Shake the dust from our sandals

This Sunday, the gospel recounts the sending of the followers of Jesus out into the would to spread the Good News of the Father's love for all. But this love has a condition. We are asked to renounce our old way of life and accept a new life, free from the sinning ways of our past. 

  There are two messages in this passage that I have always found daunting. The first is to change one's life and live as a follower of Christ. Daunting because Jesus teaches us a life that is contradictory to what society tells us life should be.i am an avid Met fan, very fitting for a Catholic as we seem to always be suffering fans, and I enjoy watching the games on television. I cannot get over how many times I am told to buy a new car, refinance my mortgage, run to the sale at the , fill in the blank, appliance store and get that big screen TV. All these things are meant to give me a better and fuller life. Yet our faith tells us this is not true. It is not what we own that makes our life better, but how we love God and others. 

   Recently, Rosetta Stone has started a commercial trying to play on this idea. They tell us that new pair of shoes or outfit will not make our life better. And while this is correct, they might as the mark and tell us that we should buy their product and learn a new language and that will make us happier.  Yes we need to learn a new language, but it is not Spanish, or Italian, or even Latin. The language is, of course, love. When did it become mainstream to not care about the other person at all? No right of way for the pedestrian, because I have to turn. No letting the car at the corner turn before crossing because I know I am slow, I have to go first. No worries about the other person's rights or feelings because my rights and how I feel is what counts. Jesus never put himself first. Can we follow in those steps?

  The second part of this passage is to leave behind those who do not understand Christ's message. And not just move on, but forget about these people, at least for now, so it does not affect our life, our message, our sharing the love of the Father. "Leave their town and shake their dust from your sandals." Jesus tells us to continue the message and leave behind our fears, our failures. To just keep trying to bring others to His love. And some may hear the message, accept it, and follow Christ. And others may hear our message, but not accept it. And still others may not even give us a chance to share the love of Christ with them. But that's okay. Not everyone is ready at the time we meet them. We plant the seeds of love, and move on until one day these people understand and accept Jesus as their salvation. 

  We are at a point right now where society is challenging our beliefs. Beliefs about life. Beliefs about marriage. Beliefs about happiness. But we cling to our beliefs and continue our message, because we are called to do so. Sent forth to spread the good news by virtue of our Baptism. With the support of the Holy Spirit, with the support of each other, we continue the message.

Deeply Rooted Faith

It was there above my head. A small red button. All I needed to do was push it. All I had to do was reach up. But I couldn't do it. My arms wouldn't move. We were visiting Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side. My daughter and son-in-law suggested we go on the sky wheel for some great views of the falls. The sky wheel is a rather large Ferris wheel that carries you 175 feet above the ground for scenic views of the falls and the surrounding area. We bought the tickets, and as I watched people getting on the line and later off the ride with smiles and amazing pictures I was excited. I knew it was safe and sturdy. But all that changed in a matter of seconds. We boarded our gondola and I joked with my son-in-law about being scared. We posed for a fake picture. Then the ride moved. Only an eighth of a turn, to allow more riders to board and a sudden rush of fear filled me. I lost all faith in being kept safe. A grabbed hold of my seat and froze. For a moment my family thought I was joking. They soon realized I was not and my wife pushed the button I wanted so hard to reach, but couldn't. The ride reversed and I got off and scurried away to a far bench to regroup while my family finished the ride.
  I had faith in the ride. It seemed like a great deal of faith. But it was not deeply rooted. At that single moment of doubt when the ride moved, I lost it. This is what Jesus answers his disciples when they ask for more faith in this Sunday's gospel. He tells them of the ability of the faith of a mustard seed. The tiniest faith. The ability to uproot deep rooted trees and cast them aside. The ability to do miracles. You see it is not the amount of faith that helps us continue this journey in Christ's footsteps, it is deep rooted faith. It is a faith that cannot be shaken by misfortune, or fear. It cannot be shaken by a society against it. It is a faith that runs so deep that we realize we can not live without an intimate relationship with God. It is a faith rooted in our rituals. Rooted in prayer. Rooted in the Eucharist.
 But that relationship requires us to use our faith every minute of our days on earth. Like the servant who must wait on his master even after working in the fields, we are called to live our faith in all aspects of our life. We a called to be Catholics at home and at work.  When the day begins and when it ends. When we are alone with God and when we are among God's people. It is deeply rooted by the water of our baptism, the oil of our confirmation and the Eucharistic meal. When the disciples ask,"give us more faith," they really get the answer that it is not only about them, but about God's work for God's people. Whatever we do, it is not for only us, but for those who need to hear and experience the love of God.
  As I found a bench by the sky wheel and caught my breath, I waited for my family and calmed down. As they finally approached, I stood up. My legs had stopped shaking and I was ready to go. Just then a woman approached me. "I want to buy your ticket for that ride," she said. I was perplexed. "Excuse me?" I responded. She said, "I was not sure I could get on that ride. But my husband kept assuring me it would be alright. I was in the gondola behind you and I was extremely nervous. But when I saw you get off, I knew that if I really could not do it, then I could push the button and stop the ride. That confidence allowed me to experience something that may never have happened and I would not have had the confidence without you."
  So you see, nothing we live as God's people is only for us. What we say. What we do. Even what be can't do. It all has an affect on those round us.

-peace

Jesus and the young man

this past Sunday, we listened once again to Jesus telling us what we must do, how we should change, if we want to follow the way. This is the path to salvation. This is the path of new life. We have been told that we will have to change, to give up our old ways and become reborn. The harsh words that Jesus uses instruct us to leave our family behind and renounce the ways of the world, lest we lose our souls.
  I can't help but think about those preachers and bible thumpers who insist that the bible be taken word for word. I recall listening to one of them on the radio late one night as he proclaimed that all Catholics are going to he'll because Catholicism has added books to the bible. I am not really sure how he had such information as to whether one bible was the better than the other. A fear and am filled with sorrow over people who, in the name of Jesus, condemn others.
   Someone recently has been trying to get an elderly relative of mine to go to confession. My relative is in the 90's and feels as if the woman is trying to ready her for death, and my relative is just not ready. I passed along the advice to go to reconciliation, when ready to go, but the other woman insisted I am wrong, and wants to 'speak with me.'
  In any odd these situations, I recall the story of Jesus and the young man who wishes to find salvation. The man tells Jesus that he already follows the law of Moses and his forefathers. Jesus then tells him to give up all his possessions and follow. The young man is saddened and leaves, unable to do so. He is not ready.
   That is where the story ends. Jesus is saddened that the man cannot, but the story does not say that Jesus ran after him and continued to pressure him to give up all he had. No, Jesus allowed the young man the time to find the way when he was ready. Jesus opened the door to the way, but did not force him in. And there is the problem. We can not force people to accept Jesus as their savior, lest we begin the crusades and inquisitions again. We can offer the words, the actions, the knowledge that will lead them to salvation, but salvation is a gift, and gifts can not be forced. Gifts need to be accepted. And Neil the person is ready to accept that gift, it remains wrapped.
   
Peace.

Jesus and the young man

this past Sunday, we listened once again to Jesus telling us what we must do, how we should change, if we want to follow the way. This is the path to salvation. This is the path of new life. We have been told that we will have to change, to give up our old ways and become reborn. The harsh words that Jesus uses instruct us to leave our family behind and renounce the ways of the world, lest we lose our souls.
  I can't help but think about those preachers and bible thumpers who insist that the bible be taken word for word. I recall listening to one of them on the radio late one night as he proclaimed that all Catholics are going to he'll because Catholicism has added books to the bible. I am not really sure how he had such information as to whether one bible was the better than the other. A fear and am filled with sorrow over people who, in the name of Jesus, condemn others.
   Someone recently has been trying to get an elderly relative of mine to go to confession. My relative is in the 90's and feels as if the woman is trying to ready her for death, and my relative is just not ready. I passed along the advice to go to reconciliation, when ready to go, but the other woman insisted I am wrong, and wants to 'speak with me.'
  In any odd these situations, I recall the story of Jesus and the young man who wishes to find salvation. The man tells Jesus that he already follows the law of Moses and his forefathers. Jesus then tells him to give up all his possessions and follow. The young man is saddened and leaves, unable to do so. He is not ready.
   That is where the story ends. Jesus is saddened that the man cannot, but the story does not say that Jesus ran after him and continued to pressure him to give up all he had. No, Jesus allowed the young man the time to find the way when he was ready. Jesus opened the door to the way, but did not force him in. And there is the problem. We can not force people to accept Jesus as their savior, lest we begin the crusades and inquisitions again. We can offer the words, the actions, the knowledge that will lead them to salvation, but salvation is a gift, and gifts can not be forced. Gifts need to be accepted. And Neil the person is ready to accept that gift, it remains wrapped.
   
Peace.

