The Mission of My Life

The Mission of My Life

God has created me to do Him some definite service.

He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission.

I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught.

I shall do good; I shall do His work.

I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place,

while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust him,

whatever I am, I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him,

in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.

If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.

He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers.

He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me.

Still, He knows what He is about.

A LENTEN FAMILY RESOLUTION

All of us are concerned about the busyness of life. Many often remark that “there is no time for family, it’s life today.” As we approach the Season of Lent it is a great time to make a special Lenten Family Resolution to Guard against intrusion by focusing on intimacy in family life. Here are a few practical suggestions to keep family life healthy and to foster intimacy with each other.

Control the Family Calendar: Plan family events first and then try and schedule meetings and outside commitments, then when people demand excessive time, you can honestly respond: “I already have something scheduled.”

Take Charge of Your Electronics: Turn off the phone and turn on the answering machine during meals. People will leave messages. Turn off the noise, especially the television. It should be a reward, not an intrusion or constant companion. Instead, turn on good conversation.

Determine How You Will Start and Finish Each Day: Since all our lives are so busy, we should make sure we plan both ends of the day. Meet for family prayer time (e.g. Rosary) or share in some scripture. Be consistent. Simple things add peace, intimacy and memories for your family. Watch the sunrise together, cook French toast together, eat together.

Think of creative ways to help your family relax from the day’s activities. Play games after homework. Set aside prayer time before bedtime; enforce bedtimes. Both children and adults need rest and how we finish one day may determine how we begin the next.

Intrusion does not have to be a way of life. Intimacy can be. Refuse a life with a toxic schedule that can harm family and spiritual life. Accept a balanced approach which guards against intrusion and focuses on intimacy.

This Lent, let’s focus on Guarding against intrusion By focusing on intimacy in family life, it will make for a special Lent and a great Easter!

Come Home Weekend - Top 10 Reasons to Come Back

The weekend of February 16/17 is our annual "Come Home Weekend" here at St Mary of the Visitation Parish.  No matter how long you have been away from the Catholic Church, you can always come home. You can start going to Mass again (consider our parish) and become a part of a parish community that is ready to welcome you with open arms. We sure are! God is inviting you to dive into your faith in a deeper way than you ever have before.

You may already be feeling a strange inner pull to look into the Church again. That spiritual longing you feel is God drawing you back to Himself. God never forces; He only invites. He leaves the decision to return to the Catholic Church up to you.

There are numerous reasons for coming back to the Church. Though Christ is at the heart of the many reasons to come home to the Church, each individual’s experience in returning can be unique, depending upon whatever speaks to his or her heart.

Here are ten reasons (by Lorene Hanley Duqin of Our Sunday Visitor: http://www.osv.com and edited by Catholics Come Home):

Number 10: Because we want meaning in life.

In the hustle of today's busy lifestyles, many of us suddenly realize that our lives have lost a sense of meaning or purpose. We begin to ask ourselves, “What is my life all about? Why do I do what I do?” There is widespread confusion in our culture with regard to morality and truth. The Catholic Church offers a beacon of light that gives meaning to our existence and leads to eternal life if we persevere.

Number 9: Because childhood memories surface.

Some people say childhood memories of feeling connected to God surface in later life. We begin to ask ourselves, “Is it possible to recapture that simplicity of faith? Can I ever really believe that God is watching out for me?” The secularization of our society leads people away from the spiritual side of themselves. The Catholic Church offers BOTH religious and mystical experiences that feed the heart, the mind, the body and the soul AS WELL AS an array of active lay ministries that interface and interact with the secular world in order to make it a holier world to live in.

Number 8: Because we made mistakes.

Some of us become burdened with the weight of accumulated sin. We want to get rid of the guilt of having hurt others. We begin to ask ourselves, “Will God ever forgive me? Is there any way I can start over with a clean slate?” You can always tell God that you're sorry, but through the Sacrament of Reconciliation you have a complete assurance of God's forgiveness. In addition, you are reconciled not only with God but with all the members in the Church, the Body of Christ (CCC 1440) and given the grace to start again with that new slate.

