Pastor's Notes

Deacon's Reflection

Growing in True Wealth

September 22, 2019

                We all naturally value financial security. We tend to get anxious when we think of not being able to have the means to buy the house we think we need, send our kids to the college they desire to go to, or to retire comfortably. Jesus gives us another parable this week to reflect on, this one involves our preparedness. In the parable of the dishonest steward, the master has discovered his steward has been cheating him and tells him to pack up and leave. The steward makes a last-minute effort to try and secure his financial future by reducing the amount his master’s debtors owe. Although cheated by the debt reduction, the master commends the dishonest steward, not for his dishonesty, but for his shrewdness in preparing for his future.

                The key to understanding the message for us is Jesus’ words: “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” As Christians, followers of Jesus, we are the children of light. Jesus is calling us to be prudent in our preparedness for eternal life. We make great efforts to grow in our temporal welfare – but are we making the same kind of efforts (or greater) to grow in holiness, our spiritual welfare? Are we striving to grow in true wealth as Jesus called it? True wealth is the grace we receive in the sacraments. True wealth is our personal relationship with Jesus.

    We can examine our efforts in this regard in terms of the priority of our time. Are we prioritizing getting to mass every Sunday and Holy Days? Is the Eucharist an important part of Sundays for our family? Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is a most powerful source of spiritual wealth! Is that something my children know because we talk about it at home?

Do we make it a priority to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis, like monthly? We are all sinners and like the prodigal son in last weeks Gospel, when we repent, our heavenly Father awaits us with open arms, to pour out His mercy and forgiveness upon us in reconciliation.

                Are we making time to meet Jesus in quiet prayer on a daily basis? Are we teaching our children and grandchildren how to pray? Jesus is constantly calling us to a deep friendship with Him. Like any friendship in order for it to grow we must spend time in conversation, present to the other person.  I love what the Catechism says: “God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer.”  We can ask ourselves, if we were to die this week, when we meet Jesus would it be like meeting a close friend? Or would it be like meeting someone we heard a lot about but don’t really know?

                I encourage everyone, especially families to consider coming to The 177 Project this Saturday evening, September 28th at 7 pm in the church, for a time to be with Our Lord in adoration and deepen our friendship with Him!  

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Words to Live and Die By

September 15, 2019

Reconciliation is an emphasis in the readings for today, the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C).  This comes at a most appropriate time in our discussions about our journey back to our Father in Heaven. We know Jesus taught us that we must prepare for this journey. We must follow the Commandments, but if we stray we can and should seek forgiveness, reconciliation. Today we look for some words to live – and die – by. 
With the help of our Travel Book, the Bible, and our Travel Guide, the Holy Spirit, we have been seeking answers to three major questions: 1) What is Heaven like? 2) How do we prepare for it? 3) How do we get there?

We have the example and influence of many people who have gone before us. Some saintly persons have expressed the notion that we should live each day as though it were our last. Then we have no need to change anything that we are doing when we are called to depart from this earth. We should live our lives just as Jesus instructed us to do, and remember that not only did He instruct us in words, but His actions spoke even louder.
Let us turn once again to our Travel Book and look at some key phrases and words of wisdom we find there.

There is no need to read through these quickly. Take time and meditate. 

• Peace be with you
• Do not be afraid
• I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me
• Strive to enter (heaven) through the narrow gate
• You must be prepared for an hour you do not expect
• Guard against greed; one’s life does not consist of possessions
• Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing
• Go and take the lowest place; he who humbles himself will be exalted
• Here is how to pray: Our Father in heaven …
• Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened

We learn also from our parents and other family members. My own father was a very wise man. Even on his death bed, my father was guiding and teaching us his children. He said, “Even if only some of what we have been taught is true, I will be okay!”

I take solace in the words of my father. I trust in the words of my Heavenly Father. I am not afraid. We are not alone.  

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What is Heaven Like?

September 8, 2019

Last week we described how we are on a life-long journey to get to Heaven. What is Heaven like? What do we need to do to get there? We suggested use of a spiritual Travel Book, the Bible, to get answers to these and many other questions we may have.

After the Fall of Adam and Eve (Original Sin), we humans were banished from Heaven, but God promised to send His Son to save us, to provide a means for us to return to the Father. In Advent we pray, “Hurry and do not delay.” Our prayers are answered as Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is born to a Virgin, Our Blessed Mother Mary. We rejoice with the angelic choir and sing “Glory to God in the Highest!”

As a youngster of age 12, Jesus taught us. He accompanied His mother Mary and her spouse Joseph to celebrate the Festival of Passover. Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, but unknown to them, Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. They sought Him for several days. When at last they found Him in the temple courts listening to the teachers and asking questions, He chided Mary and Joseph, asking why they were worried. “Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?”

As a young man, Christ went into the desert to fast, meditate and pray. He then emerged to begin His public life, to teach, to preach, to mentor and to set an example for us all. He chose 12 apostles to carry on His work, and to spread the message of the Good News to all the world.

In His preaching and teaching, Jesus spoke often about Heaven. He used parables to describe what Heaven is like. In the parables, He would use common, every day images to which the people could relate to help them understand the complex concept of Heaven. Recall “the kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field” … “is like a mustard seed” … “is like a man who casts seeds upon the ground” … “is like a dragnet cast into the sea” … “is like a man who went out early to hire workers for his vineyard.”

Before He died, Jesus gave us the Perfect Gift of His own Body and Blood, food and refreshment for our journey here on earth. He also gave us the gift of Reconciliation. When we stray from the prescribed path, or fail to follow the Commandments, Jesus gives us a means of getting back on track. He asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit to guide us, to remain with us throughout time, so that we would not be alone. The Holy Spirit has become our GPS (Global Positioning System).

Yes, Heaven is real. We will die, but we have hope. When we are fearful, it is because we think we are on our own. In Heaven there will be no more suffering, no more death, no more fear. Heaven is a place of joy, peace and eternal happiness in which we will see God face-to-face. Let us trust in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. As we continue on our journey back to the Father, let us thank God for His Sacraments and for His wonderful Presence in our lives here on earth. We travel in trust, without fear. Next week we will look at some words and thoughts to live by (and die by).
   

