St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney

Saint John Vianney was born on 8 May, 1786, shortly before the French Revolution. A patron of parish priests, John Vianney's life was affected in one way or another by the political climate of the time. Being a faithful priest was a very difficult prospect in the culture at the time, and in the spiritual sense. Perhaps earlier than we might imagine, France was undergoing a secular transformation in the latter part of the 18th century.

John Vianney was not a scholar but a wise and loving pastor. He was known best for his simple lifestyle, practical wisdom, charity, and spiritual guidance. He was sent to the town of Ars which was both challenging and needy. His life there eventually brought about a spiritual renewal. People would flock to Ars for spiritual direction by this wise and loving man.

Moses the 'pastor' has had to struggle to maintain faithfulness amongst the people he shepherds. Often Moses engages God with the various grips and complaints he receives from these chosen people. At times Moses wants to run away, and at other times Moses is filled with anger. Mostly though Moses loves the people he serves. And this is important.

I was at the investiture of a Monsignor over the weekend, an older man who has been a priest for nearly 50 years, and was surrounded by people and priests who have been loved by this man. His faithfulness to the priesthood, and the love of the people he served, is the single characteristic which stands out about him. Now we are not talking about the 'kissy-face' butterflies and rainbows love. His is a love of compassion and kindness. Truly a shepherd he would challenge when it was necessary to do so, and always affirming others dignity and goodness. A very good priest.

On this memorial we are reminded that priests are other Christs' in the world, unfolding the Kingdom of God by teaching, preaching, and sanctifying. Over the years I have become more aware of what the title 'Father' really implies. The Gospels help us focus on the fact that even Jesus went to speak with God the Father in the midst of doing mission and ministry. St. John Vianney, and now the good monsignor, as well as countless priests have served as models of priesthood, and most importantly an occasion of Christ, for the Church.

All for the glory of God.

Saint Eusebius

Saint Eusebius is little known saint, who lived during the Third Century. A bishop and martyr, he experienced death because he defended the teachings of Saint Athanasius, another bishop/martyr. During the early Church it was a difficult task to remain true to the teachings of the Church, and of course to sacred scripture. Living a virtuous life in a secular and pagan society was grounds for scorn, ridicule, and even death in some cases. Of course today one's name is mis-spoken and blasphemed on talk shows and on the Internet.

Just as it was in the early Church it is absolutely essential that we are connected to what is true and good. Today's readings include an admonition that when we engage in wrongful actions, allow fear and anxiety to hobble us, to seek our own cause as opposed to that of God, then our lives begin to break apart. Sin and confusion can lead us quite easily from what we ought to be as God's holy people.

I guess I should not be amazed, but it is overwhelming to read on message boards and the like the various misunderstandings of the Church specifically, and Christianity in general. As I have mentioned before, when movies and television portray priests and women religious, they show a vesture worn long before the late sixties. Their depth of knowledge is lacking any meaningful or credible understanding of the teachings of Christ, and his Church.

We experience healing and peace when we are connected to the grace and blessings that our God offers us through Jesus Christ. Conversion and discipleship is an ongoing process by which we continue to pronounce our faith, and seek healing and reconciliation where it is needed. What is the one line of that song, 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.' It really is an ongoing struggle and time of seeking. We want to find peace and solace, and the kingdom, rather than meanness and a hardened heart.

We stand firm in the faith in which we have been planted. We cannot shy away from the cross because that is where we will find healing and new life.

Come to the Water

The imagery in Matthews Gospel is most powerful. Jesus, who has been in prayer for a while after the death of John the Baptist, goes off to a secluded place. The people who have seen and heard all of the marvelous actions of Jesus travel so as to catch up with him. When Jesus sees the crowds of people his heart is moved with compassion. He heals their sick and proclaims the Good News to them.

There is a dialogue between Jesus and the Apostles. The Apostles suggest that Jesus send the people to the nearby towns for food. Jesus replies that they the disciples provide for for them. The miracle that we the hearer witness is that what little they have is multiplied by Jesus. In another part of the same Gospel we are reminded that the person who possesses gifts will be given more gifts. St. Paul will tell us that these goods things are given for the good of the community.

A theology professor from Yale university, Dr. Kathryn Tanner, comments that Jesus is not an incomprehensible stand-in or substitute for God. Jesus is the Incarnation of the Word of God. Jesus displays in his life what it means to be the flesh and blood of God the Father. This human Jesus recognizes our needs and enables us to be fed and healed. Jesus gives us every grace and blessing in abundance.

St. Paul wants us to understand that Christ delivers us through his compassionate love, which is best understood on the cross. Jesus' blessing of the bread and fish connects to the Last Supper, and the Eucharist in which we share. We gather around the altar with numerous hungers, hurts and needs. We cannot allow fear or other distractions to prevent us from being fed and healed. Once we are full and made one with the Father, and each other, we can 'Go forth to love and serve the Lord.'

Jesus becomes in a real and tangible way food for our journey. It is enough so that we can share Good News with each other of all that we have seen and heard. The Church, and ourselves, become a sign and symbol of the Christ who is our salvation and peace. We do no have to go away to find solace and food, in Jesus we have more than enough to eat.

Like a net cast into the sea

In chapter five of Matthew's Gospel, shortly after the Beatitudes, we are told that we must be Holy as our Father in heaven is Holy. The readings from St. Paul these last few weeks have been from his 'Life in the Spirit' section. "What can separate us from the love of God," he will ask us. Today's selection reminds us that God's invitation to holiness is offered far and wide to all peoples. In matter of fact God pours out upon us every grace and blessing that we might have the resources to follow His guidance and directions. After all we do not want to be left outside wailing and gnashing.

There seems to be a contradiction here. God's call is sent out to everyone, and didn't Jesus forgive sinners and other sort of terrible folk? This is true, but the key words here are goodness and truth. Jesus' Good News calls people to conversion and discipleship. God sends us his Son, the laws and the prophets so as to live in the Kingdom and find light, happiness, and peace. In subtle yet significant wording the ones who actually find fulfillment in the Kingdom, are the seekers, the ones who sell everything to possess the treasury of God, those who are seemingly rotten who cause the bread to rise, and the good fish who show up in the net.

It is common practice today to wag our fingers at the Church since it's teachings and lifestyle seem so out of sync. Some see the Church as unraveling, and dying on the vine. The Church should get with it. The Gospel message is counter-cultural and is a challenge to our society today. The Church continues to change in relationship to its ministries and practicalities. But it continues to proclaim the Paschal mystery, enable conversion, evangelize, teach, preach and sanctify. The dignity of life and the call to holiness will always be part of the Church's teachings.

We continue to be fishers of men and women, drawing folks together by our proclamation of the Gospel. Wherever we are we are making the name of Jesus known, and his promise of the kingdom. There is a real challenge for us today to stand up straight, and to boldly profess our faith.

Ss Joachim and Ann

At Mass on Sunday one of my servers felt dizzy and sat down very hard. One of the other servers went over, without any fanfare, and took his place while keeping watch over the stricken server, about three years his junior. I was impressed with how quickly this young man stepped into this situation to help. Making sure that the younger boy was okay and maintaining the decorum of the Liturgy.

If you knew the older servers parents' there would be no surprise in his actions. His parents are good people who live their faith very publicly. I do not mean in a holy-go-pious manner, but their care and respect of others is most evident, as is maintaining a sense of integrity and dignity at all times. They know that they cannot walk by a mess without in some way offering assistance. And their children have learned this lesson as well.

The Profession of Faith is a very public matter. Too often in religion today we try to make our conscience a private matter. Our culture tends to push the 'Lone Ranger' mentality. In the Scriptures today Moses speaks to God in respect to all of the people. Jesus teaches that evil doers will have a difficult time at the end of the age. In the end our orientation and direction in and about the community is mostly important. While we are good people the question needs to be raised for us as to how we have served God's people.

Mary in her unconditional 'Yes' recognizes what God has done for all peoples throughout the generations. She confidently gives an affirmative reply because she recognizes God's faithfulness. Moreso she knows that this faith is not just about her; it is about all of God's people. One can only imagine that she came to that understanding partly because of how she was raised. She had heard the stories of faith around the family table. The commands of God were not merely hanging on a wall someplace in the house, but lived in the daily relationships with family and friends.

