Posts

Posted on

Always Part of the Family

There are eight of us kids in the Walsh family. Two boys and six girls. We are all very different, and we all get along very well these days. But as a kid, I remember some very…uh, heated discussions. Usually, it was about trivial things that siblings fight about. Sometimes it was about important things.  I’m reminded of Katherine Hepburn’s famous line in the classic film The Lion in Winter, “But what family doesn’t have its ups and downs?”  I think this could apply to the Church as well.

One of the most apt descriptions of the Catholic Church is “the worldwide family of God.”  This makes a lot of sense. The Kingdom of God is built of relationships. The relationship that all members of the Church share is to be in communion with Christ and each other.  Even Canon Law states that the first duty of the Christian faithful is to “maintain communion with the Church.” (Can. 209 §1).  

In its most basic sense, this means that we are united in faith in Jesus Christ as Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. In its most profound sense, it means we are united at the very level of our being. Remember, faith is first and foremost a relationship of communion with Christ and with each other. Therefore, the description of the Church as family is very apt. 

Look at any family and it becomes obvious they are a pretty diverse bunch. Each member has a variety of strengths and each has different areas where he or she needs the other members to be strong for them. It’s the same in our parish family and the same in the Church universal. The Church is marvelously diverse in its unity. So much so that G.K. Chesterton once described the Catholic Church as, “Here comes everybody!” 

We all have different likes and dislikes.  Different musical tastes and senses of humor. Different cultural backgrounds and pious practices. All of this is what helps make the Church truly “catholic.” In light of this, a problem arises when one or more members of the family begins to see themselves as the “real” members of the family and the others as less so. Granted, some members of the family may not stay in touch as well as others. Sometimes they do things that are against the way they were raised and may even do hurtful things to bring scandal to the family. That does not make them any less a member of the family. 

It’s the same in the worldwide family of God, the Church. Some members remain very close to home. Others may drift away. Others might even say and do things that are diametrically opposed to how we are called to live our faith. But we never give up on them. They are always part of the family. Our task in such circumstances to continually invite all members of the Church to continual conversion of mind and heart; to deepen that relationship of communion with Christ and each other. Reflecting the mercy of Christ, we “admonish the sinner” not to cast them out and show how good and pious we are, but rather to invite him or her in love to a renewed and deeper communion.

Each member of the family is unique and is in diverse circumstances. Therefore, the approach to each will be equally diverse. There is no one-size-fits-all remedy, whether it is a fellow parishioner or a public official. We may be sorely disappointed by another’s behavior. We may be saddened by their absence.  But we are never allowed to cease caring about them.  They are always part of the family.

Posted on

Involved or Committed?

Hey, Church fans! Had a great time last week flying a couple of kids around to see the local glaciers. This week, we hear Jesus say, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What’s he getting at? Check it out.

Are You Involved or Committed? XIX Sunday in Ordinary Time

      

Yesterday, I had had breakfast with a friend at a local iconic establishment. 

       We both ordered bacon and eggs.

       As our food arrived, he looked at me and said, “You know, that’s the difference between being involved and being committed. 

       “How do you figure?” I asked.

       “Well,” he said, “Look at your breakfast.”

       “Yeah,” I said, “Bacon and eggs.”

       “Yep, bacon and eggs,” he said. “Think about it. The chicken is involved…the pig is committed!” 

       He’s right, you know. 

       It raises a good question for each of us in light of Jesus’ words in the gospel today.

       When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus in St. Patrick’s

       Are you involved

              Or are you committed? 

One thing I like about St. Patrick’s is that we never do anything halfway.

We go all in. We sing every verse and we don’t leave Mass early, even when the donuts are right outside the door! 

       We do this for a reason. First know hat one should never be in a hurry to leave the House of God. 

Second, we remember with sadness that Judas was the first one to leave Mass early…

We are here to praise God, to share our stories, to share communion and fellowship with God and one another, and to be sent back into the world to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection and the forgiveness of sins.

       But at certain point each one of us has to decided, “I am merely involved, or am I committed?” 

How you answer that question will make all the difference.

This is what Jesus is getting at when he says, “Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart.”

