There has been a funny message circulating social media the last few weeks. It says, “after I die and they bury me, I want someone to send a text from my phone that says, THANKS FOR COMING!” I don’t know about you but that would be pretty shocking, even for just a moment. Saying thank you is something we are so accustomed to doing. Thank you for holding the door, a blessing after a sneeze, a great meal, fantastic gift, or just being nice. The list can go on and on. In many cases we go about our day to day activities, saying it maybe 100 times. Whatever we are thankful for, in most cases we really mean it from the bottom of our hearts. Have you heard the story about the elderly woman who lived in a small town in East Texas... who had car trouble on the way to the supermarket one morning? Her car stalled at a stop sign... she tried everything to get her car started again, but no luck. Suddenly, a man in a pick-up truck came up behind her and with obvious agitation he started honking his horn at her impatiently. She doubled her efforts to get her car going. She pumped the gas, turned the ignition, but still no luck... the man in the pick-up truck continued to honk his horn constantly and loudly. I love what the elderly woman did. Very calmly she got out of her car, walked back to the pick-up and motioned for the man to lower his window and then politely she said: "I'll make a deal with you. If you will start my car for me I'll be happy to honk your horn for you!" Now, that is what you call "Rising to the occasion!" and that is precisely what Jesus today. The lawyer was "testing" Jesus... honking his horn loudly. He was trying to trap Jesus and trip Him up with a loaded question... but Jesus (as He so often did) rose to the occasion and passed the test with flying colors... and in so doing... He reminded the people back then (and us today) of what is the main precept of our faith. Thankfulness, is a great place to start when it comes to love of each other. Jesus text us today, and asks can we love like he loves, can we follow his law and word? Fr. Steve
Roe v. Wade was a landmark legal decision issued on January 22, 1973. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the United States. The court held that a woman's right to an abortion was implicit in the Constitution's right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment. Before Roe v. Wade, abortion had been illegal throughout the country since the late 19th century. Since the 1973 ruling, many states have imposed restrictions on abortion rights. After nearly 50 years, the Supreme Court, the highest law of the land, has struck down the 1973 ruling, sending the issue back to the individual states. It is a landmark decision, but we have a long way to go to ensure every individual's right to life. Marshall Segal, a prolific writer, published an article in, Desiring God. He states, "However an authentically Christian cause for life should begin at conception, celebrate every birth, provide love and care through childhood, and advocate for health, growth, and protection even through death. In other words, we should be pro-life from the womb to the tomb." As we move forward in a post-Roe vs. Wade world, as Christians, it is time to embrace the dignity of all life. As Mr. Segal states, "from womb to tomb." Our freedoms, the inalienable right, were given to all Americans. This Independence Day weekend is an opportunity to draw attention the suffering, dying and discarded human beings. The U.S. Constitution recognized that certain universal rights cannot be taken away by legislation, as they are beyond the control of a government, being naturally given to every individual at birth, and that these rights are retained throughout life. In 2020 the homeless population in the United States was 580,226. Of that number, 106,303 were under eighteen years of age. Our freedoms are as fragile as glass; they can be shattered forever within seconds. Christians, though, know a better Love, a love that knitted us together in our mother's womb, tying the very first knot, and who never leaves or forsake us, even to our dying breath. And because God first loved us from the womb (and long before the womb) to the tomb (and far beyond the tomb), we ought to live to do the same for others, especially those who cannot defend or provide for themselves.
Having some time to travel this past week was something I needed. It was a long drive to North Dakota and back; I enjoy driving and spending time alone. I usually listen to music, podcast, or talk show when I travel, but this time was different. I enjoyed the scenery and quiet time most of the time. My travels took me to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Bismarck, North Dakota, Rapid City, South Dakota, and Yankton, SD. Each stop offered me an opportunity to explore and learn a little more about the western expansion of the United States. My highlight was attending the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Ben Wanner, who served as a transitional deacon at our two parishes for nearly one year. What a joy to be present as Father Ben began his service as a priest. The next day following ordination, I attended his first mass, a memorial experience. My trip concluded with a stop in Yankton, SD, to visit my Cousin, Dolores (Pautler) Feildman, and her husband, Dennis. I had not been to Yankton since I was fourteen, so it was a time to remember. I am a history buff; the visit allowed me to understand more about my family's migration to South Dakota. I am happy to be back home; traveling is terrific but exhausting at the same time. In today's gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He knows that this is the journey that will take him to his suffering and death. He also knew that this was the way that would lead to life, which is why he dares others to follow him. He said to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to be my disciple, he must take up his cross and follow me." There is a cost to discipleship. One must be ready to let go of everything dear to follow the master. His followers are then to abandon any seeming security, to prefer nothing to the work for the life of the kingdom. They are to journey onward with resolution, not looking back at what they have left behind. Do we follow him on our terms? "I will follow you, but first, let me finish what I am doing at the moment." "Lord, I will follow you, but I must take care of my other commitments and personal needs!" "Lord, I want to follow you, but my family needs me now. I'll come as soon as I'm free!" We may feel we have good and valid reasons for not following the Lord now, but nothing is good enough; there is only one way, and we have to choose for or against him.
