Worldly Priests

Cardinal Rode of the Congregation for religious has recent stated that priests are getting too worldly in a story found on Catholic World News. I believe that he is right on - those communities and diocese where the priests and religious has a strict clerical dress or habits, where there a radical choice to live life as called by Christ, vocations seem to be flourishing.

First Sunday of Lent

This weekend, we hear two powerful episodes from the Scriptures - the first being the Fall - how our first parents sinned. This story is a theologically rich story. Eve is speaking with the snake, while Adam simply ignores the conversation. Instead of assisting her in resisting, he is silent. The serpent twists the truth, saying that God is wrong in limiting them from eating of the Tree of Knowledge, that they will not die but that they will become like God. The standard lie is to redefine things - while they physically did not die, at least on the spot, they did experience the death of their relationship with God, between them (they accused and blamed each other), Creation, and even in themselves (aware of their nakedness, they were ashamed).

In the temptation in the Wilderness, Jesus becomes perfectly obedient. While he was hungry and weakened, He was strong, and must have been well nourished by the Word of God - He quotes Deuteronomy to Satan. Satan tells Him if he is the Son of God, to take the rocks and turn them into bread. Satan takes Jesus to the Parapet of the Temple, and tells him to throw himself down and that God would send his angels to protect him. Last, Satan shows him all the Kingdoms of the world, and that he would give them to Jesus if he would just worship. Jesus turns him down, and as a result begins to undo the disobedience in the sin of Adam, and begins to bring the sure for original sin that we have because of Adam and Eve. This will be fully given in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, in his self-emptying on the Cross. Note, though, that while the temptation was real, it was the grasping that would have been sinful. After all, Jesus turned water into wine and miraculously turned 5 loaves of bread into enough to feed 5000 thousand. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and in His resurrection and ascension does more than land on his feet! Because of his obedience, he is Lord of all, and his name is exalted beyond everything else in heaven and earth!

Our lenten journey of 40 days is an opportunity for us to seek freedom from the lies of Satan and to be obedient to the will of God.

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

The first sermon of Jesus recorded in Matthew's Gospel (of five - calling to mind the five books of the Torah) starts with Jesus proclaiming 8 beatitudes - blessed. To the original hearers, it must have taken them a little off-gaurd. After all, isn't having health and wealth, having enough to eat, laughter, etc, a good thing. In the time of Jesus, those who lacked were seen as falling short of God's blessings, and even today we can often hear of preaching that wealth is a sign of God's favor. But Christ preaches the opposite - blessed are the poor, the sorrowful, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. It is a reminder that true blessedness is not in what we do (or even perhaps what we are), but is a state of being in union with God. While we will experience the good and the bad in life, we must allow God to give us His blessing, and receive those blessings.

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Light is important - anyone who has walked in the dark through a strange place knows this by experience. The land of the gentiles were dark - not physically of course, but spiritually. Without the guiding light of faith that comes from God (who lead the nation of Israel with a pillar of fire), they were dwelling in gloom. But Christ bursts on to the scene, bringing light and guidance. His first words are a call to conversion - the light they were so desperate for is revealing their sins and need to follow Christ.

Jesus calls the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him and to become in turn fishers of men - they too were to call others to repentance and call others into the light of the Kingdom of God. Now, 20 centuries later, we continue to be called and to call others. To be fishers of men ourselves, we need to live in the light ourselves, to be living a life of repentance. May the light of Heaven shine on us, casting out all our darkness.

