Merry Christmas

It is amazing the lengths people will go to in order to avoid appearing religious, or politically incorrect.  I have been wearing one of those buttons from the Knights of Columbus that says 'It's OK to wish me a Merry Christmas!'  Several times in a store recently, the cashier has said, 'You're like the 4th person today with one of those buttons.  I think they are pretty cool.'

'Great', I thought.  'Next she'll wish me a Merry Christmas!'  But it never came.  So when I finished my transaction, I wished her a Merry Christmas.  To which she replied, 'You too!'  She STILL did not say the words 'Merry Christmas!'  How bizarre!

So, having just returned from the 'Mass at Night' as it is now called, I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas.  May our new-born King fill your heart with his peace, love and joy!

Night

This really cool picture was taken by NASA from outer space using time-lapse photography showing the United States at night.  It shows where most of the population of our country is centered.  There seems to almost be a line dividing the eastern half of our country from the western half.  Even with most of us asleep, isn't it amazing how much energy we are using to keep our world lit up!

150K service

What I did on my days off this week....

It becomes increasingly obvious to me that man and machines are not all too different.

I took my car to the shop this morning for its 150K mile servicing. 
They called this afternoon to say it wont be ready until tomorrow.  I'm not too sure what exactly is being done, other than replacing the timing belt, which is obscenely expensive.  The rest, I gather is 'routine maintenance'.

Which leads me to the next phase of 'routine maintenance'.....

Tomorrow I begin the wonderful prepping for Thursday's colonoscopy! 
This is not my 1st, so I pretty much know what to expect.  Last time I had to ingest a gallon of awful-tasting liquid.  This time it is only two quarts - much more managable, I'm figuring.  I'll let you know later.  But, this time, it looks like I am going to have to get up in the middle of the night to take the second quart.  There has to be a better way!?!?! 

But, like the timing belt, preventative maintenance beats the alternative!  If you're over 50, and haven't had the 'privilege' of a colonoscopy yet, go see your doctor.  As my doctor said, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to be dying of colon cancer today.  It is 100% preventable!

Meantime, I told them it would be a couple of days til I would come for my car!

Homeward

I am thrilled to be able to share with you the wonderful news that Amanda, the woman who was crushed by falling ice this past April in Alaska, is returning home once again on Friday. 
It is truly a miracle that she has made almost a complete recovery in such a short time - although it must seem like 'forever' to her - and a testament to the power of prayer.  We pray for safe travel on her trip from Boston and wish her well as she gets acclimated once again to her life in the 49th state!  God speed, Amanda!

Vatican II

A new movement is beginning in the Catholic Church in our country.  It is called the Association of United States Catholic Priests - AUSCP for short.  It began about a year ago when some priests used the rally cry: 'Just Say Wait' when it was announced that a new translation of the Roman Missal was about to be promulgated.  The feeling was that not enough input had been gained from the grass roots level of the church, and perhaps, instead of just ramming this new translation down people's throats, it might be in the best interest of everyone to try it on an experiemntal basis and, after reviewing feedback, tweak it to better assist Catholics in worship.  As you know, those calls went unheeded, and we have a cumbersome set of prayers that are not proclaimed in wording that is at all familiar to most people in the pews.  In fact, the United States had almost no input into the English translation, whose committee was headed by someone from Great Britain.

From that futile effort at having our voices heard came some priests who thought it might be nice to rally like-minded priests in the United States, and perhaps, if our numbers became sizable (we are hoping to get 10% of the Catholic clergy to sign on), our voice might not go unnoticed as much as before.  Austria and Ireland are among countries that already have such organizations.  I have, until now, not been actively associated with this group because part of me wonders if anything can ever be accomplished, and wouldn't it be better to use all my energy ministering here in the parish.

However, I agreed to attend today's meeting of our Archdiocese's chapter of AUSCP, in part because my curiosity was piqued by the question 'Where do we go from here?' as the topic of discussion, and in part because it is raining and not worth heading to New Hampshire for my days off.

I am glad I went.  There were sixteen of us, several for the first time.  And alot of the discussion centered around our interpretation of the documents of Vatican II, which is a vastly different interpretation than what the hierarchy has been proclaiming in the recent years.  The vision of the 2nd Vatican Council was a church where everyone has a voice, and while it is clearly not a democracy, nonetheless, it is no longer a monarchy either.  In fact, the 'pyramid' is turned upside-down by Vatican II.  No longer is the wide base of laity on the bottom with the Pope as the tip, resting on top.  Rather, the wide base of laity is on top, supported by the tip.

We most certainly need the hierarchy to guide us, but the direction the Church is heading is formed by the needs of its members.  'Collegiality' comes through loud and clear in the documents of Vatican II, and the vision of Pope John XXIII.  We see that a return to that is needed in our church today.

There are two ways to proceed, and we have not gotten to the point of deciding on one particular way.  Some advocate for having an agenda and meeting with the hierarchy to hammer home our points.  Others see nothing to be gained by getting in the face of the hieracrchy.  Rather, we should seek ways of implementing the spirit of the Council in our ministries, and our periodic gathering would be to show solidarity for one another, gain support for our work, and share ideas to accomplish our common goal.

All in all, I was thought the meeting was productive.  I am glad I spent part of my day off attending.  I look forward to our next meeting in January.  And in the meantime, we seek ways of adding to our numbers.  Pray for us!

Prince of Peace

Our final session suggested that when we gaze upon the Face of Christ, we can find the Prince of Peace.  As many of you know from the way I end my homilies, our ultimate goal is to come to the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.  Our days are filled with our search for peace.

Fr. Ryan suggested that there are three things necessary to find the Prince of Peace. 
The first is a commitment to personal prayer, through which we open the door to God.  But, our prayer cannot simply be 'worrying in the presence of God'.  We need to clear the 'rubble' which litters our minds and hearts when we come to prayer.
The second follows that thought.  We need to let go of what we cannot control.  That is why God is there - to handle what we cannot.  We have to give that to Him.
And third, there has to be a desire for reconciliation.  Reconciliation is something that we must practice constantly - a sprituality.

