We Are God's Delight

Deacon Tom writes on….

“We Are God’s Delight”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year C

The reading from the Book of Proverbs calls to our imagination that moment in time when God, the master craftsman, is busy laying “the foundations of the earth”. Witnessing this extra-ordinary event is this mysterious figure, “The Wisdom of God”. God’s Wisdom is personified, given a physical reality, in order to be by God’s side as his craftsman to assist him in bringing forth creation. God’s Wisdom is euphoric at what is happening, “being God’s delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; finding delight in the human race”. The Wisdom of God is such a cooperative, willing, and light-hearted assistant, and one so eager to find delight in God’s masterpiece of creation, the human race.

Our readings today give us insight into the Holy Trinity whose feast we celebrate today. We recognize God, as the Creator, calling into existence our physical universe. And we can surmise that the Wisdom of God, who is also present and is also known as God’s delight, is the Holy Spirit, that “mighty wind” who swept over the waters of creation in Genesis. In the Gospel, Jesus is completing his mission on earth and, as he prepares to depart, tells the disciples they will be guided by the Spirit of Truth, another name, perhaps, for the Wisdom of God.

The Trinity will always be a mystery for us, in this life and the next. We know that we will never be able to comprehend God’s nature completely. But we do share in it by virtue of our participation in the sacramental life of the Church. There we encounter Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who delight in our human family.  

The celebration of Trinity Sunday is a sign that our Easter Season is behind us. We have reentered Ordinary Time trusting in the Holy Spirit whose work it is to help us recall the depth of God’s love for us. A complete giving of self in Jesus the Christ through whom we have come to know that we too are God’s delight.  

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

tjc_Weeki Wachee Sunset

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Lord, Send out your Spirit,

and renew the face of the earth”

Pentecost Sunday, Mass during the Day,  Year C

On this Feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of our church. On this special day we pray to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, for whose help we are most in need. We pray for the Spirit of God to come into our lives and revive our hearts so we may know God’s presence at work within us and in our world, renewing us and filling us with his love.

This Pentecost we pray that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will awaken in us a desire to know God and to do his Will. Yet, we really don’t need to ask for this gift…. Jesus told us that he would send…“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name -- will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you” JN 14:26. Our need is to be open to receive this Spirit of God deep within the fiber of our being. We need the Holy Spirit so that we can meet the demands of Christian discipleship … that is to grow daily in the knowledge and love of God and in service to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who breathes into us the knowledge of God’s love so that we, in turn, can love and engender love in others as Jesus taught us. For indeed…“we have been given the manifestation of the spirit for some benefit”…. and that benefit is to realize God’s abundant love not only in ourselves, but in others also giving them the opportunity to discover God’s love for themselves.

Jesus sent his disciples into this world that hungered for the love, peace and rest from the toils and anxieties of life. And we still do! Can there really be any question about that as we witness the horrific suffering in our world, the political divisiveness, the economic disparity, and the hopelessness engendered by the degradation of the human spirit? We are in desperate need of the gifts of the Holy Spirit...wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord so that we can live together and realize our full potential as children of God. These gifts of the Spirit transform our lives and conform us so that we become Christ-like in every way. Too difficult?  Yes, for us left to ourselves, but not for Christ to accomplish in us. That is the transformative power of Holy Spirit this Pentecost for all who strive to be disciples of Christ today. As Christ sent his first disciples into the world to dispel the darkness and give it hope, he now sends us into the world so we can continue to be people of hope…. who forgive and love one another, who act justly and work for a justice in this world, who look forward to the fullness of God’s reign.  We, like those who have gone before us, have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and, so empowered, are sent into the world to be witnesses of God’s love and to cooperated with his own Spirit so that together we can renew the face of the earth.

Enjoy the day

Deacon Tom

Become What You Receive

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Deacon Tom Writes ©

“Become What You Receive”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B

(Corpus Christi)

“Behold what you are, become what you receive!”  These words of wisdom from St. Augustine are intended to help us thoughtfully receive Holy Eucharist.  They have been used to help us understand this central mystery of our faith from as far back as the middle of the fourth century. It is a daunting command. It causes us to think about the Sacrament we are receiving.  “Become Christ-like!”   Isn’t that what being a disciple of Christ is all about? 

Our Catholic Faith puts the Eucharist at the center of our faith. It is, according to our teaching, “the source and summit of our faith”.  This is made evident in the Feast we celebrate today, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also referred to as The Feast of Corpus Christi.

We are a sacramental people. Our spiritual well-being depends upon our participation in the sacramental life of the church and the grace that is derived from those sacraments. The image of Jesus gathering his disciples into a table fellowship is pure genius. We come to the table when we are hungry, when we need to be nourished. This is the reality of our human existence. Jesus takes the ordinary and gives it an extraordinary meaning by calling us to the table to be spiritually nourished, to have our spiritual hunger satisfied and to be united to him in a communion of hearts and desires….

