thing.” The main thing in our case is to wake up everyday  and remember our mission—proclaim the good news to the entire world by the kind of life we lead. We all have been given this task to share—to proclaim the good news. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.  The message today is clear: Jesus wants us to finish what He began. He came to the disciples, taught them, and worked with them. He then died on the cross and rose from the dead. But, before He ascended into heaven, He gave them, and us, the  commission to convert the world.  We need to know that our task to obey His call to make disciples of all nations is something that we can do. We can do it where we are, with those we meet, with those we work with, with those we go to school with, etc. We need to be a witness for Jesus in our lives  and, when necessary, talk about Him, too.

If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments

We all have family members, teachers, or close friends that we looked up to and would do anything for. Our parents, for example, may have taught us how to live a Godly life. A mentor may have taken us under their wing and taught us how to navigate through the hectic world of business. We may have had a teacher who showed us tremendous patience and perseverance. There might have been a close friend who helped us through very difficult times. None of us have been without these life examples. Then, as we continue on through life, we fall back on the examples we’ve been given many times over. That should put us in the proper frame of mind to accept today’s Gospel. Jesus says to His disciples: “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” We loved our parents, our mentor, our teacher, or our friend and, because of that love, we wanted to emulate their example—said another way, “keep their commandments.” The same may be said of the relationship between Jesus and us. It is because we love Jesus that we want to keep His commandments and want to pass on what we  have been taught to others. That’s discipleship in action. We never lived in Jesus’ time. We never experienced His teachings in person. Yet, we believe He was born, gave us a perfect example of how to live during His public ministry, and suffered death for our sake. But even death does not break this relationship, for whenever we are  about to do something important, we remember what we have been  taught. Then the spirit of the one who taught us rises in our heart. We love Jesus and so we receive His commandments and keep them— all for love.

That’s the message of today’s Gospel. Jesus calls His disciples to walk in His way of love through obedience to the will of the Father. True love is more than sentiment or good intentions. As important as these may be, they are not the proof of love. True love for God is expressed in obedience, and obedience is expressed in love. Jesus promised to give His followers (and that’s us) the best of gifts: the Holy Spirit as Counselor and Helper to bring us safely through the challenges and adversities we must face in this life. The Holy Spirit is also the Giver of life – the life of God – and the Spirit is the One who guides us along the way. We can never stop learning because the Spirit leads us more and more into the knowledge of God’s love. 

Jesus also promised His followers the gift of peace. Peace is more than the absence of conflict or trouble. Peace includes everything that leads us to good. So, trust in God, have faith in His promises, and obey His word and that will lead us to peace and safety in God’s presence. That is why a Christian need not fear or be troubled by anything. 

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells His disciples He is going away, but that He is preparing a place for them and will come back and take them with Him. Thomas hears this and thinks, “…we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Thomas, the doubter, again wears his feelings on his sleeve. Jesus responds, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one  comes to the Father except through me.” Now Phillip has the courage to speak up and asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus tells him, ‘if you know me, you know the Father. If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father in me.’ Now that’s pretty heavy stuff for His disciples to grasp. Let’s dig a little deeper. 

When Jesus proclaims: “I am the Way,” He’s not simply giving advice or direction. He personally is “the way,” and we cannot miss it. He leads and guides us personally every day. Jesus also is the Truth. Lots of people can probably say, “I have taught you the truth.” Only Jesus can say, ‘I am the Truth.’ Moral truth cannot be expressed in words alone; it must be demonstrated by example. Jesus’ whole life on earth was a demonstration of truth. Jesus is the Life. He not only shows us the path of life (Psalm 16:11) but He also gives the kind of life only God can give—eternal life. What consolation we can draw as followers of Christ knowing the person we are following is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Yet we must recognize that, even as followers, and as much as we try to avoid it, we are all inevitably going to encounter troubles, difficulties, and sometimes more than we think we can handle!  Jesus knew this and He knew His disciples would have to face adversity and trials after He left them to return to His Father. So He assured them that His departure was not only for their good, but also to secure a place for them in God’s house – a place of refuge, peace, and everlasting happiness. Jesus assured that safe passage not only for His apostles but also for us. 

