How Will You Answer?

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s parable is a story about a man who had two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). One morning, the father asked one of his sons to go and work in the family vineyard. The boy responded with a defiant “I will not.” But later in the day, he reconsidered his father’s request and went to work.

The father asked his second son to go work in the vineyard. The boy responded, “I will, sir,” but then he didn’t. Jesus asked those standing around, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first one,” they answered, and they were right.

So here we are, “Yes” and “No” people before God in whose image we are made. If we listen, we will hear the invitation of the Father who never accepts that “No” is our final answer. In the most negative moment of your life, God believes you have a “yes” that longs not only to be said, but to be lived. So, no matter what may have been your “No,” live into “Yes” and in so doing, become God’s gift in Christ to yourself and others.

- Deacon Robert

“Nothing created has ever been able to fill the
heart of man. God alone can fill it infinitely.”
~ St. Thomas Aquinas

Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

God’s ways are not our ways. Much as we think that God ought to see things the way we do, He doesn’t. Thank God he doesn’t. We believe in forgiveness, especially when we need it, but to forgive others, we can only go so far. There’s a limit to our forgiveness of others. God’s forgiveness, this side of the grave, is without limit. God is so generous and so, too, should we be.

This week Jesus tells us some people will not have to work as long as ourselves to enter God’s kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16a). That may seem unfair, but that’s God’s way and God is generous. After all, it is God’s kingdom and none of us earn it on our own merits. It is a pure gift from God to those who accept his invitation to work in the vineyard of life. Thank God for the opportunity.

- Fr. Carl

“You cannot please both God and the world
at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each
other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.”
~ St. John Vianney

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Dear Parishioners,

Today we focus on the exultation of the cross; that rough-hewn, splintered stake on which our Lord suffered and died (Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17). We Christians have that cross in our midst, lifted in reverence in worship, and often worn in love around our necks. The cross has all our names on it, today and every day.

At the end of our lives, when our days are reduced to hours or minutes, the cross lifted high before us will be the reminder that in death we experience life everlasting through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world,” including you and me and all creation, “adore his holy name.”

- Deacon Robert

Tough Love

Dear Parishioners,

If we truly love somebody, we want what is best for them. If we truly love, we offer our support when encouragement is needed, but we also confront and point out self-destructive behavior when we become aware of it. Ezekiel in today’s first reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) recognizes his responsibility as a prophet to point out the sins of his people. He hopes they will repent and avoid punishment. But even if the situation seems hopeless, because the people are hard-hearted, he must try. Perhaps they will, and that would be for the best. Ezekiel’s warning wasn’t heeded, and he suffered for his message, but he was saved by God in the end. It is no different with us if we don’t warn our friends when we see them going astray. God will hold us responsible. So let us be good friends and neighbors and give gentle correction when it is needed.

- Fr. Carl

“We become what we love.”
~ St. Claire

Doing the Right Thing

Dear Parishioners,

“How low can you go?” This simple lyric from a 60’s song by Chubby Checker, The Limbo Rock, captures Jesus’ thought about St. Peter in this week’s gospel (Matthew 16:21-27). Last week, St. Peter was riding high after calling Jesus the Messiah; and so Jesus praises him and gives him a new name, Peter (“Rock”) (Matthew 16:13-20). This week Jesus calls him Satan because Peter is discouraging Jesus from the suffering and death awaiting him in Jerusalem. Peter doesn’t want the cross for Jesus. There are crosses for all who wish to follow Jesus. When we encourage others to take the easy way and avoid the cross, we act like Peter in today’s gospel. If we truly love others, we will encourage them to do the right thing instead of the easy thing.

- Father Carl

“It is not enough just to wish well;
we must also do well.”
~ St. Ambrose

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Dear Parishioners,

Saint Peter got the question right, but he needed time to grow into it before he was ready to share it with others (Matthew 16:13-20). He did not yet understand, or approve of, a Messiah that suffers and who calls his followers to bear a cross, too. He did not yet understand that even death does not get the last word, or the last laugh, over those who give up their lives in service to Christ. He did not yet understand how fickle was his own faith, and how easily he could deny knowing the Lord when pressed by a curious little girl around a charcoal fire. He did not know yet, but he would soon. And then, on the far side of his failure, on the far side of Calvary, after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter would be ready, having grown into his confession. And so can we.

- Deacon Robert

“We must not consult our own inclinations,
but endeavor always to do that which
will give the most pleasure to God.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

If It’s Good Enough For Jesus…

Dear Parishioners,

Last week’s gospel is primarily remembered for our Lord and St. Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). But at the beginning of that episode, Jesus had gone up on the mountain to pray after feeding the 5,000 and curing the sick. Humanly speaking, he needed some time to rest and recharge his energy. Last week, I did the same by going on retreat in Larchmont, New York. Prayer, good talks and spiritual direction, some nice walks, and some time for reflection were wonderful. Even after a maddeningly long, slow drive down the New Jersey Turnpike on Friday, I felt renewed.

Later on this past weekend, in talking to a family who had just returned from a vacation trip, I was told by the father that he felt like he needed some time to rest up from his vacation. I suspect many of you have shared that feeling. It’s go, go, go on our fun-filled vacations, but we are exhausted afterwards. Maybe it would be good to add on an extra day at the end to do what I did last week and Jesus did the week before—spend some time in prayer. You don’t have to go to Larchmont or go up a mountain to be with God. You can do it at home. Go to a weekday Mass; crack open the bible; spend some quiet time in church, and I’m sure you will come away refreshed. After all, if it’s good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for you and me.

- Fr. Carl

“God made all the days of the week. He
might have kept them all, but he has given you six
and has reserved to himself only the seventh.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars