Our Call- Part 2

The other morning I asked our Catholic School students and the adults in attendance, "How many of you are missionaries?" Some of the students raised their hands but most in attendance did not. This led me to say that we are all missionaries, called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The gospel reading for that day was Luke 9:1-6. As the caption reads, "He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." The commentator for that day asked the following question: "Who are misisonaries and what do they do?" "All the baptized are missionaries, and they are called upon to continue the mission of the Twelve in today's gospel to the extent that they can" (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 2785). As the people of God, the body of Christ, we all have a role to play in continuing the mission of the Church and proclaiming the Good News. Just like the first part of "Our Call," being a disciple and being a missionary go hand in hand. Jesus calls us to be his disciples, to deny our very self and pick up our cross and follow him. As disciples, Jesus sends us out to be missionaries in bringing the love of God and the Good News to all peoples. Let us heed the call to be disciples, to be missionaries and may God give us the grace and strength that we need to live Our Calls to the fullest! Have a blessed day!!!

Our Call - Part 1

We cannot contain the call that we have received from our Lord. Jesus calls us to be his disciples by picking up the cross and following him. There are many parts to our call as disciples. From the gospel reading on September 25, Luke 8:19-21, Jesus was proclaiming the Good News and his mother and brothers showed up. Someone got word to Jesus that they were there and he said in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." The commentator for these readings in the Loose-Leaf Lectionary asks the following question, "What does a real disciple look like?" "Luke responds to this perceptive question by proposing Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the model disciple" (2782). The commentator also lists other passages in Luke's Gospel where Mary is what a real disciple looks like: Luke 1:45, 11:27, 11:28. Since Luke is also attributed as writing the Acts of the Apostles, the commentator includes Acts 1:14. Mary is a tremendous example for us because she truly gave herself to the will of God from the very beginning. The angel told Mary that she had found favor with God and would be the mother of His only Son. From that time on, Mary lived her call to discipleship to the fullest. Like Mary and the other disciples, we need to hear the word of God and put it into practice. That is an important part of our call, to practice what we preach. Of course, when it comes to proclaiming the Good News, we do so not just with words, but with our very lives. Being a disciple means to be an example to others so we cannot hide our discipleship like a light under a bushel basket. We need to set the light on a stand for all to see. Do not be afraid to answer the call to discipleship and live it to the fullest. We have many beautiful examples throughout the centuries beginning with Mary, the first disciple. Just think, God gives us that divine assistance to guide and help us in our journey. May God bless us as we listen to His voice and follow His call and will in our lives!!!

Call to Serve!!!

In light of the feast day of Saint Padre Pio on September 23, I want to share a piece of the homily that Blessed John Paul II gave at the canonization Mass. "I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because... these things...you have revealed to little ones (Mt 11:25)." "How appropriate are these words of Jesus, when we think of them as applied to you, humble and beloved Padre Pio. Teach us...humility of heart so we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom" - from Pope John Paul II's homily for the canonization of Padre Pio, June 26, 2002 (August 2012, "The Priest," 29). Saint Padre Pio gave of himself in service to Christ and his Church. He was a very faithful, dedicated, humble servant of the Lord. As Saint Padre Pio used to say of himself, "I am a poor Franciscan who prays." He touched many lives during his time on earth and he continues to do so among the saints in heaven. The article from "The Priest" magazine also pointed out, "The Church is putting us on this journey aas well. Although it is nine weeks away, the Church is putting us on the pilgrimage to the Second Coming, a journey to the feast of Christ the King. To get there, we must understand who Jesus is and what it means to be His disciple" (29). We are called to be a disciple of Jesus, to pick up our cross and follow him. We are called to serve. Again, we seek the intercession of the holy men and women who have gone before us as we strive to live our call to holiness and to service. God Bless You!!!

Saint Padre Pio

I have quite a few favorite saints and Saint Padre Pio is one of them. Some years ago, I bought my parents a statue of Saint Padre Pio that sat in front of their fireplace for a long time. Then, when we sold everything so they could move here when my dad's health began to fail, the statue found a home in the upper level of the rectory. I used that statue for my homily this weekend as I talked about Saint Padre Pio and the call to serve. Jesus told his disciples in the gospel for this weekend, Mark 9:30-37, they should not strive for greatness but be the servant of all. Saint Padre Pio was truly a servant of the Lord. He was ordained a priest in 1910 and received the stigmata or wounds of Christ in 1918. The stigmata remained with him throughout his life until his death in 1968. Something that Padre Pio would say of himself is, "I am a poor Franciscan who prays" (August 2012, The Priest, 29). Being a servant means that we are humble and that we share the love, mercy, compassion of God with all of our brothers and sisters. The article that I used from "The Priest" magazine was appropriately titled, "Aspire Only to Serve." We are called to serve and we pray that we may have the grace and strength to share the Lord's goodness with others. May the holy men and women who have gone before us, like Saint Padre Pio, intercede for us that we may live the Lord's call to serve each day!!! God Bless You!!!