This was a good retreat for me.  It was restful.  It was inspiring.  It gave me some new perspectives for my life and my ministry.  And so, later today, I look forward to heading back to reality.

Gazing on the Face of Christ

As I write on this last full day of retreat, I share some reflections on the overall theme being presented: gazing on the face of Christ.  As I said, we began with a depiction of Caravaggio's 'Calling of Matthew'.  Matthew is seen gazing into the face of Christ, and his expression has become radiant at what he saw.

The message is for us to gaze frequently at the face of Chrisr as well.  And what we see will change according to our needs, our circumstances, our lives at that moment.  As a result, Fr. Ryan is giving us different images of the Face we might gaze upon when we turn to Jesus.

So far, we have been given for our meditation Christ as Friend, Christ as the Healing Presence of God, Christ as the Caller of Disciples, Christ as Teacher, Christ as the Bread of Life, and Christ as Priest.  We have one more session this afternoon to reflect on: Christ as Prince of Peace.

Just a brief notation on each:
Christ as Friend.  The image of the vine and the branches suggests that the more time we spend with Jesus, the deeper our friendship with him, and the more readily we turn to him as a companion on our journey.
Christ as the Healing Presence of God.  Jesus' healing of the leper shows Jesus sharing his humanity with the sick man, blending the holy and the unholy.  Bringing life out of death is God's primary concern, even when we cannot see how He can accomplish that.
Christ the Caller of Disciples.  Disciples often referred to in the Gospels as people of 'little faith'.  We often read that as people of 'no faith'.  But they were believers, just prone to fear and anxiety.  Aren't we all.  Believers/disciples, by our very nature, are followers - followers of Jesus.  He calls us to follow - even as people of little faith.
Christ the Teacher.  Disciples are always learners.  We must continually allow ourselves to be evangelized.  We never have it 'all figured out'.
Christ the Bread of Life.  The Eucharist is the sacrament of communion.  The Eucharist makes the church, which is why we place such great importance upon it.  Our Church is founded on a vision of relationship and hospitality.  In a word, communion - with one another and with God.  And that word - communion - is a verb as well as a noun.  It is a call to action, a call to achieve unity.
Chrsit as Priest.  Two (of many) dimensions of Christ's priesthood are compassion and intercession.  Christ prays for us.  Christ prays in us.  And Christ is prayed to, by us.  God always expects the 'why' questions when bad things happen to good people.  And He listens to them, and responds from the Cross.  Therefore, those isolated by suffering are no longer suffering alone.  Someone walks with us and prays for us: Jesus.

Obviously there is alot behind each of these, and much more food for thought as well.  A good retreat so far.  More to come.

Gazing on the face of Christ

This painting is done by Caravaggio, entitled The Calling of Matthew.  We were given a photocopy of this on the first evening of our retreat to set the tone for the week.  The topic of our retreat is 'Gazing on the Face of Christ', and our director is giving us ways that we view Christ as we encounter him.

Ultimately, when we come to prayer, we do so gazing upon the face of Jesus.  As in this painting, we look into his eyes, and he looks into ours.  What does he see?  What does he say?  And, what do we see?  What do we hear?  What do we say?

The look on Matthew's face speaks volumes.  We cannot see the face of Christ in this picture, so we can only guess what Matthew is seeing by the expression on his face.  And yet, the expression on MY face could be vastly different as I gaze upon Jesus' face at the very same time.

We are encouraged to gaze upon the face of Christ as he comes to us in our prayer and meditation, in the Scriptures and the sacraments, and in the people we encounter in the course of each day.  When we journey through this life seeing Jesus in all things, then we know we are indeed traveling the road that leads to our ultimate goal- eternal life in the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Guardian Angels

I am making my annual retreat this week at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford.  The theme this year is 'Gazing on the Face of Christ.'  More on that in subsequent blogs.

However, today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels.  The first readings at Mass this week are taken from the Book of Job.  Job is the perfect example of someone to whom every kind of trial and tribulation fell upon, even when there was no reason why.  He was an exemplary person, someone to whom everyone looked up, and yet, every good things was taken from him.  Still, Job refused to trun away from the Lord.

Fr. Ryan, our retreat director said that bringing life from death is God's primary concern, even when we cannot see how He will possibly accomplish that.  What a powerful statement.  That is precisely what Job did.  And that is precisely what we are called to do as well - persevere in our faith anf trust in God's divine providence.

That is what the Guardian Angels do.  They are sign's of God's presence in our midst, helping us, guiding us, leading us through the ups and downs of this life.

It was suggested that we name our Guardian Angel.  What an interesting thought.  When we name something, it becomes personal, and we then have a relationship with it.  Our Guardian Angel wants to have a personal relationship with us.  Find a name for him/her today.

Rivalry

Yesterday was a gorgeous late summer day.  The humidity finally left us, and the sun felt good.  So I headed over to Lyman Orchards to attempt the Corn Maze.  It was truly a-maze-ing!  Quite a feat, even with computers, to get this cut with such detail. 

We were given a map - which was pretty useless to me - and a series of clues that told you which way to turn (if you answered the questions correctly) at each of ten marker poles.  The paths all had plastic fencing to keep anyone from cutting through the corn, but if you had your ears open, you could hear kids 'announcing' that they had found the next pole.  Families with lots of kids had a distinct advantage, as they sent one kid off in each direction to do the scouting.  There were even two bridges from which you could see some of the pole markers, giving you a good idea of the direction you needed to go.

The corn stalks were at least ten feet tall, and the ears of corn were getting big.  Not sure if it was cow corn or going to get on someone's table in the near future, but the afternoon was enjoyable.

Support for Amanda

I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for Amanda, and the response to our making our White Mountain Trek a fundraiser for her.  We raised $2855.  My friend Debbie and I made T-shirts for all who hiked and stayed overnight at Lakes of the Clouds.

But, even those who did not climb with us, volunteered to be a part of this cause.  When we returned to base camp, we were astonished to find that an 8th grader, who had learned to give shoulder/back massages from her grandfather, decided to offer her services for $2, and raised $91 for Amanda! 

As good as a back/shoulder massage felt after lugging a 35 pound pack up and down mountains for two days, I did NOT give her the entire $91 myself!

And others made Get-well cards to send to her!

We all continue to pray for her speedy and complete recovery!

Citizens

One of my side trips during vacation is to get to Hadlock Field in Portland to see the Sea Dogs, the Red Sox AA affiliate.  We took in a noon game on a hot summer afternoon, and had seats a few rows behind home plate, a row behind a couple of Sox scouts, with whom I got to chat for the afternoon.  What a thrill to pick the brains of some who 'are in the know' about Sox prospects.  And what a thrill to get to see Jackie Bradley, Jr. in person, the next great center-fielder for the Sox.  Barely 22 years old, this kid has all the tools, and did not disappoint in wowing us with his skills.  Even the scouts are impressed!

But, an added benefit of this trip was to get to see 30 people from Somalia, Congo, Philipines and Germany become citizens of our great nation on the field prior to the game.  One could only wonder what was going through their minds as they took the official oath, and listened to our president, via video, welcome them to our great land, and asking God to bless them and bless our country!  And one counld only wonder about the probably very difficult journey that had brought them to this day.  We welcomed them with a rousing round of applause!

Mt. Franklin

I am happy to report that my 2012 White Mountain climb was successful. 
We were atop Mt. Pierce in about 3 hours, right on schedule - our schedule.  After being below tree line to that point, the views of Washington in the distance and the peaks in between were exhilarating.  It was a crystal clear day - in fact both days were completely clear.  That was a true blessing!

Our trek was supposed to be Pierce to Eishenhower to Monroe to Lakes of the Clouds and then on to Washington.  However, after Pierce and Eishenhower, we were confused.  We saw Washington, and guessed (correctly) that the peak in front of it was Monroe.  But, the path was leading to another peak, and not Monroe.  We asked a passerby, who identified that peak as Franklin!  Franklin?  Where did Franklin come from?  Well, Franklin is not a 4000 footer, though from where we stood at that moment, you could have fooled us!  And, we had to traverse Franklin to get to Monroe! 
No choice, so off we went.

Seven hours after we started, we pulled into Lakes of the Clouds, and while some went in for a quick, albeit cold, swim, I passed on that opportunity. 
After dinner, there was a gorgeous sunset, with the sun turning beet red at the end.  Pictures did not do it justice.

The next day was perfect weather again, and our ascent of Washington went without a hitch. 

From there, we spent the next few hours figuring out the new hiker shuttle to the bottom, and waiting for 'connections'.  Nonetheless, we all have vowed to be in better shape for next year's Tuckerman Ravine traverse, and can't wait for next July!

Amanda update

The latest on Amanda, the woman who's truck was crushed by ice in early April, is a mix of bad news/good news.  The Greenfield Filter that was placed in her to catch pulmonary embolisms is clogged.  That means they need to go in and remove it.  However, as it was inserted through the groin, and it is umbrella-shaped, it cannot be removed the same way ot was inserted.  Instead, they now need to go in through the carotid artery, a much more risky procedure.

On the 'good news' front, she will undergo a MRI to determine if the doctors are correct in thinking that she has healed to the point that she can have the 'collar' that has been protecting her neck and vertebrae removed.  The original prognosis was for her to have the collar for 4-6 months.  However, since the hospital in Alaska put the collar on and gave the original time frame, to have it removed sooner would require her to take the most recent medical results and go back to Alaska to have them remove it.

So we continue our prayers - prayers for the successful removal of the Greenfield Filter, and prayers of thanksgiving for her continued healing and quicker-than-expected steps toward recovery.

Half way there

Hard to believe that 2012 is half way done, this being July 1st!  Time sure does fly by!  And as if we need to be reminded just how fast time does fly, with the days starting to get shorter already, can't be long before we are shoveling snow again, can it?

However, this year Independence Day falls on a Wednesday - a tough day of the week to have a holiday.  Many people seem truly confused as to when to celebrate - the weekend before or the weekend after.  And the businesses seem to be taking full advantage of this confusion and hold sales BOTH weekends!

This afternoon I was invited to and attended a 'picnic' down by the shore.  I use that word 'picnic' loosely, because there were none of the traditional hotdogs and burgers and sweet corn and watermelon.  Instead there were lobsters and rib-eyes, sausage and peppers and sufritto (an Italian delicacy that is better when the ingredients are not known).

Of course, what picnic would be complete without the thunderstorm in the middle of the afternoon?  There were well over 50 people at this picnic, and all went scurrying as the rain pelted down and brought some 1/2 inch hail along with it.  Those who had been out for a stroll to walk off some of the delicious food came back drenched.  So, this is what we waited all winter for? 

Two weeks to go

Hard to believe it is only two weeks until my annual White Mountain climb. 
I heard that many of our normal group will not be able to go this year. 
That's kind of sad, because I look forward to seeing everyone this once a year, catching up on things, trying to recognize the kids one year removed from last being seen!  Next year will be the 20th anniversary of this group, 10th anniversary for me.  I imagine everyone will 'gear up' for that.

None-the-less, I am actually getting to the spot in my training, as late in starting as it was, that I think I just might make it in one piece. 
My three mile training loop of the hills in Bristol - Willis St./ Pleasantview/ Greystone/ Northmont Ext/back down Willis - is down to about 80 minutes (yesterday I hit 80!  Today was 82.).

We are taking the Crawford Path to Mt. Pierce, which is a 3 mile - moderate, they say - climb to treeline.  Then, if the weather cooperates, what makes it all worth it, is the trek across Pierce, Eisenhower and Monroe to Lakes of the Clouds Hut for the night - another almost 4 miles.  Then on up to Washington the next day - 1300' elevation gain in a mile and a half!

I have decided to do this climb in support of Amanda, my New Hampshire neighbors' daughter-in-law whose truck was crushed by a 30' chunk of ice on Good Friday.  See my April 21st entry.  Amanda has come a long way in two months, but still has probably a year more of rehabilitation.  She has been moved to Boston, and has since been released from the hospital to reside at her parent's home and do rehab on an out-patient basis.  Working through my parish, I am being sponsored to raise funds to defray some of Amanda's many expenses.  It is a great motivator for me knowing that I can push myself to do this for someone who would want to but cannot - yet.