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Planning a Journey

September 1, 2019

On this Labor Day weekend, we begin the last four months of our calendar year and the last 12 weeks of our Liturgical Year. We hear in the Gospels about many different topics: What is heaven like? How should we live? What should we do as we approach the end of our life? What should we do to get to heaven? Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of these questions.

When do we start on this journey to heaven? In reality our journey back to the Father began with our conception in the womb of our mother. It is a life long journey upon which we embark; many people and things will influence us.

Most of us have traveled at one time or another in our lives. On holiday weekends, many families try to take advantage of the extra time off work or school to make one last end-of-summer trip. Others have made extended trips throughout the year. No matter what our destination or the duration of the trip, we find ourselves going through some form of a familiar process. Our first step is to take time to plan and prepare for our trip. The more important the trip, the longer our planning process should be. Somewhere along the way, we might feel “I can’t believe we are really going!” Eventually, this emotion gets replaced with “Finally, we are on our way.”

What do we need for our trip? One item many people rely on is a good travel book – whether it be electronic or in print form, especially if we are planning foreign travel. We try to obtain as much information as possible about local attractions at our destination. We pack activity related equipment, such as fishing gear, hiking boots, sports items, maybe a good book to turn to in quiet times or to relax when desired. We arrange for lodging and for a local tour guide. Where will we find rest stops for refreshment and nourishment to sustain us?

We are on the most important journey of our life. We want to ensure that we have planned and prepared for this journey with utmost diligence. What do we need for the journey to heaven?  Our perfect travel book is the Bible. We should read it often. It is here we will learn about local attractions and how to get there. Other resources include meditation material and books about saints.

Attending Mass – both Sunday obligation and weekday celebration – is a valued rest stop. We refresh and nourish our minds and souls with every celebration of the Mass. Priests and Deacons present homilies and offer us the Perfect Gift given to us by Jesus Christ Himself, that of His Most Precious Body and Blood. Yes, we are nourished and refreshed.      

For equipment, may I suggest a Rosary? Our Blessed Mother Mary will intercede for us on this journey. As we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, we attest to the fact that she was assumed body and soul into heaven. What a wonderful advocate she will be for us on this journey. We don’t have to worry about lodging. We have the word of Jesus Himself (John 14:2), that there are many dwelling places in His Father’s house, and He, Jesus, would go before us to prepare a room for us. Our reservation has been made.

We need not fear anything on this journey. We are not alone. Our Tour Guide is the Holy Spirit. Jesus asked His Father to send us the Holy Spirit, and we have been accompanied throughout our lifetime by Him. We have been provided with Food for our journey; Christ gave us His own Body and Blood. We thank God, we are not alone!  

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Deacon’s Reflection  

Enter Via the Narrow Gate!

August 25, 2019

When people pursue a new business venture, they need to know the guidelines and regulations of that endeavor.  What is the expected success rate, the chances of reaching their ultimate goal of making a profit? We Christians also are on a venture. We sometimes wonder about our chances of succeeding in reaching our ultimate goal: to enter the kingdom of Heaven, to see God face-to-face and be with Him for eternity.

We see an example of this in today’s Gospel. While Jesus was teaching in towns along His route to Jerusalem, someone in the crowd asked Him about the number of people who would be saved. This person was curious about his chances of entering the kingdom of God.

Jesus’ response was:

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

If we listen carefully to today’s Gospel Acclamation, we also hear Jesus giving us a road map, a travel guide to Heaven:

“I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)

God created us out of love.  He loves us and wants us to be with Him in His kingdom which is filled with joy, peace and eternal happiness. But our arrogance, our ego, our wickedness got in the way and we committed sins. We offended the Lord through our sinfulness.  Like loving parents discipline and instruct their misbehaving children, the Lord disciplined us. The punishment was to separate us from heaven, His Kingdom.

Throughout history, the Lord has never stopped loving us.  He wanted and waited for us to return to Him.  He used the Prophets to send His messages of love, His guidelines and instructions to His children.  Finally, He sent His only Son to die for our salvation.  He wills for all to be saved. 

Jesus does not try to scare us or make us afraid; instead He warns us that in order to be saved we must accept the challenge of that narrow gate.

• We must put forth our best efforts and stay true to our commitment. 
• We must be strong and reject the wide gate that leads to destruction.
• We must be honest with ourselves, change our sinful ways and return to God. 
• We must have the courage and discipline to practice and live our faith regardless of the judgment and opinions of others.

As we strive to enter the narrow gate, we ask God to strengthen our faith in trials and temptations.  May we trust in His promises and recognize His guiding presence in our journey to reach our ultimate goal: Heaven. There we will be filled with joy, peace and eternal happiness.
   

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“Best at Loving Jesus”
An Interview with Father Colin Haganey

 July 12, 2019
 
“I want to be remembered as a priest who did a good job of working hard, a better job at having fun and the best job at loving Jesus.”
 
This is how Father Colin Haganey (pronounced CAH-lin HAY-guh-nee), newly ordained priest for the Archdiocese, responded to a question posed to him near the end of this interview as to how he would want to be remembered when it was time for him to leave Curé of Ars for another parish. These characteristics are how some of us remember Fr. Haganey from his time in the parish during the summer of 2017. Fr. Haganey indicated that span of service in 2017 has been helpful in adjusting to being associate pastor in that he already knows some of the people, and he already knows the basic weekly schedule of the parish.
 
Born and raised in Leavenworth, KS, Fr. Haganey is the eldest of five children of Charlie and Jennifer Haganey. His younger siblings are Avery 25, Phoebe 20, Katie 16 and Chandler 14. His dad is a manager at a Walgreens Store and his mother is presently a stay at home mom. She has owned several businesses in downtown Leavenworth in the past.
 
Fr. Haganey attended Conception Seminary College in Conception, MO and then Kenrick School of Theology in St. Louis for graduate school. When asked who was most influential in his answering God’s call to the priesthood, Fr. Haganey spoke of two people – both now priests. Early in his seminary formation years, he relied on the example of a fellow seminarian, Anthony Saiki to learn how best to follow Jesus. In later years, it was the kindness and support of Father Richard Storey that sustained him especially when the going sometimes got rough in the seminary.
 
On an introspective note, Fr. Haganey identified public speaking as a God-given talent that would be valuable in performing his duties as a priest. He is hopeful this gift will translate well into giving good homilies.
 
When asked to describe his goals at Curé of Ars, he cited the advice often given to new priests: sit and look out the window the first year. Basically be there, listen and learn. In addition, he wants to be a happy and holy priest. Rather than set goals for himself, he wants to be open to what the Holy Spirit has planned for him, and he wants to help Fr. Storey in leading our parish closer to Jesus Christ.
 
The person whose traits he most admires and wants to emulate is Father Storey. He sees in Fr. Storey a priest who works hard, has fun and loves Jesus: “That should be the goal of every priest and I hope to be as successful at doing those things as Fr. Storey has.”
 
Fr. Haganey wants to thank Fr. Storey for being such a fantastic role model for himself and for all the encouragement and support over the last few years leading to ordination. He added, “It is truly a blessing to get to be the associate pastor for a priest for whom I have a deep respect and great friendship.” He also wants to thank his grandmother, Mary, who has been such a huge support leading to ordination. “If I ever needed ANYTHING, she made sure I had it. It would have been much more difficult financially getting through seminary if she was not around.”
 
Father Haganey offered the following advice to youngsters considering becoming a priest, brother or sister: If you are thinking about being a priest or religious just give it a go. You don’t sign away your life the second you go to the seminary or enter the novitiate, but these are the best places to determine if this is what you are called to do long term.
 
Welcome to Curé of Ars, Father Haganey. May your time here be filled with blessings for your hard work, joy in your fun-filled activities and success under the influence of the Holy Spirit in doing your best at loving Jesus.       
 

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A Journey in Learning

July 7, 2019

We belong to the Triune God: the God who created us, the God who saved us and entrusts us with the great gift of the Church, the God who sanctifies and guides us. We belong to the Body of Christ. This is the whose we are. We are called to be one in Christ, to go forward on this journey to learn who we truly are and whose we truly are. These are key words: who we are and whose we are. When we know who we are, then we can do the works of the whose we are.

We are called to be children of God and to love as God loves. We express this love by living up to the gifts God gives each of us and to use these gifts for the good of the whole body of Christ. Knowing who we are is so very important. To know who we are is to know the talents that God has given to us. Knowing who we are is to acknowledge that we have certain limitations as well. I need to be comfortable with who I am: with both my gifts and equally my limitations!

Not all of us are going to have the same gifts. We are gifted with what we need, and with what God knows we need. Nor does everyone have the same limitations. I must know that there are certain things that I just am not gifted to do. It’s not a punishment, but a gift from God, to know that it takes us all to do what He is wanting this Body of Christ to do. Knowing our limitations and knowing our gifts allow us to know who we are.

 The only way we truly can know who we are, and whose we are, is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and not be afraid to be the real me. We continue our journey now in and through the Church. Even though the Church in history has sometimes caused us to question a loving God, it is the weakness of humanity and not knowing who you are, and priests not knowing who they are, or whose they are, that is the true problem.

This is not meant to be a political arena, nor a political agenda; however, with humanity, sometimes it does become just that. That’s when things get off centered. But when we give ourselves completely to Christ, acknowledging our gifts and accepting our limitations, we then can continue the journey. We can give ourselves entirely to the mission of Christ.

If He is calling us to be certain things in the Church, volunteering for different offices, giving our gifts of talent, our treasure, our time, it only makes the Church go on in a more easy, wonderful, beautifully calm sea, if you will.

So we cast our nets, but we do it the way Christ calls us to. We all know how to fish; but once we have faith, He tells us where to fish. He tells us, “Come up the mountain, but have faith when you do so.” He tells us to get in the boat and stay calm, to trust and have faith. And that yes, there will be waves, and the waves will come over the side. We’ll even get tossed around, but it’s staying in the boat that will lead us to the next shore of life. To prevail against the waves we must trust in God.

Father Storey

 

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God Bless America
Lyrics by Irving Berlin

 

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. 
 

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam,
God bless America, My home sweet home.

June 30, 2019

May God bless each and every man and woman who has served, and especially those who have given their lives, to help protect this country. May those who have died truly rest in the peace of Christ, and may those still serving return home safely. 

 

Father Storey

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We are Nourished and Satisfied

June 23, 2019

When a photographer wants to capture the very essence of a scene, he/she examines that scene in minute detail from multiple vantage points, then records the compelling image that rivets his/her attention. The Liturgy of the Word presents riveting images in each of the three Readings for this beautiful Feast Day of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We commemorate the great Gift that Christ gives us – the Gift of His own Body and Blood.

The name Melchizedek is derived from two Hebrew words: melek, meaning king and selek, denoting just or righteous.  In the First Reading, Melchizedek engages Abram in a religious ritual offering him bread and wine; then Melchizedek asks a two-fold blessing for Abram: first in thanksgiving for Abram’s recent victory over other kings, and also as an exclamation of praise to God Most High. Melchizedek himself is also a beneficiary of these two blessings. We recall how we offer our gifts of bread and wine in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul relates to the Corinthians how Jesus, at the Last Supper, took bread, broke it and gave it to the disciples saying,

“This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then Jesus gave them the cup of wine: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

St. Paul is trying to counteract the factions and divisive behavior of the Corinthians. Earlier in this letter, Paul reminds them:

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (10:16).

The communion that Paul writes about is an unbreakable covenant bond with Christ and with one another. Paul revels in this double meaning of “body of Christ.” He seeks unity among the Corinthians: unity in the Body and Blood of Christ, and unity as members of the Body of Christ.

Today’s Gospel focuses on yet another aspect of the Eucharist. The disciples urge Jesus to send the large crowd away to find something to eat, but Jesus would not hear of that. Rather, He instructed the disciples, “Give them some food yourselves.”  We know well how the story ends. From a meager five loaves and two fish, Jesus provided sufficient food for the gathering which numbered in excess of five thousand people; leftovers filled 12 baskets. St. Luke states, “They all ate and were satisfied.”

