I realize I run the risk of being called uncaring because of the comparison I'm about to make. But here goes anyway.
With the crisis growing daily in the Gulf of Mexico; as many Louisiana fishermen and others see their way of life and financial security in jeopardy, the Catholic Church is on the ground, assisting with financial support, food donations, and good old prayer and pastoral care. Catholic Charities, Second Harvesters, volunteers, Priests and other Catholic leaders have responded in typical Catholic charity. The local pastors in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish have been there to tend to their flock. The entire Archdiocese of New Orleans is uniting in lending a helping hand and sending up prayers for a quick end to the crisis.
In a revered Catholic New Orleans tradition, the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor is being invoked. Seems a little like hurricane season.
Locally, our media has reported minimally about the outreach by the local Catholic Church. Almost no mention, however, by our local radio giant. I guess this is not as exciting about going on and on about clergy sex abuse. Again, read this in context, I and no other Catholic wants to sweep anything under the proverbial rug. But it truly is open season when the Church is vulnerable but where is the media to truly report on a Church that has the ability to respond. And respond she has!
I ask in this column tonight that all reading this pray for a satisfactory outcome of this man made disaster. We must pray for those working so hard to help with the fight against the spreading oil slick. We must pray for all those fishermen and their families who have so may worries during these difficult days and weeks. And we must pray for the protection of the environment and all God's creatures in harm's way. And we certainly must continue to pray for the souls of the deceased men from the oil rig and their families and those still recovering from their injuries.
And perhaps we can add a prayer for some fairness in the local media and their overall treatment of the Catholic Church.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A reasonable approach to immigration by Archbishop Chaput
>>>>A wonderful fully Catholic response to immigration and the Arizona law which violates so many Catholic values. Archbishop Chaput is both balanced and reasoned and above all, pastoral. Try this approach, especially if you are Catholic clergy, instead of your overly political bent and the expense of Catholic social teaching. And yes, Catholic social teaching is, well, CATHOLIC!
Flawed law unintentionally shows urgent need for immigration reform
Over the past week various people from around the archdiocese have asked for help in reflecting on Arizona’s new immigration law. As readers will know, I’ve used this space many times in the past to urge sensible, national immigration reform. Citizens of this country have a right to their safety and the solvency of their public institutions. But we undermine those very goals if we ignore the basic human rights of immigrant workers and their families.
In the case of Arizona state law, Catholics should listen first to the leaders of the Arizona Catholic community, for obvious reasons. They know the situation there best. Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson and Bishop James Wall of Gallup, N.M. (whose diocese includes portions of Arizona) are all excellent pastors. Their leadership in the coming weeks and months should set the tone for our own response.
Having said that, it’s worth making a few simple observations:
First, illegal immigration is wrong and dangerous for everyone involved. There’s nothing “good” about people risking their lives for the mere purpose of entering the United States. There’s nothing “good” about our nation not knowing who crosses our borders and why they’re here, especially in an age of terrorism, drugs and organized violent crime. There’s nothing “good” about people living in the shadows; or families being separated; or decent people being deported and having to start their lives all over again, sometimes in a country that they no longer—or never did—know.
Second, the new Arizona law, despite its flaws, does unintentionally accomplish one good thing. Thanks to Arizona, the urgency of immigration reform and the human issues that underlie it—deported breadwinners; divided families; the anxiety of children who grew up here but do not have citizenship—once again have moved to the front burner of our national discussions. Our current immigration system is now obviously broken. Congress needs to act.
Third, no credible immigration reform will occur if the effort becomes an exercise in partisan maneuvering. Both of our major political parties got our country into our current immigration mess. Both parties bear responsibility for fixing it. Neither will solve it alone. Unfortunately, the recent national health-care debate compromised public confidence in some of our key federal lawmakers. Having pushed through a deeply flawed national health-care bill in the face of serious concerns and widespread public displeasure, Congress now faces an equally hard task with an equally volatile issue. This will require a transparency, patience, spirit of compromise and bipartisanship rarely seen in Washington in the best of seasons, and too often completely missing in the recent health-care debate.