Fortnight For Freedom

“The kingdom of God is like the mustard seed . . . . . . . . . the smallest of all seeds . . . . . . . which springs up and becomes the largest of plants . . .”

The idea that God can take something seemingly insignificant and bring forth something remarkable, something important, something unexpected is a beautiful thought.   Even so, most of us have a hard time believing that we can make a significant difference in this life and in this world.

I know that at times I wonder what impact I can possibly have on others, and whether I will leave this earth failing to accomplish much of anything in the eyes of God.  This verse from Sacred Scripture helps me realize that God can use anything and everything for His purposes, and to help build up His kingdom.  And that even means me - even if it’s not always that easy for me to see or believe at times.

Each of us has a part to play in the drama of life that is unfolding - a vital part.  And if you can’t figure out how that is possible, don’t worry - God has it figured out.  He will use us as He sees fit, provided we are open to that possibility.  You see, being “small” is not an obstacle to God.  In faith we believe that He can always bring something wonderful out of something less - even life from death, the greatest and most perfect example of this deep truth.  What could be more comforting or incredible than that?

But what if it is more that that?  What if God is able to accomplish great things through us not despite our smallness . . . but rather, because of it?  In other words, what if “being small” is a kind of spiritual prerequisite for the kingdom of God being able to grow within us, and consequently, being able to grow throughout everything we encounter in this life? 

What if we have to be small like a mustard seed before we can grow into the beautiful person God created us to be?  What if we have to be small in order for God to use us to do His work?

If that is true, then what does that look like?  What does that mean for each of us today?

This coming Thursday, the Catholic Church in the United States is beginning an initiative called ‘Fortnight for Freedom’, two weeks of intense prayer to let religious freedom in this country continue to be one of the pillars of our nation.  The fortnight continues through Independence Day.

Unfortunately, our government leaders are choosing to redefine religious liberty as only the freedom to worship as we choose.  They have narrowed ‘freedom of religion’ into ‘freedom to worship’.  They are enacting laws that will prevent us from following our conscience and actually living our religious beliefs outside of the church or outside of our homes.  This goes against our Constitution; this goes against the very principles our founding fathers sacrificed so much for.

As many of you already know, the Health and Human Services Mandate will require all employer-provided health care plans to cover, without deductibles or co-pays, all government – approved forms of birth control.  While an exemption was granted for “religious organizations” the term ‘religious organizations’ is so narrowly defined as to exclude Catholic institutions such as Catholic hospitals, Catholic schools and universities, and Catholic social service agencies, because , they serve those who are Catholic and those who are not Catholic, and they employ those who are Catholic, and those who are not Catholic.  And so the government claims therefore that they are not ‘religious organizations’, because we include everyone.

In order to be allowed to practice what we feel is morally acceptable, what we believe is in fact the teachings of our Lord, we will be forced to ask those coming to our soup kitchens for a meal if they are Catholic, or those coming to our hospitals for medical attention if they are Catholic, or those who want to attend a Catholic college or university if they are Catholic, and if they are not, to have to turn them away.  Otherwise, we would not be deemed a Catholic institution under the new definition established by our government.

One can also go to the website ‘fortnight4freedom.org’ for more information.  But, the bottom line is that God is calling each and every one of us, as small as we are individually, especially when put up against our government, to join together and both fervently pray, and speak up for our religious liberties.

Forty-three Catholic organizations have filed suit against our government to get this measure overturned, and to restore our religious liberties.  Contrary to what some are saying, this is not about birth control.  This is about our government telling us what we can and cannot believe. 

And, it is not just about the Catholic church.  If the government succeeds in this endeavor, every religion is fair game for the government to step in and dictate what can and cannot be practiced or believed.

The church believes in the power of prayer, obviously, but it also believes in the ‘energy of intention’.  That is the essential message of many holy people throughout history, especially St. Therese of Lisieux, and Mother Teresa, who once wrote: “We can do no great things; only small things with love.”  Even the simple things we do, like chores around the house – taking out the trash or cleaning our room, mundane tasks that fill our schedules – driving the kids to practice or preparing the evening meal, everything we do can all be transformed by our intention.  If we do what we do with love in our heart, then it will be love that will be spread by everything we do.

May we be strengthened as a people of faith to go forth, as small and insignificant as we might be, and in praying throughout this Fortnight for Freedom, make an enormous difference in the world in which we live by giving witness through all that we say and do to God’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace. 

Pentecost

Today we concluded the Easter Season with the Feast of Pentecost.  It seems like ages since I posted a blog, and indeed it HAS been almost a month.  As I reflected on this feast, and noticed that my last blog was about our parish Confirmation ceremony, I couldn't help but think of all those who received the Easter sacraments in the past 50 days.

Easter is all about the new life that is now ours because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  And the way to the Resurrection is through Jesus, by following his call and living his teachings.  And we get the assistance we need to do that, and persevere in that process, by the sacraments, most especially the Easter sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.  Thus the celebration of these sacraments is most appropriate throughout the Easter season.

This year we had two new members received in to our church and two adults baptized, all at the Easter Vigil.  In addition, we had several infants baptized almost every week of the Easter season.  And we had three different 1st Communion ceremonies.  Plus there was the sacrament of Confirmation conferred, as I wrote last time.  How encouraging it is to see so many people journeying with the help of the church, ever closer to that gift of new life that Jesus has brought.  We acknowledged those present at Masses this weekend who received these Easter sacraments this year.

Now the church enters 'Ordinary Time' once again, and picks up the calendar from where we were when Lent began over 90 days ago.  But Ordinary Time is not really 'ordinary'.  For the events of our daily lives have a direct impact on how we spend eternity.  So, there is nothing ordinary about that.  Rather, we are encouraged to take advantage of the sacraments to help us remain on course.  We are called to follow the voice of the Lord in all things.  And through it all, we are midful that our Lord walks this path along with us.  For all this we are truly and eternally grateful.