In the magnificence of the Eucharist, His Body and Blood, we offer praise and thanksgiving; we seek unity; we are nourished and renewed in Christ. We eat, we drink, and we are satisfied! He has given us the greatest Gift ever, the Gift of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament.   
 

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A Relationship of Love

June 16, 2019

Today we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, three Divine Persons in one God. Every Mass, every sacramental rite we celebrate, begins with the Sign of the Cross:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!”

The concept of the Holy Trinity is a profound mystery that we will never fully understand while we are here on earth. For centuries, theologians, philosophers, preachers and saints alike have attempted to explain this mystery.

Jesus Christ gave us a glimpse of the Trinitarian relationship. In John 14:7,11 Jesus 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."

In John 14:16, He continues,

“I shall ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, that Spirit of truth…you know him because he is with you, he is in you.”

This relationship is an exquisite interaction of love that exists within the Holy Trinity.

The concluding verses of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 28:16-20) offer perhaps 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.”

St. Patrick used a shamrock, a three-leafed clover, to help shed light on the mystery; others have used an equilateral triangle or a trefoil. I like to use the outline of a heart to describe the relationship of love that exists within the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The love emanates from the Father, arching and forming one side of a heart as He sends His Son to be our Redeemer. At the lower juncture of the sides of the heart, we think about how 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. We flourish in that love. Love never dies.
 

Father’s Day, June 16

Today is a special day to remember our fathers, both living and deceased. May every father cherish the great vocation to which he has been called and recognize his importance to his family and to our Church. I ask Almighty God to bless all our parish members, families and guests:
   

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Pentecost – A Promise Fulfilled

June 9, 2019

“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.” (Acts 2: 2-3)

Thus was fulfilled Christ’s promise; this was the birth of the Church.

As we reflect on the Readings of the past few weeks, many scenarios unfold before us. We see Jesus, the Leader, the great Teacher, the One who loves us, the One who gives us hope. Jesus promised to be with us always. He asks us to relax and trust in Him. He said He would ask His Father to send the Spirit to us. He promised the disciples,

“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.”
(John 14: 16)

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 in the Upper Room in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost, a tradition in which pilgrims would come from all over to thank God for the year’s harvest. Mary and the disciples were in the same room where the Last Supper had taken place. The Holy Spirit descended upon each of them to remind them of all that Jesus said and did, and to enable them to go forth in the name of the Lord to teach all nations. They were given the gift of tongues, so that each person who listened to them heard in his own native language.

The word Pentecost means 50. Fifty days after the Resurrection, we now celebrate Pentecost. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise; it is the birthday of the Church. We, too, have been given the Holy Spirit, through the Sacraments of Initiation. In our Baptism, we receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and new life in Christ. In our Confirmation, we are strengthened by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may share with others the Good News of Jesus Christ (Evangelization).  

We should cherish the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit that have been given to us: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel (right judgment), Fortitude (courage), Knowledge, Piety (reverence), Fear of the Lord (wonder and awe). As we celebrate Pentecost, we thank God for all His gifts and try to utilize them to the best of our abilities, to draw closer to the Father and to share the Good News with all those we encounter.
 

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Promises

June 2, 2019

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension. Traditionally it was celebrated on Thursday, 40 days after Easter. Because of its importance as a feast day, it was made a diocesan option in the United States to celebrate the Ascension on Thursday or on the following Sunday, as we do here in the Archdiocese.  

Jesus appeared to His disciples several times during the forty days following His Resurrection. He spoke to them at length about the kingdom of God. Just before He ascended into heaven, He commissioned the disciples to go preach to all nations, to baptize and to live what He had taught them. In today’s First Reading, He tells them to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father because in a few days they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit; this would fortify them for their mission ahead. Then He was lifted up and taken from their sight.

In a scenario reminiscent of Easter Sunday morning, two men dressed in white garments appeared beside them and said,

“Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Feeling alone and distressed, the disciples returned to Jerusalem. They gathered as a community in an upper room to pray and to await the fulfillment of the Father’s promise. They were joined by some women including Mary, the mother of Jesus. They had to be recalling some of the many things Jesus had told them. Yes, He said He had to leave – but He let them down ever so easy.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” Jesus explained, “I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to myself. I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. I will not leave you orphans.”

His message for us, as well, is to trust in Him:

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always.”

Now, we fast forward ten days. The disciples along with the Blessed Mother are gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost in the Jewish tradition.

“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” (Acts 2: 2-3).

This fulfilled the Father’s promise; this was the birth of the Church. 

Next Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church – the promise fulfilled. We celebrate the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, fear of the Lord. Jesus has given us the greatest Gift ever, the gift of Himself, the gift of the Spirit, the gift of the Church.

Now we look forward with great anticipation to the other promise Jesus made:

“I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to myself. I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.”

 

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Love and Peace

May 26, 2019

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 tells His disciples: “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.” After reminding the disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to help them understand all that had been revealed to them, 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.
   

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As I Have Loved You

May 19, 2019

            In today’s Gospel (John 13:31-33a, 34-35), we are taken back to the Last Supper. Judas has been dismissed to pursue his heinous mission of betrayal. Jesus is instructing the rest of His disciples as to what is about to occur. He explains His upcoming Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection saying,

               “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him ... My children, I will be with                   you only a little while longer.”

Jesus is getting us ready; He is preparing to leave us the Church.

            Then Jesus commands His disciples,

             “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

This is the legacy of love that Jesus is giving us. He continues,

             “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

            Love has conveyed many different meanings throughout history. A significant portion of the Bible was written in Greek; the Greek language contains no less than six different words for love, each expressing a distinct type of love. Three of these words are used in the New Testament: storge, philia and agape.

            Storge (pronounced: STOR-jay) describes family love, the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, and brothers and sisters. Philia (pronounced: FILL-ee-uh) is the type of intimate love in the Bible that most Christians practice toward each other. This term describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships. Philia is the most general type of love in Scripture, encompassing 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.”  

           The greatest example of love is Jesus Himself. Agape (pronounced uh-GAH-pay) defines God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial and pure. It is love without reservation. Jesus demonstrated this kind of divine love to His Father and to all humanity in the way He lived and died.