“St. Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, spent nearly 30 years of his matured life in writing 15 books on the subject of Trinity. His friends waited for the publication for many years, but Augustine was hesitating. One day they surreptitiously took away the manuscripts – without final corrections, and published them without Augustine’s knowledge and permission. Augustine immediately made corrections in the manuscripts he had, and began to publish them. Although he spent several years meditating on the Trinity, he was aware of his shortcomings in treating a topic so sublime. He said, “I pray to our Lord God himself, of whom we aught always to think, and yet of whom we are not able to think worthily, and whom no speech is sufficient to declare, that he will grant me both help for understanding and explaining that which I design, and pardon if in anything I offend.” (John Rose in ‘John’s Sunday Homilies’) "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" That was the thunderous directive declared by the "Wizard of Oz" to Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion. Dorothy's tiny terrier Toto had pulled back the curtain that kept the true identity of "The Wizard" a secret. Instead of being "Oz, the Great and Powerful," the "wizard" was revealed by the pup to be an ordinary man, practicing the art of smoke and mirrors to impress the people with his untrue powers. It is easy to feel the same way about the Holy Trinity. The church is shrouded in mystery! But I beg differr God knew human nature, and the inquisitive mind, he gave us. There is nothing wrong with it, but through the Sacred Mystery we continue to understand the love that God has for us. There is no smoke and mirrors hiding God from our presence. The doctrine of the Trinity defines God as being one god existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons sharing one homoousion (essence). This weekend we embrace that truth with open mind, hearts and arms. Fr. Steve
There was this secondary school teacher who died and arrived at the gates of heaven. He was calmly walking in through the entrance, when Peter stopped him and said, "Hi, hold on there! Where are you going?" "I'm going in there." replied the teacher to which Peter replied "Oh no, you're not! It's not that simple. Just like you had in your secondary-level education, we also have a points system in operation here." "Oh, I didn't know that" said the teacher. "What is your system? How many points do I require?" "We have set one thousand points as requirement for entry into heaven" said Peter. "Now tell me something about yourself, and why you expect to get in this door." The teacher took a deep breath, stuck out his chest (this was his big moment) and said "I went to mass every morning for the past forty years." "Very good" said Peter. "That's one point." The poor teacher was completely taken aback, and was nearly struck dumb when Peter asked "And tell me, what else did you do along the journey of life?" The teacher gathered himself together, and had another go. "I was in the S.V.P., and in several Third World Charities, and I collected a lot of money over the years". "How much?" asked Peter. "Probably forty or fifty thousand pounds" said the teacher. "Very good." said Peter. "That's another point." By now the poor teacher was completely deflated and he muttered to himself under his breath "I'm afraid it's only by the grace of God I'm going to get there." Peter heard him and looked him straight in the eye and said "You are perfectly correct. It is only be the grace of God and His Spirit that you'll ever be able to enter those gates. If you really believe that, go right in, because that, my dear friend, is a thousand points!" At Pentecost God gave us the most precious gift of His Spirit freely to all who believed! (reference anonymous)
I heard a funny story of a army recruit standing at attention on the drill field. The Drill Instructor yells, “Forward, march!” And the entire ranks begin to move, all except this one recruit. He’s still standing there at attention. So the Drill Instructor strolls over to him and yells in his right ear, “Is this thing working?” “Sir, yes, sir!” The recruit yells. Then the drill instructor walks around to the other ear and yells, “Is this thing working?” “Sir, yes, sir!” The soldier says. “Then why didn’t you march when I gave the order?” “Sir, I didn’t hear you call my name.” Some of us are like that soldier, standing around waiting for God to call our names. But the message given by Jesus on the day of the Ascension is a blanket order. It has everyone’s name on it. And you can be sure that the Man in charge says, “Go! Make disciples! Teach!” It is your mission and my mission. The Ascension was Jesus' last show up to his disciples. They watched in amazement as Jesus was carried up into the heaven. Their necks were bent and sore, their hands shielding their eyes from the glare of the sun as they starred open-mouthed into the sky. "What is going on now?" they must have thought. As they stood there in silence, staring up at the sky as Jesus disappeared from their view. Well, in case they were not, in fact, listening to Jesus right before he left, they certainly listened a few minutes later when two men in white robes suddenly appeared before them and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven?" Why are you standing around hurting your necks like that? You are not accomplishing anything just standing there! Weren't you listening to Jesus? It's time to get busy... You are the witnesses. The whole adventure of following Jesus is not about accommodating to the expectations of this world; it is about being witnesses, so that the transformation going on in you, can go on in those around you, in this city, in this world. No more looking up to the sky in expectation of a show. You are the witnesses, and you should be busy about the business of transformation. SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/Rv 21:10-14, 22-23/Jn 14:23-29