Confirmation

This evening, 23 candidates will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Macaluso.  We are trying something new this year, combining the ceremony with the candidates from Mary Our Queen parish in Plantsville.  While some people have expressed displeasure at the not being able to have Confirmation "in our church", nonetheless, it DOES make sense on alot of levels.  With their 30+ candidates, the church will be full, providing a greater sense of celebration.  Most of these candidates go to school with each other, play sports together, attend social functions together, and even made their retreats together.  It seems almost natural that they would be receiving this special sacrament together as well.

I participated in the Confirmation Interview process some time ago.  Some of these candidates are more than ready to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that will enable them to take an even greater role in the life of the Church.  Others desperately need the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to assist them in finding themselves and their true identity as a Child of God.  I ask you to join me in praying for each of them, for we need the gifts and talents each has to offer.  Each is required to 'do service hours' as part of their preparation.  For some it is a boring chore.  For others it is a way for them to be of assistance to the larger community, and shows them the unique gifts they have to offer.  May our Lord bless them all in a special way this evening!

Amanda

On Good Friday, 32 year old Amanda was driving to the store to buy butter to make cookies to bring to her husband at the firehouse in Alaska where they live.  Amanda is the daughter-in-law of my neighbors in New Hampshire. 
As she traveled along the Seward Highway, a 30 foot section of ice gave way from the cliff along side the road and landed on top of her pickup truck crushing the roof down to the level of the windows, and pushing her upper torso down to her thighs.

A tow truck and a nurse were among those immediately behind her.  The nurse looked in and saw Amanda turning blue.  She reached in to reposition her neck, opening an airway, probably saving her life.  The tow truck operator decided to try to use his forklift to raise the roof as much as he could.  This also probably saved her life.  The nurse manually stabilized her neck while the tow truck operator and several others took pressure off the roof.  Once the paramedics came, the nurse vanished from the scene and has not been heard from since.  Truly a Guardian Angel!

Amanda was in ICU for over nine days.  They surgically removed the right side of her skull which they are preserving it in a freezer while they cauterized the bleeds and allow her brain to heal.  Once the healing is done, they will detach the skin again and reattach the skull.  Amazingly, this procedure was developed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for our service people with traumatic brain injuries, with the difference being the removed portion of the skull is embedded in the person's stomach in the war zone because there is no refrigeration available, until they are flown to the hospital!

Each day has shown considerable progress in her healing.  In addition to the brain injury, she has fractured vertebrae, a fractured pelvis, and a fractured jaw.  In recent days she has shown cognitive ability returning.  The other day she was able to pick up the telephone, dial her husband's number, adjust the volume, and hang up afterward - a relatively complex procedure.

She had been moved on Monday to the Neuro-Rehab unit, but yesterday was readmitted to the ICU because she awoke in a sluggish state and there was fluid leaking from her incisions.  This is a temporary set-back; apparently spinal fluid is naturally released in cases like these to relieve pressure.  A drain was inserted to assist in this process.  Her alertness returned following the procedure, but they will keep her in ICU awhile longer so as to more closely monitor her signs.

I am constantly amazed at the miracle that unfolds on a daily basis with Amanda.  And the parallels with Good Friday and Easter send shivers down my spine.  It reminds me of how precious life really is, and how fleeting is everything we tend to busy ourselves with each day.  Please join me in praying for Amanda, for all those who are caring for her, and for her immediate family and friends.

Round is a shape

With the beautiful weather we had yesterday - and today may actually be too hot - I decided it would a great day to begin the long process of training for my hike of the Crawford Path to Mt. Washington in July.  So I headed to Sessions Woods in Burlington, a gem of a three-mile path through woods, past a bog with peepers and a pond with a beaver dam, some good up-hills and down-hills. 

The wood peckers were out in force, hammering away at trees all along the route.  The 'no- see-ums' we pesty as well.  The trail was nice and dry.  The sun was bright.  Met a number of people who had the same idea, people I hadn't seen in awhile.  In fact, I felt soooo good that when I finished, I decided to do it in reverse.  After all, while round IS a shape, it is not the ideal shape for hiking the White Mountains!  And what better day to start!

Today - well, that's a different story.  I've started with two Advil already!  Hmmm....and July isn't too far off!

October Baby

I don't go to movies very frequently.  That is an understatement.  I think I have seen four movies in the last ten years.  However, I participated in the on-line petition to bring 'October Baby' to town, so when they did, I had to support it.  And I am glad I did.

Apparently, the movie was released in just three southern states, since it was written as a commentary on a referendum there to determine at what point life begins - conception or actual birth.  The movie was scheduled to be released to a wider audience next month. And the book will be written from the movie this fall - kinda opposite to the 'normal' way thay is done.

Bring your kleenex.  I did hear some open sobbing at one point.  But I was moved more by the portrayal of the power of forgiveness, than the pro-life message.  Without giving away any of the story line, it is truly amazing how much one is freed when we forgive those who have harmed us in any way.  And, conversely, how much we are truly held hostage by our unwillingness to forgive, and all the damage that is done when we refuse to forgive.  To truly forgive someone is cathartic, and that message comes across loud and clear.

I also thought that was an especially pertinent message in this Easter season, as we ponder, and marvel at, the forgiveness given us by Almighty God through the death and Resurrection of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and how liberating that forgiveness really is.  May we all be given the grace to follow His example, and in readily forgiving one another, truly help to build the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Easter Friday

‘It is the Lord.’ (John 21:1-14)

Jesus reveals himself to the disciples for the third time since the Resurrection.  And once again, there are the same three images that occur: Jesus appears to the disciples in times of fear and futility; the disciples do not immediately recognize him; but the disciples do recognize him in the breaking of the bread.’

These experiences offer us hope.  They offer us a model for our own lives.  What happened in the lives of those first disciples has happened in the lives of his followers throughout the centuries, and happens in our own lives today as well. 

We, too, have times of fear, times when nothing seems to be going as it should, or as we would want.  In those times, when we face our own struggles in life, we, too, can be reassured that Jesus will come to us, too.

Second, even in those times when we cannot see the Lord through our pain, he will call to us, and our eyes will be opened, if we allow him to open our eyes.

