Pastor's Notes
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Love
On this feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we celebrate a profound mystery that we will never fully understand while we are here on earth: three Divine Persons in one God. Every Mass, every sacramental rite we celebrate, begins with the Sign of the Cross.
From the Opening Greeting of the Mass, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!” to the Concluding Rites and Final Blessing wherein we invoke the intercession of the Holy Trinity, to bless and protect us as we are sent forth on our mission to evangelize. We bow our heads to receive the Final Blessing: “May Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Like bookends, these Trinitarian prayers, envelop our most treasured celebration of the Mass, surrounding the awesome mystery and profound love that is embodied by the Blessed Trinity throughout the Holy Mass.
Christ Himself gave us a small glimpse of the Trinitarian relationship. In John 14, He says, “If you know me, you know my Father too. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me... I shall ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, that Spirit of truth.” This is an exquisite interaction of love that exists within the Holy Trinity.
The concluding verses of St. Matthew’s Gospel give a dynamic, precise account that offers the clearest expression in the New Testament of the Triune relationship. Jesus directs the eleven disciples to convene on a mountain in Galilee, then tells them: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
I like to use the outline of a heart to describe the relationship of love that exists within the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Starting at the upper mid-point of the image, and gently arching upward before continuing downward to the lowest mid-point, the love emanates from the Father, forming one side of a heart as He sends His Son to be our Redeemer. Now reversing direction and forming a mirror image of the side just completed, flowing upward and arching back to the Father, Jesus asks His Father to send another Advocate, the Spirit, to guide and lead us back to the Father, thus completing the image of the heart.
Many times in the past we have encouraged you to sign up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration; today we want to make it even easier for you. Parishioners will be available in the vestibule after all Masses today to help you sign up for an hour of Adoration. Again I urge all to answer Christ’s plea to each of us: “Could you not spend one hour with me?”
Next weekend, the feast of Corpus Christi, we will have the official opening weekend of Parish participation in the Eucharistic Revival Movement. As you gaze at the Most Holy Eucharist, remember that this is the Sustenance that Christ gave to us. This is our FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY.
Pope Francis encourages all of us to be joyful evangelists. “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day...no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.” On this feast of the Holy Trinity, let’s renew our own efforts to be joyful evangelizers and heed the words of St. Francis: “Always preach the gospel ... use words if necessary.”
Father Storey
Sights and Sounds of Pentecost
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”These were the sights and sounds of Pentecost as related by St. Luke in the beginning of Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles, our First Reading today. Just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told His followers not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. He reminded them that John baptized with water, but soon they were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
On the tenth day after His Ascension, the disciples along with the Blessed Mother gathered at a house in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost, also known as Shavuot. This was a pilgrimage feast, a tradition in which Jews from other parts of the world would come to Jerusalem.to thank God for the year’s harvest.
Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection, is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise; it is the birthday of the Church. John in his Gospel for today relates how Jesus, even though the doors were locked, entered the room where the disciples had gathered. Twice Jesus delivered His message: Peace be with you. Then He instructed the disciples: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
Our ResponseWhat do we do in response? An in depth look into Eucharistic Prayer II reveals the words of the celebrant as he calls on the Father, “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness, Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reread these words and reflect on ways to draw closer to Jesus in the Eucharist. Consider spending one hour a week in the awesome presence of Jesus in our Adoration Chapel.
Answer His invitation, could you not spend one hour with me?
Together let us revel in the celebration of our Church’s birthday. May God bless us all!
Father Storey
Love and PeaceFr. Storey
Periodically, we describe the Church’s Liturgical Year as a symphony – a Symphony of Love in C Major. We are nearing the end of the Fourth Movement of that symphony, one that embraces the days of the Easter Season including the surging emotions of the Feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost, Feasts of the Holy Trinity and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
During this time, instead of Readings from the Old Testament and Epistles from the New Testament, we often hear Readings from the Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, and from the Book of Revelations authored by the beloved disciple, John.
In these Readings and Gospels, we see many facets of Jesus: Comforter, Advocate, Mentor, Teacher, Leader, Master, Shepherd and Friend. Had Jesus decided to write a book, what kind would it be? Self-help? Autobiographical? No matter what genre it would resemble, its title may have to be “Love and Peace.”
Last week we talked about three distinct types of love that are used in the New Testament: storge, philia and agape. Philia describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships; philia encompasses love for fellow humans, care, respect, and compassion for people in need. Jesus said philia would be an identifier of His followers: “By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.
