The Blessings of Our Stable Foundation

Jesus’ life, teachings, examples, suffering, death and resurrection are the basis for our Church.  He has given us a “stable” foundation.

That term has a two-fold blessing.  It is an unshakeable base for our faith & Church, and also one of simplicity.  The teachings of Jesus which have been handed down through our Church have stood firm over the last 2000 years.  It was also simple because He came without fanfare, and with little recognition as a mighty king and savior.

The strength in our foundation is with three simple parts – faith, love and hope.  Our faith is part of the foundation because we believe the testimonies of witnesses, relying on the accounts of others, and the mysterious ways God touches our lives.  We don’t have personal experience of Jesus’ time, so we must trust.

Love is also included because it is an integral part of each of our relationships – whether that is with family, friends, strangers we pass by, etc.  Jesus did tell us, “Love one another (everyone) as I have loved you.”  We must have caring compassionate attitudes in our actions.

The third one is hope.  We have this expectation because of Jesus’ teachings and His death and resurrection to reconnect us into the Kingdom of God.  It is with great wonder and awe that I consider what our Lord did, deeming us so precious and worth reclaiming in that way.

Those are the rock solid characteristics of our Church, our Christian community, our family, and ourselves when God is part of each relationship.  There can be no stronger foundation than one that includes God.

The simple way in which our Lord entered this world tells us something about how we should celebrate these seasons.  Our Advent and Christmas seasons should not be about extravagant celebrations, but rather they should be meaningful ones.  Our focus should be on Jesus – The Present and The Presence.

Would we have the same kind of celebration if Jesus was in the room with us?  Jesus came to give us something.  What do we offer Him in our celebration of His birth?  Keep a “stable’ mindset as your Advent-ure continues.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!

Signing Up For The Family Plan

          I’ve heard about a “Family Plan” in several places, including when companies talk about insurance and cell phone services.  But do we ever consider that in terms of Church?

That’s exactly what Jesus came to offer us — reconnection with the family of God.  We had got disconnected because of the sin of Adam and Eve — “Original Sin” which separated them, and us, from the Kingdom of God.  But God didn’t want anyone to be disconnected, so Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and was resurrected (and continues to live) for our redemption and salvation.

Jesus wanted us back in the family of God, and also showed us the importance of family by being born into one. He also called a few disciples and built up their bonds to be like family.

Sure there will be strains as with any relationships, but when we hold together as family, we count each other as important, valued and worth holding onto.  As a family (including our family of faith), we are called to encourage and support each other, loving one another as Jesus loved us.

Jesus was all about building everyone up at every opportunity.  His teachings and examples are for us to follow in loving others, connecting in faith and living in hope.

“Family Plans” in Church, as in the business world, do have a cost.  But they are very different. The price is in terms of relationships, but the rewards can be huge too.  God thought the incredible cost for the divine family plan (Jesus’ sacrifice) wasn’t too much.  Max Lucado once wrote “Jesus thought your place in heaven is so important that He was willing to give up His so you could have yours.”  Choose the family plan, and don’t let go of that connection.  Remember too, that reconnection is possible.

I've heard that "The family that prays together, stays together."  That phrase is even more applicable for our family of faith -- Ch-U-R-ch.  Church is just not the same when you (U-R) are not part of it.

Any inn-terest in Jesus' birth?

Any inn-terest in Jesus' birth?

   Here we are amid Advent, the preparation time for Christmas.  I wonder what will it take for me to get into the Christmas spirit.  Will I make reoom in my preparations and celebrations for Jesus?
   Two thousand+ years ago there wasn't any room at the inn for Mary and Joseph to prepare for Jesus' coming.  Yet here I am, all these years have passed and the predicament is still the same.
   My wife and children try so hard to get me into the Christmas spirit.  In my attempt to avoid the materialistic mindset, I also make it hard to enjoy the fullness of the season.
   When I settle for celebrating Christmas on a single day, then the joy is minimized.  It is actually a two-part season -- Advent and Christmas.  What we remember is the coming of Jesus two-thousand+ years ago, but what we are celebrating is a continuous occurance, as long as we open the door.  Then it continues through the Baptism of The Lord Sunday (Jan. 9th, 2011).
   I should not wait until Christmas Day (or Eve) to bring Jesus into preparations and celebrations.  It must begin now if it is to have any significance.  I have to make the room in those preparations and celebrations, and in the rest of my life so there is a place for Jesus' presence.
   How much room do You need Lord?  Jesus will take as much room as I am willing to offer.  Even if the start is small like a few minutes of regular prayer, a daily ritual around the Advent wreath, extra Masses, or spending time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, these are great foundations to build on.
   As in any relationship the closeness, communication and spending time with the other person(s) are key factors.  That is developing inn-timacy.  God wants so much to have a close, personal relationship with each of us.
   We could be very creative in our preparation, even on the verge of Advent-urous.  How do you make your celebration special?
   One of the ways that will be special for me is rediscovering Christmas through child-like viewpoints -- including those of my 8 and 15 year old boys.  The wonder and awe that can be part of the Christmas experience are great blessings.  I look forward to show and be shown the JOY TO THE WORLD that awaits us all.
   The gift of this Christmas should not be in the presents, rather make it in the Real Presence (of Jesus).  It is up to each of us to do our part to include Jesus in the fullness of the Advent and Christmas seasons.  Yes, we will be the ones who inn-vite our Lord to be part of the celebrations.  Are you inn-terested?

Getting presents? Get Real Presence

   Most of our Christmas celebrations will include giving and receiving gifts.  The reason gift giving has become part of the Season is because of the gift God gave us in Jesus, and those who came to visit Jesus brought gifts.
   Now we share gifts with loved ones and others too, which can be a way of being generous with our blessings from God.
   As we prepare for Christmas through the Advent season and in the 3+ weeks of the Christmas sesaon we need to include Jesus through all of it.  We will gather with family and friends for our celebrations.  It is also important to come together as an assembly with our Parish faith family, at Mass.
   Our presence and participation at Mass, in classes, in prayer, in Bible reading, in community building activities, in service opportunities, etc., strengthens our bodies and also the Body of Christ (the Church).  When we receive Jesus in Word and Eucharist, we are getting the gift that is everlasting.  But receiving Jesus is one of the steps.
   We must then consume the Word and Eucharist, that when we are open to God's Way, they become a part of us, change us and help us to live more faithful lives.  To do that we must stay connected and at times get reconnected.
   We support and encourage each other through our faith journey.  Sometimes that is as we assemble at Mass, other times it is as we meet in the community.  As we are fed through our connections at Church, and we keep those connections going as we live through the rest of the week, we can better handle the struggles that come our way.  When my connections have weakened the struggles are much harsher.  Keep connected, regularly!

How Will You $pend Christmas?

How Will You $pend Christmas?

   Christmas is a time when we have celebrations with family and friends, give gifts, and have special meals.  Will there be time for Jesus?  Will our time, energy and money be spent on the commercial aspect of the season, even to the point of exhaustion of one, two or all three?
   How do you make Christmas more alive for your family, your friends, and yourself?  The answer will be different for each of us.  I hope what we all have in common is that no matter where, with whom, and how we spend Christmas, we will include Jesus in all of it as well as save some for ourselves.  The spirit of Christmas should last well beyond December 25th.
   We have such a huge build-up to Christmas Day, that it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the Christmas season actually begins on Christmas Day (and the Eve vigil) and continues for a few weeks on our Church's calendar.  We celebrate the weeks prior to Dec. 25th as Advent, a preparation time that started this year on Nov. 28th.
   So let's make this Advent-urous journey to find the spirit of Christmas and keep the spirit in CHRISTmas.  Then when we enter into the Christmas season, let's share it with others that it hasn't all been spent.  We should be filled and renewed with JOY.
   Will we feel renewed and filled with JOY or will we be worn out by what it takes to get ready?  Are you in a hurry to get to your Christmas vacation that you rush through these precious days?
   Jesus' life on Earth was spent focused on us.  Will His Presence be in our preparation time and Christmas season?  We cannot bring Jesus into our lives for the occasion-al uplifting, then go on with the rest of our lives unaffected.  Jesus Christ is the beginning, center and all throughout Christmas (and beyond).  Where's your focus:  Getting presents?  Get the Real Presence!

Preparing Advent-ures

   What do you think of when you picture an adventure?  Do visions of high-energy activities, excitement and adrenaline rushes come to mind?
   We are in the Advent season, the beginning of a new liturgical year in Church.  So how do we prepare for remembering Jesus' birth 2000+ years ago, His continually coming into our lives, His final coming in glory, and still make it an enlivening experience for each family member?
   One way might be to use an Advent calendar or an Advent chain that helps us connect with God and each other.  The Advent calendar could be on a sheet of paper or a card with windows that have great Advent-urous ideas for each of the days from the beginning of Advent through Christmas.  The Advent chain would have similar ideas, but on pieces of paper that are looped to form links of a chain; Then each day your family could remove one link and do what is written on the piece of paper.  Each family member can share ideas to put on the chain links.
   Jesus gave us so much, as we remember in the Advent and Christmas seasons and at Mass each week through the year.  His examples help us to be more giving.  When my focus has been more on receiving, then I'm only fulfilled for a very short time, but being more giving makes it last so much longer.
   I hope you have a wonderful Advent-ure and may your Christmas be blessed and holy.  Remember Christmas Eve begins the season that continues through the Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  Keep the celebration going.  Our big build-up of preparations shouldn't end suddenly with Christmas Day, our focus just shifts -- not to the presents we receive, but to the Presence of Jesus.
   Jesus' Presence is the central part of our faith, His loving sacrifice we celebrate at Mass, and what gives us hope for eternal life.  So keep Jesus in your preparations and your celebrations for a well connected Advent-ure and Christmas.  Be Advent-urous for a Joy-filled experience.

The Body of Christ: Some Assembly Required

   There are many toys and products that come in pieces with the label "Some assembly required."  That indicates it will take some work to build it (whatever "it" is) up into the product it was meant to be.
   It is the same with our Church, referred to as "The Body of Christ," and we are the parts.  When we come together as an assembly for the Eucharistic celebration (The Mass), we are building up the faith community -- locally to universally.
   Each time we come together, whether at Mass or in other gatherings in His Name, Jesus' Presence is strengthened in our assembly.  We support and encourage each other to live faithful lives and be important, significant and vital parts of the holy communion.  Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion at Mass is also a special link that binds us as brothers and sisters in Christ.
   This assembly in which we are an important part has two more steps that are just as necessary as the coming together to build up the Body of Christ.  We are to go out as changed people to share the message of Jesus' love with those we meet.  And we are to assemble together regularly and often to glorify, praise and worship God as well as support and encourage each other on our faith journey.  Such gatherings build community.
   Do you see our Church as the Body of Christ, and a holy communion?  How are you changed by the Eucharist and/or The Word to share Jesus?  In John 3: 16 the message is God sent Jesus to change our lives and our destiny.  Jesus sends us to change lives and destinies too!

My experience of God -- Awful to Awe-full

   Some years ago my relationship with God was limited to the time I spent at Church on Sunday.  It was because of my parents that I went to Mass.  When I was old enough to go to Mass on my own, whether riding my bike or driving to the Church, it was because I was expected to do that.  And even then I was the one who arrived late and exited early, usually after Communion.
   Church wasn't a place where I wanted to be, so I didn't want to spend any more time there than I had to.  I didn't like being there, and many other places seemed more appealing.
   It was only when I found my own place in our Church that my attitude changed.  I found a community in which I wanted to be a part.  They showed me the love of God in a way that I was open to; the love of acceptance and friendship.
   My experiences of God's love in communities has grown through a young adult group, through the Cursillo movement, in youth groups, in children's ministries and more.  I began a journey of discovering love, myself and a new perspective of JOY.
   Happiness can be found in the priorities we set in our lives.  The word JOY can be an acronym for Jesus, Others, Yourself.  If I am willing to put Jesus first in my life, and other's concerns before my own, then I might find peace and serenity in my soul.  In Matthew 25: 40 Jesus said, "When you did this for the least of my brothers (and sisters) you did it for Me."
   A self-centered attitude develops a personality of take-take-take, while one of other-centeredness finds giving more appealing.  Satan is always looking for opportunities to invert our JOY, to jumble it into some other combination where Jesus isn't first.  But any other order of those letters just doesn't make sense.
   If you are at the "awful" stage in your faith journey, be open to God's presence and guidance.  Our faith is about relationship, and building it up is on-going, a process.  Our continued openness reveals how awe-full this connection with God can be.

“One And Done” or “Going Deeper”

“One And Done” or “Going Deeper”

      When a sports team reaches the end of its regular season and has qualified for postseason play, the discussion focuses on how they will do in those playoffs.  The Talk terms/phrases like “One And Done,” fits a team that loses it’s first postseason game/series, and “Going Deeper,” refers to teams that win and continue on in their respective playoffs.

     This terminology also fits in with faith topics, as with our three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation).  These Sacraments are meant to be beginnings for living our life in a new way, one that is connected with the family of God.

     If a family prepares for a Sacrament, but after receiving it, doesn’t stay connected with Church (eg. participating in Mass or on-going faith formation), they are taking the “One And Done” approach.  When after receiving the Sacrament, the family stays connected with Church, the “Going Deeper” mindset is put into practice.

     The “One And Done” teams are viewed as failures, and a similar analogy can be attributed to the Church context.  And the “Going Deeper” teams are seen as ones who succeed; some of the same traits are true about those who stay connected with Church.

     Our challenge is to build up families, our family of faith and our community.  We cannot do that in isolation, and we cannot receive the benefits in that separation.

     Stay connected because we are an inter-dependent people, and we rely on each other.  Through the community building that gets accomplished by people who are “Going Deeper,” we as the Body of Christ are strengthened.  We as the family of God are more alive as we keep the faith and share it too.

So Go Deeper, as many need the Presence of Jesus that you can bring to their lives.

I Dare You To Do Better

I Dare You To Do Better

(Written for high school graduates)

      In a blockbuster movie a young man was told of his father’s great accomplishments, and that revelation was followed with “I dare you to do better.”

      In a similar way those who transition from one phase of their life to another (eg. graduations) have that challenge too.  What will you accomplish with the best of your abilities.  Some of you will go to college, others will choose a different path.  It is all a continuation of the preparation for what will come later in life.  An important part of it will be stay connected in your faith.  The bonds of our family and our family of faith can support and encourage us with incredible strength for the journey.

     Whichever path you choose, God will use all of your experiences, knowledge and wisdom to bless others; but only if you are open to that possibility.  God uses all our abilities while also overcoming our disabilities and (perceived) inabilities.  The most important one that God wants, which is in our control, is our availability.

     God looks for helpers and workers to assist with tasks.  When we are willing, God helps us prepare for the opportunity we are presented.

     Mother Teresa said (maybe others before her did too) “We do not do great things.  We do small things with great love.”  It is in reflecting on the accomplishments that we realize the magnitude and the far-reaching effects.

     Another quote is “We cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good we can do.”  We must be willing to make the good choices and do the right things.  It is when we look outward from ourselves to do what needs to be done, that we can avoid the prideful in favor of acting humbly, and finish tasks the way God wants.

     Accept the invitation, make availability your priority, stay connected to the Source that can be your strength, build-up your support group — then be the best person you can be, doing your best!

Holy Communion or holy communion -- What's the difference?

Holy Communion -- The Real Presence of the Risen Jesus Christ that we receive in bread and wine that are consecrated to be His Body and Blood at Mass, our Eucharistic Celebration.

holy communion -- What we become through the celebration as an assembly and by our full, conscious, active participation at Mass, in which we praise, glorify and worship God.  By the Holy Communion we receive and consume, we are united together with Jesus and each other in community.  We are changed to go out and affect our world through our faith-filled lives.

     Our connection with Jesus changes us, through many ways including prayer, the Word of God (the Bible), the Eucharistic sacrifice and devotions.  We are never to cover up the changed person we become, as Jesus says in Matthew 5: 13-16.
     I heard a talk in which the message included "Together, we build up the Body of Christ, and the Body of Christ builds us up too."  Holy Communion helps us be stronger in our faith, and we are necessary parts in the Body of Christ.
     There is a song that includes the words, "We are One Body, One Body in Christ, and we do not stand alone."  As a holy communion we support and encourage each other on our faith journey.
     So receive Holy Communion regularly, and be a holy communion continually.  The Eucharist (Holy Communion) is the Source and Summit of our faith, and a holy communion is our destiny.  We continue to strive for it and we keep assembling together; It is the practice of our faith.
     We try to be holy, but sometimes we stumble, sometimes we fall.  Sometimes we turn away in our sinfulness, but we shouldn't stay that way.  We are never too good that we can choose to stay away, and we are never too bad that we would be kept away.  Jesus paid the price to reconcile us, and when we humbly reach out for Him, we are welcomed back into the family.
     And there will be a celebration.

Our Faith Could Never Be non-Prophet

Our Faith Could Never Be non-Prophet

     God used messengers to deliver divine messages to those who would believe -- then and later.  People who are open to receive God' messages are prophet-able and the result is profitable for the kingdom of God.

     Many of the messages are challenging and call us to make changes in our lives.  I find it hard, in some cases, to accept that I've been doing "it" wrong, or that my way is not the best way.  But many times God sends someone into my life with just such a message.  I get down the road in my spiritual journey and look back at that particular situation and see how God's way really was the best way.
     Whomever the messenger is that God has chosen may be referred to as "a prophet," or not, the title is not what is important.  God's message is what is significant; the call to change, and the act of coming back to God's way.
     Seldom do I realize what God is doing in my life while I experience it.  When I look back, I see a greater picture of what took place, and who it was that God used to accomplish the task.
     Sometimes those messages comes from a child, youth or adults.  God carefully selects messangers using only those willing to serve in that capacity; many times there is more urging from God to convince the person.
     When Jeremiah was called, he told God that he was too young.  But God offers development and training to build our confidence.  I found that out.
     When I was in C.C.D. I looked at my Catechists and thought I would never do that.  God led me through many small steps and developed in me the confidence to speak about my faith before a group.  I don't consider myself a prophet by biblical standards, but I am willing to be a messenger for God.
     Many of you, or your peers, have stepped forward to proclaim the message of God before others, perhaps as a Catechist, Team-Teacher, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, giving a talk on a Retreat, one-on-one counseling, helping a friend in need, or just encouraging someone to do what's right.
     Someone once told me, "You may be the only Bible another person reads."  We live the Christian faith, and our lives are an open book.  Are we willing to make it the Good Book?  I certainly am willing to try, by opening myself up to let God lead.  I am blessed to be used by our Lord Jesus Christ.
     You are called to serve Christ in a similar way.  Your answer is your choice, but know that the invitation has been extended.  I hope your answer will be, "Here I am Lord, Send me!"

