Returning To God

Dear Parishioners,

As many of you know, Pope Francis inaugurated a Holy Year of Mercy last December 8th. It is a special Jubilee Year during which extra graces (indulgences) are available to whoever makes a pilgrimage to any of the many sites around the world. (An indulgence is the forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sin.) While Rome would be wonderful, we have sites right here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, the Basilica of the Assumption, St. Mary’s Annapolis, the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, and the Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton. To obtain the grace of an indulgence, simply go to confession, receive Holy Communion, go to a designated shrine/church and say a prayer for the pope’s intentions. Only one indulgence can be received each day, but you can go other days.

This week’s gospel (Luke 15:1-3,11-32) shows us how complete an indulgence can be as we hear the story of the Prodigal Son who finally came to his senses and returned home to his father. This indulgent father totally forgave him without any recrimination and restored him to his former position in the family. That’s what God wants for all of us during this Holy Year of Mercy.

What a great blessing! Why not come to confession, receive Holy Communion, and make a pilgrimage this week as we get ready for Easter?

- Fr. Carl

“Are you falsely accused, or loaded with insults?
It is a good sign; don’t worry about it.
You are on the road which leads to heaven.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Asking The Best Question

Dear Parishioners,

It’s important we remember that our Lenten journey is not about the sins of others, failures of government, corruption, threats of ISIS, or a hundred other evils in our world. Lent is not about “them,” but about you and me, “I” and the journey into repentance and renewal God calls us to take in these days. We can spend our energies asking dozens of questions that focus on any number of contemporary problems, diseases, natural disasters, and all the misery the human family endures. The best question, however, always starts with each of us—the “I” and our relationship to God.

- Deacon Robert

“Some people are very careful about cleaning of their shoes,
but think nothing of leaving their crucifix undusted.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Change For The Better

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday, we see Jesus up on the mountain with Peter, James, and John (Luke 9:28b-36). While in prayer, Jesus is transfigured as his face is changed in appearance, and his clothes become dazzlingly white. Prayer will not have the same dramatic effect on us as with Jesus, but it is essential if we want to be changed for the better and become more like Jesus. Lent is a time when we pray more often and more fervently to grow in our relationship with God. However, fasting and almsgiving (donations to the poor) are necessary to elevate our prayers to please God the most. This Lent, Pope Francis encourages us to use the Bible with our prayers. You might start with the Gospel of Luke and read a short section (10 minutes) each night, and then the Acts of the Apostles. It will help in your relationship with God for sure. Hopefully, this experience will encourage you to read the rest of the New Testament as you grow in the friendship with the Lord.

- Fr. Carl

“All soldiers are good in garrison. On the field of battle,
we see the difference between the brave and the cowardly.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Temptation

Dear Parishioners,

The third place the devil takes Jesus is the pinnacle of the temple (Luke 4:1-13). We are not sure exactly where that was in one of the ancient world’s seven wonders, but it seems to be a place where everyone in the temple could see you. There, the devil suggested that if Jesus would simply throw himself off that high, visible place, God’s angels would save him from his own folly, wooing the crowd with a miracle like no other. Jesus’ response is timeless: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” With that admonition, the devil “departed from him until” what Luke tells us would be “an opportune time.”

Times are, we think the goal of our relationship with God is living in such faith that God will smile on us, favor us, and whisk away all the unpleasantness and suffering of the human experience. And we use this place created for worship as if the building, the institution, the space is the reason we live and move and have our being. The temptation to confuse things with meaning, style with substance, space with faith will always be with us. We respect the church and are grateful to have such a beautiful place to offer God our worship, but tempting God to do our bidding, impress us and others with God’s power is a temptation we best resist.

- Deacon Robert

“After the example of St. Antony, my children, let us be
always ready for the combat…”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Is It All About You?

Dear Parishioners,

At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis was asked who he was. His response was short and sweet, “I am a sinner.” Interestingly enough, St. Peter says the same thing in today's gospel (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus had used Peter's boat as a pulpit to teach the crowd and then had Peter row out into the deep for an amazing catch of fish. As his boat was so overloaded with fish and in danger of sinking, Peter cried out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus then invited Peter to be one of his disciples.

Isaiah, too, owns up to his unworthiness, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips…” (Is 6:1-2a, 3-8)

By virtue of our baptism, we have all been called to be disciples of Jesus. But first we, like Peter and Isaiah, must humbly admit that we are sinners in need of a savior. In these days of self-love and self-actualization, that’s not always easy to do. The modern mantra “It's all about me” gets in the way.

When we start like Isaiah and Peter, God can rise to make a difference in those around us. May God give us the grace of true humility.

- Fr. Carl

“Some good Christians are in the habit of saying:‘I will make
so many acts of the love of God, so many sacrifices today.’
I like that practice very much.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

A Love Like No Other

Dear Parishioners,

God’s love is like no other. We only glimpse a tiny fraction of its power even as we are invited to share all that we know of it, known “only in part.”

Knowing “only in part” demands giving more, because we do not know how God will use all we give away to bless and encourage others. People who play it safe never have their heart rate go up, because they rarely do anything other than what is safe, measurable and easy. When we know “only in part,” we love more, love more often, love more completely, love more dangerously. So, expect to have your resources and your time given away in love in the good work of being God’s presence right where you live.

- Deacon Robert

“Our Lord took that good Heart of His that He
might love us with it.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Telling the Story

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus announced Good News, telling his friends and family that God’s Kingdom was breaking into their lives through the story he would live and tell (Luke 1:1-4;4:14-21). He told his story of God’s love and grace his way, he lived the story his way. He suffered and died on the cross for many reasons, not the least of which was he could not help but tell the story of God’s presence in the world as only he could tell it.

How will you tell your story? What if you followed our Lord’s example, arming yourself with strength from God’s Word, aware of people who have placed good gifts in you, and that your own life story is worth telling? Tell your story your way. When you do, you will be in the same company with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, all who have told the Jesus story across the ages.

- Deacon Robert

“Those who have pure souls are like eagles and
swallows which fly in the air.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars