We have given up everything to follow you

I have mentioned this a few times before, but I think it is worth repeating.  As a child I remember a picture in one of my religion books, from second or third grade.  Now remember this is the mid-1960s.  On one page the was an illustration of a married couple, with the caption beneath which read, 'This is a good life.'  On the opposing page was a picture of a priest and a religious sister, in cassock and full habit of course, bearing the caption, "This is a better life."

For many generations, and probably even today, there was this unspoken understanding that priests and nuns had a higher, and a better calling.  Father and Sister did ministry in the Church while everyone else just came to watch.  This is strange in that since I was a young'in men and women were encouraged to take an active role in a variety of Church ministries.  Yet one of the comments which I often hear, that causes me to cringe, is that folks are doing something in the parish "to help Father."  Such a mindset lacks the commitment and ownership which is required in ministry.

Peter approaches Jesus today with the concern of having given up so much for what they do, and what return do they receive.  Jesus will, as he does multiple times in Mark's Gospel, reiterate that discipleship is about the cross.  The question we ask is not about the perks we might receive through a Christ-centered lifestyle, but rather how much more can we pour out?  The Gospels use the imagery of accepting the Gospel as a child, good Samaritan, and a foot washer.  These are models of discipleship.

More so, in the Epistle from this past Sunday, Paul will remind us that the gifts bestowed on us through the Holy Spirit are given us to build up the Church; the living Body of Christ.  Baptism Confirmation, and the Eucharist, are spring boards in which we launch into the world.  But if ministry is simply done to get service hours, or because Father needs help, we are missing something very essential in our relationship with the faith community.  This is why stewardship is so hard to understand for a lot of parishioners.

I am old enough to remember a day in which we had several people in my home parish who played the organ for Mass.  One of whom was a public school teacher.  None of these persons received a stipend.  To be sure today we require more training for our catechists and ministers of care.  But Baptism says we enter into a relationship of ongoing conversion and discipleship.  We take responsibility for the needs and concerns of the community because it is our community of faith.  We do not count the cost but give because it is the right thing to do. 

Lord, send down your Spirit

Jesus appears to the apostles, who are fearfully huddled in the upper room, and breathes on them.  He commands that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  This action is reminiscent of the creation story in which God breathes life into the nostrils of the clay made man.  The Spirit of God is about new life, peace, and unending joy.  At Pentecost the apostles launch out into the world proclaiming the Paschal Mystery with tenacity, and in various languages.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit enables the Church to continue on the mission and ministry of the Church.  So we receive these gifts with love and thanksgiving, nurture them, share them in love and charity, and return them with increase, to the Lord.  The Spirit does not leave room for complacency or doing the status quo in the Church today.  The renewal brought to us through the Holy Spirit moves the Church along the journey towards our Christ.  What we receive through the Holy Spirit continues to unfold the reality of the Kingdom before us.

Certainly the challenge for our Church, and for the faithful within, is to understand that the Holy Spirit leads us into the uncomfortable.  The Spirit stretches us and opens us up.  Yet this same Spirit provides us with the strength and courage so that we might be able to make bold proclamations according to truth.  Both the prophets and the apostles discover this to be true.  They protest that they are too young, or they grow weary of being chased by evil people, yet discover an inner strength which enables them to stand firm on conviction and the values they have come to know.

When we allow the Spirit to work in our Church, and in our lives, we discover how powerful the grace of God really is.  We discover words and wisdom that we never knew that we had.  The Spirit allows the Church to be light, life, and holiness for the world.  More over it continues to be an obstacle and stumbling block for the impious and self-absorbed.

Lord Send Out Your Spirit and Renew the Face of the Earth.

Feed my Sheep

Scholars have mused a great deal over the Gospel of today, from John 21, whereas Jesus will ask Peter three times, whether he loves him.  Some claim it is because of the three-fold denial by Peter, while others will claim Jesus is setting forth instruction for the early Church; ie feeding, caring, tending.  In my great scholarship I like to think that sometimes it takes asking the same question three times to finally have a sincere and truthful answer.

In Isaiah 40 God is conveyed as the shepherd who takes care of the flock, and like in Psalm 23, pastures them with great care and compassion.  Later in 1 Peter 5, St. Peter instructs his community that the role of the shepherd, ie Bishop, must be one of love, care, and mercy.  Leadership is tempered with justice and love for those that one serves.