The cracks that prayer creates

     I tend to try doing things with the feeling that I can accomplish it on my own, without any help.  That develops a sense of self-sufficiency.  And success has a way of propagating these feelings.
     Most times I reach a point where I realize it's time to ask for help.  Prayer can be the answer to just such a need, whether its wanting to share about our joys or sorrows, soliciting help, or expressing thankfulness.  All of this is done by reaching out to our God, thus creating cracks in our shell of self-sufficiency.
     When I reach out to God, the answer may be immediate or it may take awhile, but one thing surely is different -- it is no longer "I," or "me," alone.  It's "we (God and me)," that will handle it together.
     Recently I was doing a talk for a retreat team meeting and in preparation I thought I knew the way the talk should go ("No thanks, God, no help needed here.").  God gave me a message through the Gospel reading for that Sunday that worked well into the talk.  I had prayed about the talk, but wasn't really open to God's way.  Yet God kept urging, and the talk was strengthened by the Word of God.
     There have also been times when I'm angry with God -- and the shell closes up.  How can I expect any healing in this (or any) relationship if I shut down the communications.  Our God, Who is Love, can show us the way if only there are cracks for Love to flow.
     As my relationship with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) develops I have a greater want for more openness and that means more and more, as well as bigger and bigger cracks.  Yet still I have parts of my life where the self-sufficiency shell persists -- a continual work in progress.
     Jesus never said once you follow Me all things will work out.  There are many things, events and people in our lives that strengthen our shell, but as we experience what God's Love can do, we want to come to Him more and more.  And that's what God wants too, for each of us to deepen our relationship.
     Each of us is at a different point in our relationship with God and is progressing at our own pace.  What we learn from others gives us ideas to try, but they must fit naturally into our lives or they won't last long.  That, too, we will learn more about in our discussions with God.

So go ahead, crack a few shells.

When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing.

When it comes to giving, some people stop at "nothing"

     The title of this story can be viewed in two ways.  One is that when a person is faced with a decision about giving they don't, so they give nothing.  The other is that nothing can stop a person from giving to others.
     After the tragic events of September 11th, (and others eg. earthquake in Haiti, the flood in Louisiana, etc.) we have seen and heard many accounts of selfless giving from the rescue workers, the community, the nation and the world.  These people are wonderful examples of the Good Samaritan attitude and mindset.
     I have also supported the rescue efforts, as well as participated in the unification of America by displaying flags at home and on vehicles I've driven.  Yet, I continue to think about what strikes our "giving" nerve.  Did we stop at nothing for a long time before something clicked?
     A past story title (in a newsletter) was "Giving is not about how much you have."  The meaning of that is "the willingness to give" is about an attitude.  We should not wait until we have enough, then give from our surplus.  There are so many people in need and even though we may think we don't have enough, we can still give something.
     Every time I think "Why God, don't I have enough ______ (time, money, things, etc.)?," I also sense God saying, "Why don't I have enough people who love and care."  Then my "Woe is me" attitude is shattered.
     If I don't love and care, and also give nothing, then I create a separation, which is not what God wants us to do.  God created us to be interdependent, to rely on each other.  We are challenged to reach out to others, but are we willing to do that?
     We are not self-sufficient.  We need others, and most especially we need God.  I have been a giving person in some ways, but not in others.  I continually learn from God's lessons, some are easier than others.
     Sometimes God has to pound in the message, but God doesn't create opportunities for pain and suffering.  God does use such incidents to offer us a chance to get involved.  Then we decide which viewpoint of this story title to apply.

Christianity: Jesus' sow-sow attitude

     The word "Christianity" was not used until after Jesus' public ministry, death, resurrection and ascension.  It has been used in relation to His followers living as disciples according to His teachings about faith, love, hope and service.
     Jesus shared His message with a small group around Him that they might choose to live as God commanded.  He also directed them, as accounted in each of the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, to spread that message to all nations (Matthew 28: 16-20, Mark 16: 14-18, Luke 24: 36-49, John 20: 19-23 and Acts 1: 6-8).  That directive was to sow the seeds of God's message into each others' lives.  I think this had two benefits; one for bringing another person closer to God, and the other to strengthen the faith, love, hope and service of the messenger.
     He commissioned the disciples to share in His ministry.  We too are commissioned to profess the beliefs we've accepted.  Our lives are the examples in words and deeds that lead others to God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
     We continually sow seeds and nourish seeds that have been sown, but the cultivating and harvesting will be done in God's time.  Though the need for sowing these seeds is not greater in any particular season, the present time is what we have to share our faith.
     We are not teaching our faith, but rather extending an offer to meet Jesus.  it doesn't take much to meet our Lord.  It can be as close as prayer of looking to each other.  Jesus is present in each of us and shines through each of us.  We just need to be reminded of that sometimes.
     Our faith is not taught, it is caught.  The children/youth (and adults too) are looking to us for a Jesus connection.  We are interconnected through Jesus and that is our holy communion.  That's what makes us ONE!
     As we grow in our faith we see that holy communion connects us with other communities of faith.  In this way we realize that our family is closely linked into one family, God's family.
     One of the songs we sing, "We are the Church," speaks of being happy to be children in God's family.  We are the Church in our homes too, and God happily wants to be part of our family.  The seeds you are sowing continue to unify and build up the family.  This blooming strengthens families, Church and community.