Number 7: Because we need to forgive others.

Sometimes we hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt us deeply. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Perhaps it was someone, (a sister or a priest), or something in the Church. “Will God ever forgive me?” Our modern culture condones and encourages anger and revenge. But hatred and bitterness are spiritual cancers that eat at the heart of a person. The Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God's help in forgiving others, even when the other person does not ask for forgiveness or does not deserve it. The ability to forgive is a gift that opens a person's heart more fully to God's love and peace.

Number 6: Because we want to be healed.

Some of us carry deep spiritual wounds. We struggle with anger at God over bad things that happen–a terminal illness, a debilitating injury, a broken relationship, mental or emotional problems, an act of violence against an innocent person, an unexplainable accident, some natural disaster, the death of a loved one or some other deep disappointment. The Catholic Church cannot change these situations or explain why they happened. But there are people in the Church who can assist in the process of spiritual healing and help you get on with your life.

Number 5: Because the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth and grace.

Many of us who leave the Catholic Church are blessed by the experience of worshiping for awhile in various Christian denominations. But some people come back when they realize that Catholicism has the fullness of truth and grace. The Catholic Church was not founded by a single reformer or historical movement. It is not fragmented by individual interpretations of Scripture. There are thousands of Christian denominations, but only one Catholic Church. This Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit and protected from teaching error on issues of faith and morals from generation to generation for some two thousand years, as Our Lord Jesus promised: (foretold Isaiah 22:15-25) Matt 16:13-20; Matthew 18:15-18 (in this verse the word is church, not community); 1 Tim 3:15.

Number 4: Because we want our children to have a faith foundation.

Some of us return to the Catholic Church because we recognize that raising children in a culture that promotes "doing your own thing" can lead to disaster. Children need to experience the spiritual dimensions of life. They need a structured system of belief and a firm moral foundation that goes beyond human logic and reasoning. We return because we want a solid foundation upon which our children can build their lives.

Number 3: Because we want to be part of a faith community.

Many of us seek a sense of belonging. But community is more than just friendly people, good sermons and interesting activities. A Catholic Christian community is a group of people who gather around the person of Jesus Christ to worship God and live in the light of the Holy Spirit. Catholics come together at Mass, in the Sacraments and in parish activities to pray, to celebrate joys, to mourn losses, to serve others, to provide support and to receive strength for daily life. A Catholic parish offers all of this - and much more - to people who recognize the importance of walking with others toward union with God.

Number 2: Because we want to help other people.

There are lots of opportunities within the secular world to volunteer. What's missing is the spiritual dimension that service within the Catholic Church provides. It's more than just a "feel good" activity. It's part of the "great commandment" (See Mark 12:28) to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. In reaching out to others, Catholic volunteers become instruments of God's love. The Catholic Church offers opportunities to touch the lives of people at home or around the world.

Number 1: Because we hunger for the Eucharist.

[The Eucharist is the number one reason that people come back to the Church.]

Many people come back to the Catholic Church because they feel an intense longing for the Eucharist. Sometimes it happens at a wedding, a funeral, a baptism, a First Communion or a Confirmation. Sometimes it happens when people are alone or facing difficulties in life. They describe it as a deep hunger for the spiritual nourishment that comes when they receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This hunger for the Eucharist triggers a recognition of the presence of Christ in other sacraments, which draws them even more deeply into the practice of their faith. It is, without exception, the number one reason that people come back to the Catholic Church.

And what do we get in return? The Catholic Church offers union with Jesus Christ:

in the Scripture

in prayer

in the community of others

in the Eucharist

and in the other sacraments.

