This and That:
New Peace Initiative in our Archdiocese
In a letter to pastors and parish administrators dated May 27, 2009, Archbishop O’Brien wrote:
“The seriousness of our city’s crime problem is well known. Shootings, most of which are drug-related, and other crimes against our citizens have taken a heavy toll on our people and our neighborhoods. This has been evident to me since my arrival, as has the enormous effort being made by our parishes and schools to minister to so many who otherwise would have lost hope in the face of such tragedy and despair.
Determining how best our community of faith can play an active role in promoting peace has been at the core of meetings between our pastors in Baltimore City and Bishop Madden over the past year and more. This issue was also at the heart of a discussion that took place recently between the bishop, other ecumenical leaders in the city and the commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department.
The result of that meeting was a commitment by church leaders to collaborate on efforts that promote peace in our city, such as Safe Streets, an initiative of the City Health Department that puts trusted members of the community who also have had in the past, difficulties with violent behavior, in positions to intervene and diffuse infighting and turf wars where shootings occur.
Several of our faith leaders formalized this commitment by agreeing to promote in our respective communities “A Summer of Peace.” At a time of year when shootings typically spike and many of our youth, vulnerable outside the safety of their schools and the rec centers and pools that will not re-open, become targets of violence and the drug trade, churches in and around Baltimore are being asked to promote peace by:
➢ Celebrating Peace Sunday
➢ Reciting a Prayer for Peace
➢ Collecting donations for the Safe Streets program
I urge all of our parishes, regardless of location, to consider joining this effort. Other peace-promoting efforts that target kids and create safe havens to be discussed are youth centers, summer camps, summer jobs programs. You are encouraged to explore these and other options that keep kids in your area safe this summer.”
Here at Our Lady of Grace, we are celebrating Peace Sunday this weekend by using the Prayer for Peace to end our General Intercessions and by donating our Poor Box collection to the Safe Streets program.
Some of our youth and adults have participated in recent years in the Baltimore Work Camp, which gives youth experience of working in the inner city. This takes place each June, around the same time as the youth trip to Appalachia. These experiences contribute to peace by putting faces on poverty and raising consciousness of our brothers and sisters who live in dangerous circumstances.
Our parish also has an ongoing relationship with the Franciscan Youth Center which provides a safe environment for Baltimore city children in after-school programs and summer camp. Each summer, we collect school supplies to help these children be ready for a new school year.
While we in northern Baltimore County are physically removed from the violence of the city, let us be mindful of those who live in dangerous areas, especially the children. Let’s make “Peace Sunday” an ongoing experience of solidarity with those in our city. Let’s continue to pray, share our resources and stay involved with our brothers and sisters throughout the summer and the school year.
Blessings,
Sister Mary Therese
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Weekly HOMILY for June 28, 2009: Deacon Preaching Sunday
Deacon Lee Benson preached at all the Masses this weekend as his farewell to Our Lady of Grace.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Weekly THIS AND THAT for June 21, 2009: Farewell and Thank You to Deacon Lee and Chris Pignataro
This and That:
Farewell and Thank You to Deacon Lee and Chris Pignataro
Deacon Lee Benson to be Reassigned
After two years with us, Deacon Lee is awaiting reassignment to another parish to continue his ministry which included preaching and assisting at Mass. He and his wife Debby have become familiar faces at Mass and it has been wonderful having them with us here at Our Lady of Grace.
While most of us will remember him from his excellent homilies and his use of PowerPoint slides to share his insights and reflection at Sunday Masses, Deacon Lee has been there for us in many other ways as well. He has prepared couples for the Baptism of their children, conducted large group Baptisms each month, and participated as a presenter for Lenten Family Fridays.
Deacon Lee has been a gentle and steady presence to our faith family, and in his moving on in ministry, we offer him our well wishes and prayers. We will bid farewell to Deacon Lee at the 10:00am Mass on Sunday, June 28th followed by a reception in the courtyard. All are invited to join us at that time.
Operation Faith Formation
For several months now Sister Mary Therese and I have been studying our parish’s 60+ ministries to see how effectively we have been serving the formation of our people in the areas of catechesis of our children and the evangelization of the members of the community-at-large. The effort has been called “Operation Faith Formation.”
In the area of Religious Education of our children, youth, and teens we have seen where many needs are coming to the fore, needs that require a fully credentialed and experienced Director of Religious Education. It has become evident that we need to upgrade the current position of “Administrator of Religious Education” to “Director of Religious Education,” effective July 1, 2009 and to seek a fully credentialed and experienced individual.
As a result, Chris Pignataro will be leaving her position as Administrator, effective June 30, 2009. We are presently in the process of interviewing for the position and are seeking a Director with a “Professional Catechist Certificate” which requires 18 college credits and five to ten years of experience. Such experience and training will make it possible for the individual to offer the theological presentations for parent preparation for First Sacraments, develop new programs, and even teach in the Confirmation Program of 9th and 10th Grades, as well as being the Retreat Director for the annual two-day retreat.
Chris Pignataro to Leave Position
Two and a half years ago Chris was wonderful in being willing to “step up to the plate” and help us with administering the Religious Education Programs with the unexpected resignation of our then Director of Religious Education. How grateful I was for her willingness to assist us in keeping all our programs going in mid-year. And that she has continued to do.
The results of “Operation Faith Formation” (see above) are having us upgrade the position from Administrator to Director, the latter of which requires a “Professional Certification” from the Archdiocese, a degree in Religious Education, and five to ten years of parish experience.
In meeting with Chris she very gracious and shared her thoughts. She has been helpful in the transition to a new person and is even willing to help out in the future, if the funds are available. There will be time for thanking her publicly at the 10:00am Mass on the weekend of June 28th with a reception that will follow the Mass in the courtyard.
In her two and a half years with us, she has added much to the life and vitality of both our Pastoral Team and our Religious Education Programs. Our catechists and parents have truly come to care for her, as have we all. She has assured me that she will continue as an active member of our parish family.
As you can see next weekend will be an important one for us as a parish. We invite you to join us at the 10:00am Mass and the reception that follows to help us celebrate and thank Deacon Lee and Chris Pignataro for their ministry among us.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Farewell and Thank You to Deacon Lee and Chris Pignataro
Deacon Lee Benson to be Reassigned
After two years with us, Deacon Lee is awaiting reassignment to another parish to continue his ministry which included preaching and assisting at Mass. He and his wife Debby have become familiar faces at Mass and it has been wonderful having them with us here at Our Lady of Grace.
While most of us will remember him from his excellent homilies and his use of PowerPoint slides to share his insights and reflection at Sunday Masses, Deacon Lee has been there for us in many other ways as well. He has prepared couples for the Baptism of their children, conducted large group Baptisms each month, and participated as a presenter for Lenten Family Fridays.
Deacon Lee has been a gentle and steady presence to our faith family, and in his moving on in ministry, we offer him our well wishes and prayers. We will bid farewell to Deacon Lee at the 10:00am Mass on Sunday, June 28th followed by a reception in the courtyard. All are invited to join us at that time.
Operation Faith Formation
For several months now Sister Mary Therese and I have been studying our parish’s 60+ ministries to see how effectively we have been serving the formation of our people in the areas of catechesis of our children and the evangelization of the members of the community-at-large. The effort has been called “Operation Faith Formation.”
In the area of Religious Education of our children, youth, and teens we have seen where many needs are coming to the fore, needs that require a fully credentialed and experienced Director of Religious Education. It has become evident that we need to upgrade the current position of “Administrator of Religious Education” to “Director of Religious Education,” effective July 1, 2009 and to seek a fully credentialed and experienced individual.
As a result, Chris Pignataro will be leaving her position as Administrator, effective June 30, 2009. We are presently in the process of interviewing for the position and are seeking a Director with a “Professional Catechist Certificate” which requires 18 college credits and five to ten years of experience. Such experience and training will make it possible for the individual to offer the theological presentations for parent preparation for First Sacraments, develop new programs, and even teach in the Confirmation Program of 9th and 10th Grades, as well as being the Retreat Director for the annual two-day retreat.
Chris Pignataro to Leave Position
Two and a half years ago Chris was wonderful in being willing to “step up to the plate” and help us with administering the Religious Education Programs with the unexpected resignation of our then Director of Religious Education. How grateful I was for her willingness to assist us in keeping all our programs going in mid-year. And that she has continued to do.
The results of “Operation Faith Formation” (see above) are having us upgrade the position from Administrator to Director, the latter of which requires a “Professional Certification” from the Archdiocese, a degree in Religious Education, and five to ten years of parish experience.
In meeting with Chris she very gracious and shared her thoughts. She has been helpful in the transition to a new person and is even willing to help out in the future, if the funds are available. There will be time for thanking her publicly at the 10:00am Mass on the weekend of June 28th with a reception that will follow the Mass in the courtyard.
