Anger and Mercy

Dear Parishioners,

The gospel this week is probably one of the most well known parables of Jesus, the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:1 3, 11-32). I’m sure at various times in our life each of us could relate to one of the characters of the story. Which one do we find ourselves relating to this Lent? How is the Father’s love calling you to a deeper relationship as His child through repentance?

The younger son is someone who finds relationships suffocating: he wants to love, but without commitment, without constraints. Love is hard work, and it requires commitment and sacrifice. The Father shows him that there is such a thing as a relationship of freedom.

The older son loves as if it were a rivalry; since he is always in competition with others, he is always measuring love. That is why he is angry, unable to enjoy the feast in honor of his brother. Somehow, he always feels that celebrating the other person’s life takes away from what he could have received. People who live like this are angry people, and anger is blinding. Anger only sees what it doesn’t have.

When we focus on the father, we recognize that he was not concerned with how he was offended. He was concerned only about his son who was lost; lost from the father’s world. We focus on the father’s joy at seeing his son approaching and seeking forgiveness. Luke describes how the father’s love for his child is expressed in profound actions. Actions that reflect his genuine mercy and forgiveness.

May we discover that God is always waiting and looking for us to receive His redemption. My prayer is that this Lent we will run to the waiting arms of the Father.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

P.S. Please join us this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (March 28–30) at 7pm in the church for our Parish Lenten Mission with Fr. Christopher Whatley.

Second Chances

Dear Parishioners,

Tragedies are frequent in this world. The most obvious one today is the war in the Ukraine, where so many casualties and so much destruction is taking place. Much closer to home is Baltimore, where even innocent infants are shot and killed on the city streets. What sense do we make of it all?

In the gospel (Lk 13:1-9), Jesus was presented with several instances where people had died in recent accidents. Our Lord asked if their deaths were related to being more guilty than the rest. Of course not! Our Lord uses the suddenness of their deaths as a wake up call for the need to reform. And that’s what Lent is for us, a reminder of our need to wake from our indifference to sin.

At the end of the gospel, the fig tree owner is shown to be a man of patience. A fig tree normally takes 3 years to reach maturity. If it is not producing fruit by then, it isn’t likely at all. But this fig tree is given a second chance. God does the same with Peter, and Mark, and Paul as well as ourselves. God is infinitely kind to those who fall and rise.

But the parable makes it clear there is a final chance. If we refuse that, we will be lost. Let us not throw that last chance away.

Fr. Carl

The Transfiguration

Dear Parishioners,

The readings this week speak to us about transformation (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14/ Phil 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-24:1/Lk 9:28b-36). The transformation or transfiguration of Jesus that the disciples experienced was not simply something they were to see and experience as happening only to him. It was also an invitation for them to undergo a transformation and transfiguration of their own.

St. Paul tells us, “from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure our lowly body to conform to his glorified body. He will do that by the same power with which he brings all things into subjection to himself.” Our goal in life is to be one with God. There is no other goal.

How does our own transformation or transfiguration take place? By listening to Jesus, listening to all that he invites us to be and do, however much that may go against the views and values of the world. The story of the Transfiguration shows us that it was while Jesus prayed that everything about Jesus was transformed and the disciples glimpsed who Jesus truly was. Prayer is a matter of the heart that spends time simply being in the presence of God. The Transfiguration teaches about our basic vocation to listen to Jesus as Son of God. It means having a total trust in walking his Way, a total trust that only his Way brings me into full union with God, the source of all Truth, Love, Happiness and Peace. Prayer changes everything.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

First Fruits

Dear Parishioners,

Today in St. Luke’s gospel (Lk 4:1-13), Jesus reacts to one of Satan’s temptations in the desert professing: “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.” The evangelist, St. Paul, in his letter to the Roman community (Rom 10:8-13), urges them and us, to believe Jesus is the Lord. In the Book of Deuteronomy (Dt 26:4-10), Moses, in a spirit of gratitude, offers the first fruits of the harvest to the priest. The Lord invites Christian stewards to return to Him our “first fruits” of time in prayer, talents in service, and treasure in generosity to the poor and the Church. Contribute food to North County Emergency Outreach Network (NCEON) or to Mato Grasso or spend some time in a local food kitchen as a gift of your stewardship to those in need. It will strengthen you to resist whatever temptations Satan might send your way.