Our unique Catholic understanding of the Eucharist is that it is in essence the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. When we receive Holy Communion, we truly become one with Christ. It is a very special moment, a time for us to reflect on Christ dwelling within us, for us to be in awe that the maker of heaven and earth would come and abide in us.  Even more amazing is the fact that this is his plan, not ours!

Yes, “we are what we eat,” nutritionist tells us. The challenge we face as Catholics is to follow the instructions of St. Augustine and to “behold what we are and to become what we receive”, members of the one body of Christ who has become for us our spiritual food, the Bread of Life.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Fruit of the Vine

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Deacon Tom writes ©

Fruit of the Vine

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B

In the gospel we hear the story of the “Vine and the Branches” that, not surprisingly, contains a message quite suited for us today. That message is this: if we live our lives trying to discern God’s Will for us and see ourselves connected with and dependent upon one another, a life of simple abundance awaits us. Not an abundance of the material “stuff” this age of consumerism has spawned upon us, but rather, an abundance of those things that matter most for our overall “well-being”, both spiritual and emotional.

We begin our journey to pursue the rich abundance the gospel speaks of in earnest when we realize that it is lacking in our lives. Simple abundance is a matter of choosing to live well-balanced lives that contribute and enhance the “well-being” of others.  It is what Jesus taught his disciples to do when he said they must put others first and be the servants of all. This is the hardest challenge Christians face and, make no mistake about it, it is in actuality a… “dying to self”. 

For most of us this doesn’t describe the current state of our spiritual journey. John’s gospel today reminds us that God calls us to “bear much fruit”, but we settle for so much less. Think about it!!!  Would our God, who through Christ promised to raise us from the dead and share eternal life with us not also want us to experience some simple joy and happiness during this life that has more than its share of sadness and sorrows?  I am sure that God wants us to have these good things and more, but we often settle for the glitter and trinkets, far lesser “stuff”.

God has truly set a banquet before us. It starts in this life and comes to completion, perfection in the next. We know that we can do nothing without him, nor should we want to. For God desires to be a part of our life’s journey so he can fill us with his joy and peace, fruits that matter.   And, he waits for us until that day comes when he, the harvest master, gathers to himself the rich harvest of the fruit of our lives.

I know that to be true for my sister Kathleen, who passed away this Thursday, the eve of the Feast day of St. Joseph. The fruit of her life has now all been harvested. For all the good she has done in bringing comfort, healing, and peace to so many others during her life, she has made this world a better place. We will struggle to go on without her. Well done, good and faithful servant…!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom 

Time Out

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Deacon Tom writes ©

“Time-Out”

Third Sunday of Lent, Year B

Many motivational speakers direct their marketing efforts so they appeal to our lack of success, our poor self-image and low self-esteem. They claim to have the know how to help us be successful in life or how to achieve our highest aspirations. Some will attribute their success to the lessons they learned from sacred scripture. It’s not exactly “breaking news” that the bible provides critical insight into our own human nature, that is, if we take the time to look. Yes, the bible gives us valuable insight on how all of us can find the road to success.

Today Moses reveals God’s instructions for our well-being and happiness, key ingredients for a successful life. He does this with amazing efficiency, identifying ten key ingredients on how to treat God and neighbor that if we get right, we are pretty much guaranteed to be rolling along on the road to success. There doesn’t seem to be any real big show stoppers here, really…love God and your parents, don’t sell your soul to any idol, control your language, no adultery, don’t kill or steal or be desirous of you neighbor or his wife or their possessions. Oh, and one more little nugget of advice:  come, set some quiet time and rest with me once a week says the Lord.

God’s tenderness and love for us is revealed in this commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. God is concerned about our well-being. He rested after six days of creation and he invites us to do the same, put ourselves in “Time Out” so to speak.  The Third Commandment is God inviting us into his Rest, where he speaks to us, comforts us from the worries and anxieties we have suffered during the week. Resting in God is where our energy to do anything good or even have the idea to do anything good comes from; it is where our vision of the good is restored, so we can see God at work in our world and in our lives, or where he is absent, and not fall victim to the naysayers or become the voice of cynicism; it is where we come to know and experience God’s love for us; it is where we come to know God’s Divine Will for us. Resting in God is what the Sabbath Day envisioned. If we use this day as God intended, we will embrace the other commandments as well, each in their own way helping us along the road to success, which for us is loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves. So, give yourself a break and take this Sunday off, and Rest in God.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom 

Rejoice

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Deacon Tom writes ©

"Rejoice"

Third Sunday of Advent, Year B

Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee quoting the words of the Prophet Isaiah that we hear today on this Third Sunday of Advent (remember Gaudete Sunday?).  They are worth reading again:

“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God…” 

(IS 61:1- 2a)

This is the “Good News” that has been celebrated generation after generation since this prophesy was fulfilled by Christ 2000 years ago. Jesus is the one who brings us the good news that our captivity has come to and end, the good news that lifts our broken spirits pummeled by sickness, sin, and death. Jesus is the one who frees us from everything that imprisons us or has robbed us of our human dignity; Jesus restores our genuine freedom. Jesus comes to our rescue announcing that God’s favor is upon us. On our part, we wait in hope; we wait patiently for Emmanuel to come into our lives. So we wait… and watch.

