Daily Reflection: Thursday, May 24, 2007

Picture division within the Sanhedrin and among the Chief Priests over the issue of resurrection, angel and spirits. Pharisees accept Paul's particular preaching about resurrection, angels and spirits. The Sadducees? No way. The scene described in the daily readings for today remind me of the American political party scene of late. Paul was rescued from the melee by the soldiers. In a later dream, he is told by God to be strong for there is more witnessing to do in Rome. Then in the gospel story we encounter the well-know call of Jesus to the Father for the gift of unity among his followers --- unity with himself and the Father.

So, what graces can we gather from these words of Jesus? God loves us just as he loves the Son. In fact, Jesus says we are the Father's gift to the Son. Imagine how special we must be. But how real is my awareness of God's love for me? Did you think of that at all today in the rush-rush world that we live in?

Daily Reflection: Ascension Day

Let me begin with a few questions. Would you vote for a candidate who had run for office two or three times and only brought in about 10% of the vote? Would you buy a new car from a company with the largest number of recalls in the last several years? Would you consider a weight loss program being sold by a person carrying an extra 150 pounds? I suspect you understand the issue. There is a genuine credibility gap in the three situations.
The readings the Church offers us on this Ascension Day have a singular theme: it is power. But there is a little difference. It is a power that given to us if we believe in Jesus.
The first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we are told by Jesus that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will receive a certain power. Then we hear words from the great tentmaker, St. Paul, who is selling what amounts to an insurance policy: "as followers of Jesus Christ our inheritance will provide us "the surpassing power of his power." Finally, in the gospel we Jesus instructs the apostles and us that he is sending us the promise of the Father ... "until you are clothed with power." These three "sales" to us about power are made by Jesus and St. Paul.
But think for a minute: why would you buy from them? We have been promised power by a man who did not provide any instructions on how we should go about getting this power. And those who were most of his closest contacts and associates faced violent death just for believing in him. Might this not be something of a credibility gap?
Let’s put credibility aside for a moment. Let’s presume this Jesus is trustworthy. Let’s believe that we will receive his power even though we don’t know how. Although he set up no organization with a corporate structure, his presence on this earth of ours has changed the lives of many people for many generations. So it seems his power has existed for two millennia and we can presume that it will be with us too. But what is that power?
The famous English Cardinal, John Henry Newman, to discover the power that Jesus speaks about existing in many people we have to look were it is not expected to be found. This power of Jesus is not usually found in people a generation may single out as most useful nor those who make the most noise in the world. "On the whole, if we would trace the hand of God in human affairs we must unlearn our admiration of the powerful and distinguished and turn our eyes to private life. God’s elect, weak as they are, are mighty through God, they have an influence in the world and help to bring about great events, when the wisdom and strength of the natural human are of no avail."
So, this great philosopher of modern times turns us to private life. There he says we can discover and experience the power Jesus offers us. That private life for Newman is in the most private part of our lives: our family life. For example, suppose everyone in the family were to make a pledge to be kind to one another without any harsh words for just one day. At the end of the day, make an examination of conscience to evaluate how we feel.
Most likely you will discover the simple effort to be kind, to be nice, has had a genuine impact upon us, ourselves. We will experience a genuine peace that will bring with is true happiness. We might want to try extending the experiment.
What has happened, if we buy into this power sales of Jesus, if we model ourselves and how we live on this life this man is selling us, what has happened is that we realize Jesus does not give us power OVER others but rather power IN the lives of others that brings about effects that might easily be said to approach the wondrous.
Today and every time we celebrate the Eucharist we witness that power Jesus is selling us. The reality, the purpose of the Eucharist for us is to become sharers in that power. It is the gift that God’s son is trying to give to us. And the cost? Simply this: a willingness and an effort to live the life of the gospels.
I thank Fr. Wilfred Theisen, a Benedictine priest at St. John University, Collegeville, Minnesota, for his insights into the readings for the feast of the Ascension. Some of the words in this reflection are directly from his writings.
Sunday, May 20, 2007

CONGRATULATIONS!

After the celebration of First Communion and Confirmation, congratulations and thanks are in order for Mr. LeBlanc, Director of Music and Liturgy, as well as Mrs. Debbie McNally, our Director of Religious Studies. Their oversight and preparation of all things necessary for the events deserve our genuine thanks and admiration. Unfortunately their pictures are not in my files!!!

The parish has been blessed with their genuine care for a fine celebration of these two sacraments.