And third, Jesus is made known to us each and every time we gather around the Table of the Lord and celebrate Eucharist.  That’s the power we Catholics have in this most precious sacrament.  When we are struggling, we need to come to Jesus’ real presence in the Blessed Sacrament and allow him to heal us and guide us.

Jesus, as he did for his first disciples, reveals himself to us again and again.  May we open ourselves to him, and allow him to lead us ever closer to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Peace of the Risen Lord

‘Peace be with you.’  (LK 24:35-48)

The peace of Christ often eludes us individually and collectively. 

In our struggles and fear, in times of violence and oppression, when the bad things of our world just seem to keep piling up, it is often hard to see Jesus’ presence and peace.

In such moments it may appear that despair has triumphed, and we are left with only questions in our hearts.

The consoling presence of the Risen Christ in today’s Gospel passage should do much to put our anxiety at rest.  When Jesus shows the troubled disciples his hands and his feet and eats with them, he models precisely how we can be that peace in troubled hearts and difficult times.

Jesus calls each and every one of us, his disciples, to use our hands to embrace the suffering and help carry the lonely; to use the bounty of our table and the friendship of our homes to ease the hunger and isolation by providing a meal and conversation for someone in need.

My neighbor in New Hampshire emailed to say that her daughter-in-law was in a serious car accident last Friday (Good Friday) in Alaska where they live.  Her truck was struck by a 30 foot chunk of ice that fell from a cliff overhanging the road.  It flattened the truck to the point where she was bent forward so far that she was suffocating.  A tow-truck happened by and the driver used his equipment to pull the roof up enough to provide some relief until rescue people arrived.  They say that action probably saved her life.  She has a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, fractured vertebrae, fractured jaw, pelvis and arm, and is just now coming out of a coma.

But, my neighbor wrote, the most amazing thing, next to the fact that her daughter-in-law is still alive, is the outpouring of prayers and support from people everywhere.  That, she said, is what is getting them through. 

That is the peace of the Risen Christ.  May we be bearers of that same peace as together we continue to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Easter Tuesday

CNN ran a program, apparently on Easter Sunday (of course) regarding discussion in some circles about whether Jesus was an historical person or just a myth - fiction created by 1st century people that was a derivative of pagan gods.  The blogsite is:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/07/the-jesus-debate-man-vs-myth/. 
A friend brought this to my attention and sought my comments.

A number of thoughts came to mind: 

First of all, faith is just that - things that often cannot be proven, but which we believe because of what we have found evidence that, to us, says what we believe is true.  If everything we believed could be proven, only idiots wouldn't believe.  But, for whatever reason, God didn't set it up that way.  So, we believe because what we have experienced in life, upon reflection, seems to support those beliefs.  If others do not choose to see things in this way, that is their prerogative.

Second, many of the things in our religion WERE based on the pagan and Jewish customs that people in that day were familiar with. 
Was Jesus born on December 25th?  Probably not.  In fact, most likely he was not.  But Christians later set that as the date to coincide with the pagan rituals for the shortest day of the year, the days starting to get longer, and thus the Light of the World coming to dispel darkness. 
Easter is a movable feast that is based on the full moon - the 1st Sunday after the spring full moon!  Again, it was set there to coincide with pagan rituals, as well as the Passover of the Jewish faith, but it's meaning - new life - still holds true, and is very similar to the rituals of other religions. 

But, because they were not actual dates does not erode what we believe about Jesus and our God.  The foundations of our faith remain true even if the 'externals' are not historically accurate.  Jesus, whenever he was born, and whenever he died and rose from the dead, did actually come into our world to open for us the gates to eternal life.  And when we get right down to it, isn't that all that really matters?

Third, as we increasingly become a pagan society that excludes any form of public worship, and the only mix of church and state is the Christmas season we find in stores from September through December 26th, then we can only expect more and more of this kind of blabber to be spread everywhere. 
All we have to do is look to countries like Russia, where the communists effectively banned practice of religion for so long - for generations (if you wanted a good paying job, you had to be a communist, which meant you could not go to church) - that now, when churches are opened again, no one knows anythng about religion or even sees any reason to go to church. 
That's where we are headed in this country, too.

So, when we see these things like this program/blog, it is good that it causes us to ask 'why' we believe what we do, because then our faith gets stronger, and our beliefs are fortified, and that is a good thing.  Continue to steep yourself in our traditions, take frequent advantage of the sacraments God has given us to support us on this journey, and leave the rest to Him!

Easter Monday

‘God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.’  (Acts2)

So, we have survived the crowds here in church this weekend, and all the festivities and foods and parties – all meant to assist us in celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection, and the new life he has brought into our world. 

So, it would be fair to ask you, do you feel any different this morning – other than tired?  In a world that is still broken in so many ways, where are the effects of Jesus’ Resurrection?  Where do we find our hope?

I remember reading an article by the Rev. William Sloane Coffin who suggested that hope is a state of mind.  And because it is a state of mind, it really is independent of the world in which we live.

He said that if our heart is full of hope, we can be persistent even when we cannot be optimistic.  We can keep the faith despite whatever is swirling all around us in our lives.  On top of that, he also said that it is only in having hope that we can have any chance of changing the things in the world around us.  He concluded, “So, while I am not optimistic, I am always very hopeful.”

The disciples knew they had no choice but to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection everywhere they went.  They knew that if they refused to do that, there was no hope that the world around them would ever change.  The same is true for us.  The only hope we have of seeing improvements is if we remain hope-filled people, and if we go forth to give witness to the power of Jesus’ Resurrection everywhere we go.  For then will we assist in the building of the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Happy Easter!

As I was preparing this homily I got to thinking about . . . .

Empty hearts.  Empty words.  Empty relationships.  Empty shelves.

I hear what you are thinking: “Father, you’re bringing us down on a day we should be happy.”

Empty gas tanks.  Empty hands.  Empty wallets.  Empty promises.

You know, every time we think of something as being empty it seems to be a negative thing, a bad thing, an undesirable thing, doesn’t it? 

Most of us don’t want anything that’s empty. 

But today is different.  Today we gather as a people of faith to rejoice over an empty tomb, THE empty tomb - the greatest sign of God’s power over every evil - every sorrow, every failure to love, every disappointment, every heartache, every tragedy, every sin, and even over death itself.  The tomb may have been empty, but the world would be forever filled with the power that the empty tomb represents - the power of the resurrection.