If our “treasure”, i.e., that which is most valuable to us is our relationship with God and others, those relationships will take priority over everything else. That is when we become committed.  That’s when we organize our time and our resources to building up those relationships.

I’ve said it before, “Show me your calendar and your bank statement and I will tell you what your priorities are.”

But such a commitment isn’t easy and it doesn’t come overnight. Such stewardship of our time and resources takes time, practice, vigilance.

There are lots of things that compete for our attention. Very few of these are bad in and of themselves. Indeed, if I was the evil one, I would fill your life with so many good things that you would not have time for the essential relationships that give life joy and meaning.

It we are not careful our lives can become like our garages, filled with so much cool stuff that we can no longer use it for the reason it was built. 

We need to pay attention. We need to be vigilant. We need to be like “servants who await our master’s return.” We need to examine our priorities every day to make sure we are focused on who and what really matters.

       As individuals and as a parish family, we have all been given so much. Thus, much will be demanded of us. At the end of the age, when we stand together as a parish before the Lord, he will ask us what we did to build up the Kingdom here in 99504.

       Now is a good time to examine where our heart is. Now is a good time to look at our calendar and our bank statement. Is our relationship with Christ, with our parish family, with the Church our first priority? If not, where do we need to make adjustments? There is no guarantee of tomorrow. The Master could return at any moment. Now is the time to decide if we are involved or committed.

Posted on

What Matters to God?

[Hello, Church fans! Wow! Did Deacon Mick hit it out of the park this weekend. Probably one of his top five homilies of all time and certainly worth sharing with the blogosphere. Here it is. My musings on the same readings are below. ]

Deacon Mick Fornelli – “Your money or your life?!”

Way back when, as I was filling out the application to be a seminarian for the Archdiocese, I came across the last question which read: “If you were not applying to become a priest, what do you see yourself doing in five years?”  I have a business degree from a big, fancy university.  So I paused for a moment and then wrote down: “Working on my third million!”

The way I would do it is simple. I would open up a Self Storage facility. These things are essentially a     license to print money. There is a very good reason for this—People have too much stuff! 

They say that we spend the first third of our live wanting stuff, the second third accumulating stuff, and the last third trying to get rid of stuff. Coming to the end of what is likely the second third of my life, I can relate. If you have a storage unit, or have ever had a storage unit, you know what I am talking about.

When I was in college and up through the time I was ordained at 29, I had a simple rule. “If it didn’t fit in the pickup, it didn’t go.” But eventually, stuff started to fill up the corners of the garage, and then the center, and well…. All I can say is thank the Lord for Craigslist and Marketplace. Now I can get rid of stuff.

The point of the parable about the foolish rich man with the big barns is pretty clear to us. Stuff is nice. Stuff is useful. But in the long run, stuff doesn’t matter in the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Heaven is built on relationships. Thus, the only stuff we take with us from this life are the relationships that we build up in this life with Christ, and with one another. This is what we mean by “the communion of saints.” 

Relationships are not rocket science. If you want a relationship to grow, you give it time and attention.  So, spend time in prayer, giving your attention to the Lord. Spend time with your parish family in liturgy and fellowship. Spend time with your friends, giving them your love and attention.  This is the stuff of the Kingdom. This is our treasure in heaven.  

Posted on

Ask Big!

[Hey, Church fans! It was a great time fishing in western Alaska at our family’s fish camp. I landed the biggest red (sockeye) in my life on the third day. While we are fishing for meat, and size is not really a priority, it was something to pull in a 15.2 pound (6.9kg) sockeye salmon. At 29.5 inches, (75cm) he was a fat one. Here’s the pic:

Fr. Leo – Fisher of Men, Fisher of Fish!

Deacon John Ostrom gave the homily this weekend, so there is no vid, but here my column for the week. Enjoy.

     So, first things first. The fishing was great. I had a great time. I have a bunch of reds in the freezer. The trip was shorter due to iffy weather that delayed my departure by several days.

    Just as there are not atheists in foxholes, I doubt there are any of us who fly small airplanes in the mountains who have not raised up a prayer or two to the Almighty  either in thanksgiving for the joy of flight or pleading for better weather. It’s a similar thing to what is going on in the readings the Church gives us this week for our contemplation. Even a quick study of them reveals that the prayer of the Christian should have certain qualities.

