Pastor's Notes

Who Then Is This?

As I read Mark 4:35-41 in preparation to write these Pastor’s Notes for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), I was struck by his description of the violent squall in the Sea of Galilee since I had just learned that we were under a severe thunderstorm warning for our area. To protect the fruits of my labor, I put my trust in my laptop, with battery back-up in case we were to lose power. Turns out to be a very prudent decision on my part, since we did indeed have a Kansas mid-June storm of near-biblical dimensions.

In today’s Gospel, the Evangelist Mark paints a striking scene. The disciples along with Jesus are crossing the Sea of Galilee, a body of water in northern Israel, nearly eight miles wide and twelve miles long. It is located 700 feet below sea level and is highly prone to frequent and violent storms. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat when one of those storms came up with waves that threatened to swamp the boat. In a panic, the disciples woke Jesus, who ordered the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” In awe, the disciples remarked to one another: “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

We of course, know now that He is Jesus Christ, Son of the Father. He has been sent to save us. On this Father’s Day, to remember our earthly fathers and to honor our Heavenly Father and His undying love for us, let us focus on the prayer that Jesus Himself gave us. In St. Luke’s Gospel 11: 2-4 Jesus instructs us: “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name...’”

This perfect prayer, the Our Father, given to us by Christ Himself, is full of everything we need. Yet how many really stop to think about what we are saying? We must slow down and truly understand the words we are saying:

Our Father, Who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name. We acknowledge God as Creator of heaven and earth and of all that is seen and unseen. We worship Him, we look to Him for all.

Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done... It is the will of God that we must accept and trust; He is above all things and we must conform to Him and His laws.

On earth as it is in heaven. Heaven and earth are not completely separate, but are one. We are one with God while here on earth and for eternity.

Give us this day our daily bread... It is in and through the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that we will be satisfied; it is in and through the Word of Scripture that we will be filled. We long to be one with the Word and the Eucharist.

And forgive us our trespasses... We seek forgiveness for the wrong we have done – and for any wrong we have caused others to do. Forgive us of anything that has separated us from the love of God.

As we forgive those who trespass against us. We pray that God will forgive those who have done wrong to us, and that He will bring those who have caused us to sin to see His light and forgiveness.

And lead us not into temptation...We pray that we will be able to withstand any temptation that comes our way.

But deliver us from evil...We pray the devil will not overtake our souls, that he will not persuade us to turn from God and look to evil.

Remember in praying for the things we need, that God certainly hears our prayers. We must pray with true faith knowing God does hear, and in His love, He answers in the way He knows is best.

Today in a special way we 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. May we all strive to emulate the undying love our Heavenly Father has for us.

    Father Storey

 

Have You Heard a Good Story Recently?

June 13, 2021 

Have you ever tried to hold a single mustard seed in your hand? It is nearly impossible to do because the seed is so small that you almost need a magnifying glass just to see it. Yet from this tiniest of seeds, once it is sown, comes a magnificent plant with branches so large that birds can come rest in its shade.

We are once again in the numbered (ordinal) Sundays of our Liturgical Year. The priests and deacons wear green vestments – a sign of hope and new life. Our readings speak of miracles, parables and love that was portrayed in Christ’s ordinary life.

A parable is a comparison of something that is mostly unknown to the listener to something that is relatively familiar, so that the listener then has a better understanding of the new concept. We might wonder why Jesus so often taught in parables. In today’s Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, the evangelist Mark gives us an explanation.

Because the average person in the crowds that gathered to hear Jesus did not have a formal education, Mark explains: “With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand.”  Mark then contrasts the approach that Jesus used with His disciples, “Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.” (Mark 4:33-34)

Jesus talked to the crowds, teaching them in parables, using examples that they could understand, but used a different approach with His disciples. He instructed them in private. It is worth mentioning that even though Jesus taught His disciples in private, they did not understand everything until the Holy Spirit, the Advocate that Jesus asked His Father to send, came upon them on Pentecost opening their hearts and their minds to the ways of God.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses two short parables to simply explain the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven was well beyond the comprehension level of most of Jesus’ listeners. The first parable fosters trust in Jesus because in Him, God’s kingdom is already taking root and growing. Invisible at first, the seeds will sprout; from an initial small blade, the seed will develop in stages into full growth.

