Roman Missal Presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GIIQ8zfD4

The Generosity of God

Often times when people have been in a difficult time in their life they have asked for my prayers.  Of course it is always my privilege to pray for someone, especially in difficult times.  On occasion though I have asked them to pray for someone else who may be going through something similar or worse than they.  Inevitably they have returned saying that praying for another has lightened their burden.

I am certain there are numerous people who have used this phrase but I remember having it impact my life at a very important time when I heard, “GOD WILL NOT BE OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY.”  I have found this to be true in my own life so I trust in it and believe in it and so act accordingly in giving of my time, talent and treasure.

Many people are hurting these days.  Many are struggling to make ends meet.  Unemployment is extremely high.  We feel the effects each day as the requests pour in to help people meet their monthly, weekly and daily bills. I know some will think I’m crazy when in difficult times I would recommend we give more, but not sharing our daily bread is giving into despair...and what is needed is faith, trust in a God who will not abandon us nor be outdone in His generosity!  Therefore, the more we do for others, the more we can expect to receive.

I know for a fact that there are those reading this that are extremely skeptical.  I don’t blame you.  I have been there myself.  But looking at today’s gospel Jesus wants us to trust in how much He wants to do for us.  Perhaps you’re not able to believe this truth.  Perhaps your fear is too overwhelming.  OK.  Then this challenge is for you.  TRY IT!  Live as if you are want to out-do God’s generosity.  Seeing is believing.  Give that extra $5 or $10 or $20.  Watch what happens.  Trust!  Your life will never be the same!  Your life will never be better!

9/11

I am proud to be a native of Colorado.  Born in Denver and a citizen of the United States of America, I am grateful for the freedom that I have to practice my faith and seek to live  the values of the gospel.  It is unfortunate that we have yet to learn that these values given to us by Jesus Christ enable us to live lives of great peace and joy.  

How profound is the gospel message today.  For the last decade the end of the Summer has meant recalling the memory of 9/11 and the overwhelming shock, pain, mistrust and fear that has aggressively changed our lives and which has ended the world as we knew it.

I remember back on September 11, 2001, watching the television and hearing that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.  I knew at that very moment this was not an accident.  Our pilots know better.  As I watched in horror, I knew this was the end of things as I knew them.  When the second plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center, my suspicions were confirmed.

Our lives have been changed because many innocent lives were lost, our trust has diminished and our fear increased.  Anger, hatred, fear, judgement are negative hurtful things that can grow to such an enormous extent that great harm can be done when they are out of control.

Today’s gospel reminds us of the values we hold as a people of faith.  They may not be in line with the worlds values.  But remembering this great tragedy should only convict us more in the values of our faith, recalling that mercy, forgiveness, compassion are the very foundation by which we should live and how we treat others.  Jesus suffered and died on the cross, giving His entire self, for the forgiveness of our sins.  That is mercy and forgiveness at its ultimate best.

Shortly after 9/11 The Fantastiks closed in New York.  One of the longest running plays,  it was famous for the song, “Try To Remember,” with its first line stating, “Try to remember that kind of September when life was slow and oh so mellow.”  

Let this be a time for us to remember back to those days of innocence and find our way to the heart of Jesus so that fear, anger, judgement and misguided aggressive behavior may not rule our hearts.  Rather let our hearts we ruled by compassion and mercy.  May we never hold a grudge so long as to cause the weight of destruction in our world.  Let us not stand in judgement of another...at least until we can “walk on water.”

In the end...or the new beginning

And when your earthly life comes to an end, will anyone remember your indifference, your indecision, your inabilities, your meekness? No. Rather, to be remembered is to live boldly, intentionally, precisely, with passion and readiness to change the world and make an impression on those you have left behind. Then they shall say, because I knew this man, my life was changed for the better and so was our world. Be your faith! Be your intention. Be like our God.

"Great Is Your Faith!"

Two weeks ago we hear the gospel passage where the disciples are in a boat which is being tossed about in the water.  Jesus comes towards them walking on the water and they are very much afraid.  Peter cries out, "If it's you Lord, tell me to come to you."  Jesus replies "Come."  As Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water, the wind picks up and he begins to sink and cry out "Save me Lord."  Jesus rescues him and then questions why he faltered and lost faith.

