What An Idea!

Dear Parishioners,

It is easy to get down about all that is happening. Social media reflects the great polarity of views that Americans hold concerning politics, government, social relations, sports, and even medicine. For me, I am tired of the restrictions in my life. I would like it to be like it was before. I liked my life before, but now it is difficult, and my mood is not happy and joy-filled. What has helped me is that I can pray to a God who is bigger than all of this. 

Humanity has always struggled with tension, division, war, and conflict. We are a selfish and self-centered lot, seeking control and possession. That is why the message of Christ is so revolutionary. We are to love each other. What an idea! We are to treat each other with respect. We are brothers and sisters. We are to seek the good for others. We are to work with others. God offers us a glimpse of a world that is so different than the world I see. And yet, there are examples of fidelity, honesty, care, solidarity, reverence, and healing everyday. There are many instances of kindness that people show each other. 

God is present in our brokenness. He does continue to offer us his mercy and love. There is a healing balm for our wounds that resides in the powerful presence of Christ, in his words, in his sacrifice, in his wisdom, and in his invitation. That invitation is for us to let go of our pride and anger, and to believe in the greater love that God offers. He has placed the Holy Spirit within us so that we may imitate Christ in thought and action. Let us allow that Spirit to guide us, to build up rather than tear down, to join rather than separate, to seek similarity rather than difference. We may try to fix things, but only through the perfection of God can things be truly solved.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

The Road To Hell

Dear Parishioners,

When I was a young boy and failed to do some chore or put off an unpleasant job, my father would call me in for a little talk. My usual excuse was that I intended to do the task but just hadn’t gotten around to it. My father would often respond by saying, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

In today’s gospel (MT 21:28-32), the older son intended to carry out his father’s request. He had the right intention, spoke courteously to his father, but never got around to fulfilling his father’s request. Meanwhile, the second son’s intention was just the opposite of his brother’s. But he changed his mind and did as his father asked. 

Why did he change his mind? Was it out of guilt or love or fear of punishment? Maybe it was a little bit of all those reactions. The important thing is that he did it because his father asked him. God our Father asks us to work for him in the fields of life. It would be best if we did it out of love and gratitude, but maybe we have to start with less noble motives. The important thing is that we do it and serve him simply because he asks us. After all, our loving Father only wants what is best for us. As the title of the 1950s sitcom suggested “Father Knows Best.”

Fr. Carl

Generosity and Thankfulness

Dear Parishioners,

Our Gospel today points to an important quality of God, his generosity (Mt 20:1-16A). This is a mysterious quality of God. God has given us so much, from the world to our very lives, while there is little we can do to make the awesomeness of His gifts. It points to the idea that God can give of himself yet never be diminished by giving. He has created the universe, has created humanity, and has given us the Holy Spirit, and continues to be present in our everyday lives. God’s generosity does not enrich God but leaves us with a beautiful world filled with wonderment and awe.

During the pandemic, I have watched numerous travel shows going around the world. There is such beauty around the world. The mountains, the rivers, the forests and plains, the magnificent ocean views. We are blessed ourselves with the Bay and its surroundings. If you let it, you can be filled with a great sense of awe and humility. The night sky, for instance, just can take your breath at times. 

What can we return to God for this gift of beauty and awe? Nothing really. But we can honor and glorify God in all his gifts. We can read the Scriptures and allow them to be a guide to our lives. We can attend to the life of Christ and live according to His example. We can participate actively and fully in the life of the church here at St. Jane Frances. We can appreciate all we have been given and all the lives placed in our paths through this life. We can thank the Lord for His work in our lives and strive to listen to His voice calling us to goodness and truth. Let us be thankful for the generosity of God, and respect and appreciate his creation.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you all had a relaxing Labor Day Weekend. This week, many schools will open with different types of settings: remote, classroom, and combinations of the two. Last week, St. Jane Frances Preschool opened for ages two through four. The three and four-year-old classes are almost full, but there are a few openings left. If you hear of anyone looking for in-school classes, please have them call the school.

Last week, the scriptures talked about love of neighbor and that particular form of love known as fraternal correction. To correct anyone is difficult and challenging, but to do it in a loving way is even harder. Nevertheless, we must try, for “we are our brother’s/sister’s keeper.” And it is one of the 7 spiritual works of mercy—“warn the sinner.”

This week, we are encouraged to grow even more in our love of neighbor by forgiving their offenses against us. After all, in the Our Father, don’t we pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us?” Since God has been generous to us, we must do the same and be generous to others. Besides, Jesus said at the end of the Lord’s Prayer, “If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.” (MT 6:15)

Fr. Carl

The Language Of God

Dear Parishioners,

Love is the fulfillment of the law, declares our second reading today from the Book of Romans (13:8–10). This is a powerful text of great theological meaning. Indeed, love is the language of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit emanates from the love of God the Father and Christ his son. Love is that mysterious phenomenon that brings us together. It is that thing that attracts us to each other. The word is used to describe the highest form of adoration or value. We love what we hold dearest. 

Now of course I am speaking of authentic love, the kind of love that demonstrates a real caring for the other. Love is the life blood of a marriage. It is that glue that holds things together. It says that I hold you, my spouse, in great esteem and promise to love you as myself even in bad times. This is how God feels about us, He loves us. We are his creation and his children. His love wills for us to live. His love wills for us to be good. His love wills for us to respond to him and others with love. It is this love that causes the man to buy the pearl of great price. It is this love that causes the woman to give her last two coins to the Temple. This love planted in our hearts by God calls us to join this church. It causes us to open our hearts and give food to strangers, to give our time to those in need, and to pray for others who need prayer. 

This mysterious gift from God makes the world go round I think. It is the real gift we give our families, our children, and our spouses. It causes us to kneel before the presence of God when we come to church, to give each other the sign of peace, and to open our hands with a great “Amen” when we receive the Eucharist. Thank you Lord for this most magnificent gift of your being and presence. Help me to share it with others.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Second Chances

Dear Parishioners,

In last week’s gospel (MT 16:13-20), Peter was praised by Jesus for recognizing who He really was, “the Son of the living God.” Of course, Peter didn’t figure that all out by himself. It had been revealed to him by Jesus’ heavenly Father. Nevertheless, Peter was the willing instrument testifying to the Apostles and the world the true identity of the Christ. This week when he finds out our Lord’s mission (MT 16:21-27), Peter becomes an obstacle, a stumbling block to Jesus who rightly puts him in his place, rebuking him as a satan, a deceiver. So in the span of just a few lines in the gospel, Peter goes from good and strong to weak and wimpy. But don’t you and I sometimes do the same? We are living our faith in grace and peace, and then some temptation comes along, and we fall. However, Jesus doesn’t leave Peter in his fallen state. Six days later, he takes Peter along with James and John up the mountain to witness his Transfiguration as a sign of the final outcome to his Passion and Death (MT 17:1-8).

This all serves as a reminder to us that when we trip and fall into sin, we need not lose heart, for Jesus wants to lift us back up into his good graces as he did St. Peter.

Fr. Carl

Get Involved. It’s Rewarding!

 Dear Parishioners,

My wife and I had our 45th wedding anniversary recently. We don’t get each other gifts, but we usually go out to dinner for a nice meal. Well this year with the Covid epidemic, we ordered out and ate at home. It is a time to reflect and reminisce. One of things that came to mind was the many wonderful communities we have been a part of. 

We joined a Marriage Encounter group early on in our marriage that provided us with a wonderful group of couples to meet with, to spend time with, and to develop relationships. They taught us so much about marriage and the ins and outs of communication, sacrifice, and healing that are a part of marriage. These skills and abilities strengthen and sustain us as a couple. 

Another community that was instrumental in our growth as persons, as a couple, and a family was that of the several parish communities of which we have been a part. The opportunities for growth and relationship building that come through the ministries of the church, through the opportunities for service, have been wonderful and greatly fulfilling. We have never lived around family, so we have relied on our church as a place for community and a place to belong. We have had work for sure, but the parishes we have been a part of have given us the greatest foundation and space to find out who we are and who we are in the eyes of God. Our relationships with the several priests we have encountered on our spiritual journey have been powerful and given such a warm and strong sense of the role that God plays in our lives. 

Finally, our connection to the deacon community in Indiana is a cherished experience that formed us both not only as deacon and deacon’s wife but as people of the Word, Sacrament, and Community. God has shown a great light on our lives, a light of love, a light of joy, a light of community. I can only wish that you, as well, find such a place where you can thrive and grow in faith, service, and love. 

Blessings,
Deacon Steve