Dear Parishioners,
Last week we saw Jesus as the good shepherd (Mk 6:30-34). Even though he was tired and ready for rest, when he saw the needs of the people, he forgot his needs and ministered to them. He gave generously of his time and talent to serve them.
This week we see the generosity of God working through Elisha and Jesus (2 Kgs 4:42-44 and Jn 6:1-15). We have come to take that kind of generosity for granted sometimes. That’s why we need the Eucharist. This Greek word means “thanksgiving,” and it’s why we come to Mass each weekend—to give thanks to God. But we also come to learn what God expects from us. His generosity is the big clue. He expects us to be generous stewards of the time, talent, and treasure he has given us. From time to time, we need to ask ourselves how we can better share these gifts.
I have come to realize that the happiest people I know are not those who have the most but those who give and share the most.
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, July 27, 2018
Friday, July 20, 2018
How Big Is Your God?
Dear Parishioners,
I remember reading a book called How Big Is Your God? by Paul Coutinho, SJ. He says, “God is beyond names. God is tremendous, God is awesome, God is personal. God is very close to me but he is also the big thing out there, the transcendent God, the omnipotent God, the mysterious God” (pg. 58). It is easy to think we know who God is. We all have our ideas based upon what we were taught, our reading of scripture and our experience of God. But God is above all that. He is transcendent. We know God by his abundant revelation. He has revealed himself.
In deacon formation, we were told that if we think we have a grasp of God, let it go for God is more than that. At a recent Cherish event, Fr. Vin Ariskwu of Christ the King Parish spoke about the magazine he started called The Family Apostolate, an informative and well done production certainly informed by Holy Spirit! Recently I was at a meeting where several parishioners reported on their experiences at the Divine Revelation Conference in Nova Scotia. They were on fire from the presence of the Holy Spirit at the conference. My granddaughter is back home from a month long stay in the hospital and is getting back to her old self, thank you Lord! Do we know where and how God will manifest himself in our lives? Do we really understand the creative power of God or what his sovereignty really means? His Spirit is working in the world, all over the place and has been from eternity. This is something we should glorify, be thankful for, and acknowledge clearly and strongly with our lives. Let us open ourselves up to that power of goodness that is God and trust in Him.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
I remember reading a book called How Big Is Your God? by Paul Coutinho, SJ. He says, “God is beyond names. God is tremendous, God is awesome, God is personal. God is very close to me but he is also the big thing out there, the transcendent God, the omnipotent God, the mysterious God” (pg. 58). It is easy to think we know who God is. We all have our ideas based upon what we were taught, our reading of scripture and our experience of God. But God is above all that. He is transcendent. We know God by his abundant revelation. He has revealed himself.
In deacon formation, we were told that if we think we have a grasp of God, let it go for God is more than that. At a recent Cherish event, Fr. Vin Ariskwu of Christ the King Parish spoke about the magazine he started called The Family Apostolate, an informative and well done production certainly informed by Holy Spirit! Recently I was at a meeting where several parishioners reported on their experiences at the Divine Revelation Conference in Nova Scotia. They were on fire from the presence of the Holy Spirit at the conference. My granddaughter is back home from a month long stay in the hospital and is getting back to her old self, thank you Lord! Do we know where and how God will manifest himself in our lives? Do we really understand the creative power of God or what his sovereignty really means? His Spirit is working in the world, all over the place and has been from eternity. This is something we should glorify, be thankful for, and acknowledge clearly and strongly with our lives. Let us open ourselves up to that power of goodness that is God and trust in Him.
“Happy those whose trust is the Lord” – Psalm 40
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, July 13, 2018
Making Prophets
Dear Parishioners,
The Church is a “non profit” organization, but it is a “prophet” making organization. In other words, the Church does not exist to make money but in order to evangelize through her prophets. By the way, it’s not just Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos who are called by God to bring his message into the world by word and example. It’s you and me—us. In the sacrament of baptism immediately after the water is imposed, we are anointed with Holy Chrism oil. The minister then prays, “As Jesus was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as members of his body sharing everlasting life.”
As prophets, we are not meant to travel far and wide preaching reform and repentance. We act as prophets by taking the faith we profess each week and bringing it into our life experience with others. As kings, we are meant to rule over our feelings and emotions, not letting them rule over us as we live out the Gospel message. And as priest, we are called to sacrifice our wants, desires, and comforts as we imitate and follow Jesus. Of course, like Amos (Am 7:12-15), Jesus and the disciples, we can from time to time expect rejection in this life. But when we die, the reward is out of this world!