          To understand the teaching of Christ, we must recognize that love underlies each and every rule from God. God so loved the world that He created all things and said it was good. Then He created humans and said this is very good, because He knew that we were the only ones of His creation to whom He gave the capability of love.

         Love is in the here and now; it is not something that has happened only in the past or will be only in the future. It is the present. We were created by the love of God. We were saved through the love of God. Love never dies. It will carry us back to the Father, which is our ultimate goal. This is what sustains us: the love Jesus has for us, the love we have for Jesus, and the love we have for one another.

            “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

This will be the identifying mark of all Christians, their self-sacrificing love for each other.  

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"Our Three Mothers"

May 12, 2019

For 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.  

 

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"A New Direction"

May 5, 2019

Throughout the Liturgical Year, we learn details of Jesus’ life and His relationship with His Apostles. For three years, the Apostles and other disciples followed Him. He lived with them, taught them, prepared them for the time He would return to His Father. The Apostles knew Him, yet they didn’t. After Jesus’ death, they were confused and floundered without the One they called Teacher and Master. They left and returned to their previous vocation as fishermen. When Jesus does appear to them, they do not recognize Him.

In today’s Gospel (John 21:1-19), Jesus revealed Himself to Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee’s sons and two others of His disciples. They had been fishing all night, but had caught nothing. Early in the morning, they saw Jesus on the shore, but they did not recognize Him. When they answered His question, acknowledging that they had caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast the net again, but this time use the right side of the boat. The net became so full of fish, they could not pull it out of the water. Then, the beloved disciple John realized that it was Jesus speaking to them.

The disciples built a fire and prepared a meal from their bounteous catch. After they had eaten, Jesus addressed Peter. Twice Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me? Each time Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you, and Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A third time, Jesus questioned, “Peter, son of John, do you love me?” Peter had to be hearing the voice of the girl in the courtyard and the crow of the cock, and knew that he was being given a second chance. Yet he was perturbed and blurted out, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus, in His usual loving manner, calmly told Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

Peter, of course, was feeling guilt from having denied Jesus three times. Jesus does not want us to live with constant guilt. Instead He offers us forgiveness in return for our repentance, faith and love for Him.
Jesus asks us a similar question, “Do you love me?” How do we respond? Jesus is calling us to exchange our guilt feelings for feelings of love for Him. Even when we mess up and don’t always show our love for Jesus the way we should, He gives us endless chances. 

It’s hard to recognize when Jesus is talking to us. Are we in harmony with God’s ways? Sometimes we must stop and listen to God; He just may be asking us to change ourselves. We, like the Apostles, can do what Christ asks us to do even though we may be set in our ways. We know that we “always” put the net this way, and it might be that we have to listen to God saying, “Try a different direction” -- one in which we listen to Him for daily guidance.  

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First printed on Divine Mercy Sunday 2017.  
 

"I Want to Be Like Him"

April 28, 2019

Have you ever heard a homily that was so eloquent and inspirational that you wished you had a recording device to capture those minutes so you could go back and hear it again and again? I had such an experience about six weeks ago, but I am getting ahead of myself. Let me recount what happened on March 12, the Second Sunday of Lent, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. I consider it an honor and a privilege when one of our Archbishops wants to celebrate Mass here at Curé of Ars. When Archbishop James Keleher mentioned that he was available on March 12, I gratefully accepted his offer and welcomed him to celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass that day.

As you may know, the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent is always about the Transfiguration. Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. There, Jesus, with Moses and Elijah appearing alongside Him, was transfigured before them. God the Father proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The Transfiguration was a visualization of the meaning of the great Paschal Mystery. Jesus had first to suffer and die, and so come to the glory of His Resurrection.

Archbishop Keleher read the Gospel and then eased into his homily. He related how Jesus did some of His most important teaching from high on a mountain. This event was no exception. He selected three apostles to whom He felt closest to ascend the mountain with Him. Instead of interpreting the meaning of the Transfiguration and the presence of Elijah and Moses, Archbishop Keleher directed attention to the three witnesses. It was at this point that I really wished I had a recording device. Archbishop Keleher started to describe each of the apostles present:

“Peter, chosen to be head of Christ’s Church on earth, would deny Him three times. Then he wept in sorrow and remorse. James, son of Zebedee and Salome, was the first apostle to go to Spain to evangelize. He was the first apostle to be martyred for his belief in Christ.”

Then Archbishop Keleher said he wanted to focus on John, the other son of Zebedee, and began to relate precious memories of John. “John was known as the beloved disciple. He became the protector of Mary. He wrote a Gospel and three beautiful letters that appear in the Bible. At the Last Supper before the Lord’s Passion, John sat to the left of Jesus; he leaned over and placed his head on the Sacred Heart. John alone stood at the foot of the cross along with the three women. He heard Jesus say to Mary, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then Jesus spoke to John, ‘Son, behold your mother.’ What was different about John? Like the other apostles, he was devoted to Jesus and respected Him; but the real difference was he developed a close friendship with Jesus.”

In concluding, Archbishop gave us a lasting visual:

“He (John) is what I want to be: a beloved disciple. I pray for this. Only John saw Jesus as his dearest friend. There is no love greater than laying down one’s life for His friends. This is what I want to be, a friend of Christ.”

An awed silence filled the sanctuary as the Archbishop walked back to his chair to begin the Creed.
Today on Divine Mercy Sunday, we also pray for this special friendship with Jesus. May we too, someday, be able to place our heads upon His Sacred Heart.  

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"He is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

April 21, 2019

 

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"The Holiest of Weeks"

April 14, 2019

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week in the Church’s Liturgical Year. Our Lenten Time Machine takes us to the very origin of Holy Week. We find ourselves in a huge crowd lining the road that leads to Jerusalem, waving palm branches as the man known as Jesus nears our location. He is riding on a colt that has never been sat on before. Loud cheers emanate from the crowd: “Hosanna in the highest!”
  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.   

A few days after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, our Time Machine places us at the upper room in Jerusalem where Jesus has gathered His apostles to celebrate the Jewish feast of the Passover. On Thursday evening

“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).