Fr. Carl

How Is Your Heart?

Brothers and Sisters,

As we prepare for the upcoming Lenten season, may we all be mindful of our heart condition. I’m not speaking of our cardio-vascular health, but our spiritual well-being and the importance of our relationship with God.

As we begin this season of repentance and reflection, let us contemplate what this time means and how the three pillars of Lent can lead us to a closer relationship with God. The three pillars being prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Prayer is our conversation with God. It is essential for fasting and almsgiving, because prayer gives us the strength to fast. Pope Francis said, “Lent is a privileged time for prayer.” In prayer, we draw closer in relationship with God. Relationship with God makes us grateful for the blessings we have received. Prayer is the cornerstone of our Lenten journey and is vital to all of our actions in life.

Fasting and abstinence are old traditions in Christian history. Found in the Scriptures, they offer us a way of growing closer to God. In addition to the traditional forms of fasting from food, maybe try fasting from social media, technology, or excessive screen time. Fasting reminds us of our hunger for God.

Almsgiving or giving of our time and treasure is a response to God. One that we can come to through prayer and fasting. It is a way to live out our gratitude for all that God has given us, reflecting the realization that we are the Body of Christ, responsible for each other. Justice, mercy, and charity are integral elements of our baptism that call us to be disciples of Jesus.

Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving lead us to the heart of what Lent is about—a deeper conversion and love for Jesus Christ.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Tree-mendous Changes for Spring

Dear Parishioners,

Joyce Kilmer was considered the leading American Roman Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. Unfortunately, Sgt. Kilmer was killed at the age of 31 during WWI in France. But not before writing the poem, Trees—“I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree…” However, these lovely creations of God can cause problems. While the oak trees alongside the church serve as a nice frame, they have required added expenses in time and money. Removing the leaves from the gutters every 4–6 weeks costs $7,000 or more a year, and it takes our sole maintenance man several hours each month to clear the window wells and keep the drains open to prevent water from coming into the lower church during heavy rains. Also, the roots have pushed up some blocks of the sidewalk causing dangerous trip hazards. Roots have also penetrated the underground plumbing, causing back-ups and the need to replace a large section of the raw sewage drain. Finally, leaves do get caught in the underground drains and require “Drain Sites” to come and snake the lines.

After discussing the situation, the Maintenance Committee recommended cutting the trees down and replacing the areas with smaller trees and bushes. The Parish Council, at its meeting on February 8th, unanimously agreed. The current plan is to take down the trees around the church in March and replace them with smaller trees, bushes and raised flower beds.

We are currently working with an experienced landscape designer who will help transform the side walkways into a more attractive and inviting setting for our church.

Fr. Carl

Whom Do You Trust?

My Sisters and Brothers,

The readings this week are guideposts for living as disciples of Jesus. How should our actions reflect our faith and trust in the Lord?

As we listen to this week’s Gospel (Lk 6:17, 20-26), Luke’s version of the Beatitudes jars our sensibilities. Those who are poor, hungry, weeping, or persecuted are called “blessed.” This is, indeed, a Gospel of reversals. Those often thought to have been forgotten by God are called blessed. In the list of “woes,” those whom we might ordinarily describe as blessed in this world are warned about their peril. Riches, possessions, laughter, reputation… these are not things that we can depend upon as sources of eternal happiness. They not only fail to deliver on their promise, but misplaced trust in them will lead to emptiness and eternal destruction. The ultimate peril is in misidentifying the source of our eternal happiness.

The Beatitudes are often described as a framework for Christian living. Jesus gives us the Beatitudes which are our prescription for Divine Happiness. The Beatitudes teach us how to enter the Kingdom of heaven and share in God’s divine life. They guide us in holiness.

Our vocation as Christians is not to be first in this world, but rather to be first in the eyes of God. We are challenged to examine our present situation in the context of our ultimate destiny and life’s purpose, the Kingdom of God. Where do we place our ultimate trust? “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

God Bless,
Deacon Howard