In contrast, this passed Sunday we heard the gospel of the Canaanite woman shouting out after Jesus to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon.  Jesus' response is far from charitable.   (It appears that Jesus too, may once in a great while, have “one of those days,” and is annoyed by one more request). 

Jesus begins to argue with this woman saying that His ministry is not for foreigners but for the people of Israel.  However, the woman is so desperate because her daughters life is at stake, she persists and argues that whatever He can give, “even the leftovers,” will be enough.  This persistence seems to awaken in Jesus a more merciful response; “O woman, great is your faith.”

When putting these two gospel passages side by side, there were a few things that were revealed to me.  First, Peter would be considered one of those Israelites Jesus came to save.  Yet we realize in comparison, Peter’s faith was not as great as this Canaanite woman.  Though I must admit, Jesus would not compare us one to another, it is important for us to make the comparison for our own growth and well-being.

Secondly, although Jesus appears to be less than pastoral in His approach, I think, like all things Jesus does, He is very intentional about what He is doing and the way He is responding.  After all, the disciples are telling Him to get rid of this woman who is bothering them.  They recognize she is a foreigner and they want nothing to do with her.  So it's as if Jesus takes upon Himself the attitude of the disciples.  Yet it is the woman's persistence and faith in Jesus that gains her the response from Jesus who points out, in front of His disciples, the greatness of her faith.

Matthew, the evangelist of the Gospel wants to make a very important point.  God’s love and mercy is for everyone who believes in Him and puts their faith in Him.  It's not just for a select few.  Moreover, whatever God has to give, however great or small, (even the scraps) are enough for us to receive whatever we need in our life for healing, mercy and most especially, salvation.

We too, like Jesus, must be INTENTIONAL about our faith and the way we seek to bring others to Jesus.  We cannot falter nor can we put another down because they are not like us or their blessings and or challenges are different from ours.  Faith, great faith in Christ alone, brings all things to peace and unity in Christ.

“Trust in HIM at all times,” and He will say to you,  “O my dear one, great is your faith.”

Before the Eucharist

"It is invaluable to converse with Christ, and leaning against Jesus' breast like his beloved disciple, we can feel the infinite love of his Heart. We learn to know more deeply the One who gave Himself totally, in the different mysteries of his divine and human life, so that we may become disciples and in turn enter into this great act of giving, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world. Through adoration, the Christian mysteriously contributes to the radical transformation of the world and to the sowing of the Gospel. Anyone who prays to the Savior draws the whole world with him and raises it to God. Those who stand before the Lord are therefore fulfilling an eminent service. They are presenting to Christ all those who do not know him or are far from him; they keep watch in his presence on their behalf."

-Bl. John Paul the Great

Falling In Love

Quote of the Day

“Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.”

--Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-91)
28th Superior General of the Society of Jesu

Healing

I am filled with so many mixed emotions today.  In some ways I believe that this time can bring a great deal of closure and healing from the past.  At the same time, the future is unknown, it could be more of the same.


I turn this "turning" over to the Lord and to the intercession of our Blessed Mother.  May this be a time of new beginnings and joy for all affected.  May the hand of God guide and bless our future.


Amen.

True Freedom From The Burdens of Life

What is burdening you today?  What is weighing you down?  What has become so overwhelming you just can’t cope?  Maybe it’s not your burden.  Maybe you’re carrying the burden of someone else.  How is that robbing you of your joy?  How has it eatin’ away your peace?  Do you see the possibility of a change for the better in the near future?  Would you like to see a change for the better?

Jesus says in the scripture today, “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you.  Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.”  Do you believe this?  Have you really tried to turn the burden in your life over to Jesus?  Are you willing to give up the control you have on these burdens and allow the Lord to carry them for you?

Perhaps you are willing but don’t know how!  So let me give you a bit of help.  Take a moment.  Find that quiet place in your house, free from all distractions.  If that’s impossible, come and sit before the Blessed Sacrament.  Close your eyes and imagine Jesus standing before you.  Whoever or whatever is the burden, place it before His feet.  Let Him know you want to be free of this and you need His help.  (The key here is to give up all control of this burden...once you give it to Jesus, you cannot take it back).  You see this is the way we become FREE!  But every time we start to take it back, God will freely give it back.  Is that what you want? 