As we approach the last Sunday of Easter, we are faced with moving on. It has been a busy few weeks around St. Mary and St. Lawrence Parishes. Next weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, as he leaves behind the disciples to continue to share his word through the Gospel. "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them, he parted from them and was taken up to heaven." For me, it has never been easy saying goodbye. During my sixty-one years on Earth. God has graced my life with the love of many people. Those we encounter in our lives are part of the fabric that weaves together our journey on God's good Earth. This past Wednesday, St. Mary School, celebrated the graduation of four young men as they advanced to High School. Their roots are deeply planted at St. Mary School, and I ask you to join me and pray that God will continue to guide them. I want to express my congratulations to our St. Mary and St. Lawrence parishioners, graduating this spring. Your parish family celebrates with you your joy! Be it Kindergarten, Junior High, High School, College, or University, never forget you have a home at St. Mary and St. Lawrence. Jesus' ascension into heaven marks the end of a journey, but a new journey of faith and hope begins for all those who believe. "May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him." (Ephesians 1:17-23) Blessing! Fr. Steve
This past week I found time to see the movie, Father Stu. I highly recommend it, but Father Stu, has a bit of a potty mouth so be warned! It was quite moving and I don’t want to be a spoiler if you haven’t seen it yet. But I will say it is about a man, whom you would least expect to be called to become a Shepherd, (priest) He was a boxer, worked at a grocery store, tried to be an actor, you name it he experienced it. What is profound, is how God calls us to be shepherds in our own way. Those called to priesthood and to shepherd a diocese as a bishop have a large undertaking. After Father Stu was diagnosed with a terminal disease, he found what God was calling him to do. To shepherd those who are lost, forsaken, outcast, and he accomplished this from a wheelchair. So why does Jesus choose to use a sheep to represent his disciples? Even in ancient society, sheep and shepherds did not garner the respect and admiration of the rich and famous. They did not have a contest to see which shepherd would be the next "Israeli Idol." For us who do not live in an agrarian society, it is even harder to understand. I have never identified myself with a sheep. Popular artists write songs about soaring on the wings of eagles, not grazing with the lambs. Sheep have one particularly admirable quality. They will follow their shepherd wherever he leads them. They have learned to know him and trust him. They are not easily distracted by another shepherd. Move three flocks into a field, place three shepherds at three strategic points and have each of them issue a call. The sheep will sort themselves. You will not need brands to recognize which sheep belongs to which shepherd. Every animal will only follow his/her shepherd. The people of God have been placed in a very large field that is often called the world. Many voices are calling us to come and join them. The voice of materialism wants us to deny our faith in the supernatural and believe only in the physical world. The voice of consumerism calls us to fulfill our envy by overspending on vacations, cars, clothing and a home. The voice of entertainment wants to fill our lives with media driven flashes that grab our attention, isolate us from our family and friends and then leave us with nothing but an oversized bill. MAY 1, 2022 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41/Rv 5:11-14/Jn 21:1-19 or 21:1-14
If you are like me you are probably wondering how we suddenly find ourselves at the first day of May? Time does march on and it is evident today as we prepare for some important activities in our Parishes. April showers do bring May flowers but it also brings with us graduations, confirmations, weddings, baptisms and all the wonders that the rebirth that goes along with spring. This weekend, we say goodbye to Deacon Ben Wanner, who has been part of our Parish since September. I still remember clearly being contacted and asked if Deacon Ben could join our parish during his last year at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. I know that I speak for both of our parishes when we say it has been a joy. He brought that youthful vigor and fresh love of God and Church to each of us. He shared his life journey through his homilies. Today we ask God to bless him as his journey continues as a priest of Jesus Christ. May God bless him, his family and all those he will serve. May also ushers in the tradition of graduates walking to the sound of Pomp and Circumstance. A step forward as they continue their journey. We are happy for our graduates but it brings a degree of sadness, however shorted lived! Today we see sadness as the apostles gather in the upper room. They witnessed the tragic death of Jesus, one of the most brutal forms of torture devised by humanity. They were sad, but happy since they knew that Jesus had risen from the dead. But now what? Simon Peter and his friends have been waiting there in Galilee for some time just waiting, waiting for some direction from God, but nothing has happened. Finally in typical fashion, Simon Peter gets impatient. He can't take it anymore, and he says, "I'm going fishing!" Now it's as if Simon is saying, "I can't handle this any longer. This waiting is driving me up the wall. I'm worn out with the indecision, the waiting, the risk involved; and I'm going back to the old secure life, the old life of being a fisherman." The others go along with him. As dawn breaks, they see someone standing on shore. It's the Risen Lord, but they don't recognize him at this point. He tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They do, and they bring in a huge catch of fish: 153 large fish. John turns and says to Peter, "It is the Lord." Simon Peter excitable and impulsive dives in and swims to shore urgently. Their sadness turns to joy! Let us recognize Jesus, as he gives us the commandment, “follow me.”
