This and That:
Part 3 of Bishop Rozanski’s Report on Our Lady of Grace
The following is the third of five bulletin notes on the November 8, 2006, visit of Bishop Mitch Rozanski and his staff to our parish. The complete report is being shared in this column over five weeks. This third part deals with his commendations and recommendations regarding The Pastoral Council, The Parish Coporation, and our Buildings and Properties. All are invited to share their thoughts with members of the Pastoral Team or any members of the Pastoral Council. (They are the folks with the red ribbons around their necks each weekend at Sunday Mass.) Council members have an opportunity at the conclusion of each monthly meeting to share with the entire Council comments, kudos, or concerns made be individual parishioners.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
THE PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Pastoral Council is commended for the following:
➢ Beginning meetings with substantive prayer, which is shared by all members of the Council.
➢ The balance of membership including a good mix of ages and a balance between men and women.
➢ The extensive expertise and experience that Council Members bring to the table.
➢ The obvious energy that the Council generates as a group on behalf of the parish community.
➢ The engagement of the Council in the development of a Pastoral Plan through pondering the deeper questions related to being Church today and in the future.
➢ The innovative spirit of the Pastoral Council.
➢ The fostering of lay leadership in the parish.
➢ The embracing of a Ministry of Presence.
The Pastoral Council is asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Work with the Pastor and Staff to seek creative ways to involve the 80% of parishioners who attend, but do not participate in the life and ministries of the parish, while respecting the constraints of family and job responsibilities.
2. Work with Pastor and Staff to develop a comprehensive evangelization effort that will identify and address the unique circumstances of people in the area.
3. Develop ways to inform and educate parishioners regarding future planning as it relates to The Hope That Lies Before Us. Begin to explore how this affects the future of Our Lady of Grace and lay leadership development.
THE PARISH CORPORATION
The Lay Corporators, Arlene Hoffman and Stephen Golueke are commended for the following:
➢ The focus on prioritized planning for the future of the parish.
➢ The commitment to reflect to the pastor what “people in the pew” are thinking and feeling.
➢ The dedication to the work of the Parish Corporation and familiarity with the Parish Corporation document, which outlines the role of the parish corporation.
➢ The commitment to quarterly Corporation meetings and sense of responsibility evidenced by the agenda items discussed at Corporation meetings.
➢ The desire to support the vision of the parish and the pastor’s role in articulating the vision.
The Lay Corporators are asked to address the following recommendations
1. The ongoing need to inform and educate the parish community on future regional planning in North Baltimore County related the The Hope That Lies Before Us.
BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY
The Building Committee, Maintenance Personnel and the Parish Administrator are commended for the following:
➢ The obvious attention and care of the grounds and buildings of the parish complex carried out by Chien Dang.
➢ The meticulous cleanliness and order of the buildings carried out so efficiently by Joe and Theresa Buchanan.
➢ The attention to keeping the infra-structure of the buildings in excellent working order.
➢ Compliance with all ADA codes and inspections.
➢ The creation and good use of the Youth Ministry Center.
➢ The system of water testing on a regular basis to ensure the purest water for drinking.
➢ The creation and maintenance of the Karl Heldrich Center for young children with reading challenges and the future planning to make this center accessible to children in the community.
➢ The tasteful and prayerful worship space.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Weekly HOMILY for February 4, 2007: The Three Silences of the Eucharist
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
February 4, 2007
The Three Silences of the Eucharist
(Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Too Much Speaking
There is a story about a reunion of retired business executives.
Each of them was invited to give a brief – no more than two-minute – talk after dinner on what their experience in retirement was. The toastmaster was instructed to rap his gavel when each speaker’s two minutes were up.
Well, the first speaker was still going strong at the end of the two minutes. The toastmaster was a kindly old man and just could not bring himself to rap the gavel.
On and on the speaker droned – four, six, eight minutes. The other guests began looking at there watches, some murmured and a few began signaling the toastmaster to rap the gavel. Finally, the elderly toastmaster gave in.
He wound up and brought the gavel down full force, accidentally hitting the head of the man next to him. As that man was sinking down under the table, he was heard to say, “Hit me again, I can still hear him.”
Speaking and Silence
My little story helps us to appreciate one of the core lessons in today’s readings.
Speaking on and on really has its limits. In fact, the contrary is true: the absence of speaking or silence has an important place in our lives.
Each of the three main persons in today’s Scripture readings illustrates this need for silence very well. Isaiah, Paul, and Peter all have an experience of God.
Isaiah alone in the temple; Paul knocked off his horse on the road to Damascus; and Peter in the great catch of fish! Each of them encounters and is drawn close to God, not so much in words, but in an experience that has few words or no words at all.
And these experiences silence changed them as persons. In these moments they are transformed.
Silence in the Liturgy
For us, the liturgy, the celebration of the Mass each week or even each day is meant to transform us.
In the Mass, we sing the words of the hymns. We speak the words of the prayers.
We listen to the words of the readings and the homily. All of this is good and important.
But in the liturgy, there are also three major moments or places for silence. These are also important and essential parts of the transforming experience that the liturgy.
The Three Silences
The first of these silences is at the very beginning of Mass. The priest invites this by calling us to be aware of God’s presence or to be mindful of ourselves, or our sinfulness, or something to that effect.
Here we are invited to stop and reflect, if only for a moment. We are invited to be in touch with: “Who we are and where we are in our lives today and at that moment?”
Am I tired or upset, worried or hopeful, happy or sad? How am I feeling today about myself and my life and my relationship with God?
What spiritual gift do I need today to live a more fruitful day?
So, this silence at the beginning of Mass gives us a chance to situate or position ourselves as a member of the assembly.
The second major silence follows the readings and the homily. The issue now is not “Where we’re at?” but more, “What am I thinking or feeling at this moment?”
What did I hear or how did the Word of God touch me today? Was I comforted? Or challenged? Or encouraged? Or just bored?
What do I see myself doing with this message and my feelings and thoughts and about it?
So, this silence after the homily gives us a chance to situate ourselves again after the first way that God comes to us in the liturgy.
Finally, the third major silence comes after communion. In Communion Jesus is becoming part of me and I am becoming part of Jesus.
Here we thank God for the Eucharist and for all of our blessings. After all, the word “Eucharist” means “to give thanks.” And here we also ask; where am I going now with this nourishment?
What change or transformation needs to take place now in me or my relationships? How does the Eucharist empower me to hang in there or to grow as a person?
So, this silence after Communion gives us a chance to situate ourselves for the coming day or coming week.
Conclusion
So, these three major silences in the Mass are important. They are part of the transforming power of the liturgy.
As celebrants of the Eucharist, we priests need to be careful to make room for this silence and all of us need to use these opportunities to allow God to work with us.
Our Lady of Grace
February 4, 2007
The Three Silences of the Eucharist
(Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Too Much Speaking
There is a story about a reunion of retired business executives.
Each of them was invited to give a brief – no more than two-minute – talk after dinner on what their experience in retirement was. The toastmaster was instructed to rap his gavel when each speaker’s two minutes were up.
Well, the first speaker was still going strong at the end of the two minutes. The toastmaster was a kindly old man and just could not bring himself to rap the gavel.
On and on the speaker droned – four, six, eight minutes. The other guests began looking at there watches, some murmured and a few began signaling the toastmaster to rap the gavel. Finally, the elderly toastmaster gave in.
He wound up and brought the gavel down full force, accidentally hitting the head of the man next to him. As that man was sinking down under the table, he was heard to say, “Hit me again, I can still hear him.”
Speaking and Silence
My little story helps us to appreciate one of the core lessons in today’s readings.
Speaking on and on really has its limits. In fact, the contrary is true: the absence of speaking or silence has an important place in our lives.
Each of the three main persons in today’s Scripture readings illustrates this need for silence very well. Isaiah, Paul, and Peter all have an experience of God.
Isaiah alone in the temple; Paul knocked off his horse on the road to Damascus; and Peter in the great catch of fish! Each of them encounters and is drawn close to God, not so much in words, but in an experience that has few words or no words at all.
And these experiences silence changed them as persons. In these moments they are transformed.
Silence in the Liturgy
For us, the liturgy, the celebration of the Mass each week or even each day is meant to transform us.
In the Mass, we sing the words of the hymns. We speak the words of the prayers.
We listen to the words of the readings and the homily. All of this is good and important.
But in the liturgy, there are also three major moments or places for silence. These are also important and essential parts of the transforming experience that the liturgy.
The Three Silences
The first of these silences is at the very beginning of Mass. The priest invites this by calling us to be aware of God’s presence or to be mindful of ourselves, or our sinfulness, or something to that effect.
Here we are invited to stop and reflect, if only for a moment. We are invited to be in touch with: “Who we are and where we are in our lives today and at that moment?”
Am I tired or upset, worried or hopeful, happy or sad? How am I feeling today about myself and my life and my relationship with God?
What spiritual gift do I need today to live a more fruitful day?
So, this silence at the beginning of Mass gives us a chance to situate or position ourselves as a member of the assembly.
The second major silence follows the readings and the homily. The issue now is not “Where we’re at?” but more, “What am I thinking or feeling at this moment?”
What did I hear or how did the Word of God touch me today? Was I comforted? Or challenged? Or encouraged? Or just bored?
What do I see myself doing with this message and my feelings and thoughts and about it?
So, this silence after the homily gives us a chance to situate ourselves again after the first way that God comes to us in the liturgy.
Finally, the third major silence comes after communion. In Communion Jesus is becoming part of me and I am becoming part of Jesus.
Here we thank God for the Eucharist and for all of our blessings. After all, the word “Eucharist” means “to give thanks.” And here we also ask; where am I going now with this nourishment?
What change or transformation needs to take place now in me or my relationships? How does the Eucharist empower me to hang in there or to grow as a person?
So, this silence after Communion gives us a chance to situate ourselves for the coming day or coming week.
Conclusion
So, these three major silences in the Mass are important. They are part of the transforming power of the liturgy.
As celebrants of the Eucharist, we priests need to be careful to make room for this silence and all of us need to use these opportunities to allow God to work with us.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Weekly MESSAGE for January 28, 2007: How What We Believe Can Make a Difference
January 28, 2007
Dear Friend,
I write you from warmer climes still enjoying the final day of my “Christmas Break.” It has been a week of reading, reflecting, sharing meals with priest friends and enjoying the sunshine.
One activity that has been central to the week is the preparation of three talks for our upcoming Lenten Family Fridays that begin at the end of February. The overall title that Sr. Mary Therese, our Assistant Pastor, and I have developed is, “ How What We Believe Can Make a Difference” – a daunting topic to say the least. It took me a few days of prayer and reflection, knowing that if the talks were to relate in any concrete way with the topic, my own faith would have to be challenged, that is “How does what I believe make a difference in my own life?”
I welcomed the challenge, and after much writing and rewriting, I was able to move my own thought on the subject forward. You will be the judge as to whether the talks may do the same for you. The talks will be the subject of the “This and That” columns cited each week.
To give you an overview of how we hope to look at belief and how it can make a difference in our daily living, the “chapter headings” of the six weeks will be as follows:
Session 1: “Is Jesus Believable?”
Session 2: “How Can I Deal with Suffering?”
Session 3: “The Story of Dry Bones: Yours and Ours”
Session 4: “Differences: Do They Divide or Unite?”
Session 5: “Say yes to God -- But Look Out!”
Session 6: “A Fountain of Youth for You?”
Hope you can join us here in our weekly posting, or live, at one of the Fridays of Lent. Each of the six Fridays will include Mass at 6:30pm, supper for the whole family at 7:00pm, and the talk at 7:30pm. While the talk is going on there will be age-appropriate activities for all the children and youth. And to think you will be out be 8:15!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
I write you from warmer climes still enjoying the final day of my “Christmas Break.” It has been a week of reading, reflecting, sharing meals with priest friends and enjoying the sunshine.
One activity that has been central to the week is the preparation of three talks for our upcoming Lenten Family Fridays that begin at the end of February. The overall title that Sr. Mary Therese, our Assistant Pastor, and I have developed is, “ How What We Believe Can Make a Difference” – a daunting topic to say the least. It took me a few days of prayer and reflection, knowing that if the talks were to relate in any concrete way with the topic, my own faith would have to be challenged, that is “How does what I believe make a difference in my own life?”
I welcomed the challenge, and after much writing and rewriting, I was able to move my own thought on the subject forward. You will be the judge as to whether the talks may do the same for you. The talks will be the subject of the “This and That” columns cited each week.
To give you an overview of how we hope to look at belief and how it can make a difference in our daily living, the “chapter headings” of the six weeks will be as follows:
Session 1: “Is Jesus Believable?”
Session 2: “How Can I Deal with Suffering?”
Session 3: “The Story of Dry Bones: Yours and Ours”
Session 4: “Differences: Do They Divide or Unite?”
Session 5: “Say yes to God -- But Look Out!”
Session 6: “A Fountain of Youth for You?”
Hope you can join us here in our weekly posting, or live, at one of the Fridays of Lent. Each of the six Fridays will include Mass at 6:30pm, supper for the whole family at 7:00pm, and the talk at 7:30pm. While the talk is going on there will be age-appropriate activities for all the children and youth. And to think you will be out be 8:15!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 28. 2007: Part 2 of Bishop Rozanski's Report on Our Lady of Grace
This and That:
Part 2 of Bishop Rozanski’s Report on Our Lady of Grace
The following is the second of five bulletin notes on the November 8, 2006, visit of Bishop Mitch Rozanski and his staff to our parish. The complete report is being shared in this column over five weeks. This second part deals with his commendations and recommendations regarding The Parish Community, The Pastor, and the Staff. All are invited to share their thoughts with members of the Pastoral Team or any members of the Pastoral Council. (They are the folks with the red ribbons around their necks each weekend at Sunday Mass.) Council members have an opportunity at the conclusion of each monthly meeting to share with the entire council comments, kudos, or concerns made be individual parishioners.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
THE PARISH COMMUNITY
Parishioners of Our Lady of Grace are commended for the following:
➢ Cultivating a welcoming, hospitable atmosphere that is inviting to visitors and new parishioners.
➢ Being intentional about inviting others into the ministries of the parish.
➢ Participating in “Why Catholic” program to the extent that a group meets everyday, either at the parish or in homes.
➢ Participating in the Lenten Family Fridays.
➢ Establishing Greeter families, who identify and welcome visitors.
➢ Supporting a sister parish—St. Cecilia
➢ Involvement in over 60 ministries, which are sustained by parishioners.
➢ The tremendous outreach sponsored by the parish, including Sarah’s House, St. Veronica Headstart, the Urgent Need Bulletin, St. Cecilia’s, and Our Daily Bread.
➢ The energy and vibrancy among parishioners that is evident to all who come to Our Lady of Grace.
➢ The obvious pride that parishioners take in their parish, its ministries and the Pastor and Staff.
Parishioners are asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Renewed efforts toward evangelization through participation in parish evangelization initiatives.
2. Commitment to Mass attendance and participation in the life of the parish.
THE PASTOR
The Pastor is commended for the following:
➢ His attention to providing celebrational and prayerful liturgies that inspire and deepen the faith life of parishioners.
➢ His meaningful, relational and well-prepared homilies.
➢ His “empowering” leadership style.
➢ His efforts to keep all informed through good communication networks, including a monthly newsletter.
➢ His strategic planning initiatives to end the parish debt by the year 2011.
➢ His initiation of shared reflections at the daily Eucharist.
➢ His involvement in interparish planning to address future needs.
➢ His initiation of the “Welcome Orientation” to new parishioners.
➢ His utilization of the gifts of parishioners by seeking out and inviting into ministry those who have the needed gifts and experience for specific ministries.
➢ His commitment to Catholic Education.
The Pastor is asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Finding creative ways to make the parish more visible to people in the area.
THE STAFF
The Staff is commended for the following:
➢ Commitment to Staff Meeting twice a month where future planning and visioning together take place.
➢ Participation in Staff Development, i.e. planning, in-service.
➢ Commitment to STAND training through the school under Sister Helen’s direction, with 90% of families completing training.
➢ Sense of community among staff who seem to work together well and respect the expertise and experience of each member of the staff.
➢ Level of dedication that staff members bring to their respective ministries characterized by doing more than is asked or required.
➢ The Staff for initiating the Welcome Orientation for visitors and new parishioners.
➢ The Staff for their responsiveness to grieving families through a variety of personal services including home cooked meals.
➢ The pastoral presence and dedicated service that Sister Mary Therese brings to the parish community and staff through her role as Assistant Pastor.
➢ The well-developed faith formation program administered by Judy Hvisc, the Director of Religious Education and Catechists.
➢ The extensive Youth Ministry programs and events developed and fostered by Deborah Webber, the Coordinator of Youth Ministry.
➢ The growth of Liturgical music through the efforts of Beth Pugliese, the Music Director.
➢ The efficiency and expertise of Elaine Hagner, the Administrator, for her excellence balancing all the entities that keep a parish running smoothly.
➢ The dedication and expertise of Debbie Kommiak, the Office Manager and Elizabeth Scholz, the Accounting Assistant that they bring to their support role in the administration of the parish.
➢ The vision, expertise and tireless service of Sister Helen Wiegmann which originated Our Lady of Grace School and her continued fostering of excellence in education.
The Staff is asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Plan and participate in a spiritual retreat or some type of spiritual enrichment for the staff at least annually.
2. Find ways to work with the Pastoral Council to develop efforts to reach those who are marginalize from the Church.
3. Discuss workloads with one another and explore ways to support and assistant in relieving the “crunch times” as a means to reduce stress. Explore ways to ensure balance.
4. Explore creative ways to deal with the current reality of many parishioners who have long workdays and long commutes, thus unable to attend evening meetings.
Part 2 of Bishop Rozanski’s Report on Our Lady of Grace
The following is the second of five bulletin notes on the November 8, 2006, visit of Bishop Mitch Rozanski and his staff to our parish. The complete report is being shared in this column over five weeks. This second part deals with his commendations and recommendations regarding The Parish Community, The Pastor, and the Staff. All are invited to share their thoughts with members of the Pastoral Team or any members of the Pastoral Council. (They are the folks with the red ribbons around their necks each weekend at Sunday Mass.) Council members have an opportunity at the conclusion of each monthly meeting to share with the entire council comments, kudos, or concerns made be individual parishioners.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
THE PARISH COMMUNITY
Parishioners of Our Lady of Grace are commended for the following:
➢ Cultivating a welcoming, hospitable atmosphere that is inviting to visitors and new parishioners.
➢ Being intentional about inviting others into the ministries of the parish.
➢ Participating in “Why Catholic” program to the extent that a group meets everyday, either at the parish or in homes.
➢ Participating in the Lenten Family Fridays.
➢ Establishing Greeter families, who identify and welcome visitors.
➢ Supporting a sister parish—St. Cecilia
➢ Involvement in over 60 ministries, which are sustained by parishioners.
➢ The tremendous outreach sponsored by the parish, including Sarah’s House, St. Veronica Headstart, the Urgent Need Bulletin, St. Cecilia’s, and Our Daily Bread.
➢ The energy and vibrancy among parishioners that is evident to all who come to Our Lady of Grace.
➢ The obvious pride that parishioners take in their parish, its ministries and the Pastor and Staff.
Parishioners are asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Renewed efforts toward evangelization through participation in parish evangelization initiatives.
2. Commitment to Mass attendance and participation in the life of the parish.
THE PASTOR
The Pastor is commended for the following:
➢ His attention to providing celebrational and prayerful liturgies that inspire and deepen the faith life of parishioners.
➢ His meaningful, relational and well-prepared homilies.
➢ His “empowering” leadership style.
➢ His efforts to keep all informed through good communication networks, including a monthly newsletter.
➢ His strategic planning initiatives to end the parish debt by the year 2011.
➢ His initiation of shared reflections at the daily Eucharist.
➢ His involvement in interparish planning to address future needs.
➢ His initiation of the “Welcome Orientation” to new parishioners.
➢ His utilization of the gifts of parishioners by seeking out and inviting into ministry those who have the needed gifts and experience for specific ministries.
➢ His commitment to Catholic Education.
The Pastor is asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Finding creative ways to make the parish more visible to people in the area.
THE STAFF
The Staff is commended for the following:
➢ Commitment to Staff Meeting twice a month where future planning and visioning together take place.
➢ Participation in Staff Development, i.e. planning, in-service.
➢ Commitment to STAND training through the school under Sister Helen’s direction, with 90% of families completing training.
➢ Sense of community among staff who seem to work together well and respect the expertise and experience of each member of the staff.
➢ Level of dedication that staff members bring to their respective ministries characterized by doing more than is asked or required.
➢ The Staff for initiating the Welcome Orientation for visitors and new parishioners.
➢ The Staff for their responsiveness to grieving families through a variety of personal services including home cooked meals.
➢ The pastoral presence and dedicated service that Sister Mary Therese brings to the parish community and staff through her role as Assistant Pastor.
➢ The well-developed faith formation program administered by Judy Hvisc, the Director of Religious Education and Catechists.
➢ The extensive Youth Ministry programs and events developed and fostered by Deborah Webber, the Coordinator of Youth Ministry.
➢ The growth of Liturgical music through the efforts of Beth Pugliese, the Music Director.
➢ The efficiency and expertise of Elaine Hagner, the Administrator, for her excellence balancing all the entities that keep a parish running smoothly.
➢ The dedication and expertise of Debbie Kommiak, the Office Manager and Elizabeth Scholz, the Accounting Assistant that they bring to their support role in the administration of the parish.
➢ The vision, expertise and tireless service of Sister Helen Wiegmann which originated Our Lady of Grace School and her continued fostering of excellence in education.
The Staff is asked to address the following recommendations:
1. Plan and participate in a spiritual retreat or some type of spiritual enrichment for the staff at least annually.
2. Find ways to work with the Pastoral Council to develop efforts to reach those who are marginalize from the Church.
3. Discuss workloads with one another and explore ways to support and assistant in relieving the “crunch times” as a means to reduce stress. Explore ways to ensure balance.
4. Explore creative ways to deal with the current reality of many parishioners who have long workdays and long commutes, thus unable to attend evening meetings.
Weekly HOMILY for January 28, 2007: Deacon Preaching Weekend
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
January 28, 2007
This Sunday Deacon Candidate John Koester will be preaching at Father Nick’s Masses. Father Nick’s homilies will resume next weekend.
Our Lady of Grace
January 28, 2007
This Sunday Deacon Candidate John Koester will be preaching at Father Nick’s Masses. Father Nick’s homilies will resume next weekend.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Weekly MESSAGE for January 21, 2007: Changing Rivals into Teammates
January 18, 2007
Dear Friend,
Spending some time at Borders Bookstore earlier this week browsing, I saw a new book out by Doris Kearns Goodwin entitled “Team of Rivals.” The jacket intrigued me.
Running a family, a work group, or a parish has something in common: you are usually confronted with the challenge of changing rivals into teammates. In the Church we call it the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In 1862 in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln faced a complicated crisis within his administration. His Secretary of State, William Seward, was the target of rumors blaming him for being a paralyzing influence on the military and the President. Actually, it was from within the Cabinet that the rumors originated in the person of Salmon Chase who was Secretary of the Treasury at the time. There were calls for Seward’s removal and a group of Senators demanded to meet with Lincoln. The heat was intense and Seward tendered his resignation.
Most individuals would find such a predicament paralyzing, but Goodwin notes in her book that Lincoln was a master of conciliation. He gathered together his cabinet, who pledged him their support. Then, in the presence of Chase, he met with the Committee of Senators and presented a united front. Chase, humbled to the core, offered to resign. Interestingly, in the end Lincoln kept two men on whom he relied: the newly secure Seward and the defanged Chase.
Conciliation and reconciliation have become somewhat of a lost art, yet they are at the core of who we are as Christians.
With several new books in tow – that’s why I happened to be at Borders – I will be away on “Christmas Break” this coming week. My next weekly message to you will be on Saturday, January 27, 2007. Have a good week.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
Spending some time at Borders Bookstore earlier this week browsing, I saw a new book out by Doris Kearns Goodwin entitled “Team of Rivals.” The jacket intrigued me.
Running a family, a work group, or a parish has something in common: you are usually confronted with the challenge of changing rivals into teammates. In the Church we call it the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In 1862 in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln faced a complicated crisis within his administration. His Secretary of State, William Seward, was the target of rumors blaming him for being a paralyzing influence on the military and the President. Actually, it was from within the Cabinet that the rumors originated in the person of Salmon Chase who was Secretary of the Treasury at the time. There were calls for Seward’s removal and a group of Senators demanded to meet with Lincoln. The heat was intense and Seward tendered his resignation.
Most individuals would find such a predicament paralyzing, but Goodwin notes in her book that Lincoln was a master of conciliation. He gathered together his cabinet, who pledged him their support. Then, in the presence of Chase, he met with the Committee of Senators and presented a united front. Chase, humbled to the core, offered to resign. Interestingly, in the end Lincoln kept two men on whom he relied: the newly secure Seward and the defanged Chase.
Conciliation and reconciliation have become somewhat of a lost art, yet they are at the core of who we are as Christians.
With several new books in tow – that’s why I happened to be at Borders – I will be away on “Christmas Break” this coming week. My next weekly message to you will be on Saturday, January 27, 2007. Have a good week.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 21, 2007: Five-Part Report on Bishop Rozanski’s Pastoral Visit to Our Lady of Grace
This and That:
Five-Part Report on Bishop Rozanski’s Pastoral Visit to Our Lady of Grace
On Tuesday, November 8, 2006, Bishop Mitch Rozanski and his staff spent the entire day at our parish. The itinerary for the day included morning Mass, reception for those at Mass, meetings with pastor and staff separately and then together, luncheon with pastoral team, meetings with those involved in parish and school finances, Parish Corporators, and an assembly with the children of our Catholic School. The Bishop then went on a tour of some of the more than 200 square miles that make up our parish, followed by some quiet time to begin a debrief with his staff. The very full day ended with a meeting of the Pastoral Council followed by dinner. In early January the Bishop published his report of the visitation. The complete report will be shared in this column over the next five weeks. All are invited to share their thoughts with members of the Pastoral Team by calling the or emailing the office or any members of the Pastoral Council. (They are the folks with the red ribbons around their necks each weekend at Sunday Mass.) Council members have an opportunity at the conclusion of each monthly meeting to share with the entire Council your comments, kudos, or concerns. It is a great way to have yourself represented to the leadership of the parish.
This first week’s installment addresses the areas of our History and Statistical Data.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
HISTORY
The parish of Our Lady of Grace traces its beginning to St. Joseph’s Church in Cockeysville. A number of parishioners asked the pastor of St. Joseph’s, Father John Hart to establish a mission to serve the needs of parishioners living in the northernmost part of Baltimore County. At the time, the nearest Catholic Church north of St. Joseph’s was in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. Father Hart was amenable and the Mission was established as the Hereford Mission. The first Mass was celebrated on October 6, 1968 in the auditorium of Hereford High School. 369 people attended the Mass.
By the end of 1968, the Hereford Mission established religious education classes and in early 1969, a high school religious education program began. Within a few years, the Mission was thriving . However, the Mission needed a building and needed a full-time priest. A building committee was formed and suitable land was sought. The committee recommended that the mission purchase a 10 acre tract of land on Middletown Road in the Parkton area, which was part of a larger tract of land already owned by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The land was acquired and plans began to erect a suitable multi-purpose building.
In 1974, Cardinal Shehan raised the mission to parish status and appointed Reverend Edward Lynch as its first pastor. The name for the new parish was left to Father Lynch who asked parishioners to choose a name for the parish. Parishioners chose the title of Our Lady of Grace. By August of 1974, Archbishop William Borders, the newly appointed Archbishop of Baltimore, granted permission for the parish to begin a capital campaign to raise funds for a building. On September 18, 1977 the community celebrated Mass in the new Community Building, the first Roman Catholic Church in northern Baltimore County. The community of Our Lady of Grace finally had a home to call its own.
Reverend Neil J. O’Donnell was appointed the second pastor in 1983. He began working immediately to explore the feasibility of a new building, since the Community Building was no longer adequate for the growing congregation. Several capital campaigns later, and setbacks due to rock formations that had to be blasted out of the ground, the church was completed and the first mass was celebrated on September 16, 1990.
Father O’Donnell, who had carried the parish through the turbulence of many setbacks during the fundraising and subsequent construction of the new church, died suddenly on Christmas Eve in 1994. Within a few months, Reverend Nicholas Amato was appointed as pastor to succeed Father O’Donnell.
Father Amato came to Our Lady of Grace with a vision to create a Catholic School to provide excellent academics and Christian values throughout the curriculum. He was tireless in his efforts, and the school was opened in September of 2000 with Sister Helen Wiegmann, SSJ as principal. Sister Helen came to Our Lady of Grace the year previous and worked with Father Amato and others to make the vision a reality. Today, the school has an enrollment of approximately 190 students in all eight grades. The parish complex sits on a hill with attractive landscaping. The buildings are impressive and beautiful—a tribute to the community and the vision of its three pastoral leaders.
STATISTICAL DATA
Currently, Our Lady of Grace has approximately 1360 registered families. Over 1000 of these families live within the boundaries of the parish. Another 300 come from outside the archdiocese, the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s. A few families come from other parishes in the archdiocese. Conversely, approximately 450 families living within the boundaries of Our Lady of Grace are registered elsewhere.
The last U.S. Census taken in 2000, indicated that the area of Parkton had grown approximately 14% since the 1990 census. Currently, the parish is in a high growth area with projected increase of population at between 10% to 20%. The southwest area of the parish which borders on St. Francis Xavier in Hunt Valley, has projected growth of over 50%. Although the population continues to increase and the parish registration has grown consistently, mass attendance has been in slight decline over the past three years.
Five-Part Report on Bishop Rozanski’s Pastoral Visit to Our Lady of Grace
On Tuesday, November 8, 2006, Bishop Mitch Rozanski and his staff spent the entire day at our parish. The itinerary for the day included morning Mass, reception for those at Mass, meetings with pastor and staff separately and then together, luncheon with pastoral team, meetings with those involved in parish and school finances, Parish Corporators, and an assembly with the children of our Catholic School. The Bishop then went on a tour of some of the more than 200 square miles that make up our parish, followed by some quiet time to begin a debrief with his staff. The very full day ended with a meeting of the Pastoral Council followed by dinner. In early January the Bishop published his report of the visitation. The complete report will be shared in this column over the next five weeks. All are invited to share their thoughts with members of the Pastoral Team by calling the or emailing the office or any members of the Pastoral Council. (They are the folks with the red ribbons around their necks each weekend at Sunday Mass.) Council members have an opportunity at the conclusion of each monthly meeting to share with the entire Council your comments, kudos, or concerns. It is a great way to have yourself represented to the leadership of the parish.
This first week’s installment addresses the areas of our History and Statistical Data.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
HISTORY
The parish of Our Lady of Grace traces its beginning to St. Joseph’s Church in Cockeysville. A number of parishioners asked the pastor of St. Joseph’s, Father John Hart to establish a mission to serve the needs of parishioners living in the northernmost part of Baltimore County. At the time, the nearest Catholic Church north of St. Joseph’s was in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. Father Hart was amenable and the Mission was established as the Hereford Mission. The first Mass was celebrated on October 6, 1968 in the auditorium of Hereford High School. 369 people attended the Mass.
By the end of 1968, the Hereford Mission established religious education classes and in early 1969, a high school religious education program began. Within a few years, the Mission was thriving . However, the Mission needed a building and needed a full-time priest. A building committee was formed and suitable land was sought. The committee recommended that the mission purchase a 10 acre tract of land on Middletown Road in the Parkton area, which was part of a larger tract of land already owned by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The land was acquired and plans began to erect a suitable multi-purpose building.
In 1974, Cardinal Shehan raised the mission to parish status and appointed Reverend Edward Lynch as its first pastor. The name for the new parish was left to Father Lynch who asked parishioners to choose a name for the parish. Parishioners chose the title of Our Lady of Grace. By August of 1974, Archbishop William Borders, the newly appointed Archbishop of Baltimore, granted permission for the parish to begin a capital campaign to raise funds for a building. On September 18, 1977 the community celebrated Mass in the new Community Building, the first Roman Catholic Church in northern Baltimore County. The community of Our Lady of Grace finally had a home to call its own.
Reverend Neil J. O’Donnell was appointed the second pastor in 1983. He began working immediately to explore the feasibility of a new building, since the Community Building was no longer adequate for the growing congregation. Several capital campaigns later, and setbacks due to rock formations that had to be blasted out of the ground, the church was completed and the first mass was celebrated on September 16, 1990.
Father O’Donnell, who had carried the parish through the turbulence of many setbacks during the fundraising and subsequent construction of the new church, died suddenly on Christmas Eve in 1994. Within a few months, Reverend Nicholas Amato was appointed as pastor to succeed Father O’Donnell.
Father Amato came to Our Lady of Grace with a vision to create a Catholic School to provide excellent academics and Christian values throughout the curriculum. He was tireless in his efforts, and the school was opened in September of 2000 with Sister Helen Wiegmann, SSJ as principal. Sister Helen came to Our Lady of Grace the year previous and worked with Father Amato and others to make the vision a reality. Today, the school has an enrollment of approximately 190 students in all eight grades. The parish complex sits on a hill with attractive landscaping. The buildings are impressive and beautiful—a tribute to the community and the vision of its three pastoral leaders.
STATISTICAL DATA
Currently, Our Lady of Grace has approximately 1360 registered families. Over 1000 of these families live within the boundaries of the parish. Another 300 come from outside the archdiocese, the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s. A few families come from other parishes in the archdiocese. Conversely, approximately 450 families living within the boundaries of Our Lady of Grace are registered elsewhere.
The last U.S. Census taken in 2000, indicated that the area of Parkton had grown approximately 14% since the 1990 census. Currently, the parish is in a high growth area with projected increase of population at between 10% to 20%. The southwest area of the parish which borders on St. Francis Xavier in Hunt Valley, has projected growth of over 50%. Although the population continues to increase and the parish registration has grown consistently, mass attendance has been in slight decline over the past three years.
Weekly HOMILY for January 21, 2007: Fr. Nick Is on "Christmas Break"
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
January 21, 2007
Father Nick is on “Christmas Break” this weekend.
Our Lady of Grace
January 21, 2007
Father Nick is on “Christmas Break” this weekend.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Weekly MESSAGE for January 14, 2007: Of Crypts and Corpses
January 14, 2007
Dear Friend,
Many have visited the Basilica of the Assumption downtown Baltimore. It has been completely restored to its original beauty. What marks its importance of course is that it is the first cathedral in the United States and that it was designed by Benjamin Latrobe who also designed the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
Beneath the main altar is the crypt and the burial place of former bishops and archbishops of Baltimore. Crypts are always located in such places. Perhaps the most famous crypt housing the body of a person is the one beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In it are the bones of St. Peter himself.
Last month Vatican officials identified a marble sarcophagus embedded in the foundations of a Rome basilica as the coffin believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul. The announcement was the latest chapter of an excavation campaign that has been under way since 2004 when Vatican archaeologists set out to locate the sarcophagus. The actual coffin remains buried beneath the main altar of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. There is little doubt, say officials, that the bones are authentic. On the marble slab are the words “St. Paul, Apostle” in Latin.
Archaeologists burrowed through more than 3 feet of plaster, mortar and brick to reach the fourth-century foundations of the basilica. The goal of the project is to bring the sarcophagus to light for pilgrims. One of the important archaeological finds was that the sarcophagus has a funnel-shaped hole in the top – later closed up with plaster – through which the faithful could stick pieces of cloth to create secondary relics. (A secondary relic is something that touches the remains of a saint. Those remains are considered primary relics.) The tomb has been revered from the beginning as that of St. Paul of Tarsus. According to tradition, Paul was taken to Rome during the Reign of the Emperor Nero and beheaded. His remains were later moved to a site outside the City’s ancient walls, where a church was erected in the fourth century to honor the martyr.
Our parish will be planning a trip to the Basilica here in Baltimore in a few months to capture some of the mystery and importance crypts continue to play in our Catholic churches. However, we won’t be drilling any holes for second class relics!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
Many have visited the Basilica of the Assumption downtown Baltimore. It has been completely restored to its original beauty. What marks its importance of course is that it is the first cathedral in the United States and that it was designed by Benjamin Latrobe who also designed the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
Beneath the main altar is the crypt and the burial place of former bishops and archbishops of Baltimore. Crypts are always located in such places. Perhaps the most famous crypt housing the body of a person is the one beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In it are the bones of St. Peter himself.
Last month Vatican officials identified a marble sarcophagus embedded in the foundations of a Rome basilica as the coffin believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul. The announcement was the latest chapter of an excavation campaign that has been under way since 2004 when Vatican archaeologists set out to locate the sarcophagus. The actual coffin remains buried beneath the main altar of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. There is little doubt, say officials, that the bones are authentic. On the marble slab are the words “St. Paul, Apostle” in Latin.
Archaeologists burrowed through more than 3 feet of plaster, mortar and brick to reach the fourth-century foundations of the basilica. The goal of the project is to bring the sarcophagus to light for pilgrims. One of the important archaeological finds was that the sarcophagus has a funnel-shaped hole in the top – later closed up with plaster – through which the faithful could stick pieces of cloth to create secondary relics. (A secondary relic is something that touches the remains of a saint. Those remains are considered primary relics.) The tomb has been revered from the beginning as that of St. Paul of Tarsus. According to tradition, Paul was taken to Rome during the Reign of the Emperor Nero and beheaded. His remains were later moved to a site outside the City’s ancient walls, where a church was erected in the fourth century to honor the martyr.
Our parish will be planning a trip to the Basilica here in Baltimore in a few months to capture some of the mystery and importance crypts continue to play in our Catholic churches. However, we won’t be drilling any holes for second class relics!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 14, 2007: Some New Church Bulletin Bloopers
This and That:
Some New Church Bulletin Bloopers
Thank God for “Church Ladies” with keyboards. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: ’Searching for Jesus.
Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.
The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Don't let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Barbara Caron remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Father Jack’s homilies.
The Pastor will preach his farewell homily after which the choir will sing: “Break Forth Into Joy.”
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What Is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered in Masses for November.
Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00pm – prayer and medication to follow.
The Ladies Guild of the Church has cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7:00pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Church Hall after the B. S. is done.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7:00pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Some New Church Bulletin Bloopers
Thank God for “Church Ladies” with keyboards. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: ’Searching for Jesus.
Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.
The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Don't let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Barbara Caron remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Father Jack’s homilies.
The Pastor will preach his farewell homily after which the choir will sing: “Break Forth Into Joy.”
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What Is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered in Masses for November.
Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00pm – prayer and medication to follow.
The Ladies Guild of the Church has cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7:00pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Church Hall after the B. S. is done.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7:00pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weekly HOMILY for January 14, 2007: Bible Study of the Marriage at Cana
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
January 14, 2007
Bible Study of the Marriage at Cana
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
John’s Gospel
Our new projection system is used at the Sunday 5:00 Alive to project hymns instead of using worship aides. It helps us sing better and keeps our eyes up here on the action rather than buried in the program
A second purpose for which it was intended is in preaching, when that seems appropriate as I think it is for today’s Gospel.
Let me begin by asking, “How many of us have ever been to a Bible Study?”
The purpose of a Bible Study is to take a scripture passage apart, verse-by-verse, and work hard at understanding precisely what the writer is saying. Second, it’s to share how the passage applies to my life.
With the help of PowerPoint I’d like to try doing both of those things today.
Today’s Gospel passage (Slide 1) is taken from the Gospel of John. Now John’s Gospel is very different from the other three. Matthew, Mark and Luke – they are called the Synoptic Gospels because the parallel each rather closely – try to tell the story of Jesus as his life unfolds historically.
John does not so much do that. He is not “synoptic.” Instead, John organizes a lot of his Gospel around key events called “signs.”
Today, with the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, John gives us the first of the “signs.” So, let us look at this passage carefully and see what it teaches us and how it calls us to transformation.
The Wedding: The Problem
(Slide 2) To begin with, John says that, “There was a wedding at Cana.” In the Old Testament, a wedding banquet was a sign or symbol of God’s presence.
It spoke of the coming of the Messiah or Savior. So, John is saying here (Slide 3) that God is present and the Savior is present to us in some way in this very event, in this very gathering.
(Slide 4) Next, Mary says to Jesus, ‘They have no wine.” Jesus’ mother could simply be concerned here about the embarrassment of the newly married couple in running out of wine.
But on another level, the level of sign, “They have no wine” also means that they – all of humanity – have no way to God. Our relationship with God has run dry.
Then, Jesus responds to his mother, (Slide 5) “`Woman, how does your concern affect me?’” Jesus’ response may sound a bit disrespectful, but there is another level of meaning here. Remember this is John, not Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The word “Woman” is the same word used in the Book of Genesis for Eve, the first woman in creation. So, Jesus is conveying that his mother, Mary is the new Eve, the first woman in the new creation that he is initiating.
Jesus quickly adds, “My hour has not yet come.” On one level, perhaps Jesus simply wants to relax and enjoy himself and not be bothered with anyone’s problems. We’ve all been there!
But in truth, Jesus’ words “my hour” mean the event of his suffering, dying and rising. So, Jesus knows here at Cana that as soon as he starts his divine mission, opposition and hardship will also begin and lead him to “his hour.”
The Wedding: The Solution
So, it appears that Jesus may be trying to dodge his mother’s request.
(Slide 6) However, Mary is undeterred and says to the waiters, “Do whatever he tells you.” So we see that Mary trusts in Jesus, even though she does not yet understand.
In her trust and faith, she gives the servers and us a directive. If were to, “Do whatever he tells us,” we too would experience the action of God in our own lives.
(Slide 7) John, in his Gospel then, carefully notes that there are 6 water jars. To his audience, this means 1 less than 7 – 1 less than the perfect number, 7, a sign of fulfillment or perfection.
For us, it would be getting a 90% on a test and not a perfect 100%. The idea here is that Jesus himself becomes the 7th jar; Jesus becomes the fulfillment or perfection io humanity’s relationship with God.
John also notes that these jars hold “20 to 30 gallons” each. So, there is a lot of water or wine here.
And so (Slide 8) he orders the 7 jars filled. This is a sign that in Jesus, there is an abundance of God’s life and love. There is salvation for everyone, with no one excluded.
(Slide 9) (Read from slide:) “Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
(Slide 10) (Read from slide:) And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom …”
(Slide 11) And then we have the great testimony of the headwaiter. “Everyone serves good wine first, but you have kept the good wine until now.”
On one level, the headwaiter voices the common sense practice of not holding the good wine until people are a bit tipsy and won’t appreciate it. On another level, these words also say that in Jesus, the best has been saved until last in our relationship with God.
The Wedding: The Sign
(Slide 12) Finally, John concludes this story by saying – and this is key for John – that “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs.”
So, Jesus’ actions are signs – signs of God’s presence in our lives; signs of God’s action in our lives. We Catholics especially are a people of signs.
Because we are a Sacramental Church, we have the signs of the 7 sacraments. The question for us today is: “Do we bring to these signs the basic trust that the first disciples bring in their witnessing to Jesus’ signs?”
Do we bring this trust to the signing with blessed oil in the Anointing of the Sick or when we say “Amen” to the words “The Body of Christ” before we receive the Eucharist?
We conclude today’s Gospel passage with the words, “his disciples began to believe in him.”
Are we really trying to follow Jesus, as those first disciples did, and bring at least a basic trust to the signs that he has given us? If we do, Jesus can also change water into wine for us and do great things in our lives.
Our Lady of Grace
January 14, 2007
Bible Study of the Marriage at Cana
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
John’s Gospel
Our new projection system is used at the Sunday 5:00 Alive to project hymns instead of using worship aides. It helps us sing better and keeps our eyes up here on the action rather than buried in the program
A second purpose for which it was intended is in preaching, when that seems appropriate as I think it is for today’s Gospel.
Let me begin by asking, “How many of us have ever been to a Bible Study?”
The purpose of a Bible Study is to take a scripture passage apart, verse-by-verse, and work hard at understanding precisely what the writer is saying. Second, it’s to share how the passage applies to my life.
With the help of PowerPoint I’d like to try doing both of those things today.
Today’s Gospel passage (Slide 1) is taken from the Gospel of John. Now John’s Gospel is very different from the other three. Matthew, Mark and Luke – they are called the Synoptic Gospels because the parallel each rather closely – try to tell the story of Jesus as his life unfolds historically.
John does not so much do that. He is not “synoptic.” Instead, John organizes a lot of his Gospel around key events called “signs.”
Today, with the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, John gives us the first of the “signs.” So, let us look at this passage carefully and see what it teaches us and how it calls us to transformation.
The Wedding: The Problem
(Slide 2) To begin with, John says that, “There was a wedding at Cana.” In the Old Testament, a wedding banquet was a sign or symbol of God’s presence.
It spoke of the coming of the Messiah or Savior. So, John is saying here (Slide 3) that God is present and the Savior is present to us in some way in this very event, in this very gathering.
(Slide 4) Next, Mary says to Jesus, ‘They have no wine.” Jesus’ mother could simply be concerned here about the embarrassment of the newly married couple in running out of wine.
But on another level, the level of sign, “They have no wine” also means that they – all of humanity – have no way to God. Our relationship with God has run dry.
Then, Jesus responds to his mother, (Slide 5) “`Woman, how does your concern affect me?’” Jesus’ response may sound a bit disrespectful, but there is another level of meaning here. Remember this is John, not Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The word “Woman” is the same word used in the Book of Genesis for Eve, the first woman in creation. So, Jesus is conveying that his mother, Mary is the new Eve, the first woman in the new creation that he is initiating.
Jesus quickly adds, “My hour has not yet come.” On one level, perhaps Jesus simply wants to relax and enjoy himself and not be bothered with anyone’s problems. We’ve all been there!
But in truth, Jesus’ words “my hour” mean the event of his suffering, dying and rising. So, Jesus knows here at Cana that as soon as he starts his divine mission, opposition and hardship will also begin and lead him to “his hour.”
The Wedding: The Solution
So, it appears that Jesus may be trying to dodge his mother’s request.
(Slide 6) However, Mary is undeterred and says to the waiters, “Do whatever he tells you.” So we see that Mary trusts in Jesus, even though she does not yet understand.
In her trust and faith, she gives the servers and us a directive. If were to, “Do whatever he tells us,” we too would experience the action of God in our own lives.
(Slide 7) John, in his Gospel then, carefully notes that there are 6 water jars. To his audience, this means 1 less than 7 – 1 less than the perfect number, 7, a sign of fulfillment or perfection.
For us, it would be getting a 90% on a test and not a perfect 100%. The idea here is that Jesus himself becomes the 7th jar; Jesus becomes the fulfillment or perfection io humanity’s relationship with God.
John also notes that these jars hold “20 to 30 gallons” each. So, there is a lot of water or wine here.
And so (Slide 8) he orders the 7 jars filled. This is a sign that in Jesus, there is an abundance of God’s life and love. There is salvation for everyone, with no one excluded.
(Slide 9) (Read from slide:) “Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
(Slide 10) (Read from slide:) And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom …”
(Slide 11) And then we have the great testimony of the headwaiter. “Everyone serves good wine first, but you have kept the good wine until now.”
On one level, the headwaiter voices the common sense practice of not holding the good wine until people are a bit tipsy and won’t appreciate it. On another level, these words also say that in Jesus, the best has been saved until last in our relationship with God.
The Wedding: The Sign
(Slide 12) Finally, John concludes this story by saying – and this is key for John – that “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs.”
So, Jesus’ actions are signs – signs of God’s presence in our lives; signs of God’s action in our lives. We Catholics especially are a people of signs.
Because we are a Sacramental Church, we have the signs of the 7 sacraments. The question for us today is: “Do we bring to these signs the basic trust that the first disciples bring in their witnessing to Jesus’ signs?”
Do we bring this trust to the signing with blessed oil in the Anointing of the Sick or when we say “Amen” to the words “The Body of Christ” before we receive the Eucharist?
We conclude today’s Gospel passage with the words, “his disciples began to believe in him.”
Are we really trying to follow Jesus, as those first disciples did, and bring at least a basic trust to the signs that he has given us? If we do, Jesus can also change water into wine for us and do great things in our lives.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 7, 2007: Faith and Reason
January 7, 2007
Dear Friend,
With Christmas and the old year behind us, and the Feast of the Epiphany and the New Year before us, we Christians find our selves in a unique position.
On the one hand, we’re giving thanks for the birth of a Savior into our lives and the blessings of a year that has come-and-gone, and, on the other, we find ourselves asking for the gifts of faith and intelligence to guide us through the New Year, even as the star guided the Magi on their journey. The two gifts – blessings of the old year and blessings of the new – are very different; and while very different, they are indeed compatible with each other.
Our Holy Father voiced the common Christian conviction when he said, “There is no competition of any kind between faith [in the old year and its blessings] and reason [in the new year to guide us].” The Pope has said that reason and faith collaborate in every aspect of human life and particularly in our individual search for God.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi pursue a religious search. In their studies of the heavens, the Wise Men discover a new star. When they follow that beacon, they find in Bethlehem the child with his mother. In the gifts they offer, they acknowledged this child to be the mysterious king they have been seeking.
Some searchers are led to God by philosophical reasoning. For others a vivid awareness of God’s presence has meant more than dialogue, discussion, and reflection. However you lay hold of the presence of your God, by blessing or by reason, cling to that presence and experience a past year of blessing and a new one of great hope.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
With Christmas and the old year behind us, and the Feast of the Epiphany and the New Year before us, we Christians find our selves in a unique position.
On the one hand, we’re giving thanks for the birth of a Savior into our lives and the blessings of a year that has come-and-gone, and, on the other, we find ourselves asking for the gifts of faith and intelligence to guide us through the New Year, even as the star guided the Magi on their journey. The two gifts – blessings of the old year and blessings of the new – are very different; and while very different, they are indeed compatible with each other.
Our Holy Father voiced the common Christian conviction when he said, “There is no competition of any kind between faith [in the old year and its blessings] and reason [in the new year to guide us].” The Pope has said that reason and faith collaborate in every aspect of human life and particularly in our individual search for God.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi pursue a religious search. In their studies of the heavens, the Wise Men discover a new star. When they follow that beacon, they find in Bethlehem the child with his mother. In the gifts they offer, they acknowledged this child to be the mysterious king they have been seeking.
Some searchers are led to God by philosophical reasoning. For others a vivid awareness of God’s presence has meant more than dialogue, discussion, and reflection. However you lay hold of the presence of your God, by blessing or by reason, cling to that presence and experience a past year of blessing and a new one of great hope.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 7, 2007: A Lot of “Faith-filled” People Doing a Lot of Good “Works”
This and That:
A Lot of “Faith-filled” People Doing a Lot of Good “Works”
Last week I had a little chat with Pat Schafer, the chair of our Outreach Committee. She was up to her eyeballs in filling large plastic bags with gifts for families, boxing food, and loading her SUV full to the brim for trips to our shelters and outreach centers. As I always say to her, “There goes God’s lover of the poor. No purgatory for you, Pat, you’re going to go straight to heaven.” This time she quipped, “Father, it’s too bad we’re not saved by works.” A very interesting statement, I’d say. I quickly retorted, “No, we’re saved by faith,” harkening back to the whole reason for the Protestant Reformation.
Regarding how “faith” and “good works” each play a part in our salvation, we Catholics take the words of the Letter to James quite literally. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate \your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. (James 2:14-18) The writer of the Epistle gets it right. “Demonstrating our faith from our works” is the exemplary thing to do.
Over the past month, you, the people of Our Lady of Grace have come across still again with a tremendous outpouring of “works” that flow from our “faith” as a community. As of 4:00pm Monday afternoon Dec 18th, the Outreach Committee had received some 1,500 wrapped gifts, filled 200 stockings to the brim, received 460 crackers (favors the go “snap”) from the Prime-timers, and loads of groceries from the Christmas Musical and individual donations.
The following is a breakdown of where your many contributions went:
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to the Franciscan Center
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to the middle school children attending the Franciscan Youth Center
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to children and new parents at St. Benedict’s parish in Baltimore City
➢ 12 families “adopted” by Our Lady of Grace from the Head Start program at St Veronica’s plus a carload of Christmas gifts
➢ 100 gifts and a large quantity of food donated to St Cecilia’s parish
➢ Several car loads of supplies and Christmas gifts delivered to Sarah’s Hope Homeless Shelter and nine people “adopted” and cared for with personal gifts and items
➢ Many gifts donated to “New Life for Girls” and 8 individuals “adopted” as well
➢ Furnishing of gifts, food, and gift certificates to many local area families
In addition, the following is a list of the non-perishable food the cast brought to rehearsals and the funds collected after each performance for perishables such as meat and produce.
o Hereford Food Bank and Pine Grove Food Bank each received $600+ in Giant Food gift cards and shared in the over 50 boxes of non-perishable food items
o Our Daily Bread: received $600+
o Sarah’s Hope: received $600+
o The proceeds of the Bake Sale allowed for the donation of several packs of children’s socks, underwear, and craft items to Sarah’s Hope
The total distribution of funds collected from theatergoers was $2,531.79. Amazing isn’t it!
What a tremendous “demonstration of our faith from our works.” God bless all those who helped us help those in need.
A Lot of “Faith-filled” People Doing a Lot of Good “Works”
Last week I had a little chat with Pat Schafer, the chair of our Outreach Committee. She was up to her eyeballs in filling large plastic bags with gifts for families, boxing food, and loading her SUV full to the brim for trips to our shelters and outreach centers. As I always say to her, “There goes God’s lover of the poor. No purgatory for you, Pat, you’re going to go straight to heaven.” This time she quipped, “Father, it’s too bad we’re not saved by works.” A very interesting statement, I’d say. I quickly retorted, “No, we’re saved by faith,” harkening back to the whole reason for the Protestant Reformation.
Regarding how “faith” and “good works” each play a part in our salvation, we Catholics take the words of the Letter to James quite literally. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate \your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. (James 2:14-18) The writer of the Epistle gets it right. “Demonstrating our faith from our works” is the exemplary thing to do.
Over the past month, you, the people of Our Lady of Grace have come across still again with a tremendous outpouring of “works” that flow from our “faith” as a community. As of 4:00pm Monday afternoon Dec 18th, the Outreach Committee had received some 1,500 wrapped gifts, filled 200 stockings to the brim, received 460 crackers (favors the go “snap”) from the Prime-timers, and loads of groceries from the Christmas Musical and individual donations.
The following is a breakdown of where your many contributions went:
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to the Franciscan Center
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to the middle school children attending the Franciscan Youth Center
➢ Gifts and stockings delivered to children and new parents at St. Benedict’s parish in Baltimore City
➢ 12 families “adopted” by Our Lady of Grace from the Head Start program at St Veronica’s plus a carload of Christmas gifts
➢ 100 gifts and a large quantity of food donated to St Cecilia’s parish
➢ Several car loads of supplies and Christmas gifts delivered to Sarah’s Hope Homeless Shelter and nine people “adopted” and cared for with personal gifts and items
➢ Many gifts donated to “New Life for Girls” and 8 individuals “adopted” as well
➢ Furnishing of gifts, food, and gift certificates to many local area families
In addition, the following is a list of the non-perishable food the cast brought to rehearsals and the funds collected after each performance for perishables such as meat and produce.
o Hereford Food Bank and Pine Grove Food Bank each received $600+ in Giant Food gift cards and shared in the over 50 boxes of non-perishable food items
o Our Daily Bread: received $600+
o Sarah’s Hope: received $600+
o The proceeds of the Bake Sale allowed for the donation of several packs of children’s socks, underwear, and craft items to Sarah’s Hope
The total distribution of funds collected from theatergoers was $2,531.79. Amazing isn’t it!
What a tremendous “demonstration of our faith from our works.” God bless all those who helped us help those in need.
Weekly HOMILY for January 7, 2007: Jesus As Polaris, the North Star
Epiphany, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
January 7, 2007
Jesus As Polaris, the North Star
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
The North Star
I am sure that all of us know about the North Star or Polaris as it is called.
Even if we have hardly any knowledge of the plants and stars, we have heard of the North Star.
For centuries, navigators have charted their course by the light of this star.
While the stars that make up the constellations move during the hours of night, the North Star remains constant.
Between summer and winter, it rises and falls a few degrees above the horizon, but it still remains directly above the earth’s North Pole.
This is why the North Star has been so important to sailors and travelers.
While the many lights of the heavens change their position, the North Star remains constant.
Jesus: Our Constant Light
The North Star is a helpful image for us this morning.
Today’s Gospel tells us that these Wise Men followed the light of a star and find the newborn Jesus.
In truth, the light of the star leads then to the Light.
Jesus is our North Star – that fixed, constant, steady light
As the Light, Jesus enlightens or sheds light for us on (1) God, (2) On ourselves, and (3) On human life.
Light on God
First, Jesus enlightens us or sheds light on God.
Jesus reveals to us precisely who God is and what God is like.
Our Profession of Faith that we will say in a few minutes speaks of this beautifully and profoundly.
In it, we say that Jesus is “God for God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”
God is Light and Jesus is God or Light who has taken on our humanity.
Jesus enlightens us that God is completely love, loving and completely giving of himself for our well-being.
After all, is that not the very nature of light – to be outgoing and giving of itself?
Jesus enlightens us that God wants only the best for us and so attracts us to himself.
In fact, the Light-from-Light that Jesus is for us the way to the fullness of Light.
Light on Ourselves
In doing this, Jesus also enlightens or sheds light for us on ourselves.
Jesus enlightens us that we are not God, that we ourselves are not the Light.
And so, we need to do as these Wise Men today do.
We need to give homage to God.
For us, giving homage means that we speak the words of the Creed or Profession of Faith with an awareness of the greatness of God and of our dependence on God.
It means that we worship together and pray in solitude as a way to draw on the strength of God.
It means that we worship together and pray in solitude as a way to draw on the strength of God.
Giving homage means that we seek our enlightenment and meaning and purpose from the One who is Light itself.
Light on Human Life
And finally, in connection with this, Jesus enlightens or sheds light on human life itself.
Jesus enlightens us that our life takes its cue, again, from the Wise Men.
It is a journey; we are on a journey that is never complete until we personally meet the One who is Light itself.
Yes, Jesus lays down the broad strokes and plan for human life but we still have to journey to apply his Light to our personal circumstances.
And we have to bring his Light to the scientific discoveries and technological opportunities and challenge of this day and age.
Jesus also enlightens us that we personally are on a journey and are never finished or perfect products.
We need the openness of the Wise Men – to grow and learn, again, until we meet the One who is Light itself.
Conclusion
So, the North Star – Polaris – that fixed, constant light for navigators and travelers is present to us as well.
Jesus – the first constant Light-from Light for all of us travelers on this earth – enlightening us about God and ourselves and human life itself.
That is who Jesus is and what we celebrate on this Feast any.
Our Lady of Grace
January 7, 2007
Jesus As Polaris, the North Star
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
The North Star
I am sure that all of us know about the North Star or Polaris as it is called.
Even if we have hardly any knowledge of the plants and stars, we have heard of the North Star.
For centuries, navigators have charted their course by the light of this star.
While the stars that make up the constellations move during the hours of night, the North Star remains constant.
Between summer and winter, it rises and falls a few degrees above the horizon, but it still remains directly above the earth’s North Pole.
This is why the North Star has been so important to sailors and travelers.
While the many lights of the heavens change their position, the North Star remains constant.
Jesus: Our Constant Light
The North Star is a helpful image for us this morning.
Today’s Gospel tells us that these Wise Men followed the light of a star and find the newborn Jesus.
In truth, the light of the star leads then to the Light.
Jesus is our North Star – that fixed, constant, steady light
As the Light, Jesus enlightens or sheds light for us on (1) God, (2) On ourselves, and (3) On human life.
Light on God
First, Jesus enlightens us or sheds light on God.
Jesus reveals to us precisely who God is and what God is like.
Our Profession of Faith that we will say in a few minutes speaks of this beautifully and profoundly.
In it, we say that Jesus is “God for God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”
God is Light and Jesus is God or Light who has taken on our humanity.
Jesus enlightens us that God is completely love, loving and completely giving of himself for our well-being.
After all, is that not the very nature of light – to be outgoing and giving of itself?
Jesus enlightens us that God wants only the best for us and so attracts us to himself.
In fact, the Light-from-Light that Jesus is for us the way to the fullness of Light.
Light on Ourselves
In doing this, Jesus also enlightens or sheds light for us on ourselves.
Jesus enlightens us that we are not God, that we ourselves are not the Light.
And so, we need to do as these Wise Men today do.
We need to give homage to God.
For us, giving homage means that we speak the words of the Creed or Profession of Faith with an awareness of the greatness of God and of our dependence on God.
It means that we worship together and pray in solitude as a way to draw on the strength of God.
It means that we worship together and pray in solitude as a way to draw on the strength of God.
Giving homage means that we seek our enlightenment and meaning and purpose from the One who is Light itself.
Light on Human Life
And finally, in connection with this, Jesus enlightens or sheds light on human life itself.
Jesus enlightens us that our life takes its cue, again, from the Wise Men.
It is a journey; we are on a journey that is never complete until we personally meet the One who is Light itself.
Yes, Jesus lays down the broad strokes and plan for human life but we still have to journey to apply his Light to our personal circumstances.
And we have to bring his Light to the scientific discoveries and technological opportunities and challenge of this day and age.
Jesus also enlightens us that we personally are on a journey and are never finished or perfect products.
We need the openness of the Wise Men – to grow and learn, again, until we meet the One who is Light itself.
Conclusion
So, the North Star – Polaris – that fixed, constant light for navigators and travelers is present to us as well.
Jesus – the first constant Light-from Light for all of us travelers on this earth – enlightening us about God and ourselves and human life itself.
That is who Jesus is and what we celebrate on this Feast any.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Weekly MESSAGE for January 1, 2007: New Initiatives for Peace in the New Year
December 31, 2006
Dear Friend,
May 2007 be a year of new initiatives for peace throughout the world. To that end the Holy Father made the following comments two weeks ago in an address to Makram Obeid, the new ambassador of Syria to the Holy See, when the latter presented his letters of credence.
“You have spoken of your government's concern over the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel in 1967. With a heavy heart, I note that a wide range of territorial and other disputes have led to armed conflicts in recent times that threaten the peace and stability of the entire Middle East,” said the Pope. “Repeatedly I have pleaded for a cessation of violence in Lebanon, in the Holy Land and in Iraq," the Pontiff said.
Benedict XVI said: “The world looks on with great sadness at the cycle of death and destruction, as innocent people continue to suffer and targeted individuals are kidnapped and assassinated.” The Pope said that the Church, “Emphatically rejects war as a means of resolving international disputes, and has often pointed out that it only leads to new and still more complicated conflicts. Sadly, from the current situation in the Middle East, it is only too evident that this is the case,” the Holy Father said.
The Pontiff added that the solution to the conflict lies within the framework of international law and “the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions. In this regard, I have frequently urged that the various nations of the Middle East should be supported in their aspirations to live in peace within secure internationally recognized borders," Benedict XVI said.
In his address to the Syrian ambassador, the Pope also referred, in particular, to “the scourge of terrorism” which “increases the fear and insecurity experienced by so many in the region today.” The Holy Father added that he was glad to learn, from the Syrian ambassador's address, “about the Syrian government's commitment to counter this growing threat to peace and stability.”
“The world looks especially to countries with significant influence in the Middle East in the hopeful expectation of signs of progress toward the resolution of these long-standing conflicts,” said the Pontiff to the Syrian diplomat. Makram Obeid, 62, has been minister of transport for the past six years, and is also ambassador to Spain, where he resides.
Let us all pray for new initiatives for peace in Iraq, the Holy Land, and Lebanon.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
May 2007 be a year of new initiatives for peace throughout the world. To that end the Holy Father made the following comments two weeks ago in an address to Makram Obeid, the new ambassador of Syria to the Holy See, when the latter presented his letters of credence.
“You have spoken of your government's concern over the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel in 1967. With a heavy heart, I note that a wide range of territorial and other disputes have led to armed conflicts in recent times that threaten the peace and stability of the entire Middle East,” said the Pope. “Repeatedly I have pleaded for a cessation of violence in Lebanon, in the Holy Land and in Iraq," the Pontiff said.
Benedict XVI said: “The world looks on with great sadness at the cycle of death and destruction, as innocent people continue to suffer and targeted individuals are kidnapped and assassinated.” The Pope said that the Church, “Emphatically rejects war as a means of resolving international disputes, and has often pointed out that it only leads to new and still more complicated conflicts. Sadly, from the current situation in the Middle East, it is only too evident that this is the case,” the Holy Father said.
The Pontiff added that the solution to the conflict lies within the framework of international law and “the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions. In this regard, I have frequently urged that the various nations of the Middle East should be supported in their aspirations to live in peace within secure internationally recognized borders," Benedict XVI said.
In his address to the Syrian ambassador, the Pope also referred, in particular, to “the scourge of terrorism” which “increases the fear and insecurity experienced by so many in the region today.” The Holy Father added that he was glad to learn, from the Syrian ambassador's address, “about the Syrian government's commitment to counter this growing threat to peace and stability.”
“The world looks especially to countries with significant influence in the Middle East in the hopeful expectation of signs of progress toward the resolution of these long-standing conflicts,” said the Pontiff to the Syrian diplomat. Makram Obeid, 62, has been minister of transport for the past six years, and is also ambassador to Spain, where he resides.
Let us all pray for new initiatives for peace in Iraq, the Holy Land, and Lebanon.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for January 1, 2007: You Know You Were Alive in 2006 If ...
This and That:
You Know You Were Alive in 2006 If …
1. You hadn’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
2. You accidentally entered your password on the microwave.
3. You had a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mailed the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family was that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pulled up in your own driveway and used your cell phone to see if anyone was home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television had a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, was now a cause for panic and you turned around to go to get it.
10. You have now ordered more Christmas gifts on-line than from using the catalogues and telephone.
11. You now download all your music rather than purchase CDs or listen to the radio.
12. You use your cell phone rather than a grocery list in the supermarket.
13. You can’t recall ever having used an 8-trac, cassette or video disc.
14. You find it easier to get a response from a company’s website on–line than calling their offices and trying to get through to a live individual.
15. You get up in the morning and go on line before having your coffee.
16. You have started tilting your head sideways to smile. :-)
17. You are reading this and nodding your head and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to get this bulletin column.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
20. You actually looked back to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.
Happy New Year!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
You Know You Were Alive in 2006 If …
1. You hadn’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
2. You accidentally entered your password on the microwave.
3. You had a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mailed the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family was that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pulled up in your own driveway and used your cell phone to see if anyone was home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television had a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, was now a cause for panic and you turned around to go to get it.
10. You have now ordered more Christmas gifts on-line than from using the catalogues and telephone.
11. You now download all your music rather than purchase CDs or listen to the radio.
12. You use your cell phone rather than a grocery list in the supermarket.
13. You can’t recall ever having used an 8-trac, cassette or video disc.
14. You find it easier to get a response from a company’s website on–line than calling their offices and trying to get through to a live individual.
15. You get up in the morning and go on line before having your coffee.
16. You have started tilting your head sideways to smile. :-)
17. You are reading this and nodding your head and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to get this bulletin column.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
20. You actually looked back to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.
Happy New Year!
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly HOMILY for January 1, 2007: Bells: a Sign of Hope for the New Year
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Cycle C
New Year’s Day
Our Lady of Grace
January 1, 2007
Bells: A Sign of Hope for the New Year
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Hearing Bells
One hundred and forty-three years ago, as the year 1863 was passing over into 1864, our nation was deeply divided by the Civil War. Americans were killing Americans on American soil. Families were divided, North and South with brothers fighting brothers.
On that Christmas, the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was feeling very down. He was very worried about our Nation and about his son who had been wounded in battle.
In the midst of these feelings, Longfellow scribbled these words: “In despair I bowed my head; `There is no peace on earth,’ I said. `For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to all.’”