True freedom means giving up control and learning to not be a victim of our own struggles.  Let’s pray for one another that we can rely more on Christ and less on ourselves.  In this way we can be free of our burdens and take on the yoke of Christ, which is easy and light!

Weeds Among The Wheat

Did you ever notice how easily it is to overlook the weeds among the wheat, or any vegetation for that matter?  The parable of the weeds among the wheat, I believe is precisely the point Jesus is trying to point out to us.  How often do we overlook the weeds?

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the “weeds among the wheat.”  Often times weeds can be overlooked.  Just take a good look in a garden.  There are so many things blooming, it can often be difficult to distinguish the weeds from the flowers.  In fact, some weeds even disguise themselves with little blossoms or  little flowers on them confusing most amateur gardeners.  Such weeds can be more destructive to the real beautiful flowers and vegetation in any garden.

Using this analogy, could we not say the same for some people?  How many disguise themselves each day as holy, humble, good people and yet they are out there gossiping, cheating, telling lies, not to mention any number of commandments they might be breaking.  What about those persons who may work for a company or the Church or government or some other organization who you think can be trusted because of the position they hold, only to find out they may in fact be some of the destructive weeds choking those who are really trying to do their best and make a difference.

First of all, we need to make sure we’re not “weeds.”  And if we are, we need to do some serious praying to begin some serious changing.  Secondly, we need to be more aware of others.  Do we surround ourselves with people who hold the same values we do or do we merely “go with the flow.”  Good wheat stands out and can produce abundantly to feed the many!

“Good soil is a heart reserved for God that produces abundant love.”

“Good soil is a heart reserved for God that produces abundant love.”   I’m not sure who first spoke these words, but I have come to know they are true.

In the Gospel regarding the parable of the sower and the seed, the Church invites us to take a soil sample of our hearts.  In the Gospel, Jesus presents to us four types of soil on which the seed scattered by God, God’s own Word, falls. And each of us needs to ask, in light of Jesus’ words and in His real presence here at Mass, what type of soil am I?

Two things are absolutely crucial in farming: good seed and good soil. In the Gospel the seed Jesus talks about is God’s Word, heard in Sacred Scripture and in prayer, and ultimately Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, capable of living in us through grace. Therefore we know there is no problem with the seed. The seed is perfect.

Our heart is the soil.  It must be open to accepting the Word of God (the seed) and be nurtured to produce good fruit (which is love).  Some times our heart, like any soil, needs some added things to keep it good and ready to receive the good seed.  Like the farmer who uses water, nutrients and the like, we have the Eucharist and the sacraments as well as daily prayer to keep our heart reserved for God.

Today, let us not only evaluate the condition of our heart but make it a more fitting dwelling place for God.   Let us use every possible means to provide the “good soil” for God’s Word to take root and flourish in action.   Then our love will be abundant and evident in our words and deeds!

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s!!

A good friend of mine sent this to me, and I just had to share.  I don't know who first said this, but kudos! - FM

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. 

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads. 

As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes..
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight. WHY? Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. --And, we were OKAY. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned
to solve the problem..
We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no surround-sound or CDs, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from those accidents.
We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand,
and no one would call child services to report abuse.
We ate worms, and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and -although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just
walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! 

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! 

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever.
The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas.. 

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS! You might want
to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers
and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you are
at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents
were. Kind of makes
you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ? 

Trinity

You know, every time I get to Trinity Sunday I start thinking of how I wish I had paid better attention in class when the subject of the Holy Trinity came up.  I always feel somehow limited in my ability to bring clarity to the reality of the Trinity.

Of course there is the basics:  One God, Three Persons.  That's fact!  But trying to explain all that to an unbeliever, or even to those who believe, is difficult.  Besides, any explanation just pales when trying to understand this mystery of our faith.  So let me make a stab at why I think this is important to our faith.

Trinity is all about RELATIONSHIP!  Can you imagine being so close, so intimate with someone that you find that your mannerism, habits, way of thinking and doing things all start to reflect theirs?  The reality of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I believe (just to clarify) is this type of relationship.  Moreover, if the Spirit is in the Son and the Son is in the Father and they are all one, I have come to realize that because the Holy Spirit dwells in the Church, we are part of that unity of relationship.

