As usual, I had another very busy week, capped off by a hectic weekend. This weekend I assisted at several Masses but was not on homily duty. Instead, I caught a homily from a Catholic pastor in New England, Fr. Austin Fleming. Using the Gospel from St. Luke where Jesus assured His followers that He is not a ghost, we again are given another example of Jesus coming to us, to strengthen our faith.
Fr. Austin asks the question, how many times in the past week did the risen Christ appear to you and me? It is a solid question that all of us should ponder. Fr. Austin put it like this: “Jesus lives in those we love and those we don’t love. He lives in the young and in the old and in those not yet born. Who knows how many times in the past week did the risen Christ appear to you and me and ask, in some way, for something to eat, something to drink, for some gesture on our part that we recognize Him”.
This caused me today to think and reflect on the week gone by. On Wednesday night, I was at Rayburn prison for my usual visit and Communion service. There were many new faces in the room tonight seeking Him and beginning the process of humbling self and seeking truth. On this night, something directed me to the infirmary where one inmate asked for prayers and a blessing as he was recovering from an operation. And then on my drive home, I stopped for a drink, mostly to have something to do for the last 25 miles or so. To my total surprise in walks one of the men from Rayburn. He recognized me as I recognized him. There was no fear or anxiety, simply joy at seeing one of the “parishioners” from our faith community on the “outside”. He assured me of being on the right path; a job, family support, seeking the local Catholic Church in town. But right there, in front of the store, he humbly asked for prayers and blessings that he would stay strong, avoid temptation and remain faithful to the Gospel. Yes, how many times in the past week did He appear to me?
That may be the most profound example. As I continued to reflect on the week past, I recalled someone seeking to make sense of ongoing marital issues, another just trying to get through a tough life-changing event, still another wanting prayers for a coworker facing a terminal illness, someone mourning the loss of a loved one. Then there were the excited faces of almost forty children receiving Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time. Yes, how many times in the past week did He appear to me?
In simple ways too, He comes to us. Just spending time with my daughter home for the weekend from college, sharing a laugh or holding hands with my wife, the handshake or sincere hug of a dear friend, going to a restaurant for lunch and being seated next to old family friends not seen in almost ten years, caring for others and knowing others care for you. Yes, how many times in the past week did He appear to me?
How many times in the past week did He appear to you?
And what about the week ahead? Will you be looking for Him, seeking Him, recognizing Him?
After all He is not a ghost; He is truly risen!
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever!
Deacon Mike.
reflections, updates and homilies from Deacon Mike Talbot inspired by the following words from my ordination: Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
How God speaks to us...
When we need it most, in most unusual ways, when we least expect it, through others, in good times, all the time, in bad times, in Church, in the store, when I’m alone, quietly, reassuringly, lovingly, hopefully, through friends, even strangers, in prison, as a Father, with understanding, compassion, with mercy, comforting, last night, today, through a child, always…
I’ve been listening lately; hearing Him.
When you stop to hear the Father talking to you, when you ponder how much He loves you, there is a fullness I can’t really explain.
Today I held a baby boy in my arms, standing before Jesus in prayer at the Tabernacle. He had just become a new creation in Baptism; water from the Easter vigil poured by a humble servant with ever so slightly trembling hands. This was one of the most profound moments of my young diaconate. And I could hear God speaking to me. No audible voice, no private revelation, nonetheless I was listening today.
In my baptism homily, I spoke about birthdays and how all of us, once baptized, have a “church” birthday too. Of course all of us can name our birthday, but who among us knows the date of our baptism. To illustrate the point, I asked a child, to tell me her birthday. She replied, March 12th. March 12th, I asked her, almost in unbelief. You see, March 12th is the birthday of my mom, who has been gone now for two years. In fact, it will be two years this very week.
On the first occasion to baptize a beautiful child, on this special day when a beautiful sacrament was celebrated in the Church, He speaks to me of my mom, who as time goes by, is not in my thoughts as much as she should be.
Mom almost made it to see her only son ordained and even though I realize she was with me on December 13th, how awesome it would have been to have her physically with me. So how beautifully remarkable I am reminded of her presence with me on this most unforgettable day of my young diaconia.
That family and that strikingly handsome, healthy little boy will never fully realize the role they played today in drawing me even closer to the Father. And what a beautiful memory to instill in me as the Baptism proceeded; my sweet yet always vulnerable mom, who lived her life only wanting good things for her three children.
Just as Jesus came to Thomas in today’s Gospel reading to quell his doubts, allay his fears, and strengthens his faith, God is always talking to us, coming to us to strengthen us in relationship with Him.
Thank you God for helping me realize today that you are always talking to me and have no doubt, your servant is always listening. Help me to hear clearly your will for me.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever; alleluia.
A humble yet grateful servant.
I’ve been listening lately; hearing Him.
When you stop to hear the Father talking to you, when you ponder how much He loves you, there is a fullness I can’t really explain.
Today I held a baby boy in my arms, standing before Jesus in prayer at the Tabernacle. He had just become a new creation in Baptism; water from the Easter vigil poured by a humble servant with ever so slightly trembling hands. This was one of the most profound moments of my young diaconate. And I could hear God speaking to me. No audible voice, no private revelation, nonetheless I was listening today.
In my baptism homily, I spoke about birthdays and how all of us, once baptized, have a “church” birthday too. Of course all of us can name our birthday, but who among us knows the date of our baptism. To illustrate the point, I asked a child, to tell me her birthday. She replied, March 12th. March 12th, I asked her, almost in unbelief. You see, March 12th is the birthday of my mom, who has been gone now for two years. In fact, it will be two years this very week.
On the first occasion to baptize a beautiful child, on this special day when a beautiful sacrament was celebrated in the Church, He speaks to me of my mom, who as time goes by, is not in my thoughts as much as she should be.
Mom almost made it to see her only son ordained and even though I realize she was with me on December 13th, how awesome it would have been to have her physically with me. So how beautifully remarkable I am reminded of her presence with me on this most unforgettable day of my young diaconia.
That family and that strikingly handsome, healthy little boy will never fully realize the role they played today in drawing me even closer to the Father. And what a beautiful memory to instill in me as the Baptism proceeded; my sweet yet always vulnerable mom, who lived her life only wanting good things for her three children.
Just as Jesus came to Thomas in today’s Gospel reading to quell his doubts, allay his fears, and strengthens his faith, God is always talking to us, coming to us to strengthen us in relationship with Him.
Thank you God for helping me realize today that you are always talking to me and have no doubt, your servant is always listening. Help me to hear clearly your will for me.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever; alleluia.
A humble yet grateful servant.
This is my body
A great prolife song contrasting pro-abortion mentality with the sacrifice of Jesus. Poignant as we continue this Easter season! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2reg0ESJUpE
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday
Homily April 19, 2009
Based on Gospel of John 20:19-31
& Divine Mercy Sunday
Who among us has never uttered these phrases: “I have my doubts” or “I doubt it”?
Let me share two examples with you. In 1980 I tuned in to watch a little Winter Olympics on TV. The big event that day was a hockey game between a young inexperienced American squad and the highly regarded Soviet national team. The Americans were made up of young college kids with no international experience. The Soviets were highly skilled, experienced athletes, with many years together and plenty of international games under their belt. Needless to say, the Soviets were heavy favorites. In fact, just two weeks earlier, in an exhibition, the Soviets handily defeated the upstart Americans, 10-3; that’s like 80-0 in football!
So, I, and many, many others watched as the game began, having our collective doubts. We all know what happened; playing like they had never played before, the Americans stunned the sports world with a 4-3 victory. Do you believe in miracles?
Fast forward some 29 years to our present time and let’s talk about Susan Boyle. Susan has the most popular video on the internet right now of a stunning performance from a TV reality show in Britain. You see, Susan, unlike all the “serious” contestants is middle aged, unspectacular in appearance and admitted beforehand an unassuming life, a simple humble life of caring for aging, ill parents. Her dedication to her parents resulted in few friends, no opportunity for a relationship, in fact
she admits she has never been kissed, and unemployment from putting her parents first.
The video is stunning. Why? In part, because at first, the judges, staff and audience are making fun of her, her looks and her life story. They are expressing their doubts, in words and actions directly to her face. Susan just stands there and politely takes it.
When she announces she is going to sing a beautiful song, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, everyone laughed. I guess they had their doubts.
Susan’s musical rendition was stunning. An audience, laughing and mocking her, is now on their feet, cheering. The judges are stunned, some in tears. I must admit, as I watched the video, it had an impact on me.
Doubt, in both these examples, was transformed into joy, happiness, even faith.
So, I ask this morning, do we still have our doubts about our faith? Do we still doubt the Divine Mercy of our Resurrected Lord? Are we a “doubting Thomas” and if so, is that necessarily all bad?
This reading from John is given to us by the Church, every year on this day, the 2nd Sunday of Easter and what we now know as the Feast of Divine Mercy. How appropriate. The Gospel is really in two parts; the Easter evening appearance of Jesus to the 10 apostles gathered there and Jesus returning a week later when he meets up with Thomas. Let’s focus on the latter first.
Thomas has boldly declared earlier in the week that unless he see and touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side he would not believe that He was risen. He had his doubts! At first read, this almost comes across as a negative when we think about Thomas. But remember, he was simply not present the week before. Perhaps the other Apostles wanted to see His hand and side too. The Gospels don’t record this. Thomas wanted proof. And Jesus knew this, and again, as He so often did and still does, He humbled Himself, complied with Thomas’ request and helped him to believe. And believe he did; Thomas declares: my Lord and my God!!!
On second read, this does not seem so negative now. His doubts reveal a certain honesty; I just want to be sure! Thomas allowed his doubt to surrender completely to faith. And his faith leads to joy and happiness.
What does this mean to us on this Easter Octave? Do we have doubts? Do we see Jesus every time we come to Mass and witness, with our own eyes, the consecration of bread and wine? When the bread and wine are lifted high, when the bells ring behind the altar, do we see Jesus and do we declare: “my Lord and my God.” Do we trust the great gift Jesus left us, the Church? Do we understand the role of the Magisterium, our beloved Pope in union with the college of Bishops, who guide and teach us how to grow in faith? And if we do have these doubts, will we be open to allow Jesus to come to us, like He came to Thomas and helped his unbelief. Are our doubts a result of our pride and stubbornness or can they, like Thomas, be a path to a deeper, more intimate personal relationship with Him.
In the first part of the Gospel, we read of the Easter night scene of Jesus, with the 10, as Jesus breathes on them and gives them the power to remit or retain sin. Why does Jesus breathe on them? Remember the creation story, Genesis, when God created man, He breathed on His creation. He gave them His Spirit. On Easter night, Jesus breathes on the Apostles, he brings alive the New Creation, He gives them His Spirit.
And what is at the center of this New Creation; it is the forgiveness of sin; it is His Divine Mercy!!! And we realize that it is Jesus who forgives sin, it is Jesus who dispenses mercy. But we read right here in John, that it is through his Apostles that the message of mercy goes forth and it is through the Apostles that Jesus forgives sin. If we are to believe all that Jesus said and did, then we are to believe, all these years later, that Jesus still forgives sins and still dispenses mercy. But if we fall prey to the beliefs not contained in the teaching of our church, then this mercy and forgiveness would have died with the death of the last Apostle. Where would be hope? How desperate would be our doubt?
But we know that Jesus gave us apostolic succession, and through the centuries raises up Bishops and Priests, who in the faith tradition of the Apostles, and the Sacrament of Confession and Anointing of the Sick, forgive sins, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And we receive His mercy; for His mercy endures forever.
And on this great feast of Divine Mercy, He gives us the Apostle of Mercy, Saint Faustina Kowalska who revealed Divine Mercy to the world. It was our great Pope, John Paul II who embraced this message of mercy, declared this 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday and canonized Faustina. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
An ice hockey game and a reality TV internet sensation allowed me to see doubt transform into faith, happiness and joy!
In our Risen Lord, in His Body & Blood, in His sacraments, yes, in the teaching authority of the Church, our doubt fades into joyful belief as we confidently proclaim:
“Jesus, I trust in you!” No doubt about it!!!
Based on Gospel of John 20:19-31
& Divine Mercy Sunday
Who among us has never uttered these phrases: “I have my doubts” or “I doubt it”?
Let me share two examples with you. In 1980 I tuned in to watch a little Winter Olympics on TV. The big event that day was a hockey game between a young inexperienced American squad and the highly regarded Soviet national team. The Americans were made up of young college kids with no international experience. The Soviets were highly skilled, experienced athletes, with many years together and plenty of international games under their belt. Needless to say, the Soviets were heavy favorites. In fact, just two weeks earlier, in an exhibition, the Soviets handily defeated the upstart Americans, 10-3; that’s like 80-0 in football!
So, I, and many, many others watched as the game began, having our collective doubts. We all know what happened; playing like they had never played before, the Americans stunned the sports world with a 4-3 victory. Do you believe in miracles?
Fast forward some 29 years to our present time and let’s talk about Susan Boyle. Susan has the most popular video on the internet right now of a stunning performance from a TV reality show in Britain. You see, Susan, unlike all the “serious” contestants is middle aged, unspectacular in appearance and admitted beforehand an unassuming life, a simple humble life of caring for aging, ill parents. Her dedication to her parents resulted in few friends, no opportunity for a relationship, in fact
she admits she has never been kissed, and unemployment from putting her parents first.
The video is stunning. Why? In part, because at first, the judges, staff and audience are making fun of her, her looks and her life story. They are expressing their doubts, in words and actions directly to her face. Susan just stands there and politely takes it.
When she announces she is going to sing a beautiful song, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, everyone laughed. I guess they had their doubts.
Susan’s musical rendition was stunning. An audience, laughing and mocking her, is now on their feet, cheering. The judges are stunned, some in tears. I must admit, as I watched the video, it had an impact on me.
Doubt, in both these examples, was transformed into joy, happiness, even faith.
So, I ask this morning, do we still have our doubts about our faith? Do we still doubt the Divine Mercy of our Resurrected Lord? Are we a “doubting Thomas” and if so, is that necessarily all bad?
This reading from John is given to us by the Church, every year on this day, the 2nd Sunday of Easter and what we now know as the Feast of Divine Mercy. How appropriate. The Gospel is really in two parts; the Easter evening appearance of Jesus to the 10 apostles gathered there and Jesus returning a week later when he meets up with Thomas. Let’s focus on the latter first.
Thomas has boldly declared earlier in the week that unless he see and touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side he would not believe that He was risen. He had his doubts! At first read, this almost comes across as a negative when we think about Thomas. But remember, he was simply not present the week before. Perhaps the other Apostles wanted to see His hand and side too. The Gospels don’t record this. Thomas wanted proof. And Jesus knew this, and again, as He so often did and still does, He humbled Himself, complied with Thomas’ request and helped him to believe. And believe he did; Thomas declares: my Lord and my God!!!
On second read, this does not seem so negative now. His doubts reveal a certain honesty; I just want to be sure! Thomas allowed his doubt to surrender completely to faith. And his faith leads to joy and happiness.
What does this mean to us on this Easter Octave? Do we have doubts? Do we see Jesus every time we come to Mass and witness, with our own eyes, the consecration of bread and wine? When the bread and wine are lifted high, when the bells ring behind the altar, do we see Jesus and do we declare: “my Lord and my God.” Do we trust the great gift Jesus left us, the Church? Do we understand the role of the Magisterium, our beloved Pope in union with the college of Bishops, who guide and teach us how to grow in faith? And if we do have these doubts, will we be open to allow Jesus to come to us, like He came to Thomas and helped his unbelief. Are our doubts a result of our pride and stubbornness or can they, like Thomas, be a path to a deeper, more intimate personal relationship with Him.
In the first part of the Gospel, we read of the Easter night scene of Jesus, with the 10, as Jesus breathes on them and gives them the power to remit or retain sin. Why does Jesus breathe on them? Remember the creation story, Genesis, when God created man, He breathed on His creation. He gave them His Spirit. On Easter night, Jesus breathes on the Apostles, he brings alive the New Creation, He gives them His Spirit.
And what is at the center of this New Creation; it is the forgiveness of sin; it is His Divine Mercy!!! And we realize that it is Jesus who forgives sin, it is Jesus who dispenses mercy. But we read right here in John, that it is through his Apostles that the message of mercy goes forth and it is through the Apostles that Jesus forgives sin. If we are to believe all that Jesus said and did, then we are to believe, all these years later, that Jesus still forgives sins and still dispenses mercy. But if we fall prey to the beliefs not contained in the teaching of our church, then this mercy and forgiveness would have died with the death of the last Apostle. Where would be hope? How desperate would be our doubt?
But we know that Jesus gave us apostolic succession, and through the centuries raises up Bishops and Priests, who in the faith tradition of the Apostles, and the Sacrament of Confession and Anointing of the Sick, forgive sins, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And we receive His mercy; for His mercy endures forever.