To put it another way: If the immigration debate divides along the lines of party advantage and slogans, or becomes entangled with very different and unnecessary issues like same-sex relationships—then real people will suffer. And nothing enduring will result.
Finally, we need to remember that America is a nation built by immigrants. For nearly all of us, our ancestors were immigrants; and immigrants—including today’s Latino immigrants—are a blessing for American society in every sector: our economy; our culture; and our religious and moral life. The American Catholic community has a long history of welcoming immigrants and helping them integrate into, and enrich, our nation’s life. Here in Colorado, the Church will continue that work with all of her energy.
Flawed law unintentionally shows urgent need for immigration reform
Over the past week various people from around the archdiocese have asked for help in reflecting on Arizona’s new immigration law. As readers will know, I’ve used this space many times in the past to urge sensible, national immigration reform. Citizens of this country have a right to their safety and the solvency of their public institutions. But we undermine those very goals if we ignore the basic human rights of immigrant workers and their families.
In the case of Arizona state law, Catholics should listen first to the leaders of the Arizona Catholic community, for obvious reasons. They know the situation there best. Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson and Bishop James Wall of Gallup, N.M. (whose diocese includes portions of Arizona) are all excellent pastors. Their leadership in the coming weeks and months should set the tone for our own response.
Having said that, it’s worth making a few simple observations:
First, illegal immigration is wrong and dangerous for everyone involved. There’s nothing “good” about people risking their lives for the mere purpose of entering the United States. There’s nothing “good” about our nation not knowing who crosses our borders and why they’re here, especially in an age of terrorism, drugs and organized violent crime. There’s nothing “good” about people living in the shadows; or families being separated; or decent people being deported and having to start their lives all over again, sometimes in a country that they no longer—or never did—know.
Second, the new Arizona law, despite its flaws, does unintentionally accomplish one good thing. Thanks to Arizona, the urgency of immigration reform and the human issues that underlie it—deported breadwinners; divided families; the anxiety of children who grew up here but do not have citizenship—once again have moved to the front burner of our national discussions. Our current immigration system is now obviously broken. Congress needs to act.
Third, no credible immigration reform will occur if the effort becomes an exercise in partisan maneuvering. Both of our major political parties got our country into our current immigration mess. Both parties bear responsibility for fixing it. Neither will solve it alone. Unfortunately, the recent national health-care debate compromised public confidence in some of our key federal lawmakers. Having pushed through a deeply flawed national health-care bill in the face of serious concerns and widespread public displeasure, Congress now faces an equally hard task with an equally volatile issue. This will require a transparency, patience, spirit of compromise and bipartisanship rarely seen in Washington in the best of seasons, and too often completely missing in the recent health-care debate.
To put it another way: If the immigration debate divides along the lines of party advantage and slogans, or becomes entangled with very different and unnecessary issues like same-sex relationships—then real people will suffer. And nothing enduring will result.
Finally, we need to remember that America is a nation built by immigrants. For nearly all of us, our ancestors were immigrants; and immigrants—including today’s Latino immigrants—are a blessing for American society in every sector: our economy; our culture; and our religious and moral life. The American Catholic community has a long history of welcoming immigrants and helping them integrate into, and enrich, our nation’s life. Here in Colorado, the Church will continue that work with all of her energy.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Greater or Lessor; it's all in the James
Among the two Apostles honored today, one is St. James the Less. He is called this because Jesus selected two men named James to be among His early followers. James the Lessor is the son of Alpheus. It is the other James(the greater) who is the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of the Apostle John.
James the Less is listed as one of the Apostles in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is this St. James that is considered the early Bishop of the primitive church in Jerusalem. It is this St. James that plays a major role, as a Bishop, in the Acts of the Apostles that suggested the 4 Jewish principles that the Gentiles must follow (see Acts 15:13-21).
It is also believed that it is this James that is the author of the epistle of James in the New Testament canon.
James continued to lead the Church of Jerusalem until he was murdered by the Pharisees who threw him off the top of the Temple and stoned him until he died. This occured around the year 62.