We follow Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prays through the night, asking His Father to spare Him the ordeal ahead. We see Him betrayed by His disciple, Judas, who identified Christ to His captors by a kiss. The next day, in the courtyard of Pilate’s palace, we hear Peter deny Jesus three times. We hear loud jeers of the crowd as they demand: “Give us Barabbas!”

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.”

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to safeguard us from temptation and always keep us in the grace of God. May this week be truly holy for all of us.  
 

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"Will You Throw That Stone?"

April 7, 2019

A gauge on our Lenten time machine displays Mount of Olives, early 30s AD. We land near a mob of Scribes and Pharisees that has forced an adulterous woman to cower in the presence of the man we have come to know as Jesus. We wonder what He is expected to do with her. The crowd challenges Jesus, trying to trap him.

A spokesperson for the crowd reminds Jesus that, according to the Law of Moses, this woman should be stoned.  If He agreed that the woman should be stoned, they could have accused Him of cruelty.  If He declared that the woman should go free, they could accuse Him of violating the Law of Moses. 

When they asked, “What do you have to say about the case?” Jesus in His usual way refused to answer the question. Instead He first dismissed their stance as completely inane, as insignificant as the scribbles He traced on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in their questioning, He looked down at the sins He had written on the ground and uttered His challenge: “Let the man among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”

Of course they all walked away. Because He was sinless, Jesus could have met His own challenge and cast a stone.  He preferred to offer the opportunity for conversion; He did not condone the sin the woman had committed. He granted her pardon.  A look of relief and gratitude covered her face as she responded to Jesus’ inquiry regarding the whereabouts of her condemners. 

Then He instructed her, “From now on, avoid this sin.”  Jesus did not throw a stone at the woman, and He does not throw stones at us. God does not will the death of sinners. He wants only that they be converted and live.
   
We should emulate the adulterous woman and always thank God for His love and forgiveness.  Looking at the stone in our hand, we think “what shall we do?” Will we throw that stone (judge) or follow in Jesus’ footsteps, drop the stone and offer love and forgiveness.

Today we witness a great example of God’s love and forgiveness. The message we carry in our hearts is that it is far better to love and forgive than to judge and throw stones.

Jesus offers us His unconditional love and forgiveness.  All we have to do is ask for it.  Our parish’s Lenten Penance Service will be today, April 7 ^th, at 3:00 p.m.  Additional opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be Wednesday 6-7 p.m. and Saturday 2:30-3:30 p.m.  Other Lenten Penance Services will be held throughout the Johnson County region all this week. 

 
                                                                            Father Storey
 

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  March 31, 2019

Today, the 4^th Sunday in Lent, is known as Laetare Sunday. The name comes from the first word in the traditional Latin form of today’s Entrance Antiphon and means rejoice. 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.
 

“He was Lost and has been Found”

 

   
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15: 3) These words, spoken in today’s Gospel by the Pharisees and scribes to condemn the actions of Christ, must be truly welcome sounds to our ears, our hearts, our souls and our minds. Jesus Christ does greet us with open arms and shares a meal with us.
 
Christ, in response to the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes, related the parable of the Prodigal Son. The younger son asked for his share of his father’s estate. He then took the inheritance, went far away and spent it on frivolous and wasteful living. After a famine hit that country, the young man was desperate. He vowed to return to his father and beg for his forgiveness. He admitted his unworthiness, and asked to be treated as a hired hand. But his father would hear nothing of the kind; the father welcomed him back, clothed him and feted him at a sumptuous banquet.
 
When the older son returned from the fields and saw all the festivities he became angry and confronted his father.  However his father defended his actions and said “your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”
 
We, too, can sometimes stray. Especially during Lent, we want to have the courage to look deep within ourselves. We must say in an honest and up-front way: “Lord, a sinner am I.” More importantly, we want to proclaim: “To your name be glory!”
 
We have many opportunities for receiving the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) here at Curé of Ars: Saturdays 2:30 – 3:30 pm, Sundays 4:30 – 5:30 pm, First Saturday of the month after the 8:00 am Mass, Wednesdays during Lent 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Our Lenten Penance Service will be Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 pm. Times for other Lenten Penance Services throughout the Johnson County Region can be found elsewhere in this bulletin.
 
The Father will receive us with open arms; He will welcome us back to the family and prepare a banquet for us. The love of God is everlasting. He welcomes sinners and eats with them.        
  
   

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"Repent"

March 24, 2018
 
On this, the Third Sunday of Lent, our Time Machine brings us to an event taking place in the early 30’s AD. We see Jesus surrounded by a number of townsfolk. They are confronting Him with examples of suffering and pain that had been endured by different people. They cite a widely held belief that bad things are supposed to happen to bad people, but can’t reconcile how or why bad things happen to good people.
 
Jesus refutes the notion that those who suffer are greater sinners than others; He lets the people know that misfortune is not a sign of God’s disfavor. Twice in today’s Gospel, Luke 13:1-9, Jesus tells the people that they should seek forgiveness, “If you do not repent, you will perish...” Then to reinforce His stance, He tells them the Parable of the Fig Tree.
 
There was a fig tree that stood in the orchard of a land owner. The owner had looked for fruit on this fig tree for three years now. Still finding no fruit, the land owner ordered his gardener to cut down this fig tree that was just taking up space in the orchard. The gardener pleaded with the land owner to spare the tree; if after a year the tree still had not produced fruit, the gardener conceded, they would cut it down.
 
In this parable, the fig tree represents all of us humans. God is both Land Owner and Gardener. God, the Land Owner gives us life and expects good fruit in return. When we, the fig tree, failed to produce fruit, God the Gardener asks for patience and resources to improve the lot of the fig tree. He promises to cultivate and fertilize, to give us a chance to repent and convert. He pleads for our redemption – one last chance.
 
God, the Creator of all things, created each of us “fig trees.” He gives us life; He gives us the saving waters of Baptism. He cultivates us through His sacraments. He weeds out sin, and gives us His forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). He guards us “fig trees” from predators.
 
He nourishes us with His own Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He fertilizes us and protects us through the other sacraments. We can also gain His grace by doing good acts and performing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
 
 In this Lenten season, let us thank God for all that we have been given. In this one last chance, let us undergo conversion and repent. Let us pray for forgiveness, as well as for help from the Holy Spirit to forgive others.
   