And on this great feast of Divine Mercy, He gives us the Apostle of Mercy, Saint Faustina Kowalska who revealed Divine Mercy to the world. It was our great Pope, John Paul II who embraced this message of mercy, declared this 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday and canonized Faustina. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
An ice hockey game and a reality TV internet sensation allowed me to see doubt transform into faith, happiness and joy!
In our Risen Lord, in His Body & Blood, in His sacraments, yes, in the teaching authority of the Church, our doubt fades into joyful belief as we confidently proclaim:
“Jesus, I trust in you!” No doubt about it!!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
8 is Enough
Happy Easter! I know it's Monday but it's still Easter. The great feast of feasts, Easter, the Day of the Resurrection, is celebrated by the Church as an octave. That simply means for all of us that Easter is too glorious, too joyful that one day simply can't contain it. So everyday from Easter Sunday until next Sunday is Easter.
If you go to Mass any day this week, Easter is celebrated.
And if 8 days is not enough for the celebration of our Lord's victory over death and sin, how about a season that lasts 50 days. From now to Pentecost Sunday, we will remain in the Easter season.
So celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, glory in the Risen Lord and wish Easter blessings to someone this week!!
If you go to Mass any day this week, Easter is celebrated.
And if 8 days is not enough for the celebration of our Lord's victory over death and sin, how about a season that lasts 50 days. From now to Pentecost Sunday, we will remain in the Easter season.
So celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, glory in the Risen Lord and wish Easter blessings to someone this week!!
Amazing & inspirational
Please watch the entire video; her interview, her amazing performance, the reaction of judges and audience, their sincere comments, her glorious reaction...
I'll admit it; tears!
Some say never judge a book by its cover; Jesus would say: judge not!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related
I'll admit it; tears!
Some say never judge a book by its cover; Jesus would say: judge not!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related
Sunday, April 12, 2009
A personal Easter reflection
April 12th is an unforgettable day!
It started about six years ago. On an otherwise picture perfect Saturday, the sound of a siren pierced the quiet of my rural country neighborhood. My daughter and her friend, who had spent the night, did not notice the siren. But the phone call was alarming. Our house guest, all of about 14 years old was talking to her older sister, she could not wake up her daddy.
By the time we all arrived at the house, it was too late. Their dad, our friend, the neighbor everyone came to rely on for a helping hand, was gone. One of the first people I met in my Abita neighborhood, who helped me countless times, who loved for her daughter to play with mine, Wayne Tennyson was gone.
I still think about him, particularly on Saturday mornings, when he liked to take his old car to town to run errands. He loved his family, was a great husband and dad, loved his country home; you could tell by just driving by. He left us too early; on April 12, 2003.
Two years later, I received a most alarming phone call from the staff of one of the bank branches I assisted. Their manager was a no show, and he had an important meeting that day. They could not reach him by phone or cell. Where could he be? Normally, I would not have thought much of this, except Stephen Forer had been battling cancer and had chemotherapy treatments. One of the associates at the bank sent her husband to Stephen’s house. He called me and told me something was wrong. His car was home and an alarm clock was blaring in the bedroom. He broke into the home and found Stephen dead. Complications from his cancer treatment stopped his heart. Stephen was 23 or 24 years old. He was well liked by everyone, a Tulane graduate and a most devoted son to his mother.
I used to go to lunch with him a lot. He was one of the youngest people picked to be a bank manager and loved his job. Full of energy and enthusiasm, he battled his cancer with lots of dignity. He to left us too early, entirely too early on April 12, 2005.
For a couple of years, April 12th weighed heavily on me. Then, I guess like everything else, time heals. Last year, I got one more reminder, although much different. On an April 12th morning, a little past 6 in the morning, while preparing for a class day in my deacon formation, lightning struck. Literally! A freak bolt of lightning hit the tree next to the house ran across the roots and sent a huge dose of powerful electrical energy through my house. The flash and accompanying noise was enough to say something ain’t right here. But the quickly dying electrical appliances and my daughter running from her bedroom to say she had felt an electrical shock drove home the seriousness of the event.
Fortunately, Elizabeth was fine albeit shook up. The lightning strike fried almost everything; air conditioning system, computers, televisions, all kitchen appliances, phones, lamps, you name it. But I realized that it could have been worse; much worse. All the damaged goods were replaced, the house had no structural damage, and no one was hurt.
When I realized the date, April 12th, I must admit that I asked, “Why”? At this point, I’m wondering out loud what is the deal with this day. Is there a message in all of this?
I really did not get an answer, that is until this year. When I checked the calendar to see when April 12th would roll around in 2009, I could only smile when I saw April 12th would be Easter Sunday. I will remember April 12th now as the day we commemorate the Resurrection. April 12th is now associated with Easter joy and newness of life. April 12th is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
And this is true of the April 12th’s of these past few years. Sure, I and many others miss Wayne and miss Stephen. We wonder what would have been. And I never want to go through another lightning strike but we survived, we managed to get everything fixed. Now looking back, these events only help me to realize that we are not in charge. This all belongs to God; this Earth, nature, His children, each and everyone of us. And we are called to live our lives for Him, realizing that this life is a dress rehersal for the life to come.
The happiness of the hope of an eternal life spent with God in Heaven is possible for all of us because Jesus died and then rose from death at that first Easter. His merciful act of love opens wide the door of paradise. We rejoice in this knowledge and we rejoice in our faith.
Yes, I will never forget April 12th and the life changing events I have witnessed in these past few years. But at least for now, April 12th will be a cause for great joy as I rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord.
No matter what life throws at you, no matter how many times, rest in Jesus’ love and mercy. And remember, he died for you and rose to new life, so you and I may have new life too!!
May abundant Easter blessings remain with you throughout this 50 day season of Easter.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today (April 12th) and forever,
Deacon Mike
It started about six years ago. On an otherwise picture perfect Saturday, the sound of a siren pierced the quiet of my rural country neighborhood. My daughter and her friend, who had spent the night, did not notice the siren. But the phone call was alarming. Our house guest, all of about 14 years old was talking to her older sister, she could not wake up her daddy.
By the time we all arrived at the house, it was too late. Their dad, our friend, the neighbor everyone came to rely on for a helping hand, was gone. One of the first people I met in my Abita neighborhood, who helped me countless times, who loved for her daughter to play with mine, Wayne Tennyson was gone.
I still think about him, particularly on Saturday mornings, when he liked to take his old car to town to run errands. He loved his family, was a great husband and dad, loved his country home; you could tell by just driving by. He left us too early; on April 12, 2003.
Two years later, I received a most alarming phone call from the staff of one of the bank branches I assisted. Their manager was a no show, and he had an important meeting that day. They could not reach him by phone or cell. Where could he be? Normally, I would not have thought much of this, except Stephen Forer had been battling cancer and had chemotherapy treatments. One of the associates at the bank sent her husband to Stephen’s house. He called me and told me something was wrong. His car was home and an alarm clock was blaring in the bedroom. He broke into the home and found Stephen dead. Complications from his cancer treatment stopped his heart. Stephen was 23 or 24 years old. He was well liked by everyone, a Tulane graduate and a most devoted son to his mother.
I used to go to lunch with him a lot. He was one of the youngest people picked to be a bank manager and loved his job. Full of energy and enthusiasm, he battled his cancer with lots of dignity. He to left us too early, entirely too early on April 12, 2005.
For a couple of years, April 12th weighed heavily on me. Then, I guess like everything else, time heals. Last year, I got one more reminder, although much different. On an April 12th morning, a little past 6 in the morning, while preparing for a class day in my deacon formation, lightning struck. Literally! A freak bolt of lightning hit the tree next to the house ran across the roots and sent a huge dose of powerful electrical energy through my house. The flash and accompanying noise was enough to say something ain’t right here. But the quickly dying electrical appliances and my daughter running from her bedroom to say she had felt an electrical shock drove home the seriousness of the event.
Fortunately, Elizabeth was fine albeit shook up. The lightning strike fried almost everything; air conditioning system, computers, televisions, all kitchen appliances, phones, lamps, you name it. But I realized that it could have been worse; much worse. All the damaged goods were replaced, the house had no structural damage, and no one was hurt.
When I realized the date, April 12th, I must admit that I asked, “Why”? At this point, I’m wondering out loud what is the deal with this day. Is there a message in all of this?
I really did not get an answer, that is until this year. When I checked the calendar to see when April 12th would roll around in 2009, I could only smile when I saw April 12th would be Easter Sunday. I will remember April 12th now as the day we commemorate the Resurrection. April 12th is now associated with Easter joy and newness of life. April 12th is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
And this is true of the April 12th’s of these past few years. Sure, I and many others miss Wayne and miss Stephen. We wonder what would have been. And I never want to go through another lightning strike but we survived, we managed to get everything fixed. Now looking back, these events only help me to realize that we are not in charge. This all belongs to God; this Earth, nature, His children, each and everyone of us. And we are called to live our lives for Him, realizing that this life is a dress rehersal for the life to come.
The happiness of the hope of an eternal life spent with God in Heaven is possible for all of us because Jesus died and then rose from death at that first Easter. His merciful act of love opens wide the door of paradise. We rejoice in this knowledge and we rejoice in our faith.
Yes, I will never forget April 12th and the life changing events I have witnessed in these past few years. But at least for now, April 12th will be a cause for great joy as I rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord.
No matter what life throws at you, no matter how many times, rest in Jesus’ love and mercy. And remember, he died for you and rose to new life, so you and I may have new life too!!
May abundant Easter blessings remain with you throughout this 50 day season of Easter.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today (April 12th) and forever,
Deacon Mike
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday Reflection
From Luke 23:39-43
"Now one of the crimials hanging there reviled Jesus, saying 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.' The other however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.' "
Jesus died on this day, some 2,000 years ago so you and I may live, eternally, forever, with Him in Heaven. He came to us to save us. And we come to Him, return to Him, no matter why or when, He is ready to welcome us to Paradise. The good thief, named Dismas, came to Jesus in faith, literally hours before his death. For all of us, no matter how long its been, no matter how far we have strayed, we can still return to Jesus, we can still return to His church, we can hear, "welcome home" and "be with me this day in Paradise."
"Now one of the crimials hanging there reviled Jesus, saying 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.' The other however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.' "
Jesus died on this day, some 2,000 years ago so you and I may live, eternally, forever, with Him in Heaven. He came to us to save us. And we come to Him, return to Him, no matter why or when, He is ready to welcome us to Paradise. The good thief, named Dismas, came to Jesus in faith, literally hours before his death. For all of us, no matter how long its been, no matter how far we have strayed, we can still return to Jesus, we can still return to His church, we can hear, "welcome home" and "be with me this day in Paradise."
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Holy Thursday Homily
Homily for Holy Thursday
Gospel of John 13:1-15
Every year, when Christmas rolls around, I summon all the courage I can muster and venture to the mall. My mission: to find a great gift for my wife Wendy. After I find the perfect gift, I make a stop at the perfume counter and find one of her favorite fragrances. But I always look for the one that offers a free bonus gift. Yes, the Deacon is cheap. I have learned that at Christmas, you can get a free gift set, a travel case, or an extra bottle of perfume. Extra! Lagniappe!
We all like a little lagniappe; buy 1 get 1 free, 2 for 1, half price. We use coupons, gift certificates, sales flyers and newspaper ads all to get something extra or to add value.
As people of faith, tonight on this Holy Thursday, are we aware of the many gifts Jesus unwraps for us on this solemn night?
Tonight we gather to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We refer to this night as Holy Thursday, The Last Supper, and the first night of the Easter Tridiuum. For Jesus and His followers, they gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. Now, tonight we read the Gospel account from St. John which does not present the Passover details. We should note, however, that the other three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, this night is indeed presented as the Passover meal. Tonight, we read from Exodus of the Passover and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Freed from slavery, they are saved from the angel of death by the blood of the lambs.
Matthew, Mark and Luke go on to give us the Eucharistic institution, where Jesus becomes the new Passover Lamb. It is by His blood that we too are saved from eternal death and freed from the slavery to sin.
The words that St. Paul repeats tonight in the 2nd reading from his first letter to the Corinthians are from these three Gospels. Paul stresses the handing on of this remembrance and says the words Jesus said at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me”.
So every time we come to Mass, we hear these words: “This is my body; this is my blood. Do this in memory of me”. The Eucharist; handed on to Paul; handed on to us. How is this accomplished? It is accomplished because Jesus instructed the Apostles to do this in remembrance. Did Jesus intend for this remembrance to die with the death of the last Apostle? No. Their successors are the Bishops, and Bishops ordain helpers, Priests. And Bishops and Priests, functioning in persona Christi, say words and perform actions that change bread and wine into the Body & Blood of Jesus!
So here on Holy Thursday we unwrap three gifts: The Eucharist, the Priesthood, and the Mass.
But there is more; a little lagniappe; one more gift. Return to tonight’s Gospel from St. John. We read of the incredible, loving example of service as Jesus washes the feet of His Apostles. We must know that keeping the feet clean was a big job back in the days when Jesus walked the Earth. The roads are dirty, dusty; muddy when it rains. The men wear sandals, thin soles held together by straps. It was customary when visiting a neighbor’s home or attending a dinner party for the host to have a jar of water, a ladle and towel outside the door. Your clean feet was your ticket inside.
So Jesus here goes beyond the customary. He removes his outer garment, takes a towel and stoops low and humbly washes the feet of His guests. He goes on to tell them that just as He has done for them, they must wash each others feet. Put another way: we who receives Eucharist are to be Eucharist to one another! How? In humble service to each other.
This water also reminds us of our Baptism. Clean feet is the ticket into the home of the host; our Baptism is a ticket that opens the door to all the other Sacraments and service to our Lord; that can lead to the open door of our host in Heaven: our Father.
One night; one liturgy; at least four gifts for us to embrace: The Eucharist, The Priesthood, The Mass and humble service to the Lord and each other.
So we ask, how can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?
Here are a few suggestions: after Mass tonight, Jesus is removed from the tabernacle and reposed in a special place here in the church until midnight. Spend time after Mass with Him; perhaps for one hour. Tomorrow the church is at its emptiest, it’s loneliness. Why? The tabernacle is empty; Jesus is not here in the Blessed Sacrament. The sanctuary candle is unlit. Come and sit in church and feel the emptiness, the aloneness, the lack of His real presence.
But know it is temporary for Easter awaits. Yes, the empty tabernacle can remind us of the empty tomb. Sorrow and sadness will give way to Resurrection joy.
Remember this: when I shop for gifts, looking for extras, I may get a good deal but it still costs me some money. And the gift, one day, will fade away.
The gifts of this beautiful night, this Holy Thursday liturgy, coupled with our observance of Good Friday and the Easter resurrection are given to us by our Lord, free of charge and lasting forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel of John 13:1-15
Every year, when Christmas rolls around, I summon all the courage I can muster and venture to the mall. My mission: to find a great gift for my wife Wendy. After I find the perfect gift, I make a stop at the perfume counter and find one of her favorite fragrances. But I always look for the one that offers a free bonus gift. Yes, the Deacon is cheap. I have learned that at Christmas, you can get a free gift set, a travel case, or an extra bottle of perfume. Extra! Lagniappe!
We all like a little lagniappe; buy 1 get 1 free, 2 for 1, half price. We use coupons, gift certificates, sales flyers and newspaper ads all to get something extra or to add value.
As people of faith, tonight on this Holy Thursday, are we aware of the many gifts Jesus unwraps for us on this solemn night?
Tonight we gather to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We refer to this night as Holy Thursday, The Last Supper, and the first night of the Easter Tridiuum. For Jesus and His followers, they gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. Now, tonight we read the Gospel account from St. John which does not present the Passover details. We should note, however, that the other three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, this night is indeed presented as the Passover meal. Tonight, we read from Exodus of the Passover and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Freed from slavery, they are saved from the angel of death by the blood of the lambs.
Matthew, Mark and Luke go on to give us the Eucharistic institution, where Jesus becomes the new Passover Lamb. It is by His blood that we too are saved from eternal death and freed from the slavery to sin.
The words that St. Paul repeats tonight in the 2nd reading from his first letter to the Corinthians are from these three Gospels. Paul stresses the handing on of this remembrance and says the words Jesus said at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me”.
So every time we come to Mass, we hear these words: “This is my body; this is my blood. Do this in memory of me”. The Eucharist; handed on to Paul; handed on to us. How is this accomplished? It is accomplished because Jesus instructed the Apostles to do this in remembrance. Did Jesus intend for this remembrance to die with the death of the last Apostle? No. Their successors are the Bishops, and Bishops ordain helpers, Priests. And Bishops and Priests, functioning in persona Christi, say words and perform actions that change bread and wine into the Body & Blood of Jesus!
So here on Holy Thursday we unwrap three gifts: The Eucharist, the Priesthood, and the Mass.
But there is more; a little lagniappe; one more gift. Return to tonight’s Gospel from St. John. We read of the incredible, loving example of service as Jesus washes the feet of His Apostles. We must know that keeping the feet clean was a big job back in the days when Jesus walked the Earth. The roads are dirty, dusty; muddy when it rains. The men wear sandals, thin soles held together by straps. It was customary when visiting a neighbor’s home or attending a dinner party for the host to have a jar of water, a ladle and towel outside the door. Your clean feet was your ticket inside.
So Jesus here goes beyond the customary. He removes his outer garment, takes a towel and stoops low and humbly washes the feet of His guests. He goes on to tell them that just as He has done for them, they must wash each others feet. Put another way: we who receives Eucharist are to be Eucharist to one another! How? In humble service to each other.
This water also reminds us of our Baptism. Clean feet is the ticket into the home of the host; our Baptism is a ticket that opens the door to all the other Sacraments and service to our Lord; that can lead to the open door of our host in Heaven: our Father.
One night; one liturgy; at least four gifts for us to embrace: The Eucharist, The Priesthood, The Mass and humble service to the Lord and each other.
So we ask, how can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?
Here are a few suggestions: after Mass tonight, Jesus is removed from the tabernacle and reposed in a special place here in the church until midnight. Spend time after Mass with Him; perhaps for one hour. Tomorrow the church is at its emptiest, it’s loneliness. Why? The tabernacle is empty; Jesus is not here in the Blessed Sacrament. The sanctuary candle is unlit. Come and sit in church and feel the emptiness, the aloneness, the lack of His real presence.
But know it is temporary for Easter awaits. Yes, the empty tabernacle can remind us of the empty tomb. Sorrow and sadness will give way to Resurrection joy.
Remember this: when I shop for gifts, looking for extras, I may get a good deal but it still costs me some money. And the gift, one day, will fade away.
The gifts of this beautiful night, this Holy Thursday liturgy, coupled with our observance of Good Friday and the Easter resurrection are given to us by our Lord, free of charge and lasting forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Week update: The Eucharist
Update during Holy Week The Eucharist
What is the Eucharist?
The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which He instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory. Thus, He entrusted to His Church this memorial of His death and resurrection.
When did Jesus institute the Eucharist?
Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, the night when He was betrayed. 1 Corinth 11:23.
How did He institute the Eucharist?
Jesus took bread in his hands. He broke it and gave it to them saying, “Take this and eat it, all of you; this is my Body which will be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. And likewise the cup, saying, “Take this and drink, all of you. This is the cup of my Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
Refer to Luke 22:7-20, Mt. 26:17-29, Mk. 14:12-25, 1 Corinth 11:23-26.
What does the Eucharist represent in the life of the Church?
It is the source and summit of all Christian life. Through the Eucharist we are united with the liturgy of Heaven and we have a foretaste of eternal life.
Where does the Eucharist fit in the divine plan of salvation?
The Eucharist is foreshadowed in the Old Testament primarily in the annual Passover meal. Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper, a Passover meal.
In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ?
The Eucharist makes present and actual the sacrifice which Christ offered the Father on the cross, once and for all on behalf of mankind. The sacrifice of the cross and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one and the same sacrifice.
How is Christ present in the Eucharist?
He is present in a true, real and substantial way, with His Body and Blood, with His Soul and His Divinity. Present is Christ whole and entire, God and Man.
The above “q & a” format is taken from the Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church; see questions 271-294 on pgs 81-86.
The Catechism addresses all things Eucharist in paragraphs 1322-1419 on pgs 334-356; including all Scriptural references and footnotes.
Since Holy Thursday is almost upon us, the night Christ gave us the Eucharist, consider the following from Dr. Scott Hahn in is book The Lambs Supper:
“The great day of sacrifice remained the feast of Passover. The priests sacrificed lambs, as many as 250,000 per each Passover. A burnt offering, by itself, was not enough. God demanded an interior sacrifice as well. Jesus observed the Jewish laws regarding sacrifice. He celebrated the Passover every year in Jerusalem; and presumably He ate the sacrificed lamb. After all, it wasn’t optional. Consuming the lamb was the only way a faithful Jew could renew his covenant with God, and Jesus was a faithful Jew.
But Passover had more than an ordinary importance in Jesus’ life; it was central to His mission, a definitive moment. Jesus is the Lamb. When Jesus stood before Pilate, John notes that ‘it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour’. John 19:14. John knew that the sixth hour was when the priests were beginning the slaughter of the Passover lambs.
Next, John recounts that none of Jesus’ bones were broken on the cross, that ‘Scripture might be fulfilled’. John 19:36. He is referring to Exodus 12:46, which stipulates that the Passover lambs must have no broken bones.
In the same passage, John relates that the onlookers served Jesus sour wine from a sponge on a hyssop branch. See John 19:29 and Exodus 12:22. Hyssop was the branch prescribed by the Law for the Passover sprinkling of the lamb’s blood. Thus, this simple action marked the fulfillment of the new and perfect redemption. And Jesus cried out, ‘It is finished.’
It is not enough that Christ bled and died for our sake. Now we have to play our part. As with the Old Covenant, so with the New. If you want to mark your covenant with god, to seal your covenant with God, to renew your covenant with God, you have to eat the Lamb. ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.’ John 6:54.”
Finally, in John 6:53-57, Jesus clearly teaches, without any hint of symbolism, that we are to eat (literally translated chew) His flesh and drink His blood. Then many of His followers say this is hard, who can accept it. And finally, those who cannot accept the command to eat His flesh and drink His blood, “returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” In other words, they turned away, they reject His teaching. Oh yea, the verse, John 6:66; the only place in the New Testament that chapter and verse are 666.
So with Holy Week upon us and Holy Thursday here, rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist. He is truly present!! Thanks be to God.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever,
Deacon Mike
What is the Eucharist?
The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which He instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory. Thus, He entrusted to His Church this memorial of His death and resurrection.
When did Jesus institute the Eucharist?
Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, the night when He was betrayed. 1 Corinth 11:23.
How did He institute the Eucharist?
Jesus took bread in his hands. He broke it and gave it to them saying, “Take this and eat it, all of you; this is my Body which will be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. And likewise the cup, saying, “Take this and drink, all of you. This is the cup of my Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
Refer to Luke 22:7-20, Mt. 26:17-29, Mk. 14:12-25, 1 Corinth 11:23-26.
What does the Eucharist represent in the life of the Church?
It is the source and summit of all Christian life. Through the Eucharist we are united with the liturgy of Heaven and we have a foretaste of eternal life.
Where does the Eucharist fit in the divine plan of salvation?
The Eucharist is foreshadowed in the Old Testament primarily in the annual Passover meal. Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper, a Passover meal.
In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ?
The Eucharist makes present and actual the sacrifice which Christ offered the Father on the cross, once and for all on behalf of mankind. The sacrifice of the cross and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one and the same sacrifice.
How is Christ present in the Eucharist?
He is present in a true, real and substantial way, with His Body and Blood, with His Soul and His Divinity. Present is Christ whole and entire, God and Man.
The above “q & a” format is taken from the Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church; see questions 271-294 on pgs 81-86.
The Catechism addresses all things Eucharist in paragraphs 1322-1419 on pgs 334-356; including all Scriptural references and footnotes.
Since Holy Thursday is almost upon us, the night Christ gave us the Eucharist, consider the following from Dr. Scott Hahn in is book The Lambs Supper:
“The great day of sacrifice remained the feast of Passover. The priests sacrificed lambs, as many as 250,000 per each Passover. A burnt offering, by itself, was not enough. God demanded an interior sacrifice as well. Jesus observed the Jewish laws regarding sacrifice. He celebrated the Passover every year in Jerusalem; and presumably He ate the sacrificed lamb. After all, it wasn’t optional. Consuming the lamb was the only way a faithful Jew could renew his covenant with God, and Jesus was a faithful Jew.
But Passover had more than an ordinary importance in Jesus’ life; it was central to His mission, a definitive moment. Jesus is the Lamb. When Jesus stood before Pilate, John notes that ‘it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour’. John 19:14. John knew that the sixth hour was when the priests were beginning the slaughter of the Passover lambs.
Next, John recounts that none of Jesus’ bones were broken on the cross, that ‘Scripture might be fulfilled’. John 19:36. He is referring to Exodus 12:46, which stipulates that the Passover lambs must have no broken bones.
In the same passage, John relates that the onlookers served Jesus sour wine from a sponge on a hyssop branch. See John 19:29 and Exodus 12:22. Hyssop was the branch prescribed by the Law for the Passover sprinkling of the lamb’s blood. Thus, this simple action marked the fulfillment of the new and perfect redemption. And Jesus cried out, ‘It is finished.’
It is not enough that Christ bled and died for our sake. Now we have to play our part. As with the Old Covenant, so with the New. If you want to mark your covenant with god, to seal your covenant with God, to renew your covenant with God, you have to eat the Lamb. ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.’ John 6:54.”
Finally, in John 6:53-57, Jesus clearly teaches, without any hint of symbolism, that we are to eat (literally translated chew) His flesh and drink His blood. Then many of His followers say this is hard, who can accept it. And finally, those who cannot accept the command to eat His flesh and drink His blood, “returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” In other words, they turned away, they reject His teaching. Oh yea, the verse, John 6:66; the only place in the New Testament that chapter and verse are 666.
So with Holy Week upon us and Holy Thursday here, rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist. He is truly present!! Thanks be to God.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever,
Deacon Mike
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Grumpy :(
I’ve been grumpy lately...
As we enter Holy Week I realized that I was out of sorts. Yes, you might say downright grumpy. At least that would be how my wife puts it. I don’t like things that interrupt my preconceived notion of how things should play out. Yes friends, I guess even Deacons get out of sorts.
My setbacks this week are minor, yet they are mine. Someone decided to perform surgery on my daughter’s car last week. They sliced up the dashboard, stole a stereo and cut several necessary wires that control lights, air-conditioning, and more. Needless to say, my daughter was very upset and faces weeks without a vehicle. Then, I decided to dedicate this first Saturday of the month to yard work. I was so prepared to tackle 10 acres of new springtime growth. Ah, but the battery in my tractor had other thoughts. This frustrated me greatly. So, I did what I could with the small lawn tractor. All this, as I prepare for the numerous events of Holy Week and Easter, prison ministry and settling in to new work assignments at the bank.
Wait a minute Mike; is this the old you or the one who has received blessing after blessing; grace upon grace? God as always worked on me; cared for me, loved me; no matter what. But the difference in these last 15 years or so has been the grace to know this, to be aware of this, to respond to God, generously.
So aware that I am out of sorts, I immediately realize that God is at work on me. Today, on this Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, I proclaimed, in part, the Passion of the Lord. Immediately, I reflected upon the first time I watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ. What if Jesus was feeling out of sorts, what if he had other thoughts or a different idea? No, he put His whole trust in God, His Father. Despite unimaginable pain, horrific torture and an unspeakable death, Jesus submitted, Jesus trusted.
This same type of trust must have been what helped a young Rwandan woman who had bigger problems than a stolen stereo or a dead battery on a tractor. On one of my trips in and out of the house yesterday, I saw the book on the coffee table, not recalling that it was there anytime recently. I just finished the book, and I stopped in my tracks. Here I am giving in to complaining about small stuff and this courageous lady, Immaculee Ilibagiza, is witnessing the death and slaughter of her family, of her neighbors, of her friends, while hiding out to save her life in a tiny bathroom. She hid there not for 1 day or a couple of days; no, for 91 days. And in this tiny bathroom she is not alone, 7 other women are crowded in there too. I guess her routine was upset, her normal not so normal. Immaculee easily could have surrendered to total despair and hate. She did not. She put her whole trust in God, her Father. Her book, Left to Tell, is a must read, especially for all of us who give in to negative thoughts, who want to be in control.
We all face a lot of setbacks in our life; some pain. But we also know the immeasurable joy of a Savior who defeats death and our sinfulness: He Resurrected! And He opened Heaven for us to join Him and the Father. We acknowledge that there is no Resurrection without Crucifixion. About Immaculee; I don’t want to spoil the book for you but in the end, she wins too! She certainly mourned her family, but she did not give in to hate, she loved her enemies and she started a new life; a life full of grace and blessings.
So the next time you get unexpected news, your applecart gets upset, the way you envisioned things happening in your life are not going to happen, trust in God, your Father.
I pray that Holy Week will be meaningful for you; that it does not pass you by as if it is any other week. Watch The Passion, read Left to Tell, pray with the 14th and 15th chapter of Mark, go to Holy Thursday Mass, go to Stations or the 3 p.m. service on Good Friday, celebrate Easter joy in communion with Jesus and your brothers & sisters in the Lord.
No matter what is happening in your life, no matter how long it has been since you thanked God for His Son, no matter if the battery is dead, something has been taken from you, His love never dies and His love can’t be taken away, from you, from me.
Blessed Holy Week,
Deacon Mike
As we enter Holy Week I realized that I was out of sorts. Yes, you might say downright grumpy. At least that would be how my wife puts it. I don’t like things that interrupt my preconceived notion of how things should play out. Yes friends, I guess even Deacons get out of sorts.
My setbacks this week are minor, yet they are mine. Someone decided to perform surgery on my daughter’s car last week. They sliced up the dashboard, stole a stereo and cut several necessary wires that control lights, air-conditioning, and more. Needless to say, my daughter was very upset and faces weeks without a vehicle. Then, I decided to dedicate this first Saturday of the month to yard work. I was so prepared to tackle 10 acres of new springtime growth. Ah, but the battery in my tractor had other thoughts. This frustrated me greatly. So, I did what I could with the small lawn tractor. All this, as I prepare for the numerous events of Holy Week and Easter, prison ministry and settling in to new work assignments at the bank.
Wait a minute Mike; is this the old you or the one who has received blessing after blessing; grace upon grace? God as always worked on me; cared for me, loved me; no matter what. But the difference in these last 15 years or so has been the grace to know this, to be aware of this, to respond to God, generously.
So aware that I am out of sorts, I immediately realize that God is at work on me. Today, on this Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, I proclaimed, in part, the Passion of the Lord. Immediately, I reflected upon the first time I watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ. What if Jesus was feeling out of sorts, what if he had other thoughts or a different idea? No, he put His whole trust in God, His Father. Despite unimaginable pain, horrific torture and an unspeakable death, Jesus submitted, Jesus trusted.
This same type of trust must have been what helped a young Rwandan woman who had bigger problems than a stolen stereo or a dead battery on a tractor. On one of my trips in and out of the house yesterday, I saw the book on the coffee table, not recalling that it was there anytime recently. I just finished the book, and I stopped in my tracks. Here I am giving in to complaining about small stuff and this courageous lady, Immaculee Ilibagiza, is witnessing the death and slaughter of her family, of her neighbors, of her friends, while hiding out to save her life in a tiny bathroom. She hid there not for 1 day or a couple of days; no, for 91 days. And in this tiny bathroom she is not alone, 7 other women are crowded in there too. I guess her routine was upset, her normal not so normal. Immaculee easily could have surrendered to total despair and hate. She did not. She put her whole trust in God, her Father. Her book, Left to Tell, is a must read, especially for all of us who give in to negative thoughts, who want to be in control.
We all face a lot of setbacks in our life; some pain. But we also know the immeasurable joy of a Savior who defeats death and our sinfulness: He Resurrected! And He opened Heaven for us to join Him and the Father. We acknowledge that there is no Resurrection without Crucifixion. About Immaculee; I don’t want to spoil the book for you but in the end, she wins too! She certainly mourned her family, but she did not give in to hate, she loved her enemies and she started a new life; a life full of grace and blessings.
So the next time you get unexpected news, your applecart gets upset, the way you envisioned things happening in your life are not going to happen, trust in God, your Father.
I pray that Holy Week will be meaningful for you; that it does not pass you by as if it is any other week. Watch The Passion, read Left to Tell, pray with the 14th and 15th chapter of Mark, go to Holy Thursday Mass, go to Stations or the 3 p.m. service on Good Friday, celebrate Easter joy in communion with Jesus and your brothers & sisters in the Lord.
No matter what is happening in your life, no matter how long it has been since you thanked God for His Son, no matter if the battery is dead, something has been taken from you, His love never dies and His love can’t be taken away, from you, from me.
Blessed Holy Week,
Deacon Mike
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Palm Sunday Reflection
Have you ever heard someone say, “He speaks out of both sides of his mouth”? Chances are, we have. Sometimes it seems someone says one thing one day, then something different another. Sometimes we seem to be strong in our convictions; and then at other times, we just want to go along with the crowd.
On this Palm Sunday, we have two Gospel readings to ponder. In the opening Gospel from St. John, we hear the peoples proclaiming Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. The scene would be very overwhelming for most of us. It is almost as if Jesus was receiving “rock-star” treatment, to put it in today’s vernacular. Jesus fully understands that this is not the glory and praise He came for. No, this would have to wait for another day.
And then we come to the Passion from the Gospel of Mark. And what do we hear from the mouths of the people now? We hear, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”. The same people; from the same mouth, now join the leaders and the crowd in asking for His death. How appropriate that at these lines in the Gospel, we all recite the same words, “Crucify Him”.
