Where Are You in Your Faith Journey?

On the first day of the week,

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,

"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,

and we don't know where they put him."

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter

and arrived at the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him,

he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,

and the cloth that had covered his head,

not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in,

the one who had arrived at the tomb first,

and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture

that he had to rise from the dead.

So which of the people in today's gospel do you relate with? 

Are you Mary, who has found the tomb empty but does not realize what has happened? Have you accepted the belief in Jesus but not truly the resurrection and what it means to us? 

Are you the unnamed disciple, who is on the verge of total acceptance of our risen Lord, but stops just short of experiencing the whole resurrection and its glory? Have you stopped outside the tomb, not quite there yet?

Are you Simon Peter, who has the courage to embrace the risen  Lord and make the tomb entrance, letting him become a party our life in a total and new way that maybe a bit alarming and hard to understand?

The truth is that each of us is all of these. At various times n our life we become the one who does not grasp the faith,  or the one that doubts the faith,or the one that has the boldness of pure acceptance. Our faith journey is just that, a constant trek through this world in the hope of coming ever closer to a true experience of God. It is why we consider ourselves the Pilgrim Church, since our journey will never end until we are at home with the Father. And just as we, when we are children, when we are young adults, when we are adults middle and senior age, we make choices and learn and grow from those choices. And at any moment in our lives these choices lead us to be the person who is far from the tomb, or the person who is almost at the tomb, or the person who has reached that goal. 

Easter gives us the chance to move closer to the tomb. The tomb that no longer holds death snide, but rather the glorious light of a new light, a new life, in Christ Jesus. Keep journeying toward the tomb, wherever you currently may be. And never lose hope. Always have hope in an Easter morning.

Have a blessed Easter.

What If...

Today is the evening before my 51st birthday. I sometimes wonder how I got to where I am in life right now. What if I had chosen a different path? A different career? Would my life be so different? Then I realize that God's plan was that I would be right where I am now, so none of that wondering matters. It never would have happened. I am convinced that God has a plan for us from the day we are born. His divine plan was always for me to be a deacon. Was always for me to touch people with his word through my preaching. Here is how I am sure:
 
I was dating my wife and had been visiting her and her parents one evening. She had gone to bed and I stayed with her mom and dad watching a television show until it was complete. When I left, it was rather late. As I drove home, I guess my mind started to wander and, as I sped along the Long Island Expressway, I did not notice the car that was stopped in the right hand lane, which I was traveling in. When I did come to my senses, I swerved right, off of the road and onto the shoulder, around the car and back onto the expressway. I did not even think, I just swerved. There could have been a wall, or overpass there, but there was not. I could have hit the car, but I did not. God saved me that night because he needed me here now.

Years later, with my wife and child in the car, I had a similar experience as traffic ahead of us was at a stand still. My wife called out my name and again, without thinking, I just swerved  left into the other lane of traffic. Again God kept me, and my family this time, safe. There was no car next to us. If there was I would not have seen it and it would have been a terrible accident.

I am sure others have had similar experiences, but I can only believe that God always has a plan. We may not recognize it. We may not like it. But we live it.
Just as on that first Easter, God's plan was to end the grasp of death for us through the resurrection, there is always a glorification awaiting us. Some may be greater than others, but they await us. So never despair. Never give up hope. Never stop loving. Never stop being kind and compassionate. For the glory awaits us all.

Happy Easter.

The Darkness of Evil surrounds Us

Many people speak about evil in the world. They speak about evil ideas and evil people. Of those who will  plot death and destruction against other people and other beliefs. But the force behind these evils is the Prince of Lies, the King of Darkness, Satan. Now some may say Satan does not exist. That evil exists as a feeling or emotion or desire, but not personified. Perhaps, but please read on.