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"Transformation"

March 17, 2019

Mountains always have been an integral part of our salvation history. On Mount Sinai, Moses met with God and came away with a luminous face radiating the presence of the Lord. Today our Time Machine delivers us to the foot of Mount Tabor. A magnificent bright light is shining on us and we hear a Voice saying “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” Luke 9:35. We realize we are in the presence of Something extraordinary. We are in the presence of God, and He is speaking to us.

Jesus, in the Gospel this Sunday, reveals the great Lenten theme of transformation. He begins to reveal the Paschal Mystery. He went up the mountain to pray. There He became transfigured. His face changed and His garments became dazzling white. This manifestation prefigured the glory that would come to Him through His death and Resurrection. It helps to understand that it pleased God to lead His Son through suffering to joy, through humiliation to exaltation, and through death to life. That is the transformation which is at the heart of Lent.

God’s plan for us is to share in the Paschal Mystery. We began our sharing through Baptism. With Christ, we died to sin, so that we could begin a new life; it is a transformation for us. In Baptism, we were given a white garment to symbolize that we had become like Jesus in His transfiguration. As the transfiguration for Jesus was but a prelude to His Resurrection, so Baptism directs us to a future event. That event is our sharing in the glory of Christ’s Resurrection.

God created all things, and He created this world in which we live. He brought us into the world, but we humans, in the persons of Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation and thought we were better than God. We turned our backs on Him. He promised us He would be with us even until the end of time. God sent His Son to guide us, to show us the way back to Him. Life is not always easy. All of us experience great pain at some point in our lives. For example, we lose loved ones; we lose our securities, job, monies, etc. Some of us may have lost a relationship – be it through divorce, a friend moving away or even people betraying us. “Why pain, suffering and death?” are questions many of us have for God.

If we choose to meditate on our pain and suffering as part of our Lenten activities, we will find a partial answer here on earth. We can pray that the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to transform our pain and suffering into Lenten gifts to God.  

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"Take Each Day One at a Time"

March 10, 2019

On this the First Sunday of Lent, we take advantage of our Time Machine to get an up-close, personal look at what happened almost 2000 years ago. This experience will give us some new insights into Lent. The control panel display shows 30 AD. We have landed at the edge of a desert near the Jordan River. We see people clad in garments of the time. Our clothing changes to match theirs.
 
We observe someone going into the desert. We recognize Him as the One who recently was baptized by John in the River Jordan; we remember seeing the descending dove and hearing the Voice from the cloud proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son!” This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, human and Divine. During these next six weeks, we will trace His footsteps in a very special way.
 
Our Ash Wednesday liturgy sets the tone for all of Lent. We are told to perform good deeds, to give alms, to pray and to fast. Jesus also tells us to do all this privately, in secret, hidden from where people may see our deeds and praise us for them. He says, “And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”  
 
In today’s Gospel, Luke 4:1-13, we hear what Jesus did following His baptism by John in the Jordan River. St. Luke tells us, “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days.” We can take a cue from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and let the Holy Spirit, Whom we received in our own Baptism, guide us as we enter into our Lenten journey.
 
Temptation has always been a part of our heritage. We can learn from Jesus as He dealt with temptation in the desert. Jesus faced temptation not by giving in to the torments of the devil, rather He stood steadfast in His trust and love of His Father. Jesus was facing temptation alone in the desert.
 
When we are tempted, our best path is to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to overcome those temptations. We can pray and meditate; we can give alms and repent; we can place our trust in God.
 
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.”
   

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"Come Time Travel with Me?"

March 3, 2019

Imagine with me, for the next few minutes, that I have made an extraordinary discovery. I have found a state of the art Time Machine. It can transport me and as many of my friends and relatives as I desire approximately 2000 years into the future or the past. I ponder my options: Do I want to see what life would be like up to 2000 years in the future? Or do I want to travel back in time to visit places like Galilee, Samaria, Decapolis or Judea when Jesus was there?
 
As fascinating as seeing what the future would be, I opt instead for the past. I am drawn to the awesome possibility of seeing God face-to-face. I set the controls for 33 AD. We will be looking for a Jewish man of medium build and height, approximately 33  years of age. I have been told He is often found in the company of a certain 12 persons, and many other people as well.
 
Can you imagine what it would be like to live, to walk, to learn in the homeland of Jesus Christ? Will you join me on this journey over the next 6 weeks? Leave your passports at home. Just bring open hearts and minds. We will embark on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Our trek will feature almsgiving, fasting, meditation and repentance.
 
What do we need to pack? Christ told us to do our penitence in private so as not to derive earthly benefits from it; sack cloth and ashes definitely are not recommended.  Do bring your rosary and a meditative brochure on the Mysteries of the Rosary. Traveling companions are always welcome; recall what Jesus explained to us: “Wherever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there also am I.”
 
 Before we enter the Time Machine, we will celebrate Mass and Distribution of Ashes on Wednesday, March 6, at 6:30, 8:15, and 12:10 and 6:00 p.m. 
 
Communal Penance Service will be celebrated Sunday, April 7 at Curé. In addition to our standard Saturday and Sunday schedules, Confessions will also be heard Wednesdays during Lent, except for Ash Wednesday, at 6 p.m. in the church.
 
Our Time Machine awaits. Will you embark on this 6 week trip with me? More importantly, will you embark on this trip with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? RSVP to our Lord during your next prayer or meditation. 
 
Welcome aboard the Time Machine to 33 AD. Let your heart guide your feet in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
 

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"Pain or Pane
on the Plain"

February 24, 2019 
 

Today’s Gospel, Luke 6:27-38, is sometimes called the Discourse on the Plain; it follows immediately after last week’s passage in which Jesus gave us the Beatitudes, a blueprint for living our lives in imitation of God. Today He continues with how we should treat one another, especially those who present a particular challenge.
 
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you... “ Jesus tells His disciples. Jesus continues describing attributes and actions of those whom we may consider a “royal pain.” Then He adds what we have come to know as the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”   
 
I think it is fairly safe to say that we all know what a “pain” is. What and why a pane? A pain can bring us agitation and dread; a pane can offer a clear translucence through which we might view that “pain” in a completely different light. With the right perspective, “pain” could become a true blessing in disguise.
 
