Happy Easter!
Do you remember in the movie, “The Wizard of Oz”, when the coroner of Munchkin Land inspects the body of the Wicked Witch the East? He pronounces her “very much dead”, as if there was another sort of “dead”. On the morning of the Resurrection of Christ, Jesus was “very much dead” in the minds and the lives of His disciples. Some of His women friends and disciples were headed to His tomb to finish the ritual embalming preparations that were prescribed by Jewish law and that were cut short on Good Friday because of the approaching Passover Feast. They still had the need of giving Him a proper burial. His Apostles and other disciples were holed away grieving the loss of their Messiah and worried that they might be next to be crucified by the evil Pontius Pilate and their angry and suspicious Jewish leaders. They also had to be very doubtful that those hopes and promises that he had always talked about were gone forever via the Cross of Calvary. They had seen His limp and bloodied body wrapped in a burial shroud and placed in a rock hewn tomb. That was it, the end of the story! Jesus was “very much dead”.
Yet Mary and the other women came to the disciples’ hiding place frantic that Jesus was not in the tomb. Peter went to the grave and saw it was empty as well. Then Mary experienced him near the grave. And disciples came back from their trip to Emaus telling the others they had met Jesus as well. He then appeared to them in their hideaway to prove to them that He was in fact very much ALIVE. There He forgives them, offers them peace, and commissions them to spread the Holy Spirit of compassion, peace, and forgiveness to the world.
HE IS STILL ALIVE!!!
It is a temptation to give up when we experience defeat. It is natural to abandon hope when our dreams are dashed. We are inclined to bury our faith when the only thing we hear from the “world” is that it is useless to believe.
What we celebrate on this Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord is that God is never dead. And we, the people of God, can never be defeated. Christ rose from the tomb to both prove that sin, death and Satan never will have the last say in this world, no matter what the coroner says. We are called to day to look our dashed hopes, unfulfilled dreams, addictions and sinful habits, disease and the deaths of family and friends, and all of our terminal prognoses in the face and say, “My God says NO to death and YES to LIFE!”
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
"Lord, I want to see!"
Dear Friends,
This weekend we hear the story of the healing of the man born blind from the Gospel of John. The interesting thing to me in the story is that after Jesus gave the man his sight, it was his parents and the religious leaders who then became blind. They couldn’t see that God could work such a miracle through Jesus for the man that they were used to knowing as a blind man. In fact they refused to see Jesus as God’s healer and teacher.
Blindness affects all of us in this way. I saw a story on 60 Minutes about a Marine who killed himself. He became despondent when he returned from Afghanistan and saw that Americans had no appreciation of the lives that were being sacrificed to keep our nation free. Elected officials from Washington to Frankfort to locally seem blind to the needs of the citizens that they represent, and only concerned with staying in office. Church officials worry about protecting the image of the institution and not about living the mission of Christ to heal and love those in most need around us. We sometimes only want to see justice, compassion and mercy when our own toes have been stepped upon.
Jesus comes to heal blindness in all its forms. Do we have the courage to pray, “Lord, I want to see!”
paz,
Fr. Chuck
This weekend we hear the story of the healing of the man born blind from the Gospel of John. The interesting thing to me in the story is that after Jesus gave the man his sight, it was his parents and the religious leaders who then became blind. They couldn’t see that God could work such a miracle through Jesus for the man that they were used to knowing as a blind man. In fact they refused to see Jesus as God’s healer and teacher.
Blindness affects all of us in this way. I saw a story on 60 Minutes about a Marine who killed himself. He became despondent when he returned from Afghanistan and saw that Americans had no appreciation of the lives that were being sacrificed to keep our nation free. Elected officials from Washington to Frankfort to locally seem blind to the needs of the citizens that they represent, and only concerned with staying in office. Church officials worry about protecting the image of the institution and not about living the mission of Christ to heal and love those in most need around us. We sometimes only want to see justice, compassion and mercy when our own toes have been stepped upon.
Jesus comes to heal blindness in all its forms. Do we have the courage to pray, “Lord, I want to see!”
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Warning! Long readings at Mass this weekend!!!
Dear Folks,
Every year I hear folks comment that they wished they had been warned about the long Gospel readings that they were going to “have to” hear. Well, here is your warning. This weekend most of us will hear the story from St. John’s gospel about the adulterous woman at the well whom Jesus accepts and forgives. Next week the Gospel is about the blind man, Bartimaeus, whom Jesus heals. On the fifth weekend of Lent we will hear of Jesus Raising Lazarus from the dead. And on Palm Sunday we will walk through St. Luke’s account of Jesus’ Passion. So, put your seat belts and your ears of faith on and prepare for a possibly life altering ride.