First, our prayer should be persistent. This is not so much because it changes God’s heart or mind on the matter at hand. God is crazy in love with us. God knows what we need and wants to give us what will lead to our ultimate happiness. However, persistence in prayer does change our hearts and minds to be in conformity with the heart and mind of God. All too often we pray, “My will be done!” not “THY will be done.” Persistence in prayer helps us see the bigger picture beyond our immediate needs.

Second, every one of our prayers should include some form or adoration, contrition, thanksgiving , and supplication. (The acronym “ACTS” helps us to remember this.)  Posture is important too. When we bow our heads or kneel or prostrate before the Lord, we acknowledge that God is the Supreme Being, not us. He alone is worthy of adoration. In the Lucan version of the Lord’s Prayer, a primary emphasis is on contrition for sins and plea for the grace to forgive others. We also need to acknowledge that all we have and are is a gift from God. This is the heart of our stewardship of such gifts for the good of the Church and the world. Finally, we need to make supplication to the Lord for ourselves and especially for others.  I’m struck at how Abraham intercedes for Sodom, asking God to spare it even if there are only ten good people. Our Lord also gives a great  example of persistent prayer in the context of sacred hospitality.

God wants us to ask. As Our Lord points out, if we know how to give good things to others, how much more so will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Therein lies the rub. All too often we set our sights too low. We ask for those things which we could readily get on our own through persistence and hard work. How much better to ask big! How much more beautiful to ask for the things that only Almighty God can provide—to feel God’s presence, to know God’s will, to receive God’s Holy Spirit. So ask, seek and knock! Keeping in mind that God has three ways of answering our prayers.

1) “Yes.” 

2) “Not yet.” and

3) “I have something better in mind for you.”           

Have a great week!

Posted on

Heralds of the Kingdom

[Greetings, Blog fans! Hey, FB go their software figured out and so now I can download videos again. Here’s the vid and the text. Blessed Independence Day. God bless you and God bless America.]

I’ve heard some complaints that the supply of dad jokes in the homilies has diminished somewhat.  To remedy this sad situation, here are three dad jokes to help you celebrate Independence Day…

  1. Did you hear the one about the Liberty Bell? – Yep, it cracks me up!
  2. What did one flag say to the other flag?      – Nothing.  It just waved.
  3. Why are there no “Knock Knock” jokes about American Independence?  – Because freedom rings!

     In ancient and medieval times, the king and his court were always on the move, riding from town to town and village to village. There were very practical reasons for this. First, it was important that people physically saw him so that they would remember that they had a king. Secondly, it was a practical way for the king to be available to render justice and to resolve legal disputes. But before he came to a place, he would send a herald. The herald had a twofold mission. First, to proclaim that the king is coming, and second, to instruct the people on how to properly receive their sovereign and to get the town ready for his arrival. To make sure the herald was credible, he was dressed in the finest raiment of the court. His announcement was preceded with great pomp, perhaps even the blowing of trumpets to get the people’s attention. There could be no doubt that the message was real and the king was actually coming. Once that was done, he would enlist the local authorities and townspeople to clean up the town and get it decorated. Finally, he would instruct them on the proper protocol on how to receive the king and how to address the nobles of the court that accompanied him. It was a big deal.

       In the sending of the seventy-two that we hear proclaimed in today’s gospel, we see Jesus doing essentially the same thing. He is sending his heralds to prepare the towns and villages that he intended to visit. But how very different are the heralds of the Kingdom of God! They are sent as mendicants without fancy clothes, not even any sandals or spending money. They are totally dependent on God and on those who will receive them for food and lodging. There can be no doubt that the Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus is very different from any earthly kingdom. Its worth cannot be given a monetary value.

       While the simplicity of the messengers’ life gives them a  certain credibility, how much more so does the power of their message. Their message is accompanied by powerful works. In short, they are doing the very things that Jesus is doing. they cure the sick, they expel demons, they proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Who would not believe a message accompanied by such miracles. Even the seventy-two are amazed. 

