Just a Girl Who Can't Say No!

I remember when I dove in the swimming pool for the first time. I believe I was six years old, and we were on vacation, heading for Florida. I had jumped in pools and creeks and ponds before. I had learned how to float, then dog paddle and then freestyle. I loved the water. Mom and Dad had taught me to like it and respect it. They were my coaches. They would support me and coax me until I was able to swim and jump into the water on my own. But diving was scary. I had to do this on my own. Dad stood in the water and offered to lift me out if I got in trouble. And Mom cheer led. But I had to dive in by myself. I stood with my toes hanging over the edge of the Holiday Inn pool, knees flexed, body bent in a more than ninety degree angle toward the water, hands together, pointing over my head and toward the pool. And I stood there. For what seemed for hours I stood in that position. Through my mind was racing thoughts of pain. "This is going to sting worse than any belly-flop. It's going to be all of the pain of a belly-flop all on my face. Then I'm going to get all of that water up my nose. This is going to hurt!" So, I stood there. A couple of times I leaned over far enough that I fell in accidentally. But at the last minute "saved" myself by bailing out of the dive, and doing an awkward "jump/ belly-flop" thing. Each of those times I'd get back out of the pool and assume the "scared to dive" position. And, I'd stand some more. Then a reality hit me. I remember thinking that standing, bent in half with arms over my head and facing the pool was stupid. Here I was being scared of something that I knew I was going to like. So, I flexed my knees a little more and sprung off of the side of the pool into the water. It didn't hurt at all! Before the vacation was over I was diving from the diving board, not just the side of the pool, largely because fear was replaced by the reality of a love.

Can you imagine Mary's fear when the Angel Gabriel came to visit her? "I'm too young!" "I'm engaged!" "What are the families and neighbors going to think of an unmarried and pregnant girl?" "You want me to be the mother of "WHO"?" "How is this going to work?" Mary had many reasons to tell God to knock on the door of someone else. Yet, she said "YES!" Mary had a love for God that replaced her fear. Her trust in her God empowered her cooperate with God's plan and God's path for her, even though she could not comprehend it, and even though God's Will for her was not what she originally thought it was. And, although she said "Yes!" to God, it didn't mean that her path was easy from there on out. God helped Joseph trust in His plan. But, I'm sure that other kin, "friends" and neighbors stung Mary with their shuns, remarks and glances. Being the mother of the Messiah couldn't have been an easy task either. Raising any child is a tough chore. Can you imagine trying to raise a boy who was the Son of God? Mary had to wonder if she was doing it correctly, more than often. She also had to watch Him in His adult life and ministry. As the Prime Disciple, Mary got to observe the awe and wonder of those spellbound by His teaching and His miracles. She also had to endure the derision of the doubters and haters. Worse she was one of the very few "there" when He bore the weight of our sins on the Cross. She witnessed His torturous murder.

Because Mary allowed her fear to be replaced by love, we are saved. The birth of the Son that she allowed God to give her, changed the destiny of the World. Her "Yes!" allowed God to say "Yes!" to us. Yes, we are loved beyond all counting. Yes, we are undeservedly forgiven, just for the asking. Yes, we are promised eternal life with Him as a free gift.

As we go through this weekend and the Holy Days of Christmas, let's remember that God has already said "Yes!" to us. How are we being called to say "Yes!" to Him and let His Love replace our fear?

Merry Christmas and very much love!
The Priesty Guy

Tea Towels, Bed Sheets and Tobacco Sticks!

This is probably not a huge surprise to many of you who know me, but I own a few Santa hats. A couple of them are traditional looking. One is a ball cap with a Santa stocking hat attached. And one is a springy looking red thing with a white ball on top. I also own one pair of green and red socks with Christmas trees and snow flakes upon them. Over the next month I'll go through my huge bag of hats and toys and dig them out. And, I'll don them at Christmas parties and perhaps even at Christmas Mass.

The first time that I got to dress up special for Christmas was at Maw Maw and Paw Paw Lee's house. I was three and my sister, Kathy, was just under five months old. The little grade school girl that lived across the road from my grandparents, Phylis Thompson, was chosen to be the the angel in the Christmas scene at St. Charles Church in St. Mary's, Kentucky. So, Maw Maw invited her over to pose for a picture in front of her Christmas tree. Kathy was baby Jesus on Maw Maw's coffee table crib. Phylis was the adorable angel. Mom was Mary and dressed in some sateen bed sheets. Dad was covered in a bed spread and playing the part of Joseph. I had my flannel shirt and blue jeans on, BUT got to hold Paw Paw's cane, in order to be a shepherd.

About three years later I was chosen to be a shepherd again at St. Francis of Assisi School's Christmas pageant. This time I got to wear an over sized bath robe with a tea towel on my head. (There are only two uses for tea towels; to dry dishes and to put them on little would be shepherds' heads.) I also had to trade in my Paw Paw's cane for for a tobacco stick, since all of the other shepherds were going to carry them, and because there were plenty of tobacco sticks in Loretto, Kentucky. A couple of years after that I dressed in custom fitted white sheets for our Christmas production of Frosty the Snowman. I still don't know if I was chosen to be Frosty because I was a good actor, or because the role only required me to remember one line, "Catch me, if you can!" (It very well could have been that the teachers wanted to cover me from head to toe in a snowman costume, and thus hide me and any of my "normal" antics from the view of the Church going patrons of the arts.)

This is all a very long introduction to a hopefully very short reflection on today's readings, especially the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah. This is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. And the readings are very festive and hopeful. But they are also instructions on how to prepare joyfully for the Lord's first coming and for when we meet Him again at the end of time, or at the end of our time.

Isaiah tells us how to dress properly for the Lord. Not with bed sheets or borrowed canes, but with the Spirit of the Lord upon us. Isaiah goes on further to tell us that the justice, salvation, joy and praise are to be what the world and the Lord should see in us.

There is a huge need in our world for justice, mercy, compassion, joy, praise and mercy to be lived by us. These qualities are in short supply and we Christians are meant to en-flesh them. We don't have to do things that may win us the Nobel Peace Prize. But, we can all do one or two little things each day that make the life of someone else a little more pleasant. We can even pray for the right things to be done in our world as well; and that may be the most powerful act we can do to bring justice, mercy and compassion to our world.

I think it all begins with an attitude of thanksgiving to God for all of His blessings to us. With an attitude of gratitude comes an inner joy for life that can't be hidden. Not that cheesy and sappy televangelist joy, but just a hopeful and joyful approach to each day.

I will still wear my Christmas costumes over the next four weeks. BUT, I plan on spending a little more time in prayer thanking God for the life, ministry, family and friends that He has given to me, and asking Him to help me seize the opportunities to live more mercifully, compassionately, justly, and joyfully for God and others who desperately need Him. Care to join me?

Peace,
me

Ready Or Not, Here He Comes!

Johnny Carson had Doc Severensen and Ed McMahon. David Letterman has Paul Schaefer and the fellow who sounds sort of like me. Jimmy Fallon has The Roots and that squeaky voiced guy. At the beginning of each of their shows you know that the host is about to come through the curtain whenever you hear the theme song and the voice saying, "Here's Johnny!" or something similar. The job of the musicians and the announcers are to announce the star.

John the Baptist was that man or that band for Jesus. "A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD" is the way John is described in the Gospel this weekend.  John the Baptist knew his role. He was to announce the star. John was to set the stage for the Savior who was about to come through the curtain.

John must have been a disarming sort of man. Camel hair clothes and a disgusting diet of bugs and bee poop sounds like a description of someone I'd prefer to stay away from. However, in other parts of the Gospels it is written that people from Jerusalem and all over Israel were traveling the long mountainous and treacherous road to go see and hear him. His attraction had to be his message. Prepare! Repent! The One following me is greater than me! The subjected, terrorized and hungry people of his time and place wanted to hear that relief and rescue were on the way.

