Ego versus the Sprit, which has taken over our hearts?

There is an old metaphor that I think about when I reflect on this. Imagine that we take an orange and squeeze it as hard as we can knowing that when we squeeze it what comes out is orange juice. We know that no matter how many times we squeeze, apple juice will never ever come out of an orange.  So, the question is why is it that when we squeeze an orange as hard as we can does orange juice come out? The reason that orange juice, and not apple juice, comes out when we squeeze it is because that’s what’s inside.

Now to extend the metaphor with you and I.  What happens to us when we get squeezed in life: Do our egos come out or the Holy Spirit? Do we need to win, be right, keep score, and get even? Or do we forgive, give compassion, and love without costs. I know for myself I would like to say I always allow the Holy Spirit to come out, but I would be lying to everyone here, including myself.  Life has a way to squeeze us sometimes. Life squeezes us when someone gossips about us. Sometimes life squeezes by someone’s offensive behavior. Sometimes life squeezes by real injustice that happened to us or a loved one.

When these things happen, when we get squeezed, we have to ask ourselves what comes out of us. Is it anger, hatred, bitterness, tension, fear, anxiety, or stress? Immediately, we may say the reason that it comes out of me is because how he said it or because they did this or that to us or because life is so unfair. But the truth is and the reality is that what comes out of us is what is inside.

St. Augustine, once a sinner who was controlled by his ego and pride, allowed God to convert his heart to be a saint. This came after many years and many prayers by his mom, St. Monica. St. Augustine said that the key to allowing God to do this in him is found in the three greatest virtues: humility, humility, humility. Humility in that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Humility in that only his love and how he works through us will change our sinful behaviors because we cannot change them by ourselves. Humility in knowing that we are sons and daughters of God.

Conversion of heart takes a life time, so it’s about seeing the good work that He is doing in us and in our neighbors despite us not being perfect in life. So again, which has taken over our hearts in life – our egos or the Holy Spirit. Letting go and letting God in our lives is uncomfortable, but it has to be done if we want true life. When we let go of our egos, our own wills, our own agendas, it will feel like a real loss at first. We will feel an emptiness, but if we let him in to those wounds and hurts we will see the Holy Spirit transforming us into Saints

In the Gospel reading today, we find that Jesus compliments the scribe.  Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”  I don’t know about you, but I immediately asked the question, “what is he missing?”  The Gospel says that the scribe answered Jesus with understanding.  So, what is the scribe missing?

I propose that the scribe may have understood, but did not act on this understanding.  The scribes were very good at practicing the burnt offerings and sacrifices.  However, they tended to forget that the animal sacrifice and burnt offerings were to remind them of personal sacrifice.  Maybe this is why the scribe “was not far from the Kingdom of God”!  The scribe remembered that loving God with all you are and your neighbor as yourself were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices, but did not practice this.

I find this true for myself.  Of course, we believe that we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  I am good at loving my neighbor, until I see my neighbor! Even taxpayers and sinners love those who love them!  I propose that we take this week to focus on those things that are hard for us to do.  Maybe “burnt offerings and sacrifices” are easy for you.  Today, our “burnt offerings and sacrifices” are going to Mass regularly and giving our monetary offering to Church.  (We have not practiced the “burnt offerings and sacrifices” since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.) 

Maybe going to Mass on Sunday is easy for you and loving your “neighbor” is harder.  Loving the neighbor who knocks over your trash cans every week is harder for you. Or it is harder to be nice to the neighbor who doesn’t take care of their lawn as you would like.  For others, loving your neighbor may be easier.  Maybe getting to Mass on Sunday regularly or contributing weekly to the Sunday offering is harder.  One thing to try is to find a Mass time that does work for you and your family.  If giving to the Church financially is hard for you right now, can you give of your time by volunteering?  There are many ways to give to the Church. You can give by your time, talent, and/or treasure. 

Take this week to see where the Lord is asking you to grow!  For each person reading this, what the Lord is calling you to, will be different.  Can’t wait to see what the Lord creates through you!

Are You an Influencer?

I recently gave a homily about a term which is relatively new to me.  That term is “Influencer.” Apparently it is one of the terms with which persons familiar with social media are conversant.  It does just what it says it does, it influences you to one point of view or another. I think we used to call that peer-pressure for the younger generations and advertising for the rest of us.  Someone or something is always influencing us one way of the other.

At the end of that Mass one of our parishioners approached me and handed me a pen.  On the pen was inscribed: Pray, Post, Repeat – Catholicinfluencers.com.

I don’t think that this was a coincidence, I do think that it is God’s Grace at work in our midst.  We are all called to be influencer in our world.  By the things that we say, by the choices that we make, by the example that we give, by how we live out our call to be a Christian is how each of us becomes an influencer.

One of the Catholic influences that I use is a site called Aleteia.  Recently they posted an article on Blessed Carlo Acutis within which they referred to him as an influencer.  Here are six of the takeaways that might help you to be the influencer that God has called you to be:

• Be Authentic, Not a Photocopy
• Use Your Platform For Good
• Balance The Online and The Offline
• Simplicity is Powerful
• Kindness Over Fame
• Leave a Lasting Legacy

The young Carlo Acutis may not have had millions of followers or a global platform in his lifetime, but his influence continues to grow years after his death. This is because he left behind something meaningful. He lived with intention, purpose and a clear sense of values. He didn’t chase fame.  Instead he chased a life of meaning, and that’s what makes his story so compelling today. Blessed Carlo and other influencers can help us to use our talents and passions to uplift others, make a positive impact, and live authentically.

Have a great week and God Bless you,
Father Kennedy

Father Windle and I have an ongoing joke about the lottery. Whenever the lottery gets very large, hits the news, and everyone starts playing it, I always tell Father, “Trust me, Father, if I hit the lottery, St. David Parish will not have a want or need again.” Father Windle always says the same two things back to me. First, he says. “Can I get that in writing?” Then he says, “Made a deal with God again?” I say, “Yes Father. If I win, making my life carefree without any suffering and worries, I will give a portion of my winnings to the Church.” Sounded like a good deal to me. A “win, win” for both parties. In reality, I forgot that I had already won the greatest lottery of all time. It is the reward that Jesus has given me: eternal life in Heaven with His Father — a treasure with no equal. There is a difference though. For us to claim this eternal reward we must give up the idea that we will be spared from all suffering and instead of being served we are asked to serve. We are asked to join Jesus in His suffering for this glory. When James and John hear this from Jesus in today’s Gospel, the apostles do what you and I are tempted to do when we hear bad news. They change the subject!

The Apostles, like us, are stuck in an earthly view of what Heaven is like and how to get there. We see the great people on earth as the rulers or the rich. In Jesus’ view, the servants are the truly great ones. Real glory doesn’t come from lording it over others, but from serving others. Jesus is most glorious in his crucifixion when he loses everything but love. What made Jesus’ sacrifice so special is that, inside of all the loneliness, darkness, jealousy, misunderstanding, sick crowd hysteria, coldness, and murder, he held out. He gave himself over, without bitterness and without self-pity, holding his ideals intact –  to be gracious, respectful, and forgiving – without losing his balance, his meaning, or his message. He remained faithful to His mission and His Father to the very end. The struggle to do that, to remain faithful, is the real drama inside the death of Jesus. In the end, it is a struggle of the heart, not the body. He loves us through the worst to show what the best really is.

The Apostles do not know what they are truly asking of the Lord. What they are asking is whether they might be crucified with Jesus on either side of him. And here is the most powerful thing to notice in this story. Jesus does not rebuke James and John for their request. He grants it. They will drink his cup with him. We are all called to drink that same cup. It may be difficult at times, but like Jesus, we can go through life with love in our hearts and service to others. We can withstand all suffering and reap the winnings of eternal life.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Inviting One Back: The Spirituality of the Invitation

Do you remember the last time that you were invited somewhere? It may have been a wedding, a lunch date or a cup of coffee. Invitations mean something. They say something: “I want to be with you”; “I enjoy your presence”; “I want you to be part of my life.”

Invitations are uniquely powerful. An invitation is not forceful nor aggressive, yet by nature, it expects a response. Jesus used invitations all the time! He invited people to worship and glorify God, He invited people to follow him, He invited people to dine with him, and He invited people to repent and believe in the Gospel. We should do the same today.

Though there are many reasons why Catholics stop attending Mass, it is safe to assume the majority will only come back if personally invited. No matter where individuals are or what decisions they have made, the Church remains a spiritual home and community of people in need of God’s love and mercy. An invitation reminds them that they belong within our community and that their presence is missing.

If even one person is missing from our parish, their absence matters! In the words of the great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Every person we have encountered has an eternal destiny. Every person who has ever been a parishioner of our church is a person with an immortal soul and, therefore, of an infinite amount of value. Whether our parish is missing just a single soul, or five souls, or five hundred souls, we are incomplete without one another.

Our efforts in evangelization and inviting Catholics back to Mass are not just about increasing numbers or filling pews. Rather, our efforts are about guiding people to intimate encounters with Jesus Christ and leading souls to salvation, allowing them to experience God’s love, mercy and goodness.

It is important to invite these people back because it is a great act of love! It is also one of the simplest and most effective ways to evangelize. Love desires to be shared once it is received. The source and summit of the Christian life is participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, where we encounter the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Our faith is nourished and our souls are strengthened through this encounter, which is essential for our spiritual growth and vitality.

Let us pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and fortitude to carry out this sacred mission. Let us embrace each soul with open arms, rejoicing as they return to the embrace of the Church and our parish community through the gift of the Eucharist.  

National Eucharistic Revival

In the Gospel reading today, we find that the disciples are offended for Jesus, just like the Israelites were for Moses in the First Reading.  Jesus, like Moses, gives us a great example here.  If someone is doing something good, hopeful, and helpful, why should we be offended?  The Lord is very powerful and does not have to work through us.  Are we comfortable with letting the Lord work wonders in and through those who “don’t fit our ways”? 

I have found that the Lord often speaks in and through those most unlikely.  This should not be surprising to us, as Scripture says, God uses the weak, the poor, the lowly…  In school, some of the most powerful thoughts often come from our youngest children.  Children have the gift of seeing things in new and/or different ways.  They can make you laugh when you want to cry.  I have watched tough, 6-foot 8^th graders become soft and gentle around the smallest kindergarten student.

Do we leave room in our lives for Jesus to work in the most unexpected ways?  Jesus is doing great work in our Church, parish, and school community!  A couple of weeks ago (September 15^th) I was blessed to be part of the Abbey Fest in Paoli, Pa.  The Abbey Fest has been going on for 10 years!  It is a Saturday, in September, where you can go and meet Catholic vendors (businesses), hear Catholic musicians and artists, go to Confession as well as time for Adoration!  The day ends with 4:30pm Mass with Archbishop Perez, Benediction, and then a Matt Maher concert.  The day is filled with ways that Jesus is doing things in unexpected ways! 

It was awesome to meet Catholics who are excited about their Faith and wanting to share it with others!  Some of these brothers and sisters might not be in every youth group, young adult group, or be a registered member of a parish.  But they are working hard to share the Faith through their business, art, music, craft, etc… All of these are more examples of how Jesus is working through so many others!  What a gift!  Thank you Lord, for giving us the eyes to see what you are doing in our Church today!

Suffering

In my many years in the mechanical trades, I have had to deal with the movement and transfer of liquids. During my apprenticeship, I studied the science of liquids from their movement to their changes of states and their properties.  Water itself is an incredible creation by God because of its uniqueness.  Water has an incredible ability to absorb heat and then the ability to hold that heat and release it slowly.  This is why we use it in heating our homes and many other industrial uses.  There is one issue with water which we deal with in all heating systems and that is it will always choose the path of least resistance.  If you have ever heard someone complain about one part of their house being cold, and asking why the other part is warm, it is because of this very property of water.  The flow will always go the easier path.  This is why we use control valves and special fittings to balance the water so the heat from the water can be distributed in a more even way.  We actually are asking the water to do something it does not want to do.  In a sense, we cause the water to suffer to perform its task.  Our own suffering in this life does this for us.

We also love the path of least resistance, but that path may not be the path we are meant to be on.   Why does Jesus come down on Peter so hard?  Because he heard this very temptation before from Satan in the desert:

Save yourself. Do not give up your life for others. Since you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. Show your power. Be the Christ. You keep talking about your heavenly Father: doesn’t he want you to carry out your mission instead of suffering and being killed?

The devil’s enticements had the same point that Peter’s does in today’s Gospel.  Jesus absolutely could have chosen the easier path but that is not why His Father sent him.  His suffering is what brings about our very salvation.  It is through our own suffering we are brought along the path Christ means us to be on.  Saint John of the Cross compared it to a green log in the fireplace.  When a green log is placed in a fire, it doesn’t start to burn immediately. It first needs to be dried out. Thus, for a long time, it lies in the fire and sizzles, its greenness and dampness slowly drying out. Only when it reaches kindling temperature can it ignite and burst into flame.  We also can be tempered through suffering to burst into the flame of faith Christ calls us to be.

We need to remember one thing is that we never suffer alone.  Christ is always with us.  Always helping us through.  It is as the line in the first reading today says: 

The Lord GOD is my help; therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

There’s a line in Jewish apocalyptic literature, which, helps answer this question of suffering: every tear brings the messiah closer! 

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

I am directionally-challenged and I thank God for GPS, because before GPS I would always get lost (and even with GPS, I still get lost).  Well, there was one time when I was 21, way before GPS, I was driving to an interview in Malvern. I wanted to make sure I got there very early for the interview.  I thought everything was going well, until I saw signs saying I was getting close to New Jersey. I panicked, found a gas station, and humbly asked for directions back to Malvern. I estimated that I had gone at least 40 miles in the wrong direction. Thankfully, I had allowed myself enough time that everything worked out and I arrived in time for my interview – and it worked out only because I realized I had made a huge mistake, stopped what I was doing, turned around, and went the other way.