Burdens

God our Father,help us to follow the exampleof your Son’s patience in suffering.By sharing the burden he carries,may we come to share his gloryin the kingdom where he lives with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.– Amen.Ever feel like the whole world is stepping all over you? We all get those days from time to time. But for some people, it may seem like it happens everyday. As my wife says, 'sometimes we are the pigeon, and sometimes we are the car under the tree where the pigeon sits.'
  Our life is full of burden and disappointment at many turns. Each time we feel the splat of life taking its turn at disappointment. But there in lies the example of Christ, who carried the burden of our sins though He was sinless. By example, Jesus taught us to continue on no matter how heavy the day's cross seems to be. And sometimes even the little things seem to be very heavy.
  I was told today, after someone listened to some of the things that have been going on in my life, that I must be under a great deal of stress. The person perceived that I had a lot to deal with. And while I listened to the response and thought, yes, it is a lot, I must say that I don't feel as stressed out as she thought I should be.  There is some stress, but our faith is keeping us focused. My wife and I are constantly looking for the window that God has opened when a door closes, and it always seems to be there.
  If you carry a burden tonight, before going to sleep, ask Jesus, or the Blessed Mother, or your favorite Saint, to help you recognize the open window and acknowledge that things could be worse and the burden could be heavier. In the morning, just as we experience the light of a new day, you can experience the light of a new outlook.

Peace.

Is The Hour At Hand?

I was at the wake for a friend's loved one this evening. While I was in Spencer, I got word of his relative's death. As I visited this evening, I found out that the death was sudden. A thud in the adjourning room, and the person was gone. It reminded me of how short our lives are on the earth. I recalled my mother-in-law's passing. It was around St. Patrick's day, because she had called and asked us to join her for dinner as she had made corned beef and cabbage, but my wife and I were exhausted and told her we would be by the next day. That evening she did not answer her phone, and we assumed she was visiting cousins up the block. I will never forget the phone call I received the next day artwork, telling me she was gone. Or having to relay this information to my distraught wife.
  We really do not know when God will call us home. Our time can be short, a mere 13 years like my niece. I little longer, like my wife's mom in here fifties, or even more. But when that  time is we do not know.so we must be prepared as if the time is tomorrow, or tonight. Jesus reminds us that no one knows the time or the place. We must be ever vigilant, like the virgins with their lamps, awaiting the coming of the bridegroom.
  So how do we stay vigilant? We know deep inside that to be ready, we must have followed in the footsteps of Jesus as closely as possible. And that's not easy. We struggle every day of our life to achieve this life, but we all fall short. It is our human nature. We are not divine. We don't have that edge. We do however have a loving God who will do whatever is needed to help us and constantly forgive us and let us begin anew.
  So be ready. I believe we will all see the morning sun rise. But we should be ready, for we do not know the hour.

Peace

Deacon is Speakin' Again

Hello everyone. I am happy to say the Deacon's Speakin' is back from its hiatus. This happens to most preachers. As one shares thoughts and reflections, seeds of doubt are sometimes born as to whether anyone might be listening. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually reads the posts, since most of the feedback is just a touch of the like button on Facebook. Are people just being nice or are they really getting something out of this sharing. It is these thoughts that allow evil to sneak in and develop those same ideas, and in essence stop the message from happening.
  This is what happened to me. I allowed my thoughts of insecurity and futility to fester and grow. These led me to the belief that no one was listening and these posts were not worthwhile.
  Thank you to the many people who dropped me a line in the past few weeks to ask what happened. It has made me realize that I opened the door to this doubt and Satan ran with it. To my friend from grammar school, yes, the deacon is speakin again!
  This is what we allow to happening in our lives each day if we doubt the plan God has for us. If we lose sight of our calling as disciples of the one risen Lord by right of our baptism. We hesitate. We doubt. We think about giving up. And Satan steps in and helps us along that path. It is the stumbling that we do over and over again as we strive for perfection in our faith. Time to shake the dust from the sandals and move on again.
  When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He rose above the temptation and stayed the course that the Father had laid out for Him. We need to call upon that same strength.
   Many years ago, when St. Pius X was ordained a priest, he arrived at his appointed parish to take over as pastor. There was only a church. No rectory or residence awaited him. A kind family of the parish took him in and let him stay in a room above their home until his own residence was completed. Years later, when Pius had been elected Pope, the family visited him. Pius felt he needed to give them something special since they had opened the hearts in kindness to him. He removed his zuchetto, the small, yarmulke  like hat the pope wears, and gave it to them. All these years later, members of that family retain pieces of the zuchetto that they shared. These were my ancestors and Pius has been watching over me since I started the road to ordination. The piece of his zuchetto sits in a prominent place in our home. I find it no coincidence that today was the day I was moved to begin blogging again. Today is the feast of St. Pius X.
   God's plan never ceases. He constantly calls us to it. And we may stray. And we may get lost. And we may fail. But the love of God, and those who have gone before us in the faith, is strong enough to call us back.
  Stay strong in the faith. And pray for guidance. Pray to God. pray to Jesus. Pray to the Blessed Mother. Pray to the Saints.

Peace