It serves as a reminder that fully aware of Christ life, death and resurrection; fully aware of his great act of love for us, we still sin, we still turn away from Him from time to time.
Acknowledging this fact, however, we can leave here today, prepared to celebrate Holy Week realizing that we can always return to Him and receive His love and mercy. How does our lengthy Passion narrative end? Like the centurion, we stand at the foot of the cross, a sinner. But we too can join the centurion in proclaiming in faith and truth: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Indeed, we say, Truly, Jesus you are the Son of God.
May our preparation for the holy days that lie ahead include our desire to be humble, like Christ was humble, becoming obedient to the point of death. May our humility allow us to boldly empty ourselves of worldly things and be filled with the gifts that come to us from above. May our humility help us to boldly proclaim, “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
On this Palm Sunday, we have two Gospel readings to ponder. In the opening Gospel from St. John, we hear the peoples proclaiming Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. The scene would be very overwhelming for most of us. It is almost as if Jesus was receiving “rock-star” treatment, to put it in today’s vernacular. Jesus fully understands that this is not the glory and praise He came for. No, this would have to wait for another day.
And then we come to the Passion from the Gospel of Mark. And what do we hear from the mouths of the people now? We hear, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”. The same people; from the same mouth, now join the leaders and the crowd in asking for His death. How appropriate that at these lines in the Gospel, we all recite the same words, “Crucify Him”.
It serves as a reminder that fully aware of Christ life, death and resurrection; fully aware of his great act of love for us, we still sin, we still turn away from Him from time to time.
Acknowledging this fact, however, we can leave here today, prepared to celebrate Holy Week realizing that we can always return to Him and receive His love and mercy. How does our lengthy Passion narrative end? Like the centurion, we stand at the foot of the cross, a sinner. But we too can join the centurion in proclaiming in faith and truth: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Indeed, we say, Truly, Jesus you are the Son of God.
May our preparation for the holy days that lie ahead include our desire to be humble, like Christ was humble, becoming obedient to the point of death. May our humility allow us to boldly empty ourselves of worldly things and be filled with the gifts that come to us from above. May our humility help us to boldly proclaim, “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Thursday, April 2, 2009
It's been 4 years; Santo Subito John Paul II
On an October late afternoon in 1978, a Monday, I was in my small apartment watching 7-month old Jimmy, my oldest child(now 31). Back then, breaking news meant something big. On this fall afternoon, with only Jimmy to share the moment I watched as the world met Karol Wojtyla; forever now known as Pope John Paul II.
Fast forward to an April lunctime 2005, on one of my formation class days and we learned of the death of this great spiritual father. Today, we remember; 4 years later.
Please watch this video and pray for the quick recognition of the saint he truly is. Santo Subito, John Paul II.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJPUiA6fg-0&feature=related
Fast forward to an April lunctime 2005, on one of my formation class days and we learned of the death of this great spiritual father. Today, we remember; 4 years later.
Please watch this video and pray for the quick recognition of the saint he truly is. Santo Subito, John Paul II.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJPUiA6fg-0&feature=related
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Parish retreat/ opening presentation
HOPE AND THE NEARNESS OF GOD
This was the opening presentation from Saturday's retreat. The presenter is Dottie Bourgeois, facilitator of our Bible study program and the wife of Deacon Don Bourgeois.
The presentations are now laid out on this site from first talk to last talk. I hope you will take the time to read them and reflect on the messages:
ALL OF US ARE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AS CHRISTIANS, WE ALL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GOD AND WE WANT TO BE MORE FOR GOD. NOW, I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW TODAY, BUT MAYBE I CAN HELP YOU TO REMEMBER THINGS LONG FORGOTTEN THAT WILL REMIND YOU WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU’RE CALLED TO LIVE AS GOD’S BELOVED CHILD.
AS CHRISTIANS AND AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, CHRIST WANTS US ALL TO BE A PEOPLE OF HOPE, TO BE A PEOPLE OF FAITH. WE ARE CALLED, COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY, TO BE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD. HE CALLS US TO BE THE LIVING TRUTH OF WHAT HE TAUGHT AND SAID WHILE HE WALKED THIS EARTH.
HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT, FOR ME, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BEING HOPEFUL OR BEING THAT SHINING EXAMPLE IS A TALL ORDER, EVEN FOR ONE DAY.
NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT I’M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS STRUGGLED WITH CHRONIC DEPRESSION ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD GO FOR DAYS, WEEKS, SOMETIMES MONTHS LOOKING OUT ON THE WORLD AND ONLY SEEING DEATH AND DESPAIR STARING BACK AT ME. IT’S A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE, TO LOOK AROUND YOU AND SEE NO HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
I REMEMBER THE DAY BEFORE WE MOVED TO THE NORTHSHORE, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SAID, “I’M AFRAID THAT YOU WILL MOVE TO THE COUNTRY AND DISAPPEAR INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND NEVER COME OUT.” AND SHE WAS RIGHT TO FEEL THAT WAY, BECAUSE IT ALMOST HAPPENED.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG BATTLE WITH ME AND DEPRESSION, BUT, IN THE END, I’VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD ALONE IS MY ANSWER TO LIVING A HOPEFUL LIFE. GOD HAS SHOWN ME THAT IT’S OKAY TO HAVE A DOWN DAY NOW AND AGAIN, BUT IT’S NOT OKAY TO LIVE THAT WAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHEN HE STANDS WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND THE SUN SHINING IN.
SO THESE DAYS, WHEN I FEEL THE SADNESS STARTING TO TAKE HOLD, I CUT DEPRESSION OFF AT THE PASS. I GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN PRAYER. I CALL ON THE H.S. FOR GUIDANCE AND GRACE, AND I BEG HIM TO SHOW ME THE PATH BACK TO THE LIGHT.
I KNOW I’M NOT ALONE IN MY STRUGGLE WITH LIVING HOPEFUL. EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE CHRONIC DEPRESSION ARE GETTING DEPRESSED THESE DAYS. JUST TURN ON THE TV FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND WATCH THE NEWS. THERE’S THAT RELENTLESS CRY OF TERRORISM, OR THE WARNINGS OF AN ECONOMY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
YOU’LL HEAR THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF HEINOUS CRIMES AND HATE CRIMES, NOT TO MENTION THAT OUR WORLD IS FAST BECOMING A SOCIETY THAT DEVALUES HUMAN LIFE -- AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT’S THE SHORT LIST.
MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN KNOWS NO BOUNDS WHENEVER SATAN IS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE. IF THE GROUND IS FERTILE, IF THE MIND IS FULL OF HATE, ANGER OR HOPELESSNESS, SATAN HAS NO PROBLEM STEPPING IN AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
BUT AS CHRISTIANS, AS A PEOPLE OF GOD, WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE COUNTERWEIGHT TO ALL OF THAT. OUR REASON FOR BEING ON THIS EARTH IS TO TURN ON THE FLASHLIGHTS, LIGHT THE TORCHES OF HOPE, AND HAND THEM TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT CAN’T SEE WHERE THEY’RE GOING.
BUT, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT. NOTHING HAPPENS THAT DOES NOT END UP IN HIS GREAT SAVING PLAN FOR MANKIND. EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND US SCREAMS “BAD NEWS,” “BAD NEWS,” AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO LISTEN FOR THAT GENTLE VOICE THAT WHISPERS IN OUR EAR: “BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, UNTIL THE END OF TIME.”
CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. TO EVERYONE BELIEVING IN HIM, HE IS THE SUNSHINE OF ETERNAL DAY.
JOY AND PEACE AND THE GLAD ASSURANCE OF EVERLASTING REST ARE THE PORTION OF ALL WHO ENROLL THEMSELVES AS HIS DISCIPLES.
GOD IS GOOD; GOD IS MIGHTY. HIS INTERESTS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM OURS. HE LOANS US HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HIS STRENGTH TO USE EVERY DAY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AS A PEOPLE OF HOPE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD “HOPE” WHEN IT’S USED IN THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT AND, BECAUSE WE HEAR IT SO OFTEN, IT RUNS THE RISK OF LOSING ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT LIVING HOPEFUL IS MEANT TO BE A WORD OF ACTION -- BETTER YET, A WORD OF EXPECTATION.
I’VE HEARD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY PRAY, BUT THEY DON’T TALK AS IF THEY’RE CONVINCED GOD WILL LISTEN AND/OR ANSWER THEIR PRAYER. I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY SUSPECT THEY WILL WIN THE LOTTERY BEFORE THEY WILL WIN THE EAR OF GOD.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT JUST AIN’T SO. GOD NOT ONLY HEARS EVERY SINGLE PRAYER WE UTTER, BUT HE ALWAYS ANSWERS. THE REASON WHY WE THINK HE’S NOT ANSWERING IS BECAUSE WE OFTEN PUT PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS ON WHAT THAT ANSWERED PRAYER SHOULD LOOK LIKE, -- AND SO WHEN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE EXPECT, WE EITHER DON’T RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER, OR WE REJECT THE ANSWER AS A BAD IDEA, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOESN’T FIT WITH OUR PRE-CONCEIVED EXPECTATIONS.
WE NEED TO LEARN TO PRAY AND THEN EXPECT ANYTHING! GOD NEVER SAYS “NO” TO PRAYER. HE ALWAYS GIVES US ONE OF THREE ANSWERS: YES -- NOT YET -- I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN. OUR DAUGHTER, DONNA, WHO LIVES IN CANADA, AND HER HUSBAND, WAYNE, DISCOVERED SOME YEARS AGO THAT THEY COULDN’T HAVE CHILDREN, SO THEY ADOPTED A BROTHER AND SISTER, BRITTANY AND MICHAEL.
SOON AFTER BRIT AND MIKE JOINED OUR FAMILY, DONNA DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER COUPLE HAD ALSO ADOPTED A BIOLOGICAL BROTHER AND SISTER OF BRITTANY AND MICHAEL THROUGH FOSTER CARE.
THE CHILDREN WERE UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER’S EXISTENCE, EVEN THOUGH BOTH SETS OF SIBLINGS LIVE ONLY A HALF AN HOUR APART.
DONNA HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH THE MOTHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IN THE HOPES THAT THE SIBLINGS WOULD ONE DAY BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. BUT THE OTHER ADOPTIVE MOTHER, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED. SO DONNA HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR BOTH FAMILIES.
NOW, REMEMBER, THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ONLY LIVE A HALF AN HOUR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, DONNA AND WAYNE TOOK BRITTANY AND MICHAEL ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, WHICH IS ABOUT FOUR HOURS FROM WHERE THEY LIVE. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND AS DONNA AND WAYNE WERE PACKING THEIR CAR, DONNA LOOKED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND GUESS WHO SHE SAW? -- THAT’S RIGHT, THERE STOOD BRITTANY AND MICHAEL’S BROTHER AND SISTER WITH THEIR PARENTS.
AS IT TURNS OUT, BOTH FAMILIES HAD TRAVELED FOUR HOURS ON THE SAME WEEKEND AND PICKED THE SAME HOTEL TO STAY IN. BOTH FAMILIES HAD BEEN THERE ALL WEEKEND, OUT AND ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS AND THE HOTEL, AND BY SOME TWIST OF FATE, THEY NEVER RAN INTO EACH OTHER.
DONNA’S FIRST REACTION AT THE SITUATION WAS TO GET ANGRY WITH GOD. SHE HAD PRAYED SO HARD FOR THE KIDS TO MEET AND HERE THEY WERE IN THE SAME HOTEL, AND DONNA HAD TO LET HER CHILDREN STAY IGNORANT, AND WALK AWAY.
DONNA SAID, “MOM, THIS WAS SO NOT HOW I EXPECTED GOD TO ANSWER MY PRAYER, AND AT FIRST I WAS REALLY MAD. I SAID TO HIM ‘HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL TO KEEP THESE SIBLINGS APART, AND YET BRING US HERE TOGETHER LIKE THIS!?’” BUT THEN I THOUGHT: WAIT A MINUTE, THERE ARE NO MISTAKES WITH GOD, SO LET’S JUST SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE HERE.”
AS IT TURNED OUT, THE CHILDREN NEVER DID GET TO MEET THAT WEEKEND, BUT DONNA AND WAYNE WERE ABLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO SIT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TALK FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE OTHER ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND DONNA CAME AWAY WITH A HEART FULL OF HOPE. THE FATHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN SAID, “I THINK THE MEETING WILL HAPPEN SOONER, NOW, THAN LATER.”
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO STAND ON GOD’S PROMISE THAT HE WILL ALWAYS HELP US TO WALK TOWARD THE LIGHT, AS LONG AS WE’RE TRYING, EVEN A LITTLE BIT, TO GET THERE OURSELVES.
I DON’T CARE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE IN THE PAST, WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY OR, FOR THAT MATTER, WHAT MAY HAPPEN TOMORROW -- YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND THE MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED BY JESUS CHRIST. HE LEFT NO STONE OF HUMAN NATURE UNTURNED.
FOR INSTANCE, THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON USED TO BE JUST A WONDERFUL PARABLE FOR ME TO EXPLORE AND MEDITATE ON -- THAT IS, UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN MY OWN ADOPTED SON TOOK HIS INHERITANCE AND WALKED DOWN A PATH WE COULD NOT FOLLOW.
OVER THE YEARS, DON AND I HAVE PRAYED THAT OUR SON WOULD ONE DAY COME TO HIS SENSES AND SAY, AS THE PRODIGAL SON DID, “I WILL RETURN TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE.....” AND THAT WE WOULD SURELY CATCH SIGHT OF HIM FROM A DISTANCE AND WELCOME HIM HOME.
WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED PRAYING PRAYERS FULL OF HOPE FOR THAT HOMECOMING. EARLIER THIS MONTH, HOWEVER, WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR SON HAS CANCER OF THE THROAT AND FROM EVERYTHING WE’VE HEARD, WE SUSPECT HE’S DYING.
WILL THERE BE A HOMECOMING FOR OUR PRODIGAL SON? JESUS TELLS US THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.
SO, NOW, NOT ONLY THE PRODIGAL SON, BUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS HAS TAKEN ON GREAT MEANING FOR DON AND I.
THE FORGIVENESS AND MERCY JESUS EXTENDED TO THAT MAN AT THE END OF HIS LIFE HAS ALSO BECOME VERY PERSONAL.
WE’RE PRAYING WITH A HOPE FULL OF EXPECTATION THAT THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE THAT DAY WILL, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WILL BE SAID TO OUR SON: “THIS DAY, YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BEING HOPEFUL FOR SOME TIME, NOW, SO I THINK WE SHOULD SWITCH TO ANOTHER TOPIC, AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW IS BEING AWARE OF THE NEARNESS OF GOD.
LIVING A LIFE OF HOPE, BEING HOPEFUL AS CHRISTIANS AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO REALIZE HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US EVERY DAY, AND REACH OUT TO HIM IN RELATIONSHIP.
I KNOW ALL OF US ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE AND PRESENCE OF GOD AS OUR CREATOR AND SAVIOR, BUT I WONDER IF SOMETIMES WE SHY AWAY FROM THE THOUGHT OF GOD BEING SO CLOSE THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE TEMPERATURE OF OUR SKIN.
MANY PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THINKING ABOUT GOD AS BEING “SOMEWHERE UP THERE.” BETTE MIDLER EVEN PUT OUT A SONG A FEW YEARS AGO, AND EVERY TIME I HEAR THE REFRAIN, IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM. IT GOES “GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US FROM A DISTANCE.”
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT -- GOD HAS NEVER WATCHED US “FROM A DISTANCE!” HE HAS BEEN HERE AMONG US, BREATHING WITH US AT EVERY GLORIOUS MOMENT IN MANKIND’S HISTORY, AND AT EVERY SHAMEFUL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, AS WELL.
AND I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME WE AND GOD CONNECT ON THAT INTIMATE LEVEL, IT’S WONDERFUL, INDEED -- EVEN WHEN THE MESSAGE FROM GOD IS THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD WE WANT TO HEAR.
A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A BAD DAY AND INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO GOD, I TOOK IT OUT ON EVERYONE AROUND ME -- AND AS IF THAT WASN’T BAD ENOUGH, I BEGAN TO PLAY WITH THIS SIN IN MY HEAD, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I COULD POSSIBLY TWIST THE INCIDENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT I DIDN’T LOOK QUITE SO BAD. AND AFTER I HAD DILIGENTLY WORKED FOR A DAY OR TWO, I FINALLY CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I HADN’T REALLY BEEN AS UGLY AS I FIRST THOUGHT.
WELL, I MIGHT HAVE CONVINCED ME, BUT I WASN’T ABOUT TO CONVINCE GOD, AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EVERY TIME I OPENED THE BIBLE AND STARTED READING, I FOUND MYSELF AT A PLACE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE SOMEONE WAS BEING CHASTISED BY GOD.
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT AFTER THREE DAYS, I COULDN’T IGNORE WHAT GOD WAS TRYING TO TELL ME THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD.