The real challenge then for each of us is to assume the mannerisms, habits, way of thinking and doing whatever we think and do in life so as to reflect the reality of God.  That's my take on the Trinity and I'm sticking to it!

Come Creator Spirit

Come Creator Spirit.

Renew me with your strength.

Purify me with your love.

Strengthen me with your hope.

Empower me with your justice.

Cover me with your protection.

Surround me with your compassion

Illumine me with your mercy.

Console me with your fire.

Motivate me with your power.

Humble me with your passion.

Satisfy me with your presence.

Complete me with your grace.

Hear and answer me in my need.

Amen.

-Fr. Michael Pavlakovich

24th Anniversary Reflection

Yesterday I celebrated my 24th Anniversary of Ordination.  Today I celebrate my 24th Anniversary of my First Mass.  First and foremost I want to GIVE THANKS to Almighty God and our Blessed Mother.  The day of my ordination, I dedicated my priesthood to the Blessed Mother.  She has been the source of great strength and has managed to guide (and rescue) me through many situations over the years.

I'm always amazed when thinking of these events in my life.  Mass has always been a part of my life.  I can't remember ever "not" going to Mass. It has always been a priority for me in my life.  Moreover, as a kid, I used to come home from Mass and "play mass" in the basement of our house.  So it was never obligatory for me.  Instead it was something I loved and wanted to have in my life all the time...even in my play.

The Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of the life of the Church, but it is also the source and summit of my life.  It is the place I am most myself and most vulnerable.  It is the moment when Christ has complete control of my life, for which I am truly grateful.  This is the moment in my life when I am in total communion with Jesus Christ and His Church.  You might say, it is the moment when I am most real and most intimately in love.

I pray today for my classmates.  I pray today for all those individuals, living and deceased, who shared that precious moment with me 24 years ago.  Moreover, I give thanks and pray for all those who have shared the grace of the Eucharistic feast with me over the years.  May the Lord bless them this day.

I especially give thanks to God for my parent who gave example by their lives and nurtured my vocation, my family who supported it and my friends who were there through every step of the way.  You are always there with me at every Mass as I celebrate the mystery of faith.  God Bless you.  And, may God be praised!

The Catholic Mass

The Catholic Mass is the most sacred event and act of worship one can participate in on earth.

Its origins are rooted in the Last Supper in which Jesus reveals himself in a new and eternal gift to His disciples.  It is this gift, in which common bread and wine become for us the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus.

The Mass is that sacred moment in time where the human and the Divine come together in a unique and profound way.  You and I have the unworthy privilege to step out of our everyday living and touch the Divine; to look upon the face of God.

The Mass renews the Last Supper, but it is also the continuation of the traditions of God’s people and their experience of God throughout time and history.

Therefore, everyone, EVERYONE who comes to this holy place is seeking GOD in their life.  We have only to respond to that need by opening our doors and our hearts in welcome.  They must be provided with an environment, free of chaos, disorder, corruption, and sin in order that they might BEHOLD the majesty and mystery of God.

Does my demeanor bespeak the presence of God?  Does it invite someone in or close them out?  Do I reverence the very blessedness of this man, woman, teen or child, created in the image and likeness of God? 

As the faithful gather, the presence of God and family becomes evident.  God visits his people; we know him and he loves us.  The music swells our voices ring out.  Our spiritual father calls us together and leads us to the throne of God.  God’s mercy is desired and His glory is acclaimed.  We are in His holy place and ready to meet him.  Jesus himself, when entering the synagogue opened the scroll and read the words of the prophet Isaiah and tells us the word he speaks is fulfilled in our hearing.

God speaks to us in His word, written through those chosen ones who would speak of God by His very inspiration.  Those words have been and are spoken through history.

In the proclamation of the Word…those who proclaim it, bring to life the very words of God.  The assembly does not merely read along…but is allowed to have the voice of God ring in their ears and grasp at their heart, so holy and powerful is God’s word.

In the proclamation of the Gospel, Jesus himself speaks to us and instructs us for our life journey.  This moment of grace causes us to make those three small gestures, signing our self with the cross on our forehead, mouth and heart, so that we might UNDERSTAND his word, PROCLAIM his word and LOVE his word…so that we might LIVE his word!  Do I believe what I proclaim?  Moreover, do I try to live it?