As we know some folks didn't like John's message. Herod and his wife are just a couple of many who wanted him to shut the heck up. There were those who were comfortable in the world of John and Jesus who enjoyed life just as it was. They may have been making a good living off of others because of the Roman occupation of their land. St. Matthew and Zaccheus were at least two of those folks. Some may have wanted to silence John because what he was saying about faith, religion and the need for the Messiah conflicted with their faith, religion or messianic hopes. Repenting, waking, preparing, and listening to something new meant change. And the reality is that change is normally resisted.

The reading from Isaiah today begins with the word COMFORT. This Old Testament Prophet reveals that God's Chosen One is coming to His beleaguered  people to bring them COMFORT. That sounds great if you're beleaguered and miserable. If you are already comfortable, though, you will probably not be very welcoming and open to God's introduction of someone and something new and "more" comfortable. Why would you want to wake up if you were enjoying your nap? However, we also know, that if someone doesn't yell "FIRE!" then the sleepy ones will perish in the flames. Being discomforted can save our lives too.

This morning I got to hear Sr. Helen Prejean speak to youth and young adult ministers from all over the U.S. Her topic was how to be ministers for God's justice in the world. She told her story of how she went from being a Catholic sister teaching comfortable Catholic high school girls and living a comfortable life to being a Spiritual director for men an women on death row and ministering to families of folks whose children or parents were murdered at the hand of the folks who are condemned to die. She said that "justice" is actually "just us". God has called her, you, me and every disciple to make something right that is presently wrong. Just she is called to be who she is for the folks she touches. Just you can make a difference in the life of someone else. We are all called uniquely and specifically by God to change, comfort and love those He needs us to love.

She also calls the One who calls her and us to be "just us" is sneaky Jesus. She went from being a classroom English teacher to being a death row Minister because another sister asked her if she would be willing to write a letter to a man on death row in Louisiana. Since she was a good English tea her and a good writer, she said "Yes." That decision is where "sneaky Jesus" intruded into her comfortable life. The prisoner wrote back. They developed  a relationship. He asked her to be his spiritual director. Her life has been changed. And many people have come to see that even the guilty deserve to have their lives valued and redeemable.

Where is "sneaky Jesus" calling you to say "Yes!" to something or someone you find uncomfortable? Are you resisting a Call to listen, wake up, prepare or repent? Where do you need God's comfort? What needs to be awakened in you?

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

Christ Our Kin!

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."
Matthew 25: 31-46.

Often times, when a family chooses to uses Matthew 25 as the Funeral Gospel reading for their beloved mother or father, I point out to them that their parent has lived out this Gospel. As soon as we're born good parents welcome us strange and new creatures into their lives. Good parents feed and clothe us whether we appreciate it or not. When we're ill or in trouble they are beside us and still care for us when we're broken. It makes sense to me that good parents will hear the voice of the King Jesus say to them, "come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you". They lived this Gospel well.

I've heard from others wiser than me that the Kingdom of Heaven is about "kinship" not "kingship". Jesus turns what we think, and what modern "kings" think as important on its ear. Rather than getting on top by accumulating wealth, possessions, power, or control of people, Jesus sets before us a different way to get to the top of the heap. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called these people "the least, the last, and the lost". It is only by noticing and caring for the hungry, poor, ill, unwelcomed, and outcast that we are able to know, love and serve Him in this world. The Gospel tells us that He IS the least of the world. So, in the end we will be judged by how we treat all people, great and least, as our kin. Rather than to try to rule over, control, amass more than, or be better than those we find ourselves sharing the world with, we are to see and treat all others as our family. Jesus and they are our kin.

It is convenient to sidestep and ignore our hungry and alienated sisters and brothers. We'd rather not bother many times. They distract us from what we "should" be or "rather" be doing. Yet they are our best, and perhaps only, chance to see and care for Christ in the here and now. They are not a sideshow on the stage of our life's plans. As Christ sees us and them, they are the purpose for our lives. Making sure that all of our sisters and brothers on God's Earth are fed, clothed, welcomed and well is the purpose of all of our lives in Christ's estimation.

Let us take little steps, or big ones if possible, to treat all as our kin to show that Christ is our King.

peace,
Fr. Chuck

You bet your life!

Hello friends!

I just got in from Italy and am currently in Cincinnati preparing for Sarah Godfrey's and Paul Pelgen's wedding on Saturday. What a fun and inspiring whrilwind!

I also just read an English synopsis of the the address Pope Francis made at the Papal Audience I got to attend on Wednesday. The more he talks and acts, the more I love our Pope. He speaks faithfully and with charisma a message that resonates in my soul. In fact in his message on Wednesday the Pope's message was directed to bishops, priests and deacons. So, he was really talking to me then. He was reflecting on the Letter to Timothy, where St. Paul is giving instructions to Timothy and other bishops, priests and deacons on how to be faithful in their calling from God. He reminded us that our vocations are a gift from God and to use them and develop them, not for personal gain, but to be "humble and understanding toward others". At the beginning of his address he said that the essential qualities that ministers need are "hospitality, temperence, patience, gentleness, reliability, and goodness of heart". Pope Francis called these the "alphabet, the grammar at the base of every ministry."

As I now look forward to this Sunday's reading from the Gospel of Matthew I can see  a connection. The Gospel parable for the weekend is about the landowner who gave three of his stewards three different gifts. Then the master went off on a long journey. When he returned he found that those to whom he gave larger gifts, they returned to him double of what he had entrusted them. The one to whom he had given the smallest amount of responsibility had taken his "gift" and buried it to protect it. The land owner commends the two who brought him back double of what he had entrusted with them. Yet, he punishes the one who had done the safe thing. While the two who doubled what the master had given them did well in their investing, they had also done a very dangerous thing by investing or gambling the master's wealth. (Btw. There were no federally insured investments or banks in those days, so their risk was even greater.)

Jesus is not being a Spiritual financial adviser. This parable is about how to be a disciple in the reign of God. While the Pope's address on Wednesday was to ministers, Jesus is telling all of us to take the risk and invest our entire gift of life, faith and love into whomever we find ourselves with and in the place in the world that God has placed us. Rather than burying and hiding we are encouraged today to gamble and totally invest the gift that God has given to us. Unselfish and unbridled living, loving and giving is what Jesus is requiring.

Our lives and all that we have in it is a gift from the One, Holy and Generous God. You and I are encouraged not to let fear or selfishness hide our gift. Instead, be a gambler! Give it all away for the sake of God and His beloved ones.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

All Saints and Souls

This weekend is one of my favorite couple of days in the whole Church year. All Saints and All Souls Days are feast days for everyone we have ever loved, or been loved by. These two days help us remember and lift up to God those who have meant much to us.

In the Latin American and Italian traditions, and probably more, relatives go to the graves of their loved ones and decorate them and have meals with them. Some also erect altars in their homes commemorating family and friends who have died with pictures and other treasured reminders. These days are important days for all of us no matter how we celebrate them.

Some time during the month of November I will go to St. Francis of Assisi cemetery and pray the rosary with Mom, Dad, grandparents and uncles. At that time I'll also remember other grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, family, and parishioners who have gone to live in eternity with God, or who are waiting for their time to enter eternal life. Usually this is the slowest rosary I pray all year. That is because I try to remember all of the folks, how they have touched me, and what I hope for each one. My prayer starts when I head in the direction of St. Francis, and continues at least until I get home. It makes for a full and holy day.

These feasts also cause me to remember that our lives are more than just life here. God has a future prepared for every single one of us, eternally. From conception to eternity God has a gift and a plan for us, life ever lasting.

Our all loving and all just God offers each and all of us this gift. It is our choice how we will accept and live this gift called life. Let us each take some time this weekend and this month of November to thank God for all of the Saints and Souls whom we have known. Let us then take some stock of the life that God has given us and commit ourselves again to live the gift according to God's paln.

Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Chuck

The Debate!

A couple of weeks ago two of the candidates running for the U.S. Senate in our state had a debate on K.E.T. After the debate each of the candidates declared victory over their opponent. Most observers realized that each of the candidates just reiterated what they have been saying about themselves and their opponent in their political advertisements (i.e. nothing new, and no light on why we should choose one candidate over the other). The debate was not a debate by either party. It was only posturing, looking good on the camera, and trying not to look bad in front of the voters. I will not try to give any of you a reason to vote for or against either of the two major candidates we have for the open U.S. Senate spot. That would be out of my realm of influence. It would also be against what the Church wants me to do as a Catholic voice. My role and the role of any Catholic preacher is to point out the important issues that are facing us as an electorate and how those issues are to be addressed  by our Catholic Christian faith.

The readings this week say all we need to hear about how to make a faithful choice in the coming election. The first reading from the Book of Exodus goes back to the moral code that the Israelites heard from God, by the way of Moses, during their forty years in the Sinai Desert. Do not oppress aliens among you; make sure the orphans and widows are cared for; do not abuse the poor by heaping harsh taxes and interest on loans upon them. Why? Because you were once them and they too are made in God's image. The U.S. Bishops and the Universal Church ask us not to consider ourselves and our own well being in our voting. Instead we are asked to consider the needs of the most vulnerable in all of our civil dealings, including our voting. So, the unborn, the elderly, the poor, the alien, the others in our world who have no voice are the ones who take priority in the ways we casts ballots, and also how we live our lives. As Jesus lived His life and gave His life selflessly for God and us, so we are called to become "imitators ... of the Lord", as St. Paul asks us to do in the second reading today.

The Gospel shows Jesus in another debate. Last week we saw Him being forced into a debate with the "pro Roman" Herodians about paying taxes. After that he was confronted by the Sadducees about the possibility of resurrection after death. He silenced both debates by pointing to the truth of God and that His way is always first and foremost and should always be the direction of our lives. This week the Pharisees, who were very concerned about how the faithful were to obey the law, confronted Jesus on what laws He thought were the most important.

The Pharisees thought all laws were important to the point that no one could ever fulfill the law completely since the 613 laws of the Old Testament sometimes contradicted each other. Also, the Pharisees were the ones who normally decided which ones were important over the others, and were able to change their importance at their own whim. (They were sort of like traffic officers, sitting in a school zone, with the ability to change the speed limit in order to issue fines on drivers.)

Again Jesus did not fall into their trap. He answered their question with an answer that could not be disputed, and which put them in their places. "Love God with all you have. Love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself." Jesus' answer was the perfect answer then. His is still the perfect answer for us today. It was perfect for His persecutors then because it truly did sum up the Law of Moses, the preaching of the Prophets, and the activity of God in human history to that point. It is the perfect law for us today because it summarizes the life and teaching of Jesus Christ (and gives us a code on how to best imitate the Lord). Loving God above all things and loving us neighbors as Himself is what Jesus did once and for all on the Cross.

The debate continues by the way. Opponents are confronting us still. They want to see us answer universal questions. Who are you? Who am I? What is the purpose of life? What are the rules that should guide our lives? What matters most? Why should we care about anything or anyone other than ourselves? Is there a God; and why should it matter?

We are being watched. Our words and actions are the answers to all of the universal questions that the "world" needs to hear us answer. Do our lives say, "Love God above all and with all that we are. Love our neighbor as we love our selves."? Or are we answering the big questions of life with some truth that is not the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

peace,
Fr. Chuck

What belongs to God?

This past Tuesday I went to the Metro government center on Barrett Avenue and voted. Since I'll be away on November 4th, I wanted to let my voice (ballot) be counted. I'm thankful that we are allowed to vote early if it is necessary.

Did you know that the U.S. bishops have called voting a moral obligation for faithful citizens? Fr. Patrick Delahanty, recently retired head of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, spoke to a group of mainly Catholic students last night at the Interfaith Center on UofL's campus. He said that in his forty plus years of being a priest he has never had a single person come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation confessing that they failed to vote. (I have to say that my experience in the confessional is exactly the same as Fr. Pat's.) Since it is a moral obligation for us as Catholic Christians to vote, it follows that it must be at least a minor sin to fail to vote.

The U.S. bishops, in their 2007 document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, also urge us to do more than vote. They ask us to be responsible and faithful by asking legislators to defend life and promote the dignity of human life while they serve us in the government. We are called by our bishops to call, write, email, tweet, and address our government leaders regularly over the concerns that promote and protect human life, including care for the world that we share. They also ask us to discern whether God is calling us to serve as one of those government leaders. Whether we to run for an elected office or we choose a career that serves the public in some government office or program, it is a vocation that God may be calling some of us to.

This weekend the Gospel reading has one of the most misquoted lines in all of scriptures. In the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, Jesus says to the Pharisees who were trying to trap Him, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." Many have used this line as a justification for choosing to ignore God's will and law, while choosing to be faithful to their government. Jesus was not advocating patriotism over faith. He was recognizing that we do have a duty to follow reasonable and moral civil laws. But since we are created by God in His image, and all that God has created is still God's, with us as His stewards, then our true calling is to always serve God in all things and in all ways. Sometimes that may even  mean disobeying the civil law in favor of following God's will and laws. It always means being informed and involved in the ways that we vote and the ways we are loyal to God in civil activities.

This Gospel comes at an opportune time to do some praying and studying about how we are going to fill out our ballots. May God guide us and bless our country and our world, especially by the ways we share the blessings of our lives with others.

peace,
Fr. Chuck

The Motley Crew Is You!

Was it W. C. Fields who said, "I could never be a member of a country club that would have me as a member."? Or was it Groucho Marx? Never the less this weekend's readings are about invitation and membership. More specifically they're about who all are invited to God's banquet and God's kingdom, and what it means that one accepts that invitation.

Motley Crue is not just a name of a heavy metal band that could have performed at last week's Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville. Motley crew describes who is part of God's Kingdom now and at the end of time. One spiritual writer of a century ago wrote that he would have three surprises when he shows up at Heavens gate. First, he knows he'll be surprised at the folks that he thought would be there, but aren't. Second, he will be surprised at those who are there, that he thought had no chance. Third, he will be surprised that he will be invited in.

The parable of the Kingdom today from Matthew's 22nd chapter shows the regular invited guests to the king's wedding feast for his son turning their backs and having better things to do. The second choices of the king's also offered excuses not to come. So the king invites peasants and folks living on the side of the road to come to his son's wedding until the banquet hall was filled with "bad and good alike". It reminds me of what I've heard of Dorothy Day's funeral. There in St. Patrick Cathedral (I believe) were cardinals, bishops, business CEO's, and powerful politicians along with bag ladies, winos, AIDS patients, and ex-convicts. It is said that each group was surprised that the folks from the other groups were there.

The point is clear. God's invitation to His heavenly banquet is universal and ALL inclusive. We are the ones who have the problems with the folks on God's guest list. God invites all!

However the end of the parable is a head scratcher. Why would the king throw someone out just because they were not well dressed? Not only did he throw the poorly dressed guest out, he had him bound hand and foot and tossed out. He wasn't politely asked to leave, he was made an example of, and punished. This treatment by the king does not seem to be in character with his benevolent and welcoming behavior in being so all inclusive in his invitation.

Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic book, "The Cost of Discipleship", tells us that God is not a God of "cheap grace". God's benevolence, mercy, love, forgiveness and welcoming are all free gifts. But they are not "cheap". "All are welcome" is true. But all have a standard to uphold once they realize that they are gifted by God. In Jesus' time wedding guests at a royal wedding were required to dress in a wedding garment. If one did not own suitable clothing, then wedding garments were provided by the host at the door to the banquet hall. In other words, the uninvited guest had ample opportunities to dress appropriately. He just chose to ignore the king's standards.

This part of the story is not about shorts, tank tops, sandals, or revealing clothing in church. It is about responding with gratitude to enormous gift that God is offering us. Once invited we are called to act like we're grateful for the invitation. Showing gratitude as disciples involves trying to live as God wills and in imitation of God's Son. Max Lucado says, "God loves you just the way you are. But, He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus." Life, discipleship, and acceptance of God's invitation to be part of His Eternal Kingdom are all about receiving  God's free gift of an eternal and loving relationship and then treating God, all others and oneself differently because of that gift from God.