Advent is a wonderful time of year. It is a season of hope and anticipation. It is even more so this year as we face so many challenges and difficulties of epic proportions. Our world has grown cold. It is a world very much in need of the “fire of God’s love”.

As we light the rose candle this Third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice in God’s nearness to us. We rejoice because the Light of Christ approaches and the days of darkness are coming to an end. We rejoice because Christ comes to fill us with the fire of His love. We rejoice because our time of deliverance is at hand. We rejoice because Our Savior comes to do what the world cannot do – give us the joy and happiness that can only come from Him; joy and happiness to be shared with one another; joy and happiness that will last forever.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom  

The Road to Recovery

Deacon Tom writes ©

"The Road to Recovery"

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Today’s reading from the Book of Exodus challenges us to reflect on our own deeply personal family experiences and learn from them. In that reading, God cautioned the Jewish people to remember what it was like when they were foreigners and living in a society where they were strangers, unwelcome, exploited, and abused. God wanted them to remember their past and how they were mistreated, so that once they had power and influence, once they were restored and came into their own, they would not victimize and abuse others who were weak and powerless and who lived among them. What a timely message for us today with the diversity of opinions on how to resolve the illegal immigration problem or how best to improve the quality of life for those living on the margins of society.

No matter what difficulties we face, individually or as a society, Jesus’ centermost teaching contained in today’s gospel provides the solution. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…AND, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

We can reasonably disagree as to the right course of action in providing a solution to the problem of illegal immigration or how we are to care for our less fortunate neighbors living among us but rest assure, the name calling, the violence, and other visible signs of our anger show how little regard we have for these two “greatest” commandments of God. If this problem is to be solved, it must be done in ways that reflect the inherent dignity of the human person. This is the basis for all the social justice teachings of our uniquely Catholic church. Indeed, the social justice teachings of our church are a distinguishing characteristic of our Catholic faith. They have their roots in the Mosaic Law that go all the way back to the Book of Deuteronomy that Christ cites for us today in the gospel.

We will not find permanent solutions to the problems we face or that plague our country and our world: war, hunger, disease, violence, poverty, greed, corruption, drug and alcohol addiction, other forms of escapism, yes, these so called social sins, until we begin to recognize the root cause of these horrific conditions…the lack of justice. Without justice, there is no peace, no prosperity, and no respect for one another. Jesus gave us the cure. It was the same cure given to and ignored by our ancestors. Perhaps it is time to consider the medicine - loving God and loving each other. Or, we can continue our journey along the same path and, in our collective delusion, believe that we are indeed on the road to recovery, until the next crisis brings us to our knees.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom 

Go into the Vineyard

                                      

                                                              

 Deacon Tom writes ©

"Go into the Vineyard"

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Rachel and I had an exciting weekend (that’s why I am late in getting this out – Mea culpa!).  We were in Chicago with deacons from across the country that are sharing in Maryknoll’s mission work in various ways.  As we gathered, we reflected on the words of Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium, the Joy of the Gospel”. Pope Francis writes “The Church which “goes forth” is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, He has loved us first (cf 1 Jn 4:19), and therefore we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast!”  What a beautiful image for our Church. Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus gave us an image of how this community of disciples should be modeled when He washed the feet of His disciples. We are a community of disciples in service to others.

In our readings today, a father tells each of his two sons to “go work in the vineyard today.”  One says, “Yes” but does not go; the other says “No” but goes. Beyond the routine homily that is common for this reading, there is another fact. That is, both are sent into the field. Our faith, like the sons sent to work in the vineyard, has this notion of being “sent” and Pope Francis is making this point in Evangelii Gaudium. We are all active players in the work of spreading the Joy of the Gospel. There are no passive players, no benchwarmers. Spreading the gospel, being missionaries, and evangelizing – being joyful transmitters of the faith that we believe - is a requirement imposed upon us by our baptism.

Many Catholics resist this notion of being “missionaries” or of being “sent” to engage in “missionary activity.” That is primarily because so many of us have a limited understanding of the word “mission”.  We associate it with going to the far reaches of the earth to preach the faith. True, many have done this – vis-a-vie the Maryknoll Fathers over the past century. But in many ways their experience has led to a better understanding about the nature of mission work… You don’t have to leave you home… Any work that you do to “gossip the gospel” that is, to tell others how the gospel is alive and working in your life, is missionary work. Any effort we do to help a neighbor because of our willingness to be a “servant” as demonstrated by Christ, is missionary work. Any sacrifice we make for others because of our love of God is a sacrifice that makes us a “missionary”.

What we know about mission from the profound writings of recent popes is that the Church doesn’t have a mission; rather, the mission has a Church… So, when Jesus tells his disciples, “Go, make disciples of all nations”, that’s what we are to do… How are we to do that?  As a community of missionary disciples sent out by our Church to whom that mission has been entrusted.

I hope to continue reflecting on this challenging work of Pope Francis.  Please let me know your thoughts.

Enjoy the day and may God bless the work of your hands….

Deacon Tom