I HAVE USED SCRIPTURE AS A MEANS TO DIALOGUE WITH GOD ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, AND HE AND I HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS TIME I KNEW GOD AND I WEREN’T HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME -- AT LEAST I WASN’T FOR SURE. GOD WAS CHALLENGING ME TO QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY SIN IN ORDER TO AVOID DOING THE RIGHT THING.
HE WAS PLAINLY TELLING ME TO FACE UP TO WHAT I HAD DONE AND MAKE IT RIGHT, BOTH WITH THE PEOPLE I HAD OFFENDED AND WITH HIM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I REPENTED OF MY SIN, MADE AMENDS, AND WENT TO CONFESSION.
NOW, YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAD AN UNPLEASANT EFFECT ON MY DESIRE FOR AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD -- AND IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU WOULD BE WRONG. THE FACT IS THAT GOD EVEN CHASTISES US WITH INTIMACY AND GREAT LOVE.
HE WANTS US TO BE THE VERY BEST PERSON WE CAN BE, BECAUSE, REMEMBER, EACH OF US IS CALLED TO BE THE SHINING TORCHBEARER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AS JOB PUT IT: “HAPPY IS THE MAN WHOM GOD REPROVES! THE ALMIGHTY’S CHASTISEMENTS DO NOT REJECT. FOR HE WOUNDS, BUT HE BINDS UP. HE SMITES, BUT HIS HANDS GIVE HEALING.”
KEEPING AN AWARENESS OF HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, CAN BE BOTH WONDERFUL AND CHALLENGING. IT’S WONDERFUL WHEN I FIND MYSELF TALKING TO HIM IN MY MIND ALL DAY, AND IT’S A GREAT FEELING TO KNOW THAT HE’S SO CLOSE AND LISTENING.
BUT, ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THIS ARE THE TIMES I GET SO BUSY OR SO TIRED, I ONLY THINK OF HIM OR SPEAK TO HIM ON THE RUN, LIKE WHEN I’M DRIVING SOMEWHERE.
I REMEMBER ONE DAY SOME YEARS AGO I HAD BEEN WORKING NON-STOP FOR ABOUT A MONTH STRAIGHT, AND I WAS JUST BONE TIRED. I HADN’T TALKED TO GOD OR SAID ANY KIND OF PRAYER IN OVER A WEEK, AND SO I WAS AS DRY IN SPIRIT AS I WAS TIRED IN BODY. FINALLY, I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
I STOPPED WORKING, DROPPED MY HANDS INTO MY LAP, AND CRIED OUT FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL FOR THE H.S. TO SEND ME HIS PEACE.
IT WAS WONDERFUL. IN AN INSTANT, I FELT THE PEACE OF THE H.S. DESCEND ON ME AND INVADE EVER ATOM OF MY BODY. I JUST SAT THERE FOR THE LONGEST TIME, RESTING IN HIS GRACE.
I FELT THE WORDS OF ISAIAH RIGHT DOWN TO MY TOES: “THEN THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS, AND GIVE YOU PLENTY, EVEN ON THE PARCHED LAND. HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOU SHALL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, LIKE A SPRING WHOSE WATER NEVER FAILS.”
BECAUSE THE LIVING GOD WALKS INTIMATELY AMONG US, AND LOVES US SO MUCH, HE EVEN GIVES US THE PROMISE OF THE STRENGTH TO BEAR THE UNBEARABLE.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE REACHED ROCK BOTTOM, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY OR SPIRITUALLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK FOR HIM, CALL ON HIM, AND YOU’LL DISCOVER JUST HOW CLOSE HE IS, AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY.
I RECENTLY READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A WOMAN NAMED CORRIE TEN BOON. SHE WAS A FAMOUS DUTCH MISSIONARY SOME YEARS AGO THAT TRAVELED THE WORLD AS AN EVANGELIST FOR THE LORD.
IN THE LATE ‘60s, CORRIE WAS IN A SMALL NATION IN AFRICA PREACHING TO A CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, BUT EACH NIGHT FOR THE FIRST THREE NIGHTS, THE AUDIENCE SEEMED TO GET A LITTLE SMALLER. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANS AND, FOR EACH OF THE TWO NIGHTS PREVIOUS, HAD TAKEN SELECTED CHRISTIANS FROM THEIR HOMES AND EXECUTED THEM.
BY THE FOURTH NIGHTLY MEETING, IT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHAT WAS HAPPENING -- CHRISTIANS WERE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY EXTERMINATED.
THE COMMUNITY THAT HAD COME THAT NIGHT HAD COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. WITH GREAT COURAGE THEY WERE READY TO HEAR CORRIE SPEAK, BUT NATURALLY THEY WERE ALSO VERY FRIGHTENED, AND ASKED HER WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
CORRIE OPENED HER BIBLE AND READ TO THEM FROM 1ST PETER: “THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST SUFFERED IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE, SO AS NOT TO SPEND WHAT REMAINS OF ONE’S LIFE IN THE FLESH ON HUMAN DESIRES, BUT ON THE WILL OF GOD.”
AND THEN CORRIE TOLD THEM THIS STORY: ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 10, SHE WENT TO HER FATHER AND SAID, “DADDY, I’M AFRAID THAT I’LL NEVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE A MARTYR FOR JESUS CHRIST.”
“TELL ME,” HER FATHER SAID, “WHEN YOU TAKE THE TRAIN WITH ME FROM HAARLEM TO AMSTERDAM, WHEN DO I GIVE YOU THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET? THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE GO?”
“NO, DADDY, YOU GIVE ME THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET JUST BEFORE WE GET ON THE TRAIN.”
“THAT’S RIGHT,” HER FATHER SAID, “AND SO IT IS WITH GOD’S STRENGTH. OUR WISE FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHEN YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THINGS. TODAY YOU DON’T NEED THE STRENGTH TO BE A MARTYR; BUT AS SOON AS YOU’RE CALLED UPON FOR THE HONOR OF FACING DEATH FOR JESUS, HE WILL SUPPLY THE STRENGTH YOU NEED -- YOU WILL GET YOUR TICKET IN TIME FOR THE TRAIN.”
CORRIE LATER LEARNED THAT OVER HALF OF THE CONGREGATION THAT NIGHT WERE EVENTUALLY EXTERMINATED -- BUT SHE ALSO KNEW THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR TICKETS.
CHRIST WAS STANDING CLOSE BY EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM THAT NIGHT AS CORRIE SPOKE WORDS OF HOPE, AND HANDED OUT TICKETS OF LOVE TO HER CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN AFRICA. SHE HELPED THEM TO CONNECT WITH THE NEARNESS OF CHRIST AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM THAT. IT WAS ONLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOVE OF THE RISEN LORD, BREATHING WITH THEM, THAT KEPT THEM STANDING IN THAT MEETING ROOM, KNOWING WHAT MIGHT BE IN STORE FOR THEM TOMORROW.
AND TODAY, THROUGH THIS STORY, OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN A WAY, HAVE HANDED THEIR TORCH OF LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS OFF TO US AS FREE GIFTS. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE WILLING TO STRETCH OUT OUR HANDS TO RECEIVE IT AND CARRY IT FOR CHRIST. AND IN THIS EXCHANGE, WE ALL FIND OURSELVES ENGULFED IN A MOMENT OF DEEP HOLINESS.
IF ANY OF US SHOULD EVER FIND OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I PRAY THAT WE WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE CHOICE THEY DID, SO THAT WITH TICKETS IN HAND, WE WILL HEAR JESUS SAY, “WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
I’D LIKE TO CLOSE MY TALK TODAY BY TELLING YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AT THE VERY FIRST LENTEN RETREAT THAT WE EVER HELD HERE.
AS THE DAY CAME TO A CLOSE AND ALL THE RETREATANTS HAD LEFT, WE GOT BUSY PICKING UP CHAIRS AND TABLES AND WHATNOT. AND, AGAINST ALL GOOD ADVICE, I PICKED UP A VERY LONG, VERY HEAVY TABLE, AND PROMPTLY DROPPED IT ON MY FOOT.
I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN, BUT BY NATURE, BEING BOTH FOOLISH AND INDEPENDENT, I DECIDED TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL.
ON THE WAY THERE, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, HOLDING MY BROKEN LEFT FOOT AND CRYING SO HARD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT. SO, I CALLED OUT FOR JESUS JUST TO SIT BESIDE ME AND WATCH OVER ME IN MY STUPIDITY UNTIL I COULD MAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL -- AND I IMMEDIATELY SENSED HIM SITTING NEXT TO ME IN THE CAR. I COULD FEEL HIS COMFORT AND HIS LOVE.
AND THEN THE THOUGHT CAME -- OUT OF THE BLUE AND TAKING MY BREATH AWAY:
THERE IS MORE GOING ON HERE THAN A BROKEN FOOT. I HAD THE STRONGEST FEELING THAT JESUS HAD SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.
NOW, DON’T GET ME WRONG. I’M NOT SAYING THAT JESUS CAUSED MY BROKEN FOOT, JUST TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ME -- BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL TAKE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES AND TURN IT TO GOOD AND USE IT FOR HIS PURPOSE, IF WE JUST OFFER IT TO HIM.
SO I BEGAN TO TALK TO JESUS AS I DROVE, AND I ACKNOWLEDGED TO HIM THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FOOT -- OTHER THAN JUST THE OBVIOUS.
AND I PROMISED THAT I WOULD WAIT PATIENTLY, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK, UNTIL HE WAS READY TO TELL ME WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT, AND HOW IT FIT INTO THE PLAN OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
SO I SETTLED DOWN, THEN, TO CRYING SOFTLY, TO LISTENING AND DRIVING. JESUS WAS SO GRACIOUS AND KIND TO ME THAT DAY. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THOSE WORDS WERE SPOKEN IN THE CAR, I HEARD WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.
IT WAS LIKE THE WORDS FELL INTO MY HEART -- “NOW YOU KNOW JUST A TINY BIT OF WHAT MY FEET FELT THAT DAY.”
I WAS SO SHOCKED!! -- NOT SURPRISED THAT I GOT AN ANSWER; I EXPECTED AN ANSWER.
WHAT I DIDN’T EXPECT WAS THE ANSWER I GOT. I HAD BEEN SO BUSY FOCUSED ON THE PAIN IN MY FOOT AND DRIVING WITHOUT PASSING OUT, THAT I COULDN’T SEE THE CONNECTION THAT WAS STARING ME IN THE FACE.
AFTER HE SPOKE, I IMMEDIATELY QUIT CRYING AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, AND STARTED TO FOCUS INTENSELY ON MY THROBBING FOOT AND MY LORD HANGING ON THE CROSS.
AND THAT’S WHEN I STARTED CRYING IN ERNEST. I CRIED LIKE A BROKEN HEARTED CHILD. GOD, IN HIS GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR ME, HAD TAKEN AN ORDINARY ACCIDENT AND TURNED IT INTO A PERSONAL LENTEN BLESSING. HE SHOWED ME WHAT A TINY SPECK OF HIS SUFFERING FELT LIKE.
I GOTTA TELL YOU -- THAT WAS THE BEST LENT EVER. I HAD THREE BROKEN BONES IN MY FOOT, I WAS HOBBLING AROUND ON A CAST -- AND I HAD EXPERIENCED A VERY PERSONAL, GRACED MOMENT WITH THE RISEN LORD -- IT JUST DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
This was the opening presentation from Saturday's retreat. The presenter is Dottie Bourgeois, facilitator of our Bible study program and the wife of Deacon Don Bourgeois.
The presentations are now laid out on this site from first talk to last talk. I hope you will take the time to read them and reflect on the messages:
ALL OF US ARE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AS CHRISTIANS, WE ALL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GOD AND WE WANT TO BE MORE FOR GOD. NOW, I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW TODAY, BUT MAYBE I CAN HELP YOU TO REMEMBER THINGS LONG FORGOTTEN THAT WILL REMIND YOU WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU’RE CALLED TO LIVE AS GOD’S BELOVED CHILD.
AS CHRISTIANS AND AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, CHRIST WANTS US ALL TO BE A PEOPLE OF HOPE, TO BE A PEOPLE OF FAITH. WE ARE CALLED, COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY, TO BE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD. HE CALLS US TO BE THE LIVING TRUTH OF WHAT HE TAUGHT AND SAID WHILE HE WALKED THIS EARTH.
HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT, FOR ME, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BEING HOPEFUL OR BEING THAT SHINING EXAMPLE IS A TALL ORDER, EVEN FOR ONE DAY.
NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT I’M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS STRUGGLED WITH CHRONIC DEPRESSION ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD GO FOR DAYS, WEEKS, SOMETIMES MONTHS LOOKING OUT ON THE WORLD AND ONLY SEEING DEATH AND DESPAIR STARING BACK AT ME. IT’S A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE, TO LOOK AROUND YOU AND SEE NO HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
I REMEMBER THE DAY BEFORE WE MOVED TO THE NORTHSHORE, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SAID, “I’M AFRAID THAT YOU WILL MOVE TO THE COUNTRY AND DISAPPEAR INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND NEVER COME OUT.” AND SHE WAS RIGHT TO FEEL THAT WAY, BECAUSE IT ALMOST HAPPENED.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG BATTLE WITH ME AND DEPRESSION, BUT, IN THE END, I’VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD ALONE IS MY ANSWER TO LIVING A HOPEFUL LIFE. GOD HAS SHOWN ME THAT IT’S OKAY TO HAVE A DOWN DAY NOW AND AGAIN, BUT IT’S NOT OKAY TO LIVE THAT WAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHEN HE STANDS WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND THE SUN SHINING IN.
SO THESE DAYS, WHEN I FEEL THE SADNESS STARTING TO TAKE HOLD, I CUT DEPRESSION OFF AT THE PASS. I GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN PRAYER. I CALL ON THE H.S. FOR GUIDANCE AND GRACE, AND I BEG HIM TO SHOW ME THE PATH BACK TO THE LIGHT.
I KNOW I’M NOT ALONE IN MY STRUGGLE WITH LIVING HOPEFUL. EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE CHRONIC DEPRESSION ARE GETTING DEPRESSED THESE DAYS. JUST TURN ON THE TV FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND WATCH THE NEWS. THERE’S THAT RELENTLESS CRY OF TERRORISM, OR THE WARNINGS OF AN ECONOMY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.
YOU’LL HEAR THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF HEINOUS CRIMES AND HATE CRIMES, NOT TO MENTION THAT OUR WORLD IS FAST BECOMING A SOCIETY THAT DEVALUES HUMAN LIFE -- AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT’S THE SHORT LIST.
MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN KNOWS NO BOUNDS WHENEVER SATAN IS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE. IF THE GROUND IS FERTILE, IF THE MIND IS FULL OF HATE, ANGER OR HOPELESSNESS, SATAN HAS NO PROBLEM STEPPING IN AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
BUT AS CHRISTIANS, AS A PEOPLE OF GOD, WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE COUNTERWEIGHT TO ALL OF THAT. OUR REASON FOR BEING ON THIS EARTH IS TO TURN ON THE FLASHLIGHTS, LIGHT THE TORCHES OF HOPE, AND HAND THEM TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT CAN’T SEE WHERE THEY’RE GOING.
BUT, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT. NOTHING HAPPENS THAT DOES NOT END UP IN HIS GREAT SAVING PLAN FOR MANKIND. EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND US SCREAMS “BAD NEWS,” “BAD NEWS,” AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO LISTEN FOR THAT GENTLE VOICE THAT WHISPERS IN OUR EAR: “BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, UNTIL THE END OF TIME.”
CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. TO EVERYONE BELIEVING IN HIM, HE IS THE SUNSHINE OF ETERNAL DAY.
JOY AND PEACE AND THE GLAD ASSURANCE OF EVERLASTING REST ARE THE PORTION OF ALL WHO ENROLL THEMSELVES AS HIS DISCIPLES.
GOD IS GOOD; GOD IS MIGHTY. HIS INTERESTS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM OURS. HE LOANS US HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HIS STRENGTH TO USE EVERY DAY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AS A PEOPLE OF HOPE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD “HOPE” WHEN IT’S USED IN THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT AND, BECAUSE WE HEAR IT SO OFTEN, IT RUNS THE RISK OF LOSING ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT LIVING HOPEFUL IS MEANT TO BE A WORD OF ACTION -- BETTER YET, A WORD OF EXPECTATION.
I’VE HEARD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY PRAY, BUT THEY DON’T TALK AS IF THEY’RE CONVINCED GOD WILL LISTEN AND/OR ANSWER THEIR PRAYER. I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY SUSPECT THEY WILL WIN THE LOTTERY BEFORE THEY WILL WIN THE EAR OF GOD.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT JUST AIN’T SO. GOD NOT ONLY HEARS EVERY SINGLE PRAYER WE UTTER, BUT HE ALWAYS ANSWERS. THE REASON WHY WE THINK HE’S NOT ANSWERING IS BECAUSE WE OFTEN PUT PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS ON WHAT THAT ANSWERED PRAYER SHOULD LOOK LIKE, -- AND SO WHEN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE EXPECT, WE EITHER DON’T RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER, OR WE REJECT THE ANSWER AS A BAD IDEA, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOESN’T FIT WITH OUR PRE-CONCEIVED EXPECTATIONS.