Despite the assurance, His apostles were anxious about Jesus’ leaving. So Jesus moves away from talk about going away and returning, to again asking them to trust (or believe). Trusting (believing) has been the common thread in the Gospel for the last several weeks. The conclusion, then, is if we do trust Jesus, when He says to us, “Amen, amen I say to you,” we surely must listen up. And here is the stunner of this passage: all the works that Jesus just encouraged His disciples to recall will be small potatoes compared to what we 

will do. Jesus promises we “will do greater works than these.” And we know, Jesus promises His assistance, His support, His power through the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

I am the Gate for the Sheep

What can shepherding teach us about God and our  relationship with him? Let’s go back to the time of Jesus. At the end of  each day the shepherd brought his sheep into a shelter. They knew the voice of their shepherd and  came at his call. So familiar was the shepherd and his sheep, that  each was called by a distinct name. The sheep pen, then as now, is an enclosure open to the elements and so the owner could have  a view of everything that was going on. It is not covered or roofed over like a barn or shed; it has no door either, just an  opening. Its walls are open to the sun, the sky, rain and wind. They are often made of rough stones with a layer of thorn  brush along the top similar to the picture above. They can be quite dirty, smelly places, but their main purpose is to provide  protection. At night, after the sheep are in, the shepherd just lays down  in the doorway. He becomes the gate.  There is no legitimate  access to the sheep except through him. So anyone who tried  to climb over the wall to get in was obviously up to no good.  If a predator tried to enter, the shepherd would be disturbed. The shepherd, therefore, put his life at risk to protect his  sheep, truly becoming the gate. 

This imagery would have been familiar to those listening to Jesus, but where was he headed? “Jesus used this figure of  speech but the Pharisees did not understand what He was telling them.” (John 10:6). Since they had not gotten the picture yet, Jesus goes for the  jugular – he becomes direct and explicit, “I am the Gate… Whoever enters through me will be saved…I came so that you  might have life…” He clearly reveals that he is God. Suddenly  the whole illustration makes sense with devastating clarity. Amidst the storms of life, Jesus is saying He is the only one  through whom we can be safe and secure. Anything or anyone else should be avoided. 

Finally, Jesus refers to finding “pasture”. “Pasture,” to a sheep,  is food. A theme of John is that the word of God is our true  food. Jesus will lead us, His sheep, through His Word, to true understanding of God, true relationship with God and with  each other. Yes, Jesus is “the” Gate – the only gate to heaven.

In the Breaking of the Bread

The Road to Emmaus is a very well-known and gripping story because it  is, in many ways, our own story when we lose hope and the desire to move  on because our dreams have been crushed.

Some of the saddest words in our language begin with the letter D: disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, despair and death. All of  these are summed up in the words of Cleopas and his companion to the 

unrecognized stranger on the Emmaus road. They had left a demoralized and disillusioned group of disciples with the events of Good Friday fresh  in their memories. We can understand their confusion, can’t we? The 

Master they had loved and followed had been made a public spectacle,  exposed to ridicule and put to death on a cross. 

Now, the reports that Christ’s tomb was empty only confused the disciples  more. Their entire world had come apart. The two downhearted disciples  summed up the situation when they said, “we had hoped that he was the  one who was going to redeem Israel.” Human hope is a fragile thing, and  when it withers it is difficult to revive. Why was it difficult for the disciples to recognize the risen Lord? Perhaps, they saw the cross as defeat and couldn’t comprehend the empty tomb.  And yet, as we heard last week some doubted even after Jesus appeared to  them.

So, we find these two disciples in retreat, leaving Jerusalem, scared,  dejected, and perplexed. Here was a walk of sadness and gloom, of  frustration and doubt; a walk filled with deliberation and discussion, but without answers and understanding, and therefore, without comfort;  going, but without sense of mission and purpose.  Jesus draws near to them as they were in the darkness of despair. He draws near and he walks with them. They couldn’t recognize him still struggling  with confusion and unbelief but also because Jesus keeps them from  recognizing him because there was another “teaching” moment coming.  So they drew near to the village to which they were going. Jesus acted as  if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us,  for it is toward evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed  and broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly their eyes were open and they  knew he was alive!