The Church has assigned May 3rd for his feast day and he shares this day with a fellow apostle, Philp.
James the Less is listed as one of the Apostles in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is this St. James that is considered the early Bishop of the primitive church in Jerusalem. It is this St. James that plays a major role, as a Bishop, in the Acts of the Apostles that suggested the 4 Jewish principles that the Gentiles must follow (see Acts 15:13-21).
It is also believed that it is this James that is the author of the epistle of James in the New Testament canon.
James continued to lead the Church of Jerusalem until he was murdered by the Pharisees who threw him off the top of the Temple and stoned him until he died. This occured around the year 62.
The Church has assigned May 3rd for his feast day and he shares this day with a fellow apostle, Philp.
New Orleans gets a new Mayor
This morning New Orleans got a new mayor, Mitch Landrieu. He was inaugurated today puting to an end the reign of Mayor Ray Nagin. Because of so many mis-steps in post-Katrina New Orleans, a new mayor seems to be a source of hope and joy in the city that care forgot. I don't usually wax very political on my blog but I will say the change in mayors appears to be a good thing from the outset.
New Orleans, as a municipality, is overwhelming democratic and demographically black majority. Any hope for a conservative politician and conservative plan of attack is a vain hope. From a somewhat crowded field of candidates, Mitch Landrieu won convincingly not even needing a runoff to secure the city's top job. No stranger to politics, Landrieu has served as Louisiana's Lt. Governor, is the brother of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and the son of the last New Orleans mayor who happened to be white, Moon Landrieu.
The Landrieu's are, for lack of a better term, our Kennedy clan. First, they have bunches of them. I beleive the new mayor is one of 9 children. Secondly, they are a long-time staunchly Catholic family, although politically, they differ often with the Church on its' official teachings. And politically, love them or hate them, they know how to win.
Mitch, for his part, is a gifted orator. And he appears to be very enthusiastic. If he has done anything in his victory, and 1st day on the job, he seems to have united a city, to some degree, in a city that thrives on disunity. Black and white, poor and rich, businessman and working man, all appear ready to rally behind the Crescent City's new mayor.
Landrieu did make sure that he began his day at a ecumenical prayer service and choose St. Louis Cathedral, the seat of the Archdioces of New Orleans, for the location. And at the start of his sppech, right after taking the oath of office, he began with a prayer. So let us do the same tonight. We all should pray for the new mayor, Mitch Landrieu, even those of us who may disagree with his politics. The citizens have given him a four year term to make New Orleans better. None of us, none of us, should want him to fail. And feel free to pray that Landrieu will seek God's counsel in the small and large decisions he will have to make as the city's chief executive.
Good luck Mr. Mayor, make New Orleans all she can be. She deserves it!
New Orleans, as a municipality, is overwhelming democratic and demographically black majority. Any hope for a conservative politician and conservative plan of attack is a vain hope. From a somewhat crowded field of candidates, Mitch Landrieu won convincingly not even needing a runoff to secure the city's top job. No stranger to politics, Landrieu has served as Louisiana's Lt. Governor, is the brother of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and the son of the last New Orleans mayor who happened to be white, Moon Landrieu.
The Landrieu's are, for lack of a better term, our Kennedy clan. First, they have bunches of them. I beleive the new mayor is one of 9 children. Secondly, they are a long-time staunchly Catholic family, although politically, they differ often with the Church on its' official teachings. And politically, love them or hate them, they know how to win.
Mitch, for his part, is a gifted orator. And he appears to be very enthusiastic. If he has done anything in his victory, and 1st day on the job, he seems to have united a city, to some degree, in a city that thrives on disunity. Black and white, poor and rich, businessman and working man, all appear ready to rally behind the Crescent City's new mayor.
Landrieu did make sure that he began his day at a ecumenical prayer service and choose St. Louis Cathedral, the seat of the Archdioces of New Orleans, for the location. And at the start of his sppech, right after taking the oath of office, he began with a prayer. So let us do the same tonight. We all should pray for the new mayor, Mitch Landrieu, even those of us who may disagree with his politics. The citizens have given him a four year term to make New Orleans better. None of us, none of us, should want him to fail. And feel free to pray that Landrieu will seek God's counsel in the small and large decisions he will have to make as the city's chief executive.
Good luck Mr. Mayor, make New Orleans all she can be. She deserves it!
Ministry Monday
You just never know. Monday dawned unimpressive. Nothing exceptional planned for the day although I knew that evening would bring the end of the catechism year and a prayer service. It would be the first day of work in a new month after a particularly busy and productive month of April.
When I woke this morning I spent time in my daily prayer book realizing that today was a feast in honor of two Apostles, Philip and James. St. James is one of my favorite early saints so I read the prayers for the feast day and put my day in the intecessory hands of the good saints. It must have worked.
I received a call today from a friend who needed some help. I agreed to meet and was so happy I did. Not expecting what would be shared, I was able to assist in a family issue and thanks be to God, believe I was able to be of some help. No further details provided here. Let's just say that it is amazing how many families have so much to deal with, so many difficulties to overcome. As I have said so often before, while making no judgements at all here, I truly wonder how we can get through this journey called life without placing ourselves in the will of God the Father, trusting completely in His mercy and love.
When I arrived at Church tonight, just minutes before our prayer service, I discovered that our Pastor was unavailable, attending to a sick parishoner, so I was asked to give the year-end reflection. I quickly read the Gospel that would be proclaimed tonight and began praying. The Holy Spirit always comes through as I preached on the amazing gift of Jesus coming to us like a small baby, growing into the one crucified for our sins and conquering death by His Resurrection. The comparison was made in relation to the story of the mustard seed in Matthew's Gospel. This smallest of seeds becomes a grand plant. And I was inspired to speak directly to the parents tonight, reminding them that it is us, parents and grandparents, who are the first teachers of the faith. And our efforts should be in harmony with the solid teachings of the Church as contained in our carefully prepared lesson plans.
At the end of the evening, our Pastor arrived to share with all of us that the sick parishoner he went to is a gravely ill 11 year old. His situation is serious. At the end of Father's request for prayers I asked the students to lead us all in a Hail Mary for our sick brother in Christ.
I share all of this with you because these are the things that happen when we place ourselves in God's will and let Him be the Lord of our life; even our very day. Today I was reminded, let God be God and be prepared to follow His lead.
Another ho-hum Monday was transformed into ministry Monday. And this is what I, as an ordained minister, and you, in whatever vocation state of life you find yourself, are called to, each and every day of our life.
When I woke this morning I spent time in my daily prayer book realizing that today was a feast in honor of two Apostles, Philip and James. St. James is one of my favorite early saints so I read the prayers for the feast day and put my day in the intecessory hands of the good saints. It must have worked.
I received a call today from a friend who needed some help. I agreed to meet and was so happy I did. Not expecting what would be shared, I was able to assist in a family issue and thanks be to God, believe I was able to be of some help. No further details provided here. Let's just say that it is amazing how many families have so much to deal with, so many difficulties to overcome. As I have said so often before, while making no judgements at all here, I truly wonder how we can get through this journey called life without placing ourselves in the will of God the Father, trusting completely in His mercy and love.
When I arrived at Church tonight, just minutes before our prayer service, I discovered that our Pastor was unavailable, attending to a sick parishoner, so I was asked to give the year-end reflection. I quickly read the Gospel that would be proclaimed tonight and began praying. The Holy Spirit always comes through as I preached on the amazing gift of Jesus coming to us like a small baby, growing into the one crucified for our sins and conquering death by His Resurrection. The comparison was made in relation to the story of the mustard seed in Matthew's Gospel. This smallest of seeds becomes a grand plant. And I was inspired to speak directly to the parents tonight, reminding them that it is us, parents and grandparents, who are the first teachers of the faith. And our efforts should be in harmony with the solid teachings of the Church as contained in our carefully prepared lesson plans.
At the end of the evening, our Pastor arrived to share with all of us that the sick parishoner he went to is a gravely ill 11 year old. His situation is serious. At the end of Father's request for prayers I asked the students to lead us all in a Hail Mary for our sick brother in Christ.