       While the times have changed, the power of the message has not.  Jesus still sends out messengers to proclaim the Kingdom in this time and in this place. The only difference is that now those messengers look a lot like me and like you. By our baptism, each one of us is called to be a herald of the Kingdom.

       The character of that witness will differ for each one of us. Why? Because just like the early disciples, each one of us has a different experience of the Risen Christ in the life of the Church.

       So here is a little tip on how to do that.  So often when asked about Christ or the Church, we don’t know where to start?  Do you start with the Nicene Creed?  The Apostles Creed, the Catechism?  The Liturgy? Dogma? 

       Well, you can, but before you do, remember these three things:

1.  The first question people ask is seldom the one they want answered.

       I’m fortunate to have learned this early on in ministry.

When I was Fr. Young Priest, people would come up to me and say something like, “Hey, Father, what does the Church teach about annulments?”

       And I always answer, “That’s a very good question. Why do you ask?”

       “Well, my sister is going through a divorce and she was wondering about her status in the Church.”

       “Ahhh…” I reply, “Let’s talk about your sister…”

2. Unless you have a particular expertise in a particular ecclesiological field, do not feel like you have to articulate every theological article or defend every aspect of the history of the Church.

       However, you are the world expert in one thing…your own faith. Tell them how you have experienced Christ in your life.  Tell them of your significant moments of conversion and how you live your faith here in the midst of  your parish family. Keep in mind that you may be the only Gospel this person will ever hear.

3. Take a genuine interest in your interlocutor’s life and desires.  Ask lots of questions.  And always…always be kind. People will seldom remember what you say. They will never forget how you made them feel. 

In the end, we are the present-day heralds of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has sent us to every place and person he intends to visit.  The credibility of our witness, and the power of our proclamation will rest on how well we have come to know Christ, so that we may make him known. 

Posted on

Towards a Consistent Ethic of Life, for a Culture that Chooses Life

     On January 22, 1973, I was a little over eight years old. I was not old enough to understand the social upheavals of the day or the issues involved in the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand in the United States. But I do remember that the following weekend, Fr. Tom Connery stood in the pulpit at Holy Family exclaiming loudly, “Abortion is murder!” several times. I didn’t know what abortion was at that time or why it was murder. That horrible understanding came later.

Now, after almost 50 years, that decision which resulted in the deaths of over 50 million infants in the womb has been reversed and the issue has been remanded back to the individual states. While there is cause for rejoicing that an eclipse of reason resulting in a grave injustice has been ended, we must not gloat. If we are to heal the polarization that has characterized the tenor of public discourse in recent decades, now is a time for the exercise of charity more than ever. We must choose our words charitably and wisely. Furthermore, we must be able to articulate what it means to support and defend human life in all of its stages from conception to natural death if we are to grow a culture of that chooses life within our great society. 

One of the most compelling and succinct such articulations was formulated by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernadine of Chicago. It is not enough to be anti-abortion. What we need, the Cardinal said, is a consistent ethic of life, “a seamless garment.”

Briefly stated the consistent life ethic is this. Life is sacred and social. Because it is sacred, its dignity must be defended and upheld at all times and in all circumstances from conception to natural death.  Because it is social, society has a duty to defend and uphold it at all times and in all circumstances. 

Understanding the breadth of the implications of a consistent ethic of life is important. If we are to defend and uphold the dignity of life in all stages and all circumstances, that will certainly mean at its beginning. But it also means that we must support and defend those things which support the dignity of human persons throughout their lives. As the U.S. Bishops have exhorted us, it means walking with women in crisis pregnancies so that they may have the material, psychological and spiritual resources available to choose life. It also includes things like affordable housing, education, a just wage, affordable child care, and affordable health care. It also causes us to reexamine closely the morality and practicality of the death penalty. Finally, it involves end of life issues such as palliative care and related issues. And the list goes on.

It is a time for rejoicing but not in the sense of winners and losers. Not it is about moving deeper into the truth and walking with others in that truth with love. Our greatest work is still ahead of us.