It offers spiritual support in good times and bad. It offers divine wisdom which is thousands of years old from people just like YOU who lived in each and every century throughout Christian history: 33AD, 100AD, 800AD, 1000AD, 1300AD, 1964AD and 2005AD. It offers meaning and purpose in this life and the promise of eternal life with Him after death for those who persevere to the end.

You'll know you are home when you begin to feel a deep sense of peace.   I personally invite you to join us for our Come Home Weekend - Mass times are Saturday at 5:00p.m., Sunday at 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am - join us ! There is a place for you and something for everyone!

The Lord's Day is Pretty Important!

The Lord indeed invites us, as He invited the Apostles, to experience rest from our labors. This is possible not only in extended times of vacations. It is also the meaning and purpose of Sunday. Sunday should not be seen merely as part of the weekend, but as a Holy Day, the Day of the Lord. It is a day at the very heart of the Christian life, the day of Our Lord’s Resurrection. Sunday needs to be re-discovered in our culture and in our lives as Christians as truly the Day of the Lord. Blessed John Paul II called Sunday an indispensable element of our Christian identity.

At the very heart of Sunday (The Lord's Day) and keeping it holy is the celebration of the Eucharist. On this day, above all others, we gather together to commemorate Our Lord’s Resurrection. The Catechism teaches that the Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and His Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life.

We keep Sunday holy by attending Sunday Mass and fulfilling that important obligation. Blessed John Paul II, is his apostolic letter Dies Domini (The Day of the Lord), wrote the following: Sharing in the Eucharist is the heart of Sunday, but the duty to keep Sunday holy cannot be reduced to this. In fact, the Lord’s Day is lived well if it is marked from beginning to end by grateful and active remembrance of God’s saving work. This commits each of Christ’s disciples to shape the other moments of the day -- those outside the liturgical context: family life, social relationships, moments of relaxation -- in such a way that the peace and joy of the Risen Lord will emerge in the ordinary events of life.

Come Join us at St Mary of the Visitation Parish for the Lord's Day - Saturday evening at 5:00p.m. and Sunday at 8:00a.m, 9:30a.m., and 11:00a.m. There is a place for you and something for everyone!

Why did you say " I do" ?

Last week while walking on the school yard of one of our schools I noticed in the distance the obvious body language between two Grade 8 boys that indicated they were about to re enact a royal rumble! Power walking over to the site of what could become the next World Wrestling Federation Match I stumbled upon two young men angry at each other. When I asked them - so why are so angry at each other - they both in unison replied “ I don’t know!” and then the telling comment “we have never liked each other.” My replied was instant “Why?”. Their reply very telly “ we don’t know”.

Can you relate? Do you have anyone in your circle of life who well - you just don’t like them - and you don’t know why? Or you had an argument with them - years ago - and to be honest - you can’t even remember over what or maybe even now see how unimportant it really is!

For the last two weeks - since the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - we have been focussing on the invitation listed by God’s word to “Accept the Challenge”.  Sometimes we have accepted the challenge, or are even being told to accept the challenge - that - well we forget why!

To Accept the Challenge - we have been discovering - is to well - be Alive - show signs of Christ’s life in us; its been about ensuring that others know Christ is still alive because of us.

• Christ Himself accepted that challenge as He accepted “Who He Was and Whose He Was”
• Christ Himself accepted that challenge by often praying in order to stay close to the Father.
• Christ Himself accepted that challenge by not living in coincidence but by seeing moments of life as “God winks” occasions when He was called to give hope.

This is the challenge of discipleship which we are called to live - it’s the call we are challenged to accept - to be His hand when another needs it as we build the Church. For, as we know - this is no Holy Huddle - but a place of Holiness, in the presence of Holiness, to become a people of Holiness.

But I guess, now we come - to the How? Well today’s Gospel (Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21) has Christ going into the synagogue on the Sabbath and proclaiming that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him. These are pretty strong words of acceptance!