In the early description of the Christian community, as found in Acts, we see a group that are single minded and full of Paschal joy.  But where two or more are gathered we have conflicts, misunderstandings, and challenges.  More so, this early group of believers, not unlike today, has folks who have been part of the faith revealed to them by the apostles, while others are barely starting their faith journey.  So first the shepherd needs to be patient, kind, and a good teacher.  Second, as the believer grows they need to understand that so to do the challenges of faith.

Shepherding and Pastoring have never been easy tasks.  Like Paul in the readings of these last few days, some will always be offended by the Gospel message and want to destroy the messenger.  It is tempting to water down the message, but it is not being faithful.  The more we grow into our roles as faith-filled, baptized and confirmed Christians, the more and the greater responsibility we have in life.  This is a scary prospect.  But we are given the gift of the Spirit to sustain us and give us courage in our shepherding endeavors.

Make no doubt about it, the Shepherds and Pastors of our Church have an important role in the Church today.  But then again so do moms and dads who are responsible for the faith of their children, and married couples who are sacramental signs each day.  It is easy to become distracted.  So we need to be asked several times by Jesus, until we are really paying attention - Do you love me?  

Where are we going?

In John's Gospel today, Jesus states, "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God."  The Gospels continue with this theme that true discipleship comes with its relationship to God the Father.  This is of course where we want to be headed, but how we would want to live our lives today.  In John's Gospel there is some extrensive teaching about the love relationship which Jesus shares with the Father, and through the Paschal Mystery we share in that relatonship now.  And we want to live in that unity forever.

In one of Mark Twain's stories the young Tom Sawyer questions whether he wants to go to heaven.  The descriptions he hears are of long robed people waving palm branches and singing hymns.  This does not sound real exciting for him.  Cwertainly this does not sound real exciting for any of us.  But we need to re-visit an understanding of love and joy which we have found in the scriptures.  The loving relationship we come to understand is one of completeness and selflessness.  In a world that is overwwhelmed by lonliness, violence, and selfishness, it is difficult to perceive this place of light, happiness, and peasce which the scriptures allude to.

Every once in awhile we meet people, or have the experience, of selflessness.  Not only are we beset by its depth and sincerety, but also by its power to change our lives.  This is why the scriptures do not simply invite us to be "nice" to one anotehr, but to be profoundly loving.  The prayer that is offered in the Gospel today has Jesus praying that we, the people he has redeemed, may be protected while we live in the world.  And if we are blessed and graced by God, then we have the capacity to love boldly.  Our focus is on eternal life while we live as people in communion with God.  It's that 'Where Charity and Love prevail, there God is ever found.'

This goes back to this past Sunday in which our task is not about staring up into the heavens with longing, but being busy about the mission of Jesus Christ.  Our society offers many challenges to our faith today.  It is tempting to dilute the teachings of scripture and tradition and midigate the call to discipleship.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit people of the Kingdom of God have to be a stumbling block from time to time.

Why  can't we believe like everyone else?  Because we are consecrated to the truth.  That place of light, happiness, and peace, has to be our ultimate goal and reality.  We get there by remaining focused and orientated on what is good.  Anything else we are deceiving ourselves.

Ascension

In Paul's letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul carefully puts together the significance of the Paschal Mystery.  Jesus as the High Priest offers one perfect sacrifice, on the cross, which brings salvation and peace to the world, and sanctifies everyone else who participates in this sacrifice.  Some of the Patristics who comment about today's feast, would suggest that our participation is not just receiving the Eucharist, but rather it is a lifestyle that includes a dying to oneself.  Again there is that ominous .conversion and discipleship aspect to the faith which we profess.

Yesterday I went up to Rockford for an ordination of two men, to the priesthood, for our diocese.  One of my favorite parts of the ordination is at the receiving of the bread and wine, and while kneeling before the bishop, receiving the prepared chalice and paten, being directed to imitate the mystery that is celebrated.  Priestly ministry is not about prancing around the altar.  The sending forth in the new translation of the Mass directs us to 'Go and proclaim the Gospel of the Lord.'  Receiving and celebrating the Eucharist implies a lifestyle which imitates the Paschal Mystery.

Eons ago, in another parish, the director of our RCIA did a reflection on the consecration of the Mass.  Her entire focus was the phrase, "Do this in memory of me."  It was very good.  Her premise was that once we leave the Mass we continue to do our discipleship in memory of Jesus Christ.  To be sure there is a lot of yuck and gunk that is encountered each and every day, and our proclamation of the Gospel needs to be a beacon in the midst of darkness.