Posted on

The Eucharist – Sacrifice and Abundance

(Howdy, Church fans! Still working on the video thing due to Facebook’s new algorithm that makes it impossible to download videos. In the meantime, go to our parish FB page by clicking here and scrolling to the homily. Sorry for the extra work. Blame Zuckerburg.)

       It’s providential that Corpus Christi falls on Father’s Day this year.  So much of this feast bespeaks of God the Father’s love for us in providing for our physical and spiritual need in abundance. 

       I’ve said this before on a few occasions, and it true. There are two ways of approaching life, the universe and everything. (Extra points for those of you who can cite that reference.) One can do so with a spirituality of scarcity or with a spirituality of abundance. Which you decide will make all the difference in your life.  It is good to reflect on today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord (“Corpus Christi”) in this context. 

       First we have to acknowledge a couple of things. If one approaches life with a spirituality of scarcity, they will never have enough. No amount of wealth, fame, pleasure or power will satisfy.  However, if one chooses to approach life from a spirituality of abundance, he or she will want for nothing.  Our God is the God of abundance. This is true in the material and the spiritual. 

       The reality and the power of the Eucharist that we celebrate  today is a good example of this. In our earlier catechesis on the Eucharist, you may recall that the Eucharist is at once a true sacrifice and a shared meal. Today, in the interest of time, I’m just going to concentrate on the sacrifice part. 

In the Biblical pattern of sacrifice, you needed four things.  You needed

a priest,

an altar,

an offering and

a reason. 

Let’s look at each one of these.

The priest is the one who offers the sacrifice on your behalf.  He is the mediator. As we look to the Paschal Mystery, we see that Christ himself is the Great High Priest, who, starting with his one perfect sacrifice on the altar of the Cross, continues to offer himself, and us, to the Father in a living and eternal sacrifice. The Eucharist is the means he gave us for our true and substantial participation in passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, now offered in an unbloody way on the altar in the church. This is how the reality of the Paschal Mystery as a real for us today as it was for the first disciples.

       As I mentioned, Christ himself is the also offering, but we too bring our own offerings. Like Melchizedek of old, we bring bread and wine, but we also bring our gifts of time, talent and treasure, indeed, our very selves. Like the sacrifices of old, what is offered is immolated and transformed. The bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

Our time, talent, and treasure become the practical means for the apostolate to continue in the parish, and we ourselves are transformed more and more by grace into the image and likeness of our Creator and Redeemer.

       It’s important to remember that we ourselves cannot work this miracle of transubstantiation and transformation. It is Christ who works the miracle. Our job is simply to bring the fish. Just like the apostles in today’s gospel, Christ cannot work the miracle if we don’t offer what we have, trusting that he knows what he’s doing.

       Finally, one needs a reason. In biblical times the four main reasons for sacrifice were to establish covenants, to remember, to forgive sins and to give thanks. A quick review of the words of institution in the Eucharistic Prayer reveals what the Church has always held –that all previous sacrifices were fulfilled and brought to    perfection in the one perfect sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. 

       Finally, a word about abundance. The gospel passage for today is no mistake. It speaks of the abundance of God in providing for the needs of his people. How do we know this?  There are leftovers—lots and lots of leftovers. So to with the grace given to us in the Eucharist. Here at the Lord’s Supper, we receive more than we need. Why?  So that we may share this reality with others.         

Posted on

Pondering the Most Holy Trinity – Problem, Mystery and Relationship –

[Hey, Church fans! Deacon John was preaching this weekend. So, here is this week’s offering. I still haven’t figure out how to download videos from BookFace now that they have changed their OS. Hopefully, I’ll have one for next week.]

     It’s not easy to describe God. St. Thomas Aquinas famously quipped that it is actually easier to talk about what God is not, rather than what God is. It reminds us of the young boy who was drawing a picture in his catechism class. His   catechist asked him, “Hey, Mick, what are you drawing?”

       “I’m drawing a picture of God,” little Mick replied.

       The catechist smiled sympathetically and said, “Oh, little Mick, no one knows what God looks like.”

To which he replied, “They will when I’m done!”

We cannot know everything about God, but through his    Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, we do know something about God.