  It was the evening before a big event. The young man was about to be ordained and as he slept his mind was dreaming of what was to come. What would his life of service be like? Would he be accepted by those he would be asked to spiritually lead? Could he always see the needs of others before his own? How would this life affect his family? Then the thought came into the dream....is this the right choice?
    At this he was startled awake only to see, standing at the foot of his bed, a tall dark figure. The figure did not speak but rather just loomed over his bed. Jumping out of bed he tried his best to hit the figure with a punch only to see the figure gone. His wife sat up in the bed next to him and asked if everything was alright. Not sure, he explained what he had seen and they both returned to sleep.

 Interesting story isn't it. The next day, I was ordained a deacon. Yes, Satan is at every turn hoping we will turn against God's service. Pray, and be thankful that Jesus died on the cross so we could be released from this grasp.

Home for the Holiday

After 51 years I finally got my chance to attend a Seder meal. A good friend of my wife invited us to her home. Maybe it was not as traditional as others, but it was a learning experience for me. During the day people had told me that I should eat before I went because the food was not so good, but I did not. I enjoyed the service, even if it was abbreviated. I learned what all the symbolism was about, thanks Marcie and Sue. And I got a little better understanding of what was the development of our shared meal, the Eucharist.
  In the middle of the meal, the woman next to me found out I was a deacon and asked a question. "So while Jesus was entering Jerusalem , was Moses in Egypt freeing the Jews?" I was a bit confused. She had mentioned that all she did was read the bible. I was not sure that anyone would actually think Moses and Jesus were a on earth at the same time.
  This has to make one wonder whether people are fully educated in our faith. What does the would know about us? A comment was made about hell and it was said that Jews do not believe in hell, at least not with the devil and a pitchfork. Yet neither do Catholics. Our belief is that hell is an eternal life separated from God's loving presence. We have a long way to go.
  We need to fully understand our own heritage as followers of the way. Yet how can this be done when so many stop attending mass. Since mass is where most of us will encounter the scripture and an explanation, my guess is that the majority of Catholics do not sit at home reading the bible, how will we ever fully understand who we are as Catholics and what we profess to believe by calling ourselves Catholic?
  It is time for Catholics to come home. Not just on the special days of Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday , Easter Sunday and Christmas, but everyday. It is time for each of us to reach out to those who have left behind our communal prayer and gathering in the belief that it is unnecessary. It is time for those who understand how necessary this gathering is to share that belief with those who do not understand. It is time, especially as Easter Sunday is upon us, to begin a new day of enlightenment in our churches. Use the humbleness of our new pontiff as a way of showing people the love that can be felt in our community and bring a friend or loved one back home.

Singing in the Dark

READING Acts 13:26-30

My brothers, it was to us that this message of salvation was sent forth. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers failed to recognize him, and in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets which we read Sabbath after Sabbath. Even though they found no charge against him which deserved death, they begged Pilate to have him executed. Once they had thus brought about all that had been written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. Yet God raised him from the dead.

  Now is the time, my friends, to remember that the darkest days can never have a hold on us. We may feel at the end of our rope. We may feel we have nowhere to turn. We may feel that we can not breathe. But our hope lies in the events we recall in these coming days. That faced with death, the event that no one could believe would be overcome, Jesus was put to death for our sins and conquered the grave. Of this we are certain and, despite historians and scientists trying to prove the contrary, no one has proven it did not happen. In fact, some scientists, after examining the shroud, believe that something of great energy took place that left the impression there.
   Hmm. What could that be? Perhaps the power of God? God will never forsake us as long as we have Him on our side. And to have Him with us is simple. Believe. Love. Hope.
  My favorite quote is from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. No, it s not in the insightfulness of Gandalf. It is in the words of one of the ordinary, not necessarily brightest, of characters. Samwise Gamgee. I love Sam, because I think he is a good representation of each of us. Simple at heart. Sometimes failing. But never giving up. Faced with darkness, Sam declares, "It is never so dark that we can not sing!" We celebrate with song the end of darkness and death because of the resurrection. And we must always remember that faced with anything: sickness, poverty, anger, fear, even death itself, we can always sing. Because it can never be that dark as long as the light of Christ's love is in our hearts and warming our souls.

