All in God's Hands

As I tell people on many occasions, "We hear the voice of God in different ways. God's voice comes across in our prayer, through the words of Scripture, and in the voices of others." It is up to us to discern what God is saying to us. One thing that people have told me is that everything runs on God's time. That is true, we are all in the palm of His hand. Our gospel for today is a beautiful reminder that we always need to be ready, always need to be prepared. I would invite you to read Matthew 25:1-13 for your time of prayer and reflection. Jesus tells the parable about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. When the bridegroom came, the wise virgins were prepared, but the foolish ones were not and they were not welcomed into the wedding feast. That is why Jesus says in conclusion, "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." It has been a week since my dad passed away. My mom and I knew it was coming because of his declining health but when everything happened so fast it was hard to expect the unexpected. The comfort and peace comes from knowing that we were both there when dad drew his last breath. We know that we are to live each day as if it were our last. As Saint Benedict says, "Keep death before you daily." We need these friendly reminders as we live our lives and our faith, always keeping in mind that everything is in God's hands. Have a blessed day!!!

My Father's Passing

I am taking some time away from the blog. My father passed away on Friday evening and there has been a lot going on with planning. I will resume later this week and my family and I appreciate your prayers. Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord! Let perpetual light shine upon him!

Saint Bartholomew

The first Catholic School Mass of the year began with the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. Several weeks ago, I was looking ahead to this Mass and realized this was the feast we would be celebrating and how appropriate. As Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to proclaim the Good News, we are called to do the same. I see our Catholic Schools as a very important ministry. We are forming our young people in the faith and hopefully their faith will guide and sustain them as they grow. I also focused on our Catholic identity. What it means to be Catholic and how we are called to live our faith. I used the following commentary because it really says it all: "Bartholomew is one of the 'anonymous' Apostles: all the personal details of his life have disappeared behind the Gospel he proclaimed. Like John the Baptist, he decreased to nothing so that Christ might increase" (Magnificat, 322). I shared with the students and adults present this is what we are called to do. We cannot let ourselves and our will get in the way of proclaiming the Gospel. We need to decrease so that Christ will increase. Let us pray that Saint Bartholomew will intercede for us and guide us in being the disciples of our present day so that Christ will always shine forth. God Bless You!!!

Queenship of Mary

Just a week after celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, the Church celebrates her Queenship in heaven. The Queenship of Mary is also a recently named feast. Even though the Assumption of Mary had been believed for centuries, it did not become official Church teaching until 1950, under the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII. The same is probably true for the Queenship of Mary, which Pius XII initiated in 1954. This brief commentary puts this memorial into perspective for us: "Today's feast reminds us that holiness means depending on God. The Queenship of Mary invites us to exercise our obedience to God in a way that results in, not submission, but likeness" (Magnificat, 299). As we celebrate this memorial may we be strengthened by the intercession of our Blessed Mother and continue to live our universal call to holiness. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Pius X

We celebrate today a saint for our time. Saint Pius X was pope in the early years of the twentieth century. He died on August 20, 1914. The motto that he chose for his time as pope and for his life was "Restore All Things in Christ.". That is a beautiful motto to live by and use as we live our faith to the fullest. I reflected on that motto after celebrating Mass this morning and it brought joy to my mind and heart! Every aspect of our lives can be transformed if we restore all things in Christ! Let us take this motto to heart and may it become a way of life for us all! Saint Pius X, Pray for Us!!!

Saint Bernard

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Bernard, a monk and abbot. Saint Bernard joined the Cistercians in 1111 and later was chosen abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux. At the monastery, he directed his companions in the practice of virtue by his own good example. Because of schisms which had arisen in the Church, he traveled all about Europe restoring peace and unity. He died in 1153 (Magnificat, 276). As another commentary states, "Saint Bernard fostered the renewal of monastic life through the Cistercian observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which uses Psalm 15 to describe the holiness required of one who seeks to dwell in God's presence" (Magnificat, 274). Along with that commentary, there is a scripture passage from Matthew's Gospel, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (5:48). There is a Universal Call to Holiness for all of us. We strive to be holy and perfect as our heavenly Father is holy and perfect. Let us look to Saint Bernard who is a tremendous example for us because he had a zeal for holiness and renewal. May he intercede for us as we continually renew our faith and strive to live our call to holiness. Saint Bernard, Pray for Us!!!!