WE NEED TO LEARN TO PRAY AND THEN EXPECT ANYTHING! GOD NEVER SAYS “NO” TO PRAYER. HE ALWAYS GIVES US ONE OF THREE ANSWERS: YES -- NOT YET -- I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN. OUR DAUGHTER, DONNA, WHO LIVES IN CANADA, AND HER HUSBAND, WAYNE, DISCOVERED SOME YEARS AGO THAT THEY COULDN’T HAVE CHILDREN, SO THEY ADOPTED A BROTHER AND SISTER, BRITTANY AND MICHAEL.
SOON AFTER BRIT AND MIKE JOINED OUR FAMILY, DONNA DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER COUPLE HAD ALSO ADOPTED A BIOLOGICAL BROTHER AND SISTER OF BRITTANY AND MICHAEL THROUGH FOSTER CARE.
THE CHILDREN WERE UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER’S EXISTENCE, EVEN THOUGH BOTH SETS OF SIBLINGS LIVE ONLY A HALF AN HOUR APART.
DONNA HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH THE MOTHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IN THE HOPES THAT THE SIBLINGS WOULD ONE DAY BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. BUT THE OTHER ADOPTIVE MOTHER, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED. SO DONNA HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR BOTH FAMILIES.
NOW, REMEMBER, THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ONLY LIVE A HALF AN HOUR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, DONNA AND WAYNE TOOK BRITTANY AND MICHAEL ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, WHICH IS ABOUT FOUR HOURS FROM WHERE THEY LIVE. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND AS DONNA AND WAYNE WERE PACKING THEIR CAR, DONNA LOOKED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND GUESS WHO SHE SAW? -- THAT’S RIGHT, THERE STOOD BRITTANY AND MICHAEL’S BROTHER AND SISTER WITH THEIR PARENTS.
AS IT TURNS OUT, BOTH FAMILIES HAD TRAVELED FOUR HOURS ON THE SAME WEEKEND AND PICKED THE SAME HOTEL TO STAY IN. BOTH FAMILIES HAD BEEN THERE ALL WEEKEND, OUT AND ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS AND THE HOTEL, AND BY SOME TWIST OF FATE, THEY NEVER RAN INTO EACH OTHER.
DONNA’S FIRST REACTION AT THE SITUATION WAS TO GET ANGRY WITH GOD. SHE HAD PRAYED SO HARD FOR THE KIDS TO MEET AND HERE THEY WERE IN THE SAME HOTEL, AND DONNA HAD TO LET HER CHILDREN STAY IGNORANT, AND WALK AWAY.
DONNA SAID, “MOM, THIS WAS SO NOT HOW I EXPECTED GOD TO ANSWER MY PRAYER, AND AT FIRST I WAS REALLY MAD. I SAID TO HIM ‘HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL TO KEEP THESE SIBLINGS APART, AND YET BRING US HERE TOGETHER LIKE THIS!?’” BUT THEN I THOUGHT: WAIT A MINUTE, THERE ARE NO MISTAKES WITH GOD, SO LET’S JUST SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE HERE.”
AS IT TURNED OUT, THE CHILDREN NEVER DID GET TO MEET THAT WEEKEND, BUT DONNA AND WAYNE WERE ABLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO SIT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TALK FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE OTHER ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND DONNA CAME AWAY WITH A HEART FULL OF HOPE. THE FATHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN SAID, “I THINK THE MEETING WILL HAPPEN SOONER, NOW, THAN LATER.”
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO STAND ON GOD’S PROMISE THAT HE WILL ALWAYS HELP US TO WALK TOWARD THE LIGHT, AS LONG AS WE’RE TRYING, EVEN A LITTLE BIT, TO GET THERE OURSELVES.
I DON’T CARE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE IN THE PAST, WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY OR, FOR THAT MATTER, WHAT MAY HAPPEN TOMORROW -- YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND THE MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED BY JESUS CHRIST. HE LEFT NO STONE OF HUMAN NATURE UNTURNED.
FOR INSTANCE, THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON USED TO BE JUST A WONDERFUL PARABLE FOR ME TO EXPLORE AND MEDITATE ON -- THAT IS, UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN MY OWN ADOPTED SON TOOK HIS INHERITANCE AND WALKED DOWN A PATH WE COULD NOT FOLLOW.
OVER THE YEARS, DON AND I HAVE PRAYED THAT OUR SON WOULD ONE DAY COME TO HIS SENSES AND SAY, AS THE PRODIGAL SON DID, “I WILL RETURN TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE.....” AND THAT WE WOULD SURELY CATCH SIGHT OF HIM FROM A DISTANCE AND WELCOME HIM HOME.
WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED PRAYING PRAYERS FULL OF HOPE FOR THAT HOMECOMING. EARLIER THIS MONTH, HOWEVER, WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR SON HAS CANCER OF THE THROAT AND FROM EVERYTHING WE’VE HEARD, WE SUSPECT HE’S DYING.
WILL THERE BE A HOMECOMING FOR OUR PRODIGAL SON? JESUS TELLS US THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.
SO, NOW, NOT ONLY THE PRODIGAL SON, BUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS HAS TAKEN ON GREAT MEANING FOR DON AND I.
THE FORGIVENESS AND MERCY JESUS EXTENDED TO THAT MAN AT THE END OF HIS LIFE HAS ALSO BECOME VERY PERSONAL.
WE’RE PRAYING WITH A HOPE FULL OF EXPECTATION THAT THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE THAT DAY WILL, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WILL BE SAID TO OUR SON: “THIS DAY, YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BEING HOPEFUL FOR SOME TIME, NOW, SO I THINK WE SHOULD SWITCH TO ANOTHER TOPIC, AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW IS BEING AWARE OF THE NEARNESS OF GOD.
LIVING A LIFE OF HOPE, BEING HOPEFUL AS CHRISTIANS AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO REALIZE HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US EVERY DAY, AND REACH OUT TO HIM IN RELATIONSHIP.
I KNOW ALL OF US ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE AND PRESENCE OF GOD AS OUR CREATOR AND SAVIOR, BUT I WONDER IF SOMETIMES WE SHY AWAY FROM THE THOUGHT OF GOD BEING SO CLOSE THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE TEMPERATURE OF OUR SKIN.
MANY PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THINKING ABOUT GOD AS BEING “SOMEWHERE UP THERE.” BETTE MIDLER EVEN PUT OUT A SONG A FEW YEARS AGO, AND EVERY TIME I HEAR THE REFRAIN, IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM. IT GOES “GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US FROM A DISTANCE.”
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT -- GOD HAS NEVER WATCHED US “FROM A DISTANCE!” HE HAS BEEN HERE AMONG US, BREATHING WITH US AT EVERY GLORIOUS MOMENT IN MANKIND’S HISTORY, AND AT EVERY SHAMEFUL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, AS WELL.
AND I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME WE AND GOD CONNECT ON THAT INTIMATE LEVEL, IT’S WONDERFUL, INDEED -- EVEN WHEN THE MESSAGE FROM GOD IS THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD WE WANT TO HEAR.
A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A BAD DAY AND INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO GOD, I TOOK IT OUT ON EVERYONE AROUND ME -- AND AS IF THAT WASN’T BAD ENOUGH, I BEGAN TO PLAY WITH THIS SIN IN MY HEAD, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I COULD POSSIBLY TWIST THE INCIDENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT I DIDN’T LOOK QUITE SO BAD. AND AFTER I HAD DILIGENTLY WORKED FOR A DAY OR TWO, I FINALLY CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I HADN’T REALLY BEEN AS UGLY AS I FIRST THOUGHT.
WELL, I MIGHT HAVE CONVINCED ME, BUT I WASN’T ABOUT TO CONVINCE GOD, AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EVERY TIME I OPENED THE BIBLE AND STARTED READING, I FOUND MYSELF AT A PLACE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE SOMEONE WAS BEING CHASTISED BY GOD.
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT AFTER THREE DAYS, I COULDN’T IGNORE WHAT GOD WAS TRYING TO TELL ME THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD.
I HAVE USED SCRIPTURE AS A MEANS TO DIALOGUE WITH GOD ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, AND HE AND I HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS TIME I KNEW GOD AND I WEREN’T HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME -- AT LEAST I WASN’T FOR SURE. GOD WAS CHALLENGING ME TO QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY SIN IN ORDER TO AVOID DOING THE RIGHT THING.
HE WAS PLAINLY TELLING ME TO FACE UP TO WHAT I HAD DONE AND MAKE IT RIGHT, BOTH WITH THE PEOPLE I HAD OFFENDED AND WITH HIM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I REPENTED OF MY SIN, MADE AMENDS, AND WENT TO CONFESSION.
NOW, YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAD AN UNPLEASANT EFFECT ON MY DESIRE FOR AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD -- AND IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU WOULD BE WRONG. THE FACT IS THAT GOD EVEN CHASTISES US WITH INTIMACY AND GREAT LOVE.
HE WANTS US TO BE THE VERY BEST PERSON WE CAN BE, BECAUSE, REMEMBER, EACH OF US IS CALLED TO BE THE SHINING TORCHBEARER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AS JOB PUT IT: “HAPPY IS THE MAN WHOM GOD REPROVES! THE ALMIGHTY’S CHASTISEMENTS DO NOT REJECT. FOR HE WOUNDS, BUT HE BINDS UP. HE SMITES, BUT HIS HANDS GIVE HEALING.”
KEEPING AN AWARENESS OF HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, CAN BE BOTH WONDERFUL AND CHALLENGING. IT’S WONDERFUL WHEN I FIND MYSELF TALKING TO HIM IN MY MIND ALL DAY, AND IT’S A GREAT FEELING TO KNOW THAT HE’S SO CLOSE AND LISTENING.
BUT, ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THIS ARE THE TIMES I GET SO BUSY OR SO TIRED, I ONLY THINK OF HIM OR SPEAK TO HIM ON THE RUN, LIKE WHEN I’M DRIVING SOMEWHERE.
I REMEMBER ONE DAY SOME YEARS AGO I HAD BEEN WORKING NON-STOP FOR ABOUT A MONTH STRAIGHT, AND I WAS JUST BONE TIRED. I HADN’T TALKED TO GOD OR SAID ANY KIND OF PRAYER IN OVER A WEEK, AND SO I WAS AS DRY IN SPIRIT AS I WAS TIRED IN BODY. FINALLY, I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
I STOPPED WORKING, DROPPED MY HANDS INTO MY LAP, AND CRIED OUT FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL FOR THE H.S. TO SEND ME HIS PEACE.
IT WAS WONDERFUL. IN AN INSTANT, I FELT THE PEACE OF THE H.S. DESCEND ON ME AND INVADE EVER ATOM OF MY BODY. I JUST SAT THERE FOR THE LONGEST TIME, RESTING IN HIS GRACE.
I FELT THE WORDS OF ISAIAH RIGHT DOWN TO MY TOES: “THEN THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS, AND GIVE YOU PLENTY, EVEN ON THE PARCHED LAND. HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOU SHALL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, LIKE A SPRING WHOSE WATER NEVER FAILS.”
BECAUSE THE LIVING GOD WALKS INTIMATELY AMONG US, AND LOVES US SO MUCH, HE EVEN GIVES US THE PROMISE OF THE STRENGTH TO BEAR THE UNBEARABLE.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE REACHED ROCK BOTTOM, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY OR SPIRITUALLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK FOR HIM, CALL ON HIM, AND YOU’LL DISCOVER JUST HOW CLOSE HE IS, AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY.
I RECENTLY READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A WOMAN NAMED CORRIE TEN BOON. SHE WAS A FAMOUS DUTCH MISSIONARY SOME YEARS AGO THAT TRAVELED THE WORLD AS AN EVANGELIST FOR THE LORD.
IN THE LATE ‘60s, CORRIE WAS IN A SMALL NATION IN AFRICA PREACHING TO A CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, BUT EACH NIGHT FOR THE FIRST THREE NIGHTS, THE AUDIENCE SEEMED TO GET A LITTLE SMALLER. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANS AND, FOR EACH OF THE TWO NIGHTS PREVIOUS, HAD TAKEN SELECTED CHRISTIANS FROM THEIR HOMES AND EXECUTED THEM.
BY THE FOURTH NIGHTLY MEETING, IT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHAT WAS HAPPENING -- CHRISTIANS WERE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY EXTERMINATED.
THE COMMUNITY THAT HAD COME THAT NIGHT HAD COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. WITH GREAT COURAGE THEY WERE READY TO HEAR CORRIE SPEAK, BUT NATURALLY THEY WERE ALSO VERY FRIGHTENED, AND ASKED HER WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.
CORRIE OPENED HER BIBLE AND READ TO THEM FROM 1ST PETER: “THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST SUFFERED IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE, SO AS NOT TO SPEND WHAT REMAINS OF ONE’S LIFE IN THE FLESH ON HUMAN DESIRES, BUT ON THE WILL OF GOD.”
AND THEN CORRIE TOLD THEM THIS STORY: ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 10, SHE WENT TO HER FATHER AND SAID, “DADDY, I’M AFRAID THAT I’LL NEVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE A MARTYR FOR JESUS CHRIST.”
“TELL ME,” HER FATHER SAID, “WHEN YOU TAKE THE TRAIN WITH ME FROM HAARLEM TO AMSTERDAM, WHEN DO I GIVE YOU THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET? THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE GO?”
“NO, DADDY, YOU GIVE ME THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET JUST BEFORE WE GET ON THE TRAIN.”
“THAT’S RIGHT,” HER FATHER SAID, “AND SO IT IS WITH GOD’S STRENGTH. OUR WISE FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHEN YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THINGS. TODAY YOU DON’T NEED THE STRENGTH TO BE A MARTYR; BUT AS SOON AS YOU’RE CALLED UPON FOR THE HONOR OF FACING DEATH FOR JESUS, HE WILL SUPPLY THE STRENGTH YOU NEED -- YOU WILL GET YOUR TICKET IN TIME FOR THE TRAIN.”
CORRIE LATER LEARNED THAT OVER HALF OF THE CONGREGATION THAT NIGHT WERE EVENTUALLY EXTERMINATED -- BUT SHE ALSO KNEW THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR TICKETS.
CHRIST WAS STANDING CLOSE BY EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM THAT NIGHT AS CORRIE SPOKE WORDS OF HOPE, AND HANDED OUT TICKETS OF LOVE TO HER CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN AFRICA. SHE HELPED THEM TO CONNECT WITH THE NEARNESS OF CHRIST AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM THAT. IT WAS ONLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOVE OF THE RISEN LORD, BREATHING WITH THEM, THAT KEPT THEM STANDING IN THAT MEETING ROOM, KNOWING WHAT MIGHT BE IN STORE FOR THEM TOMORROW.
AND TODAY, THROUGH THIS STORY, OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN A WAY, HAVE HANDED THEIR TORCH OF LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS OFF TO US AS FREE GIFTS. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE WILLING TO STRETCH OUT OUR HANDS TO RECEIVE IT AND CARRY IT FOR CHRIST. AND IN THIS EXCHANGE, WE ALL FIND OURSELVES ENGULFED IN A MOMENT OF DEEP HOLINESS.
IF ANY OF US SHOULD EVER FIND OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I PRAY THAT WE WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE CHOICE THEY DID, SO THAT WITH TICKETS IN HAND, WE WILL HEAR JESUS SAY, “WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
I’D LIKE TO CLOSE MY TALK TODAY BY TELLING YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AT THE VERY FIRST LENTEN RETREAT THAT WE EVER HELD HERE.
AS THE DAY CAME TO A CLOSE AND ALL THE RETREATANTS HAD LEFT, WE GOT BUSY PICKING UP CHAIRS AND TABLES AND WHATNOT. AND, AGAINST ALL GOOD ADVICE, I PICKED UP A VERY LONG, VERY HEAVY TABLE, AND PROMPTLY DROPPED IT ON MY FOOT.
I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN, BUT BY NATURE, BEING BOTH FOOLISH AND INDEPENDENT, I DECIDED TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL.
ON THE WAY THERE, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, HOLDING MY BROKEN LEFT FOOT AND CRYING SO HARD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT. SO, I CALLED OUT FOR JESUS JUST TO SIT BESIDE ME AND WATCH OVER ME IN MY STUPIDITY UNTIL I COULD MAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL -- AND I IMMEDIATELY SENSED HIM SITTING NEXT TO ME IN THE CAR. I COULD FEEL HIS COMFORT AND HIS LOVE.
AND THEN THE THOUGHT CAME -- OUT OF THE BLUE AND TAKING MY BREATH AWAY:
THERE IS MORE GOING ON HERE THAN A BROKEN FOOT. I HAD THE STRONGEST FEELING THAT JESUS HAD SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.