• Christ, who at His Baptism accepted Who He was!
• Christ, who in His Mission sought times to pray.
• Christ, who in His daily walk of life - looked for moments not coincidences - but when He could make a difference in the life of another and share hope.
• Christ, who on His Sabbath gathered among the faithful in the place of worship to grow in holiness.
• Christ who says to you and me that the reason He was able to do these things was because He accepted that God’s Spirit was upon Him! - do you ?

Do you believe that God has invited you with your gifts to be someone unique?

Do you accepted that God has infused you with a talent that will make a difference?

Do you accent to the fact that God created you not only to know Him, and love Him, and serve Him but to make a difference in the life of at least one other person - in His name !

That is what Christ believed - are we not His followers, disciples? Should we not believe that? Is that not the challenge we are called to accept?

O, but Father, you might say, I am doing that - been a member of a group for 40 years - done that - I checked that off my list long time ago?

Really now - so when Jesus healed the first blind man, when He made the first deaf person hear, when the first man who was lame walked away after His miracle - was He done? Did Christ check it off His list - or did He keep looking?

That is what Christ did - are we not His followers, disciples? Should we not do that? Is that not the challenge we are called to accept?

We must build into our lives moments to stop and think ! To not always just “get it done”, “finish it off”, “just do it”, but occasions to allow the scripture to be fulfilled in your hearing! To allow His will for us to be accomplished - His challenge to not only be accepted - but met and fulfilled!

This week had occasion to go to our local nursing home. Following Mass I went and visited one of our residents who did not come down for Mass. Lovely lady who was feeble. Her husband was in the room and soon her daughter came as well. We had a nice visit, but during it the elderly lady became physically ill. As she recovered and all was well again the daughter began to call for the nurses to come and clean up a bit. The husband got up and began to clean. The daughter said - dad - stop that - no need for you do clean up after mom - that is what the nurses are for. The husband paused - “really, they did not say I do - I was the one who did - and this is what I meant.”

When you say “I do”, when you accept the challenge of discipleship - what do you mean?

“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:14-21)

That is what Christ said. Are we not His followers, disciples? Should we not do that? Is that not the challenge we are called to accept?

This week - will you try and make a difference - allow the Spirit of the Lord to work thru you - don’t check it off when you think it has been done - just keep doing it - cause if you do - not only will your remember why you said “ I do” - but it will be full filled in your presence.

Is God Winking ?

Does anyone know Christ is alive because of me ? That was the question we were invited last week to ask ourselves everyday this past week as we looked at whether or not we are still alive in our commitment to Christ! Hope you did it ! Hope you are alive !

Being alive - well - is what we accepted at Baptism - to be alive in our commitment to serve Him, to love Him, to know Him. Remember - we can’t be that cool uncle who says yes to everything - we have to stand for something ! We have to “Accept the Challenge” - apply the truths of our faith to family, friendships and future. Last week we touched on how we must know who we are and whose we are and we must make sure we pray often in order to stay close to the Lord.

A classmate of mine got a new book for Christmas! “ When God Winks at You.” He has not read a page of it - well because, fascinated by the title, I’m reading it ! It is a book of stories about amazing coincidences that happen in people’s lives. The author makes the assertion that there are no coincidences. There are only "God winks."

God winks are those moments when God is sending you a direct personal message. It is a fun book to read. There is power in a wink. When someone winks at you, it is a sign, a form of communication, a non-verbal message: “I am with you, I am thinking about you.” Sometimes a wink says, “Trust me; it is going to be alright.” Coincidences are really God’s way of winking at you and me, reassuring us, guiding us, comforting us, speaking to us, or giving us hope. We often use the phrase “that was just a God thing,” meaning “that had to be more than just a coincidence.” We have all had unexpected moments of insight, direction, reassurance, and comfort. Those are God winks.

In the Gospel of today (John 2:1-12), Jesus is an invited Guest at a wedding. Now the unimaginable happens - especially if your Portuguese - they run out of wine ! Goodness Gracious ! So He ministers to the family - is there for them - performs His first miracle. Now here is my question - was that a coincidence that He was there? Is it a coincidence that we are here ?Is it a coincidence that you work where you do? Is it a coincidence that people come into your life when they do? Is it a coincidence that your best friend is who he? Or a coincidence that your children have been entrusted to you?