Jesus Christ had His share of “pains” with whom He had to deal. Just a few short verses earlier in Luke 6:1-5, we see some Pharisees accusing Jesus and His disciples of doing something that was forbidden on the Sabbath: picking ears of corn and rubbing them in their hands in order to have something to eat. Jesus reminded the Pharisees what David did when he and his followers were hungry: they went into the house of God and took loaves of bread that only the priests were allowed to eat. Then Jesus told the Pharisees: “The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.”  
 
 Luke 6:6-10 relates how Jesus was in the synagogue preaching on a Sabbath when He was approached by a man with a withered hand. Jesus cured the man and was subjected to severe criticism by the Pharisees for doing so on the Sabbath. Then Jesus said to them, “Is it against the law on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?”
 
Jesus mastered both of these occasions. He used His own “pane,” to convert them into teaching moments and show that He was the Son of Man who was master of the Sabbath.
 
How do we treat someone whom we perceive as a pain? Why do we think these people are pains? Can we alter how we view them through our personal pane and find the good in them? Can we look at their undesirable attributes through another light and find something different to value in them? Can we use them as teaching moments for ourselves?
 
Jesus tells us: “Love one another as I have loved you,” and “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”
 
We must recall that we can be masters of our pains; we can look at our pains through our panes in a new light and gain new insights into our fellow members of the Body of Christ. Together we should aim to reflect the love, goodness and mercy of God. Let us take actions toward being a pane not a pain. For that is surely how God wants us to live: as panes through which His light can shine.

 

 Father Storey
 

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"Embrace Poverty"

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"How Will You Answer His Call?"

February 10, 2019 

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see many occasions of the Lord calling people to Himself. All three Readings for today, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, are enlightening examples of that calling. 
 
The Prophet Isaiah emphasizes his sense of unworthiness to be called by the Lord: “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips.” But God purifies Isaiah’s mouth by the action of the seraphim who touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning ember from the altar of sacrifice. Then Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s query, “Whom shall I send?” is “Here I am. Send me!” We see here the contrast between God’s holiness and human smallness as exemplified by the youth who accepts being overwhelmed by God and receiving a mission.  
 
Similarly, in Reading II, Paul laments his unworthiness to be called, saying “I am not fit to be called an apostle. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective.” Paul was overwhelmed and cleansed of his wickedness when he encountered the grace of God on the road to Damascus. Paul, also, was chosen for a special mission. 
 
The Gospel portrays a scene by the Lake of Gennesaret. In the evening after many hours of work on the water, fishermen are washing their nets. Jesus entered the boat belonging to Simon and asked Simon to go out a short distance so that He (Jesus) could teach the crowd that had gathered. After Jesus had spoke to the crowd, He asked Simon to go out to deep water and lower the nets. Simon was reluctant because they had worked all night and had caught nothing, but He did as Jesus requested.
 
Imagine Simon’s astonishment when they caught so many fish that the nets were bursting and the other boat had to be called in to assist. Simon and the other fishermen were overwhelmed at the sight of the miraculous catch of fish. Then Jesus issued His call: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” These fishermen had a mission: they were to become Apostles of Jesus Christ.
 
Who does Jesus call and how does He call us? Each and every one of us is called to follow Christ through our Baptism. He gives us His grace, and we begin our mission to live for the salvation of humanity. Like Simon Peter, Isaiah and Paul, we have a new identity when we encounter Christ. Is this the only call we receive?
 
No, far from it. We can be called anytime, anywhere, by any means. The call can take many ways, shapes or forms. I vividly remember receiving a call to change the direction I had been following, and accepting the grace and mission offered by God.
 
Pray always that you will be open to the call of God. It could very well be a completely different direction from that you have been following. It might not always be easy, but the rewards are great!
 

  Father Storey

 

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"The Most Beautiful Work of Art"

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"Proclaim His Holy Word"

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

 “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”

Deacon's Reflection

"The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord"

    Today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord closes the Christmas season; tomorrow we begin the first week in Ordinary Time. We might be asking ourselves why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God, submit Himself to baptism? In Matthew’s gospel John the Baptist asked Jesus basically the same question and He answered, “it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, it is in the Father’s providential plan, so Jesus does so to fulfill His Father’s will. Okay, but still we ask, why? The scriptures and the Catechism (paragraphs 535-537) give us some further insights.

    First, Jesus is sinless and has no need for John’s baptism but does so to identify Himself with sinful humanity. He shows Himself to be in solidarity with His fellow Israelites by entering the same waters as the repentant crowds have been entering. Secondly, His very presence lends credibility to John and his mission.

    A third reason is alluded to by the voice of the Father from heaven in our Gospel today, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” Any first-century Jew hearing those words would understand their meaning.  They allude to two Old Testament passages. “You are my son,” from Psalm 2:7. Psalm 2 is an important messianic psalm, where God addresses the newly anointed king as His son. And, “with you I am well pleased” from Isaiah 42:1, the first verse of a series of “songs” about a figure called the Lord’s servant from Isaiah 42-53. This servant will bring salvation to the ends of the earth, accomplishing this through suffering as he offers his life for sin. These words reveal Jesus as the suffering servant foretold by Isaiah and the messiah king anticipated by Israel.

    Finally, we see a revelation of the Blessed Trinity – the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends as a dove.

    It is important to remember that the baptism of John signified the need for inner purity but did not affect this in a sacramental way. It was a prefiguring Christian Baptism which most of us received as infants. When we received this, the first of the Sacraments, we were cleansed of original sin and our souls were filled with sanctifying grace, the Divine life of God. The virtues of faith, hope and love were infused into our soul and God the Father adopted us as His beloved child. We became members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. As you entered the church today you probably dipped your fingers in the holy water and made the sign of the cross. We do this as a reminder of our Baptism, that it is through the waters of Baptism that we first entered the Church! Today let us recall and give thanks to God for our own Baptism!

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"Be A Light"

“Rise up in splendor Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon
you. ...Nations shall walk by your light.” Is 60:1-3.

 “They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Mt 2:11.