In her two and a half years with us, she has added much to the life and vitality of both our Pastoral Team and our Religious Education Programs. Our catechists and parents have truly come to care for her, as have we all. She has assured me that she will continue as an active member of our parish family.
As you can see next weekend will be an important one for us as a parish. We invite you to join us at the 10:00am Mass and the reception that follows to help us celebrate and thank Deacon Lee and Chris Pignataro for their ministry among us.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Weekly HOMILY for June 21, 2009: Overcoming the Storms in Your Life
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
June 21, 2009
Overcoming the Storms in Your Life
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Imaging the Storm
I would like to begin my homily this (evening) (morning) with you creating in your imagination the storm on the Sea of Galilee that we just heard expressed in the Gospel.
If you feel comfortable closing your eyes for a moment, while I try to describe it, please do so.
It is a sunny bright afternoon and the Sea is as tranquil as a pond on a summer’s day.
The Gospel tells us that “It happened that a bad squall blew up. The waves were breaking over the boat.”
Imagine if you will, as often happens in Galilee, a cold front of dark ominous clouds moves in quickly over the Lake and part of the sky darkens and beneath the winds begin to howl and the water becomes chopped. Soon the downpour begins.
What had been a calm, viable sea all of a sudden becomes a dangerous threat to life as choppy waters lash against the small 24-foot fishing boat and it is caught up in the tumult. It begins shifting to and fro, tossed about by the winds.
Water begins to fill the boat, as bolts of lightening illumine the sky. The Disciples begin to fear for their lives.
Jesus sleeps in the stern, apparently unaware of or unperturbed by the storm; the Disciples, on the other hand, are frantic.
Please open your eyes.
The storm on the Sea of Galilee you saw is a symbol of the storms in our own lives, storms that have to do with our own sense of drowning, going under for the last time, or overwhelm, reaching the end of our rope – call it what you will.
What we see in the dialogue between Jesus and the Disciples in the midst of their storm is a three-fold progression into a deepening relationship with him as their “Savior at Sea.”
I would like to suggest that if we go through that same three-fold progression, we might attain the same sense of being saved from our own storm, as were the Disciples.
We Question
Let’s give it a try and begin with the first step of the progression.
Once the Disciples know that they are in trouble, they do reach out to the Lord albeit in panic. “Teacher, doesn’t it matter to you that we are going to drown” they frantically call out to him.
For us, in our own particular “drowning situation,” it may be the statement:
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that the one I loved has died?”
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that my life has been turned upside down by this divorce, this love, this sickness, this struggle, this problem?”
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that I’ve lost my job, my pension, my investment income after all these years of faithful service to my company.”
Well, the response to that from the Lord is, “Yes, my friend, it does matter!”
It matters greatly to our God when one of his beloved is frightened, scared, or upset.
But let us quickly add that sometimes that turmoil is needed in life, that at times, we need a “perfect storm” to blow through our life, clearing out the cobwebs of over-control, of presumption, of self-righteousness, of selfishness.
We need our precious self-control to be utterly frustrated so we can fall backwards into the arms of the “Sender of the Storm” who will become the “Savior in the Storm.”
Jesus Acts
A second progression of being saved from our storms is hearing Jesus’ rebuke of the wind and the sea when he cries out, “Quiet!”
When storms rage across the boat of your life and mine, and everything turns upside down, we need to be assured that our cry was heard and Jesus will call out in our storm.
We need to hear him say: “Be still, chaos!” “Leave him, anxiety and fear!” “Dispel her darkness!” “Grant them peace in their loss.” “Be lifted depression!”
And as we hear him, we need to let go of it all, to forget our preconceptions and our plans, to yield to the divine energy surging through us.
Do not fight or resist it. Stop struggling in the water; float with it! Trust that God’s word is enough to quell the winds and the sea.
Yes, there is a risk, but we need to trust it!
We Trust
The third and final progression in being saved at Sea is to hear Jesus’ words to each of us in the midst of our storm, “Why are you so terrified, Father Nicholas? Why are you so lacking in faith?”
To be able to make this act of trust in the midst of our storm, we need to know in our heads and trust with our hearts that Jesus would never leave us alone.
We need to know from our own past experiences that God holds all things in his hands and he now holds us as he has in the past.
Only then will our terror and fear dissolve in the warm embrace of God’s arms.
Yes, God holds us. Yes, God is with us. Yes, God is the river we float in, leading us to inevitable glory.
Conclusion
God is the master of all storms. God is the one who allows whirlwinds to rage in our lives from time to time.
But God is also sunshine after the rain. And God is the one who brings newfound peace in new waters of new places in life.
We question Jesus. Jesus acts. And Jesus questions us.
Our Lady of Grace
June 21, 2009
Overcoming the Storms in Your Life
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Imaging the Storm
I would like to begin my homily this (evening) (morning) with you creating in your imagination the storm on the Sea of Galilee that we just heard expressed in the Gospel.
If you feel comfortable closing your eyes for a moment, while I try to describe it, please do so.
It is a sunny bright afternoon and the Sea is as tranquil as a pond on a summer’s day.
The Gospel tells us that “It happened that a bad squall blew up. The waves were breaking over the boat.”
Imagine if you will, as often happens in Galilee, a cold front of dark ominous clouds moves in quickly over the Lake and part of the sky darkens and beneath the winds begin to howl and the water becomes chopped. Soon the downpour begins.
What had been a calm, viable sea all of a sudden becomes a dangerous threat to life as choppy waters lash against the small 24-foot fishing boat and it is caught up in the tumult. It begins shifting to and fro, tossed about by the winds.
Water begins to fill the boat, as bolts of lightening illumine the sky. The Disciples begin to fear for their lives.
Jesus sleeps in the stern, apparently unaware of or unperturbed by the storm; the Disciples, on the other hand, are frantic.
Please open your eyes.
The storm on the Sea of Galilee you saw is a symbol of the storms in our own lives, storms that have to do with our own sense of drowning, going under for the last time, or overwhelm, reaching the end of our rope – call it what you will.
What we see in the dialogue between Jesus and the Disciples in the midst of their storm is a three-fold progression into a deepening relationship with him as their “Savior at Sea.”
I would like to suggest that if we go through that same three-fold progression, we might attain the same sense of being saved from our own storm, as were the Disciples.
We Question
Let’s give it a try and begin with the first step of the progression.
Once the Disciples know that they are in trouble, they do reach out to the Lord albeit in panic. “Teacher, doesn’t it matter to you that we are going to drown” they frantically call out to him.
For us, in our own particular “drowning situation,” it may be the statement:
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that the one I loved has died?”
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that my life has been turned upside down by this divorce, this love, this sickness, this struggle, this problem?”
➢ “Doesn’t it matter that I’ve lost my job, my pension, my investment income after all these years of faithful service to my company.”
Well, the response to that from the Lord is, “Yes, my friend, it does matter!”
It matters greatly to our God when one of his beloved is frightened, scared, or upset.
But let us quickly add that sometimes that turmoil is needed in life, that at times, we need a “perfect storm” to blow through our life, clearing out the cobwebs of over-control, of presumption, of self-righteousness, of selfishness.
We need our precious self-control to be utterly frustrated so we can fall backwards into the arms of the “Sender of the Storm” who will become the “Savior in the Storm.”
Jesus Acts
A second progression of being saved from our storms is hearing Jesus’ rebuke of the wind and the sea when he cries out, “Quiet!”
When storms rage across the boat of your life and mine, and everything turns upside down, we need to be assured that our cry was heard and Jesus will call out in our storm.
We need to hear him say: “Be still, chaos!” “Leave him, anxiety and fear!” “Dispel her darkness!” “Grant them peace in their loss.” “Be lifted depression!”
And as we hear him, we need to let go of it all, to forget our preconceptions and our plans, to yield to the divine energy surging through us.
Do not fight or resist it. Stop struggling in the water; float with it! Trust that God’s word is enough to quell the winds and the sea.
Yes, there is a risk, but we need to trust it!
We Trust
The third and final progression in being saved at Sea is to hear Jesus’ words to each of us in the midst of our storm, “Why are you so terrified, Father Nicholas? Why are you so lacking in faith?”
To be able to make this act of trust in the midst of our storm, we need to know in our heads and trust with our hearts that Jesus would never leave us alone.
We need to know from our own past experiences that God holds all things in his hands and he now holds us as he has in the past.
Only then will our terror and fear dissolve in the warm embrace of God’s arms.
Yes, God holds us. Yes, God is with us. Yes, God is the river we float in, leading us to inevitable glory.
Conclusion
God is the master of all storms. God is the one who allows whirlwinds to rage in our lives from time to time.
But God is also sunshine after the rain. And God is the one who brings newfound peace in new waters of new places in life.