Today’s Gospel is almost like paraphrasing an excerpt from Christ’s book Jesus teaches His disciples in easy to recall sayings. He tells them: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
These words of truth are so central to all of Jesus’ teaching that they deserve to be repeated. Jesus’ command to His disciples is to allow God to dwell with them by imitating the pattern of divine love: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
Jesus, not wanting His disciples to feel abandoned, told them “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Jesus continues: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Peace is the counterpart of love. Peace comes with love of God, love of family and love of oneself. When we greet each other at the Sign of Peace during Mass, let us reflect deeply and realize that we are quoting Christ’s own words: “Peace be with you!”
Where can we get a copy of Jesus’ masterpiece? You probably already have one in your own home, the Bible. The Bible is the first book ever printed on the Gutenberg Press. It’s the original self-help book; it’s a biography of Jesus. It could be your “go to” book for daily reading.
Our Three MothersFor just over a century now, we have been celebrating Mother’s Day. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared that we should observe Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. Since then we have never failed, as a nation, to honor our mothers both living and deceased.
This is an excellent day to reflect on the three Mothers in our lives: Mary, the Mother of God; our Holy Mother Church; and, of course, the mothers with whom God has gifted our lives.
For over 700 years, the Catholic Church has had the custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is the model for all mothers; she is also the model for the Church. At times you will hear people refer to the Church as “Holy Mother Church,” a most appropriate title because what Mary did for Jesus, the Church does for us.
Mary, like all mothers, carried her Baby in her womb, gave birth from her body, nourished Him, taught Him the customs of the Jewish faith, and taught Him about life. When Jesus began His public ministry, Mary was there as His faithful disciple. She was with Jesus and His disciples who had been invited to a wedding in Cana in Galilee. She witnessed His first miracle there in Cana.
She stood at the foot of the cross and watched her Son give over His body for our sins and for our forgiveness. She heard the words spoken by Jesus,
“Woman, behold, your son.”
Then He addressed His beloved disciple,
“Behold, your mother” (John 19:26-27). As John states in the next verse, “From that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”
Not only did Jesus give Mary, His mother, to the beloved disciple, John, but He also gave her to us, His Church.
The early Church Fathers spoke of the baptismal font as the womb of the Church. In that font, the Church conceived and gave birth to us, the children of God, and brothers and sisters of one another in God’s family on this earth. The Church then nourishes us with the Word of God and the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and teaches us how to love one another as He has loved us.
Mother’s Day dates back to the early 1900s. Our Catholic Mother’s Day dates back to the very beginning of our faith when Mary conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
May God bless our mothers, both living and deceased, this day! May He keep each of you in His care. May you cherish the great vocation to which each of you has been called, and your importance not only to your children, but to the entire Church.Father Storey
Triduum, An Exquisite Gift of Love
Jesus Christ broke the bonds of death! He is risen from the dead!
The summit of our Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum. The Triduum, chronologically three days, is liturgically one day, unfolding the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. It begins the evening of Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and continues through the evening of Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, Jesus offered the ultimate gift of love, the sacrifice of Himself through His suffering and death on the cross. Holy Saturday – a day of supreme quiet, a great silence in our liturgy – Jesus was in the tomb. We wait at the tomb in peaceful expectation of a brilliant future.
At the Easter Vigil, we celebrate the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord. We break the great silence, going from darkness into the Light of Christ. We punctuate our songs and prayers with Alleluias; we rejoice in the Risen Lord. It is symbolic, that after a six weeks absence from our liturgy, the words, first voiced by a chorus of angels at Christmas over 2000 years ago, are once again sung at Easter: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Glory to God in the highest. Masses on Easter Sunday continue the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection.
The Holy Feast Days of Easter and Christmas are complementary of one another. We cannot focus on one without recalling the other. One is not complete without the other. We are the recipients of the Greatest Gift that God could give – His only Son.
From His first cry in the manger in Bethlehem to His last cry on the cross of Calvary, He has given us the Gift of His undying love.
I want to extend a warm welcome to all our parishioners, their families and guests, as we celebrate this Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Christ came to live, to die and now He comes to rise for each of us – making our lives so very blessed and so very important. We were once dead, and now we live because JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY RISEN TODAY!
Alleluia! Alleluia!Father Storey
He Left Us a Legacy of LoveAs we begin this most sacred week in the Church’s liturgical year, I don’t think we can limit ourselves to just one or two four letter guide words. I firmly believe that we must incorporate all of them. We are overwhelmed when we reflect on all that God has done for us. HE LEFT US A LEGACY OF LOVE. Holy Week begins with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem amid the waving of branches on Palm Sunday, and reaches a climax in the three days that we call the Triduum. In Jewish liturgical designation, celebrations begin at sundown of the preceding day; hence Triduum starts on Holy Thursday evening and continues up to sundown on Easter Sunday. These days are truly the great, holy days of our faith.