In three more chapters from now in Matthew's Gospel we see the story of a whole world of surprised guests. Those on the right will be invited in to "Come and enjoy the eternal banquet prepared for you". Those on the left will be banished. All will be seen as ones who did or did not treat the "least" brothers and sisters of Christ with compassion and mercy.

We know of God's invitation to us. We know that much will be required of those to whom much has been given. Let us each love the motley crew that makes up our world.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

God gave me a what???

I remember a few years ago riding down a busy Bardstown Rd. in the Highlands on a Saturday night. I had a car full of friends going to the movies at the Mid City Mall. We were in a rush to get there, as usual. The driver in the car in front of me was driving very slowly and being very indecisive about what lane to be in. He or she was on their cellphone and it seemed that they wanted to turn but not sure which direction or what street to turn on. I got totally frustrated and laid on my horn. I also used words of anger that no preacher should even know, much less use. The car finally turned off and got out of MY way. As we got closer to Mid City Mall I got a phone call from another couple who was supposed to meet us for the movie. That part of Bardstown Rd. is always confusing to me. So, I was trying to decide if I should park at the bank across from the shopping center, or which entrance into the mall I should turn into; all of this while talking to my friends on the phone and trying to ask the others in my car if we want to go to the 7 o'clock showing or wait for the 7:30 offering, and do we want them to buy our tickets for us now. Well you can probably guess that I was the one who was frustrating the drivers behind me now. Yes, I got honked at. Yes, I was called the same names that I had just called someone else. Yes, my passengers laughed at the irony of the event and at me!

I don't know about you but I am often harsher in judging someone else than I am me. The readings from Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew today tell us to look at our own house and our own behavior. Jesus uses a parable about the tenants of a new vineyard to describe our responsibility to be good stewards of what (and who) we are to care for. Isaiah uses a vineyard as an image to illustrate a similar point. Jesus has the tenants in the vineyard abusing and even killing the servants that the vineyard owner sends to check on the tenants caring for his crop of grapes. After sending two troops of servants to look at the tenants' work, and after the tenants mistreat both sets of servants, the landowner sends his own son to ask the tenants for an accounting. Him too they killed using the insane logic that if the son is dead then the vineyard owner will repay the tenants by giving them the son's share of the master's inheritance. Stupid!

Of course, we know that both Isaiah and Jesus were talking to the religious authorities of their day. I'm sure that the scribes, Pharisees, priests and Sadducees knew that Jesus had them right in His cross
hairs when He spoke this parable. They got it! They knew very well that Jesus thought that they were not taking care of the faithful in the way that the Father intended. Such indictments against them would eventually make those religious leaders indignant enough as to have Jesus crucified. So we understand the parable.

Or do we? The easiest way to get out of our responsibility is to think it is always on the shoulders of someone else. Like; Jesus was talking to people 2000 years ago only; or the Republicans and Democrats in Washington or Frankfort need to fix our government; or lawyers need to fix the prison and court system; or abortion is something that only women who are able to be pregnant should decide.

As disciples of Jesus we too are called to care for every sister and brother made in the image and likeness of God. We are God's stewards now. We can not shirk our responsibility for the wrongs of the world. God has given it (and all those in it) to us to care for as He would care for them and it. It is tempting to put personal and financial gain, politics, pride, apathy, and many other things before God's will. His will is tough but always the right thing. Besides, none of those things have a chance to really love us, forgive us, and then save us for eternity.

God has given us a vineyard. God's vineyard needs our care!

peace,
Fr. Chuck

The Bucket List

Since the movie about a couple of old geezers trying to get in all that they could before their deaths hit the big screen, Bucket Lists have been a big thing. A lot of people are coming up with lists of activities that they wish to accomplish before they die. I even overheard a kindergartener in the school lunchroom say to a friend, "That's on my bucket list!" Now, honestly, I did not hear the context of the conversation that the friends were having. They could have been talking about being able to spell their names or making it to first grade. But, why would a kindergartener want to ever think about things that they would want to do before they "kick the bucket"?

In a way, a similar scene is painted for us in this weekend's Gospel parable. Jesus tells the story of two sons who are asked by their dad to work on the farm for him. One says, "No can do, Pops!" The other says, "I'll be right there!" The one who said he would work never showed. The naysayer, instead, rethinks his decision and then helps his father. Jesus gets His listeners to make the connection between saying you're faithful and actually being faithful. Some of the Pharisees and other religious leaders were good and talking about their faith, and even insisting that others practice their religion. They were also very good at not following through on their words. They had a list of things that faithful folks should do while they were still alive. But, seemed only to be concerned about the list of religious commands when it applied to how others were living them, or when it made them look better in others' eyes.

Today we are being called to be people of our word. As baptized folk we are brothers and sisters to everyone else made in the image and likeness of God. Do we treat them as brothers and sisters made in the divine image? All of them? Do we treat ourselves like we are made in His image and as temples of the Holy Spirit? Do we say we are faithful people but make up excuses and rationalizations about why we shouldn't have to tell the truth, respect the property of others, keep the Sabbath holy, be chaste, etc.? Are virtuous things and activities that can deepen our faith or serve God and others on our personal bucket lists? Do we have a course set as to how to accomplish them? Are we sticking to that course?

I'm sure, like me, you have successes and failures in all of these regards and goals. Some days I am very good at being the Catholic Christian man that I profess (in fact am ordained) to be. Some days I am pitifully miserable. The good news about this weekend's Gospel parable is that the son who at first failed is the one who is commended by Jesus. He did the will of the father after first saying no to him.

God is a God of second, third, fourth and more chances. He never tires of forgiving us and asking us to try again please. And while we may have God's concerns, commands, and people on the periphery of our bucket lists, we are certainly on His bucket list (though He will never "kick the bucket"). He loves us and wants us to be with Him for eternity.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

" Why, That's Not Fair!"

Children, especially young children, know the injustice of a double standard very well. Some may want to get away with telling a fib or fighting with a sister or brother, but they are never okay when one of their peers seem to get preferential treatment. If Sally gets three chocolate no bake cookies, and Johnny only gets two no bakes, then the highest of all unjust crimes has been committed. If there is only one Snickers bar, and mom cuts it in two parts, there is no way that she is going to get it satisfactorily equal for both children. No Way!

This Sunday's gospel parable is about a God with a double standard. Jesus illustrates His Father's Mercy and Love by telling His detractors about a workplace situation. Workers were hired by the farm owner at different times during the day to work on his farm. Some worked as many as twelve hours. Some worked only an hour or two. At the end of the day all were paid for a full days work whether or not they had worked the full day. This caused the workers who had worked the whole day to scream, "Unfair!" Why should the ones who worked a short time be paid the same as the ones who slaved for hours in the field? More importantly for those who seemed slighted, why shouldn't they have been paid more than the agreed upon amount? The landowner replies that he has not cheated them. He gave them a fair and agreed upon wage. He also reminds them that he is free to do what he wishes with his money. It is his choice to be as generous to the short timers as he is to those who have worked all day long.

This makes sense to us, I hope. We can understand it in our head very well. But have you ever been miffed that someone with a questionable reputation walks up the aisle and receives Communion ahead of you?  Or, the homosexual couple that seem to be perfectly okay with attending and participating in the Mass? Or, why do families that only come participate in the parish minimally while their children attend the parish school also get the same rate of tuition (or less), the same preference for when their children receive First Communion, etc. or the same "right" to play on the basketball team as your children who play by the rules and are parishioners even during the summer?

Yes, even we adults are shaken by double standards at times. Double standards in the Church and by God upset us all. Why do faithless people win the lottery? How come the guy that steps on peoples' backs got the envied job promotion? Why are the poor always poor, with little chance to improve? Does God show favorites?

When it comes to Mercy and Love God is exceedingly generous to all. When anyone sincerely asks for forgiveness, God is quick to forgive. God listens to the prayers of sinners and saints. God loves and knows every single human being personally and intimately. We are all made in the image and likeness of our God. God is also free to be generous to all.