We are here, at this time, in this moment, on this occasion - well not by coincidence - but for a reason! Thing is - we have to accept that - we have to will that ! See Last week when Jesus heard (Luke 3.15-16, 21-22) “ You are my Son the beloved, with you I am well pleased”. Well, He had to accept that ! He could have walked away from the baptismal site - well that was odd - thought I heard a voice from heaven!

We could walk away from Church today saying - well that was alright - got to see and sing with friends! Sometimes we can’t help but want to hear the words “The Mass is ended” in order to be first out the door! Remember we meet on the Lord’s Day Weekend not in a Holy Huddle: but in a Place of Holiness in the Presence of Holiness to become People of Holiness. Or we can say - I accept - the challenge - to be alive this week ! To make Him know, to make a difference, to make His name know - to stand for something !

“Do what ever He tells you” - was Mary’s words in the Gospel of today - are they ours ? Are you alive enough to want to learn what He tells us ? Or do you just think - well - it something I have to do - and life - well its all a coincidence ?

This past week I had the great joy of spending a full day with the young people in our Grade 1 classes of our two parish elementary schools. Over 120 young faces, full of energy and smiles. It was amazing, it was elevating, it was stimulating, it was inspirational - - it was exhausting !!!

That evening as I was staring at the television screen, my mind went to the first time I visited Grade 1's as a priest. It was in Georgetown and the young teacher was so amazing to me in her kindness, gentleness and yet firmness with her class of students. I walked in and was greeted with smiles, a few hugs and just before beginning the teacher took me aside and said “ O, Father, we have a new student, Noah." Then with a very low voice and close to my ear ; “ He has only one hand Father, and this is his third day here."

I spoke with the children, joked with them and I got carried away with the visit, the moment, thinking this is awesome, that I played a simple game that forever changed how I see a wink. You know the game, when you put your hands together - clasp them - this is the church, this is the steeple, open them up, here are the people. As I was playing it, showing it, and then were following, it dawned on me. Noah! One hand! O Goodness Gracious ! Glancing over, hoping he was ok. I was the one humbled! A little girl had snuggled over to him, classmate, new friend of only three days had lent her hand and they were doing it together. A coincidence? No! That was a God wink.

Are you alive ? Have you accepted who you are and whose you are? Are you willing to permit God’s naming of you as His beloved child to make a difference in your life, and are you willing to learn about Him so that you can do what He tells you ? Pay attention to things you call a coincidence. It may be God winking at you. Accept the Challenge and Him!

You Alive ? Are you alive ?

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. At Baptism we begin a journey that opens our hearts and lives. There is an old joke told about St. Peter who we traditionally have said greets all the new arrivals into heaven. Well one day he was greeting, and got a bit tired of the usual questions and so decided to ask instead the following question:

“What would you like your family to say about you at your funeral service?”

The first person said : “I would like them to say I lived a most useful life as a doctor and dad.” The second person replied: “I was an excellent school teacher, wife and mother.” The third person quickly stated:“ I did my best, loved them and cherished them. That they appreciated me.” The fourth person indicated: “ I was wonderful, in fact totally perfect, and never made a mistake.”Then came the last person: “I would like them to say, ‘Look! He is still alive!’”

There is always evidence of life if we are moving. As Christians, there should also be signs of Christ’s life in us. That Christ left the splendor of heaven, to endure the squalor of earth, is a sign; A sign of His love. A sign of His life. But what are the signs? The signs of our love for Christ?

In the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord we are reminded that at Baptism - we “Accept the Challenge” to apply the truths of our faith to family, friendships, and future. The challenges they present, and the call to accept they beckon, will give us all true wisdom. So over the next couple of weeks I wonder if we could review what we accepted - The Creed - and ask ourselves - are we still alive ? When it comes to our faith - are their signs of life ?