I share all of this with you because these are the things that happen when we place ourselves in God's will and let Him be the Lord of our life; even our very day. Today I was reminded, let God be God and be prepared to follow His lead.
Another ho-hum Monday was transformed into ministry Monday. And this is what I, as an ordained minister, and you, in whatever vocation state of life you find yourself, are called to, each and every day of our life.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May; the month for Mary
>>>Great article on May the month of Mary. Spend some time this month pondering with the Blessed Virgin, the great gift of her son Jesus Christ. Always remember, everything Mary points us to Him who is our Savior.
The Apostolate for the Faith
MAY: The Month of MARY
Once more we come to the MONTH OF MARY, the month of springtime when all nature comes to life and the countryside is a blaze of colour. It has always been, for most of us, the time when we looked forward to the May processions in honour of the Mother of Christ when we sang of bringing the rarest and fairest of flowers to crown our blessed Mother, Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May. Yes, it was Mary’s month when our hearts were filled with joy and everybody had its own shrine to our Lady at which we gathered for the family rosary; and we gathered flowers to bring to school where there was a shrine in each classroom. Sadly we have to say that such devotion now is rarely seen; and the children know little or nothing about their heavenly Mother.
Devotion is not a mere matter of sentiment. Devotion to Mary is a Reverential and loving imitation of our heavenly Queen and Mother. It contains three elements: Veneration, Affection and Service.
Since the Blessed Virgin is the most perfect and most exalted of all purely created beings including the Angels, we can easily see her special claims to our reverence. First, her sinlessness. While every one born into this world was infected with the baneful consequences of Adam's sin of pride and disobedience – original sin – Mary, in view of the merits of her future Son, the divine Redeemer, was preserved from contracting this hereditary stain. Being the Woman destined to crush the power of Satan, she was conceived Immaculate. She was, at the same time, totally exempt from concupiscence and never for a moment swerved in the least from the Will of her Creator.
Secondly, She was full of Grace. St Thomas says, “A creature receives so much the more Grace as it is more closely united to God.” Never was man or angel admitted to so close a union with God as Mary enjoyed from the first moment of her existence, for she was destined to become the Mother of the Incarnate Word. Now Grace is not measured by quantity but by intensity. And this fullness of Grace was accompanied by a proportionate infusion of the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity; Prudence, Justice, humility and fortitude as well as a most copious outpouring of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Thirdly, she possesses a still more powerful title to our Reverence namely her inconceivable dignity of Mother of God. God alone knows the true greatness of Mary, His Mother, because He alone knows His own infinite Greatness. The fact that she is the Mother of God is the foundation of her marvellous holiness, of her absolute freedom from sin and her perfect fullness of Grace. Hail then, Virgin Immaculate, Mary, Full of Grace, Mother of our Creator and Redeemer!
The Apostolate for the Faith
MAY: The Month of MARY
Once more we come to the MONTH OF MARY, the month of springtime when all nature comes to life and the countryside is a blaze of colour. It has always been, for most of us, the time when we looked forward to the May processions in honour of the Mother of Christ when we sang of bringing the rarest and fairest of flowers to crown our blessed Mother, Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May. Yes, it was Mary’s month when our hearts were filled with joy and everybody had its own shrine to our Lady at which we gathered for the family rosary; and we gathered flowers to bring to school where there was a shrine in each classroom. Sadly we have to say that such devotion now is rarely seen; and the children know little or nothing about their heavenly Mother.
Devotion is not a mere matter of sentiment. Devotion to Mary is a Reverential and loving imitation of our heavenly Queen and Mother. It contains three elements: Veneration, Affection and Service.
Since the Blessed Virgin is the most perfect and most exalted of all purely created beings including the Angels, we can easily see her special claims to our reverence. First, her sinlessness. While every one born into this world was infected with the baneful consequences of Adam's sin of pride and disobedience – original sin – Mary, in view of the merits of her future Son, the divine Redeemer, was preserved from contracting this hereditary stain. Being the Woman destined to crush the power of Satan, she was conceived Immaculate. She was, at the same time, totally exempt from concupiscence and never for a moment swerved in the least from the Will of her Creator.