The question for me each year is how I listen better to the now familiar stories. The answer is preparation. With these stories especially it is always important to read and pray over them a few times before we encounter them at Mass on the weekend. It would be easy to take a look at what we are about to hear and then discount it by saying, “Oh! It’s the woman at the well again. I know what that one is about.” When we do that we do the scriptures and ourselves a huge disservice.
Some of the good news about any scripture passage is that it is always alive. Sometimes by praying over these holy words they do remind us of things God wants us to recall and live more fervently. But most of the time, if we give the Holy Spirit a little time and space, God makes us hear something brand new in the Word.
So, I invite you do practice praying the Word of God that you are going to hear over the next few weeks. In fact I invite you to stretch that practice out through Holy Week and Easter. I promise you that, if you give the Holy Spirit some time and space to pray the scriptures before you hear them at Mass, you will have a newer and more profound appreciation for this season of Lent.
Paz,
Fr. Chuck
Every year I hear folks comment that they wished they had been warned about the long Gospel readings that they were going to “have to” hear. Well, here is your warning. This weekend most of us will hear the story from St. John’s gospel about the adulterous woman at the well whom Jesus accepts and forgives. Next week the Gospel is about the blind man, Bartimaeus, whom Jesus heals. On the fifth weekend of Lent we will hear of Jesus Raising Lazarus from the dead. And on Palm Sunday we will walk through St. Luke’s account of Jesus’ Passion. So, put your seat belts and your ears of faith on and prepare for a possibly life altering ride.
The question for me each year is how I listen better to the now familiar stories. The answer is preparation. With these stories especially it is always important to read and pray over them a few times before we encounter them at Mass on the weekend. It would be easy to take a look at what we are about to hear and then discount it by saying, “Oh! It’s the woman at the well again. I know what that one is about.” When we do that we do the scriptures and ourselves a huge disservice.
Some of the good news about any scripture passage is that it is always alive. Sometimes by praying over these holy words they do remind us of things God wants us to recall and live more fervently. But most of the time, if we give the Holy Spirit a little time and space, God makes us hear something brand new in the Word.
So, I invite you do practice praying the Word of God that you are going to hear over the next few weeks. In fact I invite you to stretch that practice out through Holy Week and Easter. I promise you that, if you give the Holy Spirit some time and space to pray the scriptures before you hear them at Mass, you will have a newer and more profound appreciation for this season of Lent.
Paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
An Encounter With God Transfigures the World (starting with us)!
Hello friends!
I have been reading some articles and letters regarding this past fall’s Church synod in Rome about “the new evangelization.” The good news is that this is not a new program or process that the Universal Church wants all Catholic Churches to “do”. The better news is that our Church’s leaders recognize that we as a Church have an important role in this world at this time.
But here is the bad news that we must confront. Our Catholic Church has more people leaving out the back door than we have entering through the front door at Easter or through the Baptismal font. In this very pluralistic US and western European culture that we are immersed in there are many intelligent voices telling us why we should not believe and live faithfully. In their logical and scientific minds faith makes no since. They tell us that there is no credible proof of God being the creator of this world, no real evidence of Christ being the Son of God or Him rising from the dead, and no hope that heaven is real or that life has any purpose other than avoiding pain until we die. In their world our Sacraments are just a mirage or a placebo.
Pope Benedict XVI has called on people of faith to show otherwise. In the early days of the Church people like Sts. Peter, James, John, Paul and Luke were able to convey their experience of the Risen Son of God to a world that was even more unbelieving than ours is today. Because of their experience on the mountain of the Transfiguration, seeing His life, ministry, and miracles for others, and witnessing His Resurrection first hand we get the benefits. Their testimony and lives of conviction shaped the future of the Church for the past 2000 years. Their willingness to preach, teach and live their beliefs, even when 1st century logic, science, and critics told them to shut up has produced a Church and a New Testament that still lives, teaches and preaches God’s love and truth.
The Church is calling us Christians to do the same thing as our predecessors. We are being called to witness to the world how we are being loved, forgiven and healed by the same Jesus Christ who lives now in our encounters with Him in the Word and in Sacrament. We are to acknowledge that this may not seem logical or scientifically provable but God is still shaping and creating lives in this doubting world. We are especially being called to witness by our actions that God loves all people by our loving indiscriminately and unconditionally as He has loved us.