When it comes to us, we are called to imitate God's Mercy and Love. Some of the problems we have with the Church is because She is trying to imitate God in those ways. Are we perfect as a Church? No Way! But we, as the Body of Christ on Earth, must always strive to imitate the Love and Mercy of God, especially as shown to us by His Son, Jesus Christ.

So, since God's ways are bigger than our ways, we may not know why some are at the Lord's Table that "shouldn't" be. Our role is to accept and welcome as God does. It is always safest to assume that God and the "Johnny come lately" Christians have had their issues worked out. (And we know what happens when we ASSUME otherwise.)

Imitating God's Mercy and Love are the most challenging parts of being Christ's disciples. We may never be perfect at it but our calling to Love and spread Mercy are always there. There is one sure thing about anything regarding our discipleship, however. We will never get any better at loving and being merciful as God is unless we start practicing it.

peace,
Fr. Chuck

Lift High the Cross!

The most painful and gruesome way to ever be executed was crucifixion. Usually the "criminal" was "softened up" by beating and whipping, so that hanging to die on the cross would be even more painful. Nails were hammered into their hands or wrists and their ankles or feet to support their whole body weight. "Criminals" would try to support themselves for as long as they could by putting all of their weight on their ankles or feet. When they were in this position they could breathe. But, as you may be able to imagine, the pain from all of one's weight pressed upon one's feet with nails in them was excruciating. So, the "criminal" would drop to take the pain off of their feet or ankles for a while. Then all of their weight and most of the pain would be transferred to their wrists and hands. The trouble was, that hanging by ones hands and arms would close off their windpipe and their lungs and they would begin to suffocate. In order to catch their breath they would have to push themselves up again by their feet. This circuit of unbearable pain would continue until the "criminal" could no longer push themselves up by their feet anymore. They would die by suffocation. Sometimes this process would last for more than a day. Sometimes, it would last only a few hours. Much of the time it took to die, depended on how much torture the "criminal" was made to endure before the nails were hammered into their joints and the cross was erected.

The most embarrassing way to die in public was the crucifix. Crucifixions were done near the most heavily traveled roads into town so that as many people as possible could see one die. Our crucifixes have Jesus wearing a loin cloth. It is most probable that Jesus and others who were crucified were hung to die naked. So, try to imagine being naked in front of every person coming into and leaving town for the most important religious holy day of the year. Also, try to imagine being naked and in unimaginable pain in front of thousands on religious pilgrims.

This pain and embarrassment was designed by the Romans to be painful and embarrassing on purpose. Crucifixion was enforced in order to send a message to the public; "If you try to do what this criminal did, then this will be your fate!"

This weekend we celebrate a very special feast, The Exaltation of the Cross. This feast is special not because of the pain and embarrassment that Jesus Christ had to go through in order to die. This feast is special because of WHY He chose to go through this horrible pain and embarrassment. He chose to show us how much He and His Father loves us and how much he wants to show us His and His Father's mercy.

The Cross of Jesus Christ is exalted as a symbol of Love Divine.

Each one of us is invited today and this week to thank God for the lengths He has gone to show us His Love Divine. And of course the most effective way to show appreciation for God's love is to try to imitate His Love and Mercy in our own lives to the people in our lives and in our world who need to know and see it.

peace,
Fr. Chuck

"You Complete Me!"

Saint John Paul II used to tell the story that he had heard about the author Jonathan Swift. Swift was traveling, got up one morning and asked his servant to get his boots for him. When the servant returned, the boots were still covered with yesterday's dust and mud. Swift complained that the boots were still dirty. The man asserted, "What's the point of cleaning them? They'll be dusty and muddy again after just a few miles down the road." Jonathan Swift answered, "Very well! Then get the horse and let's be on our way." "Without breakfast?!" objected the servant. "What's the point of breakfast? In a few miles we will be hungry again!" answered Swift.

The old saying says that cleanliness is next to Godliness! When it comes to being willing to forgive and saying, "I'm sorry and want your forgiveness."; cleanliness is Godliness. That is what the readings tell us this weekend. Forgiveness is the proof that love is real and that love is from God. God is present when forgiveness happens.

Forgiveness is also hard. It is both hard to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. In order to forgive someone well (and to seek forgiveness from another) we have to let go of our egos and abandon ourselves to the mercy of another. Dropping our defenses so much is especially difficult in this culture of egotism that we live in.

If you remember last week's gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to die for us in order to save us. He also tells us and them that if we want to be His disciples then we have to deny ourselves and carry our crosses. Denying our self is loving God and others fully. Denying our self is where we learn to forgive and be forgiven. Yet trusting God and another enough to forgive and be forgiven is the only way to be a disciple.

As a priest, some of the most special times I have are praying with others and asking for God's forgiveness to be with them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is especially poignant when the "sinner" comes to the Sacrament knowing how much they need God to help them repair the damage they have done to their lives and/or  the lives of others. While they recognize that they may sin again, they get peace and cleansing by admitting their "sin" and trusting in God's forgiveness. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation a person allows themselves to be loved by God intimately.

Yet this Sacrament is the one that is the least appreciated and used. We love Communion. God feeds us with His Son. How much more intimate and loving can we get to God than that. And we know we need that. And in the Sacrament of the Eucharist there is an important reconciliation with God and others happening as well. After all, it is called Communion because we become in union with God, the Saints and the others around us and throughout the world because of this Sacrament.

The same Divine stuff is happening in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In both Sacraments we have to recognize that we need God and others. We need to be whole and at peace. We need intimacy and belonging to an accepting loving family. In both Sacraments God fills our holes, our hungers and our needs. In the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation God repairs the broken bridges between us and others and Him. He brings us back to Communion with Him and others. Yes, we have to be vulnerable and humble and admit that we are not perfect and in need. BUT, the bonus is intimacy, peace and wholeness with God and others. 

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

Me? Wrong?

It was pointed out to me recently that people who think that they have all of the right answers, cannot handle being wrong; and therefore may never be able to learn anything new. That applies equally to Catholics and Evangelicals; to Republicans and Democrats; to U. S. Americans and the "enemies" of our country.

St. Peter began his life of discipleship as one of these "can't ever be wrong" people. In last week's Gospel story he had the correct answer. "You are the Christ!" he declared to Jesus and his fellow disciples. While the other disciples were guessing that Jesus was a dead prophet, revisited, Peter let them and Jesus know that the long awaited Messiah had arrived in the person of Jesus. In fact, Jesus calls Peter and his witness to the truth "The Rock" upon which the Church will be built. He gives St. Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. That is a very nice honor and reward for just answering Jesus' quiz correctly.

Yet this weekend's Gospel shows St. Peter getting in trouble with Jesus because he is sure that he is correct and Jesus is wrong. Jesus tells His followers how He is going to be the Messiah or Christ. His way of saving the human race involved being totally humiliated and subjected to disgrace, denial, untruthful testimony, trial, bloody and painful punishment, and eventually the most gruesome and agonizing form of capital punishment ever devised by a human mind.

That was not St. Peter's idea for the long awaited Savior. What he and other people of his time were looking for was someone to come into their country to free them from Roman subjugation. They wanted a savior who could restore Israel to being the leading nation of the world. They wanted a King; a REAL King; not some puppet of an occupying government "king". Or they wanted a religious Messiah. That meant that the savior that of Israel was going to be someone who would forcefully make sure that the Jewish religion and the God of the Jews was the preeminent god above all other gods AND that their religion and their temples would be the only avenue to the Divine. Either the Messiah as the King and war chief or the Messiah as the powerful priest, teacher and prophet could only be achieved by the mightily taking control of the government or forcefully taking control of the Jewish religion. Peter, and almost all others of his time, thought they had the only answer of what the Messiah should do to save humanity. AND their ideas starkly contrasted to the Messiah that Jesus was and is.

So, when Jesus tells His "Rock" and keeper of the Keys to the Kingdom that he was Satan, Peter was completely knocked on his humiliated bum. We know the rest of the story though. Peter recovers here and again at the end of the story when he denies the Christ three times while Jesus was saving us in the only Way that would really work.