In pondering the reality of God, especially the mystery of the Trinity, it is helpful to take an approach that looks at the Trinity not in terms of a problem to be solved, but rather as a mystery to be lived. 

“Mystery” in this sense is understood as a reality that is larger than you, of which you are a part and which is a part of you. Mystery in this sense is not understood in terms of analysis, but rather in terms of relationship. 

Take your family for example. It is a reality bigger than you, of which you are a part, and which genetically, sociologically, psychologically and spiritually is a part of you. You don’t solve your family. You are simply part of your family and your family is part of you.

Now let’s take the Church. It too is a reality bigger than you, and by baptism, confirmation, and especially the Eucharist, the Church is a part of you. No matter how far a person might wander, he or she never stops being Catholic.

Finally, let’s talk about God. If there is any reality that is bigger than us, it is God. Yet, by grace we are invited into the relationship between the Father and the Son, much like we can be invited into any relationship. For example, when one is befriended by a married couple, they invite you into the dynamic of their married relationship. In a very real sense, you become part of their marriage. Now, in terms of the Divine dynamic of love, this relationship between the Father and the Son is what has been revealed to us as the Holy Spirit. Just like with the married couple, we are invited into the very relationship and reality that is God. We are a part of that relationship and it is part of us. We can say with certainty that we are literally a part of God, and through indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God is a part of us. This is heady stuff, but it is not so daunting if we understand it in terms of relationship. You don’t solve a relationship. You are part of a relationship and it is a part of you, whether it is with family, with Church, and especially with God. 

Posted on

Signs of the Holy Spirit, Challenges for the Disciple.  

Well, Church fans, for some reason Facebook has changed their protocols and I can no longer download videos or upload them to YouTube. I’ll see what I can do, but in the meantime, here is the text. The homily can be viewed as part of the Mass in the following video link.

https://fb.watch/dsJXk5-lNs/

Sorry to make your scroll through. Leave it to the good folks at Facebook to screw up a good thing.

Happy Pentecost! This weekend we also celebrate the closing of the Archdiocesan phase of the Synod. It is fitting that we do so. 

    Looking over the scriptures given to us this weekend, it’s striking how the Spirit is made manifest. First, by a sound like a driving wind, then tongues of flame, then the proclamation of the Gospel in all the known languages of the day.

       You know, the whole speaking in different tongues thing reminds me of a story. 

       A man walks into a diner with his dog and asks for a sandwich for himself and three strips of bacon for his dog. The manager says, “Hey, we don’t allow pets in here.”

       The man says, “No you don’t understand, this is a talking dog?”

       “Really,” the manager says, “Show me.”

       So the man says, “Hey, Rex, what’s on top of a house?”

       The dog wags his tail and replies, “Roof!”

       The manager is not impressed and again threatens to throw them out. 

       “No, no,” he can do more says the man, “Hey, Rex, what is sandpaper like?”

       The dogs says, “Ruff!”

       The manager starts to push them towards the door.

       “No wait!” the man says, “Rex, who is the best baseball player of all time?”

       The dog belts out, “Ruth!”

       The manager throws them out.

       As they are sitting dejected, the dog looks up quizzically at the man and says, “DiMaggio?”

I.

       No surprise about the noise like a driving wind. As I’ve mentioned before, the Hebrew word for spirit, ruách (רוח), is the same word for breath and wind. This is the same word that was used to describe God breathing life into the first humans in the Book of Genesis. In a similar way, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Father breathed life into the Church at Pentecost. This is why Pentecost is often referred to as “the Birthday of the Church.” The same is true for each of us at our baptism. God breathes new life into us through the same Spirit that was given to the apostles and the Blessed Mother in the Upper Room.

       The challenge for us is to be life giving for those around us. Our homes, our neighborhoods, our town, our state, our country, the world should be very different because we Christians are present.

       As the Spirit breathes life into us, so let us breathe life into world around us. 

       Be that family that prays without apology

       Say grace in restaurants.

       Be that home in the neighborhood where everyone is welcome and at ease. Where everybody else’s kids want to hang out.

       Go to the Northeast Community Council meetings. Even better, sit on the community council itself and change the tone of the conversation by your very presence.