I share this story because this is the first thing that we must do when we sin in order to be saved. There is a word for it: repent – turn back. But before we can even repent, we need to know which way to go. As Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  When the Israelites were called to the promise land, they had to repent in the desert.  Moses had a vision that was clear leading the Israelites out of Egypt and unfortunately not everyone came along.  Some stayed behind, as he said, “You have two paths to go to in this life. One that will lead to death and doom and the other is life and prosperity.”

In life, it seems a very obvious choice, but the problem is that we can get so caught up in the comforts of this temporal life that we may think we are traveling in the right direction, but in truth we may not be.  That is why Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Christ’s path is challenging because it humbles us to ask God in prayer “Am I still going the right way?” We must be humble and open enough to hear him say” “Yes,” or “No.”

Where we must be honest with ourselves and him and what we must ask are:

• What am I attached to in life?
• Am I attached to a sin?
• Am I attached to a certain agenda even if it’s good?
• Am I attached to being right and keeping score of all the things that I do for God or others?
• Am I attached to being comfortable?
• How many of us are attached to Him?

Our vison statement that we instituted a few years ago now can be viewed as a foundation to repentance.

“Knowing Jesus is the best Gift any person can receive; that we have encountered him is the best thing that has happened in our lives, and making Him known by our words and deeds is our joy.”

We all have things that we need to work on and that is why an encounter with the Lord is so important when we repent.  Because Jesus doesn’t point a figure at us for our wrongdoing, rather it is about us trying not to offend the person whom we love the most. This vision can reorient our GPS systems so that we can see if we are going in the right direction with him. As we continue to together on this journey towards heaven, let us ask for the grace of humility so that we are open even more to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.

This time last month, many of us were adoring our Lord Jesus, truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist and deepening our faith in Him – in person and via social media, at the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. I am sure this thrilling spiritual experience continues to fill your heart, as it does mine, with joyful hope and abiding faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to grant us the graces we need to be vessels of God’s love and mercy to all, especially those who have wandered away from the Lord.

The National Eucharistic Revival is NOT OVER! At the closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress, Cardinal Antonio Tagle summoned all Catholics to be Eucharistic Missionaries, right in our own surroundings. Through our Baptism, we are all called to evangelize. Thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are all well-equipped for this mission. There is someone in your life right now whom Jesus longs to call to Himself. He wants to spark a relationship with them and bless them with the sacraments. This is your opportunity to be God’s instrument in the life of another person.

Just as Jesus called His followers one-by-one, say “YES” to a special form of one-to-one accompaniment entitled the WALK WITH ONE initiative. The Bishops of the United States, in conjunction with the NEC team have developed a simple four stage process of accompaniment that focuses on this heart-to-heart approach.

Step 1: Identify someone in a spirit of humility:
Prayerfully begin to discern whom God is calling you to accompany. Before you begin the process of inviting someone into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, spend time in prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process.

Step 2: Intercede for that person in communion with the Holy Spirit:
Pray for the grace to be able to accompany the person whom the Lord has laid on your heart. Now that the Lord has identified a person whom you know, commit to pray for them for a specific period of time, asking God to open the opportunity for a conversation.

Step 3: Connect in Eucharistic Friendship
Look for ways to accompany the person you have prayed for, to build a deeper relationship, and to practice the art of empathetic listening. Take the time needed to develop a real friendship and get to know your friend’s joys and struggles and share your own.

Step 4: Invite that person on a path most suitable for him or her:
Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit to invite him or her to a concrete next step in fostering a personal relationship with Jesus and the Church. Perhaps the first step is to invite the person to a parish social gathering, a service opportunity or a small group experience. The invitation to accompany you to Mass may come at a later time, depending on the person.

Throughout each stage of your Walk with One journey you are encouraged to pray the Eucharistic Examen, to help you discern the path the Lord is calling you to follow (see website below). If you can open your heart to speak about how Jesus has touched your life, your heart will touch the heart of whomever Jesus leads you to accompany. Imagine how our families, parishes, neighborhoods and country will be transformed if every Catholic answers this call to WALK WITH ONE!

For more in-depth information on this Walk With One initiative, please go to: www.eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one.

For the past couple of weeks, we have been reading from the Gospel of John and the Bread of Life discourse. This is very timely since the Catholic Church in the United States participated in the National Eucharistic Congress this summer in Indianapolis. Over 60,000 people gathered in that city to adore and learn more about Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Congress was 5 days of joy, excitement, energy, while at the same time, being prayerful, respectful, and inspiring! The Congress truly represented people from all walks of life who practice the Catholic Faith! Every “type” of Catholic was there, from single young adults, couples with no children, small families, large families, older men and women, religious men and women, seminarians, priests, and bishops! Everyone came together with one focus in mind ~ the Eucharist!

We participated in Daily Mass, Adoration, Rosary, along with talks from every expert in the Catholic Faith! Families could go to sessions that helped them in their unique walk with the Lord. The youth had sessions where they could learn more about the Eucharist, their Faith, and their building their relationship with Jesus Christ and more. Men and women who serve the Church as youth ministers, young adult leaders, DREs, CREs, pastoral associates, etc… could go to sessions that renewed and strengthened them in their ministries. Seminarians, Priests, and Bishops had sessions specifically for them. There was so much to offer each person no matter where they were in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

With all that excitement and joy, think about what would have happened (or not happened) if each person at the Congress responded to Jesus the way that some of the disciples responded in today’s Gospel. “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Jesus was excited to share His Body and Blood with those gathered because that is what they really needed! They didn’t need bread that would perish! They needed Bread that would live forever!

The Congress was amazing! It will take me time to digest all that I was blessed to experience and learn! But it was difficult too! It was difficult for families to go to the Congress. It was a significant financial burden to go the Congress. There are many good and valid reasons why many people could not go! But think about how quickly we say, “This is too hard.” “This just can’t be done.” The Lord never said it wouldn’t be hard. He said that He would be with us through everything! Let us take time this week to reflect on how we respond to what Jesus is calling us to do. Do we focus on what is in the way and not possible? Or do we see the potential and/or choose to think positively about what the Lord is asking of us?

Remember: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13) The Eucharist is the source and summit! He is the wind in our sails and not the waves pushing us down! With Christ, we can do this!

I recently re-read a small collection of reflections that someone had shared with me a few years ago.  These were some of the short statements that were cause for reflection for me.  I share them with you; perhaps one or more of the following will be a cause of reflection for you!

Salvation is what we receive, not what we achieve!
Can I allow myself to receive from the Lord, rather than show Him what I can achieve?

May we live simply so that others may simply live!
Are there “things” in my life that I have a difficult time admitting I don’t need?

Instead of counting your days, make your days count!
How well am I using the 1440 minutes of the day?

Never underestimate the impact one life can have on another!
Am I aware of the good that each person brings to my life?

You are important to God, whether you think so or not!
Do I believe God sees me as His beloved child?

You don’t become a missionary by crossing the sea, but by seeing the cross!
What are the crosses in my life that God helps me to carry?

Have your tools ready and God will provide the work!
Is there a particular work that God is asking of me today?

God promised a safe landing, not smooth sailing!
In the midst of difficulty, do I trust in God’s providence?

Don’t make prayer a monologue, but rather a conversation!
How well do I listen to the Lord, as He speaks to my heart?

If you do your very best, God is sure to do the rest!
Have I really done my best or been satisfied with doing just OK?

Courage is fear that has said its prayers!
How courageous have I been?

If you think meek is weak, try being meek for a week!
Can I be meek and humble for just today?

God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say!
When was the last time I listened to someone . . . really listened?

Eternity is a long time to think about what you should have done!
What should I do today that I have been avoiding for too long?

Give your troubles to God, He’s up all night anyway!
Can I offer my cares to the Lord, relying solely upon His love for me?

Have a great week and God Bless you,
Father Kennedy

One and True King

I do not know if you have been paying attention to current events, but we have a presidential election happening this year. Of course, I am saying that in jest because who would not know that.  There is so much noise going on over it and emotions are very high. No matter the outcome of this election there will be some very unhappy people when it is completed.  Almost half of our beloved country will feel devastated by the results.  Although I would never tell you who to vote for, as your Deacon, I ask for you to make an informed and prayerful decision when you cast your vote.  Remember again that as happy or unhappy as you are about the results, there will be people on the other side of the spectrum from you with their feelings. Be aware and consider that and remember that we are all sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven.

But most of all I would like you to remember something God our Father told us in Psalm 146:

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

This so very important to remember and this warning was also made in 1 Samuel when the Israelites were asking for a King.  God told Samuel to “…listen to them; but at the same time, give them a solemn warning and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them.”  Samuel gave the people an entire litany of what an earthly king would impose on them.  This king could not offer what God could offer as their true King.  Our one and true happiness will come from our meeting face to face with our God and there is only one person who can offer us that opportunity.

Redemption will not come from anything any political candidate is offering. Salvation will not even come from the success of the United States. Our eternal life and happiness will only come when we put our faith and trust in our one and true king, Jesus Christ.  He is always waiting for you to cast a vote for Him.  He is the King that will lead us to the Father. 

May Jesus live in your hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

I want to share a story about a man who committed a serious crime. He was sent to the king for his punishment. The king told him that he had a choice of two punishments: he could be sent to prison for 40 years or accept what’s behind the big, dark, scary, iron door. The criminal quickly decided on prison. As he was walked off to prison, he turned to the king and asked, “By the way, out of curiosity, what’s behind that door?” The king laughed and said, “You know, it’s funny. I offer everyone the same choice, and nearly everyone picks prison.” But the criminal said again, “Well, tell me now since I can’t choose differently. What’s behind the door?” The king paused and then answered, “Freedom, but it seems most people are so afraid of the unknown that they immediately choose prison.”

In our sins, in our faults, and in our weaknesses, which door do we allow our minds and hearts to walk towards – strict justice for ourselves or the undeserved, maybe unfamiliar, gift of Love and Mercy of Jesus?  A great example of this is the series, The Chosen (and I cannot recommend this series enough). It’s about Jesus’ life and the lives of his disciples and it does a great job of bringing Jesus to life in our world today. There is one particular scene about Mary Magdalene that stands out when I think about choices and prisons.  We see that she was living a very sinful life and no one could help her out of it.  It was so bad that demons were tormenting her, but then something happens – the tormenting stops and she is free.  As she is trying to explain her freedom to someone, she simply says, “I was one way and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between…was Him.

 Mary Magdalene had an encounter with Christ. For us, it is always about an encounter with Christ. It is in this encounter of love that we want to repent to be better, not out of fear of hell, but because of Him. For me, this deep feeling to want to repent and change my life was when Christ called me to priesthood. I was once one way, but now I am completely different – ever since taking His call seriously back in 2005.  But with that being said, I am still bumbling and stumbling along on this journey knowing that I am a sinner in need of a savior. 

Christ wants this personal encounter for everyone and as much as we love this world and the joys that this world can bring, we know that this world is passing. Our job is to be witnesses walking together in faith as prisoners of Christ and helping others to choose the door of Christ. If we can learn how to be a prisoner of Christ, more and more people will know through our witness that we were once one way, but now are on fire with love because of Him. In our time when there so many choices, so many doors to choose from, let us pray us pray each day that the door we choose is always the one that leads to Him!

God’s Presence

         I was finishing work one day in a trailer at one of the refineries, changing my boots and cleaning up, when one of my co-workers came up to me and asked if he could talk to me for a minute.  It seems his family was going through a difficult time, and he needed to vent and wanted me to pray for him and his family.  He told me the reason he was coming to me was that he knew that I had a relationship with God and that God would hear my prayer before He would hear his.  I told him I would absolutely pray for him, but a prayer from him would carry the same weight as a prayer from me. I continued to tell him the only difference in our prayer is that I recognize that I have a relationship with God. You have that same relationship.  In fact, I think God would love to hear from you more than from me over your situation. God was present to him as much as he was present to me.  We don’t pray to make God present to us. God is already present, always present – everywhere. We pray to make ourselves present to God. This is the secret to prayer.

Jesus was always pointing to the relational nature of everything He did. When He did a miracle, He would say “your faith has saved you.”  Recognizing that Christ is always with us allows Him to work within our lives.  Faith is the first ingredient of that relationship.  Faith is the rich soil that lets God be planted in and flourish within our lives.  Without faith we are not giving God a place to plant His seeds. 

Saint Augustine wrestled with this very topic.  Saint Augustine had been searching for love and God. Eventually he found them in the most unexpected of all places, inside of himself. He said, “In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things that you created. You were with me, but I was not with you.” (Confessions 10:27)  Saint Augustine realized through faith that Christ was always working in his life. Always present.

At the beginning of each class at LaSalle High, the students start with a prayer and each time they pray, it always begins with, “Let us remember we are always in the presence of God.” Indeed, miracles are always present within our lives. Are we ready to have such faith?

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

“We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” -Acts 5:32

While growing up, many of my days were filled with playing sports of all types…sometimes on organized teams in the community and other times in “pick up” games in the neighborhood.   As we would organize for those games in the neighborhood, the two “captains” would carefully begin to choose the members of their team, while the rest of us stood waiting for our name to be called.  I can remember hoping that I wouldn’t be the last chosen; seen as the least valuable player for a team. 

Many of us may recall events in our lives when we waited to be chosen, perhaps it be after an audition for a play or interview for a new job; it might be a letter of acceptance to the college of our choice or to become part of a new organization.  Too often we place so much emphasis on being chosen that it defines our life’s worth. 

In many places in the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded of the marvelous gift of God, calling us to be His own people.  As His chosen children we have been called to fulfill the mission which He has set for us.  It may take us a lifetime or longer to understand, but even in our imperfection, in our limitations and shortcomings, in our unworthiness, God has created us to do Him some service.  From the moment of our being created in His image we are given our worth, and from the moment of our baptism we begin to seek that mission He has in store for us.  The world might not choose us, but God has chosen us.

Remember that you have been chosen by God, called out of darkness into His marvelous light, to fulfill a purpose which God himself has set before the foundation of the world.  You have a purpose for which God has called you.