In the pastoral letter, Called and Gifted, the laity are challenged to possess the sacraments they receive in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, and to 'do ministry.'  I think that we sometimes still labor under the assumption that 'Father' and 'Sister' do church things.  The rest of the people show up to watch.  The Disciples are basically directed to stop staring up at the sky.  They are to be busy about building up the Church.  All Easter we have read from the Acts of the Apostles and have witnessed a faith-filled group which lives a Christian lifestyle, all the while struggling with the carious challenges and demands of the Gospel.

Our proclamation takes may forms and directions.  St. Paul reminds us that there are teachers, administrators, prophets, and evangelizers, all formed by the Holy Spirit.  Each step we take is a new moment of Gospel living.  We cannot stand around posing for holy cards, but have to get to work for the Kingdom of God.

The Spirit of Truth

In high school and college, part of my television entertainment came from Saturday Night Live.  Most of the members of the original troupe became well loved mainstream actors and actresses.  The SNL skits were very funny for our teen-aged and young adult minds.  Everything from the Loud's, to the Church Lady, were parodies on the experiences and major news stories of the day.  There were enough suggestive remarks, and off color humor, to make the show and characters memorable.  As I have tried to watch the show in recent years though, I have found it more offensive than not. This is not from some sense of maturity, but the attempt at humor has become become vulgar and cheap.

In some ways this is our culture today.  We live in a place where everyone is a social commentator and a comedian; all in one.  As Paul and Silas launch out into the world to proclaim Good News, they find their message receiving less than a popular hearing.  They were going into a culture that was consumed with having, and an unusual philosophy of one's body and spirit.  To be sure they were in a place and time that was overtly materialistic and sensitized.  The message of the Gospel, with it's emphasis on compassion, love, and mercy, did not find an eager hearing among the various hearers.  More so to advocate a lifestyle based on moderation, charity, and chastity, was laughable by many.

Television shows such as SNL, are an indication of what our culture finds acceptable in regards to humor today, in addition to a base attitude towards the human person.  Discipleship as perceived in sacred scripture is more about instilling a sense of Christ-ness in the world today, through the love of God and one another.  Our Christian witness really has to be prophetic.  I have been recalling the story of "The emperors new clothes," as of late, and call to mind that the truth is found in the innocence of a child.

Faith and reason allows us to be in the world, yet to rise above the culture of the day.  If we are striving for truth then we cannot allow the vulgarities of the day to dissuade us from being and doing good.  The message of the Gospel really is a threat to many people today.  It asks us to be profound in matters of love, charity, justice and peace.  We are called to take seriously our human dignity, and respect life from the womb, to the tomb.

Every time we proclaim Good News there is a risk that someone will want to chase us down with a pointy stick or sharp instrument.  But in the realm of things it is a risk worth taking.  Going forth and proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord.

Bishop David John Malloy

Today our Diocese installed its ninth Bishop.  David John Malloy is a Wisconsin Native and has served the Church on a national and even international level.  This has been a wonderful two days of celebration and a mega liturgy.  Several of my brother priests have spoken about how excited they in receiving a man of his background and pastoral nature.  He seems to be a very kind and gentle man.

In actuality the Bishop is the full priest of the diocese.  Since it is difficult to celebrate 7:00 a.m. Mass at two dozen parishes, the Bishop will ordain Presbyters to assist him the ministry.  The Priest is ordained to preach, teach, and sanctify.  The Bishop stands as the head-shepherd of the local Church, or a diocese.  By the teachings and the policies of Bishop, a diocese receives a direction by which it responds to the needs and concerns of a particular local.

It is appropriate that we had the ordination and installation today being that it is the Feast of St. Matthias.  Matthias is appointed as the new apostles who would replace Judas.  This action was one of the first of many challenges that the early Church faced.  In addition to replacing apostles and devising the role of Deacons, the Church encountered some infighting and hostility from the outside.  The early faith communities continued to rely on the Eucharist and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide them.

But even today we have problems from the inside of the institution, as well as from without.  Like the early Church we are challenged to rely on the sacraments we have received, the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as the gifts and talents of shepherd like Bishop Malloy.  The tasks of the Church today, while they be daunting, are best answered through the human instruments like our Bishops.  Bishop Malloy asked that we pray for him, as he will pray for us.

May what God has begun in him be brought to completion.