These past few weeks of Lent have been a most fitting prelude to Holy Week. In the Gospels we heard of the woman at the well, whom Jesus asks for a drink of water. He offers her the cleansing waters of salvation. Jesus tells the man born blind to wash at the waters of Siloam; then the man could see (believe). Jesus wept when He learned of the death of His good friend Lazarus; in love, He reached out, and brought him back to life. Christ heals us and makes us clean. These events, and much more, will be reflected and intensified in the Triduum.
Today’s liturgy begins to unfold a series of events that God the Father planned, and that He guided by means of the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish our salvation. In the center of this divine drama stands, not an actor, but the Eternal Son of God. He is Jesus, the Savior. He is the Christ, the one anointed by God to be the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world.
The week which is unfolding was once called the “Great Week,” but now usually “Holy Week.” On Thursday evening, already Friday in the Jewish tradition, “Jesus realized that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had loved his own in this world, and would show his love for them to the end” (John 13:1). The Greek word used by St. John for “end” means not only “until the termination of his life” but also “to the fullest extent.” Actually Jesus would show the fullest love by sacrificing His life for us.
On that awe-inspiring night of the Last Supper, Jesus was thinking of His final act of love while on this earth: His death on the cross. So that His followers might be able to share in His sacrifice throughout all ages, He instituted the Sacrament of His Paschal Mystery, His death and Resurrection. At His supper “under the appearances of bread and wine, Jesus offered his body and blood, gave them to his apostles to eat and drink and then commanded them to carry on this mystery” (Roman Missal, 55).
On Friday afternoon, Jesus offered the sacrifice of Himself which He had instituted as a Sacrament on the previous night. On Saturday, the second day of the Triduum, Jesus was in the tomb. It is the day of supreme quiet, the great silence of the liturgy. The liturgy invites us to remain at the tomb of Jesus, in peaceful expectation of a brilliant future.
On Easter Sunday Jesus broke the bonds of death. By dying He destroyed our death, and by rising He restored our life. Now in the Eucharistic celebration His Resurrection cannot be separated from His Death; we witness once again, “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.”
He truly left us a legacy of exquisite love. May this week be holy for all of us.Father Storey
Seek the Light
Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, we adopt another four-letter-word, SEEK, to guide us in our journey. We seek the light of Christ. We seek the clarity provided by Jesus, and like the blind man in the Gospel, we can use this light to answer our questions as to just who this Man that Jesus refers to really is – the Son of Man.
The Fourth Sunday in Lent is known as Laetare Sunday. The name comes from the first word in the traditional Latin form of its Entrance Antiphon and means rejoice. We want to rejoice because we are just past the mid-point of Lent. The priest uses rose colored vestments, just as he does on Gaudete Sunday in Advent. Rose is a softening of violet, the liturgical color normally used during Lent and Advent. It is a foretaste of good things to come, and it anticipates the pure white that will be used at Easter.
There is so much depth in our Second Reading; St. Paul tells the Ephesians the value of seeking holiness in the Light of Christ: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth… learn what is pleasing to the Lord ... Christ will give you light.” We desire this light; we need this light. Just as lights guide us along our travels, and a warm light awaits us at home after a trip somewhere, we anticipate this light; we embrace this light. In John 8:12 we read, “Jesus said: ‘I am the light of the world; whoever believes in me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.’”
Recall that John, the beloved disciple, wrote his Gospel to convince people, the Jews in particular, that Jesus is our Savior and the Son of God. John emphasizes believing in Jesus. He uses the verb form “believe” 98 times throughout his Gospel.
Today’s Gospel (John 9: 1-41) starts with Jesus explaining to His disciples why He is about to heal the man who was blind since birth: that the works of God might be made visible. We hear Jesus repeat His assertion from Chapter 8, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9: 5). Though we usually use only the short form of this Gospel during a Sunday Liturgy, it is well worth your time to read it in its entirety. John develops a compelling story contrasting the attitudes of the Pharisees with that of the blind man.