Secondly, She was full of Grace. St Thomas says, “A creature receives so much the more Grace as it is more closely united to God.” Never was man or angel admitted to so close a union with God as Mary enjoyed from the first moment of her existence, for she was destined to become the Mother of the Incarnate Word. Now Grace is not measured by quantity but by intensity. And this fullness of Grace was accompanied by a proportionate infusion of the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity; Prudence, Justice, humility and fortitude as well as a most copious outpouring of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Thirdly, she possesses a still more powerful title to our Reverence namely her inconceivable dignity of Mother of God. God alone knows the true greatness of Mary, His Mother, because He alone knows His own infinite Greatness. The fact that she is the Mother of God is the foundation of her marvellous holiness, of her absolute freedom from sin and her perfect fullness of Grace. Hail then, Virgin Immaculate, Mary, Full of Grace, Mother of our Creator and Redeemer!
Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter May 2, 2010
On those rare times when I would help my father-in-law with another construction project, he always used to say: measure twice and cut once. That was his way of telling me that if we measured properly we would avoid mistakes. Measurements are an important part of our lives.
We use so many things to take measurements; high tech equipment to help us with weather forecasts, kitchen utensils that help us measure out the right ingredients for that favorite recipe, and many medical devices, like a simple thermometer to measure medical conditions from the very serious to something has simple as our temperture.
Today, Jesus tells us plainly how to measure our Christianity: by our love.
As people of faith, how do we measure up?
Today's Gospel, at first, may confuse some of us. After all, we are now 5 weeks deep into the Easter season. You may recognize the words of today's Gospel as those spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper. It's like a flashback but an important one. On this 5th Sunday of Easter, as we begin looking forward to the celebrations of the Ascension and Pentecost, the Church wants to remind us of the core message of Jesus: love. Jesus plainly tells us that He is giving us a new commandment: love one another. and He goes on to tell us how we are to do this: as I have loved you, so also should you love one another.
Jesus is being very clear here. He knows that we often mess up the word "love". The same word "love" that we use to describe our feelings for our spouse, or children, or dear friends is many times the same word we use for our car, or an oyster po-boy. Jesus is not talking about the love that only takes root in feelings or emotions. Jesus is talking about unconditional love; many times referred to as "agape" love. This is the love that is freely given and expects nothing in return. It is a love that Jesus taught, in words, many times over and in deeds, including the ultimate gift of love; His dying on the cross for us; to take on the burden of our guilt and to open the possibility of Heaven for each and everyone of us. It is the love Jesus asks us to give to our enemies and to those who hate us, even persecute us. It is the love that Jesus asks us to demonstrate with our acts of charity for those most in need. It is the love that Jesus asks us that leads to us avoiding condemnation and judgement.
What does that love look like for us today and in the days and weeks ahead. First, do people know that we are Christians by our love. We all have sung the words to that song but would people say of us, ah look at those Christians from St. Jane's; see how they love one another?
Can we love one another by being more active, engaged members of our parish family? Are there some among us who have perhaps missed an opportunity to be engaged in parish ministry or even involved in praying for the sick of our parish as they appear in our parish bulletin today? And as previously mentioned in prior homilies can we think about just one person in our own lives, someone that seems practically unlovable, and can we go them with the love that Jesus commands us in this Gospel? And perhaps in the week ahead, we can make a conscious effort to do a random act of kindness, a random act of love, that will benefit someone we do not even know.
Remember His command: love one another. And remember His "how": as I have loved you, so you also should love one another! Will they know we are Christians by our love?
Measure twice and cut once if we must; let's take our spiritual temperture; will we measure up; by our love, by our love?
We use so many things to take measurements; high tech equipment to help us with weather forecasts, kitchen utensils that help us measure out the right ingredients for that favorite recipe, and many medical devices, like a simple thermometer to measure medical conditions from the very serious to something has simple as our temperture.
Today, Jesus tells us plainly how to measure our Christianity: by our love.