I have received the great gift of being able to relive the Gospel story we will hear next week over and over for the last few days. The school musical this year is Godspell, a show I fell in love with many years ago when my wife was part of the performance as we were dating. Once again, I have received a gift through this play as I get to hear the story of God's word made flesh over and over again at each practice. I can't help but think of how this play influenced the way I preach.  The play takes the gospel of Matthew and acts it out in a more modern way. My goal in preaching has always been to link the gospel with daily life.
   If we can not see how living the gospel will change our lives, we are lost. This goal was presented to me as more of a challenge by a fellow parishioner. As I studied for ordination, Beatrice once told me how she would leave the church after mass and get more out of listening to the non-Catholic sermons on the television or radio. She said to me, "When you preach, give me something I can take home and use till next week." I have never forgotten that statement. So each time I am preaching, I carefully read the scripture for that day,and wait for God to send me an idea about what the message should be.
  So this weekend, we hear the glory of Jerusalem, and the passion of The Lord. What does it mean for our daily lives. Maybe you've heard a few of  the themes. There is a glorification at the end of every suffering. Jesus suffered death to give us life. Both true and correct. But I like to focus on Christ's own words, "Father, forgive them." I pray and hope that he can use them every time I do a misdeed, or have a poor thought, or ignore what should be done or said. And I hope, that Jesus can fill my heart with that same wisdom. To be able to forgive in spite of how I may feel.. If we can take this with us this week, every week, we will be better people, better Christians, and a better world.

Temptation and forgiveness

We move ever closer to Palm Sunday and Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Only days later will this same crowd turn against Him at the urging of the current religious leaders. And Jesus is aware of this as He was aware of all things. But He went forward knowing that although suffering and death awaited, the glorification that would come after far outweighed any of this.
  Several years ago, there was great opposition to the film 'The Last Temptation of Christ.' In the film, Christ marries Mary Magdelene, and this was the basis of the protest. But I have watched the movie, and the marriage to Mary is taken out of context. As Christ is on the cross, the last temptation is to use His power to avoid His death. As the movie progresses, Christ comes down from the cross, not ready to die, and walks away to live the rest of a human life. He then marries Mary, has a family and works in society. But He sees how much anger, bitterness, sufferings are in the world and what was not overcome by His changing His destiny. We are then brought back to the cross, finding that this was only Jesus' thoughts and never really happened. He had seen what the world would become without salvation and has overcome the temptation.
  Many times, we are tempted not to follow our faith. We are tempted to put ourselves first. We are tempted by power, materialism, some of the same things that Satan tempted Jesus with while in the desert. And many times we give in, letting our own temptations get the better of us. How can we be so weak? How can we fail so often? How can we be so easily swayed despite our best intentions?  The answer is simple. It is our human frailty.
  But we have a loving God. A merciful God. A forgiving God. And just as the prodigal son realized his mistakes and returned home to find a father who never stopped loving and caring for him, so does our Father in heaven love and care for us.
   Temptations surround us at every turn, but as long as we keep trying, Jesus will be right there with us, to cast away those who would condemn us and speak the same words we heard this Sunday, "Go and sin no more."

The People Who Make Us See Jesus

This weekend, many are celebrating, especially Irish Catholics. The feast of St. Patrick holds a special place for them. But in our family, this day holds a difference place of prominence. It is a day of sadness and remembrance because we lost one of the brightest lights in our family, my wife's mother Frances. She died the evening of St Patrick's day after enjoying a corned beef and cabbage dinner. She is dearly missed.
  She was one person who had a great affect on my life, and not just because she gave life to my loving wife. She taught me, in the way she lived and looked at life, much of what I have come to understand  about the bible and Jesus. A devout follower of Christ, she never lost her faith even if as her husband suffered she became disenchanted with the church. She had a way of helping others see both sides of a situation, and many times helped Mary and I through some rough times with family relations. I will always remember her smile and her sense of humor, and it is that same sense of humor and views on life that I have referred to in my homilies many times. From her unique nativity set, to always being ready to have another person at the dinner table; from an apartment packed to the gills for the holiday because gathering to celebrate and serving others was important to her, to her desire to enjoy life; I was changed so I would be accepting of this call to ministry. She helped my face the death of my grandmother, something that I was having trouble with because I had always been shielded from death. I wonder how much fuller our lives would have been had she not died at such an early age.
  I see her in my wife who is the source of my inspiration. I forget this sometimes. Many of my homilies that people have said touched their hearts were ideas that developed because my wife and I spoke about them. My ideas become combined with hers and a message is created. Yet all the accolades are directed at me. I don't think I could do this ministry, in fact I know I couldn't do this ministry, without her.
   So as everyone else celebrates, we will quietly remember Frances. Strong, loving, insightful, compassionate. We love you mom.

Pope Francis I

Today marks an historical moment in the history of the Catholic Church. Anytime a new Pope is elected, the church starts on a new path. The images swirl in every mind. What will he be like? Will he make any changes? How will he compare to others who preceded him (especially JP2).
  Of course, there are other ideas also flowing. He is no good for the church. He is too conservative. This will change nothing.
   It amazes me how some can look forward in awe realizing that we may not fully understand God's plan while other are ready to condemn this man before he even starts his papacy. If anyone thought that any of the cardinals elected would step in and suddenly make sweeping changes, they were kidding only themselves. History has proven that the church changes at its own pace. That may be too slow for many of us, but just the right pace for God.
  Let us look to some indicators. He is Francis I, in honor of St Francis of Assisi, whom God commissioned to rebuild the church. That says a great deal. And to look at the past does not mean he has not heard the cries of others. John Paul I was rather conservative, but was not so in his short papacy. Let us wait and judge on actions instead of speculation.
  I have to say that while it was a time filled with anticipation of a new pope, this was also a time of sadness and concern for me. As I looked at some of the comments on the Internet websites, on Facebook, and listened on the radio and to people around me, it is VERY apparent that there is a lot of bitterness and anger regarding much church policy. I hope and pray that these feelings are not keeping those who harbor them from Jesus. Certainly the church has room for change. It is an institution started by Jesus but run by human beings, with all their shortcomings. But do not lose sight of the true belief, that Jesus suffered, died and rose from the grave to give us eternal life and free us from sin.
  I will keep my belief in eternal life. And while I too have a desire for some things to change, I will hold them quietly in my heart, just as the Blessed Mother did as she watched her son crucified. She new a greater and more glorifying day lay ahead. Let us wait patient for that day as well.

Someday

 The father realized that it was at that very hour when Jesus had told him: Your son will live; and he and all his household became believers.

Has Jesus spoken to you yet? We're you listening?

As each day goes by, another opportunity is presented to us to have an intimate encounter with the risen Christ. Jesus it at every turn, every step, every moment, I every encounter. Yet we may never hear his words or recognize these chances of grace. Our lives are filled with stress, burdens, needs and worries. Mix these with the noise that society places in our ears and it becomes very easy to miss the presence of Jesus in this chaos we call a sane life.
   The news tells us of war and hatred. Of threats for nuclear war, threats of violence and retaliation for perceived wrongs. At the same time society urges us to focus on the material things in life. Do you have enough money? You need more. Do you have a nice house? You need a bigger one with a bigger mortgage. Do you have a nice car? You need the newer, more luxurious one.  Buy, buy, buy. Spend, spend, spend. And it does not matter what is in your way or how you get these things, you must get them to be happy.
  Only after we may acquire them do we realize that the happiness, the peacefulness, the complete satisfaction is still missing. Because we chose all of this noise over the words of Jesus whispering in our ear.
  Like the father in the scripture verse, it is not until we hear and realize what Jesus is saying that we will understand and be true followers. For it is in understanding the words of Jesus where we find the true happiness, the true peace, the true completeness. And it costs...... No money. Notice I said no money. Because while it costs no money it does cost something.
 The cost is really minimal, but to some it may seem too high. The cost is to leave behind our old selves. To become reborn to a new life and become new persons with a very different outlook and a very different view of what life is all about.
  Jesus is speaking to you now. He is asking you to follow him on a new path. He is asking all of us to release all the bitterness and anger and hatred and materialism that we all hold on to. He is asking us to let it all go, and live in a life of simple peace, and love, and compassion in Christ. We can only try to get there. Only a select few really make it before this journey we call life is complete.
  Myself? No, I'm not there yet. Sometimes a think I am very far away. But I keep trying. I keep listening. I keep hoping that someday I get it all correct. And then the words will say, "Welcome to my Father's house."  Someday.