A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. He cried out for help. “Is anyone up there?” “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?” “Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.” “That’s all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch.” There was a pause in the conversation, then the man shouted: “Is anyone else up there?” We really, believe the promises of God. But we don’t always trust God. God says that he will take care of us, even more so than he does for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields. Yet we worry about what we will eat, and what we will wear, and where we will live. We are afraid to “let go and let God.” It is fair to say that we have our doubts.
To say that our chances of going to heaven are “good” is to leave room for doubt. Jesus assured us that if we believe in him, have faith in what he has done, then we will have eternal life. Yet our response is never quite 100 percent positive. Jesus made bold statements about God and his kingdom, about sin and righteousness, about loving one’s neighbor, which did not leave any room for doubt about what he meant. But we tend to hem and haw when asked about what we believe. We know what we are supposed to believe. We know how we should live our lives. But doubt enters in, and we hesitate to trust Jesus.
Throughout time we have shaken our finger at Thomas, calling him “Doubting Thomas.” Despite all that Thomas accomplished as a disciple and later an apostle, that’s what we remember most. But we needed Thomas to question the other disciples. We needed Thomas to make demands. We needed Thomas to doubt. History has not been kind to Thomas. We remember him as the one who doubted, not as the fearless disciple who encouraged the others to follow Jesus into Jerusalem so that “we might die with him.” We remember him as someone who needed evidence to believe in the resurrection, rather than as a man of character, hand-selected by Jesus, who left everything behind to follow the Master. Thomas was there for all people down through the ages. People like you and me who could not be there when Jesus appeared after the resurrection. Thomas had to have doubts -- for our benefit. For us, Thomas had to demand proof. And for us, when shown the evidence of the resurrected Christ, Thomas confessed, “My Lord and My God.” - Fr. Steve
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD Lk 19:28-40 (37)/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Lk 22:14—23:56 or 23:1-49
“There is, a villain in the Harry Potter series of magic novels, an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort. At the end of the first book, Harry Potter learns that Voldemort murdered both Harry’s parents when Harry was only a baby. He first murdered Harry’s father and then tried to murder Harry, to be sure that Harry, as his father’s heir, would not be a threat to Voldemort as he grew to maturity. But, of course, he did not succeed in murdering Harry. When he tried to do so, Harry’s mother threw herself in the way, taking the blow and dying in Harry’s place. When Voldemort then tried to kill Harry, he could not. In fact, the curse that he hurled at Harry rebounded onto Voldemort and drained him of his powers. All he could do was leave a lightning-bolt scar across Harry’s forehead. Because of his mother’s sacrificial love, Harry lived and Voldemort’s powers were greatly diminished. Throughout the Harry Potter novels, others immediately recognize young Harry because of his scar. Throughout the series Voldemort makes repeated attempts to capture and kill Harry Potter, but each time he fails. At last Harry asks the wise Headmaster of his school, Dumbledore, why Voldemort could not kill him. This is what Dumbledore tells him: “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark . . . To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin . . . [Voldemort] could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.” [J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Scholastic: 1998), p. 216.] The reason Harry could not be killed was his mother’s sacrificial love for him.