The mustard tree, while not familiar to us, was a very common sight in the area where Jesus lived and taught. The plant didn’t just happen. It had to be planted and nourished. It had to have moisture ... had to be fed, cared for so that people could gain the benefit of its fruit. The small mustard seed implies the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, while the huge tree symbolizes the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. These parables gave the crowd something concrete to which they could relate, a message to ponder, while trying to understand the mystery of the kingdom of heaven.

We can renew ourselves as we progress on this journey through Ordinary Time. We can grow in our faith and love of the Lord. Let us reflect on these stories (parables) that Jesus tells. Where we are in our lives right now may lead us to find new messages or a deeper meaning in the stories that Jesus so masterfully weaves together.

 In faith, hope and love! 

Father Storey  

The Covenant is Fulfilled

June 6, 2021
 

Today’s Gospel for the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ) is a narrative taken from the Passion according to St. Mark that we read on Palm Sunday, and focuses on the covenant that is offered by Jesus near the end of the Last Supper.

In the ancient world, to share a meal was to invite your guests into an environment of hospitality and protection that makes them family. The Passover meal was a reminder of God’s graciousness and protection of the Israelites. God extended a covenant to them as them as they were about to be freed from captivity in Egypt.

We see many parallels when we compare today’s readings and events to Old Testament times. Passover is the commemoration of the Angel of Death “passing over” the homes of Israelites being held captive in Egypt. The symbol used by the angel to identify which households to spare was the blood of a sacrificial lamb prominently displayed on their door step.

Jesus and His disciples have convened just outside the city of Jerusalem. They, along with many other visitors, are on their way to the city to celebrate a Passover meal during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The sacrificial lambs have already been slaughtered in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today’s Gospel opens with Jesus telling two of His disciples to go to the city and find a man bearing a jug of water. The disciples carry out Jesus’ instructions precisely, and Jesus welcomes His family at sundown in the Upper Room in Jerusalem.

In the greatest act of love of all time, God gave to us the Gift of His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, our Savior. We see a manifestation of this love in the words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper: “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them...He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for many.’” (Mark 14:22-26)

St. Paul, in writing of these same events of the Last Supper in a letter to the Corinthians, relates how Jesus 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.” In the magnificence of the Most Holy Eucharist, His Body and Blood, we are nourished and renewed in Christ. We eat, we drink, and we are satisfied!

The covenant is fulfilled. The Body and Blood sacrifice of Christ on the Cross redeems and restores our relationship with God permanently; it spares us from death. Every Eucharist that we celebrate highlights these words. So we follow Christ’s wish, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
 

CONGRATULATIONS, FR. DON CULLEN!

The priests, staff and members of Curé of Ars parish join together in congratulating Father Don Cullen on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He has been a fellow priest, an advisor, a confessor, a confidante, a role model and great friend to so many of us. Thank you for sharing this special event with us today.

God is Love

May 30, 2021
 

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!” This concept of the Holy Trinity is a profound mystery that we will never fully understand while we are here on earth.

Yet, 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.

Today’s Gospel is the concluding verses of St. Matthew’s account: dynamic, precise lines that offer 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.”

The disciples saw the risen Christ and worshiped Him, but they still were doubtful. Yet Jesus entrusted them with His mission to teach and baptize people of all nations, not just that of Israel, and He promised to be with them always to the end of the age. They were the first evangelists.

Pope Francis encourages all of us in his Apostolic Exhortation: Evangelii Gaudium 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.”

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.

                     We flourish in that love.

Father Storey  
 

Pentecost – Birth of the Church

May 23, 2021

“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 heals and gives us hope. Jesus promises 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. His promise: “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.