We question Jesus. Jesus acts. And Jesus questions us.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for June 14, 2009: Operation Faith Formation
This and That:
Operation Faith Formation
For several months now Sister Mary Therese and I have been studying our parish’s 60+ ministries to see how effectively we have been serving the formation of our people in the areas of catechesis of our children and the evangelization of the members of the community-at-large. The effort has been called “Operation Faith Formation.”
The three primary feedback tools that were employed were:
➢ Bishop Rozanski’s Pastoral Visit to the Parish three years ago and consequent Report
➢ Feedback from the Pastoral Council and Pastoral Team to the self-study on “The Hope That Lies Before Us,” [This is a document that helps parishes plan for the diminishing number of priests in the future.]
➢ Our Parish’s Strategic Plan
The time seemed appropriate to review this matter in order to leave the parish on a sound foundation, given the change of leadership on July 1, 2010.
The three feedback tools mentioned above were reviewed and each of the more than sixty ministries were studied regarding the numbers contacted through the ministry, and the background, experience, education and credentialing of staff members responsible for each ministry. Many questions arose: What new ministries are called for particularly in evangelization? What present ministries needed more attention? What things could be dropped as not central to “Faith Formation?”
Our findings were many. An important area that needs attention is our efforts in evangelization. That number one priority is currently only able to be done in small part by the Assistant Pastor and the work of our volunteer Evangelization Committee. Another area that needs greater emphasis is Religious Education. The present Administrator has had no undergraduate or graduate education or experience in this area and must rely on seminarians and other qualified staff members for theological presentations and “learning the ropes.” Programs also need to be developed in Adult Faith Formation. Presently all that is offered is the Annual Lenten Family Friday program and “Why Catholic?” groups and those are done by the Pastor and the Assistant Pastor. Getting people to attend Mass more regularly, seeking out those who have strayed, resourcing parents whose grown children have strayed from the Church, and welcoming all into our community are areas that need greater attention. Finally, greater emphasis needs to be given to assisting Religious Education catechists and School Religion teachers in receiving their certification to teach our children.
Elements of a plan were then developed. With the departure of the Pastor in June 2010 the Archdiocese may take one of several options regarding his replacement. After a Parish Visitation that will be done by the Division of Clergy Personnel, the Archbishop may appoint a new pastor immediately or he might wait up to 6 months before appointing a new one. This was what happened with the present Pastor being appointed. The Archbishop might also appoint an Associate Pastor (priest) who would report to a Pastor in another parish. In this scenario, the Pastor would in actuality be the Pastor of two parishes. A final option is where the Archbishop may appoint a Pastoral Life Director (Lay Ecclesial Minister or Permanent Deacon.) We are obviously advocating for a resident full-time pastor to succeed me.
Regarding other personnel, at this writing we are presently interviewing for a half-time professional Director of Religious Education. We also believe strongly that in the future we will need professional leadership in the general area of Faith Formation that would include expanded efforts in Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation. Such an individual would have to have at least a Master’s Degree in Theology and from five to ten years of parish experience. The challenge will come in providing such leadership, given the constraints of the budget and the guidelines set by the Parish Finance Committee calling for no new increases in staffing. It is both a challenging and exciting task we face.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Operation Faith Formation
For several months now Sister Mary Therese and I have been studying our parish’s 60+ ministries to see how effectively we have been serving the formation of our people in the areas of catechesis of our children and the evangelization of the members of the community-at-large. The effort has been called “Operation Faith Formation.”
The three primary feedback tools that were employed were:
➢ Bishop Rozanski’s Pastoral Visit to the Parish three years ago and consequent Report
➢ Feedback from the Pastoral Council and Pastoral Team to the self-study on “The Hope That Lies Before Us,” [This is a document that helps parishes plan for the diminishing number of priests in the future.]
➢ Our Parish’s Strategic Plan
The time seemed appropriate to review this matter in order to leave the parish on a sound foundation, given the change of leadership on July 1, 2010.
The three feedback tools mentioned above were reviewed and each of the more than sixty ministries were studied regarding the numbers contacted through the ministry, and the background, experience, education and credentialing of staff members responsible for each ministry. Many questions arose: What new ministries are called for particularly in evangelization? What present ministries needed more attention? What things could be dropped as not central to “Faith Formation?”
Our findings were many. An important area that needs attention is our efforts in evangelization. That number one priority is currently only able to be done in small part by the Assistant Pastor and the work of our volunteer Evangelization Committee. Another area that needs greater emphasis is Religious Education. The present Administrator has had no undergraduate or graduate education or experience in this area and must rely on seminarians and other qualified staff members for theological presentations and “learning the ropes.” Programs also need to be developed in Adult Faith Formation. Presently all that is offered is the Annual Lenten Family Friday program and “Why Catholic?” groups and those are done by the Pastor and the Assistant Pastor. Getting people to attend Mass more regularly, seeking out those who have strayed, resourcing parents whose grown children have strayed from the Church, and welcoming all into our community are areas that need greater attention. Finally, greater emphasis needs to be given to assisting Religious Education catechists and School Religion teachers in receiving their certification to teach our children.
Elements of a plan were then developed. With the departure of the Pastor in June 2010 the Archdiocese may take one of several options regarding his replacement. After a Parish Visitation that will be done by the Division of Clergy Personnel, the Archbishop may appoint a new pastor immediately or he might wait up to 6 months before appointing a new one. This was what happened with the present Pastor being appointed. The Archbishop might also appoint an Associate Pastor (priest) who would report to a Pastor in another parish. In this scenario, the Pastor would in actuality be the Pastor of two parishes. A final option is where the Archbishop may appoint a Pastoral Life Director (Lay Ecclesial Minister or Permanent Deacon.) We are obviously advocating for a resident full-time pastor to succeed me.
Regarding other personnel, at this writing we are presently interviewing for a half-time professional Director of Religious Education. We also believe strongly that in the future we will need professional leadership in the general area of Faith Formation that would include expanded efforts in Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation. Such an individual would have to have at least a Master’s Degree in Theology and from five to ten years of parish experience. The challenge will come in providing such leadership, given the constraints of the budget and the guidelines set by the Parish Finance Committee calling for no new increases in staffing. It is both a challenging and exciting task we face.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Weekly HOMILY for June 14, 2009: Eucharist -- The Divine Embrace
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle A
Our Lady of Grace
June 14, 2009
Eucharist: the Divine Embrace
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
A Rabbi’s Embrace
There is a story about a six-year-old Jewish boy named Mortakai.
Mortakai refused to go to school. Each day, his mother took him to school, but as soon as she left him, he ran back home only to have his mother bring him back to school once again.
This scenario played itself day after day. No bribe or threat could convince Mortakai to change his mind.
In desperation, the parents contacted their rabbi. The rabbi said, “If the boy won’t listen to words, bring him to me.”
And so, the parents took Mortakai to the rabbi. As they entered his study, the rabbi did not say a word, but simply picked up the boy and held him to his heart for a long time.
Then, without speaking, the rabbi set the boy down. Amazingly, what words alone could not accomplish, a silent embrace did.
Mortakai began going to school willingly every day. And beyond that, he went on to become a famous Jewish scholar and rabbi.
God’s Embrace
One of our current Catholic spiritual writers, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, says that this parable expresses the essence of the feast we celebrate today, the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Through the Eucharist, God physically embraces us and holds us close to the divine heart. Words are important in life and that is why the Word of God has such a prominent part to play in our celebration of the Eucharist.
But, at times, words can fail us. I have to think of my visits to funeral homes.
The older I get, the more I realize that it is more important that I am just there with a hug or a firm warm handshake with a parishioner who has suffered the loss of a loved one and is grieving. My presence is a spiritual embrace and that communicates more than my words.
Certainly, Jesus makes powerful use of words and we hear his words in the Gospels. But even Jesus’ words have limits and so he resorts to another language – the language of ritual and action.
This is what the gift of his Body and Blood in the forms of bread and wine is all about. It is Jesus doing what that rabbi did for young Mortakai; it is Jesus’ physical embrace, his holding us near to his heart.
A Parent’s Embrace
Ronald Rolheiser offers another example.
He says that there often comes a time, usually late in the afternoon, when little children can get very tired. Perhaps they have been to pre-school and did not get much of a nap. At such times they can get into all sorts of cranky behaviors, like tormenting the cat or the dog.
The child is tired and begins to whine. The mother is also tired and begins to reprimand the child.
The child simply whines all the more and now the mother knows exactly what to do.
She scoops up the child and without speaking, just holds the child to her heart.
The Eucharist’s Embrace
Rolheiser says that this is a good image of the Eucharist.
We all come to the Eucharist, at times, tired, strung out, lonely, preoccupied, worried or just plain cranky. There are times when we have no words to say and cannot really hear or heed any words.
And then, in that moment, God touches us and picks us up, like a mother calming her child. In that moment, only a physical touch or embrace will work.
This is why God, in Jesus, gives us the Eucharist. It is this physical embrace by the Divine that we celebrate today.
No wonder the Eucharist is such a powerful sacrament. No wonder we have a hunger for it, even if we have not been here for it for some time.
No wonder those who are not Catholic also have a hunger for it. We human beings all need and we all have a hunger for the Divine Embrace that the Eucharist is.
Conclusion
When we are sacramentally and physically embraced by Jesus here in the Eucharist, we become one with the very God who nourishes us. We find a profound comfort in our human upset and anxiety.
We find a profound satisfaction for our human tiredness and searching.
That is what the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is for us: the divine embrace that communicates without any words at all.
Our Lady of Grace
June 14, 2009
Eucharist: the Divine Embrace
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
A Rabbi’s Embrace
There is a story about a six-year-old Jewish boy named Mortakai.
Mortakai refused to go to school. Each day, his mother took him to school, but as soon as she left him, he ran back home only to have his mother bring him back to school once again.
This scenario played itself day after day. No bribe or threat could convince Mortakai to change his mind.
In desperation, the parents contacted their rabbi. The rabbi said, “If the boy won’t listen to words, bring him to me.”
And so, the parents took Mortakai to the rabbi. As they entered his study, the rabbi did not say a word, but simply picked up the boy and held him to his heart for a long time.
Then, without speaking, the rabbi set the boy down. Amazingly, what words alone could not accomplish, a silent embrace did.
Mortakai began going to school willingly every day. And beyond that, he went on to become a famous Jewish scholar and rabbi.
God’s Embrace
One of our current Catholic spiritual writers, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, says that this parable expresses the essence of the feast we celebrate today, the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Through the Eucharist, God physically embraces us and holds us close to the divine heart. Words are important in life and that is why the Word of God has such a prominent part to play in our celebration of the Eucharist.
But, at times, words can fail us. I have to think of my visits to funeral homes.
The older I get, the more I realize that it is more important that I am just there with a hug or a firm warm handshake with a parishioner who has suffered the loss of a loved one and is grieving. My presence is a spiritual embrace and that communicates more than my words.
Certainly, Jesus makes powerful use of words and we hear his words in the Gospels. But even Jesus’ words have limits and so he resorts to another language – the language of ritual and action.
This is what the gift of his Body and Blood in the forms of bread and wine is all about. It is Jesus doing what that rabbi did for young Mortakai; it is Jesus’ physical embrace, his holding us near to his heart.
A Parent’s Embrace
Ronald Rolheiser offers another example.
He says that there often comes a time, usually late in the afternoon, when little children can get very tired. Perhaps they have been to pre-school and did not get much of a nap. At such times they can get into all sorts of cranky behaviors, like tormenting the cat or the dog.
The child is tired and begins to whine. The mother is also tired and begins to reprimand the child.
The child simply whines all the more and now the mother knows exactly what to do.
She scoops up the child and without speaking, just holds the child to her heart.
The Eucharist’s Embrace
Rolheiser says that this is a good image of the Eucharist.
We all come to the Eucharist, at times, tired, strung out, lonely, preoccupied, worried or just plain cranky. There are times when we have no words to say and cannot really hear or heed any words.
And then, in that moment, God touches us and picks us up, like a mother calming her child. In that moment, only a physical touch or embrace will work.
This is why God, in Jesus, gives us the Eucharist. It is this physical embrace by the Divine that we celebrate today.
No wonder the Eucharist is such a powerful sacrament. No wonder we have a hunger for it, even if we have not been here for it for some time.
No wonder those who are not Catholic also have a hunger for it. We human beings all need and we all have a hunger for the Divine Embrace that the Eucharist is.
Conclusion
When we are sacramentally and physically embraced by Jesus here in the Eucharist, we become one with the very God who nourishes us. We find a profound comfort in our human upset and anxiety.
We find a profound satisfaction for our human tiredness and searching.
That is what the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is for us: the divine embrace that communicates without any words at all.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for June 7, 2009: Forgiving Sometimes Means Forgetting
This and That:
Forgiving Sometimes Means Forgetting
Pope Benedict had a unique role to play in the Holy Land. Having lived for three months at the Bethlehem Wall and a 10-minute bus ride to Jerusalem, I could not help but raise my heart to God in gratitude for his presence there. I realized just how unique his mission is in this divided and conflicted country the size of New Jersey. They squabble over everything from land to doctrinal minutiae. The fact is that the Pope did not come to the Holy Land to play party politics, not even for his own “party.” Nor did he come merely as a representative of the Catholic Church; he came on behalf of everyone involved, on behalf of humanity itself.
Benedict spoke on behalf of the Jews, praising their religious heritage and defending their right to security and self-rule. He spoke on behalf of Palestinians and their right to sovereignty and freedom. He spoke on behalf of Muslims, calling them to the best of their religious tradition with its deep religious convictions and heartfelt worship of the one God. He spoke for Christians in their difficult status as a tiny, suffering minority of the population. Yes, he spoke to all and for all.
And this is the singularity of the Pope’s voice and message. Paradoxically, amidst all the manipulation of the Pope’s message and all the complaints that he does not side closely enough with any one group, we see the greatness and uniqueness of his presence here. Is there any other leader in the world that can speak with the same moral authority or true impartiality? I think not. His very refusal to play partisan politics is why his message is so often rejected, and yet, why it is so desperately important.
At the present time attention has shifted to Bethlehem, the City of David and birthplace of Jesus Christ, but also a part of the Palestinian Territories. On arriving to Bethlehem, Benedict XVI lost no time in expressing his heartfelt solidarity with the suffering Palestinians, and in affirming the Holy See’s position regarding their right to sovereignty. “Mr. President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders,” he said.
In theory this should provoke no disagreement, since the official position of the State of Israel coincides with that of the Holy See. Israel, too, affirms the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign homeland, once such an arrangement can be feasibly worked out without detriment to Israel's security. Of course, there’s the rub.
In my studies in the Holy Land I had spoken with a number of people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, and the one thing they all seem to have in common is that they are suffering. Each one wanted to tell me of the hardships and injustices endured, either personally or historically. Each had a tale of woe to tell. No one seems to recall ever having committed injustice, but all remember having suffered it. And I cannot help but wonder, in a land of so much pain and grief, a land whose peoples pride themselves on “remembering,” whether on occasion forgetfulness might not be a more needed virtue.
While in Bethlehem, Benedict XVI urged his Christian hearers to “Be a bridge of dialogue and constructive cooperation in the building of a culture of peace to replace the present stalemate of fear, aggression and frustration.” This is what he himself is striving to be – by his presence, by his words and by his patient resolve to persistently preach the Good News “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Forgiving Sometimes Means Forgetting
Pope Benedict had a unique role to play in the Holy Land. Having lived for three months at the Bethlehem Wall and a 10-minute bus ride to Jerusalem, I could not help but raise my heart to God in gratitude for his presence there. I realized just how unique his mission is in this divided and conflicted country the size of New Jersey. They squabble over everything from land to doctrinal minutiae. The fact is that the Pope did not come to the Holy Land to play party politics, not even for his own “party.” Nor did he come merely as a representative of the Catholic Church; he came on behalf of everyone involved, on behalf of humanity itself.
Benedict spoke on behalf of the Jews, praising their religious heritage and defending their right to security and self-rule. He spoke on behalf of Palestinians and their right to sovereignty and freedom. He spoke on behalf of Muslims, calling them to the best of their religious tradition with its deep religious convictions and heartfelt worship of the one God. He spoke for Christians in their difficult status as a tiny, suffering minority of the population. Yes, he spoke to all and for all.
And this is the singularity of the Pope’s voice and message. Paradoxically, amidst all the manipulation of the Pope’s message and all the complaints that he does not side closely enough with any one group, we see the greatness and uniqueness of his presence here. Is there any other leader in the world that can speak with the same moral authority or true impartiality? I think not. His very refusal to play partisan politics is why his message is so often rejected, and yet, why it is so desperately important.
At the present time attention has shifted to Bethlehem, the City of David and birthplace of Jesus Christ, but also a part of the Palestinian Territories. On arriving to Bethlehem, Benedict XVI lost no time in expressing his heartfelt solidarity with the suffering Palestinians, and in affirming the Holy See’s position regarding their right to sovereignty. “Mr. President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders,” he said.
In theory this should provoke no disagreement, since the official position of the State of Israel coincides with that of the Holy See. Israel, too, affirms the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign homeland, once such an arrangement can be feasibly worked out without detriment to Israel's security. Of course, there’s the rub.