The reason you and I can be victorious over sin and death is Christ’s sacrificial love for us. That’s the reason Palm Sunday is so important to us. That is the reason Holy Week is so important to us. It is not a scar on our forehead but the cross on our altar that tells us that Someone died on our behalf. We are the recipients of an everlasting love. Today we join the Palm Sunday crowd in spirit to declare our loyalty to Christ and fidelity to His teachings by actively participating in the Palm Sunday liturgy. As we carry the palm leaves to our homes, we are declaring our choice to accept Jesus as the King and ruler of our lives, our homes and our families. Let us express our gratitude to Jesus for redeeming us by His suffering and death through our active participation in the Holy Week liturgy and our reconciliation with God and His Church, repenting of our sins and receiving God's pardon and forgiveness from Jesus through his Church
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Is 43:16-21/Phil 3:8-14/Jn 8:1-11
Our society has become a place where anything you say is recorded, quoted, and even taken out of content. Social media has giving us the ability to immediately voicing our opinion with no need to rationally analysis. As an experiment post any controversial subject to social media and within minutes you have a thread of responses. Some very cruel. I have seen simple statements such as, “are you going to get boosted,” turn into a political, scientific, hate filled thread of comments. What amazes me, is that many times those making those comments would never say such things face to face. The safety we find hiding behind the glass screen gives us a newly found power.
While teaching a crowd at the temple, some of the religious elite of the city approached Jesus with the sole intention of getting him to say something that they could use against Him. It seems to me that they were of the opinion that Jesus could either be gracious, or else He could be true to the will of God. They’d caught a woman in the act of adultery – and were dragging her before Jesus. The law, they knew, demanded that she be executed for her actions. But Jesus was the kind who showed incredible love to sinners. The kind who showed incredible grace. If they could make Him act contrary to God’s will, they could (in their minds, at least!) unmask him as a fraud and imposter.
But, of course, Jesus doesn’t fall into their trap. He stooped down and wrote in the dust. What He wrote we’re not told. And then He spoke: Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone. And then He went back to writing in the dust. If we’re honest, none of us can stand up to that sort of scrutiny. And so all the religious elite slowly slipped away. Eventually, only Jesus and the woman were left. Looking up, Jesus saw that the accused stood there alone and asked, “Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord.” “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” It’s a beautiful incident – showing us the heart of God.
But who is it that you and I most represent in the story? Some might think of themselves as the woman – thrown before the spotlight of public ridicule and hate for their choices and mistakes. We can get so caught up in being right, that we stop seeing people as people – but as mere means to an end. Nobody there was concerned about this woman’s spiritual, emotional or physical welfare. They were simply using her as a tool against Jesus. And since Jesus is our example of what the perfect human life is meant to be like, how are we to walk the line between good and bad?
Fourth Sunday of Lent Jos 5:9a, 10-12/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
First Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2022
What changes are you making this year?
One of my favorite desserts is Red Velvet Cake. I know it's just chocolate cake with red food dye, but something attracts me to that delicious cake. I decide early what changes I am going to make during Lent. Hopefully, I choose things that will help me journey through the desert. So, this year, on the nutritional side, I have decided to give up Snickers, Diet Coke, Red Velvet Cake, and one new one – Tammy's Cheesecake at Jerry's! These delectable delights and Diet Coke bring a degree of satisfaction into my life. The question now becomes, that I have announced this publicly (and all eyes will be on Father) can I live up to my commitment? At Susie's Restaurant in Red Bud, Beth temptingly has a warm out of the oven freshly iced Red Velvet Cake place strategically among the many homemade desserts Susie offers. Whoever the server may be at the Jigger, they never fail to ask, "Father, are you having a slice of Cheesecake tonight?" Sound familiar to anyone? During His desert experience, Jesus fasted. Firstly, He is tempted by the devil to change stones into loaves. After all, He has the power; why can he not use it for himself? The temptation for Jesus and us is to place our security in material things. The temptation is also to satisfy our every human need, to pander to urges of the body. The second temptation is the promise of power and glory of the kingdom. We experience this temptation constantly in our daily lives. We want to be in charge, we want to control, we want to influence people. During his lifetime, he was hardly known. He never sought popularity. In fact, when the crowds did follow him, He often left them for the solitude of the desert. Temptations and Satan are a reality in our lives. May the Spirit that led Jesus into the desert lead us in our constant battle with evil in us and around us. What changes are you making this year?
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time Sir 27:4-7/1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45
Jesus shares a powerful story today, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
We are people who like to make excuses for failures. Nothing is ever really our fault. Think about it! From Creation, we have blamed others for our own decisions — Adam blamed Eve for enticing him to eat the forbidden fruit and Eve blamed the serpent. And we are still playing the blame game. We are dysfunctional because of what our parents and grandparents did or did not do to/for us. The prisoner blames his parents for his illegal activity. Divorcees blame each other for the demise of marriages. Our children’s yearning for material goods is blamed on television. We blame school violence on the lack of prayer in school. Sex and Drug use among our youth is blamed on the Internet, television, and Hollywood. Sinful behavior is now being referred to as compulsive behavior and is blamed on chemical imbalances. Whenever we do something wrong, we are apt to point the finger elsewhere. The Democrats and the Republicans blame each other for everything this is wrong with our county. . We are a people who like to point the fingers at others for the problems we have to deal with. (Rev. A. LaMar Torrence).
