Francis of Assisi

"Francis, a man of God, left his home and gave away his wealth to become poor and in need.  But the Lord cared for him."  This is from the Liturgy of the Hours today.  Fancis of Assisi lived during the 13th century and is probably one of the best loved saints.  We have romanticized his life quite a bit, but Francis himself was set firmly in reality. 

A wealthy young man who had served in the military, was imprisoned and beaten.  During this time a vision of Christ prompted him towards a conversion.  Returning home he gave awaay all of his physical wealth and sought to live simply in the woods.  Francis suffered rejection by his family and friends, physical illness, hardships, and poverty.  Through all of this he maitained a tremendous sense of joy and zeal for the Gospel. 


Also from the Hours today are the words of Francis, "We should never desire to be over others.  Instead, we ought to be servantswho are submissive to every human for God's sake.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way a persevere to the end. ..."  Francis came to understadn that real peace radiated from real love and a whole understanding of our humanity.  In the humility and simplicity of Francis he came to discover the real needs and concerns of each man, woman, and child.  Just as Jesus was raised on the cross for our salvation, we too are invited, and even challenged, to raise each other up so as to bestow new life.

We are invited to walk in the footsteps of Francis who walkd in the Lord's steps.  As imperfect as we all are Francis sought to empty himself and live the Body of Christ. He gives us a powerful example of what we can be if we are united to Christ.


Guardian Angels

O beautiful Angel Guardian,

you stay with me on this earth,

enlightening me with your splendor.

You are become my brother,

my friend, and my consoler.

~St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Archangels Among Us

Today we celebrate the feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.  Their names reflect the divine attributes of God, 'who is like God,' 'God is strong,' and 'God heals.'  We celebrate these heavenly beings because to do so draws us closer to the mystery of God, and of God's providence.  The Archangels remind us that God is not disconnected from us, but finds his home in our places and in our history.

In a parish far away, and long ago, before the Easter morning Mass, as I prepared the incense, one of the parishioners began to complain about the smell of that "stuff."  In my naivete I tried to explain the significance of incense.  I might as well have been describing the attributes of a dwarf star.  But mystery is something that we sadly lack in our spirituality and liturgy today.  Perhaps it is because of the post modern world we live in, but we do not allow our inner being to touch the divine, or even to contemplate the mystery of faith which we profess.  Maybe this is why this feast of angels is so important for us.

In using God words and imagery, we are forced to define what this means in the larger world sense, and for our own lives as well.  To consider the awesomeness of God is to reflect on our response to a God who creates us, as well as brings us peace and salvation.  We also need to move from contemplating the God of life in our head, to our hearts.  This can be a daunting task.

Moving to a more intimate relationship with God helps us understand our prayers, to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and to serve God in loving him and one another.  The Archangels, and their ministry, helps us to call to mind that God's love and compassion is beyond our comprehension.  When we falter or have doubts, God reaches into human lives and embraces all men and women.  Our use of prayer, meditation, and 'God Language,' keeps us connected to the life of God, and helps us find him in the midst of a confusing world.  We are God's delight.

Today's feast says something very important about us as it does the Archangels.  The whole of the cosmos is directed towards our salvation.  If God is for us, who can be against?

Awaken Faith

As part of our adult religious education, we started the Awakening Faith program tonight.  It was the usual crowd.  In many ways I was disappointed with the turnout, but I am happy using this program.  The need for adult catechesis is so very evident and urgent; especially at this time in history.

Blessed John Paul II called on the Church to begin a New Evangelization.  While catholics have a lot of trouble with the word, it really has a lot to do with relation which one has with Christ, and with the Body of Christ, the Church.  In grade school and in R.E. classes we learned certain facts and figures about the Church, as well as a set of prayers.  This became the be all, and end all, of the Church.

To be sure our Gospel challenge is to have a relationship with God, through his Son, that leads to an ongoing transformation and spiritual growth.  One difficulty is that when we teach the children, we can only offer them so much.  Obviously we cannot explore issues of morality, or teach meditation, with fourth graders.  But then again we need to nurture and nourish that relationship.  This same growth takes place when families pray, go to church together, and participate in a life of faith.

At the conference in Chicago last week some asked whether we were bothered by the mega-church at Willow Creek.  Statistics will indicate that many catholics leave the Church for that and similar churches, but a large percentage returns to the Catholic Church.  The Sunday worship is a high powered music and light show.  It is impressive.  But what most people do not realize is that the real 'parish' happens on Wednesday nights, with a family orientated bible study.  The two hour session is divided by age groups and is an intense study and reflection.

Catholics have a rich tradition and extensive theology.  Sadly very few outside of theologians and the Church leadership know about it.  The Gospel challenges us to be on fire within our faith.  Faith-filled catholics are called to embrace our belief and to mull it over often.  We were created and redeemed in a garden, and have to consider how well our garden is growing.  Its time to till the soil.