The following prayer of Saint John Henry Newman reflects our purpose … 

God created me
to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission –
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next…
Therefore, I will trust Him…
If I am in sickness,
my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity,
my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow,
my sorrow may serve Him…
He does nothing in vain;
He may prolong my life,
He may shorten it,
He knows what He is about.

-Fr. Kennedy

A few years ago, I was reading the paper and I saw a section titled in big bold letters “He Did it His Way”. The article was about a talk show host that retired and how he was so successful through the years because He did it His own way. As Catholics, we are challenged in this because worldly success doesn’t always match up with Christian Success.  

One can be successful in the eyes of the secular world by relying on oneself.  And one can be seen as unsuccessful in the world by relying on God. Though we may tend to rely on ourselves – have we ever thought of what life would be like if we didn’t have to? What if we had a source that we could tap into, a power that slowly transforms us into the person that we are truly meant to be?

In the Gospel today, we are reminded that we do have this power source.  The Holy Spirit. The bond of love between God the Father and God the Son.  He is their gift to us. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, new power.  All of us who have been baptized and confirmed have received the fullness of grace of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes we don’t know this.

There is an old analogy about receiving the Holy Spirit, but not knowing it. It is like we have a glass of milk and we want to make chocolate milk. What do we do? We take chocolate syrup and squeeze and squeeze it into the milk.  After that, we may have an inch of chocolate at the bottom of the glass. So, what is it now? It is white milk with chocolate just sitting on the bottom. When we were baptized and confirmed, God filled us and poured into us His Holy Spirit, but sometimes that Spirit just sits there.  We may not have allowed ourselves to be stirred up into a flame. Like what we have to do to make chocolate milk – we have to stir it up.

So how do we allow God to stir up the Spirit in our lives? The only true way we can do this and engage in this new life is by surrendering ourselves to the Holy Spirit. It is both as simple and as difficult as that. Every day we need to pray to the Holy Spirit, “I will do whatever you want” and mean it, or “Send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.”

But Surrendering to the Holy Spirit is frightening, because it means giving up control. It means doing things even though we can’t connect all of the dots at first. It means being vulnerable and it is tough to be vulnerable. But when we learn to surrender, there will be opportunities that He will give us over and over again in our lives.  Opportunities that give us chances to rely on Him.  And the more we engage in those opportunities, the more we will know that they are from God and that He is doing the heavy lifting. Then we will have more confidence in Him.  We will start to learn how trustworthy and how loving He is. So, our challenge is to let the Holy Spirit be stirred into us, and to pray for this each day.

And then – our job is to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit use us to bring people to Himself. And when we do that, people will see us on fire knowing that we are doing it His way!!!

As we celebrate Pentecost during this year of Eucharistic Revival, we praise and thank God for the power of His Holy Spirit manifested in all of the sacraments, especially the Most Holy Eucharist. In the holy sacrifice of the Mass the Lord Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as nourishment for our pilgrim journey and as a pledge of eternal life. Before the words of consecration are spoken, the priest proclaims the prayer of epiclesis (from the ancient Greek meaning “calling down from on high” or “invocation”). The epiclesis is essential to the Eucharistic sacrifice because it is the calling down of the Holy Spirit upon the simple gifts of bread and wine so that they can be transformed. Through the words, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood” the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. The Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion” (n. 1375). 

The priest implores the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine, to transform these simple elements into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. As revealed in Sacred Scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit is to give new life by way of transformation, true change, and conversion.

The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is received at Baptism giving each person a share in the divine life. In Confirmation, one is strengthened and sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In both Baptism and Confirmation, a person is truly changed and transformed by the Holy Spirit and by the sacramental grace bestowed upon the one receiving the sacrament.

The Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles at Pentecost. After receiving the Holy Spirit, they were changed and transformed. No longer were they afraid! Filled with the Holy Spirit, they had the courage to preach the Gospel to all nations, to carry out the works of Jesus Christ and to reconcile sinners.

The prayer of epiclesis and the prayer of consecration are an immersion into the life and love of the Blessed Trinity. The Son freely and willingly offered himself to the Father on the cross for our salvation. The Father and the Son sent the Spirit so that we would never be abandoned.

We participate in Mass to give glory to God, to worship and praise the Blessed Trinity, and to be sanctified. Never should it happen that we participate in Mass and remain unchanged. Receiving the proclaimed Word of God into our hearts and receiving Holy Communion into our very body – how can we not be changed in some way through our participation at Mass? This is a work of the Holy Spirit – to change us; to transform us; to give us life.

Let us lift up our minds and hearts to the Lord at Mass and call down the Holy Spirit in the many ordinary moments of our daily lives, so that we can be changed and transformed and, with the help of God’s grace, become saints.

May God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Peace be with you!

These words that Jesus said to His disciples on “the evening of that first day of the week,” remind us that He offers each of us this precious gift of peace. It was at this first encounter after His Resurrection that He calms their fears and strengthens their faith.  He assists them to see, not with human eyes alone, but with eyes of faith, so that they may experience Peace.

Throughout our lives we experience “firsts”. Events like, a child’s first step or first words; the soft touch of a newborn child’s face; the first day of school; First Communion; embarking upon a new career; a teenager driving the family car without the need of another licensed driver; or any other number of firsts in our lives.  When “firsts” occur, we often begin to view things from a different perspective – almost like seeing things with new eyes.  Although not always mindful of the impact of these experiences, they often bring much joy.

These days of Easter are a time for us to see with new eyes – eyes enlightened by our experience of the Resurrection, enlightened by the outpouring of God’s Love, enlightened by the gift of peace offered to Jesus’ disciples and offered to each of us.  With renewed vision, filled with faith, we leave behind our old ways of thinking.  We confidently approach each situation in our lives with hope.  We look at one another and realize that each of us is part of the Body of Christ, and we try to grasp the immensity of God’s love for us.

During this Easter season, our readings recall the first encounters of the disciples with the Risen Jesus.  The initial response of the disciples is that of disbelief and fear – they aren’t sure if their eyes are deceiving them; they ask themselves could it be Him.  Jesus, knowing their uncertainty, offers to them the assurance that it is He who is present to them.  Their fear and doubt were replaced by joy and peace.  Through their experience of the Risen Christ they were able to see things in a new light and confidently share the news of Jesus’ Resurrection.

We, too, encounter the Risen Christ in many ways.  May our encounters with the Risen Christ help us to see with eyes of faith; giving us true joy and lasting peace.

Recently some of our young members received their First Communion.  May this first encounter with Christ strengthen them for the days ahead and all throughout their lives. And may each of us be renewed in our devotion, love and respect for Jesus the Bread of Life and the peace that He offers.

Peace be with you,
Father Kennedy

The famous sculptor Michelangelo once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”  He believed that the creation of the statue was already there and he confirmed this when asked about his famous statue of David. He said, “I created a vision of David in my mind and simply carved away everything that was not David.” 

Very similar to Michelangelo’s David, we all are a block of stone in the hands of the Divine Sculptor, our Heavenly Father.  He has a vision of who He created us to be and works unceasingly to remove all the parts of the block that are not in His vision.  The only difference between the block of stone and us is that the stone did not choose to become the statue of David, but God needs us to ask Him, to let Him work in our lives so that we can become that piece of divine artwork we are all called to be.  He even sent an example of what we were meant to be if we allow Him to sculpt us.  We would be shining examples of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When our parents in the Garden brought sin into the world, we began corrupting the beautiful creation we were meant to be.  We collect debris and burdens which begin to block and hide who we are.  This debris could be fear, anxiety, jealousy – basically all the things that come with sin.  They become rock-hard on us and we are unable to remove them by ourselves. In fact, they become so attached to us that it can be very painful to remove, so we may decide to just live with such burdens.  It can also be painful to have them removed since we hang on so tightly to them.

So God sends His only Son to not only help us remove these burdens, but He asks us to allow Him to carry them for us.  He takes all of our debris and destroys it.  By allowing Christ to do this for us, we become again the vision of creation that we were always meant to be.  By putting our trust in Jesus, we become that divine piece of artwork and when we are seen by the rest of the world, we glorify our Divine Sculptor again, our Father in Heaven.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

The first reading is a striking one this week!  The Lord has tried very hard to reach the Israelite people!  The Lord sent many messengers to His people in order to turn their hearts back to Him and His laws. The Israelites would not listen! 

How often do people try to reach us and we simply won’t listen? There are many people in our lives that try to guide, direct and support us. We have coaches, friends, teachers, parents, priests, sisters, and even siblings try to give us direction! This made me think of Queen of Angels very especially. Last week, we took our standardized testing. Students are given plenty of time to go over each question or problem.  Students are encouraged to go back over their work or use scratch paper to complete problems. Many students listen to the advice or guidance given. Many students work very hard and are very diligent! As with anything, we have a few students that don’t take advantage of those supports.  Like the Israelite people, a few students don’t take the hints or guidance.  It can be hard to take that coaching.

During this week, let us take a step back and reflect on our own lives. Do I take coaching, guidance, and/or criticism well?  If this coaching, guidance, and/or criticism is coming from a person who loves us and cares for us, we should pause and take their words seriously. Who is that person in our life that we trust to guide us to a deeper relationship with Jesus? Like the Israelites, is the Lord sending us a messenger or message to turn our hearts? 

We have about three weeks of Lent left.  There is still time to change our actions, thoughts, and (most importantly) hearts to our Lord!  Let us take advantage of the time remaining!