Jesus appears to us often in the strange places and events of our lives and  through the many strange people we may encounter. We often fail to  recognize him as well. Yet we experience his presence at every Mass in 

every church in every corner of the world in the Breaking of the Bread. This is truly the gift Jesus has left us as a memorial to his passion, death  and resurrection and as a promise of new and eternal life for each of us. 

So the question might be: on our own “Road to Emmaus”, do we struggle  with unbelief like those two disciples or are we ready to embrace the Risen Christ and become true disciples telling the world by our lives the hope there is in Christ’s resurrection?

Help My Unbelief

Today’s Gospel is a familiar one. The doors were locked. The apostles still feared the authorities in spite of spending the last three years walking “confidently” with Jesus. So, when Jesus appeared to them, He offered proof by showing them the wounds in His hands and in His side. Peace be with you. Reassuring words! He calmed their fears and brought them peace and we hear that phrase repeated three times in today’s Gospel. Then Jesus did something which only love and trust can do. He  commissioned His weak and timid apostles to preach the Gospel and make disciples. This sending out of the disciples parallels Jesus being sent by His Father. Jesus fulfilled His mission through love and obedience and He called His disciples and us to do the same. Just as He gave His first disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, so He gives us that same Spirit who equips us with power, grace, and strength.

Jesus revealed His resurrection to His disciples gradually and over a period of time. Even after the apostles saw the empty tomb and heard the reports of Jesus’ appearance to the women, they were still weak in faith and fearful of being arrested by the Jewish authorities. But Thomas wasn’t there. Even though the others told 

him of Jesus’ resurrection and His appearing to them, he didn’t believe.  The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. While Thomas deeply loved Jesus, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in His passion and crucifixion.

After Jesus’ death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles. When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. 

Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and he exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God! Through the gift of faith we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him—that we might “rise from the ashes” and into the light. Yet, like Thomas, we find ourselves doubting. We couldn’t possibly “preach the Gospel” and make “disciples” of others. We doubt our abilities and we feel the job of discipleship should be left to someone else. 

Think about it. Jesus laid down His life for us. Is spreading His word too much to ask? We’re not asked to stand on a street corner. We’re asked to lead a life that reflects Christ in us so others may see that light and find hope and consolation in the Resurrected Lord.

Out of Ashes and into Light

We hear the story of the Resurrection today. The Resurrection—something without which Christianity would be meaningless. Mary of Magdala tells Jesus’ disciples, who were still unsure of everything that had transpired over the past week, that someone has taken Jesus from the tomb. Then we hear, “They both ran but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there … when Simon Peter arrived after him he went into the tomb…He saw and believed.”

We all have a mental picture of this gigantic boulder rolled away from the tomb on Easter morning. We all can picture Mary of Magdala trekking to the tomb before dark followed by Peter and John. Interestingly, even the disciples had their boulders to remove—after all, they were seeking the “living among the dead.” These days we have our own boulders as well.  Many walk through life as if we were already dead. We get caught up in all the false promises of this world and find ourselves in tombs—wrapped in burial cloths of depression and fear. Yes, trapped in tombs of our own making. Sure, we all occasionally feel “entombed” by our limited human condition -its struggles and uncertainties, its frustrating search for true happiness. Unfortunately, some of us never leave the tomb.

Today, however, we get the “Big Picture” from God! Easter is our “reality check”, reminding us believers that the Resurrection is real and it spits in the face of the Death of this world’s tombs! Today, there is a great message for us–roll away those heavy stones! Leave the tombs behind! Accept the gift we have been given by Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. Unbind the self-imposed burial cloths and walk out into the bright Light of Easter.

The time has come for us to remove all the stones that keep us away from Christ. The time has come to clear away from our hearts and minds: fear, doubt, anger, resentment, jealousies, frustrations, and even our very own sins. Look around. See all the people who gather to celebrate Easter. What faith they have—just like Peter on that first Easter morn. 

So, walk confidently in the brightness of a new Easter Day - a Day of Hope and Healing. Grab a hold of this thirst for Life that will spring up for us even in the very face of death itself! Rejoice as we now take our Lenten theme one step further—out of ashes and into Light!