The importance of "showing up"

     A few years ago I was helping to coach my son's soccer team.  They were playing in their last regular season game and because of the team's record, the next week they'd be playing in the championship game.
     After the game I talked with the team and asked, "What's the most important thing you can do to help our team win next week?"  They began searching their memories about all the things we'd talked about during the season.  They came up with things like "passing the ball," "teamwork," "communication," "cheering each other on," and a few more things too.
     Each time they gave me an answer, I responded, "That's important, but what's more important than that?"  Soon they had run out of ideas and I added, "The most important thing that's going to help us win next week is you showing up.  If you don't show up, then all the other things won't matter."  We all needed to be there for the complete team to work together, for the whole team to give us the best chance possible.
     Since then I've realized that concept applies to other parts of our lives, including Youth Ministry.  Youth Ministry begins with Y-O-U, and TRY completes it.  Each of us is the YOU who TRY to help make it a good and alive experience for all.  If you think something is worthwhile, fun, enjoyable, etc., then most likely others would feel the same way too.
     Many youth and adults continue to help make Youth Ministry at Church a vibrant program in the Catechesis classes, the community building gatherings, the Retreats, the seasonal activities and the Service Opportunities.  I have a few good memories of my high school Youth Ministry experience, and that's part of why many opportunities and possibilities have been on the schedule in the past year.
     When you look back at your high school Youth Minstry experience, will you have many great memories, a few good ones, or unhappy thoughts that you didn't get to do the things you wanted.  Got ideas?  Take that important step; Show up, and share them!

Shifting into re-Verse Makes A Difference

     We keep hearing the same stories in Church, especially every three years because of our liturgical cycles.  And many of them are discussed through the Religious Education classes.
     When I've felt like the stories are so familiar, it's so easy to pass over them quickly and miss the messages that God wants to share with me.  If the Reading/Gospel seems boring or hard to understand, it is too convenient to bypass the whole thing as not worth my time and effort to understand it better.  But it doesn't have to be that way.
     When I have had to look over the Readings and Gospel to prepare as a Lector for Mass or to lead Liturgy of The Word for Children or in classes, God's messages are suddenly there in various and unique ways.  The ways that help me include praying about the passages, reading them a few times, and reflecting on what God is saying.
     The Word of God is not always the same, even if I read that passage a few weeks or months earlier.  It could be a word or a phrase in the verses that apply differently to my life now than it did, even a short time ago.  The Word of God hasn't changed.  I'm the one who has changed.
     And then I am at a cross-road.  I can accept the changes and I can affect those God brings to me, or I can ignore or reject the changes and try to go on living a lie.  I say, "living a lie," because whether or not we accept them, we are still changed.  And the difference is still part of our lives.
     The term "cross-road" is also an interesting one, because the cross is such a key part of our faith in who Jesus was, what He did and what He challenges us to do.  His words including "Come Follow Me," and "Love one another," are all about "Make a choice, now."
     If your past has put some separation between you and God, that doesn't matter.  The things that matter to God include "What will you choose now?"  Next comes, "Will you turn around and move toward God?"
     God wants each of us connected, and grounded in our faith, but we must be open to that possibility.  The word "Bible," has been used as an acronym; "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth," but its only a resource, a tool for us to use.  The living Bible is within us, and God so wants to inscribe our hearts with the message of love, unconditional love.
     The sooner we make the choice to get close to God, the more time we have to build that relationship which will make our transition into eternal life so much easier.  God ached so much for us to be reunited as family, that Jesus came to get us back, and lived, suffered, died and rose again for the Divine and human family reunion.
     The Bible messages give new meaning to the in-Verse proportions of God's love for us.  John 10: 10 tells us "I came that you might have life and have it abundantly."

Take A Nap!

Take A Nap!

     A friend went on a retreat.  He met with a Spiritual Advisor several times and at each meeting he would try to bring up issues and concerns he had.  The nun would simply respond, "Take a nap."
     When he told our group the story it seemed quite humorous and we've joked about it many times.  But when recently reflecting on it, I realized there could be a profound message in that advice.  When I've taken naps, the primary reason has been to refresh my body.  The reason I hadn't thought about is the nap is usually something just for me.
     How many times have we done something just for ourselves to refresh our soul, or to renew our catechesis faith sharing or spark our prayer life.  There are many offerings from our Diocese including classes at the Pastoral Center, Basic Catechist Formation Courses and the Spring Forward Mid-Year Catechist Conference.  Another option is the L.A. Religious Education Congress (in Anaheim).
     Whenever we do some things for our own edification, the blessings are poured into our ministry too.  The children/youth benefit a great deal from the boosters we get, and the ideas we share with each other support and encourage our fellow Catechists, and continually uplift us.
     I hope you will take advantage of the many local as well as other opportunities to build up your faith, make connections with others in catechesis, and relax and catch some of the Son-shine blessings.
     I look forward to the many ways Jesus comes into my life, expecially through each of you.  Let God bless you through whatever "nap" you take.

Not the Do-Attitudes

   In Matthew 5: 1-12 and Luke 6: 20-23 the Scriptures gives us "The Beatitudes."  Jesus began this Sermon on the Mount/Plain with "Blessed are you ... for ..." or "Happy are you ... for ..."  He offered them (and now us) encouragement for being the people they already were, for characteristics they already had.
   The things we are "doing" can have very important roles in our lives, but "being" in the Presence of God has an incredible value for us too.  Jesus wanted to show people that God loved them, and how close God was, as well as how they were close to the path toward God too.
   In the Scriptures, He was talking to people who were feeling unworthy and unimportant.  They weren't hearing messages of hope from their religious leaders.  Jesus offered them encouragement for who they were, and called them "blessed," lifting them up for being people who wanted a connection with God; and they were hopeful.
  In Jesus' words, "Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of God," I see that poor in spirit means "those who need God."  When we know that we are poor in spirit, we reach for God because there is a void in our life.  In our need for God, we have and emptiness which only God can fill.
   In "Blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted," I see that recognizing we are hurting, especially spiritually, is the first step toward healing.  If we deny that a problem exists, that closes a door between us and God or others who could help.
   In "Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for holiness, for you shall have your fill," I've learned from comparing the spiritual hunger and thirst to our physical needs.  When we are hungry for food or thirsty for drink, we look for ways to satisfy our need.  Similarly, in our spiritual hunger and thirst, we look for ways to satisfy those needs too.  Through the Eucharist we are filled in many ways; including being in the Presence of our Lord.
   Remember that we are not human doings.  We were created as human beings, and are very much connected to our Creator.  The "doing" comes out of our connectedness with God and our fellow human beings.  That connection is love -- the actions of caring, compassion and kindness that was, is and ever will be in the nature of God.  All that Jesus was and is doing is part of Who He is Being -- living out You Are Loved!

Casual-ty in My Faith

   Casual -- Occurring by chance; Irregular, occasional, unpremeditated, offhand; Not thorough, superficial, nonchalant.
   I don't want my faith in God to be a casual thing.  Faith is about what we believe and how we respond.  I want my faith in and interaction with God to be deliberate, an intimate friendship and a relationship that grows.
   The relationship begins with someone introducing us to God, most likely our parents.  There are others who help us develop our relationship with God, but ultimately it comes down to our openness to Him.  As we draw closer to God, inviting him deeper into our lives, we see His hand in the things around us.  Sometimes it is in the everyday things, but other times it is in wondrous things that give us the "WOW!" eye-openers about God.
   In a "casual" approach to my faith, I don't allow the relationship to develop well.  I can become lukewarm, wishy-washy, and indifferent.  I might even start to say, "I don't need to spend as much or any time with God.  There's always later or tomorrow."  That can progress into a casualty.
   Casualty -- A disastrous accident; One injured or killed in an accident; One injured, killed or captured, or missing in a military action.
   So much of our world is geared toward the "casual," -- lifestyle, clothes, attitudes or other areas you may know of.  It becomes so easy to let that casualness overflow into our spiritual life.  I don't want to become a spiritual war casualty because of my casualness, and then lose out on my eternal life with God.
   We must be determined in pursuing a stronger faith, more other-centered love and joy-filled hope.  There are many ways to accomplish these things, including prayer, attending Mass (with full, active, conscious  participation), study and service, etc.  Anytime we take steps toward God, then God has a chance to show us how close we really are.  We have to be willing to see, hear and feel His presence.  In these times when we realize a stronger bond with God; we are in a holy communion.  I know that when I am open to God's presence, I feel much more alive.
   Even though I realize the value of God's presence, and have so many benefits, I still am too casual at times in that relationship.  "Casual" has its place, but not where my relationship with God is at stake.  Prayer, Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist are some ways we reconnect with God, bridging the gap, or opening the door to let Jesus in.
   The guidance God provides helps me to present His message of faith, love, hope and service to others, because I don't want to settle for the "casual."  Someone once told me "Christ is counting on you," to which I responded, "and I am counting on Christ."  It is through each of us that God is networking to invite all nations to share in eternal life.
   Avoid being a casual-ty in faith -- Reconnect!