Article on the Ten Suggestions

This month, we mark National Vocations Awareness Week(January 13-18). While so often we single out priesthood and religious life, we know that we need holy husbands and wives, following the model of the Holy Family. We need holy married couples to raise children in an environment of holiness. Any response to the call of God is first made possible by the loving example of family. Without holy families, the chances of responding to a call are greatly diminished, simply because no one has modeled how to respond to any call, whether to priesthood, religious life, the deaconate, the missionary life, or even holy marriage.
There seems to be a certain confusion among parents for the best practices that would open their children’s hearts to responding. Perhaps we should take comfort calling to mind Pentecost – despite all the confusion, it was the work of the Holy Spirit in which we find the trust that God to still be in control. We also know that more than the minimum is necessary. Following the precepts of the Church are the minimum. What follows are some humble ‘hints’ for parents in how to create an environment in which children will be open to hearing God’s voice and responding in love to that call.
1. Develop your relationship with Christ and impart a desire for discipleship in the lives of your children. Especially important would be participating in Eucharistic Adoration and even if possible daily Mass. Silence is necessary for growth (both your own and for your child), and in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we are profoundly touched by His loving embrace. In frequent reception of the Eucharist, we grow in grace and freedom.
2. Live your vocation to marriage out as fully as you can. By responding to your vocation to marriage, asking for the fullness of grace that God offers, you will model to your children how to live and respond to God’s grace.
3. Speak of the holy and influential priests and religious in your life. Sharing these stories helps to show the impact a religious life can have.
4. Provide opportunities for your children to speak with priests and religious. Invite them to your house, or let your children interact with them after Mass or at various functions. Your children will see them as human beings and begin to ask if God might be calling them, too.
5. Pray for your children’s vocations, that they may understand their call, and place them in the care of the Blessed Mother, through praying the rosary as a family. By placing your children’s vocations to her maternal protection, she will lead them to Christ.
6. Speak of your children responding to whatever vocation they have, showing your support of them without pushing them. Be aware that the vocation comes from God, and that their free response will lead them to lasting happiness. Parents walk a fine line between showing support and forcing a response. Let your children know you are pleased by their response to God’s call.
7. Instill in your children a desire to serve and a proper understanding of stewardship. This can be done through your ‘open’ service and stewardship. Let your children see your joy-filled gift of self, and help them to find opportunities to do likewise.
8. Inspire a heroic life of virtue in your child by reading to them or with them about the lives of the saints and encouraging moral choices.
9. Help your child develop a wide range of activities and discern what gives them joy and what their talents are. By knowing their talents and gifts, your child may be able to know what God desires. There are certain skills that are useful in any lifestyle and vocation, and by learning to place these in the service of God, your child will more readily be able to cultivate other ‘specialized’ gifts that will led to discerning God’s will.
10. Develop a sense of the sacred and transcendent in your child. Great art, literature, and music can inspire us and teach us of the human condition.
There is nothing profound in any of these things. Together, we can build a culture for vocations in our homes, parishes, area faith communities, diocese, and world. We can create an environment which enables and encourages all of us to respond more deeply to God’s call. We can inspire our youth to take their proper places at the altar as lay men and women, as religious, as deacons, and priests, together worshipping God with one unified voice of praise!

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend, our readings invite us to ask how we ourselves are called to be servants and apostles (those sent out) of the Lord. Just as John the Baptist was given a purpose, so to do we. John, though, does something interesting - he forgets who Jesus is, but that the Father had to remind him.

We ask Christ to help us to know how we are called, to watch for the signs, and to respond.

Reflection on the Baptism of the Lord

This weekend, we celebrate another episode of manifestation. Jesus Christ approaches John the Baptist for his baptism for the repentance of sin - the Sinless Creator approaches the 'voice who cried out' to prepare His way. Jesus was not in need of this baptism except as a means to further identify with the rest of humanity. In His act of obedience, Jesus transforms the waters of the Jordan and all the waters of the world (according to the Church Fathers, anyway) to bring us the Baptism of regeneration. Sin is washed away, and we are renewed, restored, and set free to serve God. It is a great mystery that we have in Baptism - it restores us to Grace - the presence of God, the Holy Trinity.

Our life in God begins in Baptism. No matter how old we were when we were Baptized, whether our parents spoke on our behalf (as it is for most of us), or if we made the choice to be baptized, we continue to live out the grace that it brings. In reflecting on our own baptism and perhaps even renewing our Baptismal Vows even through reciting our Creed, we will can respond to God's will. While we may not hear a thunderous voice from the heavens tell us we are His beloved children, we may hear His still, small voice calling us to the next step.