Get Advent-urous! -- The Blessings of A Stable Beginning

Get Advent-urous!

The Blessings of A Stable Beginning

by Ian Mascarenhas

   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 2,000 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.

Have a blessed & holy Advent!

Merry CHRISTmas to all!

Thanksgiving Celebration Roots: Deeper Than We Might Realize

Thanksgiving Celebration Roots:

Deeper Than We Might Realize

by Ian Mascarenhas

   Thanksgiving is coming later this month (Nov. 26th) and with it comes family gatherings, feasts, festivities, etc.  We’ve heard and learned about the origins that includes the pilgrims and Indians, the harvest, the celebration.  And we have developed some wonderful traditions based on these foundations.

   Really our “thanksgiving celebrations” have roots that are deeper and more far-reaching than we might realize.  That is because the word Eucharist means thanksgiving.  So the Mass in which we all participate and celebrate is truly a thanksgiving feast.  Its origins are in Jesus Christ, from around 33 A.D., and also are a key part of every Mass we celebrate.

   This means as Catholics our thanksgiving celebration has roots way beyond a few hundred years, and the scope is wider, all over the world.  Also, instead of a short occurrence (day, weekend, week), our thanksgiving (Eucharistic) celebration is every day that the Mass is offered.

   An additional idea about roots is that things grow from them, there are blossoms and blooms.  So thanksgiving celebrations should help us focus on “giving thanks”, but also inspire/spur us on to act upon opportunities.  Our regular practice of thanks-giving should develop into thanks-living, a lifestyle of gratitude and showing appreciation.

   This kind of mindset and resulting actions feeds into the attitude/practice of stewardship, which basically is the ways we give back.  So we are fed by/in/through our celebrations, but then we are also called/challenged to be productive in living thanks-giving lives!

A Light Shone on __________, Exposing Vulnerabilities

A Light Shone on _____,

Exposing Vulnerabilities

by Ian Mascarenhas

   A few weeks ago I was traveling to an early morning meeting in a rural area.  As I drove around a curve, my headlights shone, and I saw a rabbit along the side of the road.  As soon as the area around the creature was brightened, the rabbit scurried for cover, and quickly disappeared.

   I continued to my meeting, but realized a lesson that God was teaching me.  The light that illuminated the roadway and the area along the side also exposed the rabbit and its vulnerability to predators.

   The light of God also shines on us and what gets revealed is the way we are living, the choices we are making.  But it is God, who in love is calling us to come closer.  Do we avoid God, and rather run to cover up further separating/disconnecting from our loving Creator?

   The choice we face is to do an Examination of Conscience, then choose to reunite with God or continue to remain apart, wandering around.  God wants to have a personal relationship/connection with each of us.  We make the choice to participate.

——      ——      ——      ——      ——      ——

A man was talking to his friend and said, “I’m not as close to God as I used to be.”

His friend responded, “Who moved?”

Coming to God’s House; Not on My List of Chores

Coming to God’s House;
Not on My List of Chores

by Ian Mascarenhas

   Do I look at coming to Mass as a burden?  Is it just one more thing on my already busy schedule?  At one time, going to Mass was almost like a chore — something I didn’t look forward to.

   I didn’t have a connection that was important to me.  Our Mass is a Eucharistic celebration, but unfortunately the latter word isn’t emphasized enough.  It IS a celebration and it must be in, by for and through the faith community.

   Our contributions, including the prayers, the singing and coming to receive Holy Communion support and encourage each of us in our faith journey.  We are becoming a holy communion, the Body of Christ — We are the Church.

   We become living temples where God is present.  When we leave the Eucharistic celebration we are sent out to carry on the mission of Jesus, to bring the Presence of God to others and to bring others to God.

   Through the Mass, the faith community coming together is changed by the Word and Eucharist.  We receive the Word and Eucharist, but then also consume it, making it a part of us, and we are transformed.  We then go out to share the message of Jesus — “You are loved.  Love one another.”

   That’s the kind of connection I look forward to getting when I visit God’s house.  And becoming a holy communion with you all is a wonderful benefit and blessing too.

   In the last few years God has given me a different perspective of “God’s house” to consider.  It is our home too, so we don’t visit, but rather we should feel comfortable in our “sanctuary”.  If we come to “visit God,” we will always be uncomfortable on some level.  When we seek a better understanding, deepen our relationship, develop community-mindedness and build family connections, then our comfort-zone is increased.

   This is the home for our family of faith.  By building/developing/strengthening my relationship with God I get more comfortable in God’s Presence and that comfort level extends to Church also.  “God’s house” can be/feel/seem distant, and definitely not what God wants for us.

   We should also look for ways to invite God into our life.  Reach out to and rely on your Support Group; the community building benefits are great!

Remembering Independence -- Practicing Inter-dependence

Remembering Independence

Practicing Inter-dependence

by Ian Mascarenhas

   July 4th is significant because we celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence.  It is an important date and occasion in our country’s history.

   But we are not an independent people.  Rather, we are an inter-dependent people.  We rely on others for services and support.  We cannot do it all on our own.

   It is the same with our faith.  Our faith is about connections and relationships are a key part of how we grow.  Who we are is less important than Who’s we are.  That points to our family connections, including God’s family.

   Our family structure is our Support Group.  It includes those close to us, who encourage/build-up/edify us to accomplish things to our full potential.  Usually that means stepping out of our comfort zone.

   We all strive for independence because that helps us prove that we can …..  But we don’t stay independent, as we keep our connections alive.  And in our unity we thrive for our own benefit and the betterment of the community.

   Our inter-dependence strengthens us and prepares us for the missions for which we are continually sent.