Sometimes I think that we have the tendency to think of this day in only one way - that Easter simply means that we can now hope for eternal life with God when our earthly lives have ended.  And that is absolutely true.  Easter is certainly about that, and we should never underestimate what that means for each and every of us, and for humanity as a whole.  Jesus has reconciled us to the Father, and because of that, we have an opportunity to dwell with God forever.

But, Easter is so much more.  The power of the resurrection is not something that only impacts our lives at the end, it is also a power that is at work right now, in this time and place, in every situation and in every human heart.  And this power, this great triumph over sin and death represented by the empty tomb, has the ability to fill all the emptiness inside of us - the wounds, the brokenness, the sorrow, and even the sin. 

Through the Holy Spirit, the power of the resurrection has been unleashed on the world, ready to transform every darkness into light, every bit of despair into hope, every disappointment into a new possibility, and every daily “death” we endure into something filled with life - new life - a whole new way of being, of seeing, of acting, of experiencing whatever comes our way as we make our journey through this life.

The power of the resurrection, the power revealed by the empty tomb, can make an unbelievable difference - a life-changing difference for each of us - IF . . . and this is a big if . . .  IF we are willing to change. 

And not just if we are willing to change, but if we actually want to change, if we long for it, if we are sincerely open to it.

God wants to transform our lives into lives of even greater beauty, even greater meaning, even greater purpose.  He wants to transform us into men and women who see more like He sees, who care more like He cares, who love more like He loves.  And if we are open to this transformation, if we invite the power of God’s saving act to penetrate our hearts and minds, everything will be different.

And make no mistake about what I’m saying.  Even if we allow ourselves to be transformed into the people God created us to be (and died for us to be) we will not be free of the struggles of this life.  Every one of us will still experience obstacles, and failures, and disappointments.  We will still encounter sorrow and heartache.  And yes, each of us will someday die. 

But none of those things - not even death itself - can win.  None of them can get the best of us.  The victory has been won.  And because of that victory, every difficulty we face in this life can be resurrected and created anew as well - transformed from something of great darkness, into something so much more meaningful.

That’s what Easter is all about, each of us allowing God’s saving power to turn every difficulty and every cross we have to carry in this life into an Easter moment, an experience in which God’s love, and mercy, and compassion triumph over whatever it is we’re going through.

Therefore, heaven is not just something we long for in the future.  Heaven, in a certain sense, is something we can begin to experience right now, in this time and place, whenever we allow the power of the Resurrection to help us experience life in a whole new way: seeing, and acting, and loving as God does.

Empty tomb?   That doesn’t sound too bad.  May the emptiness in each of us be filled with every good thing God offers, not just this Easter day, but each and every day – each and every time we need the power of the Resurrection to make a real and lasting difference in our lives, knowing that we are indeed on the road that leads to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Easter Vigil

I love the Easter Vigil celebration.  It is such a moving experience.  Unfortunately so many people do not attend because it is much longer than a 'normal' Sunday Mass, and for some reason, I think Catholics believe they will turn into 'Protestants' (the religious version of pumpkins) if they are not out of church in 45 minutes or less!

The symbolism of the rituals within the Vigil are exquisite.  Each of our senses is employed.
From the complete darkness of the church that literally feels like our being buried in the tomb with Jesus, to the new Easter fire and the Light of Christ slowly enveloping the entire congregation in candle light, our eyes witness the Resurrection.
The bells and the organ introduce the Gloria, and our ears hear the melodic strains of hymns of praise to our God for the new life Jesus has brought.
The new Easter water is blessed and drops land upon us in the Espurgus Rite and we feel the power of our baptismal day when these same waters made us a child of God, just as those to be baptized this night will be brought into our faith.
The sweet smell of incense tells us our prayers are billowing to the heavens in a similar fashion.
The taste of the bread and wine transfromed into the Body and Blood of our Lord make it clear that Jesus, our Risen Savior, now physically enters us to walk with us and guide us each step we take, each and every day.

While there is certainly a tremendous amount of preparation needed to make this liturgy unfold smoothly, and this year this is even more so because of the changes in the new Roman Missal translations, nonetheless, it is a liturgy that I look forward to, and revel in.    It is a privilege and a joy to preside, and to be able to baptize and confirm two catechumens and welcome two candidates into the fullness of our faith through the sacrament of confirmation.  My only regret is that so many people deprive themselves of witnessing and participating in this greatest of all liturgies!

Good Friday

A lazy co-worker finally gets let go, and we think . . . . . . . “You deserved it.”

A woman who has been fudging her company’s books for years finally gets audited, and we think . . . . . . . . .  . . .

“You deserved it.”

A man who constantly mistreats his girlfriend eventually gets dumped by her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “You deserved it.”

A criminal gets caught and gets a stiff sentence . . . . 

“You deserved it.”

You scrape your knee chasing your sibling around the house, and what does your mom say?  You guessed it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “You deserved it.”

Often in life it seems as though people get exactly what they deserve.

Well, not today.

Jesus certainly didn’t - the sinless one, the one who did nothing but do right by every person he encountered, the one who only spoke the truth, the one who reached out to the lowly and those on the fringes - he certainly didn’t get what he deserved. 

And when we hear the story of Jesus’ passion and death it fills our hearts with an even greater amount of sorrow knowing precisely who had to undergo such an ordeal. 

It wasn’t right then.  And it sure doesn’t seem right now.  No, Jesus did not get what he deserved.

He deserved their respect.  He deserved their admiration.  He deserved their friendship.  He deserved their full and undivided attention.  He deserved their compassion and understanding.  And he deserved their love. 

Instead, he got little of those things. 

Instead, he was led where none of us would ever want to go.  And he did it simply because he refused to stop loving, even in the face of ridicule, even in the face of judgment, even in the face of suffering, and yes, even in the face of death.

Jesus certainly did not get what he deserved - that goes without saying - but he’s not alone.  He didn’t get what he deserved . . . . . and neither did we.

“Lord I am not worthy . . .” That’s right . . . neither did we. 

You see, we don’t really deserve what Jesus did for us and continues to do for us.  And that’s not to put ourselves down, or beat ourselves up, or be overly harsh.  It’s simply the reality of the situation.  We know that at times we have messed up.  At times we have made choices that undermine that which God desires for the world.  At times we have wandered far off the path, strayed, disobeyed - use any word you want - we simply have not always lived up to our calling as sons and daughters of God, and as people created in His image and likeness. 

And whatever is wrong with the world, whatever needs to be healed or mended, it’s not because God didn’t do His part - it’s because men and women - you and me - have failed to do ours.

But instead of saying, “You made your bed, now lie in it,” God chose to take all of the brokenness and all the sin upon Himself.  Instead of doing nothing, God didn’t just do something - He did everything - pouring out His very self, His very life for us.  We did not deserve it.  But that didn’t matter to God.  He simply showed us just how much He loves us.

And so as we reflect on Jesus hanging on the Cross, our hearts are not just filled with sadness.  They’re also filled with a tremendous amount of gratitude, a profound appreciation for all that God has done for us. 

A truly Christian heart is a grateful heart. 

May we never stop thanking God from the depths of our very being, not just today, but always, for opening for us the way to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace. 

Holy Thursday

Unlike most other days throughout the year, the readings Holy Mother Church gives us for Holy Thursday are always the same.  And so, I suppose if you were asked to choose the Gospel reading for today - a day on which we remember the Last Supper - many of us would probably choose one of the passages that depicts Jesus “instituting the Eucharist” - sitting at table, blessing bread and wine, breaking the bread, and sharing this sacred meal with his disciples.  Yet, what we hear every year is St. John’s account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.  Why doesn’t the Church simply include a more expanded passage from John, one including Jesus blessing bread and wine and sharing them with his friends?

Well, the answer is simple - there is no such passage.   

You see, St. John’s Gospel doesn’t mention the Last Supper as the other three evangelists do. 

And, Matthew, Mark, and Luke say nothing about the foot washing. 

And so, since the Church wants to include both, it chooses a passage from St. Paul in which he mentions the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, and follows it with the passage from St. John recounting the foot-washing ritual.

Now, it may seem that the easiest solution would be to do the re-enactment of the foot-washing on a different Sunday during the year, and simply focus on Eucharist today.  Yet, we don’t do that.  Why?  There is a very good reason why.  It seems pretty clear that Jesus didn’t just happen to do these two things at the same meal.  He chose to do them together; he chose to forever link one with the other. 

And that should tell us something.

I think there is a tendency for us as Catholics to see this sacred meal as simply a holy, private moment between each of us and our God.  Sure, we do it each Sunday all together as a faith community - that is of course, true - but for many of us that’s secondary. 

For most of us, unfortunately, Eucharist is a time when I come to experience true “communion” with my God, a time for me to experience God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s comfort.  Receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood is a time for me to spiritually draw closer to my God and to know a peace that only He can give.

And those are all good things, don’t get me wrong – as are all the things that I experience when I share in this sacred meal.  And I thank God for the opportunity to be touched by Him in this way, to be nourished by His Body and Blood, to be fed a food unlike any other. 

However, that is just one aspect of what this holy meal is all about.  You see, Eucharist is not just a precious gift for you and for me as individuals.  It’s a gift for the whole world - the gift of Jesus’ very self poured out for a world in desperate need of healing, and mercy, and love.

As Catholics we believe some pretty incredible things about what happens within the walls of our church, on the altar, at the sacred meal.  Believing that our God comes to us in this way is both powerful and profound.  And it should be comforting to know that our God wants us to be close to Him - for us to dwell in Him, and He in us.  However, this sacred meal, this holy food, is also meant to transform us.

That’s right, transform us – transform us into more than we were yesterday.  That’s the power of this sacrament.  It can change us for the better, help us to be more and more like the people God created us to be.   But make no mistake about it - this transformation is meant to not just change who we are, but how we live.  In other words, what we believe happens at the altar will hopefully bear fruit in all that we do, in the way we treat others, in the choices we make each and every day.

This sacred meal, this food for the journey, is meant to empower us and inspire us to live more as Jesus lived - to be better foot-washers, more faithful foot-washers, more loving foot-washers.  Our belief in the Eucharist is not something we simply contemplate.  It’s something we allow to change us - so that we may more perfectly conform our lives to the life of the One we follow, the One in whom we put our trust, the One we call Lord.

Believing in Jesus means something.  Following Jesus means something.  Believing in what takes place on the altar means something. 

They mean that the Eucharist we receive, and serving the needs of others are inextricably linked together.  We really can’t claim belief in one and fail to do the other.  That’s probably why Jesus chose to do them at the same time.  They’re not disconnected.  They’re intimately linked, an expression of what faith is really all about.

At our Holy Thursday Mass, our choir shared the song 'Remembrance' by Matt Maher.  Its words speak to us about what it is we celebrate at every Mass:

"Oh, how could it be,
That my God would welcome me into this mystery,
Say take this bread, take this wine,
Now the simple made divine, for any to receive.

By Your mercy, we come to Your table;

By Your grace, You are making us faithful.

Lord, we remember You:
And remembrance leads us to worship,
And as we worship You,
Our worship leads to communion.
We respond to Your invitation, we remember You."

I think that is such a beautiful description of what happens every time we gather for Mass. 

We gather because the Lord invites us to come and remember him (Do this in remembrance of me.). 

And as we remember him, we are led to worship him (My Lord and my God.). 

And in worshiping him, we are led to communion – communion with God and communion with one another. 

And in remembering those in the world around us, we cannot help but respond to God’s invitation to assist those most in need, for in so doing we become the very Body of Christ that we receive.

And thus we do not only remember Jesus washing the feet of his disciples on this day, as if we’re just recalling something from the past.  Rather, we strive to remember what we do this night every time we come forward to receive the Lord’s Body and Blood.  May this holy meal continually challenge us and inspire us to go forth and do the work of Jesus - as servants of all. 

Jesus laid down his life for others.  May we have the courage and the faith to do the same, helping to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.