Day with Saint Francis

I know the feast day of Saint Francis is coming up next month. However I got an early start with Saint Francis by being at a building where he is the patron!!! Long before my dad passed away, my mom was in need of back surgery to help her spinal stenosis. The surgery date has been moved around several times but today is the day. As I write this my mom is presently being operated on at Saint Francis Hospital. Today is also the Feast of Saint Matthew. I was able to attend Mass in the chapel and heard a wonderful homily about the "Mercy of God"! A message that we can all use because of God's great love and mercy for us. Please keep my mom in your prayers!!! May Saint Matthew and Saint Francis intercede for us. Blessings to you!!!

Feeling the Love!!!

We need to feel the love of God each day of our lives because His love is unconditional. We were created, male and female, out of love. God sent His only Son to be our Savior out of love. Jesus' great commandment to us: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We can feel the love that God has for us and we pray that we can show our love to God in return and we can do that by loving others. Our first reading for today is a familiar one to us, especially if you have been to weddings. The first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 12:31-13:13, is very popular with the wedding liturgies. Saint Paul tells us that he could have all the gifts of the world but if he does not have love, then he is nothing. He tells us all the great qualities of love and he assures us, "Love never fails." In conclusion, St. Paul writes, "So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Let us pray that we may always feel and know the love of God in our lives and in turn, share His love with one another!!! Have a blessed day!!!

The body of Christ!!!

"Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it" (I Corinthians 12:27). We are the people of God, the body of Christ. Yes, we are many parts but we make up the one body of Christ. In the "Living Faith" devotional, Amy Welborn reflects on what it means to be the body of Christ, whether we are a large or small group gathered in prayer. She writes, "For here we are: a small group enriched by each other's presence and by the Real Presence among us most of all. But we're not floating here in isolation. Around the world millions of others are gathered in other small groups of just this sort, listening to the same revealed Word - individual, distinct, yet so marvelously one - that Body, the Body of Christ" (Welborn, "Living Faith, 9-18-12). That is awesome to think about, people around the world gathering around the table of the Lord to be fed and nourished by Word and Eucharist. We come from all different walks of life, we all have a story to tell, but most importantly, God brings it all together and makes us the body of Christ. May God Bless Our Journey!!!

"Doing It"!!!

When I was in the seminary one of the priests gave a homily that was definitely short and to the point. He proclaimed: "God said it, You heard it, Now do it"!!! That really says it all because when it comes to living our faith WE NEED TO DO IT!!!! The gospel for this weekend was Mark 8:27-35. It is a 3-part gospel! First of all Jesus asks his disciples who people say that he is. Then he narrows it down by asking, "Who do you say that I am"? Peter answers by saying that Jesus is the Christ!!! From there, Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen to him when he is handed over and Peter rebukes him. Jesus responds to him, "Get behind me Satan. You are not thinking as God does, but as human beings do"! Then Jesus invites us to be his disciples by denying ourselves and picking up our cross and follow him. Living our faith, following the Lord as disciples. We are called and We just need to do it!!! God Bless You!!!

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today and everyday we rejoice in the cross of Christ!!! It is no longer a tree of punishment, shame, and torture, but it is the tree of life!!! Through Jesus' death on the cross, our sins are forgiven and through his resurrection we have the hope of eternal life!!! As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The event of the cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life" (CCC 1085). Each time we look at the cross or crucifix we are reminded of God's great love for us! Of course our call as disciples is to pick up our crosses each day and follow in the footsteps of our Lord. May we do so with courage, patience and perseverance, knowing that our Lord has paved the way for us and he walks with us, by our side!!! Let us boast in the cross of Christ for it is the tree of life and salvation!!! Have a blessed Feast day!!!

Preaching the Word

We are all familiar with the line, "Practice what you preach"! If you are going to proclaim the word to people you need to back it up with action. There have been many wonderful examples of preaching in the history of the Church. Today, we celebrate one of those saints, John Chrysostom. One commentary says it all: "Chrysostom " means "Golden Mouth". Saint John is remembered for his eloquence in preaching God's word to small and great alike (Magnificat, 170). Let us ask Saint John Chrsostom to intercede for us that we may be eloquent and not be afraid to preach the word. God Bless You!!!

The Beauty of Our Blessed Mother

May and October are traditionally months to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary but September is also a special month. On September 8, the Church celebrates the birthday of Our Blessed Mother. Just think, 9 months earlier on December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is a feast about Mary. Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary. The antiphons for our Mass put this memorial into perspective. From the Entrance Antiphon: "Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord God Most High, above all women on the earth; for he has so exalted your name that your praise shall be undying on our lips" (Jdt 13:18-19). The Communion Antiphon states: "All generations will call me blessed, for God has looked on his lowly handmaid" (Lk 1:48). The name of Our Blessed Mother is holy and we call upon her everyday as we seek her prayers and intercession. Have a blessed day!!!

The Gift of Listening!

Listening is truly a great gift from God because it is an acquired discipline. To hear is one thing, but listening is another. People have told me when we hear, we let it go in one ear and out the other, but when we listen, we truly take those words to heart. Here is the complete story that I used for my homily this past weekend: "Two psychiatrists meet for a drink after a very long, hot day. One is utterly wilted and exhausted: his hair tousled, his face drawn, his clothing rumpled. His colleague, however, is composed, smartly dressed and completely at ease. 'For heavens' sake, Douglas,' the first psychiatrist says incredulously, 'how do you do it? I'm completely done in and you look as fresh as a spring morning. How can you look so great and be so composed after listening all day to peoples' problems, fears, angers, unhappiness and neuroses?' The second doctor smugly sips his highball and then responds, 'So who listens?'" (Cormier, Connections, 9/9/12). That is the key to that story, who is doing the listening, the psychiatrist or his patients? The pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers this, "The first service one owes to others [as Christians] consists in listening to them. Just as the love of God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love is learning to listen to [one another]. It is God's love for us that he not only gives his Word but also lends his ear ... Christians so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others ... They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking." (Connections, 9/9/12). Listening is a great gift and it is a gift that we pray for each day. We pray that we will listen to one another and always listen to the voice of God. Have a blessed day!!!

Take a Pilgrimage

If you look around the country there are many hidden treasures of our Catholic Faith. One treasure in particular are the various shrines that have been built to show how much our Catholic Faith means to us and to others. I have been to several shrines here in the midwest and September 6 was another great opportunity to visit a shrine that I had never been to. Two friends and I traveled to the Holy Family Shrine in Nebraska. The shrine is located between Omaha and Lincoln, right off of I-80 at Exit 432. The shrine sits on a hillside and there is a magnificent crucifix that overlooks the valley. It is truly a peaceful, restful place. When I was looking at the website, www.hfsgretna.org, what caught my attention in the opening paragraph about the shrine is that it is a place of comfort, peace, and healing. I thought those are great gifts to have, especially after losing a loved one, so I encouraged my friends to go with me and we were not disappointed. As the poster for Holy Family Shrine reads, "Make a Pilgrimage to celebrate your faith." That is what we did and it truly made a difference in our lives. I would encourage you to take a pilgrimage to a shrine or grotto and experience the hidden treasures and the beauty of our Catholic Faith. When we make that pilgrimage we truly celebrate our faith and both our lives and our faith will be touched in a beautiful and special way!!! God Bless You!!!

Consoling Message

Since the passing of my dad, I have had a graveside service; a funeral Mass; and another funeral Mass to conduct, so it has been a busy time for sure. Having gone through a recent loss of someone so close, I can relate to those who are grieving because I am still going through that process. The outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers can bring tremendous comfort and peace. I also think of the many wonderful Scripture passages that give us hope as we think about our loved one. One of those passages is Saint Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians 4:13-18. He writes at the very beginning, "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep." Saint Paul concludes by writing, "Therefore, console one another with these words." This is our faith!!! We profess each week in the Nicene Creed our belief in the resurrection of the dead. These are words, our profession of faith that we need to take to heart and live each day. Granted, it is difficult to see through the sorrow and tears when you are grieving but ultimately we know what is right and true. In time, the loss that we feel will be filled by God's great love, comfort, and peace but it seems like time is too long. That is why we pray for one another and we console one another with this message of faith because we know that in the midst of our sadness and loss, the risen Christ is always with us. God Bless You!!!