This will take an effort on our part to perhaps rediscover, uncover and recommit ourselves to the exciting “Good News” that we are loved, forgiven and saved by God. I urge you during this Lenten season to figure out how you can be a witness for God especially by your loving, forgiving and faithful actions. Participate in “Why Catholic?” Visit the Blessed Sacrament. Go on a retreat. Read something faithful online or in a book. Go to the Men’s Conference on March 16th at St. Raphael. Read the readings of the Mass either before you attend Mass or again after Mass.
There are all kinds of ways to be an evangelist. But we are all called to do so.
Blessings,
Fr. Chuck
I have been reading some articles and letters regarding this past fall’s Church synod in Rome about “the new evangelization.” The good news is that this is not a new program or process that the Universal Church wants all Catholic Churches to “do”. The better news is that our Church’s leaders recognize that we as a Church have an important role in this world at this time.
But here is the bad news that we must confront. Our Catholic Church has more people leaving out the back door than we have entering through the front door at Easter or through the Baptismal font. In this very pluralistic US and western European culture that we are immersed in there are many intelligent voices telling us why we should not believe and live faithfully. In their logical and scientific minds faith makes no since. They tell us that there is no credible proof of God being the creator of this world, no real evidence of Christ being the Son of God or Him rising from the dead, and no hope that heaven is real or that life has any purpose other than avoiding pain until we die. In their world our Sacraments are just a mirage or a placebo.
Pope Benedict XVI has called on people of faith to show otherwise. In the early days of the Church people like Sts. Peter, James, John, Paul and Luke were able to convey their experience of the Risen Son of God to a world that was even more unbelieving than ours is today. Because of their experience on the mountain of the Transfiguration, seeing His life, ministry, and miracles for others, and witnessing His Resurrection first hand we get the benefits. Their testimony and lives of conviction shaped the future of the Church for the past 2000 years. Their willingness to preach, teach and live their beliefs, even when 1st century logic, science, and critics told them to shut up has produced a Church and a New Testament that still lives, teaches and preaches God’s love and truth.
The Church is calling us Christians to do the same thing as our predecessors. We are being called to witness to the world how we are being loved, forgiven and healed by the same Jesus Christ who lives now in our encounters with Him in the Word and in Sacrament. We are to acknowledge that this may not seem logical or scientifically provable but God is still shaping and creating lives in this doubting world. We are especially being called to witness by our actions that God loves all people by our loving indiscriminately and unconditionally as He has loved us.
This will take an effort on our part to perhaps rediscover, uncover and recommit ourselves to the exciting “Good News” that we are loved, forgiven and saved by God. I urge you during this Lenten season to figure out how you can be a witness for God especially by your loving, forgiving and faithful actions. Participate in “Why Catholic?” Visit the Blessed Sacrament. Go on a retreat. Read something faithful online or in a book. Go to the Men’s Conference on March 16th at St. Raphael. Read the readings of the Mass either before you attend Mass or again after Mass.
There are all kinds of ways to be an evangelist. But we are all called to do so.
Blessings,
Fr. Chuck
Friday, February 15, 2013
HIM alone shall you serve.
Dear friends,
When I woke up on Monday morning I was greeted by the “breaking news” that Pope Benedict XVI was resigning from being the Vicar of Christ for our Church effective February 28th. Like most of the rest of the Church I am surprised at the news of his resignation. After all, he is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII more than 500 years ago. But I am very inspired by his prayerful decision.
He and Pope John Paul II will go down in history as the two greatest minds of the 20th century. His writings before, during and after the Second Vatican Council have been the intellectual backbone of the Church’s teachings and decisions for about sixty years. Only since he has been our pope have I read any of his spiritual writings though. He inspires me as a very holy man. It is no surprise that he is calling our Church to this Year of Faith. His spiritual writings and this holy year are all about not seeing our faith as a set of creeds or moral doctrines, but developing an intimacy with the God who made us, with His Son and our Savior, and with the Spirit who guides, blesses, and comforts us.
I think his decision to resign shows his humility and his love of God and for the people of God. In the same way that Pope John Paul II was a prophetic witness and parable to us on the value and importance of life from conception to natural death; Pope Benedict XVI will be a witness for us that the ministry and mission of the Church is larger than the person who holds the title of “minister”. Our Pope is showing us all how to be humble and yet brave servants of God.
In the Temptation story from the Gospel of Luke that we hear today on this First Sunday of Lent the Devil tempts Jesus with all the kingdoms in the World. He offers Jesus to be the most powerful man on the face of the Earth. Jesus’ answers him with the First Commandment, “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.” I believe our Pope has shown us in word and witness how to live that command in this day and time.
Let us all pray in thanksgiving and blessing for Pope Benedict XVI. Let us also pray for our College of Cardinals to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their extremely difficult decision to elect our new leader. And let us pray for the grace during this Lent to put God’s will always as our guiding force.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
When I woke up on Monday morning I was greeted by the “breaking news” that Pope Benedict XVI was resigning from being the Vicar of Christ for our Church effective February 28th. Like most of the rest of the Church I am surprised at the news of his resignation. After all, he is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII more than 500 years ago. But I am very inspired by his prayerful decision.
He and Pope John Paul II will go down in history as the two greatest minds of the 20th century. His writings before, during and after the Second Vatican Council have been the intellectual backbone of the Church’s teachings and decisions for about sixty years. Only since he has been our pope have I read any of his spiritual writings though. He inspires me as a very holy man. It is no surprise that he is calling our Church to this Year of Faith. His spiritual writings and this holy year are all about not seeing our faith as a set of creeds or moral doctrines, but developing an intimacy with the God who made us, with His Son and our Savior, and with the Spirit who guides, blesses, and comforts us.
I think his decision to resign shows his humility and his love of God and for the people of God. In the same way that Pope John Paul II was a prophetic witness and parable to us on the value and importance of life from conception to natural death; Pope Benedict XVI will be a witness for us that the ministry and mission of the Church is larger than the person who holds the title of “minister”. Our Pope is showing us all how to be humble and yet brave servants of God.
In the Temptation story from the Gospel of Luke that we hear today on this First Sunday of Lent the Devil tempts Jesus with all the kingdoms in the World. He offers Jesus to be the most powerful man on the face of the Earth. Jesus’ answers him with the First Commandment, “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.” I believe our Pope has shown us in word and witness how to live that command in this day and time.
Let us all pray in thanksgiving and blessing for Pope Benedict XVI. Let us also pray for our College of Cardinals to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their extremely difficult decision to elect our new leader. And let us pray for the grace during this Lent to put God’s will always as our guiding force.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Friday, February 8, 2013
God, I Love Interuptions!
Hello Folks,
For husbands and wives it can happen in the car, on what seems like is going to be an interminable and boring road trip. Few words are needed to be exchanged. Yet somehow during that wasted time together you figure out how much you love the one you’re married to; and in fact your love grows deeper. For parents it often happens in that “up all night” illness of your child. At some time during that tiresome night, while you are nursing your aching son or daughter, you can’t imagine not being the mother or father of this precious child. For priests, deacons, sisters, lay ministers, teachers, doctors, and other caring vocations it always happens when you get that call in the middle of the time you least want it, to go out of your way for some one or some family that you didn’t want to care for. Then you realize how wonderful and important it is that God chose you for the vocation you have.
God happens in the interruptions of our life!
Jesus calls some smelly fisherman from the Sea of Galilee to be His Apostles. These few men were to become the ones responsible for the spread of the faith to every corner of the globe. The faith that we live now came to us because of the sacrifices and lives of these surprised, flawed and doubtful first disciples. Their hesitant “Yes” to Jesus has helped save lives of people for nearly 200 years.
We begin Lent on Wednesday. Let us each make it our Lenten resolution to listen for God calling us in the voices and in the times when we are inclined to say “No”.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
For husbands and wives it can happen in the car, on what seems like is going to be an interminable and boring road trip. Few words are needed to be exchanged. Yet somehow during that wasted time together you figure out how much you love the one you’re married to; and in fact your love grows deeper. For parents it often happens in that “up all night” illness of your child. At some time during that tiresome night, while you are nursing your aching son or daughter, you can’t imagine not being the mother or father of this precious child. For priests, deacons, sisters, lay ministers, teachers, doctors, and other caring vocations it always happens when you get that call in the middle of the time you least want it, to go out of your way for some one or some family that you didn’t want to care for. Then you realize how wonderful and important it is that God chose you for the vocation you have.
God happens in the interruptions of our life!
Jesus calls some smelly fisherman from the Sea of Galilee to be His Apostles. These few men were to become the ones responsible for the spread of the faith to every corner of the globe. The faith that we live now came to us because of the sacrifices and lives of these surprised, flawed and doubtful first disciples. Their hesitant “Yes” to Jesus has helped save lives of people for nearly 200 years.
We begin Lent on Wednesday. Let us each make it our Lenten resolution to listen for God calling us in the voices and in the times when we are inclined to say “No”.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
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