A Father's Love

What is true love? In Sunday's gospel true love is evident. Most of us may remember the story of the prodigal son. It is the story of one son taking his share of his father's inheritance and squandering it, only to find himself back at his father's door step seeking forgiveness. But in recent years, we have changed our focus of the story. It is now referred to as the loving father. Fittingly so since we should be focusing on not what the son has done, because that really has no consequence on the father's reaction, but on the love and forgiveness that the father has for his son.
   Most of us know that the symbolism in this parable is of the Father's love for all of us. Especially His compassion for those who have turned their backs on him and then realize their mistake. And we,faithful  followers of Jesus, are the other brother who was told not to be jealous of this love, for it is always given to us as well.
   But in a different view, we are all asked to be like the father in the parable. This man shows true love. Here returns a person who spurned his love. A person who threw away all that had been given to him. And yet, as the son returns and seeks forgiveness, refusing even to forgive himself, his father has none of these feelings. Total compassion. Total forgiveness. Total understanding. Total love. Raising his son up not with a review or criticism of what he had done wrong, but with a forgiveness that tells him to forgive himself. This is the love we are asked to share. This is the love we are asked to live. This is God's love and seeing life through God's eyes. Eyes of mercy. Eyes of compassion. Eyes of understanding.
   If this day you have a friend, a loved one, an acquaintance, who is seeking forgiveness, from you or anyone else. Restore them to their proper dignity. Love them. Forgive them. Help them to love themselves. For as we love others, so shall the Father love us. And couldn't we all use a little compassionate forgiveness from God?

READING Isaiah 1:16-18

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim; redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the Lord:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.

We are called to make a difference. We are called to change the world. And many times, we sit back and do.........nothing. But there are many ways to make a difference. Large ways and small ways. I sometimes wonder if the world will have changed because of my presence. Will the world have moved closer to peace, love and God before my life journey is complete and will I have had an effect on the change.

Some chances to set things right may seem small to each of us, but may loom large to those affected by the chance. Our school runs a three day retreat for students. Teachers and alumi attend as well. A small sacrifice for the adults, but a life long effect for the students. Last night, at an event where people spoke of their experiences on this retreat, it was evident this makes a difference.
This year will be my first experience of this retreat. Again, a small way to set things right.

The papal conclave begins this Tuesday. A big event. An event that changes the life of the Catholic Church as well as the lives of millions of Catholics. And a chance for church leaders to review the past, evaluate the good and the bad, and set the wrong things right. Please pray for these men. We need forgiveness and healing right now.

Our lives are filled with all kinds of chances to set this life on the narrow path to God. As lent begins to reach its end, we all need to focus on how we each can recognize these events and embrace them as good and faithful followers of Christ.

The Soul Must Continue

He was a young boy, not yet sixteen. During try outs for the high school basketball team, he felt ill. As he waited to get a drink of water, he collapsed and soon his young life was over. Too soon. His name was Jose and he was a sophomore in high school. His life tragically cut short. Left were his friends, his family, his teachers, to deal with a loss that could not be explained, could not be comprehended. Why?
  This is a question that we as humans have pondered through the centuries. Why do loved ones have to die? Why are loved ones taken way from us, sometimes before we even realize the full extent of ow they have affected our lives and our hearts. Why? And yet, after all these years of questioning, there is no answer.
  The only solace we can find in these times, in these feelings, in this hurt, in this emptiness, is in faith. Faith allows us to at least grasp for hope. The hope that one day we will be united in an eternal life with the loved ones we have lost. For without faith, is life worth living. Without faith,our dearest ones are lost forever.
  Some may say there is no God. Some may say that if God existed, this would not be allowed to happen. But if we follow this way of thinking, we have no hope, o real future, only a journey to the end. But Jesus taught of a different ending. Jesus showed us a different ending, the followers saw and understood a different ending. And I, as a Catholic, as a Christian, as a believer refuse to accept that there is nothing after this life.
  Jose was my student and I saw in him a life, a love, a personality so unique, that there is no doubt in my mind that that energy, that life force, that soul of Jose's could never just cease to exist. I saw the same in my niece, Laura and in my dad. How can that just disappear.
  I thank God for my faith, because it makes my life worth living and gives me the solace of knowing that all those whom I have loved and have become a part of who I am, will reunite with me.

Giving and Receiving

It is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. These words from the Prayer  of St Francis are said by Catholics throughout the world, for some on a daily basis. The words affect our lives in two ways. First, we ask to have our actions given back tous in an attempt to receive the same kindness, the same love, the same TLC that we as Christians should be offering to others. After all, who wouldn't want a little it of TLC every now and then. But it is also asking for judgement on ourselves. For if we do not offer ourselves to others, if there is no TLC, if there is no forgiveness, then we are asking for that same abandonment, that same judgement for ourselves.
   And God truly hears these prayers. My simple life experiences have shown this time and again. Those who have followed my blog remember the story of the job call in San Francisco right after making a donation to a good cause and a homeless person. It has proven itself to me again. While the job is still pending, I saw a student with no lunch because he had lost his wallet. Rather than send him to the office, I bought him lunch. He promised to repay me, but no matter, what's five dollars? What followed was the connection to tutor a young lady. Another source of extra income to ease our family. Budget. And how did I know God had a hand in all this? When I found out the young ladies first AND LAST name, I realized it was the same as my daughters. Again, no coincidence here. God is always working. And having given I received, in a small way.
   So what happens if we give in a big way? What happens if instead of a few dollars, or a onetime help, I concentrate on dedicating my life in some way to God? Priest? Deacon? Sister? Religious Life? Sunday School Teacher? Not for you? Well, how about sharer of God's word whenever I can? How about faithful attendee at the Supper of the Lamb? (You remember mass right?) did you know that a mass needs to be said with others present? That means there is a ministry in being a member of the congregation. A d as a preacher, I certainly am grateful for those mass attendees, because the larger the group, the greater the spirit works in me when I preach. I am not sure why that is, but I seem to feel the energy coming from a full church and it 'charges' my preaching. I know it is the Spirit, but that charge should always be there.
  So as we wind down this year's lent and ready ourselves for a fast approaching Holy Week, why not dedicate your life to God by committing to join Him for supper every Sunday. And I for one will say, welcome home and thanks for making me a better minister. And what will happen? You may give up an hour a week, but you will gain what God offers you in return. What will you receive? Ahhhh, the thing is, you need to give up first to find out!

It truly is amazing how having Jesus as a part of one's life can totally change your life. And self sacrificing in order to have God be a larger part of one's life can be a life changer as well. I recall years ago when my family was starting out supporting the church by our talents. We all sang and played musical instruments in the church ensemble. We did not have extra income to tithe so we felt that our time and talent was out sacrifice.
  As our finances began to get better, we continued in the music ministry but bid not make any change in our monetary contribution. It was then that the parish asked all of us to reexamine our donations and consider if we could afford more. My wife and I sat down and decided, even though we were comfortable with the amount we were living on, to try a much larger amount. It was trying at first, but amazing, as we tried to keep with our own decision of the commitment, God provided. Our income changed and increased, which allowed us to easily give what we had decided. And it seemed that our lives became a little better. We seemed to be in better shape spiritually, emotionally and financially.
  Coincidence? I think not. God's plan is always at work and we are following it. We may think we are changing our lives, our direction. But we are really only following what God had already planned for each of us, regardless of what we might think.
  This lent, make an effort to reevaluate your support of your local parish, both financially and physically. Can you give more? Some say we need to give until it hurts. Well, if you are not ready to go that far, can you give until it aches? Or maybe give until you feel on the verge of uncomfortable. Be daring. Put your faith in God and try stepping on the water. You just may be surprised at how Jesus holds your hand and helps you succeed.