In my studies in the Holy Land I had spoken with a number of people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, and the one thing they all seem to have in common is that they are suffering. Each one wanted to tell me of the hardships and injustices endured, either personally or historically. Each had a tale of woe to tell. No one seems to recall ever having committed injustice, but all remember having suffered it. And I cannot help but wonder, in a land of so much pain and grief, a land whose peoples pride themselves on “remembering,” whether on occasion forgetfulness might not be a more needed virtue.
While in Bethlehem, Benedict XVI urged his Christian hearers to “Be a bridge of dialogue and constructive cooperation in the building of a culture of peace to replace the present stalemate of fear, aggression and frustration.” This is what he himself is striving to be – by his presence, by his words and by his patient resolve to persistently preach the Good News “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Weekly HOMILY for June 7, 2009: Relationships and the Trinity
Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
June 7, 2009
Relationships and the Trinity
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
In Relationship
Let’s think for a minute about our human experience, our experience of ourselves as persons.
If we look back to the time of our birth, we can see that infants are made to be cared for. They are born in a very special relationship of love.
Their very survival as infants depends on a relationship. They cannot think for themselves and take care of themselves, and they depend on their mother or father to do this for them.
So right from the beginning, our human experience is both shared and relational. We are – for all our days – caught up in personal relationship.
In fact, we can say that none of us really exists on our own. The essence, the heart, of a human being is to be in relation to the other. True? (Yes.)
Our Best: When Relational
Think now for a moment of what you would say are your best moments in life. Another way to ask that is when are you most yourself?
I believe that the bottom line of everyone’s really best moments always involve being in relationship.
Isn’t this true? When my mother or father hugged me, it was a best moment. When your spouse says, “I love you” – a best moment. When your teacher or boss affirms you – a best moment.
When friendship is tangible and strong – a best moment. When someone is there for you at the visitation in the funeral home – another best moment.
Our Worst: Not Relational
And conversely, what are our worst moments? When are the moments in your life that you are least yourself?
I believe it is when we are out of relationship: feeling isolated, alienated, abandoned or alone. Point of clarification: to be in solitude is different from all of these. To be in solitude is to be in intimate union with God, so you’re not really alone.
This is why solitary confinement is the most severe penalty in prison. It is why divorce is such a painful experience for everyone – husband, wife, and children.
What is the worst pain then? The worst pain if to be out of relationship.
Relationship: The Trinity
The point of all this is that we human beings do not merely exist as animals do.
We exist, we live, in relationship. Relationship is what makes us what we are and now of course we have to ask the really big question: Why?
Why is this so? Today’s celebration of the Holy Trinity gives us the answer.
The Scripture first tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Then the Trinity reveals that God is above anything else, in God’s very core, relational.
It should come as no surprise that to say God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to say that God is relationship. So, no wonder that we, who are made in God’s image and likeness, are also essentially relational.
God is about relationship and we are about relationship. No wonder that Jesus’ last words to his disciples, right in today’s Gospel, are relational: “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
Trinity: Four Truths
I suggest then that today’s celebration of the Trinity lifts up four wonderful truths that we can know and feel in our very bones.
First: It sheds light on who we are. We are persons with an undeniable, inescapable drive to be in relationship and we are happiest when we are.
Second: The Trinity shows the primacy of love. If God is relationship, it is a love relationship, and no surprise that poets and songwriters all over the planet keep exploring the wonder of love.
Third: Today’s celebration reminds us that we are baptized “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” – as we heard in the Gospel. Our spiritual identity is cast as persons who are caught up in the relationship of God himself.
And because of this, the Fourth and last truth is that the Trinity gives us hope. A question in the Old Baltimore Catechism said, “Why did God make us?”
And the answer was: “To know, love, and serve him in this world, and to be happy with him forever in the next.”
So, the final, long-term purpose of human existence is to be with, to be in relationship with God who made us in God’s image – that is the hope we celebrate today.
Our Lady of Grace
June 7, 2009
Relationships and the Trinity
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
In Relationship
Let’s think for a minute about our human experience, our experience of ourselves as persons.
If we look back to the time of our birth, we can see that infants are made to be cared for. They are born in a very special relationship of love.
Their very survival as infants depends on a relationship. They cannot think for themselves and take care of themselves, and they depend on their mother or father to do this for them.
So right from the beginning, our human experience is both shared and relational. We are – for all our days – caught up in personal relationship.
In fact, we can say that none of us really exists on our own. The essence, the heart, of a human being is to be in relation to the other. True? (Yes.)
Our Best: When Relational
Think now for a moment of what you would say are your best moments in life. Another way to ask that is when are you most yourself?
I believe that the bottom line of everyone’s really best moments always involve being in relationship.
Isn’t this true? When my mother or father hugged me, it was a best moment. When your spouse says, “I love you” – a best moment. When your teacher or boss affirms you – a best moment.
When friendship is tangible and strong – a best moment. When someone is there for you at the visitation in the funeral home – another best moment.
Our Worst: Not Relational
And conversely, what are our worst moments? When are the moments in your life that you are least yourself?
I believe it is when we are out of relationship: feeling isolated, alienated, abandoned or alone. Point of clarification: to be in solitude is different from all of these. To be in solitude is to be in intimate union with God, so you’re not really alone.
This is why solitary confinement is the most severe penalty in prison. It is why divorce is such a painful experience for everyone – husband, wife, and children.
What is the worst pain then? The worst pain if to be out of relationship.
Relationship: The Trinity
The point of all this is that we human beings do not merely exist as animals do.
We exist, we live, in relationship. Relationship is what makes us what we are and now of course we have to ask the really big question: Why?
Why is this so? Today’s celebration of the Holy Trinity gives us the answer.
The Scripture first tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Then the Trinity reveals that God is above anything else, in God’s very core, relational.
It should come as no surprise that to say God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to say that God is relationship. So, no wonder that we, who are made in God’s image and likeness, are also essentially relational.
God is about relationship and we are about relationship. No wonder that Jesus’ last words to his disciples, right in today’s Gospel, are relational: “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
Trinity: Four Truths
I suggest then that today’s celebration of the Trinity lifts up four wonderful truths that we can know and feel in our very bones.
First: It sheds light on who we are. We are persons with an undeniable, inescapable drive to be in relationship and we are happiest when we are.
Second: The Trinity shows the primacy of love. If God is relationship, it is a love relationship, and no surprise that poets and songwriters all over the planet keep exploring the wonder of love.
Third: Today’s celebration reminds us that we are baptized “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” – as we heard in the Gospel. Our spiritual identity is cast as persons who are caught up in the relationship of God himself.
And because of this, the Fourth and last truth is that the Trinity gives us hope. A question in the Old Baltimore Catechism said, “Why did God make us?”
And the answer was: “To know, love, and serve him in this world, and to be happy with him forever in the next.”
So, the final, long-term purpose of human existence is to be with, to be in relationship with God who made us in God’s image – that is the hope we celebrate today.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for May 31, 2009: Pentecost and Our Volunteers
This and That:
Pentecost and Our Volunteers
The Liturgical Year has many things to teach us about how Jesus is interacting in our very lives.
While Easter Sunday is at the center of our lives of faith, Jesus’ rising from the dead was not a reality his followers were in touch with, nor is it for us. We need to come around to believing and understanding it. We need to be eased into it, if you will. And so the Liturgical Year helps us do just that.
For seven weeks after Jesus’ Resurrection, we are fed on the Word and Eucharist as we hear of Jesus’ walking around the earth and appearing to the disciples. We see and feel their confusion, their disbelief, and their coming to their senses about this victory over death that is his and how it can be ours. But no sooner do the disciples get accustomed to the glorious reality that is theirs that Jesus begins to rock the boat again.
He is off to his Father’s house, that is, he is ascending to God the Father’s right hand in heaven. “Leave us? Just like that! Just after you’ve accustomed us to your presence?” They are beyond themselves! Jesus assurance is that he must go for, if he does not, he cannot send the Paraclete, the Comforter, who will teach them all things. But there is more. These very disciples will be empowered by this Spirit he will send so much so that they will now be his physical presence in the world. Quite a commission and they are getting the energy, the resource to be that formidable presence!
Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ Ascension, the return to the Father. Then right on the “liturgical tails” of that, this Sunday we celebrate the empowerment Jesus promised us. He sends the Holy Spirit to fill us with the seven-fold gifts that are his divine life of grace manifested in us. Concretely, we are given wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and awe of God.
Which gift of the Spirit that you have received is your strength? Which is your short suit? Which do you use in the service of the Church? This Sunday we are celebrating Pentecost, the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to us and it seems appropriate that we also celebrate and thank all the 600+ individuals who fill some 800 ministries for our parish family. If we are the Body of Christ, which we are, and if that body needs flesh and blood in terms of testifying, then our volunteers are that presence. Catechists, liturgical ministers, music ministers, office volunteers, Martha and Mary, Grace Our Table Ministers, Drama Ministry, Corporators, Pastoral, School and Reading Center Council members, a multitude of committees and panels, and scores of others, they are all the flesh and bones of this Body of Christ.
The following are how the gifts of the Spirit that they so generously place at our disposal are manifested:
➢ Wisdom – With the gift of wisdom, we see God at work in our lives and in the world. For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on deeper meaning
➢ Understanding – With the gift of understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by all the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. Also called “Common Sense,” the gift of understanding perfects a person’s speculative reason in the apprehension of truth
➢ Counsel (Right Judgment) – With the gift of right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The gift of truth that allows the person to respond prudently, and happily to believe our Christ the Lord
➢ Courage – With the gift of courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risk as a follower of Jesus. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of Courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult.
➢ Knowledge – With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God’s Revelation, especially as expressed in the life and words of Jesus Christ. A person with knowledge is always learning more about the Scriptures and Tradition. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts
➢ Piety (Reverence) - With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit’s instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father
➢ Fear of the Lord (Awe of God) - With the gift of wonder and awe (fear of the lord), we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love.
On this celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus, let us give thanks to the men, women and youth who so beautifully manifest that presence and thank them for their gracious service to the Church.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Pentecost and Our Volunteers
The Liturgical Year has many things to teach us about how Jesus is interacting in our very lives.
While Easter Sunday is at the center of our lives of faith, Jesus’ rising from the dead was not a reality his followers were in touch with, nor is it for us. We need to come around to believing and understanding it. We need to be eased into it, if you will. And so the Liturgical Year helps us do just that.
For seven weeks after Jesus’ Resurrection, we are fed on the Word and Eucharist as we hear of Jesus’ walking around the earth and appearing to the disciples. We see and feel their confusion, their disbelief, and their coming to their senses about this victory over death that is his and how it can be ours. But no sooner do the disciples get accustomed to the glorious reality that is theirs that Jesus begins to rock the boat again.
He is off to his Father’s house, that is, he is ascending to God the Father’s right hand in heaven. “Leave us? Just like that! Just after you’ve accustomed us to your presence?” They are beyond themselves! Jesus assurance is that he must go for, if he does not, he cannot send the Paraclete, the Comforter, who will teach them all things. But there is more. These very disciples will be empowered by this Spirit he will send so much so that they will now be his physical presence in the world. Quite a commission and they are getting the energy, the resource to be that formidable presence!
Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ Ascension, the return to the Father. Then right on the “liturgical tails” of that, this Sunday we celebrate the empowerment Jesus promised us. He sends the Holy Spirit to fill us with the seven-fold gifts that are his divine life of grace manifested in us. Concretely, we are given wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and awe of God.
Which gift of the Spirit that you have received is your strength? Which is your short suit? Which do you use in the service of the Church? This Sunday we are celebrating Pentecost, the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to us and it seems appropriate that we also celebrate and thank all the 600+ individuals who fill some 800 ministries for our parish family. If we are the Body of Christ, which we are, and if that body needs flesh and blood in terms of testifying, then our volunteers are that presence. Catechists, liturgical ministers, music ministers, office volunteers, Martha and Mary, Grace Our Table Ministers, Drama Ministry, Corporators, Pastoral, School and Reading Center Council members, a multitude of committees and panels, and scores of others, they are all the flesh and bones of this Body of Christ.
The following are how the gifts of the Spirit that they so generously place at our disposal are manifested:
➢ Wisdom – With the gift of wisdom, we see God at work in our lives and in the world. For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on deeper meaning
➢ Understanding – With the gift of understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by all the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. Also called “Common Sense,” the gift of understanding perfects a person’s speculative reason in the apprehension of truth
➢ Counsel (Right Judgment) – With the gift of right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The gift of truth that allows the person to respond prudently, and happily to believe our Christ the Lord
➢ Courage – With the gift of courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risk as a follower of Jesus. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of Courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult.
➢ Knowledge – With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God’s Revelation, especially as expressed in the life and words of Jesus Christ. A person with knowledge is always learning more about the Scriptures and Tradition. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts
➢ Piety (Reverence) - With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit’s instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father
➢ Fear of the Lord (Awe of God) - With the gift of wonder and awe (fear of the lord), we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love.
On this celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus, let us give thanks to the men, women and youth who so beautifully manifest that presence and thank them for their gracious service to the Church.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Weekly HOMILY for 31, 2009: Unlock the Doors
Feast of Pentecost, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
May 31, 2009
Unlock the Doors
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
One Man’s Fear
A friend of mine from a former parish I was in was told that he had cancer and only a short time to live.
After the initial shock and grieving, he decided to change some of his ways. For example, he found things that used to bother him, didn’t any more.
He made time for significant conversations with his two teenage sons. He wanted them to know how much he loved and how proud he was of them.
He made sure to tell his wife repeatedly how much he loved her and admired her.
And, after many years of not talking with his brother, he invited him to dinner and they were reconciled.
After all of this had taken place, my friend’s doctor retired and he had to find a new one. This new doctor confirmed that he indeed had cancer – but that it was treatable.
My friend began to weep. He explained to me later that he cried not only because he was relieved, but because he was afraid he would return to his previous ways.
He felt afraid that he would get caught up again in his old world mentality. He felt afraid that he would lose his newly found life.
The Disciples’ Fear
In today’s Gospel, we hear that the disciples have another kind of fear.
They are afraid that what happened to Jesus – being beaten and killed – will happen to them. They are huddled together, with the doors locked, feeling that they are a failure and have no future.
In the midst of this, when things could not seem worse, Jesus appears.
Isn’t this how we sometimes experience the presence of Jesus? Isn’t this how the man with cancer came to experience him?
Sometimes doesn’t it take us to reach rock bottom, feeling helpless and without a future before we really open ourselves to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit?
Our Fear/ Jesus’ Peace
Now, notice, when Jesus appears, he does not give the disciples a tongue lashing for denying him and running away and being so afraid.
There’s a lesson right here for us in the way we, as individuals or as a Church, treat those whom we judge have done wrong. What does Jesus say?
The first word out of his mouth is “Peace!” That one word tells them that things are okay between them and him no matter how they feel.
That one word – peace – puts aside the past. And notice, Jesus says this without them saying anything at all, including an apology or a request for forgiveness.
It’s like us when we have had an argument or when we have hurt someone badly and they say, “Forget about it! Let’s just move on!” What relief the apostles must have felt!
They must have felt, “Whew! Now we can start all over.
“The past is past; our relationship with Jesus has a future and righting the past isn’t part of it.” That’s what Jesus’ greeting of “Peace!” must have meant to his disciples.
Fear/ Peace/ Future
What’s interesting is that Jesus says it again: “Peace be with you!”
This time the “Peace!” is about the future. Jesus wants them to unlock the doors.
He wants them to welcome in and go out to the world that had been making them afraid. He was sending them, as he now sends us, not to seek revenge for past offenses, but to bring peace, reconciliation, forgiveness – and again, even if it is not requested.
So today, I believe that Jesus doesn’t want a Church with locked doors. He doesn’t want us to lock out those who don’t seem to measure up to the standards or are not in 100% agreement with us.
That’s not ours – as individuals – to worry about. That’s living in fear; that’s living behind locked doors; that’s a life of wasted energy!
Jesus calls us to welcome in and to reach out at one and the same time. He wants us to notice the overlooked and neglected, those looked down upon and scorned.
That’s the best way, the Jesus way, to draw others to him as their Savior. And yes, it is a different way to do things.
It is not the way of the world and it might incur wonder and ridicule and rejection, but it is the way of Jesus.
Conclusion: The Spirit
Jesus gives the disciples and us his Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
This is our source of life and energy and strength for unlocking the doors and letting go of the fear, both of the past and of the future.
It is the Spirit will enable us to do what Jesus does.
We can breathe in this Spirit here at Mass when we hear those same words of Jesus, “Peace be with you!” We are energized by the Spirit, as well, when we receive the Eucharist.
And it is this life-giving fear-dissolving Spirit that will keep us from sliding back into our old self, as the man with cancer feared. It will empower us to live the new life of Jesus.
Our Lady of Grace
May 31, 2009
Unlock the Doors
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
One Man’s Fear
A friend of mine from a former parish I was in was told that he had cancer and only a short time to live.
After the initial shock and grieving, he decided to change some of his ways. For example, he found things that used to bother him, didn’t any more.
He made time for significant conversations with his two teenage sons. He wanted them to know how much he loved and how proud he was of them.
He made sure to tell his wife repeatedly how much he loved her and admired her.
And, after many years of not talking with his brother, he invited him to dinner and they were reconciled.
After all of this had taken place, my friend’s doctor retired and he had to find a new one. This new doctor confirmed that he indeed had cancer – but that it was treatable.
My friend began to weep. He explained to me later that he cried not only because he was relieved, but because he was afraid he would return to his previous ways.