Fr. Carl
The Church is a “non profit” organization, but it is a “prophet” making organization. In other words, the Church does not exist to make money but in order to evangelize through her prophets. By the way, it’s not just Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos who are called by God to bring his message into the world by word and example. It’s you and me—us. In the sacrament of baptism immediately after the water is imposed, we are anointed with Holy Chrism oil. The minister then prays, “As Jesus was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as members of his body sharing everlasting life.”
As prophets, we are not meant to travel far and wide preaching reform and repentance. We act as prophets by taking the faith we profess each week and bringing it into our life experience with others. As kings, we are meant to rule over our feelings and emotions, not letting them rule over us as we live out the Gospel message. And as priest, we are called to sacrifice our wants, desires, and comforts as we imitate and follow Jesus. Of course, like Amos (Am 7:12-15), Jesus and the disciples, we can from time to time expect rejection in this life. But when we die, the reward is out of this world!
Fr. Carl
Friday, July 6, 2018
Family
Dear Parishioners,
My wife and I recently took a trip to Alaska. It was beautiful with tall majestic mountains, silver rushing rivers, and big animals like moose walking around like they owned the place! But beyond the vast scenery espousing God’s presence, there was a theme of family everywhere we looked. We stayed with an old dear friend of ours who lives with her husband and 16-year old son. This took us back to our own children as teenagers, a little funny, a little defiant, but always engaging! There were dinners with aunts who had great spunk and humor. We stayed at a bed and breakfast with the owner and her daughter. The mom spoke about leaving soon for Las Vegas to be with her cancer stricken husband. While we were gone, our granddaughter remained in the hospital. Helping to alleviate our guilt about leaving, my wife’s sister came to help out and then my son-in-law’s parents came until we returned. The Church places much weight on the importance of family, the domestic church. It is the caring and safe place where children grow out of their vulnerability to become their own persons. Christ knew this with his support of marriage, his commandment that we love one another, and his own respect and care for his mother. He showed this when he gave her away to his beloved disciple to protect and cherish at his crucifixion. Family is the place where we all start, learning the faith, developing religious habits, and testing the tenets of sharing and communicating. It is the place where life and faith begin. Those relationships and that learning are tested hard these days. But I have my money on the family! It is a resilient and powerful institution. It stands tall and strong, like the snow capped Alaskan mountains.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
My wife and I recently took a trip to Alaska. It was beautiful with tall majestic mountains, silver rushing rivers, and big animals like moose walking around like they owned the place! But beyond the vast scenery espousing God’s presence, there was a theme of family everywhere we looked. We stayed with an old dear friend of ours who lives with her husband and 16-year old son. This took us back to our own children as teenagers, a little funny, a little defiant, but always engaging! There were dinners with aunts who had great spunk and humor. We stayed at a bed and breakfast with the owner and her daughter. The mom spoke about leaving soon for Las Vegas to be with her cancer stricken husband. While we were gone, our granddaughter remained in the hospital. Helping to alleviate our guilt about leaving, my wife’s sister came to help out and then my son-in-law’s parents came until we returned. The Church places much weight on the importance of family, the domestic church. It is the caring and safe place where children grow out of their vulnerability to become their own persons. Christ knew this with his support of marriage, his commandment that we love one another, and his own respect and care for his mother. He showed this when he gave her away to his beloved disciple to protect and cherish at his crucifixion. Family is the place where we all start, learning the faith, developing religious habits, and testing the tenets of sharing and communicating. It is the place where life and faith begin. Those relationships and that learning are tested hard these days. But I have my money on the family! It is a resilient and powerful institution. It stands tall and strong, like the snow capped Alaskan mountains.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, June 29, 2018
Offer It Up
Dear Parishioners,
The mystery of human suffering and death has puzzled the human race for centuries. We understand when wicked people suffer but not when it happens to the innocent. There has to be a reason. The first reading (Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24) states that death and suffering came into the world through the devil (original sin), and once having entered the world, they don’t discriminate between the good and the bad. Otherwise, it would have been unjust for Jesus and Mary to have suffered and died. However, the suffering and death of Jesus redeemed humanity and opened the gates of heaven. It had meaning and value. So, too, can ours if we offer it up to God as a participation in the suffering and death of Jesus. When we suffer pain or disappointment in life, we can either whine and moan or “offer it up” in imitation of Jesus. If we follow our Lord’s example, we can expect to be raised up at the end of our lives. What Jesus did in the gospel with the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:21-43), he wants to do for us.