Becoming the Best Version of Yourself

Becoming the Best

Version of Yourself

by Ian Mascarenhas

   Many youth and young adults are transitioning to different phases of their lives in this time period.  Some got confirmed recently, some are graduating high school or college, and some may have changes to other areas of their lives.

   Whatever transition you are going through, make your next phase bigger and better.  Reach for the things that help you achieve your full potential.  Challenge yourself to accomplish the incredible.

   That is what “Becoming the Best Version of Yourself” is all about.  Your life is full of possibilities, you have tremendous abilities and talents.  Another potential you have is you can be a person of impact.  Our world is changing, and you can be a great part of that.

   But, also know, the challenges and struggles and issues get bigger too in these next phases of your lives.  The way you will handle them is with the help of the Support Group you have around you.  Yes, your family is a huge part of your Support Group.  Others that you let in will be part of your S.G.!

   The “Best Version of Ourselves” is not built individually.  We are built up through Team, Communities, Church, FAMILIES.  Stay connected, stay open to the groups that help develop us.

   Also make sure the biggest part of our development team is God.  We can’t even see the Best Version of Ourselves without God being present and involved.  God’s participation in our lives is mutually interactive; its not a monologue, its a dialog.

   So transition, but don’t separate/disconnect!

from OMC's June 2015 youth newsletter -- Up-Words

Confirmation: Initiation or Graduation? Or Is It Both?

Confirmation: Initiation or Graduation?  Or Is It Both?

by Ian Mascarenhas

   In the early stages of helping with Youth Ministry I used to hear, “Confirmation is an initiation, not a graduation.  I understood what was meant by that, you don’t graduate out of Church participation.

   Yes, Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation, along with Baptism and Holy Communion.  But as I continued with Youth Ministry I realized more and more that it is both initiation and graduation.  What is a graduation?  It is a transition from one part of our life into another.  Our life beyond the graduation has responsibilities and challenges that increase.

   After Confirmation the involvement in catechesis classes that have been a necessary part of the preparation is changed.  As a confirmed Catholic the responsibility for living faithful lives, growing in faith and continuing to study God’s messages are ongoing — forever — for all of us.

   Jesus keeps inviting us to come celebrate, come spend time together, come build the relationship, come share the experiences of faith and come meet God the Father.  As Jesus told some disciples in John 2: 39, “Come and you will see.”  It’s the same for each of us, be open to having a closer relationship with God.

   Our openness is so important to deepen our faith and strengthen connections with God — The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  Be open to where God calls you, whether it be in continued learning opportunities at OMC, growing in faith through ministries or to any other options that God offers.  Welcome to your new beginning.  Share your faith!

from OMC's May 2015 Youth Ministry newsletter -- Up-Words

‘That you might have life ...

‘That you might have life ...

by Ian Mascarenhas

   Jesus came that we might get reconnected with the kingdom of God, our faith family (John 10: 10), abundantly.  We are blessed that our God considers us worth recovering, worthy of reconciling.

   We were given this gift, freely; and it is life, eternal life.  It is not a handout, but rather a hand-up.  It is something beyond anything we could do for ourselves.

   Max Lucado wrote, “Jesus considered your place in heaven more important than his.  So he gave up his so you could have yours.”

   Jesus’ offering/sacrifice is so precious and valuable, beyond anything we could comprehend.  Yet it is not forced upon us, but requires our openness, acceptance and availability. 

-- from April 2015 OMC's Youth Ministry newsletter -- Up-Words

Who Am I?

Confirmation Retreat (March 2015)

As I traveled my journey in faith

   A thought crossed my mind:  “I can’t relate.”

“Stay connected,” Jesus says, “Come walk with Me.”

  We are asked quite simply, “Can you quietly be?”

I continue my “Who Am I?” search.

Building connections are steps on the path.

  Strengthening our community with bonds that last.

“Love one another,” is the message/mission we share.

  Through our words and actions others become aware.

From “I” to “us and we” — our holy destiny.

Elbow Pain to God-given Gain

Elbow Pain to God-given Gain

One recent Tuesday I could not lower my arm all the way down nor raise it all the way up.  And I could not get my hand closer than 6 inches from my face, the pain was so bad.  I also had to leave my hand angled across my body as that was the only comfortable place I could find.

I called my doctor for an appointment and they gave me one for the next morning.  That night was excruciating.  I went to my doctor’s appointment and he checked some things, and said I needed to see the orthopedic surgeon.  They got me an appointment for 1 ½ hour later (wow, that was quick).

I met with the orthopedic surgeon who did some range of motion tests with my arm and then told me I’d need x-rays of my arm and shoulder.  Some background on my shoulder injury:  I hurt it a month earlier while skiing.  This doctor had his own x-ray tech, so the x-rays were done within 5 minutes.  On reviewing the x-rays with me, the doctor said the shoulder was strained but was healing, so no further treatment of the shoulder was needed.  But my elbow showed some possible calcification build-up on the inner section.  The doctor said I would need an MRI of my elbow.  The O’ Surgeon also gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine and a prescription for antibiotics.  That combination helped alleviate the pain within a few hours.  I was slowly able to get my arm back down and up soon, and also able to get my hand to my face within a few more days.

The MRI Company called me to schedule my test, setting it for the following week.  I was able to get the MRI done, and had a follow-up with the O’ Surgeon the next day.  We reviewed the MRI results and he said the healing with the antibiotics was good progress and unless I had more problems I would not need to return to see him.

The Lesson God taught me:  The calcification is a calcium build-up.  So what I got from that is even though calcium is a necessary part of our body structure/makeup, if it isn’t processed properly it can be harmful to us.  Similarly, this can be applied to other things, even reading the Bible; If our reading of Holy Scriptures isn’t processed properly, that can become harmful to us.  Sometimes Scripture passages are taken out of context and the effect can be problematic.