The Church teaches how important it is that the family and home become a place of catechesis and evangelization. The domestic Church is where the act of praying is first learned, as are the introduction to faith and morals. By preparing our young ones for the Mystery of Faith, and reflecting that same Mystery in the home, we help our children understand their connection to the faith community, and the community which is all of God's people.

It is amazing how at Mass we can hear about how we need to be God's holy people, and are even given the opportunity to put it into practice. Our prayer is as always, May the godd things that God has begun in you be brought into perfection.

The kingdom of Heaven is ...

Remember back in the 70s there was that one frame illustration entitled, "Love is?" We were to reflect that love is never having to say you are sorry, or is sharing something nice with another, or even complimenting someone else. Matthew is finishing up a series of sayings in regards to the Kingdom of Heaven. Using basic everyday examples Jesus tells us that he Kingdom of heaven is very much like a mustard seed, a woman kneading dough, and a fine pearl of great price. Partly this is Matthew's theology of understanding that the Kingdom is in the future, but it is also deeply rooted in our hearts today.

Matthew begins his Gospel (more or less) with the Beatitudes. Blessed are the meek, humble, peacemakers, and those who suffer for the sake of the Kingdom of God. By living the virtues expressed in this series of sayings, we begin to uncover the Kingdom of Heaven. More to the point of today's Gospel, if we are to possess the treasure offered by God's Kingdom then we have to be able to take radical steps in our relationship with God, and others, so as to possess this valuable entity. Remember that Jesus tells the rich young man to go and sell all that he has, and to come and follow him. The disciples are called away from their lifestyles to be His permanent followers. And Jesus makes it clear that we have to take up a cross in order to be his followers.

St. Paul states that our participation in the Kingdom of God is beyond the celebration of the common meal within the Christian community. It is also a matter of reconciliation and forgiveness, peace-making, charity, and chastity. The Gospels reiterate the truth that as we engage in holy works, we begin to discover the holiness of God.

The journey is as important as the actual possession of the treasure. Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven makes us ready to receive the grace and blessings of God our Father, through Jesus Christ. The treasure though invites us to a radical choice to give up and throw out the yuck and gunk of life, so as to possess what is truly valuable and precious in God's eyes. Take Lord, receive ... your love and your grace are enough for me.

The Body of Christ Hurts

I was reading a news story about a young boy who was being accused of murder. The child allegedly killed the girlfriend of his father. The majority of the story was a lot of hand-wringing in regards to how this could have happened; and how did people miss the warning signs. The Yahoo news offered two similar stories in which young kids had been bullied for years and lashed out at their abusers. Many of the commentators offer quick and easy solutions. But we have to understand that these wounds do not happen overnight. And mostly they have great complexities' becoming enmeshed in fear and denial.

In the Books of Genesis and Exodus the writers explore the theology of Sin and Evil. The disregard of goodness and truth are not one time actions that appear out of nowhere. Over time when we allow those small moments of disrespect of God's law, and the love of one another to occur, then we begin to beat up the Body of Christ. It is a matter of looking at those "foundational" Sins as being the culprit to much of the sin and brokenness that we experience in our world.

The Sins of pride, envy, lust, greed, jealousy, and sloth, are so often the cause of the hurts and pains that the human family suffers. The stories of the Old Testament speak to us very clearly as to how these Sins move us away from God, and become institutionalized. The reason that the prophets are hated is that they are speaking to a status quo that had become acceptable practice.

Sins such as violence, even in the subtle forms of bullying, disrespect, the lack of charity and compassion, poverty, and all of the different 'isms' we have, find their source in a tradition of Sin and Evil. We are no longer shocked by pornographic images and peoples broken lives.

The challenge is to go back to the mountain of the Lord and to recall who we are and what we are all about. I have couples come in for marriage who will tell my that they were baptized and received their first communion here in this church. My question anymore is, "What does that mean for you today." A lifestyle of goodness has to be more than a series of disconnected nice actions. It really needs to be striving for holiness, justice, and peace.

The Ignatius 'Take Lord and Receive' can be a daily mantra. It is a challenge not to be dragged down into the gunk and muck. In order to bring healing to the Body of Christ we have to be attentive to his presence withing us.