The homily, a Greek word meaning conversation assists us in understanding the word and its meaning for our daily living.  In our own family our parents teach and instruct us as children; nurturing within us love and faith.  So too have we been instructed throughout the ages by our Fathers in faith and the holy women of ages past.  Now, our spiritual father breaks open the word and instructs us in faith, so we too might grow in holiness.

Christ himself chose to spread his kingdom by preaching.  St. Paul teaches us that if people are to believe they must hear the faith preached.  God knows our needs so well that he wants us to have some words from a father-figure within our faith family who knows our lives and our struggles so that we might understand and live the gospel more deeply….in the world.

Jesus Christ came into this world to bring all humankind back to the Father.  His whole life from incarnation through resurrection is for our redemption.

At Mass the culminating moment comes NOW when the priest repeats Jesus very words and gestures at the last supper.  The priest carries forward the priesthood Jesus instituted that Holy Thursday night, he acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ.

Common and simple gifts of bread and wine become for us the actual, real Body and Blood of Christ.  This reality we call transubstantiation.  Its form may remain but its reality and purpose has changed.  Now we are one with Christ as he comes into us!

When God delivered the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he commanded that the people sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorpost.  This would be a sign that the angel of death should Passover their household; hence the feast of Passover.

But it was not enough for them to sacrifice the lamb…they had to consume it.  The meal ended with a final cup of wine and the pronouncement, “it is finished.”  On the cross Jesus expressing his thirst for souls asked for one final cup and said, “It is finished.”

Holy Communion is the very same meal Christ shared with his disciples.  We all consume the same Lamb who is Christ himself.  It is also a sharing in his sacrifice on the cross.

But Communion means more than receiving…it means UNITING!  We receive Christ in his body and blood, soul and divinity.  We share his very life.  He becomes the very food of our soul; the life of our life.

Words fall short for the depth of this mystery.  This union is the closest and most intense we can have with God on earth.  The innocent victim embraces his executioners.  The Lord becomes the food of the servant.  Heaven comes to earth!  We are changed!

Do I believe this mystery I behold?  Can I as a minister of the cup and a minister of the body of Christ say “Amen” to the statement of faith in which I invoke for the response of the communicant?  Do I allow myself to be properly disposed in order to receive this mystery?  Do I allow it to change me? 

In this great celebration when earth and heaven unite for one splendid moment of grace, what we do and how we do it matters! 

Some may remark there are too many rules and regulations that govern the Mass; that there should be more freedom; that it’s no big deal.  God is pleased that we just showed up!  In this day and age, I’m not sure we’d feel the same about God…just showing up!

The fact remains, the guidelines we are given, the rules that govern how we do what we do are the boundaries by which we can more fully enter into this mystery of our faith, free from distraction and worry in order that we might fully enter into this moment…not just as ministers, but as receivers of Gods grace. 

The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.  The Mass is the source and summit of our life of the Church.  We draw from the life of Christ that we may become more like him.  What we do and say, how we move and gesture, when we respond and sing, all matters because we do it in union with the whole Church.  And not any one of us has the right to change it or even participate in it…but everyone of us has the responsibility to reverence and preserve this mystery we celebrate and to do so with great love!

What would you die for?

I've had this nagging question that has disrupted my prayer and gripped my heart: "What would you die for?"  


Now let's face it.  It's not one of those questions you can hear and just avoid.  I mean, I guess you could, but when a question of such magnitude enters your life, it deserves an answer.  It requires a response.


So in my prayer this question has been a preoccupation.  What would I die for?  Like most questions that pop up I try to reflect upon those individuals in my life that would be healthy and profound examples on which to draw for an answer.


Whoever one looks to they obviously have this which they would die for as their highest priority and everything in their life must be directed by that reality.


I suppose with this being Memorial Day weekend I could draw on the heroic strength of the numerous men and women who have died for their country.  After all this is pretty magnificent when you think of it.  Individuals who literally put themselves in harms way to protect the values of the country and the innocent people of that country.  Awesome!


Inevitably I have to turn to THE MASTER.  When I asked the question, "What would Jesus die for," I was truly awe-struck to realize He thought of me and you.  I am and you are Jesus' highest priority.  We are the ones for which He died.  OH MY!  This is a game changer.