       (Their next meeting is June 16, BTW)

       Our job as a parish is to become so much a part of our local community that they cannot imagine life without us.

       So go!  Be a life-giving force in the world…or at least that little part or the world in which God has placed you.

II.

       The tongues of flame are intriguing. This can symbolize many things.  Certainly, it can refer to the enlightenment bestowed on the apostles and Mary, as they receive all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.)  But fire also reminds of the power of the love of God alive in the heart of the believer. The disciples on the road to Emmaus exclaimed, “Were not our hearts on fire within us…” as they conversed with Lord. (Acts 24:32) The Holy Spirit is not timid. Rather it bestows on us Christians the power to live the life to which we have been called.

       The challenge for the Christian is to be open to receiving these gifts and perhaps more importantly to recognize them in others.

       True leadership, true discipleship means recognizing one’s own gifts and offering them for the good of the community, but it also means recognizing those gifts in others and calling them forth.

       Being small helps no one.  Part of being a family of faith is to celebrate the gifts in others, encouraging others to develop them and offer them to the service of Christ and his Church.

I will say this now without apology. In the years that I served as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese, I learned that there is no shortage of vocations to the priesthood or any other vocation in the local Church.

However, what I did find was decided lack of trust in the Lord. 

I’ve said it before, every member of the parish family has a critical role and a sacred obligation to call forth those whom the Spirit dedicates.

If you see someone who you discern has the gifts needed, you take that person aside and tell them,

“Hey, I see in you the gifts that would make a good

Priest, a good deacon, a good Director of Catechetical Ministries, a good catechist, a good lector, a good choir member…

       Would you please consider it and I’m going to be praying for you.”

III.

       Finally, nowhere is this more evident than in the proclamation of the Gospel in every known language at the time.  I always sympathize with the lector this weekend as he or she is confronted with the litany of the languages of the known world. Not unlike our own time, the world in which the Church was born was a divided and confusing place. The multiplicity of languages was a part of that. This reminds of us of the confusion caused by humanity’s pride at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9).  But with the gift of the Spirit, what was once confused is now clear. The Church and the Gospel message are truly universal in scope. Indeed, today the Church exists in every language and culture and the Good News is proclaimed in every corner of the world.

       The challenge for us is to boldly proclaim that same Gospel message clearly so that it may as easily understood in this time and in this place. 

       To do so, your need to learn basics of our faith certainly, but more importantly, you need to be able to express to people why and how it makes a difference in your life.

       There is a great temptation when someone asks about the Church, or challenges us about the Church her teachings, to try to defend the entire Church universal and all her doctrines.

       That’s fine, if you can do so. But the best answer you can give them is to tell them about why YOU are Catholic and what your faith means to YOU.

       It’s easy to criticize and dismiss a faceless, monolithic institution.  Even we Catholics have a tendency to institutionalize our own Church.  Often we find ourselves saying, “The Church should do this…or…The parish should do that.

       But the Church is not institutional.  It is personal. The Church has a face. Not surprisingly, it looks a like your face and mine. 

       Let me close with this one story.

       A long time ago, in a parish far, far away, I was approached by a very faithful, well-meaning parishioner.

       “Hey, Father,” he said, “There is this elderly woman named Mary who lives in the house next door to us.  She’s getting on in years and she’s developed that macular degeneration. So she can’t drive any more.  As a result, it’s tough for her to get to Mass.  And I know she’s not the only one is a situation like this.  I have an idea…

       …do you see where this is going…

“The parish should buy a van so that we can pick up people like her and others.” 

       I looked him right in the eye and I said to him, “She lives right next door to you?”

       “Oh yeah.” 

       “Why don’t you give her a ride?”

He looked at me dumbfounded for about three seconds.  Then a light came on and said, “You know, the idea and never crossed my mind.  Yeah! I’m going to do exactly that!”

       And he did!  And right up until they day she died, they would pick up Mary every Sunday morning and come to Mass together.  The added bonus was that their daughter grew up with an extra grandmother who was as wise as she was generous. 

       THAT is what I’m talking about.