NOW, DON’T GET ME WRONG. I’M NOT SAYING THAT JESUS CAUSED MY BROKEN FOOT, JUST TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ME -- BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL TAKE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES AND TURN IT TO GOOD AND USE IT FOR HIS PURPOSE, IF WE JUST OFFER IT TO HIM.
SO I BEGAN TO TALK TO JESUS AS I DROVE, AND I ACKNOWLEDGED TO HIM THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FOOT -- OTHER THAN JUST THE OBVIOUS.
AND I PROMISED THAT I WOULD WAIT PATIENTLY, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK, UNTIL HE WAS READY TO TELL ME WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT, AND HOW IT FIT INTO THE PLAN OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
SO I SETTLED DOWN, THEN, TO CRYING SOFTLY, TO LISTENING AND DRIVING. JESUS WAS SO GRACIOUS AND KIND TO ME THAT DAY. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THOSE WORDS WERE SPOKEN IN THE CAR, I HEARD WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.
IT WAS LIKE THE WORDS FELL INTO MY HEART -- “NOW YOU KNOW JUST A TINY BIT OF WHAT MY FEET FELT THAT DAY.”
I WAS SO SHOCKED!! -- NOT SURPRISED THAT I GOT AN ANSWER; I EXPECTED AN ANSWER.
WHAT I DIDN’T EXPECT WAS THE ANSWER I GOT. I HAD BEEN SO BUSY FOCUSED ON THE PAIN IN MY FOOT AND DRIVING WITHOUT PASSING OUT, THAT I COULDN’T SEE THE CONNECTION THAT WAS STARING ME IN THE FACE.
AFTER HE SPOKE, I IMMEDIATELY QUIT CRYING AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, AND STARTED TO FOCUS INTENSELY ON MY THROBBING FOOT AND MY LORD HANGING ON THE CROSS.
AND THAT’S WHEN I STARTED CRYING IN ERNEST. I CRIED LIKE A BROKEN HEARTED CHILD. GOD, IN HIS GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR ME, HAD TAKEN AN ORDINARY ACCIDENT AND TURNED IT INTO A PERSONAL LENTEN BLESSING. HE SHOWED ME WHAT A TINY SPECK OF HIS SUFFERING FELT LIKE.
I GOTTA TELL YOU -- THAT WAS THE BEST LENT EVER. I HAD THREE BROKEN BONES IN MY FOOT, I WAS HOBBLING AROUND ON A CAST -- AND I HAD EXPERIENCED A VERY PERSONAL, GRACED MOMENT WITH THE RISEN LORD -- IT JUST DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
Parish retreat talk: Deacon Don Bourgeois
This was the second presentation of the day at our recent parish retreat. The presenter is Deacon Don Bourgeois, who manages St. Michael's Mission and is assigned at St. Jane de Chantal:
The topics of my talk this morning is in three parts and will focus on 1. “God asks only one thing of you; 2. God desires union with you; and 3. Your soul can be renewed.”
It was at a critical moment in the history of the world and mankind, when a Scribe stood up and asked Jesus the question, “Which is the greatest of the Commandments?” So much that is vital in the eternal interests of mankind depended upon the answer. The words about to fall from the lips of Christ would determine the fate of uncounted millions.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 22, Jesus answered him;
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
His answer revealed the divine standard of measurement, -- it made plain forever what rule a man's life is tested by on the Day of Judgment, His answer told us in what things to place our hope of eternal life and give us an imperishable picture of what, in the mind of God, a perfect human soul should be.
God’s Law is a law of Love! But, what kind of love? This kind of Love! + Because if we understand this kind of love --- then we can understand what our Lord was saying to the Scribe who challenged Him.
I will focus first today on God’s call to us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
For most of us, learning to love is a work in progress. The reason I make that statement is because as I look back at my own life I can see that for many years I can honestly say I didn’t know the kind of love Jesus is calling us to in loving our neighbor. It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to God, to do His will, that I began to understand how God was calling me to love my fellow man.
What began to open my eyes in understanding how God wanted me to love was from the Holy Spirit leading me to the Book of Genesis, up to that point in my life, I had never picked up the Bible to read it for myself, but I must have heard it in Church many times. That day the light was turned on for me.
From Genesis Chapter 1;
God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.
He found it Very Good!
To understand why these two words of God were so powerful and transforming to me, you first need to have some idea of what my life was like growing up.
The message I received daily in large doses from my Dad during my childhood, and even as an adult, was that I couldn’t do anything right. I lived in constant fear of his verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Over time, such abuse robbed my very soul of its self-worth. I never felt trusted or treasured or loved and it eventually drove me to join the Navy and leave home at 17. But the negative messages my dad gave me went with me into the Navy, and even followed me into my marriage. It affected my relationship with Dottie and later with my two daughters. How could I love them the way they should be loved, when I couldn’t even love myself?
So maybe now you can understand the power of those precious, sweet, amazing words of the Lord, “I was made in his image and what he created in me was VERY GOOD!” I knew then that no matter what another person thought or said about me, I was God’s precious creation and I was loved and lovable in His eyes.
My daughters will tell you they had two Dads, the old one who was not so lovable, and the Dad I am today. That was the beginning of my ability and desire to love my fellow man. It has been a journey through the years and continues to this day as I learn to love as Christ loves.
Love is all God asks of us. Love suffices. Race does not matter anymore, nor does tribe, or family, because all are made in His image. Love of neighbor transcends any prejudice, any weakness, any ignorance, any poverty. We are called to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Having fulfilled the one condition of wholehearted love, the fisherman shall be greater than the scholar and the peasant higher than the king.
Even past and repented sin will be no obstacle, for among the wonderful saints of God many who, after years wasted in the paths of sin's lowest hell, -- cast off selfishness at last and became great lovers.
An Important lesson I have learned over the years about loving neighbor is fortified by the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 11;
When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may, in turn, forgive you your transgressions."
We have a neighbor, who is an old man and owns property on Hwy 16, where he has accumulated hundreds of thousands of old tires that some years ago caught on fire and burned for weeks. His whole property and is a health hazard. I found myself becoming very upset and angry over the situation. I even contacted the Louisiana EPA, sent them pictures and was on the TV News complaining about the situation -- to no avail. My neighbor was brought to court for the complaints of all the tires, but he claimed he was gathering them to be recycled and the court bought his story. When I heard the court’s decision, I was fuming and ranting and cussing my neighbor, the EPA and the court system.
One night at Bible Study as I was sharing my frustrations with the people there, I realized that I was sinning against my neighbor and God, and I knew I needed to do something about it. I decided to begin praying for him, asking God to bless him and that he would grow closer to the Lord. Every time I would pass by the property and the mountain of tires I would say a prayer for my new found friend. The tires are still there but now I have peace because I can’t be angry with someone I am sincerely asking God to Bless.
Jesus says in John 14:
Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
We must be on our guard at all times to choose Love over selfishness. High and clear before our eyes let the fact of love’s supremacy be set. Love is the one thing needed in this world. For love is the supreme idea, --- the great commandment of Christian law.
And love of God must coexist with the love of neighbor. The questioning Scribe received a twofold answer that – to our astonishment – sets the love of man alongside the love of God so that the holy soul may no more exclude the one than the other. If people would heartily accept this doctrine the world would be transformed to a better place for all.
This teaching re-echoes throughout the pages of St. John and St. Paul. John's ceaseless exhortation, "Little children, love one another," and Paul's flaming words in his first letter to the Corinthians, preach the same truth: the excellence of love over every other gift. A practical result of this doctrine was the extraordinary affection the early Christians had for one another, a phenomenon so striking that the pagans first marveled at the depth and sincerity and constancy of their love. And then felt so threatened by it that they tried to wipe it from the face of the earth through great persecutions. How plainly is the love of our neighbor made in the actual test of our love of God. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples: that you have love one for another."
A while back I received a book I had ordered on tape by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin called “The Gift of Peace” which is about the last three years of his life. Cardinal Bernardin was the Archbishop of Chicago and a very holy man. I truly respected him and believe today that he is one of God’s saints.
In his book he tells how, in November 1993, he was accused of sexual misconduct with a seminarian by the name of Stephen Cook. Cardinal Bernardin was devastated knowing these charges were untrue from the very beginning, even though he knew that he would have to defend himself and the Church in a way that would be successful at proving his innocence. The news media, of course, was having a “Feeding Frenzy” at the Cardinal’s expense. When I read that, I thought of Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
As soon as the alleged evidence was examined, the case against him began to collapse from within. Indeed, the evidence turned out to be a group photograph taken at a Cincinnati seminary function at which, along with many others, they were both present, and a book the Cardinal allegedly autographed and gave to him, bore no signature of his.
It became clear to Bernardin that certain critics of his had played a role in urging Stephen Cook to take on the role of plaintiff against him. Indeed, almost as soon as the news broke, some people, including a priest from
out-of-state, expressed the opinion on a local radio show that the Cardinal was guilty; --- that finally the facts had caught up with him.
Despite its unfounded nature, this bogus lawsuit possessed the power both to disrupt and to change the direction of Cardinal Bernardin’s life. He suffered tremendously.
As the disturbing allegations did not stand the test of truth, Cardinal Bernardin began to understand how Stephen Cook had been a victim of this whole tawdry episode. His initial intuition of this young man being used was gradually confirmed.
On February 28th, 1994, Stephen, on his own initiative, asked the Judge of the Federal Court in Cincinnati to drop the charges against Cardinal Bernardin.
The good Cardinal gradually learned of Stephen Cook’s own difficult life. His brief, unhappy period in the Cincinnati seminary had been followed by an estrangement from his family, the Church and a drift into a promiscuous lifestyle.
He was suffering from AIDS and was being cared for by a friend. He was the sheep who had been lost, and as a shepherd, Bernardin knew that he had to seek him out.
He thought often of Stephen in his lonely, illness ridden exile from both his parental home and the Church. By mid-December, He felt deeply that this entire episode would not be complete until he followed his shepherd’s calling to seek Stephen out. He prayed that Stephen would receive him. He knew a healing experience of the false accusation would not be complete until he met and reconciled with Stephen.
Cardinal Bernardin flew to Philadelphia with Fr. Scott Donahue on December 30th, 1994 and met with Stephen at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Within a few minutes, Stephen arrived with his friend, Kevin. They shook hands and he sat with Stephen on a couch, Stephen looked only slightly thin, despite his grave illness.
They were both seeking reconciliation. However, Stephen said he wanted to tell Cardinal Bernardin about his life before they continued. With a tone and gestures that indicated Stephen had bottled up his story for a long time, he told him that as a young seminarian, he had been sexually abused by a priest he thought was his friend. He claimed that the authorities did not take his report of the priest’s misconduct seriously. He became embittered and left the Church.
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and Stephen Cook did reconcile. He was able to bring healing and peace to Stephen in helping him return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and they celebrated the Eucharist together.
Stephen and the Cardinal kept in touch after that, and six months later, when Bernardin received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Stephen’s was one of the first letters he received. He had only a few months to live when he wrote it, but the letter filled with sympathy and encouragement for Cardinal Bernardin.
Stephen planned to visit the Cardinal in Chicago at the end of August, but he was too ill. Stephen died at his mother’s home on September 22nd, 1995, fully reconciled with the Church. “This,” he said, smiling from his deathbed at his mother, about his return to the sacraments, “It is my gift to you.”
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin suffered terribly from pancreatic cancer, but also from a fall that fractured his vertebra. On November 14, 1996, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin died at the age of sixty-eight, but he was at peace with his God and his fellow man.
Now let’s turn our attention to the fact that:
God Desires Union With US
When we talk about God desiring a relationship and union with us, we have to think in terms of Covenant, because that is the relationship that God desires and has established between Himself and man.
To better understand the Covenant relationship between God and man we go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Article 357 says: “Being in the image of God, the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving himself, and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead.”
In other words, no one can replace me in my relationship with God. Dottie can’t stand up and say, “Well, Lord, Don’s kind of out of it today, so I’m here to fill in for him!” No, I have to be the one to work at growing in my relationship with God. The covenant between myself and God is mine and only my responsibility. Either I am faithful to this covenant or, when I sin, I severe that relationship with God.
Also from the Catechism:
Article 55 further says: “This revelation was not broken off by our first parents' sin. After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption -- and he has never ceased to show his concern for the human race, for he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing."
So, even when we break the covenant with God by sin, God still is faithful and gives us hope. This hope is reaffirmed for us each time we hear the IV Eucharistic Prayer at Mass:
“Even when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship, you did not abandon him to the power of death. . . Again and again you offered a covenant to man.”
In the Scriptures there are many references to the covenant between God and his people, starting with Noah:
In Genesis 6:18 We Read
“But with you I will establish my covenant; you and your sons, your wife and your sons' wives, shall go into the ark.”
This covenant relationship is a living thing between us and God, not just a theological principle. God has always been faithful, but it is man who has not kept the union between himself and God.
I say this because for many years I refused God’s constant call for me to live in a close union with Him. Like many young people, I didn’t think much about needing a relationship with God. I know now that He always desired it, but I just turned my back and went my own way.
However, there came a time that I wanted God to love me and I felt his soft call for me, but the problem was that my self-worth was still at rock bottom. What if I went to God, and I found out that my Dad was right in all the negative things he had said about me, -- and worse yet, what if God saw me the same way? The mere thought fill me with so much fear that I just kept pushing God away. If I didn’t like who I was, and my Dad didn’t like who I was, it would kill me if I found God felt the same way.
You know, fear of God can stop a relationship cold in its tracks, and that’s what happened to me for years. And then, of course, there was the dreaded confessional. The thought of admitting how terrible I thought I was out loud to another human being, and risk hearing the words that I wasn’t worth saving was just too much. It took me 36 years to accept God’s love for me and enter the confessional with joy and not fear.
And that blessed event happened in July of 1979, when Dottie and I went on our Marriage Encounter weekend. That was the weekend that changed my life forever. It was there that I finally and fully accepted the love of my wife and I accepted the love of my God. In the end, Dottie and I made the decision to live in close union with God as a couple and we vowed to live in a covenant relationship with Him -- and from that time we’ve never looked back.
Sure, there have been times when things still get rocky between me and God, and sometimes even Dottie, but we will never give up. Psalm 18 always reminds me who I am in this covenant relationship, this union with God:
“I love you O’LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer, My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!”
The last part of my presentation is:
“Your Soul can be Renewed”
Through Christ, you have become a child of God.
The greatest event of all human history was memorialized in St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians Chapter 4:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”
Ponder the richness of the meaning contained in those words: "God sent His Son." Jesus Christ, Mary's Babe, who is as truly God as is the Eternal Father. He is a revelation of divinity that God made manifest in the flesh, in order that all who look upon Him may begin to understand God's beauty and goodness and sanctity. This Holy One is God's Son by right, and He has come to make it possible for us sinners to become sons of God by adoption, so that, in some true way, we may resemble Him and acquire those qualities which belong to God alone.
Recall for a moment what the Church teaches: That Christ's grace renews us. It is through the Sacraments that the Grace of God rains on us every day and renews our spirit. And, it’s at our Baptism that we first receive that Grace and we are “Born Again” of water and the Holy Spirit. We become Temples of the Holy Spirit, Children of God, and Heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. There are times throughout our life we are called on to renew our Baptism vows and each time we do, we renew our conviction to live as children of God.
As Catholics we believe our salvation is a work in progress. We believe that embracing the Seven Sacraments and living each day in the light of Christ is the way we are forever saved. And Baptism is just the first of the Seven Great Stepping Stones we use to find our way.
The Catholic Church has always taught that Jesus showed us the way in all things.
For instance, From the Gospel of Mark Chapter 1:9
“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.”
So Jesus, who was without sin, was Baptized and set the example for us, to show us the path to salvation. As a matter of fact Baptism is so important that He gave the specific formula to Baptize to His Apostles.
In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 28: it says
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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
But, the Church teaches that Baptism is just the beginning of our spiritual journey. When we sin, we cut ourselves off from God’s grace. What can renew our sense of belonging to God when we sin? As long as we are alive, our salvation is a work in progress, and so Jesus gave us the means to restore and renew our friendship with God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation when that vital connection with Him has been severed.
You know, often people look at Bishops, Priest and Deacons and think that we have some kind of a spiritual advantage. For the most part, they think that just being ordained makes us holier than the average guy sitting in the pew. Actually, being ordained means that we have been called to be servants of God in a specific and unique way – and as a result of that call God expects us to live our life in holy service to His people. But we are not exempt from sin!
The truth is we are sinners just like everyone else, and the fact is, just like anyone else, we are called to repent our sins and renew our commitment in this unique relationship with God..
You have heard the old saying, “That to those that much is given, much is expected.” I feel that is true when it comes to me. So, the fact is I am a sinner and in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy all the time.
My greatest fear as a Deacon is that through some sin of mine, that I might lead someone astray. The thought of standing before the Throne of God and having to answer for such a deed makes my soul tremble.