Is my priesthood, my Church, my Jesus worth dying for?  I look over my life and realize I have never been more complete, never more joyfilled, never more fulfilled than I am at this very moment in my life.  What more could one ask for than to celebrate the mystery of faith?  What more could one ask for than to hold the Savior in your hands and make Him present to the whole community of faith?  What more could one ask for than to be there in the moments of joy and sorrow and reconciliation in the lives of every child, teenage, man and woman and senior citizen in their sacred moments of life.  Could one be more blest than to hold the hand of the expectant mother giving birth or the dying man embraced in death by a God who loves him?


These are the treasures of my life.  These are the things worth dying for in my life.  And once that is the answer to the question, everything changes.  The values, the priorities, the relationships, the passions, even the weaknesses all change for the glory of God and the priority we hold as that for which we would die.


I feel so blest in this moment to know that the Savior of the World, believed that I was worth dying for and gave His life that I might have life to the full.  I pray God will give me the grace to return the favor in the years ahead.

Not Orphans...Family!

            In the gospel passage for this Sunday (John 14:15-21), Jesus tells us, “I will not leave you orphans.”  In order to better understand this gospel passage today, I wanted to see what the dictionary had to say about the word “orphan.”  Accordingly, the dictionary states that an orphan is someone who is without parents through death, loss or abandonment.  It goes on to tell us that an orphan is someone without protective advocacy.

            Contemplating these words I began to realize what a tremendous “promise” that Jesus is making to His disciples and to us.  Telling us, though He is returning to the Father in heaven, He will not abandoned us or cause us to feel insecure or alone.  In fact, He goes so far as to send His Advocate, the Holy Spirit to not only “be” with us but “dwell in us.”

            As people of faith, this is an enormous blessing.  Not only do we know Jesus and His works, but now His Holy Spirit dwells within us to give us all that we need to live as He did, work as He worked, serve as He served.

            Aware of the Holy Spirit within us, let us bring before the Lord this week a greater desire to serve.   I am certainly aware of the many demands on us, but coming together in the Eucharist, in prayer and reconciliation, at work, at play and with every opportunity we have, can only help us to grow in holiness and faith as those who are “family” in our God.

God Bless You Father John

Today I celebrated one of the most pinnacle days in my priesthood.  I got to witness and be a part of a young man's ordination, vesting him with chasuble and stole before God's holy altar.  This young man, now "Father John" I met ten years ago.  God used me as an instrument during the process of his conversion to God and to choose the heart of Jesus.  The young man never looked back.  He kept pushing forward.  Today, after almost 24 years of priesthood, I now understand a little more of God's blessings and the loving heart of Jesus!  I am blessed and truly grateful.

When You Think You're Not Making a Difference.

About 11 years ago, I had just returned from a sabbatical.  I was pretty broken and pretty beat up.  I had lost my ability to trust in the "powers that be" and their desire to care for me and help me succeed to be the best I could be.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the Church and I love the priesthood of Jesus Christ of which I am humbly privileged to be His servant, and that of His people, as a priest.  But I think I idealized the hierarchy of the Church and somehow thought that I was a part of a brotherhood where everyone cared for each other, worked and prayed together and that those in authority were there to teach, praise and guide.

For the most part, there are individuals who are incredible!  They are constantly giving of themselves.  These are often the guys in the trenches who are striving to make a difference.  The ones who are being faithful, because they want to be faithful.  These are the priests who don't care about doing anything more than serving their people.  These are the non-recognized heros who never seem to get the recognition they deserve...but then again they're not out out for it either.  (However, a phone call, an email, an occasional "good job, Father," would mean everything to them).

In truth, I think that there are some who are just "climbers."  Like most corporations, these are the individuals who would step over their own mother to get to the top and they seek to destroy everyone in their path by lying, snitching and keeping the focus off themselves.  (You see if everyone is focused on "that guy over there" they pretty much miss the corruption going on right under their noses.)

I have been blessed in so many ways.  God has given me gifts I probably haven't even tapped into yet.  (Unfortunately the "otherwise blessed" can get pretty jealous and immediately think you're trying to steal their spotlight just by your desire to use your gifts in service of God and His Church).

So anyway...I was pretty beat up and pretty beat down.  But as usual, God had a plan.  I went to spend the next five years in a parish community who were recovering from some incredible brokenness themselves (the Columbine tragedy) and became, whether they knew it or not, healers for the broken.

