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?

Changes in the Mass and the New Roman Missal

CHANGES IN THE MASS

As you may already know, the words we use in the Mass are scheduled to change near the end of this year, when we begin the new Liturgical Year of Grace 2012 with the First Sunday of Advent.

The 2001 Vatican Document Liturgiam Authenticam, (On the Use of Vernacular Language in the Publication of the Books of the Roman Liturgy) outlined new rules and principles for translation, requiring that English and other vernacular versions of the Roman Missal match the original Latin texts more closely (or literally).

Since then the USCCB has been working with the Holy See and various other organizations to revise and approve the new English Translation of the Roman Missal…or more commonly referred to as the Sacramentary.

The following is a means to help you understand in a simple way, why these changes are happening and how each of us may experience the true blessedness of these changes within our prayer and our worship within the universal Catholic Church.

  

HISTORY OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

While the truths of our faith are ageless liturgical books continually evolve to serve God’s people for all time.

The Sacramentary is the bound book of official presider’s prayers we most commonly see held by an altar server or placed on the altar.

The Sacramentary or Roman Missal that we currently use is the English translation of the Latin Missale Romanum

Latin is the preferred language, not only of the Church but also in scholarship, politics, philosophy, science and the arts.

The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) maintained the Church’s preference for Latin but also allowed for a “more extended use of the vernacular,” or common language of the people, to be used.

The use of the vernacular has been favorable among the faithful and has helped them to pray with more understanding and to deepen spiritual connections between the liturgy and everyday life.

When the vernacular was allowed there was an initial translation, directly and literally from the Latin.  The English-language Sacramentary was published in 1974.

The 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal has now been approved by the Holy See for its use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011

“Holy Mother Church desires that all the faithful be led to the full and active participation of the liturgy for the sake of the beauty, reform and promotion of the liturgy in the life of the faithful before all else.” 

 (CSL #14 – Dec. 4, 1963)

How should we speak to God / of God?

How we speak to God must show our profound reverence for the One who made us and saves us.

How we speak of God should reflect our reverence and belief and in fact be given greater care than a more casual or informal way of communicating with others.

Changes to the wording and responses we use at Mass may be uncomfortable at first since the current words are so automatic and comfortable to us.

With use, we will become more accustomed and familiar with the new translation that seeks to be more accurate and literal to the Latin.

In this way we find ourselves in greater unity with the whole Church, who in their own vernacular, have a translation that reflects that same accuracy.

We will come to a deeper appreciation of what the Church intends to say by these words, a language unique to our faith, and we will come to a fuller universal participation in the mystery we celebrate.

Examples of Changes to Come

P.  The Lord be with you

C.  And with your Spirit

Priest:

Behold the Lamb of God behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All:  Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

(See Mt. 8:8   /  Lk. 7:6)

The words we use tell the story of our faith and speak a truth about our love.  They are unique to our faith experience of God.

These words are sacred and true and must significantly express our faith and accompany our worship in word, sung prayer and gesture especially among the ministers of the Eucharistic Banquet!

Words that distinguish our life of faith;

that call us to holiness and reverence;

that speak to us of God;

that are unique to us;

this is the beauty for which we prepare and for which we wait in joyful hope;

these are the words we shall use, commemorating the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, in the sacred Liturgy of the Mass, until He comes in glory!

Litany for Priests

I thought you might enjoy praying this from time to time.  It's a favorite Litany of mine.

Let Us Pray For:

The Holy Father - fill him with your grace, Lord.
Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops - give them your gifts, Lord.
Diocesan priests - never leave them, Lord.
Priests in seminary work - give them your wisdom, Lord.
Priests in hospital work - give them constancy, Lord.
Priests who are ill - heal them, Lord.
Priests in danger - deliver them, Lord.
Priests who are weak - strengthen them, Lord.
Priests who are poor - relive them, Lord.
Priests who are zealous - help them, Lord.
Priests who want to love you - enkindle their hearts, Lord.
Priests who are sad - console them, Lord.
Priests who are worried - give them peace, Lord.
Priests who are old - sustain them, Lord.
Priests who are young - impel them for your glory, Lord.
Priests who are alone - accompany them, Lord.
Missionary priests - protect them, Lord.
Priests who are preachers - enlighten them, Lord.
Priests who direct souls - instruct them, Lord.
Parish priests - give them prudence, Lord.
Religious priests - make them perfect, Lord.
Priests and religious who have died - bring them to glory, Lord.
On all the Church, militant and suffering - Lord, have mercy.

For all priests:
- Give them your wisdom, Lord.
- Give them virtues.
- Give them patience and charity.
- Give them obedience and kindness.
- Give them a burning zeal for souls.

- Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.
- Give them loyalty to the Holy See and to their Bishops.
- Give them respect for their dignity.
- Give them a great love for Mary.
- Give them the gift of counsel.
- Give them strength in their labors.
- Give them peace in their sufferings.
- Give them humility and generosity.
- Let them be the light of souls.
- Let them be the salt of the earth.
- Let them practice sacrifice and self-denial.
- Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.
- Let them be other Christ’s.
- Let them be holy in body and soul.
- May they be men of prayer.
- May faith shine forth in them.
- May they be concerned only for the salvation of souls.
- May they be faithful to their priestly vocation.
- May their hands know only how to bless.
- May they burn with love for you and for Mary.
- May all their steps be for the glory of God.
- May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them his gifts and fruits in abundance.

Let us pray.
O God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, you are the soul and the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests. We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their protector and guide.
AMEN

The Road to Emmaus

Brothers and Sisters,

This is my very first blog.  It is my attempt to respond to a changing world of vast technology and try to use every means possible to assist others in growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ, the values of the gospel and the traditions of our Catholic Faith.

Yesterdays gospel (Luke 24:13-35) I was struck by the phrase, "Were not our hearts burning when He spoke to us on the way?"  I realized that often we come to celebrate the Mass and we become distracted and fail to really hear the very word of God spoken to us.  Perhaps because we have heard the passage before or because it's not "about us," we sort of block it out and fail to really allow God's word to burn in our hearts.

What is it that prevented the disciples from recognizing Christ as He walked on the road to Emmaus with them?  They were racked with anxiety and grief over the death of Jesus and they were afraid what happened to Him would inevitable happen to those who were His followers.  This is what kept them locked away in the Upper Room and it's what prevented them from being able to recognize Christ walking with them.

So often fear can be the greatest obstacle to our freedom.  Moreover, we can become so absorbed with the various "issues" in our life that we can become myopic and narcissistic.  We fail to allow the Truth to set us free.

How many times does our self image get in the way of being able to remember that we are a child of God, created in His likeness and image?  How many times do the challenges of every day life cause us to become so overburdened with things that we cannot even recognize a brother or sister in need.

"Early in the morning of the first day of the week" the day of Jesus' resurrection, the story of the Road to Emmaus takes place.  Jesus is revealing Himself to his disciples so that they might know the truth.  He wants to take away their fear and release them from their anxiety and grief.  He begins to help them recall of the passage in scripture that refer to Him.  Finally when they are at table He takes the bread, says the blessings, breaks it and gives it to them...."and their eyes were opened."

Every week we come to Mass to celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist Jesus left us as a memorial until He returns in glory.  Every week He speaks to us His words of truth and life.  Do our hearts burn within us?  Do the words of Jesus motivate us to look beyond ourselves and put His words into practice by serving God and our neighbor?

In the Breaking of the Bread, when the flesh and blood of Jesus, soul and divinity of our Savior are given to us, are we able to recognize Him?  Is this just a wafer, a bit of wine or do we recall that the Savior of the world humbled Himself to become food for us so that He could come into us, be united with us, and have the ability to transform us from the inside out?

This is the reality we celebrate and reverence.  In that very moment when we consume the Body and Blood of Christ, we are (and should recognize) we are consumed by Christ to live a life reflective of Him.  We should be able to look in the mirror and see the reflection of Christ, knowing He is in us.  We should be able to look at a brother or sister, relative or friend, enemy or stranger and see the very heart of Jesus.  Recognition of the Lord is essential for dismissing all fear, anxiety and other worries from our life in order to live in freedom.

My prayer for us is that we are able to recognize Christ a little more each day, in ourselves and in others, when we hear Him speak to us, receive Him in us and seek to imitate Him each day of our lives.  Then, when our life in this world is ended and we stand before the throne of God, we can hear the voice of the Father welcome us into His Kingdom saying, "Oh yes, I recognize my Son in you!"