Dear Parishioners,
Our God is one of surprises who reveals himself in different ways. To Moses, he first appears in the “burning bush” which wasn’t consumed by the fire. Later, at Mount Sinai, he reveals himself in thunder and lightning. In today’s readings (1 Kings 19:9-12), he comes to Elijah not as a strong heavy wind, earthquake, or even fire. Instead, he comes as a tiny whispering sound. Perhaps it is a warning to us that we can never totally figure out God. For just when we think we have, we discover another aspect or another feature in his nature and activity we never before realized. And that’s not a bad thing. It keeps us off balance; we can never take God for granted; we can never presume we have all the answers.
That’s a lesson our world needs to learn where so many, in their pride and arrogance, think that they do, especially our political and government leaders who leave God and morality out of the discussion as we see with so many of our Catholic politicians. They use their Catholic faith when it suits them only to cast the faith overboard when it is politically advantageous to do so. Let us pray that we may look to Christ and his Church for guidance and wisdom in our personal decisions and those of our government leaders.
- Fr. Carl
Rev. Stephen Hook is Pastor of the Pastorate of the Visitation which includes the Catholic Churches of Pasadena, Maryland: St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Riviera Beach) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake (Lakeshore). He is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. John Belinki, Deacon Howard Klohr, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Food for the Soul
Dear Parishioners,
From time to time, we see in the media starving children in poor countries around the world. Our hearts go out to these unfortunate little ones. It is a tragedy that while we send shuttles and satellites into outer space, we haven’t solved the problem of world hunger. Today in the gospel (Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus solves a minor hunger problem by the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He does such a good job that there are twelve baskets of leftovers. Jesus fed their hunger and then some. It is a sign that he can fill our deepest hunger if only we go to him. Today people not only hunger for food, but they hunger for money, power, fame, popularity, and material possessions. However, these things can never satisfy our deepest hunger - that of the soul. As St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself O Lord, and our souls are restless until they rest in You.”
- Fr. Carl
From time to time, we see in the media starving children in poor countries around the world. Our hearts go out to these unfortunate little ones. It is a tragedy that while we send shuttles and satellites into outer space, we haven’t solved the problem of world hunger. Today in the gospel (Matthew 14:13-21), Jesus solves a minor hunger problem by the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He does such a good job that there are twelve baskets of leftovers. Jesus fed their hunger and then some. It is a sign that he can fill our deepest hunger if only we go to him. Today people not only hunger for food, but they hunger for money, power, fame, popularity, and material possessions. However, these things can never satisfy our deepest hunger - that of the soul. As St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself O Lord, and our souls are restless until they rest in You.”
- Fr. Carl
Friday, July 22, 2011
Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven
Dear Parishioners,
If you seek knowledge about God’s Kingdom of Heaven, you need not look for it in a cathedral, or by taking a pilgrimage to a holy place or by attending a seminary. Of course God is to be found in these places, but you can also find the Kingdom of Heaven breaking through into this world in the laughter of children, the knowing glance of an elderly couple who still hold hands after many years of marriage, the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset, the forgiving embrace of a friend, the hospitality of a stranger, or the generosity of people caring for those less fortunate than themselves. To seek the Kingdom of God, we must use the language found here on earth…words like joy, sacrifice, surprise and abundance. Here is where we find the treasure buried in a field, where the proverbial “X” marks the spot for us to begin digging for the treasure of heaven.
- Deacon Robert
If you seek knowledge about God’s Kingdom of Heaven, you need not look for it in a cathedral, or by taking a pilgrimage to a holy place or by attending a seminary. Of course God is to be found in these places, but you can also find the Kingdom of Heaven breaking through into this world in the laughter of children, the knowing glance of an elderly couple who still hold hands after many years of marriage, the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset, the forgiving embrace of a friend, the hospitality of a stranger, or the generosity of people caring for those less fortunate than themselves. To seek the Kingdom of God, we must use the language found here on earth…words like joy, sacrifice, surprise and abundance. Here is where we find the treasure buried in a field, where the proverbial “X” marks the spot for us to begin digging for the treasure of heaven.
- Deacon Robert
“Do not allow yourselves to be
overly saddened by the unfortunate
accidents of this world. You are not
aware of the benefits they bring and by
what secret judgment of God they are
arranged for the eternal joy of the elect.”
- St. John of the Cross
Friday, July 15, 2011
Saints and Sinners
Dear Parishioners,
The Catholic Church has always been a mix of saints and sinners. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. Some who appear to be saints have hidden vices, while others who seem to be sinners have hidden virtues. So it is good to follow our Lord’s advice elsewhere in the gospel, “Judge not lest you be judged.”
Furthermore, the gospel is a reminder of God’s patience in allowing the weeds to remain in the wheat field. What may appear to be weeds may turn out to be wheat and vice versa.
If we examine our lives, we will see that there were times when we seemed to be wheat in God’s field and times when we were wicked weeds. All the while, God is patient with us. However, unlike weeds and wheat, we have free will and can choose how we want to turn out. We can root the weeds out of our hearts only through prayer, penance, and the sacraments. If we do, we need have no fear when the master of the harvest comes.