I began to work with the youth team of the parish and got involved in the lives of the teens.  I wasn't really sure I was "relevant" enough for the teens and believed I might just be best as an observer in the background.

That Summer I was invited to go to Steubenville of the Rockies with our teens.  Unsuspectingly I was given a small group to attend to.  Little did I know God was doing something amazing, both in me and in the lives of our teens.

Days after the event, I got a visit from one of the teens.  He was bouncing off the walls with excitement.  He was certain he was being called to the priesthood.  His life, through that weekend had been dramatically changed.

At first I thought it was just the usual "retreat high" that is so much a part of these high energy events.  But I was wrong.  In this case, right before my eyes, God was preparing the soil for the vocational seed that was about to be nourished and nurtured in this young man.  And who knew I, the broken priest, would be the vessel God would use to make this happen.

In truth, I was just being faithful.  I was probably at the most vulnerable place in my life.  And even though there may have been intentions of evil and mischief by others, God was transforming it as a chance to reach into the heart of a wayward son and bring him, not only back, but use him as well, as one to evangelize, bless and heal others as His priest.

Tomorrow, I will have the humble privilege to "vest" that young man as he stands before the altar of God in our Cathedral to give his life completely to the Lord in service of God and His Church as a priest. (PRAISE GOD).

Now I am certain there are those who think he will be the next messiah, (pretty typical for those who are blinded by fame and fortune and get caught up in the whole craziness of knowing someone who gets ordained) but he is simply a servant of God.  He is a slave of the Master and an imitator of the One who leads us to holiness and freedom.  It is my prayer that he be one of the good guys who wants to make a difference and who one day will know the awesome joy of placing that stole and chasuble on that young man who had this amazing conversion experience.  It is my prayer that his brokenness and sacrifice for the Lord be used to heal another so that they too can say "yes Lord."

Thank you Lord, for using my brokenness to bring transformation to another and healing to me.  I know in You Lord, I make a difference.

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

Reflecting upon the gospel for this Sunday (May 22 - 5th Sunday of Easter), I became aware how the exchange between Jesus and His disciples is one of farewell.  Jesus is getting ready to return to the Father and His words reflect the care and love of His heart for those who have been closest to Him and to whom He entrusts the life of the Church.  His words are loving yet challenging as He gives them direction for the future….their future and ours.

So many times I think of how the many details of the day can really drain my energy.  Trying to make sure that all the tasks of the moment are being handled, trying to keep track of the schedule, looking to the next event, all can become very overwhelming.  Then I remember.  I stop and breathe.  I'm not alone.  The Savior of the world is in me and reminding me, "do not let your heart be troubled."  At that moment I become increasingly aware that the things of this world are not as essential as the ones of the next.  I want to occupy that place that has been reserved for me, just for me.  It is only through The Way, The Truth and The Life that I'm going to get there.  I pause.  I give thanks.  I move on.  And the day seems a lot less stressful and a lot more joyful.

The Vocation of a Parent

In my last posting, I began to reflect on the role of the parent in the life of their children.  Certainly, not being the typical parent as the world sees a parent, one might assume I know little about parenting; and they are probably right.  However, after almost twenty-four years of serving as a parish priest, I think I have a wealth of experience regarding parenting issues from a unique perspective – the outsider. 

It’s always easy for the outside to look into a particular situation and say, “Well if I were you, this is what I would do,” and then give advise.  But as an outsider, I have had the unique opportunity to know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to children and teenagers and matters of faith and morals.

I think that most parents have gotten pretty good at forming their children as dancers, athletes, musicians, and every other kind of extra- curricular activity available to our young people.  Parents let their  children and teens join every group, activity and sporting event they want to try.  They will pay a fortune for them to participate in these things, bring them to every practice, rehearsal and meeting, and everyone’s schedule in the family is changed, altered or dismissed over and above these events.  It’s really quite amazing the kind of sacrifice that is made for the sake of our children and teens.

For me, that brings to mind the question, “What about the spiritual formation of our children and teens?”  Why does the sacrifice and the disruption of our schedules and the financial burden stop when it comes to forming our children in the ways of the faith and giving them a good moral background?  It seems to me that they would be far less moody, picky, uncharitable, needy, and dare I say, narcissistic, if their faith formation were their highest priority. 