House of Stewardship

I am in Chicago at the International Conference on Catholic Stewardship.  For the most part the speakers have been excellent.  I especially like talking with the other conference goers.  I meet people from all over and get to listen to them talk about their work and their parishes. But I also get to hear them talk about the Church.  This is not only revealing but challenging as well.

I find myself replacing the word 'stewardship' with 'discipleship.'  Even as I read the document, Stewardship: A Disciples Response, in my mind I think that the Bishops of the time were really talking about being disciples.  Some where along the path we fell away from the following of Jesus, and sort of did our own thing.  What is scary is how to help people take responsibility for their faith.

In Psalm 101 today, from Morning Prayer, the phrase "I will hate the ways of the crooked; they shall not be my friends," really struck a chord with me.  Not that I have crooked friends, but I think that we as a Church took upon ourselves some "crooked" ways.  When I was first ordained I recall that business models were being used in running parishes, as was soft psychology to manage staffs.  And more troubling was the power-plays made at the local chancery office.  Pride, arrogance, greed, seemed to be the foundation of some who sought to "serve" the Diocese.

In reflecting on Stewardship we necessarily have to break beyond the time, talent, and treasure mantra, and learn to be Servant-Leaders.  I read a fantastic book a few years ago which spoke to this.  From Maintenance to Mission, proposes that we re-discover the call of the disciples to share 'Good News.'  First and foremost our parishes, and even our catholic lives, are somehow centered on the call to carry the Gospel.  Sometimes we get in the way though.  How do I serve the Gospel, as opposed to the other way around.

More than anything else we need to strengthen that concept of being in communion with God through Jesus Christ.  If God has given us good things, what does our 'thank you' look like in our parishes, families, schools, and communities.  St. James has been quite blunt these last few weeks with ideas.  That is really the stewardship response.

Take up your Cross and Follow me

As youngsters we were told more than one to bear our cross.  Sometimes we meet a coworker, neighbor, or even a family member, and we consider them our cross in life.  The Gospel today reminds us that our 'taking up our cross,' has little to do with the arbitrary inconvenience and hardships that we have to faced on a regular basis. The cross is instead a learning instrument for us.

The Disciples will again and again misunderstand what it means to live as true followers of Jesus.  The Profession of Faith by Peter shows that he is, at least for a moment, able to let go of the shallow understanding of being an understanding.  Power, glory, and kingship are not based on what the world offers, but rather a divine model which takes responsibility for what it has received.

Jesus shows his intense love for humanity by his care and compassion towards all of those he meets.  But even more so his real suffering and death on the cross teaches us the importance of being spilled out on behalf of others.  Living with others habits or weakness is not the kind of suffering that the cross is about.  But when we choose to forgive an injury, console the dying, encourage one with and addiction, then we begin to lift up that cross.

To be sure our life is to be formed by the image and likeness of the cross.  God is first and foremost in our lives, and we respond to the needs and concerns of others, and uphold and maintain our own dignity as well. The ability to respect life and to make choices which demonstrate a profound faithfulness, then we start to imitate the flavor of the cross of Jesus Christ.

The cross of Jesus calls us to a new and perfect relationship with him.  What is lacking in our life is made up in the suffering of the cross.

The Mass is brought to you by.

If there was some way of avoiding it, I would not mention the Mass intention of the day.  First and foremost because people come to believe that this is "their" Mass.  It is an ownership that is perceived in a very unhealthy way, sometimes with less than liturgical ideas of flower placement, pictures, or even prayers.  Secondly, and the cause of much consternation, is that it is often easy to mispronounce various names,  While I have no problem with the Eastern European names, the Italian and Greek are somewhat tricky.

The common everyday catholic might not understand that the Mass at ones local parish is really the prayer of the whole Church.  When we celebrate the liturgy we are celebrating with all believers everywhere, in connection with the heavenly community, and that on earth.  There is a document entitled, General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which is the guiding foundation of the Mass.  While we might like certain music, or would prefer the sanctuary decorated in a particular manner, the General Instruction, or GIRM, gives a guideline to each aspect of the celebration of the Mass.  The priest is obliged to follow the directions of this document for a proper and valid celebration of the Mass.

Obviously some aspects are more important than others.  It is essential to use only bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist.  While the altar should not be obscured by decorations, a single floral arrangement is not problematic.All this is for the reverent and standard celebration of the Mass.

In addition to Mass, each of the rituals has its own directions.  The Marriage rite does not include an elaborate procession, and as of recently includes the Gloria, during a wedding Mass.  As to Funerals, we do not have eulogies, and catholics can have cremains present at a funeral Mass.

When we talk about 'our' Mass, it is ours in the sense that we are Catholic, and gather together to worship in spirit and in truth.  The celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist draws us together as a community of faith and Body of Christ.  Doing liturgy well allows us to concentrate on more heavenly matter.