I didn't get entertained at Mass

     Is that title appalling?  Is it on the verge of blasphemy?  But there have been times when I've come to Mass with that attitude, expecting the priest, the music/singing, the prayers or something else to keep me interested.  If that didn't happen, then I thought, "I didn't get anything out of Mass," or "Mass was boring."
     That is not the purpose of Mass, or any Liturgical celebration.  We come to Mass to praise, worship and glorify God as a community.  We also assemble to help build up each other's faith.
     Some people might say, "I can meet God anywhere, so why should I go to Mass?"  Actually, we should meet God wherever we are, and that must be part of our daily lives.  The Mass is not for us to meet God just so we can get something, it is so we can give of ourselves (time, talent, treasure and effort) to encourage and support each other on our faith journey.  And what we receive, the most important parts, are in Word and Eucharist.
     My wife and I were planning to take our Michael to a movie (in the late '90s).  Some reviewers wrote that it would not be as entertaining with the same type of action as another movie.  Those reviewers were trying to make a comparison that one movie wasn't worthwhile because it didn't follow the supposed standards of another one.  But each had their own style and offered some unique things.
     Do we compare the Eucharistic celebration at Mass in the same way, to some unrelated things?  Do we have certain expectations based on activities/events in other parts of our lives?  We need to be participants, not spectators, to find something(s) that become important to us to have a better connection and experience.
     Our attendance at Mass is a privilege (sometimes referred to as our obligation).  It is so we can share a meal, in remembrance of the sacrifice that Jesus made.  It is our joining together for this occasion to receive Holy Communion, and to become a holy communion.
     That is why the cross is an important part of our faith.  It is the joining of our humanity and God's divinity (the vertical beam) and uniting us as sisters and brothers in Christ (the horizontal beam).  And the two beams are linked together showing us that our relationship with God cannot be separated from that with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
     God never meant for us to develop our independence and strive for more of it.  It has always been inter-dependence that Jesus taught, relying on each other.
     Independence leads to separation, while inter-dependence bonds us together as one community, people and Body of Christ.  Any entertainment is for the short term.  The benefits of our full conscious active participatation -- at Mass and more -- are for the longest term.  It is ours as God has offered, it is eternal-izing.
     These connections have taken my faith experience from awful (wanting to minimize God in my life) to Awe-Full (wanting to maximize God's presence in my life).  Jesus invites us, "Come and See!"

Mass is meant to be a shared experience.

Pause-ibilities have great benefits

     The Pause, excerpted from Come to the Feast by Fr. Richard N. Fragomeni.
     Let's begin with a paraphrased portion of a short story by Keith Davis, called "The Pause."
     Worry and work had prevented a stressed and pressured executive from doing any serious Christmas preparation, even shopping.  But in his line of duty, he had helped a woman in the company with personal problems, and she and her family expressed their gratitude several times.
     On the afternoon of the Christmas party, she came into his office with a "Merry Christmas," and a series of gifts.  He opened two or three gag gifts and then one box that was empty.  She explained that she knew he was too busy, and she was offering him a pause.  Just some blank time and space.  She said he needed a pause.
     He reflected years later that he had never forgotten the gift, and it was the gift he cherished most that Christmas.  It was the one he used most often.  He knew his life was full, and he needed some leisure time, but he never bothered to take it until he received this beautiful gift.

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     We too need to take a pause, all of us.  Life has a way of speeding by us, if we let it.  We have full schedules, overloaded task lists, homework galore, and you can probably add more of your own items.
     Our spiritual life can use the refreshment of a pause too.  Can we sit down and talk with God for a few minutes or even one minute.  God wants us to build up that relationship.  No matter where we are, we can talk to (and listen to) God.
     Each of us will have some different ways to connect with God, but the important part is that we do something to get closer to God.  God waits for us to take the first step.  The pause-ibilities are up to you!

Professor of my faith

   No one knows my faith better than I do (and God, of course).  Sure there are people who know more about faith than me.  And there are people who know more about religion than me.  Still, no one but God knows more about my faith than me.
   Someone who is knowledgeable about a subject can get to a point where they can proclaim it before others.  My faith has been just such a subject.  God has led me to where I can stand before others and share about God in my life.  One of the ways we do that is when celebrating together at Mass during the Profession of Faith?  We are "Professors," proclaiming about the topic that connects us -- our faith.
   I think that God also calls us to go beyond that community and be a professor of our faith in other areas of our lives.  At this point you might be thinking, "Me, a professor?"  You are already doing just that, because a "Catechist," is one who shares their faith.  Whether you are a Catechist Leader in a class, an Aide, or a Helper in some other capacity, you are sharing your faith.  Even if you are not involved in catechesis, living the faith is sharing it too.  It is in your words and actions that Jesus reaches all in this ministry (children, youth, adults).  When we open ourselves up to God's way we will be shown the steps to take.
   Anytime we look ahead at a large task, it can seem overwhelming and scary.  If we look back at something we've accomplished its easy to identify the small steps it took for completion.
   Coming out of high school I wanted to be a newspaper reporter.  I had no idea that God had other opportunities in mind when I studied Journalism in college.  None of our experiences ever gets wasted.  The communications skills I've developed in that training have been valuable in the job market as well as in ministry at multiple Churches.
   When I came to my current Parish (in Aug. 1992) I had no experience working with children in a Religious Education capacity.  Through God's and peoples' guidance I realized that being a Catechist is not just about teaching religion or faith, rather it also includes sharing my faith (and you sharing yours too).  Then the children/youth/adults connect what they learn to their own faith; Faith is not taught, it's caught!
   The exciting part about professing my faith is that I caught it, and I want to share what I caught.  The faith that I caught has shown me the great love of God, and that gives me hope.  There is a Quaker song called "How can I keep from singing?"  The chorus is "No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging.  Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?"
   Keep clinging, and keep singing!