Peter eventually found out what all great learners find out. Unless one is open to the possibility that they may be wrong, then a person can never really learn anything.

Jesus tells us and His followers of His day that all is a loss unless we are willing to deny all that we are and all that we know for God's sake. It was so difficult a lesson that even St. Peter almost couldn't grasp it in the First century. Is is tough for us to hear and commit to in 2014. Denying our lives, denying what we think we know, denying what we would rather love for the sake of God and His will is the way of Jesus the Christ; and the only Way to eternal life.

Are you and I willing to be that open to God?

Blessings!
Fr. Chuck

Rocky Johnson's Church

This weekend we hear the Gospel about Jesus asking the disciples who they think He is. Peter had the right answer (this time). He told Jesus, "You're the Christ!" Because of his correct answer, Jesus moved him to the game show bonus round. "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah (John). Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter (Rock), and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." Fr. Don Springman, a retired priest for our Archdiocese of Louisville argues that when Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter, then the Church became founded on a guy nicknamed Rocky Johnson. I like Fr. Don's interpretation. Everyone can feel at home in a Church led by a "Rocky Johnson".


That is the intrigue of the Church formed by Jesus, and built upon the "solid" rock of Peter and the other first disciples. While Jesus was the Son of God, but totally human in all ways except for sin, the Apostles and first men and women to follow Christ were very human. This same "Rock" also had "foot in mouth" disease. Just seconds later Simon Peter gets reprimanded by Christ for telling Him that He can't be the long awaited Savior of all humanity by suffering and dying on the cross. In fact Jesus calls Peter "Satan" because he couldn't grasp the way that Jesus had to save us. We also know well the story of Peter denying Jesus three times while He was going through His suffering and death. The other disciples were like Peter in their faults. Mary, Jesus' closest female disciple and friend, was perhaps a prostitute. Matthew was a hated tax collector. We know very little about most of the other named Apostles except for the unverified legends that surround them after the Resurrection, Pentecost and Ascension. Yet, Jesus found our Church on their "Rocky" faith.

We are God's Rocky Johnson(s) now. As feeble and flawed as we know we are, God's Son and Spirit are telling us "upon you, I will build my Church." Even though we may think our faith is as stable as quick sand, or as dangerous as molten lava, or even non existent, God has "wisely" put His faith in us to reach a broken, flawed, unstable, and tumultuous world of people just like us.

In order to fulfill the Divine Mission that God has set in place it is not important to constantly think about who we think we are. Like Peter we are called to focus our attention on who Jesus is and who Jesus knows we are. In His eyes and mind we are "the Rock", not rocky; we are God's children, not the spawn of Satan; we are holy and beloved, not worthless and mistake prone; we are Christ's helping hands, feet, mind, heart, eyes, ears, BODY. The world needs Christ! The world needs us to be as Christ!

I'll end with a story I found this week that I found inspirational to me.

peace,
Fr. Chuck

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
IN THE EARLY DAYS of civil rights legislation taking hold in the American South, an African American woman, Norah Jones, boarded a crowded bus, paid her fare, and found that the only free seat was next to a well-dressed white woman about her own age. That woman stiffened a bit with an insincere smile as she sat down but showed no other reaction.

Norah began to ask herself: “Who do you think you are sitting up here? I’m nothing but an old black woman. No money to speak of. Not much education. Norah, who do you think you are?” She closed her eyes and, as she often did, sank into prayer. She began to hear words from the Bible, like “you are the temple of the Holy Spirit.” She sat a little straighter in her seat. “You are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” She’d heard that the previous Sunday and sat a bit taller still.

Finally the voice inside said, “What we will later be we do not know, but we are God’s children now.” Positively bursting, she looked at her startled companion and with a joyful and loving smile and said, “You probably don’t know who you’re sitting next to, do you?”
–Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M.

Praying for Brothers and Sisters We Didn't Know We Had

The readings this weekend are "right on" for what is going on in our world and Church these days.

Jesus heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman. At this point in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus had only ministered to the folks of his homeland. He calls fishermen and others who were also from Galilee. He heals and exorcizes demons from other Jews. He feeds thousands of fellow Palestinians. He delivers His Sermon on the Mount to men and women who looked and talked like Him. Yes, Jesus' message and ministry in St. Matthew's Gospel embrace the lost and disenfranchised. But to this point in this Gospel the emphasis and compassion of Christ has been directed toward His own kind.

Today's reading shows us a woman from Canaan approaching Jesus asking Him to heal her daughter. AND it seems like Jesus was reluctant to the point that the foreign lady had to talk Him into helping her daughter out. This is a mysterious Jesus to us. Why wouldn't He want to help this lady and her daughter out? No matter where He was from or they were from, wouldn't Jesus want to care for them?

Most modern scripture gurus see this as an example of Jesus learning His full mission as He lived His life. He wasn't playing on the woman's emotions or toying with her over something so serious as her daughter's life. This would be a form of lying. And Jesus would not sin, even in a perhaps playful way. In the Gospel of Luke, after He was found in the Temple talking to the scholars, the writer says that Jesus went home with Mary and Joseph and grew in wisdom, age and grace. So,  like us,  Jesus learned in time what His purpose on this earth was, perhaps even after He had begun His ministry.

The shock to the Jewish audience who were the intended readers of St. Matthew's Gospel was that Jesus would even talk to a woman,  especially a foreign woman. Adult males would jeopardize their status in the synagogue and in the social structure by associating with foreigners or married women. Jesus does both here. After He "was talked into it" by the woman's faith he crossed a huge boundry to help a person in need.

Our Pope and our bishops, led by our own Archbishop Kurtz, are asking us to pray for Iraqi Christians. Why? Most of us are unaware that Christians have lived in the land that is now Iraq since the Apostles Thomas and Thaddeus (Jude) went there after the Pentecost to preach the Gospel to all nations. As few as five years ago there were 1.5 million Christians living in Iraq. But they began running for their safety because of the religious persecutions going on there. This latest persecution by the group called ISIS has driven the last Christians out of the area near Mosul. All of the Christian Churches have been destroyed, the personal property of Christians taken from them, the ultimatum given "leave or be slaughtered". Some have been beheaded because they choose not to convert or leave their homes or Churches. Some have fled to the mountains and held hostage there without water or food. All are in a crisis.

Our Pope and the bishops are asking us to do several things to help these foreign Christians. First they ask us to pray for an end to their persecution and torture. They also ask us to pray for those who are terrorizing these Christians. Finally our faith leaders want us to plead with our own legislators for us as a nation to intervene in order to protect those who are being slain and forced from their homes.

We may think that the plight of someone living completely on the other side of the globe should not be our concern. The fate of Christians (or people of any faith) who may worship differently from us may seem far removed from our list of priorities. We may not want to get involved because of many, many reasons. Yet Jesus was able to learn that His mission was far beyond what He thought His world encompassed. He heard and he healed. Our intervention and our prayer is needed for folks who are in many way very different from us.  Yet,  we are being called now to imitate our Savior in broadening our minds and hearts for more folks who need heading and God's love.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck

A Hole in One and THE HOLY ONE!

This week I'm spending my time on vacation watching golf at Valhalla Golf Course. 156 of the worlds millions of golfers qualified to play in the PGA Championship Tournament. On Friday evening that number was cut to 76 golfers. Only one will hoist the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday evening (if the rain doesn't suspend play), and thus be declared the 2014 PGA Champion of the year.

I have been impressed by the skills of these pros. Their drives go further than eye can see. They are deadly accurate with their pitches and chips. They are able to negotiate the undulating and deadly fast greens with their putters with a skill way beyond my imagining. The way they got so good at golf is the same way that we achieve anything in life. Yes they have skills that they may have been be born with. There are golfers out here who were spectacular golfers when they were in primary school. Campbellsville native, J. B. Holmes, was on the Taylor County High School varsity golf team as a third grader. But practice and focus is what makes them as sharp as they are. Most of these golfers spend two or three hours on the practice range and putting green before they go out and tee it up. A lot of them go back to the green and or driving range for some practice after they are done playing. Watching their practice rounds they will take various shots from multiple locations on the golf course to get used to how the course plays from all the different angles and situations that they may face during the tournament. When they get to the green they will putt, pitch and chip from every direction toward every possible hole placement in order to get those scenarios stashed in their skill sets. Their practice is all about helping them get their game focused. Practice helps them hone their skills. Practice creates a strategy to be the one who is named champion. In practice they focus on what they need to do and how they need to play to succeed.