Unconditional Mercy

The love, mercy, compassion of God is unconditional!!! Once again, we see that in our readings for today. Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 shows the love and mercy of God in a special way. The Lord God took care of Jerusalem from a very young age but as they got older they turned away from God. However, God remained faithful to the covenant He had established. That is true with us, God is always faithful and He continually calls us back into a relationship with Him. We have strayed because of our own weaknesses and sinfulness but God is always patient and awaits our return. Hopefully we do not wait long in our return to the Lord. We always need to be ready, always need to be prepared, so it is good to keep our house in order at all times. As God shows us unconditional mercy, love, compassion, and forgiveness, so we are called to share those beautiful qualities with others. May we pray for the grace to be perfect and holy as our Heavenly Father is perfect and holy. Always know that when we stray, God is always faithful and will welcome us back with a loving and merciful embrace. Have a blessed day!!!

Limitless Forgiveness

From Matthew 18:21-19:1, "Peter approached Jesus and asked him, 'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times'". Just think, if we could only forgive people seventy-seven times, how many of us would be out of forgiveness? Thankfully, forgiveness is unconditional. Forgiveness is a gift that cannot measured and no limits placed on it. It is a tremendous experience when we can forgive someone. That is when true peace and reconciliation takes place. As a priest told me one time, "The one person that we find hard to forgive is ourselves". We need to pray everyday for the grace of forgiveness. Being able to forgive others and being able to forgive ourselves. Yes, we are all sinners in need of God's mercy and forgiveness, and it is unconditional. We have shortcomings, limitations, faults and pfailings. Our human weaknesses cannot hold us back when it comes to forgiveness and we cannot hold back forgiveness when it comes to ourselves. A lesson that I can take to heart as I write this blog because I have found that to be true over the years but forgiveness is very much needed to allow for growth and peace. Let us spend time with this gospel and allow the word of our Lord to touch our lives and hearts in a special way. When it comes to forgiveness, Jesus is the ultimate example. Have a blessed day!!!

Solemnity of the Assumption

A Happy and Blessed Feast day to you!!! We pray that Our Blessed Mother will intercede for us and guide us with her maternal love and care. As Pope Benedict XVI writes, "Precisely because Mary is with God and in God, she is very close to each one of us. While she lived on this earth she could only be close to a few people. Being in God, who is actually 'within' all of us, Mary shares in this closeness of God". Our Lady "knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness. She always listens to us and, being Mother of the Son, participates in the power of the Son and in his goodness. We can always entrust the whole of our lives to this Mother" (Magnificat, 184-85). Like the Resurrection and Ascension, the Assumption of Mary gives us all hope because we believe in the life of the world to come. Let us trust in Our Blessed Mother's intercession and prayers because she is with us at all times! Have a Blessed Feast!!!!

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a saint for our time. He gave of his life on August 14, 1941 so that another would live. The ultimate sacrifice of laying down ones life for ones friends. It is also appropriate to celebrate this memorial so close to the Solemnity of the Assumption because Saint Maximilian had a great love and devotion to our Blessed Mother. As one commentary stated: "Saint Maximilian, sustained by his deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, found courage in Christ's cross to lay down his life for a fellow concentration camp prisoner" (Magnificat, 169). Even the Collect spoke of Saint Maximilian's "burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor". Truly a great example for us!!! May we seek Saint Maximilian's intercession as we grow in our love and devotion for the Blessed Mother and for the love of neighbor. Have a blessed day!!!

Will It Ever End?

At some point things as we know it will come to an end. Revelation tells us about the new heaven and new earth that is coming but no way to rush it. Everything goes according to God's plan. In the first Book of Kings, 19:4-8, Elijah was ready for it all to be over. As the passage begins, "Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death, saying: 'This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers'". Each time the angel of the Lord came to him and tapped him on the shoulder urging him to eat for the journey would be long. Even though Elijah wanted to give it up the Lord would not allow it and the prophet went back to his mission. Jesus is the bread of life that sustains us in our journey of life and faith. With our ups and downs, peaks and valleys, it is easy to ask, "Will it ever end"? We know that God gives us the grace and strength we need to continue the journey until a time He sees fit! Let us go forth, renewed by the bread of life, to live our faith and continue the mission at hand! God Bless Our Journey!!!

Called to Serve!!!!

That is a wonderful title to think about, "Called to Serve." When I was in the vocation office for the Diocese of Salina, Kansas, I used that title as the theme for the office. No matter what our vocation in life is: married life, single life, priesthood, religious life, we are called to serve. Our main vocation is "Discipleship" and that means service. Jesus mentions service in the gospel for today, John 12:24-26, "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me". Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. In my homily for Mass, I highlighted the call to service and spoke about the three tiers of Holy Orders: Deacon, Priest, Bishop. Those who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders are called to serve and be an example of service to others. We pray for our Bishops, Priests, and Deacons- Transitional and Permanent, who live the call of service in the Church and their respective communities. May we always be open to the call of service and follow the example of the holy men and women who have gone before, like Saint Lawrence, as we continue to build up the kingdom of God in our midst. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Dominic