Daily Reflection: Saturday, May 19, 2007

In the lives of sports figures, exercise is a daily business. In the lives of those in the acting profession rehearsals are more frequent than glitzy parties. For those serious about their calling, time is given to perfect the acquired and innate skills required to attain success and good fortune. In the readings for today's liturgy, specifically the selection from the Acts of the Apostles, we learn something about an early Church figure, Apollo. Even though an "eloquent speaker" and "an authority on the Scriptures," he strengthened his skills through the assistance of two personal trainers, Priscilla and Aquila. These men explained to Apollo more accurately the Way of God. They worked with Paul in Corinth, pictured above.

In John's gospel Jesus continues his personal training of the disciples. "...whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." Furthermore he promises that what they ask for they will receive so that they might live in complete joy. This is Jesus, the personal prayer trainer, teaching how to pray, how to strengthen life with a unique joy, a sense that comes through daily spiritual exercises, especially prayer.

Jesus teaches that prayerful petition should be asking strength in doing the will of God. Remember, in the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples, he told them to pray to the Father that "thy will be done," and the He provide daily bread. Also he taught that we should pray for strength to overcome challenges put before us in temptations.

So .... if we wish to become what we are called to be, Christians, and if we wish to be good at our Christianity, prayer is what we need to strengthen.

Daily Reflection: Thursday, May 17 2007

After giving some thought to the first reading we might consider this remark by a scripture scholar to enlighten or evaluate our own thinking:

We should be aware, then, of the complex attitude of the New Testament toward the Jewish people, and how it has been misinterpreted and misusued. Nothing in the New Testament suggests that God has abandoned the Jews, or that they are no longer God's chosen people, or not part of God's plan for salvation. Whatever Paul's frustration with the religious politics of his time, the New Testament is full of stories of how God has accomplished his purpose through the Jewish people.

Sad Day at OLV

Yesterday we learned that Shimona McCoy, a second-grader at Our Lady of Victory School died rather suddenly. Surely Monday was a sad day for the students, faculty and staff at the school and parish offices.

Shimona leaves much grief to her mom and dad, her sister and surely in time to her recently new-born brothers.
The immediate cause of her death will not be determined until an autopsy is completed.
Plans for her funeral are incomplete at this time.
Shimona, we know and believe that the angels led you into paradise Saturday evening.

Daily Reflection: (very late) Monday, May 14, 2007

Again, for those who truly want to know how the early Church operated and strengthened itself, the Acts of the Apostles selection provides the first exposition of replacing one of the original Twelve.
Peter also demonstrates his leadership role in this reading. Peter tells those 120 persons who have assembled to discuss the successor to Judas that "it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken you from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection."
What scripture scholars have determined is that this particular election of a successor to the "guide for those who arrested Jesus" is that the Twelve, or the inner circle, was not the only circle that Jesus worked with in his ministry. Scholars again tell us there were some 70 such disciples in outer circles. As well we learn in this text that there were 120 assembled for this election.
What about the elected man? Who was he? Well, he is truly what any leader wants when it is necessary to replace someone. First of all, we only find the name Matthias provided to us by Luke in this part of the Acts of the Apostles. Nowhere in the gospels do we find his name mentioned.
He had given years of his life following Jesus, so it appears, He had learned Jesus’ teachings. Surely he had taken time to let the Word become internalized in his very being. Surely over the years as he traveled with Jesus and the other disciples he had learned from those whose lives had been touched by Jesus. Surely he had come to understand some of their difficulties, their pains, their losses. Without any doubt he had seen how the presence of Jesus and his teachings had changed the lives of many. But what is unknown to us is if Matthias had any particular talent(s). So, we have to assume that to have been elected (a) the assembly who voted must have seen in him a man who truly followed Jesus and (b) he must have done much to live the life Jesus called the disciples to follow.
Join me today in praying for a particular priest. Fr. Jeff Defayette, pastor of St. Matthias Parish, in Lanham, MD. Fr. Jeff was the first Associate Pastor assigned to collaborate with me at Mother Seton Parish. We pray for him and his parish on their patronal feast day.
Just in under the wire for the 14th.