In the Gospel this weekend St. Peter is invited by Jesus to join Him on a stroll on top of the Sea of Galilee. He sank because he focused on his fear and himself instead of His Lord. In this story from the Gospel of Matthew Peter was enthusiastic and successful at walking on the water at first because his focus was on getting to his Friend, Master and Lord. Whenever he realized what he was doing and started to fear he sank like a stone. Without Jesus' life saving grasp Peter would have been another Sea of Galilee drowning victim.

This Sunday's Gospel and the PGA Championship make me think about the focus of my life, our lives. A lot of us may remember the first couple of catechism questions we had to learn: Q: Who made you? A: God made me. Q: Why did God make you? A. God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world and live with Him in the next. THAT is still our FOCUS! No matter what life throws at us those who are able to focus on God in all things will be crowned Champion by God in the next life with God forever with Him. This FOCUS will also endure the struggles and tragedies of this life with a Grace that makes the crap of life more bearable. The ways to have that focus and keep that focus is the same as for successful golfers, and temporarily for St. Peter; practice and keeping our eyes on the Goal.

In faith and life practice and focus include intimate and regular prayer. Having a prayerful relationship with the One Who made you and Who also loves you more intimately than you can imagine is the centerpiece of a faithful, successful, and eventually eternal life. Good scripture and faith studies or reading are also essential. Worship with a community and having faithful friends or mentors keeps you honest and supported in your quest. And service for others and with others helps you round out your practice to be like Our Master in the ways of compassion. Prayer, study, worship and service help us focus our gaze on the Lord.

Knowing God, loving God, and serving God in this life are still the ways to be a true success here on earth and eventually a winner of the Eternal Championship.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck Walker

Overwhelmed? So what! (Matthew 14: 13-21.)

My guess is you've heard the story about the man who went walking on the beach in the morning after a strong storm had pelted the beach. As soon as he stepped near the surf he saw thousands upon thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore lying in the morning sun. There were so many of them he had a hard time walking without stepping on one of them. They would surely die by the time the next tide came in. Yet about a hundred yards ahead of him was a small girl picking them up one by one and tossing the hapless starfish back into the ocean. When he got close to the child he told her that she was wasting her time. He said, "Young lady, why are you throwing those starfish back in the water? Don't you see that there may be millions of them? They are as far as we can see and the beach goes on for miles and miles. What difference do you think you're going to make?" She never hesitated in her task of throwing each individual starfish back into the surf for a new chance for life. While she was bending over to pick up her next one, she said, "Sir, to this one I'm making a huge difference." And she threw it into the sea.

A Methodist preacher friend of mine told me that story more than thirty years ago. I remember the story about the little girl making a difference, one starfish at a time, every time I hear the story of Jesus feeding thousands with a few loaves and a couple of fish. This was a huge miracle for Jesus. And, he may have done this more than once in his ministry. It is recounted at least once in all four of the Gospels. For the evangelists who were trying to write the important things for new Christians to know about who Jesus was and what he did in His short time ministering, this story of the multiplication of loaves and fish is the only miracle that is worthy of all of them repeating. That's significant.

Here are a few things to ponder as we prepare to hear this story again this weekend. First, Jesus doesn't just talk about God and His love. He does it. People were hungry and He fed them. They had a need. He recognized it. And He did something about it. It doesn't matter to me what side of the political fence you sit on regarding abortion, or human trafficking, or world hunger, or the environment, or immigration reform. Do something about it. Dive in and make a splash. Whether it is sincere prayer, or figuring which candidate to vote for, or volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul or Habitat for Humanity, or any way of sacrificing something of yourself to help someone else; we are called to care for the needs of those who are hurting and hungry. Yes, Jesus talked about loving, caring, feeding and forgiving. But He also cared, fed, forgave and loved. We are called to let others see our Creed in our actions as well.

Secondly, there were more than 5000 hungry people in the world when Jesus fed that group. Sometimes we offer the excuse that my little effort is not going to fix a global problem. So, why get involved? Or, my one vote is not going to fix the country. So, why vote? Even though we may get overwhelmed by the facts that there are fifteen people who will starve to death this minute and there are eighty-eight babies who will die by abortion this hour we are called to save the ones we can. Jesus chose imperfect people to be His first Apostles and disciples. Because of them and their faith people continue to be fed daily. Lives are saved medically by the Red Cross and faith based hospitals and organizations more numerous than any of us can imagine. Sometimes organized religion gets a bad rap, but we're doing some darned good stuff too. In fact in a lot of areas in the world we Christians are the only folks feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, visiting and caring for the sick and the dying. And almost all of these institutions and organizations care for one life at a time. Remember that the Grand Canyon was started by a trickle of water. Each of us can "feed" someone.

Finally, Jesus first invited the disciples to give the crowd something to eat. He was confident that they could feed the multitude. When they offered excuses of how little they had, Jesus took their little and made it enormous. In the hands of God we can do miraculous things. The tough part is that we have to place what we think is paltry (our lives) into the hands of Him who is the Lord of all Creation. Trust is a difficult thing. Jesus knew very well that His chosen ones were feeble and faulty. Yet He used these frozen few to build the Kingdom of God. We're still imperfect and He's still building. Offer your little to the Lord and see what happens!

peace,
Fr. Chuck Walker

You are God's Treasure!

One of my favorite places in the universe is the Abbey of Gethsemani in Nelson County. It is prayerful, peaceful and beautiful. I get my batteries recharged there every time I visit, whether for an hour, a day, or a whole week. I have accompanied many groups there for tours of the monastery and hiking trails. I especially like to watch and hear the reaction of the visitors on their awakening to the fruits of Gethsemani.

I remember one group of girl scouts I took there one day on a trip through our Catholic Holy Land. The 10-11 year old girls seemed to be enthralled by spending time in peaceful silence, praying the liturgy of the hours with the monks, walking around the  holy grounds, and watching a video, meeting a monk,  and learning about the history and the day to day activities of these men who have been chosen to live the stark and prayerful life of a Cistercian monk. However, there was one mother/ girl scout leader who could not understand it at all. This woman was and is a very active Catholic. She is in Church regularly, is involved in some very important ministries in her parish, and is prayerful and insightful in the matters of the faith. She lives her faith very well. But, she could not understand the value of why a grown man would want to leave "the world" and live a life of prayer in a monastery. I remember on the bus ride home talking with her. She was totally shaken by the reality of people choosing to live in prayer, study, common work, and community together. She thought that their willingness to pray for us and the world as a life time vocation was a waste. She argued that these men (and men and women around the globe who were similarly called) should be in the cities and churches, not hidden away in some cloister. She could not make sense of the possibility that they and their monastery stood as a visible sign of the importance (or necessity) of prayer and sacrifice in our world. God has chosen them to be a witness for our Church and world. They stand as a beacon for us that God is the reason and the answer for everything in the world. The life of a monk or cloistered nun is only for those whom God calls. But so is the married, single, religious and ordained life. All are valuable and necessary in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus' parables in this weekend's Gospel from St. Matthew talk about a merchant and a land prospector who sell everything they own to buy a pearl of enormous value and a treasure buried in a field. Most of the time I hear these readings I question if I am fully committed to God and the mission of God on this Earth. And, I should question my commitment regularly, so that I can make the needed changes to put God and His priorities as the center of my life. I need to soul search often to see if money, ego, sports, my own selfish motives, or many other things are trying to steal God's purposes from me.

But this week another thought struck me while reflecting upon the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in the field. Rather than thinking about how I can do better as a motivation to practice this parable, I thought of what God has already done to live this parable. Hasn't God already sacrificed all He has for us. The Father gave His only begotten Son. His Son gave His life. Why? God gave us His all so that we could have life, be forgiven, be loved and to love as He loves. Are we the treasure in the field that God sold everything for? Are we the pearl that God has sacrificed all for?

My new motivation is that if the God of the universe is willing to lay it all down for me and you, then I can work on sacrificing a little more of my paltry concerns and selfishness for His sake. I hope I can bite my tongue when I'm tempted to complain about some driver that is driving too slowly in front of me. I hope I can say yes to someone's request for a little of my "precious" time. I hope He and thee become increasingly more important than me.

peace and blessings,
Fr. Chuck Walker

Walker's Wanderings: Let there be WHEAT on Earth!

Walker's Wanderings: Let there be WHEAT on Earth!: On Teens Encounter Christ retreats "wheat" is a term that is used to describe tangible experiences of God's grace. "Wheat...

Let there be WHEAT on Earth!

On Teens Encounter Christ retreats "wheat" is a term that is used to describe tangible experiences of God's grace. "Wheat" can be a note of encouragement or gratitude, an unexpected gesture of kindness (smile, hug, pat on the back), a deed of helpfulness, or much more. On these retreats there is a support team that fixes meals, sets up the chapel, makes sure there is enough toilet paper in the rest rooms, and all of the other sundry chores that make sure the retreat runs smoothly. These indispensable people are called "Wheaties". These folks normally spend the whole three or four days of retreat in silence, offering their service as a silent prayer for the purpose of God doing His will for the retreatants and team of talk givers and chaplains. God bless the "Wheaties"!

Last week Jesus told the parable of the sower who cast wheat into the field haphazardly, but eventually yielding a 30, 60, or 100 fold crop. Though he doesn't seem to really care where the seeds land the abundant yield more than makes up for His "carelessness". This week Jesus (and St. Matthew) give us the parables of the wheat and weeds, the good (?) mustard seed, and the the pinch of yeast that makes 100 pounds of flour rise. The emphasis of the Catholic Church this weekend is the first parable of the the weeds that is sown with the wheat, since it is the only parable that is in both of the liturgical options of long or short forms.

Points to remember about parables as Jesus used them are that they are all about the immensity of the power of God and the Kingdom of God, AND that there is always a surprise.

For us 21st century mostly modern and citified folks we may not get the "surprise" without a little nudging. But if you grow vegetables, flowers, tobacco or huge fields of soy beans weeds are always a bane. (I'm also discovering that the squirrels of Eastern Parkway are also the bane of tomato growers in Louisville!!!) Pesticides and pest resistant plants have "helped" modern agribusinesses, but most of us "gardeners"  still have to hoe, pull or experiences a weedy, ugly, and less productive garden. The common practice then and now is to kill the weeds before they get a good start. In the tobacco fields that used to mean hoeing the patch regularly until the tobacco was at least head high and therefore less susceptible to the strangling effects of Johnson grass, thistles or vines. Hoeing is a pain in the back but necessary work for gardeners and farmers, but more so then than now. Hoeing is easier when the ground is soft or wet but more necessary when the ground is harder. If you hoe before a predicted rain you get to help your crop in two ways not just one. Hoeing before a rain helps eradicate weeds then but it also makes the soil more open to absorb the rain and water the roots of the crop that you are hoping becomes productive.

So, the surprise to me in this parable that the land owner tells his tillers that He wants them to let the weeds and the wheat to grow together until they are both mature. Any normal farmer or farm worker would be able to identify pretty positively what is a weed and what is wheat from the first sprig of green shooting out of the soil. Get rid of the weeds early and your crop has a better chance of receiving moisture and has less competition winning the battle of plant supremacy. Letting weeds grow as big as your wheat means that you won't have a wheat crop. Yet the land owner is the boss. His decision is THE decision. Most folks in the crowd in Jesus' day would have probably said, "This preacher doesn't know squat about farming."

Yet Jesus' point is about God not farming. God decides what is wheat and what is weeds when the time for harvest has come. The hired hands, tenants, and farm workers are asked to forget what they think they know about what (or who) is a weed and what is a stalk of wheat. Let the farm owner decide. Then He will harvest all to where each belong.

It is very hard for us not to judge others with our personal measuring sticks. We think we know who is good and who is bad, who is weed and who is wheat (and what they deserve). Yet over and over again Jesus tells us to let God decide and to try to be as forgiving and generous as God. The only opinion that matters in the end is God's.

We are all sometimes weeds growing in the wheat and sometimes wheat growing among the weeds. Thanks to the loving and generous mercy of God we are metamorphosed from our "weedy" actions, words, and attitudes into the abundant and fruitful "wheat" that God needs us to be. If God can show such mercy and benevolence to us while we are "weeds", He can surely change the most "weedy" of humans into the divine image in which all are made.

Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Chuck

Sower, Seed or Soil? (Matthew 13: 1-13.)

While in Israel last September, our tour guide took us to the bank of the Sea of Galilee, in a location probably pretty similar to the shore where Jesus spoke the parable of the sower and the seed. It was not a typically touristy place. In fact it was sort of primitive even by Israeli standards. Within an arms length of each other were a hard packed path, very rocky ground, thorns and very fertile soil. I could visualize Jesus pointing these places out as He told His listeners this parable. I realized then Jesus probably used "show and tell" to help His first listeners get the point.

The parable of the sower and the seed is one that appears in different forms in the first three Gospels. So it seems that is one that the Gospel writers remembered as important to their readers and hearers. These first disciples were inspired enough by this parable as to live it out. They were definitely the seed that landed on good soil. Because of their willingness to let the Word of God take root and grow within them, they spread His love, acceptance and forgiveness to every corner of the world. All of the Christians and their churches throughout the world are a testimony to the those Christians who have lived before us willing to be the seed in good soil. They have helped God produce a hundred fold multiplied by countless generations.

BUT, I have a problem with Jesus' explanation of the parable in the last part of the reading we have for this Sunday. He explains to the disciples that the seed that landed on the path didn't take root, that the seed that landed on rocky ground barely took root and was short lived, and that the seeds that fell among the thorns eventually got choked out by them. Only the seed that fell on good soil produced abundantly. I understand that. But, what if you are in thorny, rocky or concrete hard circumstances in your life? Is there no hope to be productive evangelizers in the tough circumstances of your life? Many of the saints of our heritage have definitely been God's heralds and compassion in some very awful life situations. St. Vincent de Paul saw babies, children and mothers barely living and often dying in 17th century France. He was even imprisoned and made a slave for a while because of his commitment to being good seed in awful soil for the sake of helping God's hopeless millions. He is just one of thousands of saints who were able to produce "a hundred fold" times hundreds while in rocky, thorny, or impossible places.

So, how do I make since of the explanation found in Matthew's Gospel?  It helps to know that the first versions of the parables given by Jesus did not include explanations. Explanations came later, probably by the evangelists, to help their communities to get a point that they were trying to make for the faith communities that they were writing the Gospels for. Almost all scripture experts agree to this. Jesus didn't explain the parables. He just sowed them. Where they landed, they landed. The people got them and were probably shocked by them. Mustard seed was a weed. There was no way that it could be big enough to provide shade and homes for birds. Jews were forbidden to use leaven in their dough. No good Jewish woman would even think of adding it to their bread. Seed never produced thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. A yield of ten times would have been a bumper crop. So, this and most of the parables are about the power of God and the Kingdom of God. God CAN make something out of nothing. God can make weeds perform as if they were trees. He can turn something forbidden and "evil" into good. And God can grow lots of wheat any darned place He wills it!

God's fertile soil can be anywhere. Even if we think our lives are thorny, rocky or hard God can still do amazing things with us. What we perceive as impossible situations and circumstances, God can make abundant and full of life. Yes, some of us live in awful situations and face seemingly impossible difficulties. But the compassionate power of God is bigger than the crap we may be facing.

Allow your mind, heart and life to be open to God's possibilities!