Then, just as he had written these words, Longfellow heard (bells begin to ring) … the sound of bells from a nearby church. For him, the peeling of bells spoke of hope and of something much stronger than his downcast spirit.
And letting the pealing of the bells flow over him (pause and listen), Longfellow rewrote his words: “Then peeled the bells more loud and deep: `God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to all.’”
As you may know, Longfellow’s words became our popular Christmas carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
I Heard the Word
Those bells reminded Longfellow of God and of what Christmas is all about. They gave him hope to face the New Year.
In a sort of mystical way, they revived the seeds of faith and hope that lay deep within him. They helped him to see the positive possibilities for human life that the birth of Jesus proclaims for a New Year.
And I would submit that those very same bells can do the same for us as we begin a New Year (Stop bells.)
For us, the Scripture readings this New Year’s Eve (Day) – like the bells – awaken our faith and hope in the possibilities that the Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings us.
A Possibility: Reverence for Human Life
In the second reading form Galatians, Paul tells us that we are daughters and sons of God and that that same God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, Jesus, who cries out “Father.”
We are no longer slaves to sin, but sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters to one another.
That fact can be the foundation for reverencing the life and dignity of each person, a value so important for our day and age.
For example, the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the thoughtful care of our elderly who are less able to take of themselves.
It can lift up a sensitivity within us for the life of the unborn and for all children who need a safe and secure environment for growing.
And the birth of our Savior and a New Year can quicken in us a desire to alleviate the suffering of people whom we do not even know – whether they are homeless here in Baltimore County or the millions starving in Darfur in the Sudan or Tanzania.
Reverence for life is strengthened by the Spirit of Jesus within us, a Spirit that cries out “Father,” and makes us all members of one human family.
A Possibility: Respect for Differences
Last Sunday, in the Gospel of Christmas, the Shepherds go in haste to Bethlehem and find the baby lying in a manger. They see and they understand what had been told them, and return glorifying and praising God.
Next Sunday, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Gospel will tell of three Wise Men from the East – specifically Persians – who come to pay homage to the newborn Savior.
In a wonderful contrast of visitors, Jesus draws to himself non-Jews, both the poor, uneducated shepherds and the wealthy, educated Wise Men.
Thus the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the possibility of living with a genuine respect for differences, again so important a value for our day.
So Christmas urges us to assume that people are of good will even when their political opinions are different. It calls us to accept differences in religious background or race or culture.
The dawn of a New Year may call us Americans and us Christians to work at understanding the Muslim religion and the Arab culture from which the Wise Men came.
It may call us to appreciate the gift of the poor and needy to us, that is, their gift of faith and trust in God in not having material things.
Yes, the birth of our Savior and this New Year lifts up the possibility of living with a new respect for the differences we find in others.
Conclusion
(Bells begin to ring.) Tonight (Today), my friends, may we allow the bells of Christmas and the visiting of Shepherds and Wise Men to the manger awaken our faith and hope.
May they awaken us to the marvelous possibilities that the birth of Jesus proclaims.
May they awaken us to a reverence for the life and the dignity of each person, and to a respect for the difference among us.
(Bells end after mediation.)
New Year’s Day
Our Lady of Grace
January 1, 2007
Bells: A Sign of Hope for the New Year
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Hearing Bells
One hundred and forty-three years ago, as the year 1863 was passing over into 1864, our nation was deeply divided by the Civil War. Americans were killing Americans on American soil. Families were divided, North and South with brothers fighting brothers.
On that Christmas, the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was feeling very down. He was very worried about our Nation and about his son who had been wounded in battle.
In the midst of these feelings, Longfellow scribbled these words: “In despair I bowed my head; `There is no peace on earth,’ I said. `For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to all.’”
Then, just as he had written these words, Longfellow heard (bells begin to ring) … the sound of bells from a nearby church. For him, the peeling of bells spoke of hope and of something much stronger than his downcast spirit.
And letting the pealing of the bells flow over him (pause and listen), Longfellow rewrote his words: “Then peeled the bells more loud and deep: `God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to all.’”
As you may know, Longfellow’s words became our popular Christmas carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
I Heard the Word
Those bells reminded Longfellow of God and of what Christmas is all about. They gave him hope to face the New Year.
In a sort of mystical way, they revived the seeds of faith and hope that lay deep within him. They helped him to see the positive possibilities for human life that the birth of Jesus proclaims for a New Year.
And I would submit that those very same bells can do the same for us as we begin a New Year (Stop bells.)
For us, the Scripture readings this New Year’s Eve (Day) – like the bells – awaken our faith and hope in the possibilities that the Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings us.
A Possibility: Reverence for Human Life
In the second reading form Galatians, Paul tells us that we are daughters and sons of God and that that same God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, Jesus, who cries out “Father.”
We are no longer slaves to sin, but sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters to one another.
That fact can be the foundation for reverencing the life and dignity of each person, a value so important for our day and age.
For example, the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the thoughtful care of our elderly who are less able to take of themselves.
It can lift up a sensitivity within us for the life of the unborn and for all children who need a safe and secure environment for growing.
And the birth of our Savior and a New Year can quicken in us a desire to alleviate the suffering of people whom we do not even know – whether they are homeless here in Baltimore County or the millions starving in Darfur in the Sudan or Tanzania.
Reverence for life is strengthened by the Spirit of Jesus within us, a Spirit that cries out “Father,” and makes us all members of one human family.
A Possibility: Respect for Differences
Last Sunday, in the Gospel of Christmas, the Shepherds go in haste to Bethlehem and find the baby lying in a manger. They see and they understand what had been told them, and return glorifying and praising God.
Next Sunday, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Gospel will tell of three Wise Men from the East – specifically Persians – who come to pay homage to the newborn Savior.
In a wonderful contrast of visitors, Jesus draws to himself non-Jews, both the poor, uneducated shepherds and the wealthy, educated Wise Men.
Thus the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the possibility of living with a genuine respect for differences, again so important a value for our day.
So Christmas urges us to assume that people are of good will even when their political opinions are different. It calls us to accept differences in religious background or race or culture.
The dawn of a New Year may call us Americans and us Christians to work at understanding the Muslim religion and the Arab culture from which the Wise Men came.
It may call us to appreciate the gift of the poor and needy to us, that is, their gift of faith and trust in God in not having material things.
Yes, the birth of our Savior and this New Year lifts up the possibility of living with a new respect for the differences we find in others.
Conclusion
(Bells begin to ring.) Tonight (Today), my friends, may we allow the bells of Christmas and the visiting of Shepherds and Wise Men to the manger awaken our faith and hope.
May they awaken us to the marvelous possibilities that the birth of Jesus proclaims.
May they awaken us to a reverence for the life and the dignity of each person, and to a respect for the difference among us.
(Bells end after mediation.)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Christmas: A Holiday or Holy Day?
December 25, 2006
Dear Friend,
In a Catholic School Religion class during Advent, the children were asked, “What do you think of when you hear the word “Christmas”? The good news is that “Jesus” won most often. Unfortunately, he took only 42 percent of the vote. “Presents” was the first runner-up with 25 percent. It may not be happy news that one quarter of the students in a Catholic School say they think about Christmas presents before they think about Jesus. The news may in fact be worse, since you might expect that the children were playing up to expectations, giving answers they thought would make the teacher happy or were more focused on Jesus because the poll was conducted during Religion Class. Whatever the reason, we can say at least 25 percent of the class missed the point or did they?
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that, like most folks in a “consuming” culture like our own, these kids confused the Christian “holy day” of Christmas with the consumer “holiday” of the same name. Folks who have organized to protest the commercialization of Christmas call the consumer holiday “Consumas.” I’m not sure that will ever catch on, but it is a good descriptor. Christmas and Consumas do not even occupy the same time period, though this isn’t immediately apparent since they do overlap. Christmas is part of a cycle that begins with the 1st Sunday of Advent and ends only with the Baptism of the Lord in early January. The longing of four weeks and the celebration of the weeks are both elements of the season. The commercial holiday, on the other hand, officially begins with the shopping madness on the day after Thanksgiving. If you look carefully however, it actually begins even before then with the appearance of the first Christmas items and displays in the Malls. It could be as early as on the day after Halloween. Someone observed that Macy’s had a Santa outfit on sale for $50 during the month of August. Consumas ends officially at midnight Christmas Eve. Although you won’t hear a single Christmas song or carol the day after-Christmas, liquidation sales will go on for another 12 days.
Of course the overlapping Christmas Seasons have different heroes. The central figure of the Christian Christmas is Jesus Christ. The central figure of Consumas is Santa Claus. While Jesus gives us love unconditionally, Santa Claus gives us things if we’ve been good. Note that almost everything that Santa Clause brings has to be bought. The whole meaning of Consumas – commercial Christmas – is to sell us “stuff” and by that measure it’s a very successful holiday. Your Money Magazine found that Americans charged an average of $3,000,000 a minute between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1997.
But I believe beneath the mounds of stuff people genuinely want to celebrate something more, something deeper and it’s very difficult to escape the messages of commercial Christmas because there are so many of them and they are everywhere. Here are a few quick ways to help you celebrate the holy day rather than be consumed by the holiday.
Be Aware: Recognize that commercial Christmas is a non-Christian and at times even anti-Christian celebration. That’s why is called Consumas as in it can “consume us.”
Take Responsibility: We can’t change the culture, but we can change our own choices and actions toward the culture. No one is forcing us to escalate how much we’re going to allocate for gifts. No one is binding us hand and foot and dragging us into the department stores or onto the webpage. And let’s not blame the media for our own willing seduction.
Present Gifts from the Heart: Buying or making a few after Christmas gifts from the heart is a good way to share the holy season with those you love. The key? Keep it simple and meaningful. Connect the gift (try making something) to a quality of the person you love. Try a symbolic or sentimental gift. Next year no one will remember what you gave them, but if it’s from the heart, they will.
Watch What You Watch: Viewer beware! Discriminate when it comes to “Christmas Specials.” While they may be about charity, repentance, and forgiveness, they’re not really about Christmas. Christmas is about a divine/human person whose life, death, and resurrection teach us that “God is with us” (Emmanuel), alive, and in this world.
Celebrate All of the Christmas Season:
Don’t stop celebrating on December 25th as the secular season fizzles out. Plan some of your Christmas socializing for after Christmas Day. For example try celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family with your family gathered around the dinner table. On New Year’s Day celebrate the Solemnity of Mary; on the following Sunday, celebrate the Epiphany.
Have a great Holy Day and Holy Season.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
In a Catholic School Religion class during Advent, the children were asked, “What do you think of when you hear the word “Christmas”? The good news is that “Jesus” won most often. Unfortunately, he took only 42 percent of the vote. “Presents” was the first runner-up with 25 percent. It may not be happy news that one quarter of the students in a Catholic School say they think about Christmas presents before they think about Jesus. The news may in fact be worse, since you might expect that the children were playing up to expectations, giving answers they thought would make the teacher happy or were more focused on Jesus because the poll was conducted during Religion Class. Whatever the reason, we can say at least 25 percent of the class missed the point or did they?
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that, like most folks in a “consuming” culture like our own, these kids confused the Christian “holy day” of Christmas with the consumer “holiday” of the same name. Folks who have organized to protest the commercialization of Christmas call the consumer holiday “Consumas.” I’m not sure that will ever catch on, but it is a good descriptor. Christmas and Consumas do not even occupy the same time period, though this isn’t immediately apparent since they do overlap. Christmas is part of a cycle that begins with the 1st Sunday of Advent and ends only with the Baptism of the Lord in early January. The longing of four weeks and the celebration of the weeks are both elements of the season. The commercial holiday, on the other hand, officially begins with the shopping madness on the day after Thanksgiving. If you look carefully however, it actually begins even before then with the appearance of the first Christmas items and displays in the Malls. It could be as early as on the day after Halloween. Someone observed that Macy’s had a Santa outfit on sale for $50 during the month of August. Consumas ends officially at midnight Christmas Eve. Although you won’t hear a single Christmas song or carol the day after-Christmas, liquidation sales will go on for another 12 days.
Of course the overlapping Christmas Seasons have different heroes. The central figure of the Christian Christmas is Jesus Christ. The central figure of Consumas is Santa Claus. While Jesus gives us love unconditionally, Santa Claus gives us things if we’ve been good. Note that almost everything that Santa Clause brings has to be bought. The whole meaning of Consumas – commercial Christmas – is to sell us “stuff” and by that measure it’s a very successful holiday. Your Money Magazine found that Americans charged an average of $3,000,000 a minute between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1997.
But I believe beneath the mounds of stuff people genuinely want to celebrate something more, something deeper and it’s very difficult to escape the messages of commercial Christmas because there are so many of them and they are everywhere. Here are a few quick ways to help you celebrate the holy day rather than be consumed by the holiday.
Be Aware: Recognize that commercial Christmas is a non-Christian and at times even anti-Christian celebration. That’s why is called Consumas as in it can “consume us.”
Take Responsibility: We can’t change the culture, but we can change our own choices and actions toward the culture. No one is forcing us to escalate how much we’re going to allocate for gifts. No one is binding us hand and foot and dragging us into the department stores or onto the webpage. And let’s not blame the media for our own willing seduction.
Present Gifts from the Heart: Buying or making a few after Christmas gifts from the heart is a good way to share the holy season with those you love. The key? Keep it simple and meaningful. Connect the gift (try making something) to a quality of the person you love. Try a symbolic or sentimental gift. Next year no one will remember what you gave them, but if it’s from the heart, they will.
Watch What You Watch: Viewer beware! Discriminate when it comes to “Christmas Specials.” While they may be about charity, repentance, and forgiveness, they’re not really about Christmas. Christmas is about a divine/human person whose life, death, and resurrection teach us that “God is with us” (Emmanuel), alive, and in this world.
Celebrate All of the Christmas Season:
Don’t stop celebrating on December 25th as the secular season fizzles out. Plan some of your Christmas socializing for after Christmas Day. For example try celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family with your family gathered around the dinner table. On New Year’s Day celebrate the Solemnity of Mary; on the following Sunday, celebrate the Epiphany.
Have a great Holy Day and Holy Season.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for December 25, 2006: The Treasures of Our Heart at Christmas
This and That:
The Treasures of Our Heart at Christmas
Dear Friends and Family,
On behalf of our Pastoral Team and the people of Our Lady of Grace parish, we thank you for worshipping with us on this glorious day and wish you a blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year.
“Prosperous” is the point I want to address for a moment. The treasures that surround us today are of different types or levels. At one level we have the gifts and treasures of our department stores and on-line shopping. At another level, we have the family and friends that surround us around our holiday tables. It’s a third level of treasures, the treasures of our heart, of which I wish to speak.
On December 7th through 10th the drama ministry here at our parish presented four performances of “Treasures of the Heart.” Seventy-four children and youth spoke, sang, and danced to make a point to sell-out crowds each evening: the poor and destitute residents of a Baltimore shelter – the setting of the play – had something to teach us all about those three levels of treasures we long for. Well, read on and you’ll see that maybe not all of us, just most of us “long for.”
The following are just a few of the many emails I received from individuals who attended one of the performances. In them you will see the struggle people go through as they confront the possible treasures they could have within their own heart. Clearly, the play moved beyond stage, scenery, and lighting into the lives of those who witnessed it in any number of ways. We’ll end with a final word from Mary and St. Matthew.
Our sincerest thanks to Mary Miller who wrote, directed and choreographed it, the Production Team who created the environment, and of course the children and youth of our community who delivered the message. How proud we are of you. God bless you all. And to all who joined us for the celebration of Christmas, may you experience these “treasures of the heart” in abundance!
Gratefully,
Father Nick Amato
PS. Production deadlines made it difficult to contact and each person to ask permission to use his/her letter so I chose to drop all the names to safeguard confidentiality.
Dear Father Amato,
I know I am up late, but I am working the night shift tonight. However, before coming to work this evening I had the extreme pleasure of attending the production of “Treasures of the Heart” that was performed at your facility under the direction of Mary Miller.
All I can say is WOW!!! Between the talent and the message, that show was a knockout! The message the audience received was more than inspiring. For many of us, I believe it was life changing. I don’t think I will ever look at a homeless person the same way again. And thanks to Mary Miller, I will never look at death the same way either.
What a blessing it must be for those children to be led by, not only their faith, but the faith of Mary, as well. I wonder if they feel the same way I do when in her presence. I wonder if they too feel as if they are in the presence of a saint.
It was obvious by the lack of hair that she is struggling with her own illness, but that did not stop her from touching the hearts of many. God Bless her, God Bless you and God Bless the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County.
Dear Rev. Msgr. Nicholas Amato,
I have found in my study of religions a common theme. Humility and simplicity are “pleasing to God.” I have had a few chance encounters with people who have honestly acquired the trait of humility. I have encountered many whom I believe try to be humble, but never quite pull it off. The true belief and insight of knowing that we, in the most literal sense, know nothing, is rare. I know nothing, I know nothing, and I know nothing! I believe last evening I met a woman who exemplifies this beautiful trait to perfection. She is someone I’m sure you know well and her name is Mary Miller.
When I exclaimed to her how inspirational I found her musical and the beauty of her talent onstage, she graciously thanked me and then gave all the credit to God. My wife (who is an atheist) replied with something like, “Oh come now, honey, they’re your words, give yourself a pat on the back.” Mary replied with something like, “I will, for taking the time to listen to Him. These really are His words and I am just grateful he chose me to help them be heard.”