As people of faith, how do we measure up?
Today's Gospel, at first, may confuse some of us. After all, we are now 5 weeks deep into the Easter season. You may recognize the words of today's Gospel as those spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper. It's like a flashback but an important one. On this 5th Sunday of Easter, as we begin looking forward to the celebrations of the Ascension and Pentecost, the Church wants to remind us of the core message of Jesus: love. Jesus plainly tells us that He is giving us a new commandment: love one another. and He goes on to tell us how we are to do this: as I have loved you, so also should you love one another.
Jesus is being very clear here. He knows that we often mess up the word "love". The same word "love" that we use to describe our feelings for our spouse, or children, or dear friends is many times the same word we use for our car, or an oyster po-boy. Jesus is not talking about the love that only takes root in feelings or emotions. Jesus is talking about unconditional love; many times referred to as "agape" love. This is the love that is freely given and expects nothing in return. It is a love that Jesus taught, in words, many times over and in deeds, including the ultimate gift of love; His dying on the cross for us; to take on the burden of our guilt and to open the possibility of Heaven for each and everyone of us. It is the love Jesus asks us to give to our enemies and to those who hate us, even persecute us. It is the love that Jesus asks us to demonstrate with our acts of charity for those most in need. It is the love that Jesus asks us that leads to us avoiding condemnation and judgement.
What does that love look like for us today and in the days and weeks ahead. First, do people know that we are Christians by our love. We all have sung the words to that song but would people say of us, ah look at those Christians from St. Jane's; see how they love one another?
Can we love one another by being more active, engaged members of our parish family? Are there some among us who have perhaps missed an opportunity to be engaged in parish ministry or even involved in praying for the sick of our parish as they appear in our parish bulletin today? And as previously mentioned in prior homilies can we think about just one person in our own lives, someone that seems practically unlovable, and can we go them with the love that Jesus commands us in this Gospel? And perhaps in the week ahead, we can make a conscious effort to do a random act of kindness, a random act of love, that will benefit someone we do not even know.
Remember His command: love one another. And remember His "how": as I have loved you, so you also should love one another! Will they know we are Christians by our love?
Measure twice and cut once if we must; let's take our spiritual temperture; will we measure up; by our love, by our love?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The disconnect at 1st Holy Communion
Today was that special day; our 2nd graders received their 1st Holy Communion. They were wonderful. The girls were adorned in their beautiful dresses and characteristic veils. The boys struggled with wearing that darn tie. They lined up before processing in the Church with hands folded in a praying position. They were ready. Having been wonderfully prepared by their teachers and director, I have no doubt that they fully understood what was about to happen. The children were ready to receive Jesus; body, blood, soul and divinity. They were ready to respond to the parts of the Mass we say aloud and even a few of them were prepared to engage Father during the homily.
So what is the disconnect I refer to in the title of this post? It's the grownups; yep, the grownups. Not all the grownups; not by a long shot. But many in attendance at this special spiritual moment in the life of these children seemed to have little idea where they were or what they were attending. Both before Mass and during Mass, right after Communion, a verbal reminder to be quiet, at prayer, reflecting had to be made to the congregation. Now excitement is normal, but really, to have to make an announcement during the period of silence after Communion. Unlike the regular Masses for Sundays and weekdays, today we had to invite the congregation to stand, sit, kneel. And if not for the enthusiastic children, you could hear hardly a response to the congregations spoken parts of the Mass. All of this, coupled with some of the attire from family and friends, not to mention the amazing amount of gum chewing witnessed today, by adults, gives pause for concern.
Now if you know me well, you know I'm not overly hung up on things that bother others. Today, I was struck by the commitment to have our young children get to a place where they indeed "make" their 1st Holy Communion, while seeing evidence that going to Church, particulary Mass, frequently with these same kids may be problematic. I do not want to be overly judgemental here. However, it is evident that we, who are responsible for the faith formation of the people maybe need to do a better job. But I'm also hoping that many of you who may read this will recommit to do your part, our part, in staying true to our faith and teaching our children not just in word, but by example.