The Church remembers today the founder of the Dominican Order, Saint Dominic. The abbreviation for the men and women that follow the charism of Saint Dominic is "O.P." which stands for, "Order of Preachers". As this commentary states, "Saint Dominic took delight in God's word of truth and preached it with zeal in the face of heresy and division. His Order of Preachers has continued his work of proclamation nourished by prayer and study from his day to our own" (Magnificat, 104). Preaching the word of God needs to be a constant in our daily lives, especially in the world and society in which we live. The truth is being distorted and there are people trying to tear down foundations that have been in place for centuries. We need to take a stand and not be afraid to speak up and proclaim the Good News to a people longing for faith, hope, and love. Let us follow the charism of Saint Dominic in our lives and not be afraid to preach the Gospel, not just with words, but with our very lives! Saint Dominic, Pray for Us!!!

Saint Cajetan

Today, I am using the memorial of Saint Cajetan. His is a name that catches your attention. I also think fondly of a teacher that I had in the college seminary and even in theology when I took Spanish, Fr. Cajetan White, OSB. Father Cajetan passed away some years ago but I always think of him when this feast day comes around so I chose to use the formularies for Mass. As the Ordo says, "Cajetan, +1547; from Venice; co-founded (1524) with Gian Pietro Carafa (later Pope Paul IV) the Theatines (today the Congregation of Clerks Regular [C.R.]), who number about 200 religious; devoted to reform, prayer, and ministry, especially to the poor and the sick" (Ordo, 173). Another source said that Saint Cajetan was a man of prayer and a lover of neighbor. These were great qualities for this saintly priest and they can be our qualities as well. We need to be people of prayer and love our neighbor as ourself. May we work to grow in this beautiful gifts and be assured of the divine assistance that we need to live them to the fullest. Saint Cajetan, Pray for Us!!!

Feast of the Transfiguration!!!

A beautiful way to start a brand new week, celebrating the Feast of Our Lord's Transfiguration. Whenever the gospel depicting the Transfiguration of Jesus is proclaimed, I always say it is our glimpse of glory. That is the reason Jesus was transfigured before the three main disciples: Peter, James, and John. Our Lord had been telling them of his approaching passion and death, but that would not be the end, because three days later, he would rise victorious from the tomb. The Resurrection, the Transfiguration give us hope because death is not the end, but the beginning. Life has changed, not ended. As this commentator writes, "Christ's Tabor radiance is a kind of mirror in which we glimpse the glory that God wills to give his friends. The resplendence of the Transfiguration reveals the fullness of life destined to be ours. The Transfiguration invites us to configuration. As we peer into the glory that pours from every pore of the transfigured Christ, we cast off everything unworthy of our personal relationship with the Infinite, and we take on the luster of the Son of God" (Magnificat, 84). May this feast renew our faith and hope. May we be transformed by the presence of the Transfigured Christ and proclaim this Good News to all peoples. Have a blessed Feast Day!!!!

We Have It All!!!

As Catholics, we are truly blessed by the gifts that God has given to us. In a special way, we are thankful for the gift of the Eucharist because what we receive at Mass is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. This weekend we listen to John 6:24-35, which continues the bread of life discourses. Jesus says to the people and us, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst". In my homily, I am using a quote that was said to Saint Alphonsus Liguori, "It is a pleasure to hear your sermons. You forget yourself and preach Jesus Christ" (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 2572). That is true, when we preach, we are to preach Jesus Christ. Like Saint John the Baptist said, "I must decrease so he can increase"! We experience that each week when we gather for Mass. As we receive Christ we become like Christ so we can share Christ with others. We truly have it all. Let us be thankful for the blessings that God gives us as we live our lives and our faith! Have a Blessed Sunday!!!

A Summer Phenomenon

This morning I had to make a trip to see our local doctor. As I told him, "I must be the only person who could get a cold in 100 degree weather." It has been a little rough so I apologize for not being on the blog for a couple days. Thankfully the fever I had broke but the main issues are a terrible sore throat and nagging cough. One of the nurse's assured me that I was not the only one to be sick. Others have been coming through the local clinic with the same issues. She said it must be the dryness that we have been experiencing this summer. Thankfully, we did receive some moisture but we could use more and we keep praying for it. Even the year has been unique- a mild winter, with little or no snow and now a summer with hot and dry conditions. Let us keep in prayer those who are sick and those in need of our prayers. The healing ministry of the Church is a beautiful ministry that has been handed on to us by Jesus Christ. Let us pray that we can take care of ourselves so that we can be effective in taking care of others!!! Have a blessed day!!!