No one except God is good enough to judge others because only God sees the whole truth, and only He can read the human heart; only He has the right and authority to judge us. We are often prejudiced in our judgment of others, and total fairness cannot be expected from us. We do not see all the facts, the circumstances or the power of the temptation, which have led a person to do something evil. We have no right to judge others because we have the same faults and often to a more serious degree than the person we are judging (remember Jesus’ funny example of a man with a log stuck in his eye trying to remove the dust particle from another’s eye?)
Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 20, 2022
1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23/1 Cor 15:45-49/Lk 6:27-38
I want to express my thanks to St. Mary School, and our co-op members, from Hoyleton, Huffman, and Trinity Lutheran Schools, for a wonderful journey. I was blessed to attend some of the basketball games. It was our first year together as a sports co-op and it was a great honor getting to meet so many wonderful parents, teachers, grandparents, and friends from our neighboring schools. We cheered together, prayed together, and shared a profound spirit of excitement. As we gathered to celebrate our second-place state win at SMS gym I was asked some hard theological questions by some of the young men who were part of the Defenders Basketball team. I was impressed to see that they had a genuine curiously about the Catholic faith. One question was, “what’s the difference between being Lutheran and a Catholic? As eyes were on me, I did my best to explain the difference, and how we went in separate directions many centuries ago. But one point that I made is, “it doesn’t matter where you go to church, how you believe, or how you pray, what does matter is your love for God.” That is our common ground and always will be, it's what brings Christians together. We can debate beliefs and faith understandings all day, but in the end, we are all children of God.
I would like to share this article I read a few months back; “After September 11, 2001, America and the rest of the world received a wakeup call. The country pulled together as well as the world to handle the crisis. We, as Americans in particular, realized that we have more in common than what separates us. Politics and religion are used as vehicles to separate us from each other. I know not which religion or whose definition of God is better than the rest. All I know is that there is a God and the only way I can prove it, is when I die. If each of us would recognize that we are all brothers and sisters, then the world would be a better place. I believe that the same God created us all. Each of us interprets that creation differently. A former Jesuit priest explained to me that if I look at the front of your face, and someone else looks at the back of your head, and someone else looks at each side of your face, we are looking at the same point. That point is God. The only difference is our viewpoint. Another way of looking at it, is that all roads lead to one point, which is God.”
(Written by DavidS, September 12, 2021, Published by, “Coming together after 20 years”)
Blessings, Father Steve
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 13, 2022
Jer 17:5-8/1 Cor 15:12, 16-20/Lk 6:17, 20-26
Here is an interesting story…The “Dear Abby” Column once received a letter from a 15-year-old girl which read as follows: Dear Abby: Happiness is not having your parents scold you if you come home late, having your own bedroom, and getting the telephone call you’ve been hoping for. Happiness is belonging to a popular group, being dressed as well as anybody, and having a lot of spending money. Happiness is something I don’t have. “15 and Unhappy.” Shortly after the letter was published, “Dear Abby” received a reply from a 13-year-old girl who wrote: Dear Abby: Happiness is being able to walk and talk, to see and hear. Unhappiness is reading a letter from a 15-year-old girl who can do all four things and still says she isn’t happy, I can talk, I can see, I can hear. But I can’t walk. “13, Handicapped and Happy.”
Dr. Harold Treffert is the director of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin. In an article entitled “The American Fairy Tale,” he discusses five dangerous ideas we have about the meaning of happiness. First, happiness is in things. The more you accumulate and have, the happier you will be. Second, happiness is what you do. The more you produce and earn, the happier you will be. Third, happiness is being the same as or better than others. The more you are fashionable and conform with the times, the happier you will be. Fourth, happiness is mental health. The fewer problems you have and the more carefree you are, the happier you will be. Fifth, happiness is communicating with electronic gadgets. The more you can communicate with a television set, a satellite or a computer, the happier you will be. If happiness cannot be found through these five myths of “The American Fairy Tale,” then where do we find it?
Jesus gives us the answer when he outlines the beatitudes in today’s reading from Luke
Today’s Gospel on the beatitudes does the same. The beatitudes are a blueprint to happiness but just following them blindly we will not achieve happiness. Achieving happiness requires us live and follow what Jesus gives us in his words. Today's Gospel challenges us to embrace a new vision, a new attitude in approaching life: to seek the common good before our own needs, to bring compassion and forgiveness to others despite our own anger and humiliation, to free ourselves from the pursuit of the things of this world in order to seek the lasting things of God.
Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, February 6, 2022
Is 6:1-2a, 3-8/1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11/Lk 5:1-11
A man had spent a fruitless day fishing. He didn’t want to go home empty-handed. He decided to stop at a local fish market. “I’d like three good-sized fish,” he said to the clerk. “But before you wrap them, toss them to me, one by one.” The clerk looked puzzled at his request, “Sir? That’s a strange thing to ask.” Smiling the man said, “This way I’ll be able to tell my wife truthfully that I caught them!”
We are all called to be fishermen in some way. Some of us spend hours on Lake Carlyle, waiting patiently for that big fish. Others set out on that once-in-a-lifetime fishing trip deep on the ocean. And still, others, sit patiently in a small pond of water content with just being there. “Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”
Fishing can be compared to our life. We send out resumes for that perfect job. We take hours looking for that amazing gift for our sweetheart. Waiting is part of our lives, and we are good at it. Today, Jesus, called men who were content with their lives as fishermen. But Jesus had a bigger plan for them to become, “fishers of men!” Taken out of context it seems like a strange request, but when applied to our Gospel we see clearly what Jesus is asking. We, just like the first disciples are called to serve God in various ways. It’s up to us, to accept the call and follow him. Being called suddenly happens. Being called into a manager's office to be asked to relocate to another town, and even state is a real possibility. Accepting that dream job is a wish come true, but when you realize it's hundreds of miles away from your loved ones puts that wrench in the works. They are hard decisions to make. I can still remember the words spoken to me and where I was. “Father, have you ever been to Centralia [or Sandoval]?” “You may serve there someday!” Six months later, I was installed as your pastor. I put my faith in God to guide me and he did. When you are called to “go fishing,” listen to what God has to say. Patience, endurance, and prayer will guide you to that “big catch.” “Do not be afraid,” one of Saint John Paul II favorite biblical quotes sustained him through many trials and hardships. It is your call, in your hands, Father, may your will be done.
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 30, 2022
Jer 1:4-5, 17-19/1 Cor 12:31—13:13 or 13:4-13/Lk 4:21-30
Today we kick off Catholic Schools Week. This is a joyous celebration for Catholic education, when we take time out of the busy day-to-day schedules, to pause and think about the blessings our Catholic PSR Academies and Parish Schools provide to our families. Families are the first teachers in the faith; not only in their religious practices, but in raising their children with love, respect, and a strong sense of morals. We are fortunate to have classrooms filled with students who have already been shown how to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. It is through these beginnings that teachers can continue to help students grow in their faith.
We are thankful for the teachers, who have demonstrated their excellence over this past year, through their flexibility in their delivery of instruction. We have been through remote, hybrid, and in-person learning and with each situation, our faculty and staff have responded to meet the needs of students and families. Our students grow not only through the academic excellence provided by teachers but also through the support which comes from their homes families and our church.
I grew up in a family that embraced education and their faith. I was taught by the Adores of the Blood of Christ Sisters, from Ruma and many dedicated lay teachers. I remember each of them, now, a part of their love of education and faith resides inside of me. In 2018, after my ordination to the Holy Priesthood, Bishop Braxton asked me where I felt I could best serve the people of the Diocese. Without hesitation, I said, “I would take a parish with a school.” Sure, Catholic schools present their own challenges, but the rewards (for me) always triumph! So today my dear friends, I again reaffirm my commitment to Catholic Education. I will do my best to promote our small but growing school each and every day. I ask you today, to join me! Many hands working together will achieve success. Both of our parishes, St. Lawerence and St. Mary have a long history of Catholic education. Let us do all in our power to “hand on the faith,” to the next generation. It is an immense responsibility with many crosses to carry. Through prayer, hard work, dedication, and love we can make it happen!
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 23, 2022
Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10/1 Cor 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27/Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Every single Inaugural Address from George Washington’s to Joe Biden’s has been preserved. In these speeches, presidents have laid out for the country their dreams, goals, and aspirations. Here is a part of the speech given by our first president, George Washington (April 30, 1789), when he bravely acknowledged the role of God in his administration: He said, “It would be improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being Who rules over the universe, Who presides in the councils of nations, and Whose providential aids can supply every human defect.” Franklin Roosevelt said on March 4, 1933, “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.” Americans remember the role of citizens outlined in President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address (January 20, 1961), “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. …. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” More recently we call to mind Ronald Reagan’s American Song theme in 1985: “hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic – daring, decent and fair. That’s our heritage, that’s our song… we raise our voices to the God who is the author of this most tender music.” No doubt you were able to identify several of the presidents by the historical references or by the famous lines, and while all of these Inaugural Addresses are important, some are moving, inspiring and worthy of remembrance.