We see signs of healing and hope in our battle against COVID-19 pandemic. After many months restrictions are being lifted, and a glimmer of normalcy may be on the horizon. We are cautiously optimistic as we make adjustments in our daily lives. Now as we celebrate Pentecost, the birth of our Church, let us vow to be born again in our faith, hope and love of God. We should thank Him 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. Let us use our gifts wisely and on this feast day we can experience a renewal of our lives in our church.

Thanks be to God!

                                                            Father Storey

The Way, the Truth, and the Life                                                                                                                                     

May 16, 2021

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension. Many of us grew up celebrating it as Ascension Thursday, a Holy Day of Obligation, 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 the traditional Thursday or on the following Sunday as we now do in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Through the different Evangelists, we learn that Jesus appeared to His disciples and to others multiple times during those 40 days following His Resurrection, but they did not know Him. It was only when their eyes were opened that they recognized the Lord.

We might be a bit surprised to learn that St. Luke was the writer not only of a Gospel, but also of the Acts of the Apostles. This knowledge may have escaped us because when we read from Acts during the Liturgy of the Mass, selections are introduced as “A reading from the Acts of the Apostles,” with no author cited. Both Luke’s Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles were addressed to “Theophilus” which means “Friend of God.” Luke wanted to use his writings to influence his friend, whom he addresses as Theophilus, to draw closer to God.    
Interestingly, in the final chapter of his Gospel, Luke notes the time of the Ascension as the evening of Easter Sunday, the same day that the empty tomb was discovered. In Acts, Luke places it 40 days later. We must recall that Luke was not delineating an historical timeline; rather, he was teaching spiritual truths. 

As the time neared for Jesus to return to the Father, He told His disciples that He had to leave – but He let them down ever so easy. We read in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; now have faith in me.” Jesus explained, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to myself. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas objected, saying “we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus enlightened him: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Luke described how Jesus was taken from the sight of His disciples. In the detail that Luke provides in Acts, note the similarity to what occurred at the empty tomb early on Easter morning. “While they were looking intently at the sky as He was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They 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’” (Acts 1:10-11).  Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus commissioned the disciples to go preach to all nations, to baptize and to live what He had taught them. He told them to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father because in a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Then He was lifted up and taken from their sight.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes as you did for your disciples that we may truly see you. Open our hearts that we may truly love you and be guided in your way by your truths and your light. Lead us to the place you have prepared for us in your Father’s house. Amen!

Father Storey
 

Lessons in Love

May 9, 2021

As we near the end of the Easter Season, we continue our journey through Chapter 15 of John’s Gospel. We see a progression as Jesus reveals Himself to us. During Lent, when Jesus was asked “Who are you?” He would skirt the issue. Then closer to the Crucifixion He stated, “I am in the Father, and He is in me.” Now Jesus envelopes us in His response, “I am in you and you are in me.” What a beautiful expression of Jesus’ love for us.

Today we are treated to a three-fold tutorial on love. Each Reading gives us a slightly different glimpse as to what love truly is. In Acts, prior to today’s Reading I, the Roman centurion Cornelius has a vision that prompts him to seek a meeting with Peter. About the same time in Poppa, Peter also has a vision about being ordered to eat unclean animals; it’s meaning eludes him. Peter, a Jew, has a deep-seated aversion for Gentiles, but he accepts the invitation of Cornelius. Cornelius welcomes Peter by falling to his knees in homage. This causes Peter to protest that he is only human. During the process, however, Peter understands the meaning of his own vision. 

Each man experiences a conversion: Cornelius to belief in Christ, and Peter to acceptance that Gentiles are to be welcomed in the community. He points out a truth: “God shows no partiality.” True love is given without bias or reservation. God loves each of us just as we are.

The poem that is today’s Reading II, 1 John 4:7-10, is sometimes chosen for weddings or funerals. It is not meant so much to instruct, as it is to draw those who hear it into a loving relationship with God. The continuation of John’s letter is used for the 7th Sunday of Easter: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” (1 John 4:11-12,16) 

The Gospel, John 15:9-17, continues last week’s narrative in which Jesus teaches His disciples about the vine and branches: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.”

John is such a perfect writer to analyze God’s love for us. He was humble and never used his given name; rather he referred to himself as the beloved disciple. John was steadfast in his love for Jesus. He was one of the three disciples to witness the Transfiguration. At the Last Supper, seated to the left of Jesus, he put his head on Jesus’ heart as they sat at table. He never abandoned Jesus. He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to keep watch. John stood at the foot of cross with the three women. He heard the words of Jesus on the cross: “Son, behold your Mother;” and “Mother, behold your son.” He accepted the responsibility of caring for the Blessed Mother. John took her into his home at Ephesus where he cared for her during the rest of her earthly life. John never wavered in his love of Christ and His mother, Mary.
 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today we 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.

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.
                                                           

May 3, 2021

Dear Curé of Ars,

This past week the Johnson County Health Department lifted the mandated mask wearing in public places.  This is certainly good news to some and to others who are dealing with compromised health it is a bit alarming.

As we move forward here at Curé of Ars, we would like to be respectful to all who attend.  As we transition into this way of life let us first be respectful of each other and not make this a political agenda. There are still some who are very concerned about being in public with no mask.  Some of you have compromised health and others are still being very cautious until we know this virus is truly contained and behind us.

To help all we will continue to leave every other pew marked off on the left side of Church as you enter.  The right side will continue to be completely open.  The county has lifted the mask mandate and thus it is up to each and every person as to if you choose to wear the mask or not.  The priests here at Cure of Ars will not be wearing a mask, but will have one on us at all times for those wanting to meet and feel more comfortable with the priest wearing a mask.

As we move forward let us do so with Christian charity.  This has been a crazy year, one filled with anxiety, fear and uncertainty.  We are now living in the same world and things will be different and we have to move forward respecting each other and what each are comfortable doing. 

Thank you for your patience in wearing your masks these past months.  As we move forward, let us not forget the time we were given that allowed our lives to be at a much slower pace.  As we now go forward into a more “normal” way of living I pray we all slow down and enjoy this life and spend time with family and friends and above all with the Lord.

God bless you all,
Fr. Storey and the Curé of Ars Priests, Deacons and Religious

The dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass remains in place. Those with higher vulnerability to the virus are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this dispensation and refrain from attending Mass. 

• PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND Mass if you

  • are in a high-risk category or live with someone at high-risk;

  • have an underlying health condition;

  • feel it is more prudent to stay at home;

  • are ill;

  • are experiencing any virus symptoms;

  • have recently been sick;

  • have been exposed to someone with Covid-19 or Covid-19 symptoms

• We will continue to offer daily Mass online Monday through Friday at 8:15 am and Weekend Mass online Saturday at 4 pm. You can watch these Masses any time on our website or Facebook page.

• Pews on the left side as you enter will be every other pew available. Pews on the right side and in the back chapel are all available to sit in.  

Remain in Me

May 2, 2021

Today Jesus uses the metaphor of a grapevine to illustrate a message that He wants to deliver to His disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.”

Imagine yourself on a tour bus in California’s wine growing region, or on a river boat cruising down the Rhine River in Germany, with grape vines climbing like a wall, covering the hills that seem to soar straight up from the river. Look closely at a vine. Each has a single, sturdy stem from which emanate multiple branches that can bear many bunches of grapes. Jesus Christ often used familiar objects to illustrate the knowledge that He was imparting to His listeners. We can easily visualize the image of a vine as we hear Jesus speaking to His disciples in today’s readings.  

We have a rare opportunity on this the Fifth Sunday of Easter to hear two different Readings from the same writer: Reading II is 1 John 3:18-24, and the Gospel is John 15:1-8. A key theological and verbal link between Reading II and the Gospel is the word “remain.” Reading II concludes, “Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us. Similarly, we hear in the Gospel, “Remain in me, as I remain in you...Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

In his letter, John masterfully weaves together the themes of love, truth, belief and obedience. Central throughout this epistle is “love.” John states, “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” The community to which he is writing is beloved, signifying both their intimate union with God who is love (1 John 4:8,16), and the love they have for one another. John tells us our actions must bear witness to this love. We are given a two-part commandment: believe in Jesus, and love one another as He commanded.