Believe and Forgive

Reconciliation. It's the correct view of the Sacrament formerly known as confession, formerly known as penance. The church came to the understanding that penance and confession are only part of what the sacrament truly achieves for us. It heals our relationship with God and each other. To reconcile with God , we only need to seek forgiveness, for God always awaits us with open arms.
  Forgiveness with others is not as easy. Forgiveness and reconciliation have two sides. The side of the penitent person, and the side of the forgiver. For the penitent, there must be a true desire of forgiveness and a real understanding of having done wrong. Sometimes we realize we have hurt another, and we want to correct it, so we reach out,but the reality is that we can only be forgiven when the other party is ready to offer it. In my own experience, I have looked for forgiveness from others, and may not have received it. Even though I felt saddened and desired to rectify the situation, I could not force the forgiveness to be given. I turned to the only recourse left when one is not sure what to do next. I prayed. I prayed that someday, the wounds would be healed enough that the relationship would be healed as well.
   Sometimes when we seek reconciliation, prayer may be our only recourse. It is a way of seeking forgiveness from another by asking our Father to intervene. To melt hardened hearts. To rebuild burned bridges. Sometimes we need God because the healing is beyond our reach.
  Ask and it shall be given. If we ask for God's help, He always is ready to give it, for God is truly merciful, loving and nurturing. As any parent wold do whatever is needed to help their own child be relieved of stress and sadness, so to will our Father. Jesus taught this in his ministry. Those who had faith. Those who believed with all their heart that God would change their life if they asked, their lives were changed. They walked. They saw. They were saved.
  If we believe in our merciful God. If we believe that God can help our relationships. If we believe that God can heal and protect us. Then we have a greater power than anything else in this world. It never ceases to amaze me what the power of prayer and the power of God can do. Especially for those who believe in it.

Cut It Down and Get Rid of It?

Just throw it away! That's what I would think as a young boy when I saw bruised, discolored, old fruit. But my Father always had other ideas. He would cut the bruised or 'bad' potions of the fruit away and feast on what was left. My grandfather had been a fruit peddler, filling his cart in the morning and walking the streets selling his fruit. At days end, all that would be left was bruised and old fruit that no one wanted. My grandfather would cut away the not so good parts, and the rest his family would have so as not to waste anything. That's how my dad grew up and he never lost that view. That something good could be salvaged.
  Sunday's gospel contains one of the fig tree parables. In this particular one, the fig tree that produces no fruit is the chosen people, the owner of the garden is the Father and Jesus is the gardener. The owner notices the fig tree that has not produced fruit in three years despite being given the nutrition and care it needed to do so. Exasperated, the owner asks for it to be pulled from the ground and discarded. But the Gardner, Jesus, asks for more time as he Weill give it even more love and care in an effort to produce fruit. He then declare that , if at the end of the time no fruit is produced, then it can be discarded.
   Well for us the parable gives almost the same message. The only difference is that we are the fig tree. And our extra help from our Gardner is coming through the word of God, the sacraments of our church, and prayer. And Jesus is always offering us the support and guidance we need to be fruitful in our efforts to do the Father's work.
  This is a big task and a bit scary. What is we can't produce? What if we try and fail? Are we to be cut down and discarded at the time of judgement? These questions may cause to freeze us in our tracks. One might say, "I've done good work until now, why try and chance ruining that?" But here I believe in a God of mercy. I believe in a god that loves us so much that He would give His only Son a life of pain, suffering and death to help us. And I believe that in all of our works, when the judgement time comes, Jesus will cut away the bad and rotten parts and say to the Father, "I died on the cross for these." And then producing the good fruit He will show the Father all the good that came from our lives, an d the Father will show us His great love and mercy.