Another Sacrament that renews our soul, and that I have received many times because of my poor health, is the Anointing of the Sick. I’m amazed sometimes how many Catholics either don’t know about this healing Sacrament or don’t know that in it our sins are forgiven. When someone mentions to me they are sick or maybe they’re going to have surgery, I encourage them take advantage of this Sacrament’s graces. Over the years the peace of mind and the renewal of my spirit through the Anointing of the Sick has been a true blessing, knowing that no matter what the outcome of a surgery or illness, I am good to go and prepared for wherever God wants me.
Finally, we can’t talk about our souls being renewed in some of the Sacraments without talking about the Eucharist. How Blessed we Catholics are to have Jesus to feed and nourish us with His Body and Blood.
In the Gospel of John Chapter 6:
“Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”
No matter how many times I’m at Mass, I’m always in awe, especially at the Consecration when by the words of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, simple bread and wine are transformed into His precious Body and Blood. Not only do we get to witness this miracle, but miracle follows miracle as we receive Him into our own body. And it is there that the greatest renewal of our soul takes place. In that moment, the words of an old hymn springs to life. “He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own and the joy we share as we tarry there no other has ever known.
What more is there to say except. Amen.
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, this concludes my presentation to you today. May the Lord abundantly Bless you today and everyday of your lives. I pray that we will all be together for eternity with the Lord in Paradise.
I ask that you pray for me and all the clergy.
The topics of my talk this morning is in three parts and will focus on 1. “God asks only one thing of you; 2. God desires union with you; and 3. Your soul can be renewed.”
It was at a critical moment in the history of the world and mankind, when a Scribe stood up and asked Jesus the question, “Which is the greatest of the Commandments?” So much that is vital in the eternal interests of mankind depended upon the answer. The words about to fall from the lips of Christ would determine the fate of uncounted millions.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 22, Jesus answered him;
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
His answer revealed the divine standard of measurement, -- it made plain forever what rule a man's life is tested by on the Day of Judgment, His answer told us in what things to place our hope of eternal life and give us an imperishable picture of what, in the mind of God, a perfect human soul should be.
God’s Law is a law of Love! But, what kind of love? This kind of Love! + Because if we understand this kind of love --- then we can understand what our Lord was saying to the Scribe who challenged Him.
I will focus first today on God’s call to us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
For most of us, learning to love is a work in progress. The reason I make that statement is because as I look back at my own life I can see that for many years I can honestly say I didn’t know the kind of love Jesus is calling us to in loving our neighbor. It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to God, to do His will, that I began to understand how God was calling me to love my fellow man.
What began to open my eyes in understanding how God wanted me to love was from the Holy Spirit leading me to the Book of Genesis, up to that point in my life, I had never picked up the Bible to read it for myself, but I must have heard it in Church many times. That day the light was turned on for me.
From Genesis Chapter 1;
God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.
He found it Very Good!
To understand why these two words of God were so powerful and transforming to me, you first need to have some idea of what my life was like growing up.
The message I received daily in large doses from my Dad during my childhood, and even as an adult, was that I couldn’t do anything right. I lived in constant fear of his verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Over time, such abuse robbed my very soul of its self-worth. I never felt trusted or treasured or loved and it eventually drove me to join the Navy and leave home at 17. But the negative messages my dad gave me went with me into the Navy, and even followed me into my marriage. It affected my relationship with Dottie and later with my two daughters. How could I love them the way they should be loved, when I couldn’t even love myself?
So maybe now you can understand the power of those precious, sweet, amazing words of the Lord, “I was made in his image and what he created in me was VERY GOOD!” I knew then that no matter what another person thought or said about me, I was God’s precious creation and I was loved and lovable in His eyes.
My daughters will tell you they had two Dads, the old one who was not so lovable, and the Dad I am today. That was the beginning of my ability and desire to love my fellow man. It has been a journey through the years and continues to this day as I learn to love as Christ loves.
Love is all God asks of us. Love suffices. Race does not matter anymore, nor does tribe, or family, because all are made in His image. Love of neighbor transcends any prejudice, any weakness, any ignorance, any poverty. We are called to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Having fulfilled the one condition of wholehearted love, the fisherman shall be greater than the scholar and the peasant higher than the king.
Even past and repented sin will be no obstacle, for among the wonderful saints of God many who, after years wasted in the paths of sin's lowest hell, -- cast off selfishness at last and became great lovers.
An Important lesson I have learned over the years about loving neighbor is fortified by the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 11;
When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may, in turn, forgive you your transgressions."
We have a neighbor, who is an old man and owns property on Hwy 16, where he has accumulated hundreds of thousands of old tires that some years ago caught on fire and burned for weeks. His whole property and is a health hazard. I found myself becoming very upset and angry over the situation. I even contacted the Louisiana EPA, sent them pictures and was on the TV News complaining about the situation -- to no avail. My neighbor was brought to court for the complaints of all the tires, but he claimed he was gathering them to be recycled and the court bought his story. When I heard the court’s decision, I was fuming and ranting and cussing my neighbor, the EPA and the court system.
One night at Bible Study as I was sharing my frustrations with the people there, I realized that I was sinning against my neighbor and God, and I knew I needed to do something about it. I decided to begin praying for him, asking God to bless him and that he would grow closer to the Lord. Every time I would pass by the property and the mountain of tires I would say a prayer for my new found friend. The tires are still there but now I have peace because I can’t be angry with someone I am sincerely asking God to Bless.
Jesus says in John 14:
Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
We must be on our guard at all times to choose Love over selfishness. High and clear before our eyes let the fact of love’s supremacy be set. Love is the one thing needed in this world. For love is the supreme idea, --- the great commandment of Christian law.
And love of God must coexist with the love of neighbor. The questioning Scribe received a twofold answer that – to our astonishment – sets the love of man alongside the love of God so that the holy soul may no more exclude the one than the other. If people would heartily accept this doctrine the world would be transformed to a better place for all.
This teaching re-echoes throughout the pages of St. John and St. Paul. John's ceaseless exhortation, "Little children, love one another," and Paul's flaming words in his first letter to the Corinthians, preach the same truth: the excellence of love over every other gift. A practical result of this doctrine was the extraordinary affection the early Christians had for one another, a phenomenon so striking that the pagans first marveled at the depth and sincerity and constancy of their love. And then felt so threatened by it that they tried to wipe it from the face of the earth through great persecutions. How plainly is the love of our neighbor made in the actual test of our love of God. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples: that you have love one for another."
A while back I received a book I had ordered on tape by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin called “The Gift of Peace” which is about the last three years of his life. Cardinal Bernardin was the Archbishop of Chicago and a very holy man. I truly respected him and believe today that he is one of God’s saints.
In his book he tells how, in November 1993, he was accused of sexual misconduct with a seminarian by the name of Stephen Cook. Cardinal Bernardin was devastated knowing these charges were untrue from the very beginning, even though he knew that he would have to defend himself and the Church in a way that would be successful at proving his innocence. The news media, of course, was having a “Feeding Frenzy” at the Cardinal’s expense. When I read that, I thought of Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
As soon as the alleged evidence was examined, the case against him began to collapse from within. Indeed, the evidence turned out to be a group photograph taken at a Cincinnati seminary function at which, along with many others, they were both present, and a book the Cardinal allegedly autographed and gave to him, bore no signature of his.
It became clear to Bernardin that certain critics of his had played a role in urging Stephen Cook to take on the role of plaintiff against him. Indeed, almost as soon as the news broke, some people, including a priest from
out-of-state, expressed the opinion on a local radio show that the Cardinal was guilty; --- that finally the facts had caught up with him.
Despite its unfounded nature, this bogus lawsuit possessed the power both to disrupt and to change the direction of Cardinal Bernardin’s life. He suffered tremendously.
As the disturbing allegations did not stand the test of truth, Cardinal Bernardin began to understand how Stephen Cook had been a victim of this whole tawdry episode. His initial intuition of this young man being used was gradually confirmed.
On February 28th, 1994, Stephen, on his own initiative, asked the Judge of the Federal Court in Cincinnati to drop the charges against Cardinal Bernardin.
The good Cardinal gradually learned of Stephen Cook’s own difficult life. His brief, unhappy period in the Cincinnati seminary had been followed by an estrangement from his family, the Church and a drift into a promiscuous lifestyle.
He was suffering from AIDS and was being cared for by a friend. He was the sheep who had been lost, and as a shepherd, Bernardin knew that he had to seek him out.
He thought often of Stephen in his lonely, illness ridden exile from both his parental home and the Church. By mid-December, He felt deeply that this entire episode would not be complete until he followed his shepherd’s calling to seek Stephen out. He prayed that Stephen would receive him. He knew a healing experience of the false accusation would not be complete until he met and reconciled with Stephen.
Cardinal Bernardin flew to Philadelphia with Fr. Scott Donahue on December 30th, 1994 and met with Stephen at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Within a few minutes, Stephen arrived with his friend, Kevin. They shook hands and he sat with Stephen on a couch, Stephen looked only slightly thin, despite his grave illness.
They were both seeking reconciliation. However, Stephen said he wanted to tell Cardinal Bernardin about his life before they continued. With a tone and gestures that indicated Stephen had bottled up his story for a long time, he told him that as a young seminarian, he had been sexually abused by a priest he thought was his friend. He claimed that the authorities did not take his report of the priest’s misconduct seriously. He became embittered and left the Church.
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and Stephen Cook did reconcile. He was able to bring healing and peace to Stephen in helping him return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and they celebrated the Eucharist together.
Stephen and the Cardinal kept in touch after that, and six months later, when Bernardin received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Stephen’s was one of the first letters he received. He had only a few months to live when he wrote it, but the letter filled with sympathy and encouragement for Cardinal Bernardin.
Stephen planned to visit the Cardinal in Chicago at the end of August, but he was too ill. Stephen died at his mother’s home on September 22nd, 1995, fully reconciled with the Church. “This,” he said, smiling from his deathbed at his mother, about his return to the sacraments, “It is my gift to you.”
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin suffered terribly from pancreatic cancer, but also from a fall that fractured his vertebra. On November 14, 1996, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin died at the age of sixty-eight, but he was at peace with his God and his fellow man.
Now let’s turn our attention to the fact that:
God Desires Union With US
When we talk about God desiring a relationship and union with us, we have to think in terms of Covenant, because that is the relationship that God desires and has established between Himself and man.
To better understand the Covenant relationship between God and man we go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Article 357 says: “Being in the image of God, the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving himself, and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead.”
In other words, no one can replace me in my relationship with God. Dottie can’t stand up and say, “Well, Lord, Don’s kind of out of it today, so I’m here to fill in for him!” No, I have to be the one to work at growing in my relationship with God. The covenant between myself and God is mine and only my responsibility. Either I am faithful to this covenant or, when I sin, I severe that relationship with God.
Also from the Catechism:
Article 55 further says: “This revelation was not broken off by our first parents' sin. After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption -- and he has never ceased to show his concern for the human race, for he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing."
So, even when we break the covenant with God by sin, God still is faithful and gives us hope. This hope is reaffirmed for us each time we hear the IV Eucharistic Prayer at Mass:
“Even when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship, you did not abandon him to the power of death. . . Again and again you offered a covenant to man.”
In the Scriptures there are many references to the covenant between God and his people, starting with Noah:
In Genesis 6:18 We Read
“But with you I will establish my covenant; you and your sons, your wife and your sons' wives, shall go into the ark.”
This covenant relationship is a living thing between us and God, not just a theological principle. God has always been faithful, but it is man who has not kept the union between himself and God.
I say this because for many years I refused God’s constant call for me to live in a close union with Him. Like many young people, I didn’t think much about needing a relationship with God. I know now that He always desired it, but I just turned my back and went my own way.
However, there came a time that I wanted God to love me and I felt his soft call for me, but the problem was that my self-worth was still at rock bottom. What if I went to God, and I found out that my Dad was right in all the negative things he had said about me, -- and worse yet, what if God saw me the same way? The mere thought fill me with so much fear that I just kept pushing God away. If I didn’t like who I was, and my Dad didn’t like who I was, it would kill me if I found God felt the same way.
You know, fear of God can stop a relationship cold in its tracks, and that’s what happened to me for years. And then, of course, there was the dreaded confessional. The thought of admitting how terrible I thought I was out loud to another human being, and risk hearing the words that I wasn’t worth saving was just too much. It took me 36 years to accept God’s love for me and enter the confessional with joy and not fear.
And that blessed event happened in July of 1979, when Dottie and I went on our Marriage Encounter weekend. That was the weekend that changed my life forever. It was there that I finally and fully accepted the love of my wife and I accepted the love of my God. In the end, Dottie and I made the decision to live in close union with God as a couple and we vowed to live in a covenant relationship with Him -- and from that time we’ve never looked back.
Sure, there have been times when things still get rocky between me and God, and sometimes even Dottie, but we will never give up. Psalm 18 always reminds me who I am in this covenant relationship, this union with God:
“I love you O’LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer, My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!”
The last part of my presentation is:
“Your Soul can be Renewed”
Through Christ, you have become a child of God.
The greatest event of all human history was memorialized in St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians Chapter 4:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”
Ponder the richness of the meaning contained in those words: "God sent His Son." Jesus Christ, Mary's Babe, who is as truly God as is the Eternal Father. He is a revelation of divinity that God made manifest in the flesh, in order that all who look upon Him may begin to understand God's beauty and goodness and sanctity. This Holy One is God's Son by right, and He has come to make it possible for us sinners to become sons of God by adoption, so that, in some true way, we may resemble Him and acquire those qualities which belong to God alone.
Recall for a moment what the Church teaches: That Christ's grace renews us. It is through the Sacraments that the Grace of God rains on us every day and renews our spirit. And, it’s at our Baptism that we first receive that Grace and we are “Born Again” of water and the Holy Spirit. We become Temples of the Holy Spirit, Children of God, and Heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. There are times throughout our life we are called on to renew our Baptism vows and each time we do, we renew our conviction to live as children of God.
As Catholics we believe our salvation is a work in progress. We believe that embracing the Seven Sacraments and living each day in the light of Christ is the way we are forever saved. And Baptism is just the first of the Seven Great Stepping Stones we use to find our way.
The Catholic Church has always taught that Jesus showed us the way in all things.
For instance, From the Gospel of Mark Chapter 1:9
“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.”
So Jesus, who was without sin, was Baptized and set the example for us, to show us the path to salvation. As a matter of fact Baptism is so important that He gave the specific formula to Baptize to His Apostles.
In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 28: it says
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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
But, the Church teaches that Baptism is just the beginning of our spiritual journey. When we sin, we cut ourselves off from God’s grace. What can renew our sense of belonging to God when we sin? As long as we are alive, our salvation is a work in progress, and so Jesus gave us the means to restore and renew our friendship with God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation when that vital connection with Him has been severed.
You know, often people look at Bishops, Priest and Deacons and think that we have some kind of a spiritual advantage. For the most part, they think that just being ordained makes us holier than the average guy sitting in the pew. Actually, being ordained means that we have been called to be servants of God in a specific and unique way – and as a result of that call God expects us to live our life in holy service to His people. But we are not exempt from sin!
The truth is we are sinners just like everyone else, and the fact is, just like anyone else, we are called to repent our sins and renew our commitment in this unique relationship with God..
You have heard the old saying, “That to those that much is given, much is expected.” I feel that is true when it comes to me. So, the fact is I am a sinner and in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy all the time.
My greatest fear as a Deacon is that through some sin of mine, that I might lead someone astray. The thought of standing before the Throne of God and having to answer for such a deed makes my soul tremble.
Another Sacrament that renews our soul, and that I have received many times because of my poor health, is the Anointing of the Sick. I’m amazed sometimes how many Catholics either don’t know about this healing Sacrament or don’t know that in it our sins are forgiven. When someone mentions to me they are sick or maybe they’re going to have surgery, I encourage them take advantage of this Sacrament’s graces. Over the years the peace of mind and the renewal of my spirit through the Anointing of the Sick has been a true blessing, knowing that no matter what the outcome of a surgery or illness, I am good to go and prepared for wherever God wants me.
Finally, we can’t talk about our souls being renewed in some of the Sacraments without talking about the Eucharist. How Blessed we Catholics are to have Jesus to feed and nourish us with His Body and Blood.
In the Gospel of John Chapter 6:
“Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”
No matter how many times I’m at Mass, I’m always in awe, especially at the Consecration when by the words of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, simple bread and wine are transformed into His precious Body and Blood. Not only do we get to witness this miracle, but miracle follows miracle as we receive Him into our own body. And it is there that the greatest renewal of our soul takes place. In that moment, the words of an old hymn springs to life. “He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own and the joy we share as we tarry there no other has ever known.
What more is there to say except. Amen.
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, this concludes my presentation to you today. May the Lord abundantly Bless you today and everyday of your lives. I pray that we will all be together for eternity with the Lord in Paradise.
I ask that you pray for me and all the clergy.