The metaphor of the vine has long been a part of the Jewish tradition. The Prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah both wrote of a covenant relationship that had gone wrong. God had planted a choice vine, but Israel became a wild, untamed vine instead. Whereas the old vine did not produce good fruit, Jesus presents a new image of the vine: “I am the true vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit ... I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”

On this, one of the last Sundays of the Easter Season, we are leading up to a celebration of Pentecost, when God’s promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled. Jesus created a connectivity with His disciples. Because they remained in Him, and His words remained in them, His disciples were able to bear fruit. Without Him, they could do nothing. 

Let us renew ourselves in Christ. Let us strive to maintain connectivity with Him, and remain in Him. We can bear much fruit; our prayers will be answered. Our ministries will be fruitful. We, too, can become true disciples of Christ. We must let His words remain in us, and love as He commanded us. 

 Father Storey 

Hunger

April 25, 2021

Today’s Gospel (John 10:11-18) is part of a lengthy section of John’s Gospel (10:1-42) known as the Good Shepherd discourse. It is addressed to Jews as well as Greeks and probably Samaritans. Jesus identifies Himself as the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. The sheep symbolize the Jewish people, while the wolf represents threats that come in the form of false messiahs and others who claim to provide a path to salvation. Jesus further describes how His sheep know Him but says He must also provide guidance and leadership to others.   

Jewish religious authorities were divided over what they thought about Jesus. Jesus’ words likely infuriated them because they felt He was criticizing their leadership abilities.

Hunger is acute awareness of something missing. It is a discomfort or weakness caused by having little or nothing to eat; it is any strong craving or desire. We hear in the readings during the Easter Season that the disciples were anxious after the death of Christ; confused, longing for the presence of Jesus. When He appeared to them, they did not recognize Him until He ate a meal with them; they saw Him in the breaking of the bread.

Throughout His ministry, we witness occasions of Christ feeding the people. It is only natural that He should reveal Himself to His followers through food, especially the breaking of bread. On one occasion He fed 5000 with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. Another time in the early dawn hours, He provided for the hungry Apostles. They had been fishing for hours, yet had nothing to show for their efforts. Jesus told them to cast their net to the other side of the boat, resulting in a catch that nearly burst their net.

The Disciples hungered for the presence of Jesus. Without Him, they were fearful, afraid of the Jews. They hungered for truth, justice, peace. When Christ entered the upper room in Jerusalem, He said to the Disciples, “Peace be with you!” He opened their minds teaching them as He did before. Even Thomas hungered. He hungered to see Christ so that he could believe.

We hunger – for truth, justice, freedom, peace. We hunger for the True Presence of Christ here on earth. The Eucharist is what unites us; it should never divide us. Jesus says to us, “Peace be with you;” not “Shame on you and go away hungry.” He tells us to go share the Good News with others. Evangelism is our responsibility as good Christians.

Let’s allow Christ to lead us to these gifts: peace, the Holy Spirit, penance, and especially to the True Presence of Christ here on earth. It is through Our Lord and Savior that we can find satisfaction for our hunger; though this hunger will never truly be sated until we are in heaven. Jesus feeds us with knowledge of His Father’s will. He will lead us to His Father. Jesus is present as the risen Messiah. He has fulfilled the Scriptures; the Paschal Mystery is the lens to understand the Scriptures. We will meet Him when we gather together particularly in the Eucharist.

The truth of Christ will set us free. Free to love as Christ loves. Alleluia! Jesus is risen!

 Father Storey   

Open Our Minds

April 18, 2021 

In the readings for Easter and the next few Sundays, we see a departure from the usual. For Reading I, instead of being from the Old Testament, we now have selections from the Acts of the Apostles, a book written by St. Luke.

Instead of Gospel readings from the featured evangelist for the current Liturgical Year, we hear primarily selections from St. John, the Beloved Disciple, with a smattering of selections from St. Luke. St. Luke’s Gospel (24:35-48) for today, the Third Sunday of Easter, concludes with a profound statement: “Then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written Christ would suffer and rise from the dead ... and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sin would be preached in his name ... to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’” As we reflect on this passage, we come to the realization that faith is a gift from God. Without Him we are nothing.

We did not delve into John’s Gospel for last Sunday because we wrote about the meaning of Divine Mercy Sunday. However, we can learn about both Gospels through some of the striking parallels that exist between them. Both Gospels tell how the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples very soon after the Resurrection.

Both Gospels relate how frightened the disciples were as Jesus entered the room in spite of the secured latches. The disciples cowered in fear, but Jesus did not berate them. He lovingly said, “Peace be with you!” assuring his fearful disciples that He was victorious over death, and He fulfilled the promises He made at the Last Supper. Peace was His farewell gift to them.

There are also differences between the two accounts. John attributes the paralyzing fear of the disciples to their being afraid that the Jewish religious authorities would find them and kill them just as they had done with Jesus. In Luke’s version, their fright was due to the disciples thinking they were seeing a ghost. Luke dispels this notion of Jesus being a ghost by relating how Jesus told them to touch His hands and feet because a ghost does not have flesh nor bones. Luke goes on to relate how Jesus asked for food, which He took and ate in front of them. A ghost would have no need of sustenance.

The concluding words of John’s Gospel used for the Second Sunday of Easter include this inspiring message: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” With all love and forgiveness, Christ gave the gifts of peace and the Holy Spirit to the disciples who had abandoned Him during His Passion. Then He instructed them to go share His love and forgiveness with all the world.

Lord, our God, open our minds that we may understand your Scriptures. Deepen our faith that we may believe in you. Guide our hearts to love you as you loved the Father. Give us the right spirit to live our lives in fulfilling your commandments. May we be fruitful evangelists for you and by our lives may we preach forgiveness in your name. Amen.

Reprinted from Divine Mercy Sunday, April 8, 2018
 

A Gift from St. John Paul II

April 10, 2021
 

              April 30, 2000, on the occasion of the canonization of St. Faustina, then Pope John Paul II granted the Feast of Divine Mercy to the Universal Church, to be celebrated the first Sunday after Easter. Fourteen years later, on April 27, he was canonized and henceforth would be known as St. John Paul II, or St. Pope John Paul II.

“Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in Him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.”  These profound words, from St. Peter’s 1st Epistle, form the Entrance Antiphon for today, Divine Mercy Sunday. The Divine Mercy devotion is based on the diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, a young Polish nun who died in 1938. At the direction of her spiritual director, St. Faustina wrote almost 600 pages describing the messages of mercy she received from Jesus Christ, beginning on February 22, 1931, and continuing throughout the remainder of her life.  

The messages were a reinforcement of what Christ always taught: God loves us no matter how great our sins. He wants us to come to Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. We can relate to these A B Cs of Divine Mercy: Ask for His Mercy. Be merciful. Completely trust in Jesus.

St. Faustina’s first entry in her diary describes the image she saw of “Jesus clothed in a white garment ... From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale.” Later these images were explained to her: “The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross.”

In her diary entry 1320, St. Faustina describes the importance of 3:00 p.m.: “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion ... This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.”

Today, let us cherish the beautiful gift of this feast day and practice the A B C’s of Divine Mercy:
Ask for His Mercy. Be merciful. Completely trust in Jesus. 

April 4, 2021
 

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.

“Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven; exult, let Angel ministers of God exult; let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King...”  These words from the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) bring joy to our hearts and music to our ears as we begin our celebration of The Easter Vigil on Saturday evening.      
          
The summit of our liturgical year is the Easter Triduum. The Triduum, chronologically three days, is liturgically one day.  In Jewish liturgical designation, celebrations begin at sundown of the preceding day; hence Triduum starts on Holy Thursday evening and continues to sundown on Easter Sunday. (This explains why there is no evening Mass on Easter.) 

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 a 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.

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.

Jesus’ suffering led Him to a deeper relationship with God. Out of love, Jesus did the will of His Father that we might have new life. This is evidence of our great healing and hope. 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  

Hosanna in the Highest!

March 28, 2021 
 

Father Storey