Daily Reflection: Sunday, May 13, 2007

Today’s gospel reading as well as next Sunday’s and our own parish experience of Confirmation later this week are moments intended to encourage us in living with Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit. John’s words in the gospel are a recollection of Jesus’ giving comfort, encouragement and blessing to the disciples and us.
A story from a Jesuit priest who grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has helped me look at my relationship with the Holy Spirit. I hope you will find it a support in your life, on your faith journey.
Fr. Larry tells the story of the time he was with his younger brother in downtown Milwaukee. He wanted to send his six year old brother home, along, on one of the city’s buses – the one with the final stop directly across the street from their home.
Big brother Larry takes his younger brother Pat to a bus stop. Taking Pat onto the bus and paying his fare, Larry reminds him that the last stop on the bus is just across the street from their home. He assures him he will be fine, not to worry because the bus driver knows where he is going. Imagine a six-year old, probably his first solo bus ride, and the uncertainty and fear that must have been in his heart.
Once the journey began Pat went to the driver to make sure this was the bus going to 43rd street, the 43rd Street in Milwaukee. He asked the driver if he knew about a big white house across the street from the last stop. Every assurance that the driver offered Pat did not ease his uncertainty, his fear. Of course, Pat made it home safely. Brother Larry never revealed how safe it was for himself when he walked into the security of the big white house and confronted his parents!
In the gospel words today Jesus is telling his followers that we are on a journey of faith. We should not fear. We are on this journey with him and all will go well if we trust and believe in God. We are his passengers. We are not alone.
Actually we are like the big white house that Pat and Larry called home if we let God and the Holy Spirit into our hearts, if we believe that God cares for us. On our journeys how often do we ask, "Where are you leading me now, God?" Even believing often invites us to question what the drive of our bus tells us along the way.
Pat tried to believe the drive knew what he offered as assuring answers. But for Pat what he heard was only a temporary kind of peace. Nothing would be a complete assurance until Pat saw the family home and his being at home with Mom and Dad.
Jesus extends a genuine peace to us through the Holy Spirit. But we continue to live with worries and fears because we are fragile people. Our journeys are not always on streets we recognize. But we do find comfort because we know that those around us are traveling the same journeys.
Like our fellow-travelers on this journey of faith, we seek to know with certainty. We want the security of knowing. What Jesus is for us with the gift of the Holy Spirit is an invitation to trust, to believe.
Today, while we are remotely preparing for Pentecost Sunday in two weeks and our upcoming Confirmation for our young people, we cannot overlook what we celebrate today. God’s gift to us in the special women in our lives, our mothers, is very much a symbol of his care for us.

COMPUTER TROUBLES & Daily Reflection

Sorry that there was not a reflection posted earlier for the day. Once again there were computer "jamming" issues, which I believe are now resolved.

A brief thought from what I had prepared. The readings from the Acts of the Apostles continue to be important for us. Today's reading spoke of Paul spirit. He would never take no for an answer. Whenever he was confronted with difficulties in preaching the word of God, he would simply go to another place and plan a return trip to the rejecting city. When in the dumps, it might be good to do a little Pauline reading!

Thanks to El Greco for painting.

Daily Reflection: Friday, May 11, 2007

Today's first lectionary selection from Luke's Acts of the Apostles reads like a letter that anyone would not mind receiving from a superior or a committee trying to help resolve a problem or set a new direction. I encourage you to give this selection a slow read today.

So often we grouse about the length of time committees require for the consideration of a problem. So often we feel answers should be provided almost instantly. This attitude is strengthened by the wonderful invention: the computer. With it we know that we can travel anywhere in the world within 3 to 5 seconds. Delays of more than 2 or 3 seconds seem deadly.

But we can learn from the early Church that discernment usually requires something more than 5 seconds. I think of the wine producing process. "Instant wine" would taste just like grape juice!

So, too, with our spiritual lives and many of the important decisions we make: some reflective time is the best additive to the process. It is in those moments of quite that we can do what Jesus encouraged throughout the forty day he made to the disciples after his Resurrection: remain in me. Be a part of me just as branches remain in/on the vie. If we remain in him, we come to know how we best live the commandments, how we chose what is best for us. This is most helpful to us if we remain in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit because that relationship, that delving into who we really are enables us to participate more fully in our relationship to the Body of Christ, the Church. Living and loving in the Body of Christ enables us to produce the results the early Church discovered in its own discernment moments.

The Sisters of Notre Dame have provided the following prayer for discernment:

Walk with me, good and loving God, as I journey through life. May I take your hand and be led by your Holy Spirit. Fill me, inspire me, free me to respond generously to your call. For I believe you desire my deepest joy, and it is only in your company that my soul will be satisfied and my life will find its meaning and purpose. Amen.