The narrative unfolds in multiple scenes. Jesus cures the man born blind; then the Pharisees investigate the healing. Initially they ask the man how he was cured. Not satisfied with his responses, they seek confirmation from his parents. Then the Pharisees interrogate the man a second time, and they expel him from the synagogue. In the final verses, Jesus affirms Who He truly is. When the man who had been cured of his blindness asks Jesus, “Who is he (the Son of Man) that I may believe in him?” Jesus responded: “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”
Faith blossomed in the blind man when his eyes were truly opened. The man progressed from seeing the Man named Jesus to full insight into Him as One in Whom God is fully present. Contrast that with the Pharisees who obstinately refuse to allow an encounter with Jesus to reveal anything. The Pharisees opt to remain in the darkness.
Seek Jesus in the Light. Seek holiness in the Light. Embrace His Light.Opportunities for Sacrament of Reconciliation
Especially in these last weeks of Lent, let us work to dispel our personal darkness. Let us admit our shortcomings and sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. We have many opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) here at Curé of Ars: Saturdays 2:30 – 3:30 pm, (First Saturday of the month includes Holy Hour) Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Our Lenten Penance Service will be Sunday, March 26, at 3:00 pm. Times for other Lenten Penance Services throughout the Johnson County Region can be found on here.
Father Storey
Read
On this Third Sunday of Lent, I want to explore a word that can be found in our first list of four-letter-words, published on February 19, that we have chosen to guide us on our Lenten journey: read. Today’s Gospel, John 4:5 - 42, describes an encounter and ensuing dialogue between Jesus and an unnamed woman from Samaria. The whole reading is rarely used because it is so long, but I urge you to take the time to read the full version in order to appreciate some of the nuances in the exchange that takes place between them as Jesus helps the Samaritan woman begin on her journey of faith.
The time is stated clearly as being noon – the brightest point of the day. John’s Gospel is highly symbolic, but this encounter is not about clock time. Rather it is about coming into the full light of faith in Jesus Christ, and also following His example of looking for the good in others.
Jesus saw the woman at the well who had had five husbands, and He knew she was not married to the man she currently was with. Jesus did not turn away from her, but seeing the good in her, He talked with her and gave her many insights. Jesus made two requests of the woman: “Give me a drink” and “Go, call your husband.” She objected to the first request because she knew that Jews would not accept anything that had been in the possession of a Samaritan. She challenged Jesus, “How can you, a Jew, ask me a Samaritan, for a drink?”
Jesus then offers to give her living water. She mulls over several objections to His request, but finally she asks Him, “Sir, give me this water that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” When Jesus issued the request for her to call her husband and come back, she could only respond that she had no husband.
She returned to town and related to the people how Jesus knew everything about her, and that she believed He was the Christ. Because of her testimony, many townsfolk came out to see and hear Jesus. Then they progressed to believing on their own. Thus their journey of faith continued. The woman’s faith journey began as a water carrier, and then she became a proclaimer of Good News. What can this tell us about our own faith journey?
For more reading, I highly recommend the March 3 issue of The Leaven. Look on page 6 for an inspirational article by the editor of Our Sunday Visitor, Father Patrick Briscoe, OP. He introduces us to Aldi’s “aisle of shame,” a name for the area containing the best bargain prices in the store, as related to him by his relatives. Once we have our shopping cart oriented in the right direction, he gives us some very uplifting Lenten advice.
A “must” read every week for me is a short article usually found on page 14 that is a summarization of Pope Francis’ Wednesday general audience. This week he urges working with the Holy Spirit in order to avoid ideological divisions within the Church. A few weeks ago, Pope Francis encouraged us to evangelize with joy and love – not guilt. I think he would heartily endorse the evangelization style of the Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel.Father Storey
A New VisionAs we continue on our Lenten journey guided by our four-letter-words that we have compiled into our lists, we sometimes find ourselves needing to expand the letter counts. Today is a perfect example of that as we opt for a couple of six-letter words. Today we want to emphasize vision and listen.
Father Storey
Throughout the Lenten Season, we focus on three key components: Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Fasting has traditionally been understood to be a way of moving more deeply into prayer and preparing oneself for significant life transitions. We saw in last week’s Gospel how the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to fast and pray, and we learned that we can rely on God alone for nourishment, protection, and safety.
Perhaps we can apply these lessons learned to our own lives, and utilize them as we prepare ourselves to make a significant transition from this life to the next.
In Scripture, mountains often are places of divine revelation. The last few weeks just before Lent began we learned much from the Sermon on the Mount. Now today’s Gospel takes place on another mountain.