I have to share with you the best email I received this Christmas Season. To be fully honest - it went into my spam folder at first - and I was checking in it and found this one. It came from a visitor who was with us several Sundays around Christmas:

“I wanted to write and thank your parish for the wonderful welcome I received. It started in the parking lot. (You need a new parking lot by the way Father). It was full - someone walked my car and I over to the pool parking lot and said - you can park here. Then it was when I came in. The Church was full, one of the ushers gently said - we have a large Parish Centre, you can sit there - they walked me over. What a wonderful place for me and my kids - bit loud - but an adventure. Then it happened after Mass. You wanted to know my name. You said your new, then the following week you remembered me. When I came to St Mary’s - well let’s just say it had been a lot of years since I came to a Catholic Church. I wasn’t looking for Church ... I was looking for Christ, and I found him in your parish.”

We should exhibit signs in our lives (public / private) that show our love and that demonstrate Whose life we seek to model. Prayer, Small Groups, Adoration, Bible reading, our offerings, resisting personal temptation. But how do people recognize that we are God’s Ambassadors in the world? That is what Baptism calls us to It is not enough to serve in secret. We have to live the lifestyle.  We meet on the Lord’s Day Weekend not in a Holy Huddle: but in a Place of Holiness in the Presence of Holiness to become People of Holiness.

So the Gospel of Today (Luke 3.15-16, 21-22) tells us three quick things and I want to touch one two of them this week and the last next week

1. Jesus knew who He was. At His Baptism in the river Jordan He heard: “Your are my Son, the Beloved” We have to accept who we are, and whose we are. Sure we want people to say nice things about us - after we have died - and even while we are living. We all have that temptation. But our faith, and religion, can not be like that cool uncle who let you do whatever you wanted - smoke, drink, take out the car even though mom and dad said no. We loved him as a kids or a teen, but when we got older and see life for what it is - we realized how lame he was because he stood for nothing but went along with everything.

Sometimes we have to say - “I can’t”, “ I won’t”, “ Not now”. The Nerve to Serve, but also that never to stand up for whom we serve. We have to know who we are and what we are ! Plain and simple. We have to live the lifestyle of Christ - do you ?

2. Jesus prayed often. Now I have often wondered, why would the Son of God - the Font of Holiness - need to pray?” Only one reason: To stay close to the Father.

Luke’s Gospel records 9 times Christ prays. He wanted time: At His Baptism, After a Day of Miracles, Before Choosing the Disciples, Before the Prediction of His Death. On the Mountain at the Transfiguration. Before Teaching the Disciples the Lord’s Prayer. While the 70 Returned from their Missions. In the Garden of Gethsemane. On the Cross before His Death. In the daybreak ... At the sunset ... Great achievements were preceded by prayer. Great sorrows were met with prayer. Jesus died praying! If the Lord of Glory needed prayer ... What does that say about us? We don’t have the capacity to deal with life outside of prayer (Luke 18:1). Are you losing heart? Is it because you are not praying?

Ok - so - You Alive ? Are you alive ? I want to ask you to try something this week: It will not hurt and will take only a bit longer than a flu shot ( but less painful). I want you to ask yourself one simple question for 15 minutes everyday this week: Does anyone know Christ is alive because of me ? Maybe even write down the answer. Pray with it, allow the answer to help you know who you are and whose you are.

Years ago at Ontario Place in Toronto a large ship was docked and people use to go for tours on this. The engine was gone. A souvenir shop was on the deck. Actors were the officers and crew. One of the greatest ship that ever went to sea, was now the greatest ship to come and see. But what I remember about that ship most was a simple plaque that read “ The great things that used to happen here.”

Do they say because of us in our private lives that, as far as Christ is concerned, great things use to happen with Him, or do they say because of us - “Look! He is still alive!’”