This is true humility. A beautiful sight and unfortunately one, my wife does not understand. I am sure it is through your guidance and leadership that she has acquired such a beautiful trait. Congratulations. And congratulations on an incredibly moving, musical. You should take it on tour!!!
Dear Msgr. Nicholas Amato,
I couldn’t go to bed this evening without writing to say how grateful my family and I are for the wonderful musical “Treasures of the Heart.” It was one of the most moving experiences we have experienced in a long time. I have never, I mean never, seen my husband cry in over 20 years of marriage but he cried this evening. We all cried and laughed and had our mouths hanging open in awe at the beauty of the message portrayed in this musical.
And let me say, Mrs. Miller belongs on Broadway; she is absolutely phenomenal. I don’t know how she goes from playing director to playing a very dramatic role in only a few minutes. She has more talent in her little finger than I have in my entire family. When I approached her after the show to complement her on her talent she pointed upward and said that she can’t take the credit because it belongs to God.
What an amazing woman. And the children in the show were just as amazing. I don’t know how she got children to portray such love for faith and God. And you could tell that it wasn’t just acting she really has taught these children to have faith. It was beautiful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I wasn't in the Christmas spirit before this show, but now it really does feel like Christmas.
God Bless You All.
Dear Rev. Msgr. Nicholas P. Amato,
I don’t know whom to write this to, but I noticed your name at the top of the program and got your email address from the church website. I assumed you should be the person to receive this letter. My name is Sally [name changed] and I’m a teenager like a lot of kids on the stage this weekend. And my mom has cancer. It made me cry to see the woman who played the mother on stage because I am very scared that my mom will die. But it also made me feel better because maybe she will be happy when she does. The woman who played the part of the mother was so believable. I think she really does believe she will be okay if she dies. I don’t really know if I believe in God too much. I kind of do, but I’m not really sure. But it was nice to think that if my mom dies she would be happy.
It was also nice to see someone be okay with cancer. For my mom it is like the devil or a dirty word and she hates it and doesn’t want anyone to know she has it. It’s like she is afraid; if she talks about it, it will become real or something. But this woman was okay. She even did her part with no hair.
I talked to her after the show and, although she was surrounded by people waiting to talk to her, she made me feel like I was the only one there. A lot of adults brush kids off, but she made me feel like what I had to say was important. And she made me feel so much more calm about things with my Mom. Its like she waved a magic wand over me and took some of my hurt away. She made me feel a lot better.
I’m not so mad anymore and I’ve been pretty mad for a long time. I just wanted her to know that I said thank you for helping a stranger feel better about herself and about her mom’s cancer.
Dear Msgr. Amato,
Well, she did it again! Another home run for the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County. After watching the wonderful production of “Godspell” earlier this summer, I made it a point to find out when the youth theatre’s next production was so that I could reserve a few tickets. I actually brought along a few colleagues of mine from the theatre and television industry. Of course, I had to drag them kicking and screaming all the way. The thought of going to a small upstart church community production when you are used to a professional atmosphere can be less than appealing.
Well, let me say, we were all completely floored. We felt like we were sitting in the Lyric. You need to get this company a stage. I mean, “Godspell” is difficult to direct, very difficult. And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but “Treasures of the Heart” must have been a nightmare. Anytime you have more than a dozen people onstage the director’s challenge goes up considerably. And when those actors are young children it goes through the roof.
Ms. Miller managed to handle this challenge very creatively. Between her creative directing and the amazing script and music we were all mesmerized. One of my colleagues didn’t want the show to end which is a huge compliment coming from him. The only change I could see making is providing the audience with tissues as they enter. I was very moved by many of the scenes, but especially the scene between Ms. Miller and one of the young actresses. I lost my mother recently and as far as I’m concerned this scene was a gift from God to me. It helped me heal and for that I am eternally grateful.
We tried to speak with Ms. Miller after the show, but she was surrounded by children of all ages. I can see why they love her so. So instead, I write this letter to you in hopes that you will share it with her and the rest of the company.
Once again I must say BRAVO!!!! And may God bless you all with Ms. Miller’s presence for many years to come.
Dear Father Nick,
I needed to relay to you and have you thank the entire cast and crew of “Treasures of the Heart” for changing an old girl’s life. My best friend runs a Food Bank so you would think I would know plenty about those in need and already be doing my part to help the hungry and homeless. Well, I know about them, but I have certainly not been doing my part. This show has changed me, I hope forever. I’m not sure why it took me this long to “open my eyes” as they said in the show but I’m not going to waste time with that question. Instead I am going to help in whatever way I can.
I have already volunteered 8 hours this week in a shelter and donated a carload of groceries to help the hungry. The kids in the show were right; it feels so good. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Not only that, but I lost my mother four years ago and have never recovered from it. That is until this past Sunday. The message Mary Miller gave me made me feel as if my mother is happy and content with God. I no longer worry for her. And I am beginning to no longer grieve. Instead I picture her dancing with God.
I’m so grateful, so very grateful. Thanks for teaching an old dog several new tricks. I did convey my thanks to Mary Miller during intermission and she was so warm, gracious, loving, gentle and very humble. I heard someone else say that they are already sewing feathers on her angel wings in heaven and I have to say I agree wholeheartedly. God Bless You All.
… and now a final word from Mary and St. Matthew:
I knew of the plight of the homeless, but in preparing this musical I found something I didn’t quite expect. I found a spirit in the cold among those who will be alone or hungry this Christmas. Though they were without worldly possessions, hungry and sometimes dirty and stricken with illness, there seemed to be a hope, a belief. As one gentleman put it, “They can take away your house, your car and your money, but they can’t take away your spirit and all that lies inside your heart. Things such as faith, reverence, tenderness, humility, love and hope.”
Such simple treasures … faith, reverence, tenderness, humility, love and hope. Not treasures of the earth, but treasures of the heart. As I pondered the gratitude they displayed, I was reminded of words we have all heard before:
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you? And answering, the King said, “Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:37-39.
The Treasures of Our Heart at Christmas
Dear Friends and Family,
On behalf of our Pastoral Team and the people of Our Lady of Grace parish, we thank you for worshipping with us on this glorious day and wish you a blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year.
“Prosperous” is the point I want to address for a moment. The treasures that surround us today are of different types or levels. At one level we have the gifts and treasures of our department stores and on-line shopping. At another level, we have the family and friends that surround us around our holiday tables. It’s a third level of treasures, the treasures of our heart, of which I wish to speak.
On December 7th through 10th the drama ministry here at our parish presented four performances of “Treasures of the Heart.” Seventy-four children and youth spoke, sang, and danced to make a point to sell-out crowds each evening: the poor and destitute residents of a Baltimore shelter – the setting of the play – had something to teach us all about those three levels of treasures we long for. Well, read on and you’ll see that maybe not all of us, just most of us “long for.”
The following are just a few of the many emails I received from individuals who attended one of the performances. In them you will see the struggle people go through as they confront the possible treasures they could have within their own heart. Clearly, the play moved beyond stage, scenery, and lighting into the lives of those who witnessed it in any number of ways. We’ll end with a final word from Mary and St. Matthew.
Our sincerest thanks to Mary Miller who wrote, directed and choreographed it, the Production Team who created the environment, and of course the children and youth of our community who delivered the message. How proud we are of you. God bless you all. And to all who joined us for the celebration of Christmas, may you experience these “treasures of the heart” in abundance!
Gratefully,
Father Nick Amato
PS. Production deadlines made it difficult to contact and each person to ask permission to use his/her letter so I chose to drop all the names to safeguard confidentiality.
Dear Father Amato,
I know I am up late, but I am working the night shift tonight. However, before coming to work this evening I had the extreme pleasure of attending the production of “Treasures of the Heart” that was performed at your facility under the direction of Mary Miller.
All I can say is WOW!!! Between the talent and the message, that show was a knockout! The message the audience received was more than inspiring. For many of us, I believe it was life changing. I don’t think I will ever look at a homeless person the same way again. And thanks to Mary Miller, I will never look at death the same way either.
What a blessing it must be for those children to be led by, not only their faith, but the faith of Mary, as well. I wonder if they feel the same way I do when in her presence. I wonder if they too feel as if they are in the presence of a saint.
It was obvious by the lack of hair that she is struggling with her own illness, but that did not stop her from touching the hearts of many. God Bless her, God Bless you and God Bless the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County.
Dear Rev. Msgr. Nicholas Amato,
I have found in my study of religions a common theme. Humility and simplicity are “pleasing to God.” I have had a few chance encounters with people who have honestly acquired the trait of humility. I have encountered many whom I believe try to be humble, but never quite pull it off. The true belief and insight of knowing that we, in the most literal sense, know nothing, is rare. I know nothing, I know nothing, and I know nothing! I believe last evening I met a woman who exemplifies this beautiful trait to perfection. She is someone I’m sure you know well and her name is Mary Miller.
When I exclaimed to her how inspirational I found her musical and the beauty of her talent onstage, she graciously thanked me and then gave all the credit to God. My wife (who is an atheist) replied with something like, “Oh come now, honey, they’re your words, give yourself a pat on the back.” Mary replied with something like, “I will, for taking the time to listen to Him. These really are His words and I am just grateful he chose me to help them be heard.”
This is true humility. A beautiful sight and unfortunately one, my wife does not understand. I am sure it is through your guidance and leadership that she has acquired such a beautiful trait. Congratulations. And congratulations on an incredibly moving, musical. You should take it on tour!!!
Dear Msgr. Nicholas Amato,
I couldn’t go to bed this evening without writing to say how grateful my family and I are for the wonderful musical “Treasures of the Heart.” It was one of the most moving experiences we have experienced in a long time. I have never, I mean never, seen my husband cry in over 20 years of marriage but he cried this evening. We all cried and laughed and had our mouths hanging open in awe at the beauty of the message portrayed in this musical.
And let me say, Mrs. Miller belongs on Broadway; she is absolutely phenomenal. I don’t know how she goes from playing director to playing a very dramatic role in only a few minutes. She has more talent in her little finger than I have in my entire family. When I approached her after the show to complement her on her talent she pointed upward and said that she can’t take the credit because it belongs to God.
What an amazing woman. And the children in the show were just as amazing. I don’t know how she got children to portray such love for faith and God. And you could tell that it wasn’t just acting she really has taught these children to have faith. It was beautiful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I wasn't in the Christmas spirit before this show, but now it really does feel like Christmas.
God Bless You All.
Dear Rev. Msgr. Nicholas P. Amato,
I don’t know whom to write this to, but I noticed your name at the top of the program and got your email address from the church website. I assumed you should be the person to receive this letter. My name is Sally [name changed] and I’m a teenager like a lot of kids on the stage this weekend. And my mom has cancer. It made me cry to see the woman who played the mother on stage because I am very scared that my mom will die. But it also made me feel better because maybe she will be happy when she does. The woman who played the part of the mother was so believable. I think she really does believe she will be okay if she dies. I don’t really know if I believe in God too much. I kind of do, but I’m not really sure. But it was nice to think that if my mom dies she would be happy.
It was also nice to see someone be okay with cancer. For my mom it is like the devil or a dirty word and she hates it and doesn’t want anyone to know she has it. It’s like she is afraid; if she talks about it, it will become real or something. But this woman was okay. She even did her part with no hair.
I talked to her after the show and, although she was surrounded by people waiting to talk to her, she made me feel like I was the only one there. A lot of adults brush kids off, but she made me feel like what I had to say was important. And she made me feel so much more calm about things with my Mom. Its like she waved a magic wand over me and took some of my hurt away. She made me feel a lot better.
I’m not so mad anymore and I’ve been pretty mad for a long time. I just wanted her to know that I said thank you for helping a stranger feel better about herself and about her mom’s cancer.
Dear Msgr. Amato,
Well, she did it again! Another home run for the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County. After watching the wonderful production of “Godspell” earlier this summer, I made it a point to find out when the youth theatre’s next production was so that I could reserve a few tickets. I actually brought along a few colleagues of mine from the theatre and television industry. Of course, I had to drag them kicking and screaming all the way. The thought of going to a small upstart church community production when you are used to a professional atmosphere can be less than appealing.
Well, let me say, we were all completely floored. We felt like we were sitting in the Lyric. You need to get this company a stage. I mean, “Godspell” is difficult to direct, very difficult. And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but “Treasures of the Heart” must have been a nightmare. Anytime you have more than a dozen people onstage the director’s challenge goes up considerably. And when those actors are young children it goes through the roof.
Ms. Miller managed to handle this challenge very creatively. Between her creative directing and the amazing script and music we were all mesmerized. One of my colleagues didn’t want the show to end which is a huge compliment coming from him. The only change I could see making is providing the audience with tissues as they enter. I was very moved by many of the scenes, but especially the scene between Ms. Miller and one of the young actresses. I lost my mother recently and as far as I’m concerned this scene was a gift from God to me. It helped me heal and for that I am eternally grateful.
We tried to speak with Ms. Miller after the show, but she was surrounded by children of all ages. I can see why they love her so. So instead, I write this letter to you in hopes that you will share it with her and the rest of the company.
Once again I must say BRAVO!!!! And may God bless you all with Ms. Miller’s presence for many years to come.
Dear Father Nick,
I needed to relay to you and have you thank the entire cast and crew of “Treasures of the Heart” for changing an old girl’s life. My best friend runs a Food Bank so you would think I would know plenty about those in need and already be doing my part to help the hungry and homeless. Well, I know about them, but I have certainly not been doing my part. This show has changed me, I hope forever. I’m not sure why it took me this long to “open my eyes” as they said in the show but I’m not going to waste time with that question. Instead I am going to help in whatever way I can.
I have already volunteered 8 hours this week in a shelter and donated a carload of groceries to help the hungry. The kids in the show were right; it feels so good. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Not only that, but I lost my mother four years ago and have never recovered from it. That is until this past Sunday. The message Mary Miller gave me made me feel as if my mother is happy and content with God. I no longer worry for her. And I am beginning to no longer grieve. Instead I picture her dancing with God.
I’m so grateful, so very grateful. Thanks for teaching an old dog several new tricks. I did convey my thanks to Mary Miller during intermission and she was so warm, gracious, loving, gentle and very humble. I heard someone else say that they are already sewing feathers on her angel wings in heaven and I have to say I agree wholeheartedly. God Bless You All.
… and now a final word from Mary and St. Matthew:
I knew of the plight of the homeless, but in preparing this musical I found something I didn’t quite expect. I found a spirit in the cold among those who will be alone or hungry this Christmas. Though they were without worldly possessions, hungry and sometimes dirty and stricken with illness, there seemed to be a hope, a belief. As one gentleman put it, “They can take away your house, your car and your money, but they can’t take away your spirit and all that lies inside your heart. Things such as faith, reverence, tenderness, humility, love and hope.”
Such simple treasures … faith, reverence, tenderness, humility, love and hope. Not treasures of the earth, but treasures of the heart. As I pondered the gratitude they displayed, I was reminded of words we have all heard before:
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you? And answering, the King said, “Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:37-39.
Weekly HOMILY for December 25, 2006: Apple Pie and the Son of God
Christmas, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 25, 2006
Apple Pie and the Son of God
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Apple Pie
Behold the apple pie; hm-m-m-m-m-m. (Show the pie.)
How many like apple pie? (Pull out one slice.) This pie has an important lesson to teach us.
What can we say about the slice?
It’s (1) Like what it came from in substance, (2) It has the same flavor as the rest of the pie, (3) It looks pretty much the same as the pie, (3) It has the same ability to satisfy a hungry person.
How Are We Like That Slice of Pie?
We are like that slice of apple pie. We have been created by God. And the created thing – the piece of pie – is always like the creator – the pie.
And just as the painting tells us something about the painter, and the song tells us something about the composer, and the baby tells us something about the parents,
In a similar way we are like the God who created us.
And like the slice of pie, God holds us in existence just as the piece needs the source, just as the source needs the piece to achieve the pie’s purpose, that is, to satisfy, delight, enthrall.
What We’re Not
What else does the analogy or comparison say about us on this Christmas Eve (Morning)?
Fundamentally, it says we’re not just a bag of skin filled with bones and muscle and organs.
So then, how can we be sure that we are in fact a “slice of the pie,” a slice of God, so to speak?
And that is what Christmas is all about. We can be sure we’re a slice of the pie because of three reasons.
What We Are
First, God told us we are: he created us out of nothing and created us in his very own image, that is, he made us like himself. He loved us in creating us and wants us to be part of him.
Second, God sent his son to connect the slice to the pie. It’s as if the slice wandered far from the pie and forgot where it came from. By becoming one with us – as slice – and forgiving us our sins, he’s brought us back to God, back to the pie.
Third, the angel called Jesus, Emmanuel, which means “God-with-us.” That no matter where this slice of pie would go, Jesus as Emmanuel would with us because he is now part of our spirit.
Application
What’s that mean for us? We’ve been created, saved from our sins, linked to the pie AND we’re a slice of the pie for others to enjoy.
Thus, we are godly and we can do godly things: we have the flavor to lift people up, to make them smile, to create a sense of community.
We have the appearance of God: we can be God’s mercy and forgiveness when others have sinned, God’s clarity and understanding when others are confused.
We have the ability to satisfy as God satisfies: that is, we have the answers to ultimate and important questions regarding why are we here on earth? What does life really mean? Where is my life headed? What will heaven be like?
Conclusion
May every slice of apple pie we ever eat remind us of Christmas and the joy that is ours knowing we’re a son or daughter of God.
And like the old Jefferson’s sit come of many years ago where the theme song was: “We’ve finally got a piece of the pie-ie-ie,” I’d say we are a piece of the pie, where and the pie is God and Jesus’ birth helps us understand the mystery of being God for others.
Our Lady of Grace
December 25, 2006
Apple Pie and the Son of God
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Apple Pie
Behold the apple pie; hm-m-m-m-m-m. (Show the pie.)
How many like apple pie? (Pull out one slice.) This pie has an important lesson to teach us.
What can we say about the slice?
It’s (1) Like what it came from in substance, (2) It has the same flavor as the rest of the pie, (3) It looks pretty much the same as the pie, (3) It has the same ability to satisfy a hungry person.
How Are We Like That Slice of Pie?
We are like that slice of apple pie. We have been created by God. And the created thing – the piece of pie – is always like the creator – the pie.
And just as the painting tells us something about the painter, and the song tells us something about the composer, and the baby tells us something about the parents,
In a similar way we are like the God who created us.
And like the slice of pie, God holds us in existence just as the piece needs the source, just as the source needs the piece to achieve the pie’s purpose, that is, to satisfy, delight, enthrall.
What We’re Not
What else does the analogy or comparison say about us on this Christmas Eve (Morning)?
Fundamentally, it says we’re not just a bag of skin filled with bones and muscle and organs.
So then, how can we be sure that we are in fact a “slice of the pie,” a slice of God, so to speak?
And that is what Christmas is all about. We can be sure we’re a slice of the pie because of three reasons.
What We Are
First, God told us we are: he created us out of nothing and created us in his very own image, that is, he made us like himself. He loved us in creating us and wants us to be part of him.
Second, God sent his son to connect the slice to the pie. It’s as if the slice wandered far from the pie and forgot where it came from. By becoming one with us – as slice – and forgiving us our sins, he’s brought us back to God, back to the pie.
Third, the angel called Jesus, Emmanuel, which means “God-with-us.” That no matter where this slice of pie would go, Jesus as Emmanuel would with us because he is now part of our spirit.
Application
What’s that mean for us? We’ve been created, saved from our sins, linked to the pie AND we’re a slice of the pie for others to enjoy.
Thus, we are godly and we can do godly things: we have the flavor to lift people up, to make them smile, to create a sense of community.
We have the appearance of God: we can be God’s mercy and forgiveness when others have sinned, God’s clarity and understanding when others are confused.
We have the ability to satisfy as God satisfies: that is, we have the answers to ultimate and important questions regarding why are we here on earth? What does life really mean? Where is my life headed? What will heaven be like?
Conclusion
May every slice of apple pie we ever eat remind us of Christmas and the joy that is ours knowing we’re a son or daughter of God.
And like the old Jefferson’s sit come of many years ago where the theme song was: “We’ve finally got a piece of the pie-ie-ie,” I’d say we are a piece of the pie, where and the pie is God and Jesus’ birth helps us understand the mystery of being God for others.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Weekly MESSAGE for December 17, 2006: Jesus, More Than a Small Red Berry
December 17, 2006
Dear Friend,
Now I’ve seen it all. The marketing campaigns seem to get crazier each year. Try this one on for size.
This year you can see in magazines an ad for Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, in which a soda bottle is jauntily decorated with a sprig of holly. The rest of the page is given over to a carol entitled: “We Wish You a Merry Cranberry and a Lemon-Lime New Year. Lime tidings we bring, of Lemon we sing. Good tidings of Cranberry and a Lemon-Lime New Year.”
You’ve guessed it; the infant Jesus has been replaced with a small red berry!
There are also signs that the Christmas midnight Mass could one day be a fond memory. Midnight Masses are still treasured celebrations in Catholic parish and at Our Lady of Grace. In many places they are celebrated at 7:00pm so that younger children can participate. But recently a few parishes, with the best intentions and in the hope of attracting more families, have scheduled the Midnight Mass in the late afternoon – often around 4:00pm on Christmas, as do we. “It’s fantastic” claim many, “we can now relax on Christmas and enjoy opening our gifts.”
What’s a believer to do? I wouldn’t venture an answer since I don’t have children nor do I need to entertain a house full of family. It gets increasingly difficult to keep our focus on the reason for the season. But focus we must and keeping Advent can help.
Happy 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
Now I’ve seen it all. The marketing campaigns seem to get crazier each year. Try this one on for size.
This year you can see in magazines an ad for Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, in which a soda bottle is jauntily decorated with a sprig of holly. The rest of the page is given over to a carol entitled: “We Wish You a Merry Cranberry and a Lemon-Lime New Year. Lime tidings we bring, of Lemon we sing. Good tidings of Cranberry and a Lemon-Lime New Year.”
You’ve guessed it; the infant Jesus has been replaced with a small red berry!
There are also signs that the Christmas midnight Mass could one day be a fond memory. Midnight Masses are still treasured celebrations in Catholic parish and at Our Lady of Grace. In many places they are celebrated at 7:00pm so that younger children can participate. But recently a few parishes, with the best intentions and in the hope of attracting more families, have scheduled the Midnight Mass in the late afternoon – often around 4:00pm on Christmas, as do we. “It’s fantastic” claim many, “we can now relax on Christmas and enjoy opening our gifts.”
What’s a believer to do? I wouldn’t venture an answer since I don’t have children nor do I need to entertain a house full of family. It gets increasingly difficult to keep our focus on the reason for the season. But focus we must and keeping Advent can help.
Happy 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly THIS AND THAT for December 17, 2006: Refelction on These Weeks of Advent; What They Say to Us
This and That:
Reflection on These Weeks of Advent: What They Say to Us
Human beings cannot live without hope.
Unlike the animals, we are blessed – or cursed – with the ability to think about the future and to fear our actions to shaping it. So essential is this to human life, that human beings cannot live without hope, without something to live for, without something to look forward to. To be without hope, to have nothing to live for, is to surrender to death in despair. But we can find all sorts of things to live for and we can hope for almost anything: for some measure of success or security or for the realization of some more or less modest ambition; for our children, that they might be saved from our mistakes and sufferings and find a better life than we have known; for a better world, throwing ourselves into politics or medicine or technology so that future generations might be better off. Not all these forms of hope are selfish; indeed, they have given dignity and purpose to the lives of countless generations.
But one of the reasons why we read the Old Testament during Advent is to learn what to hope for. The people of the Old Testament had the courage to hope for big things: that the desert would be turned into fertile land; that their scattered and divided people would eventually be gathered again; that the blind would see, the deaf hear, the lame walk; that not only their own people, but all the peoples of the earth, would be united in the blessings of everlasting peace. Clearly, their hopes were no different from ours or from any human being’s: lasting peace, tranquil lives, sufficiency of food, and end to suffering, pain and misery.
Thus we hope for the same things as the Old Testament people, for their hopes are not yet realized. But we differ from them in two ways. First, the coming of Jesus in history, as a partial fulfillment of God’s promises, immeasurably confirms and strengthens our hope. Secondly, we differ from the Old Testament people because Jesus has revealed to us that God is not afar off, but is actually already in our midst, hence the importance in the Advent liturgy of the figures of John the Baptist and of Mary. Because they recognized the new situation, they serve as models for the Church in discerning the presence of our Savior in the world.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Reflection on These Weeks of Advent: What They Say to Us
Human beings cannot live without hope.
Unlike the animals, we are blessed – or cursed – with the ability to think about the future and to fear our actions to shaping it. So essential is this to human life, that human beings cannot live without hope, without something to live for, without something to look forward to. To be without hope, to have nothing to live for, is to surrender to death in despair. But we can find all sorts of things to live for and we can hope for almost anything: for some measure of success or security or for the realization of some more or less modest ambition; for our children, that they might be saved from our mistakes and sufferings and find a better life than we have known; for a better world, throwing ourselves into politics or medicine or technology so that future generations might be better off. Not all these forms of hope are selfish; indeed, they have given dignity and purpose to the lives of countless generations.
But one of the reasons why we read the Old Testament during Advent is to learn what to hope for. The people of the Old Testament had the courage to hope for big things: that the desert would be turned into fertile land; that their scattered and divided people would eventually be gathered again; that the blind would see, the deaf hear, the lame walk; that not only their own people, but all the peoples of the earth, would be united in the blessings of everlasting peace. Clearly, their hopes were no different from ours or from any human being’s: lasting peace, tranquil lives, sufficiency of food, and end to suffering, pain and misery.
Thus we hope for the same things as the Old Testament people, for their hopes are not yet realized. But we differ from them in two ways. First, the coming of Jesus in history, as a partial fulfillment of God’s promises, immeasurably confirms and strengthens our hope. Secondly, we differ from the Old Testament people because Jesus has revealed to us that God is not afar off, but is actually already in our midst, hence the importance in the Advent liturgy of the figures of John the Baptist and of Mary. Because they recognized the new situation, they serve as models for the Church in discerning the presence of our Savior in the world.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly HOMILY for December 17, 2006: Do What You Do Only Better
3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 17, 2006
Do What You Do, Only Better
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Experiences with You
This past week, I met with a man who is a former Marine.
He shared his experience in the Vietnam War and how his life has been since then. He has also talked about the anxiety that he and his wife are feeling right at the moment for their son who is now a Marine serving in Iraq.
That conversation last week led me to think of other talks I’ve had.
I recall sessions I have had with groups of parents, both here and in my former parishes.
These meetings are usually parent preparation sessions for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, or Confirmation of their children.
What I remember almost always about these sessions is looking out and seeing how stressed and tired many of you look at those gatherings.
“What Should We Do?”
So, this past Tuesday morning, as I was focusing on these two experiences – the Marine and parent meetings – I started connecting them with today’s Gospel passage.
John the Baptist has been telling the people to prepare for the coming of the Savior. And the people begin asking him: “What should we do?”
To the crowds or people in general, John simply answers: “If you have enough clothing and food, share something with those who do not have enough.”
To the tax collectors, John simply answers: “Be honest and don’t collect any more tax than you should.”
And when some soldiers ask, “What should we do?” John answers: “Be respectful of people and don’t bully them.”
Now, notice the consistency in John’s answers. He doesn’t ask any of the groups to do anything outrageous, like giving away their life savings or quitting their jobs.
He simply asks them to do well what they are already doing – and to do it ethically, morally, and with care and respect for other people.
And the bottom line for John is that in doing well what we already do, we prepare for the coming of Jesus into our lives. It’s a simple though profound insight.
The Baptist and I
I can readily identify with what John the Baptist says to the different groups of people.
John is (1) Taking people where they are, that is, where they are in their stations of life with their beliefs and their responsibilities. And in that acceptance of where they are, (2) He is assuming their basic goodness and sincerity.
And my point today is that this is what I believe our approach as a Church, as priests, or as the faithful should be. It is the approach or attitude I feel when I meet with individuals or groups like the Marine or parents at Sacramental Preparation sessions.
Conversely, I believe it is inappropriate for us as a Church, as priests, or as individual Catholics to beat up on one another – and we do, do that!
To site one concrete example that touches us all, it is inappropriate for us to put others down because we see them as not conforming 100% to what we see as the teachings of the Church or the way of the Gospel.
In our Catholic Church today, there are some who use the term “Cafeteria Catholics” to describe other Catholics whom they see as not agreeing with or living out everything that the Church teaches.
This term is, in effect, a put-down and I believe it is a very inappropriate expression.
The truth is that all of us have some question or doubt or disagreement or inconsistency in our faith life. So, let’s just accept that as where that person is coming from and follow the respectful approach of John the Baptist today and respecting them in that very place.
We need to understand that all of us – myself included – are on a faith journey doing our best or at times muddling through to follow the way of the Lord.
In our best moments we hope – again, myself included – that we offer something to help one another grow a bit in our faith as parents, spouses, children, teens, friends, employers, citizens, etc.
And that’s exactly the kind of counsel that John the Baptist offers us today. But always, we do this with a basic respect for one another.
Never should we put one another down. Never should we use terms that stereotype others and in effect make them less than us, terms like “Cafeteria Catholics.”
Conclusion
I am struck by John’s approach today as a response to folks asking “What shall we do to prepare for the coming of Christ into our lives?”
And his response is: (1) Taking people where they are and (2) Standing on a position of respect and openness toward them.
It’s interesting that in doing so, you, like John, not only help bring that person to faith, but you also prepare for the coming of Jesus more deeply into your own life and in the life of this parish community.
Our Lady of Grace
December 17, 2006
Do What You Do, Only Better
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Experiences with You
This past week, I met with a man who is a former Marine.
He shared his experience in the Vietnam War and how his life has been since then. He has also talked about the anxiety that he and his wife are feeling right at the moment for their son who is now a Marine serving in Iraq.
That conversation last week led me to think of other talks I’ve had.
I recall sessions I have had with groups of parents, both here and in my former parishes.
These meetings are usually parent preparation sessions for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, or Confirmation of their children.
What I remember almost always about these sessions is looking out and seeing how stressed and tired many of you look at those gatherings.
“What Should We Do?”
So, this past Tuesday morning, as I was focusing on these two experiences – the Marine and parent meetings – I started connecting them with today’s Gospel passage.
John the Baptist has been telling the people to prepare for the coming of the Savior. And the people begin asking him: “What should we do?”
To the crowds or people in general, John simply answers: “If you have enough clothing and food, share something with those who do not have enough.”
To the tax collectors, John simply answers: “Be honest and don’t collect any more tax than you should.”
And when some soldiers ask, “What should we do?” John answers: “Be respectful of people and don’t bully them.”
Now, notice the consistency in John’s answers. He doesn’t ask any of the groups to do anything outrageous, like giving away their life savings or quitting their jobs.
He simply asks them to do well what they are already doing – and to do it ethically, morally, and with care and respect for other people.
And the bottom line for John is that in doing well what we already do, we prepare for the coming of Jesus into our lives. It’s a simple though profound insight.
The Baptist and I
I can readily identify with what John the Baptist says to the different groups of people.
John is (1) Taking people where they are, that is, where they are in their stations of life with their beliefs and their responsibilities. And in that acceptance of where they are, (2) He is assuming their basic goodness and sincerity.
And my point today is that this is what I believe our approach as a Church, as priests, or as the faithful should be. It is the approach or attitude I feel when I meet with individuals or groups like the Marine or parents at Sacramental Preparation sessions.
Conversely, I believe it is inappropriate for us as a Church, as priests, or as individual Catholics to beat up on one another – and we do, do that!
To site one concrete example that touches us all, it is inappropriate for us to put others down because we see them as not conforming 100% to what we see as the teachings of the Church or the way of the Gospel.
In our Catholic Church today, there are some who use the term “Cafeteria Catholics” to describe other Catholics whom they see as not agreeing with or living out everything that the Church teaches.
This term is, in effect, a put-down and I believe it is a very inappropriate expression.
The truth is that all of us have some question or doubt or disagreement or inconsistency in our faith life. So, let’s just accept that as where that person is coming from and follow the respectful approach of John the Baptist today and respecting them in that very place.
We need to understand that all of us – myself included – are on a faith journey doing our best or at times muddling through to follow the way of the Lord.
In our best moments we hope – again, myself included – that we offer something to help one another grow a bit in our faith as parents, spouses, children, teens, friends, employers, citizens, etc.
And that’s exactly the kind of counsel that John the Baptist offers us today. But always, we do this with a basic respect for one another.
Never should we put one another down. Never should we use terms that stereotype others and in effect make them less than us, terms like “Cafeteria Catholics.”
Conclusion
I am struck by John’s approach today as a response to folks asking “What shall we do to prepare for the coming of Christ into our lives?”
And his response is: (1) Taking people where they are and (2) Standing on a position of respect and openness toward them.
It’s interesting that in doing so, you, like John, not only help bring that person to faith, but you also prepare for the coming of Jesus more deeply into your own life and in the life of this parish community.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Weekly MESSAGE for December 10, 2006: Sunday Mass in the Life of the Believer
December 10, 2006
Dear Friend,
Did you know that Vatican officials have study days? On a recent one organized for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, on the occasion of the anniversary of the promulgation of a Vatican Constitution, the Pope sent the prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Francis Arinze, a message about the importance of Sunday worship.
The topic of the Study Day was, “Sunday Mass for the Sanctification of the Christian People” and Pope Benedict XVI in his message stated that it is urgent to emphasize “the sacredness of the Lord’s Day and the need to participate in Sunday Mass.”
The Pope stressed that, for the early Christians, participation in Sunday Mass “was the natural way to express their belonging to Christ, their communion with his Mystical Body, in the joyful hope of his glorious return.” This was manifested in a heroic way in the case of the martyrs of Abitene, who faced death exclaiming: “We cannot live without gathering on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist,” Benedict XVI said.
With Mass attendance numbers way down, it seems necessary to emphasize the sacredness of the Lord’s Day, inasmuch as the culture in which we live is often characterized by religious indifference and secularism. May the Lord’s Day regain its importance and be lived fully in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Dear Friend,
Did you know that Vatican officials have study days? On a recent one organized for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, on the occasion of the anniversary of the promulgation of a Vatican Constitution, the Pope sent the prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Francis Arinze, a message about the importance of Sunday worship.
The topic of the Study Day was, “Sunday Mass for the Sanctification of the Christian People” and Pope Benedict XVI in his message stated that it is urgent to emphasize “the sacredness of the Lord’s Day and the need to participate in Sunday Mass.”
The Pope stressed that, for the early Christians, participation in Sunday Mass “was the natural way to express their belonging to Christ, their communion with his Mystical Body, in the joyful hope of his glorious return.” This was manifested in a heroic way in the case of the martyrs of Abitene, who faced death exclaiming: “We cannot live without gathering on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist,” Benedict XVI said.
With Mass attendance numbers way down, it seems necessary to emphasize the sacredness of the Lord’s Day, inasmuch as the culture in which we live is often characterized by religious indifference and secularism. May the Lord’s Day regain its importance and be lived fully in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Weekly MESSAGE for December 10, 2006: A Season of Hope in a Culture of Death
This and That:
A Season of Hope in a Culture of Death
Donald DeMarco, a philosophy professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary (my old Alma Mater) has investigated the dysfunctional theories and lasting legacies that are so prevalent in our culture today in his new book “Architects of the Culture of Death.” He recently shared how facing the real challenges in life, and not following the path of least resistance, is the way to live authentically and combat the culture of death. The Advent Season is a time of great hope and the Culture of Life.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Q: Some tend to blame the 1960s for all of the current troubles in society. In hindsight, did the ‘60s reflect the culmination of a logical train of events and ideas?
DeMarco: The ‘60s represented, among other things, a sexual revolution in the sense of separating sex from responsibility; this may more properly be viewed as a devolution. It also represented a rejection of authority, including a rejection of fatherhood – the cultural notion as well as the religious notion of fatherhood. The views of Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm Reich, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are very much in evidence during this period. It was also a period during which many religiously minded people were trying to create a synthesis between Christian and Marxist thought. It was believed, by some, that Christianity had the love while Marxism had the structure for social change. Christianity and Marxism, however, are really disjunctive belief systems and cannot be reconciled with each other. Indeed, the ‘60s was a tumultuous period and represented the convergence of the thought of a number of the “architects” we have treated. But it did not provide the genesis of the problem. Rather, it was the fruition, if one can use that term, of the problem. There are roots that go back to the Great Wars and even to the Enlightenment period – when man [sic] began to think that he could live very well without God or religion. Albert Camus’ phrase continues to haunt the modern world and man’s pretense to self-sufficiency: “Why did the Enlightenment lead to the blackout?”
Q: How is it that the “architects of the culture of death” continue to enjoy a high level of respect in the popular culture?
DeMarco: I believe the essential appeal that our 23 architects have – and it is an appeal that was operative right from the beginning – is that they offer the world the promise of an easier life. The path of least resistance, or the short cut, has always had great appeal. The modern world would love to separate death from life and enjoy life without death. This is the promise of the false Messiahs, whose message is more religious than most people seem to realize. Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud and others have an Old Testamentary kind of righteous anger. They are surely moralists. And they propose to bring about a better world than the one we have grown weary of. Ortega y Gasset wrote a wonderfully prescient work in 1931 called “The Revolt of the Masses.” One of my favorite phrases from that work, which contains no end of memorable phrases, is “the sovereignty of the unqualified.” Ortega was pointing out that the social pyramid was being inverted – that the qualified people were deposed to the bottom, while the unqualified masses had ascended to the top and assumed control of culture. We now live in a mass culture with mass taste, mass standards and standardized mass living. Philosophy and religion are regarded with deep suspicion. Wisdom is assumed to be either non-existent or unattainable. Media entertainment is just that – a distraction from reality, but hardly ever enlightening. Ours is a very superficial culture and we are in love with the unholy triad of immediacy, expediency and simplicity. We allow ourselves to be influenced by the kind of incomplete, poorly thought out philosophies that we find among the architects of death. It is easy for anyone to float downstream – even a dead man can do that. But to swim against the current, to discover our authentic identity as loving human beings, takes effort, courage and virtue in many forms. The media continue to lull us to sleep, dangling before our eyes the enticements of early retirement, financial independence, a reduced workweek, exotic vacation packages, material ease and a thousand other forms of somnolence that represent the comfort of death more than the energy of life. And so, we are easily exploited by bad philosophies.
Q: If the culture of death rests on a fragmented view of the person and the eclipse of God, as you note, what does the culture of life rest on? What hope is there for the future?
DeMarco: The obvious answer is that the culture of life rests on its citizens being unified persons and establishing authentic relationships with God and neighbor. The answer is obvious enough, but the implementation or the bringing it about is quite something else. We need inspiration to accept the real challenges of life. Difficulty ought not be daunting. The English poet John Keats is truly a heroic figure. In a letter to his siblings back home in British Isles, he explained how we need difficulties in order to rise to the task and find out who we really are. “Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is,” he wrote, “to school an intelligence and make it a soul? As various as the lives of men are – so various become their souls, and thus God makes individual beings.” Keats was living in exile in Rome and dying at age 23 of tuberculosis. Despite his early death, he left for posterity some remarkable and insightful and beautiful poetry. We must pay more attention to people like Keats and less to the Howard Sterns of the world. If there is one thing I would like readers to take from our book it is the primary significance of anthropological realism. All this means is that we must understand realistically, without tempting illusions, what it means to be a human being and then find the courage to live in the light of that understanding, which is to live authentically. What is a human being? He is a person who is simultaneously a unique individual and a communal being with loving responsibilities toward his neighbors. In this dynamic tension between the poles of individuality and communality emerges a real person who can form good marriages and assist in providing the basis for a better society. When Fyodor Dostoevsky submitted his great novel, “Crime and Punishment,” he appended the following note: “This is the story of a university student whose mind is infected with incomplete ideas that float on the wind.” The culture of life is based on complete ideas of the human person. John Paul II’s personalism is a good place to begin if we want a better understanding of what it means to be a human person. And as challenging as it may be to live as a complete human being, this challenge is necessary if we are to avoid the enticements of the culture of death and live in accordance with the principles of the culture of life.
A Season of Hope in a Culture of Death
Donald DeMarco, a philosophy professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary (my old Alma Mater) has investigated the dysfunctional theories and lasting legacies that are so prevalent in our culture today in his new book “Architects of the Culture of Death.” He recently shared how facing the real challenges in life, and not following the path of least resistance, is the way to live authentically and combat the culture of death. The Advent Season is a time of great hope and the Culture of Life.
Fondly,
Father Nick Amato
Q: Some tend to blame the 1960s for all of the current troubles in society. In hindsight, did the ‘60s reflect the culmination of a logical train of events and ideas?
DeMarco: The ‘60s represented, among other things, a sexual revolution in the sense of separating sex from responsibility; this may more properly be viewed as a devolution. It also represented a rejection of authority, including a rejection of fatherhood – the cultural notion as well as the religious notion of fatherhood. The views of Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm Reich, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are very much in evidence during this period. It was also a period during which many religiously minded people were trying to create a synthesis between Christian and Marxist thought. It was believed, by some, that Christianity had the love while Marxism had the structure for social change. Christianity and Marxism, however, are really disjunctive belief systems and cannot be reconciled with each other. Indeed, the ‘60s was a tumultuous period and represented the convergence of the thought of a number of the “architects” we have treated. But it did not provide the genesis of the problem. Rather, it was the fruition, if one can use that term, of the problem. There are roots that go back to the Great Wars and even to the Enlightenment period – when man [sic] began to think that he could live very well without God or religion. Albert Camus’ phrase continues to haunt the modern world and man’s pretense to self-sufficiency: “Why did the Enlightenment lead to the blackout?”
Q: How is it that the “architects of the culture of death” continue to enjoy a high level of respect in the popular culture?
DeMarco: I believe the essential appeal that our 23 architects have – and it is an appeal that was operative right from the beginning – is that they offer the world the promise of an easier life. The path of least resistance, or the short cut, has always had great appeal. The modern world would love to separate death from life and enjoy life without death. This is the promise of the false Messiahs, whose message is more religious than most people seem to realize. Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud and others have an Old Testamentary kind of righteous anger. They are surely moralists. And they propose to bring about a better world than the one we have grown weary of. Ortega y Gasset wrote a wonderfully prescient work in 1931 called “The Revolt of the Masses.” One of my favorite phrases from that work, which contains no end of memorable phrases, is “the sovereignty of the unqualified.” Ortega was pointing out that the social pyramid was being inverted – that the qualified people were deposed to the bottom, while the unqualified masses had ascended to the top and assumed control of culture. We now live in a mass culture with mass taste, mass standards and standardized mass living. Philosophy and religion are regarded with deep suspicion. Wisdom is assumed to be either non-existent or unattainable. Media entertainment is just that – a distraction from reality, but hardly ever enlightening. Ours is a very superficial culture and we are in love with the unholy triad of immediacy, expediency and simplicity. We allow ourselves to be influenced by the kind of incomplete, poorly thought out philosophies that we find among the architects of death. It is easy for anyone to float downstream – even a dead man can do that. But to swim against the current, to discover our authentic identity as loving human beings, takes effort, courage and virtue in many forms. The media continue to lull us to sleep, dangling before our eyes the enticements of early retirement, financial independence, a reduced workweek, exotic vacation packages, material ease and a thousand other forms of somnolence that represent the comfort of death more than the energy of life. And so, we are easily exploited by bad philosophies.
Q: If the culture of death rests on a fragmented view of the person and the eclipse of God, as you note, what does the culture of life rest on? What hope is there for the future?
DeMarco: The obvious answer is that the culture of life rests on its citizens being unified persons and establishing authentic relationships with God and neighbor. The answer is obvious enough, but the implementation or the bringing it about is quite something else. We need inspiration to accept the real challenges of life. Difficulty ought not be daunting. The English poet John Keats is truly a heroic figure. In a letter to his siblings back home in British Isles, he explained how we need difficulties in order to rise to the task and find out who we really are. “Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is,” he wrote, “to school an intelligence and make it a soul? As various as the lives of men are – so various become their souls, and thus God makes individual beings.” Keats was living in exile in Rome and dying at age 23 of tuberculosis. Despite his early death, he left for posterity some remarkable and insightful and beautiful poetry. We must pay more attention to people like Keats and less to the Howard Sterns of the world. If there is one thing I would like readers to take from our book it is the primary significance of anthropological realism. All this means is that we must understand realistically, without tempting illusions, what it means to be a human being and then find the courage to live in the light of that understanding, which is to live authentically. What is a human being? He is a person who is simultaneously a unique individual and a communal being with loving responsibilities toward his neighbors. In this dynamic tension between the poles of individuality and communality emerges a real person who can form good marriages and assist in providing the basis for a better society. When Fyodor Dostoevsky submitted his great novel, “Crime and Punishment,” he appended the following note: “This is the story of a university student whose mind is infected with incomplete ideas that float on the wind.” The culture of life is based on complete ideas of the human person. John Paul II’s personalism is a good place to begin if we want a better understanding of what it means to be a human person. And as challenging as it may be to live as a complete human being, this challenge is necessary if we are to avoid the enticements of the culture of death and live in accordance with the principles of the culture of life.
Weekly HOMILY for December 10, 2006: Getting Out from Behind a Closed Door
2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 10, 2006
Getting Out from Behind a Closed Door
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s in Germany, there was a famous Lutheran pastor and theologian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Bonhoeffer spoke out strongly against the atrocities of the Nazis. As a result, he was arrested, imprisoned and eventually executed.
Shortly before Christmas in 1943, he wrote a letter from his prison cell. In the letter, he says this.
“Life in a prison cell reminds me a great deal of Advent. One waits and hopes and putters around.
“but in the end, what we do is of little consequence. The door is shut, and it can only be opened from the outside.”
Justice with God
Bonhoeffer gives a wonderful insight into the human condition before the coming of Jesus.
In a sense, we human being were imprisoned in our own humanity. The door was shut and it could only be opened from the outside.
And that is precisely what Jesus did; he opened the door from the outside. Many of our Advent Scripture readings describe what Jesus was going to do in terms of justice.
They speak of Jesus as “The Lord of justice.” Here we are not talking about the kind of justice that a law court or the sheriff’s office can give.
Instead, the Scriptures are saying that the Savior will bring about a just or right relationship between God and humanity. Through this Savior, through Jesus, no longer are we frustrated in our search for meaning and purpose in life.
No longer are we unfulfilled in our desire for life, even life beyond death. Jesus has opened the door for us and forged a lasting communion between God and us.
He has fulfilled the deepest yearnings of the human heart. That is the justice, the just or right relationship that the Advent Scriptures foretell.
Justice on Earth
Now, there is also a second dimension to the justice of the Advent Season.
St. Peter, in today’s second reading, says: “We await new heavens and a new earth where the justice of God will reside.” The idea is that we need to do what we can to establish a just or right relationship between ourselves and all other persons on this earth.
Isaish in the first reading and John the Baptist in the Gospel use some images to describe this effort – filling in valleys and leveling mountains and making a straight road for our God and Savior. These images help to pinpoint the work of justice that we are to do.
For example, we are to fill in the valleys created by hunger and discrimination. Sharing food and other necessities with the needy and checking our attitudes or words of prejudice toward minorities – these efforts will help those in the valleys of life to rise to a more just and human standard.
Then, we are to level the mountains created by consumerism and waste. Trying to live more simply, giving away clothing that we have not used in the past year, recycling paper and glass and whatever we can, not wasting food and electricity and water – these are simple ways of lowering the mountains of waste and maybe allocating more to those who do not have the basics.
And finally, we are to straighten the roads that have been made crooked by misplaced values. Perhaps figuring out a way of putting more resources into our schools and the teachers who educate our children especially in a day when millions go to athletes and entertainers – I suggest this as one way of straightening out some of the winding and twisted roads of our society.
Conclusion
So, Jesus’ coming to this earth fulfilled our deepest dreams and brought us a just and right relationship with God.
We now need to extend among all peoples the justice that the Lord brought. That work of justice is our best way to prepare for the Lord’s Second Coming on earth.
Our Lady of Grace
December 10, 2006
Getting Out from Behind a Closed Door
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s in Germany, there was a famous Lutheran pastor and theologian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Bonhoeffer spoke out strongly against the atrocities of the Nazis. As a result, he was arrested, imprisoned and eventually executed.
Shortly before Christmas in 1943, he wrote a letter from his prison cell. In the letter, he says this.
“Life in a prison cell reminds me a great deal of Advent. One waits and hopes and putters around.
“but in the end, what we do is of little consequence. The door is shut, and it can only be opened from the outside.”
Justice with God
Bonhoeffer gives a wonderful insight into the human condition before the coming of Jesus.
In a sense, we human being were imprisoned in our own humanity. The door was shut and it could only be opened from the outside.
And that is precisely what Jesus did; he opened the door from the outside. Many of our Advent Scripture readings describe what Jesus was going to do in terms of justice.
They speak of Jesus as “The Lord of justice.” Here we are not talking about the kind of justice that a law court or the sheriff’s office can give.
Instead, the Scriptures are saying that the Savior will bring about a just or right relationship between God and humanity. Through this Savior, through Jesus, no longer are we frustrated in our search for meaning and purpose in life.
No longer are we unfulfilled in our desire for life, even life beyond death. Jesus has opened the door for us and forged a lasting communion between God and us.
He has fulfilled the deepest yearnings of the human heart. That is the justice, the just or right relationship that the Advent Scriptures foretell.
Justice on Earth
Now, there is also a second dimension to the justice of the Advent Season.
St. Peter, in today’s second reading, says: “We await new heavens and a new earth where the justice of God will reside.” The idea is that we need to do what we can to establish a just or right relationship between ourselves and all other persons on this earth.
Isaish in the first reading and John the Baptist in the Gospel use some images to describe this effort – filling in valleys and leveling mountains and making a straight road for our God and Savior. These images help to pinpoint the work of justice that we are to do.
For example, we are to fill in the valleys created by hunger and discrimination. Sharing food and other necessities with the needy and checking our attitudes or words of prejudice toward minorities – these efforts will help those in the valleys of life to rise to a more just and human standard.
Then, we are to level the mountains created by consumerism and waste. Trying to live more simply, giving away clothing that we have not used in the past year, recycling paper and glass and whatever we can, not wasting food and electricity and water – these are simple ways of lowering the mountains of waste and maybe allocating more to those who do not have the basics.
And finally, we are to straighten the roads that have been made crooked by misplaced values. Perhaps figuring out a way of putting more resources into our schools and the teachers who educate our children especially in a day when millions go to athletes and entertainers – I suggest this as one way of straightening out some of the winding and twisted roads of our society.
Conclusion
So, Jesus’ coming to this earth fulfilled our deepest dreams and brought us a just and right relationship with God.
We now need to extend among all peoples the justice that the Lord brought. That work of justice is our best way to prepare for the Lord’s Second Coming on earth.
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