He felt afraid that he would get caught up again in his old world mentality. He felt afraid that he would lose his newly found life.
The Disciples’ Fear
In today’s Gospel, we hear that the disciples have another kind of fear.
They are afraid that what happened to Jesus – being beaten and killed – will happen to them. They are huddled together, with the doors locked, feeling that they are a failure and have no future.
In the midst of this, when things could not seem worse, Jesus appears.
Isn’t this how we sometimes experience the presence of Jesus? Isn’t this how the man with cancer came to experience him?
Sometimes doesn’t it take us to reach rock bottom, feeling helpless and without a future before we really open ourselves to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit?
Our Fear/ Jesus’ Peace
Now, notice, when Jesus appears, he does not give the disciples a tongue lashing for denying him and running away and being so afraid.
There’s a lesson right here for us in the way we, as individuals or as a Church, treat those whom we judge have done wrong. What does Jesus say?
The first word out of his mouth is “Peace!” That one word tells them that things are okay between them and him no matter how they feel.
That one word – peace – puts aside the past. And notice, Jesus says this without them saying anything at all, including an apology or a request for forgiveness.
It’s like us when we have had an argument or when we have hurt someone badly and they say, “Forget about it! Let’s just move on!” What relief the apostles must have felt!
They must have felt, “Whew! Now we can start all over.
“The past is past; our relationship with Jesus has a future and righting the past isn’t part of it.” That’s what Jesus’ greeting of “Peace!” must have meant to his disciples.
Fear/ Peace/ Future
What’s interesting is that Jesus says it again: “Peace be with you!”
This time the “Peace!” is about the future. Jesus wants them to unlock the doors.
He wants them to welcome in and go out to the world that had been making them afraid. He was sending them, as he now sends us, not to seek revenge for past offenses, but to bring peace, reconciliation, forgiveness – and again, even if it is not requested.
So today, I believe that Jesus doesn’t want a Church with locked doors. He doesn’t want us to lock out those who don’t seem to measure up to the standards or are not in 100% agreement with us.
That’s not ours – as individuals – to worry about. That’s living in fear; that’s living behind locked doors; that’s a life of wasted energy!
Jesus calls us to welcome in and to reach out at one and the same time. He wants us to notice the overlooked and neglected, those looked down upon and scorned.
That’s the best way, the Jesus way, to draw others to him as their Savior. And yes, it is a different way to do things.
It is not the way of the world and it might incur wonder and ridicule and rejection, but it is the way of Jesus.
Conclusion: The Spirit
Jesus gives the disciples and us his Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
This is our source of life and energy and strength for unlocking the doors and letting go of the fear, both of the past and of the future.
It is the Spirit will enable us to do what Jesus does.
We can breathe in this Spirit here at Mass when we hear those same words of Jesus, “Peace be with you!” We are energized by the Spirit, as well, when we receive the Eucharist.
And it is this life-giving fear-dissolving Spirit that will keep us from sliding back into our old self, as the man with cancer feared. It will empower us to live the new life of Jesus.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for May 24, 2009: How to Choose Godparents and Sponsors
This and That:
How to Choose Godparents and Sponsors
Being a Godparent for Baptism or a Sponsor for Confirmation is a wonderful experience. It puts us in a position of having a unique relationship with someone that is based upon our Catholic faith.
The practice of having Godparents or Sponsors goes back to the way that people were initiated in the early Church. When adults were the candidates for initiation, they had a sponsor who was already Christian who helped them to prepare to be Baptized, Confirmed and to receive Eucharist. The sponsor presented the candidate to the Bishop for initiation. This was done all in one initiation ceremony, as we do with folks who go through the RCIA process now.
Baptism and Confirmation are closely related because they were initially one rite. In the history of the Church, they became two separate sacraments, with Baptism being celebrated by a priest or deacon and confirmation being celebrated later with a Bishop. In recent times, we have tried to emphasize the connection between these Sacraments of Initiation. One way to do this is to invite one of the Baptismal godparents to be the Sponsor for Confirmation.
Parents who are choosing Godparents for Baptism and Confirmation Candidates who are choosing sponsors need to be aware that the Catholic Church has three basic requirements for those who will fulfill this role:
1. The Godparent or Sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic, having received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist themselves.
2. The person must be at least 16 years of age.
3. The person must be a practicing Catholic.
For Baptism, there must be one Godparent who meets these three requirements. While we have the tradition of two Godparents for Baptism, the second person is sometimes a Christian Witness. That is someone who may be from another Christian faith whom the parents believe will be a good support to the child in living their Catholic faith.
Godparents and Sponsors have the role of helping children and youth to grow in faith. They need to be people of prayer who are faithful to the Word of God and who live a sacramental life themselves. They become another model for children, in addition to parents, of what a faithful Catholic looks like in all aspects of life . . . Parents are not permitted to be Godparents or Sponsors for their own children.
Some suggestions for Godparents and Sponsors:
➢ Celebrate the child’s anniversary of Baptism by reminding them of this special day each year
➢ Pray daily for the child and share your own faith with them as they grow up
➢ Be attentive to the child’s growth in faith and encourage them
I have a Godson who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. He asked me to be his Sponsor and I was grateful and humbled. During the Rite of Confirmation I was flooded with memories of the boy’s Baptism, which had taken place in the same church. I remembered how his parents, his Godfather and I had made Baptismal promises for him as a baby. Now he was renewing that commitment and promising for himself to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I encourage parents to choose Godparents thoughtfully. Ask yourself, who will be a good model for my child of living their Catholic faith?
For those who are Godparents or Sponsors, remember that while you may be in relationship with the young person as a relative or friend of the family, you have this unique role of helping them to grow in faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Sr. Mary Therese
How to Choose Godparents and Sponsors
Being a Godparent for Baptism or a Sponsor for Confirmation is a wonderful experience. It puts us in a position of having a unique relationship with someone that is based upon our Catholic faith.
The practice of having Godparents or Sponsors goes back to the way that people were initiated in the early Church. When adults were the candidates for initiation, they had a sponsor who was already Christian who helped them to prepare to be Baptized, Confirmed and to receive Eucharist. The sponsor presented the candidate to the Bishop for initiation. This was done all in one initiation ceremony, as we do with folks who go through the RCIA process now.
Baptism and Confirmation are closely related because they were initially one rite. In the history of the Church, they became two separate sacraments, with Baptism being celebrated by a priest or deacon and confirmation being celebrated later with a Bishop. In recent times, we have tried to emphasize the connection between these Sacraments of Initiation. One way to do this is to invite one of the Baptismal godparents to be the Sponsor for Confirmation.
Parents who are choosing Godparents for Baptism and Confirmation Candidates who are choosing sponsors need to be aware that the Catholic Church has three basic requirements for those who will fulfill this role:
1. The Godparent or Sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic, having received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist themselves.
2. The person must be at least 16 years of age.
3. The person must be a practicing Catholic.
For Baptism, there must be one Godparent who meets these three requirements. While we have the tradition of two Godparents for Baptism, the second person is sometimes a Christian Witness. That is someone who may be from another Christian faith whom the parents believe will be a good support to the child in living their Catholic faith.
Godparents and Sponsors have the role of helping children and youth to grow in faith. They need to be people of prayer who are faithful to the Word of God and who live a sacramental life themselves. They become another model for children, in addition to parents, of what a faithful Catholic looks like in all aspects of life . . . Parents are not permitted to be Godparents or Sponsors for their own children.
Some suggestions for Godparents and Sponsors:
➢ Celebrate the child’s anniversary of Baptism by reminding them of this special day each year
➢ Pray daily for the child and share your own faith with them as they grow up
➢ Be attentive to the child’s growth in faith and encourage them
I have a Godson who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. He asked me to be his Sponsor and I was grateful and humbled. During the Rite of Confirmation I was flooded with memories of the boy’s Baptism, which had taken place in the same church. I remembered how his parents, his Godfather and I had made Baptismal promises for him as a baby. Now he was renewing that commitment and promising for himself to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I encourage parents to choose Godparents thoughtfully. Ask yourself, who will be a good model for my child of living their Catholic faith?
For those who are Godparents or Sponsors, remember that while you may be in relationship with the young person as a relative or friend of the family, you have this unique role of helping them to grow in faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Sr. Mary Therese
Weekly HOMILY for May 24, 2009: Deacon Preaching Sunday
Deacon Lee preached at Father Nicholas' Masses this weekend.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for May 17, 2009: Hey Mister, are you Jesus?
This and That:
“Hey Mister are you Jesus?”
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday evening dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table that held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.
All but one! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain that he had to take a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She quietly added, “Are you Jesus?’
He stopped in mid-stride and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?” Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That’s what Easter empowers us to be; it is our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to his love, his life and his grace.
If we claim to know him through his Word and Eucharist, we should live, walk and act as he would.