In the First Reading, the Lord God tells Abram (his name was changed to Abraham in Gen, Chap. 17) to leave his homeland to become the leader of a great nation. Abram obeys the difficult life-changing command because he loves God and has faith in him. Especially during Lent, we are encouraged to change our life styles, to perform acts of self-denial: fasting, abstaining from eating meat on Fridays, extra prayers, and almsgiving in order to draw ourselves closer to the suffering of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Saint Paul, writing to his young disciple, Timothy, tells him to use the strength that comes from God to bear his share of hardship for the Gospel: “He saved us and called us to a holy life …” Paul assures Timothy that God provides whatever is necessary to live in holiness and fidelity to God’s Word.
A theophany is a mysterious, divine appearance that includes a revelation. In the Gospel, we witness an awesome revelation that shows Jesus’ hidden identity both through His transfigured appearance and through God’s words to the disciples: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Jesus had led Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them. He was then seen in the company of Moses and Elijah. The inclusion of these two holy men was essential to Matthew’s narrative which was directed toward his audience of Christian Jews, as it shows the continuity of the Jewish tradition. Both Moses (in Exodus 24) and Elijah (1 Kings 19) had ascended a mountain to witness a theophany in which God spoke to them.
Let us continue our prayers and fasting in emulation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we prepare for our transition to the next life. May the Transfiguration bring light to our darkest days and may we open our hearts and minds to really listen to His Divine Son.
Add Walk to Lenten GuideOn this First Sunday of Lent, I want to add another four-letter-word to my list of Guide Words for Lent. That word is walk – walk in holiness.
We find ourselves progressing on another Lenten journey, in search of saintliness and holiness. We know from past experience that this can be a long six weeks journey, wrought with trials and temptations. Remember how we concluded last week’s Pastor’s Notes? It may help us to recall that a three-day trip begins with one day; a week-long trip begins with one day. Our forty days’ journey through Lent begins with one day. Take each day – one at a time – and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit make it a day of holiness, a day of saintliness.
Throughout his letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes as a Jew who knows the tradition well, including the account of the fall of Adam and Eve as presented in today’s First Reading. In the Second Reading, he attests that sin entered the world through one man – and relates the consequences thereof. Paul presumes his audience knows both the story of Adam’s sin and that of Christ’s saving death on the cross. Paul unfolds the meaning of this extraordinary manifestation of God’s love even for sinners.
We know that we should seek forgiveness through the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation, but for way too many of us, we just do not. We create our own roadblocks; we let our pride get in the way. There are three ways to seek and receive forgiveness. The first two come to mind immediately: ask God to forgive us, and ask the forgiveness of others. The third might not be quite so obvious – we must be willing to forgive ourselves. Sometimes seeking forgiveness can be very difficult, but we must remember we are not alone. We must set aside our pride, and place our trust in God.
Today’s Gospel relates how the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus withstood three different temptations by the devil. Then angels of God came and ministered to him. Jesus was not alone.
As we navigate the path of our personal Lenten journey into the desert, we can find ourselves fearful and anxious. We might ask ourselves, “How am I going to handle all these obstacles?” It’s OK to have fears, struggles and anxiety. Just remember you don’t have to face them alone. I like to remember the words to a song by Rogers and Hammerstein featured in the musical “Carousel.”
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm is a golden sky...
Walk in holiness! Ask the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to accompany you and guide you on this journey.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Let the Holy Spirit lift your burdens and ease your anxiety and fears:
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone.
Father Storey
A Four Letter Words Guide to Lent
Over the past few weeks, we have been examining St. Matthew’s account of Our Lord Jesus Christ teaching His disciples how to find true happiness in God, and how to be good, faithful followers of Himself, valuing actions over words.
Today we have only three days left before Lent begins on February 22, Ash Wednesday. I would like to share with you my Four-Letter-Words Guide to celebrating Lent. Many of these will be very familiar to you, others not as much so; but you will have an opportunity to customize the list and make it your own.
High on my list are three familiar words: pray, fast and give alms. Also prominent in the guide are love, acts (of kindness), read (an inspirational book), hope, and care. Obviously, this list is not complete. It is
To be continued
by you. I want each of you to customize your own list. Make it personal. Choose at least six words – one for every week of Lent. Make it be something that you want to concentrate on during Lent, something that will help you draw closer to Our Lord Jesus. Write this list on a piece of paper. Fold this paper and put it in your pocket. Carry it with you throughout Lent. Add to it whenever you want to.Father Storey
First on my list is love, a special type of love known as agape, an unconditional love.
St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians describes the effect of great spiritual gifts – speaking in angelic tongues, prophesying, almsgiving – but without love, as nothing. He tells us eight things that love is: patient, kind, rejoices in truth, never fails, etc. He also relates what love is not: jealous, pompous, inflated, rude, etc. St. Paul concludes, “So faith, hope and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Look closely at a Crucifix. We have there, without a doubt, the greatest example of pure, unconditional love that could ever be. Christ’s love for us IS kind, patient; it hears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It never fails. This is the kind of love that we should always strive for, not only throughout these forty days, but throughout all our lives.
A three-day trip begins with one day; a week-long trip begins with one day. Our forty days journey through Lent begins with one day. Take each day – one at a time – and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit make it the best day that you can. Have faith, pray a little, hope a little, and love a lot. “For the greatest of these is love.”
Ash Wednesday Mass Times
February 22, 2023 - 6:30am / 8:15am / 12:10pm / 6:00pm
A New Interpretation of the Law
A quick glance at the calendar reminds us that we are only two days away from February 14, Valentine’s Day, a day symbolic of love. Pope Francis at his general audience at the end of January conveyed a message of love. He admonished his listeners not to put pressure on others in order to convert them or make them feel guilty. Rather, he encouraged them to follow the example of Jesus, and be joyful in sharing the Gospel. Pope Francis said, “The faith is a stupendous love story to be shared.”
Jesus is sharing His own love story in today’s Gospel. In St. Matthew’s Gospel we continue exploring the Sermon on the Mount. When Jesus saw the crowds gathering, He started up the side of a mountain and His disciples followed. Hence the name “Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus begins by giving them a blue-print for happiness: the Beatitudes. This is how they can find true happiness in God by living in a righteous manner. Then Jesus goes on to tell them that if they choose not to live in His way, they are of no use to Him. “If salt loses its taste ... it is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
We recall that Matthew’s intended audience in his Gospel was the community of Jewish converts to faith in Christ; consequently Jesus’ relation to the Law of Moses and the prophets was of great concern to them. Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus telling the disciples, “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (the law or the prophets). True to Jewish tradition, which emphasizes the importance of action over words, Jesus goes on to tell the disciples, “Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Today’s Gospel is very long if read in full; however we can summarize by looking at a major principle that prevails throughout the selection. Matthew demonstrates how Jesus’ teachings evolve into a new, better interpretation of the Law.Jesus does not obliterate the Law; rather He brings it to its fullest development and adds some actions to enhance it. A few examples of the old embellished by the new:
“...If your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.”
The last few lines of today’s Gospel explain how a disciple should be honest and trustworthy, not needing to take an oath. “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, do not take a false oath, but I say to you, do not swear at all ... Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
We, too, can find our roadmap to happiness by following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. Let us joyfully share this stupendous love story with all we encounter, and let us make our actions speak louder than words, and make our “Yes” mean “Yes.”
Father StoreyNew Pastoral Associate - Deacon Phillip Nguyen
Deacon Phillip Nguyen has officially joined our Curé of Ars Parish Staff. We are excited to have him be a part of the team as the Pastoral Associate. He will be assisting our priests in any way he can, especially with funerals, baptisms, and visiting the sick and homebound. He will also be available to visit with anyone needing counsel in the parish as he will be holding regular office hours. If you would like to set up a time to speak with Deacon Phillip, you can reach him at phillipnguyen@cureofars.com or 913.521.9370.
Living as His DisciplesIn the last five weeks before Lent, the Third through the Seventh Sundays in Ordinary Time, we find ourselves immersed in St. Matthew’s Gospel account of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching the disciples what it means to be His followers. This is somewhat akin to a disciples’ “In Service” day, or some “on the job training” for them. Jesus is not speaking to the crowds here; in fact, He is avoiding them. When Jesus saw many people beginning to gather, He started up the mountain, and His disciples followed after. Hence the name the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus begins by giving them a blue-print for happiness: the Beatitudes. This is how they can find true happiness in God by living in a righteous manner: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven!”
“You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world” begins the Gospel for today, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), (Matt 5:13-16). In this passage, Christ makes use of metaphors to teach. He specifically addresses His disciples, asking for not just words, but actions.
Today’s text immediately follows the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes called Jesus’ disciples to act according to His view of righteousness. To hear Jesus’ teaching and fail to act upon it is worthless, like salt that has lost its flavor. Salt was used both to season and to preserve food. In Judaism salt could become unclean and therefore useless and had to be discarded. Matthew implies that followers who have heard Jesus’ way of living but fail to walk in that path are useless as His disciples.
The second metaphor “You are the light of the world,” recalls Isaiah’s message in Reading I. The prophesies in the closing chapters of Isaiah (56 – 66) include words of hope and comfort to God’s people toward the end of their long captivity in Babylonia, and present an opportunity for a new beginning. They are reminded of their lapses that led to their downfall, and receive exhortations to adhere to a more faithful fulfillment of their covenant promises. In Isaiah’s prophesy, what truly fulfills the Lord’s call and command is concrete action on behalf of the needy, the poor and the oppressed.
St. Francis of Assisi had another way of stating this principle: “Preach always; use words if you must.” To be effective, words must always be accompanied by deeds; good actions must always spring from proper intentions; and righteous acts are not done to exalt the one who performs them, but to “glorify your heavenly Father.”
The metaphorical images used in this Gospel are certainly ones to which we can relate. We all recognize the importance of salt to our everyday lives. We, too, use it for flavoring, for a preservative, to treat slick roads in winter. During a power outage, we are plunged into darkness. What is the first thing we do? We reach for a light source. There is comfort in dispelling the darkness. But do we hoard that light source? No, we must share it. We don’t hide it; we must put it in a location where all in the house can benefit from its light. Jesus speaks to us, as well as the disciples, in His teaching. Our actions and deeds also must be for the honor and glory of God.
“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”Father Storey
Welcome, Flomo
When I first started writing this edition of Pastor’s Notes I was interrupted before I had even completed the title. This interruption lasted much longer than expected. When I finally was able to return to my writing, I could not recall what I was trying to say in the title. I will have to rely on our bulletin editor to make sense out of it.
There is an intriguing connection among the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. We find the Lord depicted as a light, one who dispels darkness, one who heals rifts and divisions and brings people together in unity.
St. Paul wrote his first letter to the faithful in Corinth after hearing about the difficulties and rivalries that existed among the members of that community. He denounced the factions that claimed they belonged to Paul, to Apollos or to Peter, all disciples who had preached there. (“Cephas” is the Aramaic term for “rock.”) Paul urged all to be united in mind and purpose: to belong only to our Lord Jesus Christ.
The evangelist St. Matthew was most likely a Jewish convert to faith in Jesus. He wrote his Gospel approximately 50 years after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. He wrote to address some of the issues and questions faced by both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) of his day. Many Jews felt that Gentiles were excluded from God’s offer of salvation. Matthew’s message is one of inclusion. Throughout his Gospel, Matthew portrays Jesus as the one who fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures bringing them to their fullest development: Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the true King of Israel, who also brings salvation to Gentile believers.
Today’s Gospel is a good illustration of Matthew’s message. Jesus is beginning His public ministry. He is living in Capernaum, west of the Jordan near the sea of Galilee, known as the District of the Gentiles. Matthew tells us that Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that we hear in Reading I. Jesus preached first to Gentiles, telling them: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Then, in the second part of the Gospel, Jesus reached out to some of His Jewish neighbors in Capernaum. We witness Jesus inviting the first of His disciples to become followers. Two sets of brothers, Simon and Andrew; James and John, sons of Zebedee, were engaged in their profession of making a living from the sea. All four were beckoned by Jesus to learn a new vocation, that of “fishers of men.” Without hesitation, each set of brothers left behind their nets and a familiar life, a “comfort zone” if you will, in order to become disciples of Christ.
I think I am beginning to recall what I had in mind when I first started writing.
Did these disciples have any idea what lay ahead for them, or for Jesus? Probably not! Yet with full faith and trust in Jesus, they became His devoted followers. Jesus is “fishing” for all people. He places no restrictions as to race, gender or any other classification. He wants all of us to follow Him. Jesus is calling each and every one of us.
We must be open to His call. We must listen with our hearts and our minds. We can rearrange a few things in our lives, like letters in our title, and hear His message so clearly: Come, Follow Me!Father Storey
This Is My Beloved SonWe most fittingly begin every new year with a liturgy honoring Mary, the Mother of God. We renew ourselves, model ourselves after Mary, who said “yes” to God, who gave herself completely to God.
Last week we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, the second part of the fourfold revelation of the Son of God to all peoples. The three Wise Men followed a star on their very difficult journey, encountering many trials. But they persevered, remained focused, and they were rewarded. They entered Bethlehem to find our Savior, Jesus Christ, cradled in the arms of His mother, Mary.
Usually we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday after the Epiphany. With Christmas and the Feast of Mary Mother of God falling on Sunday this year, we lose that Sunday. The celebration of the Baptism of the Lord is moved to January 9.
In the Gospel for today, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we find a narrative of the baptism of the Lord in John 1:29-34.John the Baptist, when he sees Jesus walking toward him, announces, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world... I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John tells us that Jesus will give us the saving waters: “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew, in the Gospel used on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, tells us more about the same event: “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matt. 3:16-17). We Christians find our Savior by entering the water of Baptism. Christ calls us to the water. He goes into the water before us to lead us, to guide us, to reveal the image of God His Father.