Fr. Carl
The mystery of human suffering and death has puzzled the human race for centuries. We understand when wicked people suffer but not when it happens to the innocent. There has to be a reason. The first reading (Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24) states that death and suffering came into the world through the devil (original sin), and once having entered the world, they don’t discriminate between the good and the bad. Otherwise, it would have been unjust for Jesus and Mary to have suffered and died. However, the suffering and death of Jesus redeemed humanity and opened the gates of heaven. It had meaning and value. So, too, can ours if we offer it up to God as a participation in the suffering and death of Jesus. When we suffer pain or disappointment in life, we can either whine and moan or “offer it up” in imitation of Jesus. If we follow our Lord’s example, we can expect to be raised up at the end of our lives. What Jesus did in the gospel with the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:21-43), he wants to do for us.
Fr. Carl
Friday, June 22, 2018
Happy Birthday, St. John!
Dear Parishioners,
Near the end of John’s ministry as Jesus’ was gearing up, John said of himself and Jesus, “He must increase while I decrease.” (John 3:30) Interestingly that’s what happens these days. The days grow longer after our Lord’s birth; while the days grow shorter after John’s birth on June 24th.
Our attitude should be like John’s. Jesus should increase in importance in our life while our pride and ego should decrease. Then we can give a better witness to our faith as John did.
Fr. Carl
“He must increase while I decrease.”The Church only celebrates the birthday of three people: Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Since Mary visited Elizabeth right after the Angel Gabriel appeared, and Elizabeth was in her sixth month (Luke 1:36), John was born six months before Jesus on June 24th.
Near the end of John’s ministry as Jesus’ was gearing up, John said of himself and Jesus, “He must increase while I decrease.” (John 3:30) Interestingly that’s what happens these days. The days grow longer after our Lord’s birth; while the days grow shorter after John’s birth on June 24th.
Our attitude should be like John’s. Jesus should increase in importance in our life while our pride and ego should decrease. Then we can give a better witness to our faith as John did.
Fr. Carl
Friday, June 15, 2018
You Are God's Beloved
Dear Parishioners,
The opening line to Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved is this: “Dear Friend, being the Beloved is the origin and the fulfillment of the Spirit.” This line starts a beautiful journey into Nouwen’s view of how God sees us as his Beloved. Nouwen articulates the desire of God for us, his children in this one word, Beloved. He describes this relationship of us to God through four other words: Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. These words mark his actions as a priest during the liturgy but also his relationship as a Christian, whose life is bread for others, taken, blessed, broken and given. I have to say that this book with its beauty, love and wisdom changed my life and opened me up to God in a way that was deeper than I had ever risked before.
As children of God, we are all seeking to understand our role with God, Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. Nouwen’s view doesn’t see that relationship as static but places it in a giving and dynamic transaction. We are in relationship with God and with one another, and there are phases to it, movement in it, and changes as a result of it. Are any of us the same as we were when we first took communion, were baptized or converted? Being open to God has a way of moving us, deepening, teaching, challenging and refining us. And I am forever in God’s debt for the gifts I have been given, the wonderful ones and the challenging ones. I am not going to say more about the book which I believe is Nouwen’s finest work. But if you are looking for something to take on vacation, it is an easy and quick read that may just offer you some needed insight into your spirituality as God’s Beloved.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
The opening line to Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved is this: “Dear Friend, being the Beloved is the origin and the fulfillment of the Spirit.” This line starts a beautiful journey into Nouwen’s view of how God sees us as his Beloved. Nouwen articulates the desire of God for us, his children in this one word, Beloved. He describes this relationship of us to God through four other words: Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. These words mark his actions as a priest during the liturgy but also his relationship as a Christian, whose life is bread for others, taken, blessed, broken and given. I have to say that this book with its beauty, love and wisdom changed my life and opened me up to God in a way that was deeper than I had ever risked before.
As children of God, we are all seeking to understand our role with God, Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. Nouwen’s view doesn’t see that relationship as static but places it in a giving and dynamic transaction. We are in relationship with God and with one another, and there are phases to it, movement in it, and changes as a result of it. Are any of us the same as we were when we first took communion, were baptized or converted? Being open to God has a way of moving us, deepening, teaching, challenging and refining us. And I am forever in God’s debt for the gifts I have been given, the wonderful ones and the challenging ones. I am not going to say more about the book which I believe is Nouwen’s finest work. But if you are looking for something to take on vacation, it is an easy and quick read that may just offer you some needed insight into your spirituality as God’s Beloved.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
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