Dear Parishioners,
Jesus tells us that greatness is not something one seeks, but a gift that seeks the person (Mark 9:30-37). History's most effective leaders have often been men and women who had greatness thrust upon them by events not of their own making. Rather than positioning themselves to be number one, they served others well, faithfully and generously only to discover they were the leader all along. Let's not miss the child being held in our Lord's arms. What if being number one boiled down to living in such a trusting naive relationship with Jesus Christ that we could freely serve others knowing that our needs have already been met? What if winning in life actually meant making others number one because we knew in our soul that God had already claimed us all for his very own?
- Deacon Robert
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, September 21, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Dear Parishioners,
Thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the Tetiarchy of Philip, lies the area called Caesarea Philippi. It was a town with an amazing history. It had once been a great center of worship to pagan god Baal. It had also been said to be the birthplace of the Greek god Pan and the source of the Jordan River. Furthermore, Philip had built a gleaming temple to the godhead of Caesar, the Roman emperor, who was regarded as a god. It was amazing with all these claimants to divinity that the Son of God should ask who his disciples thought him to be. And it was even more amazing that Peter got it right – “You are the Messiah.” But then Peter got it wrong when Jesus revealed what lay in store for him. We, like Peter, get it right when we look upon the promises of God with great joy and enthusiasm. But then we get it wrong when we try to avoid the hardships along the way. Later on, Peter would accept his cross. May we do the same as we remember Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:27-35)
- Father Carl
Thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the Tetiarchy of Philip, lies the area called Caesarea Philippi. It was a town with an amazing history. It had once been a great center of worship to pagan god Baal. It had also been said to be the birthplace of the Greek god Pan and the source of the Jordan River. Furthermore, Philip had built a gleaming temple to the godhead of Caesar, the Roman emperor, who was regarded as a god. It was amazing with all these claimants to divinity that the Son of God should ask who his disciples thought him to be. And it was even more amazing that Peter got it right – “You are the Messiah.” But then Peter got it wrong when Jesus revealed what lay in store for him. We, like Peter, get it right when we look upon the promises of God with great joy and enthusiasm. But then we get it wrong when we try to avoid the hardships along the way. Later on, Peter would accept his cross. May we do the same as we remember Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:27-35)
- Father Carl
Friday, September 7, 2012
What Can God Do For You?
Dear Parishioners,
What could happen in our lives if we would simply, humbly let God do for us what only God can do for us? If we would, if we dared to let God be God in our lives, dreams might become reality. All the silent, deaf, lonely places in our lives could hear, and for the first time, we might have a tongue made new with words worth speaking. God has a dream for us. Would you let Jesus do the work only he can do? And what dream would come alive in you today and in all the days to come if you would simply say “yes”? Loving God, release our fears, assure us of your healing gifts, open our ears, loose our tongue and let the dream come alive.
- Deacon Robert
What could happen in our lives if we would simply, humbly let God do for us what only God can do for us? If we would, if we dared to let God be God in our lives, dreams might become reality. All the silent, deaf, lonely places in our lives could hear, and for the first time, we might have a tongue made new with words worth speaking. God has a dream for us. Would you let Jesus do the work only he can do? And what dream would come alive in you today and in all the days to come if you would simply say “yes”? Loving God, release our fears, assure us of your healing gifts, open our ears, loose our tongue and let the dream come alive.
- Deacon Robert
Friday, August 31, 2012
Are we a “wise and intelligent” nation?
Dear Parishioners,
As Americans, we cherish our freedoms. We especially don’t like it when we think our freedoms are being restricted or limited in some way. But the good Lord gave us freedom to be used for good and not evil. When we use freedom in this way, we find balance and peace in our lives. However, we can make mistakes in judgment, and so God gives us guidance. In today’s first reading (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8), Moses talks to the people about this heavenly advice; it’s called COMMANDMENTS. Moses tells the people that those who follow them will be thought to be “wise and intelligent.” In the gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for twisting the commandments to suit themselves. It’s a trap we too can fall into if we are not careful. When we pick and choose which moral teachings we will follow and which ones we will ignore, we become hypocrites. Let us follow Moses’ advice about the commandments and be thought of as “wise and intelligent.”
- Fr. Carl
As Americans, we cherish our freedoms. We especially don’t like it when we think our freedoms are being restricted or limited in some way. But the good Lord gave us freedom to be used for good and not evil. When we use freedom in this way, we find balance and peace in our lives. However, we can make mistakes in judgment, and so God gives us guidance. In today’s first reading (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8), Moses talks to the people about this heavenly advice; it’s called COMMANDMENTS. Moses tells the people that those who follow them will be thought to be “wise and intelligent.” In the gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for twisting the commandments to suit themselves. It’s a trap we too can fall into if we are not careful. When we pick and choose which moral teachings we will follow and which ones we will ignore, we become hypocrites. Let us follow Moses’ advice about the commandments and be thought of as “wise and intelligent.”
- Fr. Carl
Friday, August 24, 2012
Whom Will You Serve?
Dear Parishioners,
Joshua addresses the tribes of Israel (Joshua 24:1-2a), “Choose this day whom you will serve.” This statement suggests that the choice is always a “this day decision.” Every day and perhaps every moment throughout the day brings with it choices. The fact is that none of us make excellent decisions all the time. We take wrong turns, say unkind things and act in inappropriate ways. If you made a bad decision yesterday, make a better one today.
Today, this day, right now set your heart to follow Jesus. Today, this day, choose to align your values with his values, your way with his way, your attitude with his attitude, you future with his future. When you do, when you choose Jesus today, you choose the person who will empower all the choices your make now and as long as you live.
- Deacon Robert
Joshua addresses the tribes of Israel (Joshua 24:1-2a), “Choose this day whom you will serve.” This statement suggests that the choice is always a “this day decision.” Every day and perhaps every moment throughout the day brings with it choices. The fact is that none of us make excellent decisions all the time. We take wrong turns, say unkind things and act in inappropriate ways. If you made a bad decision yesterday, make a better one today.
Today, this day, right now set your heart to follow Jesus. Today, this day, choose to align your values with his values, your way with his way, your attitude with his attitude, you future with his future. When you do, when you choose Jesus today, you choose the person who will empower all the choices your make now and as long as you live.
- Deacon Robert
Friday, August 17, 2012
My flesh is real food and my blood real drink
Dear Parishioners,
It’s fascinating to see how some Christians struggle with this week’s gospel (John 6:51-58). Our fundamentalist Christian brothers and sisters who believe in the literal interpretation of the bible have great difficulty with this week’s passage. When Jesus says, “my flesh is real food and my blood real drink,” it is rather certain that he means what he says. Yet in this instance, some will say that Jesus is only speaking symbolically. Unfortunately, our fundamentalist friends are not the only ones mistaken. In a survey several years ago, many Catholics said that they did not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. How sad!
If the Eucharist was not really the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus, why would St. Paul be so severe in his letter to the Corinthians? He says, “This means that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the body and blood of the Lord. A man should examine himself first; only then should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks a judgment on himself.” (1Cor 11:27-29) In other words, the person is committing a sacrilege or mortal sin by receiving Holy Communion while not in the state of grace.
Our Lord loves us so much that on Calvary he allowed his body to be ground into wheat and crushed into wine so as to feed us in the Eucharist. May we express our gratitude by allowing the Eucharist to transform ourselves into the image of Christ here on earth.
- Fr. Carl
It’s fascinating to see how some Christians struggle with this week’s gospel (John 6:51-58). Our fundamentalist Christian brothers and sisters who believe in the literal interpretation of the bible have great difficulty with this week’s passage. When Jesus says, “my flesh is real food and my blood real drink,” it is rather certain that he means what he says. Yet in this instance, some will say that Jesus is only speaking symbolically. Unfortunately, our fundamentalist friends are not the only ones mistaken. In a survey several years ago, many Catholics said that they did not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. How sad!
If the Eucharist was not really the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus, why would St. Paul be so severe in his letter to the Corinthians? He says, “This means that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the body and blood of the Lord. A man should examine himself first; only then should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks a judgment on himself.” (1Cor 11:27-29) In other words, the person is committing a sacrilege or mortal sin by receiving Holy Communion while not in the state of grace.
Our Lord loves us so much that on Calvary he allowed his body to be ground into wheat and crushed into wine so as to feed us in the Eucharist. May we express our gratitude by allowing the Eucharist to transform ourselves into the image of Christ here on earth.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, August 10, 2012
Imitating God
Dear Parishioners,
Being a Christian is challenging. To love as Christ loves us is tough, difficult and outrageous. You must choose to forgive others when you do not feel like it, care for others when you may not care to do so. Christianity is a faith that knows little of ease and much of struggle born of conviction. To entertain the thought that you and I could become “imitators of God” defies logic. But Saint Paul says we can.
- Deacon Robert
Being a Christian is challenging. To love as Christ loves us is tough, difficult and outrageous. You must choose to forgive others when you do not feel like it, care for others when you may not care to do so. Christianity is a faith that knows little of ease and much of struggle born of conviction. To entertain the thought that you and I could become “imitators of God” defies logic. But Saint Paul says we can.
- Deacon Robert
“God, the Blessed Virgin, the angels and
saints are about our path; they are at
our side and see all we do.”
- The Cure D’Ars
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