If we, the adults, take the time to know the faith, practice the faith regularly and support the local parish where we are comfortable sending our children for CCD, we will all be the better for such efforts. And perhaps, just perhaps, our children will remain Catholic as they grow older and venture off to high school and college.
We, as parents, must bear witness to being the foremost instructors of our own children in the Catholic faith. They should learn from our teachings, and our own example about Jesus, the Church, the sacraments and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
My prayer today is that I will see those 26 children and their families at Mass, week in and week out, and as active members of our parish family.
When it comes to Holy Communion, we truly must become what we believe!
So what is the disconnect I refer to in the title of this post? It's the grownups; yep, the grownups. Not all the grownups; not by a long shot. But many in attendance at this special spiritual moment in the life of these children seemed to have little idea where they were or what they were attending. Both before Mass and during Mass, right after Communion, a verbal reminder to be quiet, at prayer, reflecting had to be made to the congregation. Now excitement is normal, but really, to have to make an announcement during the period of silence after Communion. Unlike the regular Masses for Sundays and weekdays, today we had to invite the congregation to stand, sit, kneel. And if not for the enthusiastic children, you could hear hardly a response to the congregations spoken parts of the Mass. All of this, coupled with some of the attire from family and friends, not to mention the amazing amount of gum chewing witnessed today, by adults, gives pause for concern.
Now if you know me well, you know I'm not overly hung up on things that bother others. Today, I was struck by the commitment to have our young children get to a place where they indeed "make" their 1st Holy Communion, while seeing evidence that going to Church, particulary Mass, frequently with these same kids may be problematic. I do not want to be overly judgemental here. However, it is evident that we, who are responsible for the faith formation of the people maybe need to do a better job. But I'm also hoping that many of you who may read this will recommit to do your part, our part, in staying true to our faith and teaching our children not just in word, but by example.
If we, the adults, take the time to know the faith, practice the faith regularly and support the local parish where we are comfortable sending our children for CCD, we will all be the better for such efforts. And perhaps, just perhaps, our children will remain Catholic as they grow older and venture off to high school and college.
We, as parents, must bear witness to being the foremost instructors of our own children in the Catholic faith. They should learn from our teachings, and our own example about Jesus, the Church, the sacraments and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
My prayer today is that I will see those 26 children and their families at Mass, week in and week out, and as active members of our parish family.
When it comes to Holy Communion, we truly must become what we believe!
St Joseph the Worker
The memorial we celebrate today honors the foster father of Jesus Christ under the title St Joseph the Worker. It is a day to remember, in a Christian tradition the dignity of honest work and hard working men and women everywhere.
This special day on the Church calendar is not that old as the memorial was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955. During this period of time, many workers were being influenced by the false workers rights promises from communists and others. The church, in giving us a memorial in honor of St. Joseph on May 1st, was countering the May day celebrations steeped in communism.
Of course little is known of St. Jospeh except from tradition and apocraphal works. What everyone agrees on is that he was indeed a working man who supported his family as a carpenter. He earned his daily living with his hands and the sweat of his brow.
Even though the main feast day that honors St. Joseph is March 19th, on May 1st we can all pray with St. Jospeph the Worker to honor the dignity of workers everywhere. In many ways, our work can be part of our prayer life.
As it says in the Psalms: prosper the work of our hands.
St. Jospeph the Worker, pray for us.
This special day on the Church calendar is not that old as the memorial was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955. During this period of time, many workers were being influenced by the false workers rights promises from communists and others. The church, in giving us a memorial in honor of St. Joseph on May 1st, was countering the May day celebrations steeped in communism.
Of course little is known of St. Jospeh except from tradition and apocraphal works. What everyone agrees on is that he was indeed a working man who supported his family as a carpenter. He earned his daily living with his hands and the sweat of his brow.
Even though the main feast day that honors St. Joseph is March 19th, on May 1st we can all pray with St. Jospeph the Worker to honor the dignity of workers everywhere. In many ways, our work can be part of our prayer life.
As it says in the Psalms: prosper the work of our hands.
St. Jospeph the Worker, pray for us.
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