Our Road to Calvary

The story of the suffering and death of Jesus that we just hear in today’s Gospel is basically a story of love –God’s love for us. Our response should be gratitude and that gratitude to Jesus should make us turn a new leaf and never go back to a life of sin. That’s what Lent is all about. 

We would be the most ungrateful people if we should continue living the sort of life that made Jesus die. Gratitude should make us keep the memory of Jesus alive. No day should pass that we should not remember the love God has for us. But, instead of focusing on Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, let’s look at our own.  Palm Sunday raises at least two important spiritual questions for us: What does it mean to be like Jesus? And what does it mean to take up our crosses, just like he did? 

First, we don’t need to go looking for our cross. Life will give us plenty of them. Whether it’s an illness or a tough family relationship or trouble in school or problems on the job, the cross will be there. The real cross is the one that we don’t want because it’s hardly a cross if we want it. 

Secondly, we are asked by Jesus to accept our crosses. Now, what does that mean? Well, first it means accepting that suffering is a reality in our lives, but perhaps more importantly, it means not passing along the bitterness that we might feel. It doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it or cry about it to others. But, our cross is our cross. It shouldn’t become someone else’s.  It does mean if we’re  angry about our boss or about school or about our family, we don’t pass along that anger or bitterness or meanness to others. 

Third, we are asked to wait for the resurrection. In every cross there will be some invitation to new life, some new way of relating to God, and that may not be immediately apparent. In other words, look for it. How will it come? Is it in forgiving someone in our family? Moving away from an unhealthy work environment or an unhealthy relationship? Letting go of something that prevented us from being more loving? Trusting in ourselves a little more? 

God’s gift of resurrection is usually a complete surprise, just like it was for the Apostles. And just as the Apostles discovered on Easter Sunday, the resurrection does not come when we expect it. It may take a long time to come and when it does come, it’s often not what we would expect it to look like. But it is our resurrection. So remember, just as the only way we possibly get through the passion and death of Jesus is by knowing the outcome of the story—the Resurrection—that may be how we get through our own crosses—knowing that resurrections in our lives do come. We have Jesus’s word on that.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

The Gospel today is a familiar one but first, let me take you back a few weeks. At the scene of the Transfiguration, Jesus’ true Godly nature was shown. We follow that with three great stories from John’s Gospel stuck in the middle of Lent—for a reason. 

First, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Last week Jesus gives sight to the blind man. Today Lazarus is raised from the dead. Oftentimes, we hear the beginning of these Gospels and say, “Oh, I’ve heard that one before,” and our mind wanders off in another direction. But, each time these Gospels are presented to us, we have the opportunity to learn something new; we have the opportunity to know a little more as to who Jesus truly is. Do we? Do we get the picture?  Do we see ourselves in any or all of these stories? We are the woman at the well. We are the blind man. We are Lazarus. There are no “chance” encounters with Jesus. 

So, today, Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb. Jesus also calls us to come out from whatever tomb we are in—the tomb of our habits of sin, addiction, anxiety, despair; to come out of the tomb of loneliness, greed, drudgery, a life devoid of meaning or substance; to come out of the tomb that forces us to live small and scared, hardly daring to wonder what else might be available to us; to come out of the tomb of whatever keeps us from living a free, productive, joy-filled life in relationship with our God.

Jesus calling us is not enough. He calls us all the time. We have to be willing to answer the call and do something. Think about it. Jesus could have skipped the trip to Bethany and just snapped His fingers and Lazarus would have been raised. However, He went and He called and Lazarus got up and answered the call. That is what Jesus is asking us to do today—answer the call.

The story of Lazarus has so many twists and turns we could spend a week discussing all of them but there is one other element worth mentioning today. With the woman at the well we see the encounter with Jesus (the call) and her response (faith to believe and then to tell others). With the blind man we see the encounter on the roadside and the blind man’s response (having the faith to believe in what Jesus asked and then answering the call to wash his eyes).

Forgetting Lazarus’ response for a moment, when Jesus arrives in Bethany, the sister of Lazarus tells Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This statement really contains a question: Where were you when Lazarus needed you? We sent for you why did you take so long? Martha asks the question but she also shows her faith; “But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” At this Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Jesus exhorts Martha to trust him. And she does. She answers the call and the miracle happens.

Jesus is asking us to trust him, and if we do, if we answer the call, miracles will happen.