He is still with us. Today we begin the Second Movement of our Symphony of Love in C Major that we like to use to describe our Liturgical Year, as we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time includes all the time outside the two major events in the life of Christ and their associated periods of preparation: Christmas and Advent, and Easter and Lent.
The word “ordinary” comes from the Latin ordo meaning list. Thus the Sundays in Ordinary Time are a list of Sundays numbered frim one through 33. Not all numbers are used every year, but the last Sunday in Ordinary Time will always be 33.
As we witness this third part of the fourfold manifestation, let us open our hearts to God’s message: “This Is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Father Storey
A Plea for Prayers from Pope Francis
With an extremely early deadline for the Jan 8 bulletin, it is very difficult to include anything timely, but I would be remiss if I didn’t include the following as the news broke while I was writing today. Please join me in prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
At the conclusion of his General Audience on Wednesday, December 28, Pope Francis urged the faithful to say “a special prayer” for his 95-year-old predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The Holy See Press Office director confirms there has been an aggravation in his health condition due to advancing age but says the situation remains stable. Pope Francis urges us to pray for the Pope Emeritus who in silence is supporting the Church. Pope Francis said, “Remember him – he is very ill – asking the Lord to console him, and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end.”
In the great Solemnity of Christmas and the ensuing Christmas Season, we hear the good news that God is truly here among us. Through the Person of His beloved Son, He comes close to us. He has become part of our human family and entered the world which He entrusts to humanity. We celebrate in thanksgiving the God Who created us, Who loves us, the God Who is wanting to show His face. He reveals to us that He is truly the Messiah, the one coming to save.
The Evangelist Matthew was writing for a Jewish-Christian audience and weaves their Scriptures, symbols and allusions to their ancestors into his Gospel. He gives their Hebrew texts new meaning, showing fulfillment in unforeseen ways in light of Jesus the Messiah.
We celebrate a fourfold manifestation of Jesus Christ that begins with the announcement to the shepherds of the birth of the Infant Jesus, and continues with the Epiphany wherein God shows Himself to the world through the eyes of the Wise Men. The three Wise Men embarked on a Christian journey, totally on faith – their only guide, a star. They had to have days of doubt, of frustration, sickness. Days of just wanting to turn away from this journey to which they had been called. Especially when the star grew dim and disappeared from their sight. But they persevered, and they were rewarded.
We read in Matthew’s Gospel, “After their audience with the king (Herod) they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Matt. 2:9-11). This overwhelming joy which embraced the Wise Men can be ours! Like the Wise Men we must persevere in our pursuit of God, not become disheartened. The joy of the Gospel will fill the hearts and lives of all who truly encounter Jesus.
The Baptism of the Lord is the third part of the manifestation. The fourth manifestation takes place at the celebration of the marriage at Cana. Jesus, through His miraculous changing of the water into wine, reveals that He truly is God. We will hear about these final two parts of the manifestations in the weeks to come.
Wishing you all the blessings and joys of this holy season. May your families be safe in their travels and your time together be a true blessing. May the Light of the Infant Jesus shine through our lives and manifest itself to all we encounter.
Father Storey
Mary, Mother of GodWith joy, we celebrate this feast day of our Blessed Mother. Usually, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday between the feasts of the Nativity and Mary Mother of God; however since both feasts are on a Sunday this year, the celebration of The Holy Family is moved to December 30. Today we will continue our reflection begun last week: What shall we call Him?
Today’s Gospel is a repetition of the one used in the Mass of the Nativity at dawn, with the addition of the verse that announces the naming of Jesus:
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
JESUS! The name comes from Hebrew roots and means “The Lord is salvation.” Jesus is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people.”
The wonder of Christmas is to acknowledge with the eyes of faith that the baby born in Bethlehem is the eternal Son of God. He has united Himself in some fashion with every human person. He worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted by human choice, and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin. He showed us the way, and if we follow it, life and earth are made holy and take on new meaning” (Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (22)).
Each and every human life is holy because it is the creation of God, but it has taken on a deeper sacredness because Jesus Christ lives our human life. We apply this truth of the Incarnation when, with the mind of God, we honor family life, and when we respect, defend and foster human life in all its forms from conception to death.
Since January 1, the Solemn Feast of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, falls on Sunday this year, we will follow our usual weekend Mass schedule.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
Father Storey