       Pentecost is at once a commemoration and a challenge. We rejoice in the gift of the Spirit in the Upper Room. Now it is our task to continue the saving mission of Christ in our part of the world. This is our call. This is our sacred vocation.

Posted on

How Do You Want to Spend Eternity, Smoking or Non?

[The homilies this month have been about stewardship and whatnot and are pretty parish specific. As an alternative, I’ll start posting from my “Ask Fr. Leo” column in the North Star Catholic. It comes out every month.]

          This month I got several good questions about, of all things, the nature of hell. Seems like a downer of topic, but it is something we need to talk about from time to time, especially. Some Christian traditions speak of it as eternal suffering in a lake of fire, while others see the fire as simply snuffing the soul out of existence. What does the Church teach about the nature of hell?

          The concise answer is found in paragraphs 1020-1060 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Go to: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm).That’s the dogmatic explanation, but let’s take a look at the spiritual side of the question.

          In sum, as a human person, you will never cease to exist. You are eternal. The big question is, “How do you want spent eternity? Smoking or non?”

          As human beings, we go through various stages of development on our journey into eternity. We are conceived, body and soul. We spend about nine months developing and enjoying womb service. We are born, we grow, we mature into adulthood, and hopefully in wisdom and grace. All the while we learn about and form relationships. First with our family, then others and especially with Christ and his Church. Eventually, we pass the threshold of death. It’s all part of being human.

          The relationships we build in this life, with Christ and with others, are really the only things we take with us through death. This is our “treasure in heaven.” The quality and depth of the relationships we form in this life have a direct effect on how we enter eternity. Quite literally, we reap what we sow.

          In the Church, we understand the essential relationship as one of “communion.” Quite literally, this means a union at the level of being. Namely, who I am at the depths of my soul is united to who you are at the depths of your soul; and together we are united at the level of being to Christ who is the head of the Church. To maintain communion with Christ and His Church is the primary responsibility of every Christian. In this lies our salvation. Virtue deepens communion. Sin can injure communion (venial sin) or even sever it (mortal sin). Thankfully,  reconciliation restores communion. You can see how regular participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, lead us deeper and deeper into communion with Christ and with one another.

          Now here’s the rub. We are free to choose for or against communion with Christ and each other. Sadly, some people choose against it. This seldom happens all at once. Few relationships die become of conflict. Most suffer because of neglect. Think of that friend from high school who promised to always stay in touch, but now you have no idea where they are.  It’s not rocket science. If you want your relationship with Christ or with others to grow, you need to give it two essential ingredients: time and attention. 

          When we neglect our relationships with Christ and others, we begin to turn in on ourselves. We diminish the level of communion we enjoy. If left unchecked, this process of self-imposed separation leads to fear and isolation. We get selfish, and selfishness harms relationships. This harm to relationships is called sin. We choose against communion. 

          Hell in its essence is the voluntary rejection of communion with Christ and his Church. It is first and foremost a rejection of relationship. It may start small, but left unreconciled, the consequences are eternal. Hell is the most selfish form of existence.  That is why it is a realm of profound and eternal suffering. The saddest part is that God has never condemned anyone to hell. Everyone in hell has freely chosen to be there.

          In sum, life on this earth is the phase of our existence where we form the essential relationships that lead us to communion…or where we choose against them. Once we die, the momentum of our relationships (or lack thereof) will carry us either towards God or away. You can see how there are no insignificant choices. Our journey to heaven or away from it, begins now.

          I’m reminded of the story about the staff meeting with Devil and his minions. The question on the table was how to steal more souls for damnation.

          The first demon spoke up, “I know, Boss, let’s convince people that there is no heaven. That way, they will despair, and we can get more souls.”

          The Devil liked his enthusiasm, but replied, “No, that might work in the short run, but we need long-term solutions.”

          “I know,” the second demon piped up, “Let’s convince them that there is no hell. That way, they will get lazy, and we can steal more souls.” 

          “Better,” the Devil replied, “But again, not trendy enough. I need something that will appeal to the modern mind.”         

          The third demon thought for a bit and then said, “How about this. We convince them that there is a heaven, and that there is a hell…but not yet.”

          “Ahhhhhh,” the Devil beamed, “Now we are getting somewhere!”