- Fr. Carl
The Catholic Church has always been a mix of saints and sinners. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. Some who appear to be saints have hidden vices, while others who seem to be sinners have hidden virtues. So it is good to follow our Lord’s advice elsewhere in the gospel, “Judge not lest you be judged.”
Furthermore, the gospel is a reminder of God’s patience in allowing the weeds to remain in the wheat field. What may appear to be weeds may turn out to be wheat and vice versa.
If we examine our lives, we will see that there were times when we seemed to be wheat in God’s field and times when we were wicked weeds. All the while, God is patient with us. However, unlike weeds and wheat, we have free will and can choose how we want to turn out. We can root the weeds out of our hearts only through prayer, penance, and the sacraments. If we do, we need have no fear when the master of the harvest comes.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, July 8, 2011
A Message From Our Deacon
Dear Parishioners,
Jesus provides us with an explanation of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9). He compared the various soils to different receptions of the gospel message: sometimes rejected, other times off to a good start but poor follow-through, other times choked by too many competing interests, and thankfully sometimes received to produce an amazing fruitful life. We want to be the good soil that is receptive to God’s word. But notice that all of the soils mentioned are in the same field, and each of us has experienced having all four types of this soil within us. We have all had times when God’s message bounced right off of us, or took root quickly, then withered soon after, or got choked by the weeds of our competing interests. But then we have also had those moments when the message of God found us at just the right time, when our minds and hearts were ready to hear, when the insights bore fruit and an amazing harvest for God’s glory and our delight.
- Deacon Robert
Jesus provides us with an explanation of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9). He compared the various soils to different receptions of the gospel message: sometimes rejected, other times off to a good start but poor follow-through, other times choked by too many competing interests, and thankfully sometimes received to produce an amazing fruitful life. We want to be the good soil that is receptive to God’s word. But notice that all of the soils mentioned are in the same field, and each of us has experienced having all four types of this soil within us. We have all had times when God’s message bounced right off of us, or took root quickly, then withered soon after, or got choked by the weeds of our competing interests. But then we have also had those moments when the message of God found us at just the right time, when our minds and hearts were ready to hear, when the insights bore fruit and an amazing harvest for God’s glory and our delight.
- Deacon Robert
“Those who are led by the Holy
Spirit experience all sorts of happiness
in themselves.”
- The Saint Cure D’Ars
Friday, July 1, 2011
The best “pick-me-up” ever!
Dear Parishioners,
Whenever you walk into a church, it’s easy to tell if it’s a Catholic Church by the red lamp hanging over, or nearby, the tabernacle to signify that Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament. We keep extra hosts there for three reasons. First, we keep hosts to bring Jesus to the sick and the dying. Second, sometimes a person may be prevented from attending Mass when scheduled, but could come at another time. Third, we keep the Blessed Sacrament there in order for people to come and pray in the presence of our Lord.
In days gone by, most churches were left open so that the faithful might stop in and pray for a bit before the tabernacle. And many people did just that. Sometimes we might go for a cup of coffee, a soda, or a candy bar for a pick-me-up. There can be no better pick-me-up in our hectic schedules than a short or long visit with Jesus. In case you don’t know it, our Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. And on Mondays and First Fridays, we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the altar there. So give yourselves a break and stop in for a visit with Jesus. You will be glad you did.
- Fr. Carl
Whenever you walk into a church, it’s easy to tell if it’s a Catholic Church by the red lamp hanging over, or nearby, the tabernacle to signify that Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament. We keep extra hosts there for three reasons. First, we keep hosts to bring Jesus to the sick and the dying. Second, sometimes a person may be prevented from attending Mass when scheduled, but could come at another time. Third, we keep the Blessed Sacrament there in order for people to come and pray in the presence of our Lord.
In days gone by, most churches were left open so that the faithful might stop in and pray for a bit before the tabernacle. And many people did just that. Sometimes we might go for a cup of coffee, a soda, or a candy bar for a pick-me-up. There can be no better pick-me-up in our hectic schedules than a short or long visit with Jesus. In case you don’t know it, our Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. And on Mondays and First Fridays, we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the altar there. So give yourselves a break and stop in for a visit with Jesus. You will be glad you did.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, June 24, 2011
One bread, one body
Dear Parishioners,
- Deacon Robert
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,Those words are from a hymn we learned as children, but have we given serious reflection to what those words mean in our lives? Our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Because there is one bread, we are part of one body. And because we drink from one cup, we are members of this holy fellowship. His body and his blood are not only given sacrificially for us, they are given generously for the Church. This consecrated bread and wine, this most Holy Eucharist, spiritually nourishes every follower of Christ and sustains the Church as faithful witnesses to Christ.
the cup of blessing which we bless.
- Deacon Robert
“HAPPY is he that lives to love,
receive and serve God!”
- The Saint Cure D’Ars
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