Being a parent is a vocation.  It is a particular calling which carries with it some very significant responsibilities.  First and foremost is the ability to care for the wellbeing of our children.  It is the responsibility of the parent to provide their children with food, shelter, clothing, education, discipline and yes, a good sound foundation in which to live in the world.  Does not the relationship with God, as people of faith, provide the most solid of foundations in which to structure and build our life?

If we look at sacred scripture, there are numerous passages that point to parenting children.  For me, there is none more significant than from the Book of Deuteronomy.   In Deuteronomy 6:5-9 we read:

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!  Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.  Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.  Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.”

This is the very command of God, in His own words, for parents to teach their children about Him.  This is the role of the parent.  It is not a role that should be taken lightly nor is it one to be abdicated to another.

In the Rite of Baptism, the Church says to each parent, “You are accepting the role of training your children in the ways of the faith.  You will be the first teachers of your children in the ways of the faith.  May you be the best of teachers by what you say and do in Christ Jesus Our Lord.”   Though many parents hear these words, I don’t think they understand fully the role they are undertaking.

Parents need to take their own spiritual life more seriously in order to form their children in the ways of the faith.  Yes.  You should “make” your children go to Mass, but you must go with them.  Yes.  You have to go every week.  But would it not be better to see it as a privilege rather than an obligation?  Would it not be better to take time before going to Mass and preparing the family for this momentous event in the life of each individual who will be receiving the precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?  Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to perhaps read the readings for the Sunday together as a family in preparation of the Mass?  Doesn’t it make sense to make sure everyone has their individual and collective offering ready and that they understand why it’s important to sacrifice from our blessings in order to bless others?

These are the kind of simple lessons we can teach our children and teenagers.  These are the lessons that are faithful to the command of God in the Book of Deuteronomy.  The old adage, “The family that prays together, stays together,” is more significant and truer than you will ever know.

Make the Eucharist a priority for the whole family.  Let it be the most important event of your week.  Receive this great gift.  Take the flesh and the blood of Jesus into your being and allow the Lord to transform you from the inside out.  For what greater help could a parent ask?  For what better support could a family be given?

LIFE IN ABUNDANCE

“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”  Take a moment to absorb that statement from Jesus.  “I have come that YOU…”  The promise of the Lord is that He who is the Good Shepherd comes into our life, takes upon himself the flesh of humankind and walks among us to teach us how to live and how to love.  Then He takes upon  Himself the sins of the whole world and dies upon the cross so that we may have an ABUNDANT life, filled with everything we need to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

What does an abundant life in Christ include?  In addition to life everlasting, spending eternity with God after this earthly life, we can be certain that every grace and blessing from the Lord is available to us who pursue a life in Christ, following His example and seeking to live with the faith and love for a brother, sister or even a stranger as Christ taught us.

When you are a pastor, a spiritual father of a parish, there are often special moments that bring great joy to your heart.  One of those moment for me is when the children of the parish come forward to receive the Eucharist for the very first time.  When I look into the eyes of those young boys and girls who are, for the first time, receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, I am convinced of the loving presence of Jesus.  Their innocence of faith and their pure hearts are a testimony to the very words of Jesus, "unless you become like little children, you cannot inherit the Kingdom."  

Through the reception of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, we too can be restored to the innocence of a pure heart and a life that welcomes the opportunity to serve the Lord in every aspect of our lives.  We too are fed at this table and the life that awaits us, having been fed at this table, is one of abundance.

I’m also reminded, as I look at our teenagers who are preparing for Confirmation in order to take a greater role in their faith, the abundance of God’s grace and love is without end.  His guidance and unconditional love follows us throughout our lives and we must, at every stage of life, proclaim our belief in word and deed.  These young men and women are not "graduating" from the religious education, but embracing the challenge of putting what they have learned into practice.

I am always amazed by the parent who says, "I don't want to force my child to go to Mass because they may stop going."  My response is, "They have already stopped going, what do you have to lose?"  We forget that the grace of God and the abundant life He offers is greater than any one of us.  You can "make" your kid go to Mass, but the real work is up to the Lord.  Forcing them is merely providing God the opportunity to give them the abundant life He promises.  And who are we to deny our children or any one on this earth a life of abundance in God?