Knowing him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to Church. It is actually living the Word and becoming the Eucharist as our life unfolds day to day.
You and I are the apple of his eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what he was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. And on Easter Sunday he shared the victory with the world. His victory is ours.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
“Hey Mister are you Jesus?”
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday evening dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table that held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.
All but one! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain that he had to take a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She quietly added, “Are you Jesus?’
He stopped in mid-stride and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?” Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That’s what Easter empowers us to be; it is our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to his love, his life and his grace.
If we claim to know him through his Word and Eucharist, we should live, walk and act as he would.
Knowing him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to Church. It is actually living the Word and becoming the Eucharist as our life unfolds day to day.
You and I are the apple of his eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what he was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. And on Easter Sunday he shared the victory with the world. His victory is ours.
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
Weekly HOMILY for May 17, 2009: Our Desire for God
6th Sunday of Easter, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
May 17, 2009
Our Desire for God
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Love Through an Icon
This past week I spent two days praying with icons. It was part of my preparation to one day become a Director of Contemplative Retreats.
Using perhaps the oldest and most famous icon from the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, I was able to see through the icon, as if through a window, to the Jesus behind its eyes.
At times it was I looking through the icon’s eyes to the Lord and at other times it was the Lord looking out the icon’s eyes to me.
And for long periods of time I was able to feel my love for Jesus and his for me. There was a tremendous bonding and feeling of unity between us. It was extraordinary.
Desire to Be Desired
Today’s scripture is full of a similar love. God wants to be loved; Jesus wants to be loved; everybody wants to be loved.
One theologian has said that the essence of being human is the desire to be desired by the one we desire.
We desire all kinds of things from birth to death. We begin desiring a breast, and end, as the poet says, “By desiring ease from suffering and finally the freedom to die.”
And along the way, we desire health, safety, success, money, fame and everything we can imagine.
The Desire of Another Person
But beneath and above and beyond all of our desires is the desire for another person.
We don’t have to prove that – it’s buried deep within our bones and we know when it happens.
We immediately recognize that we desire a person in a different way from how we desire other things like chocolate or a glass of wine, or success for ourselves.
We desire a person for her own sake, not for our sake. We desire him not as a possession, but as a partner.
But that is only the first part of desire. In the very act of desiring another person, we also desire that they desire us.
Our desiring makes them valuable; their desiring makes us valuable.
Desire Less Than Perfect
But even when desire is answered, it is less than perfect. Your desire wanes, their desire gets distracted, but desires are wayward.
No one can ever meet our needs, match our wants, complete our desires. We always desire more; if we didn’t what would God be for?
That’s how my gazing at the icon became such a wonderful experience: I could see God as he is and God could see me as I am. He is reaching out to me and I to him.
So through grace and the window of an icon of Jesus, I could discover that there is a God who is all that I can ever desire.
What a joy it is to know that our desires are not futile or evil!
Desired by the One we Desire
But that is only our first desire. We now desire to be desired by the One we desire.
But how can a perfect Being who created me actually desire me?
That would mean that God cares about me, live for me, loves me.
Of course, that is precisely the Good News: that God first desires us, and then enables us to desire God back.
But why doesn’t it feel that way? Why are we not as emotional about God as we are about our human loves? It’s because we split our single act of loving into two compartments.
We elevate loving God to another sphere; we spiritualize God’s love; we de-humanize God’s love.
We have to keep our love on a single continuum. We have to understand that our desire for Oreo cookies is a piece of our desire for God; that our desire for peace is a taste of diving shalom; that our desire for another person is a participation in our desire for God.
Conclusion
Every desire leads to God.
Each of us is essentially a living, throbbing desire to be desired by the God we desire.
Our Lady of Grace
May 17, 2009
Our Desire for God
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Love Through an Icon
This past week I spent two days praying with icons. It was part of my preparation to one day become a Director of Contemplative Retreats.
Using perhaps the oldest and most famous icon from the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, I was able to see through the icon, as if through a window, to the Jesus behind its eyes.
At times it was I looking through the icon’s eyes to the Lord and at other times it was the Lord looking out the icon’s eyes to me.
And for long periods of time I was able to feel my love for Jesus and his for me. There was a tremendous bonding and feeling of unity between us. It was extraordinary.
Desire to Be Desired
Today’s scripture is full of a similar love. God wants to be loved; Jesus wants to be loved; everybody wants to be loved.
One theologian has said that the essence of being human is the desire to be desired by the one we desire.
We desire all kinds of things from birth to death. We begin desiring a breast, and end, as the poet says, “By desiring ease from suffering and finally the freedom to die.”
And along the way, we desire health, safety, success, money, fame and everything we can imagine.
The Desire of Another Person
But beneath and above and beyond all of our desires is the desire for another person.
We don’t have to prove that – it’s buried deep within our bones and we know when it happens.
We immediately recognize that we desire a person in a different way from how we desire other things like chocolate or a glass of wine, or success for ourselves.
We desire a person for her own sake, not for our sake. We desire him not as a possession, but as a partner.
But that is only the first part of desire. In the very act of desiring another person, we also desire that they desire us.
Our desiring makes them valuable; their desiring makes us valuable.
Desire Less Than Perfect
But even when desire is answered, it is less than perfect. Your desire wanes, their desire gets distracted, but desires are wayward.
No one can ever meet our needs, match our wants, complete our desires. We always desire more; if we didn’t what would God be for?
That’s how my gazing at the icon became such a wonderful experience: I could see God as he is and God could see me as I am. He is reaching out to me and I to him.
So through grace and the window of an icon of Jesus, I could discover that there is a God who is all that I can ever desire.
What a joy it is to know that our desires are not futile or evil!
Desired by the One we Desire
But that is only our first desire. We now desire to be desired by the One we desire.
But how can a perfect Being who created me actually desire me?
That would mean that God cares about me, live for me, loves me.
Of course, that is precisely the Good News: that God first desires us, and then enables us to desire God back.
But why doesn’t it feel that way? Why are we not as emotional about God as we are about our human loves? It’s because we split our single act of loving into two compartments.
We elevate loving God to another sphere; we spiritualize God’s love; we de-humanize God’s love.
We have to keep our love on a single continuum. We have to understand that our desire for Oreo cookies is a piece of our desire for God; that our desire for peace is a taste of diving shalom; that our desire for another person is a participation in our desire for God.
Conclusion
Every desire leads to God.
Each of us is essentially a living, throbbing desire to be desired by the God we desire.
Weekly THIS AND THAT for May 10, 2009: Christian One-Liners to Tickle Your Funny Bone
This and That:
Christian One-Liners to Tickle Your Funny Bone
Here are a few one-liners to tickle you. How many apply to you?
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
➢ Don’t let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
➢ Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
➢ Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
➢ It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
➢ The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes close.
➢ When you get to your wits end, you’ll find that God lives there.
➢ People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and back of the church.
➢ Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
➢ Quit griping about your church. If it were perfect, you couldn’t belong.
➢ If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
➢ We are called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
➢ God himself doesn’t propose to judge a person until he is dead. So why should you?
➢ Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
➢ Peace starts with a smile.
➢ I don’t know why some people change churches? What difference does it make which one you stay home from?
➢ A lot of church members singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on the premises.
➢ Be ye fishers of men. You catch ‘em; He’ll clean ‘em!
➢ Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.
➢ Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
➢ Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.
➢ Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.
➢ Forbidden fruits create many jams.
➢ God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the Called.
➢ God grades on the cross, not the curve.
➢ God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts”!
➢ God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
➢ He who angers you, controls you!
➢ If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
➢ Prayer: Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!
➢ The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
➢ The will of God never takes you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
➢ We don’t change the message; the message changes us.
➢ You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
➢ The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
➢ Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Christian One-Liners to Tickle Your Funny Bone
Here are a few one-liners to tickle you. How many apply to you?
Fondly,
Father Nicholas
➢ Don’t let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
➢ Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
➢ Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
➢ It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
➢ The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes close.
➢ When you get to your wits end, you’ll find that God lives there.
➢ People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and back of the church.
➢ Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
➢ Quit griping about your church. If it were perfect, you couldn’t belong.
➢ If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
➢ We are called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
➢ God himself doesn’t propose to judge a person until he is dead. So why should you?
➢ Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
➢ Peace starts with a smile.
➢ I don’t know why some people change churches? What difference does it make which one you stay home from?
➢ A lot of church members singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on the premises.
➢ Be ye fishers of men. You catch ‘em; He’ll clean ‘em!
➢ Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.
➢ Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
➢ Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.
➢ Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.
➢ Forbidden fruits create many jams.
➢ God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the Called.
➢ God grades on the cross, not the curve.
➢ God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts”!
➢ God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
➢ He who angers you, controls you!
➢ If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
➢ Prayer: Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!
➢ The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
➢ The will of God never takes you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
➢ We don’t change the message; the message changes us.
➢ You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
➢ The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
➢ Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
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