Down and Out

Dear Parishioners,

“Down and Out”
Originally this term was used to describe a boxer who had been knocked down and counted out. For him, the fight was over, and he had lost. That phrase is often used today to describe a person in very unfortunate circumstances, like the street people who have no job, no home, no food, no family, and no hope.

Today’s readings (Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45) tell us that while we may be down, we don’t have to be out. Ezekiel prophesied that the defeated and exiled Israelites would be restored to their homeland; “dry bones” would take on muscle, flesh, and life. Also, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Therefore as long as we have a good relationship with the Lord, we will never be counted out.

- Fr. Carl

“God is the source of life; thanks to His breath, man has life.
God’s breath sustains the entire journey of our life on earth.”
 ~ Pope Francis, Holy Mass for Evangelium Vitae Day, 2013

Be Vigilant!

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon—Laetare (“Rejoice”), taken from the Latin translation of Isaiah 66:10-11, and sets a joyful anticipation for Easter.

Nevertheless, we are still in Lent and need to be vigilant. Several weeks ago we saw Jesus being tempted by the devil, and Pope Francis had some thoughts about the devil and evil upon which it would be good to reflect: “Jesus came to destroy the devil, to give us the freedom from the enslavement the devil has over us. And this is not exaggerating… There is a battle and a battle where salvation is at play eternal salvation of us all.”

“Three criteria: Do not confuse the truth, Jesus fights the devil: first criterion. Second criterion: he who is not with Jesus is against Jesus. There are no attitudes in the middle. Third criterion: vigilance over our hearts because the devil is astute. He is never cast out forever. It will only be on the last day.”

So today as we rejoice on Laetare Sunday because Easter draws near, let us be wary of the devil. As the pope said, “Do not relativize; be vigilant! And always with Jesus!”

- Fr. Carl

“Every human life is precious in God’s sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere.”

Pope Benedict XVI, Letter to Cardinal Dolan
on the Occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the
Somber Events of September 11, 2001

Spiritual DNA

Dear Parishioners,

The Samaritan woman’s spiritual DNA is in all of us (Jn 4:5-42). To be human is to experience no small amount of failure throughout life’s journey. We try and fail at all kinds of things: hobbies, learning, relationships, and, yes, religious devotions. The story tells us clearly that the greater sin is not the failure at any of these. Failure, like success, is part of the human experience.

Like the Samaritan woman, are you drifting from one experience to another? Who isn’t! In the gift of God, we find the promise of living water without end. Who knows, maybe during these Lenten days, we may come to this well of unending grace and there meet the One who alone can transform our lives and make them new. Are you thirsty? Come and drink.

- Deacon Robert

Pope Francis on Temptation

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, we saw Jesus going into the desert to be tempted by Satan. We, too, are not immune from temptation as we all know. Recently Pope Francis offered some insights worth repeating. He said that temptations stem from our passions and the interior wounds we carry from original sin. He said, “It is curious, temptations have 3 characteristics — it grows, it infects, and it justifies itself. It grows: it begins with tranquility and grows. Jesus himself said this when he spoke about the wheat and the tares (weeds). The wheat grows, but also the tares that were sowed by the enemy. And temptation grows; it grows, it grows… And if somebody doesn’t stop it, it will surround everything.”

“And so when we are in temptation, we do not hear the Word of God. We do not understand it. Temptation closes us in, it cuts every capability of foresight, it closes off every horizon, and brings us to sin.”

“When we are in temptation, only the Word of God, the word of Jesus, saves us. To listen to that Word that opens up for us that horizon. He is always to teach us to flee from temptation. And Jesus is great because he not only makes us flee from temptation, but gives us more confidence.”

And while the devil tries to close us in and enslave us in sin, Christ comes to free us from that prison with his Word. As we continue our Lenten observances and draw closer to the Word (Jesus), may we experience the liberating joy God offers us.

- Fr. Carl

Temptation

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s Gospel tells us about Jesus being tempted three times by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). At the end of the day, the score was Jesus 3, Satin 0. Jesus resisted the devil the same way we can. First, he was not ambushed because he knew the tempter would come. And so do we.

Second, Jesus centered his strength in his identity with his heavenly Father, never letting the claims of his baptism fail from his memory. And so it can be with us.

Jesus prepared his heart by storing up knowledge of the scriptures, caring for his soul as well as his mind on God’s word. What do we store up in the pantry of our heads and hearts? What material are we meditating upon and from which we will draw on in the moment of temptation? If all we have to draw upon is sports trivia, the latest gossip, or financial projections, we are in trouble. Those are just junk food to the soul.

But if we follow the way of Jesus, then we too can say, “Away from me, Satin!” And sure enough, defeated, Satin and his temptations will leave us… in a hurry.

- Deacon Robert

“There is an urgent need to recover a correct perspective
on life as a whole. The correct perspective is that of
eternity, for which life at every phase is a meaningful
preparation. Old age too has a proper role to play in this
process of gradual maturing along the path to eternity. And
this process of maturing cannot but benefit the larger
society of which the elderly person is a part.”
~ Blessed John Paul II, Letter to the Elderly, 1999

Let Us Not Worry So Much

Dear Parishioners,

“We have so much; they have so little. Yet we worry so much; they worry so little.”

These were my thoughts after my recent visit to Haiti where I was several weekends ago. I went down to visit a parish to see about partnering with St. Guillaume in the town of Lachapelle in the diocese of Gonaives. This poorest of all the countries in the western hemisphere truly makes a person so appreciative of the many blessings we take for granted in the U. S. Decent public transportation is non-existent. People either walk for miles and miles, get a ride and sit on benches and the rails of pick-up trucks (15–20 passengers), or pile on a motorcycle. I saw a family of 5 on one motorcycle. Water has to be carried to homes, and other supplies are carried in large containers balanced on the heads from the marketplace to the home. Electricity and phone lines are scarce, unemployment is high, and some of the roads are barely drivable. Still the people have great joy, hope, and faith. We can learn a lot from this mostly Catholic country.

When we find life difficult, it would be good to remember today’s words from Isaiah (Isaiah 49:14-15). Even though a mother’s love is strong and persevering, God’s love is even more enduring. He will never forget us. Jesus echoes this sentiment in the gospel (Matthew 6:24-34) when he reminds us while God cares for the birds of the sky and the wild flowers in the field, He cares even more for us and will watch over us. So let us not worry so much.

- Fr. Carl

“Christians know that suffering cannot be eliminated, yet it can
have meaning and become an act of love and entrustment into
the hands of God who does not abandon us; in this way it can
serve as a moment of growth in faith and love.”
~ Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei, 56

The Extra Mile

Dear Parishioners,

I’m not sure where you are today or what the past week, month, or year has done to all your cherished dreams. I do know this… the One who died and rose again walked the first mile to Pilate’s court and the second mile to Calvary to show us the way of love is the way of life. I do know this… first and second mile Christians have gone through the furnace of difficulty, being forced to face all kinds of spiritual, physical, and relational challenges.

What if today you believed you could turn the other cheek, give generously, and go the extra mile? What if today you challenged yourself to follow Jesus, and in so doing, discover the way of love is the way of life? What if today you did just that?

- Deacon Robert

“Society as a whole must defend the conceived child’s
right to life and the true good of the woman who can
never, in any circumstances, find fulfillment in the
decision to abort.”
~ Pope Benedict XVI, address to the Pontifical
Academy for Life, February 26, 2011