Today in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, we have listened to an “inaugural address” delivered not to a Nation but to a synagogue congregation; not in an American city but in a poor village, Nazareth, in Galilee; and not by a man elected by the power of the people but by the God-man Jesus, anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus outlines his mission, vision and dreams in this famous reflection and teaching. For Luke, the word that best summarizes the person and work of Jesus is the word “prophet.” In the story we heard today, Jesus is a different kind of prophet. The prophet Jesus says, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” When the prophet Jesus says, “Today the Scripture is fulfilled,” he turns memory into mission. He transforms a hope into an assignment. He claims the beautiful poetry of Isaiah as his job description.
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 16, 2022
Is 62:1-5/1 Cor 12:4-11/Jn 2:1-11
Today the Church begins Ordinary Time. There is nothing ordinary about it! Jesus begins his ministry today with the first public miracle. This miracle at the wedding of Cana wasn’t planned; it happened out of necessity. A newlywed couple wants everything to go perfectly. The most significant factor I encounter with couples preparing for marriage is stress, especially the bride—those who have been there knowing exactly how that feels. Like a medical doctor, I write a prescription – a spa day! Take some time, relax, let that stress melt away. The best planning, attention to detail, and pinpointing every problem sometimes don’t do the trick. This raging pandemic has caused last-minute cancelations and plenty of unwanted stress. At the marriage at Cana, Mary noticed a problem. She knew how embarrassing it would be for the newlywed couple. She asked her son, Jesus, to intervene. Today, we call it “mom-power,” moms have a way of getting their kids to do whatever they want. A classic scene from “A Christmas Story” shows mom convincing a reluctant son Randy to eat by making him pretend to be a pig at a trough. Success! A wedding feast is a joyous time to celebrate a couple beginning a journey together. If all else fails, call on “mom-power!”
The Lord wants to tell us today that life is a feast. A feast? With all its troubles and miseries? Yes, a feast, if we learn to look at it with eyes of faith, if we come to see what makes life beautiful. We all have our daily cares, we may have days of mourning and problems, but the most profound reality is that we are not alone, that we have God, who lets us drink the wine of his love, God who gives us Jesus to lead us to him. Let us drink the wine of joy! Says Isaiah, God delights in his people as a groom delight in his bride. God adorns us with various gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus performs his first miracle at the wedding at Cana.
Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Is 42:1-4, 6-7/Acts 10:34-38/Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
This past Wednesday evening as I traveled home from Milwaukee after the preaching conference was not usual. On the northern track, there were about two inches of snow. The wind was blowing at over 20 miles per hour which made driving dangerous. I was happy Deacon Arthur was diving, not me! But it helped me to understand, that our journey is not always a smooth interstate highway. It has ups and downs, snow, snow sleet, and hail. It also has beauty, such as blowing snow, are the majestic windmills dotting the interstate.
The road to the manger is not an Interstate. Nor is the journey sentimental. The path is decorated neither with candy canes nor red-nosed reindeer. There are no shortcuts. The Advent journey begins in a darkness so deep you can see the stars. From there it leads by the Jordan River and its prophet, John. If we could only get to the babe without having to hear the Baptist cry, "Repent!" John would never make the list of the ten best dressed, nor win anybody's popularity contests. I'm not certain I want my world to be much different than it is now. Do you? Perhaps there is no superhighway we can take from here to Bethlehem. Perhaps we can never get there at all until some landscape is leveled, some mountains pulled down, some valleys built up, some crooked places straightened, and some rough spots made smooth. If that is our task, we had better be about it, lest when he comes, we shall miss him, and missing him miss life at its best."
Within just a few weeks we have traveled from the birth of Jesus to his baptism in the Jordan river at age 30. That doesn’t diminish those thirty years that he walked the earth. They were just as important as the last three. They provided him with the knowledge and understanding of humanity. Today, allow yourself to travel that long winding road, we call life’s journey.
Epiphany, Sunday, January 2, 2022
Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12
Thank you so much for remembering me during this holy time. The beautiful cards, delicious treats, candy, notes, phone calls, visits, and wonderful gifts are such a blessing. I am deeply thankful that God has allowed me to serve as your Pastor. I am ever mindful of the honor of being called “Father”, yet also mindful of the obligation I have to love and serve you in any way I possibly can. May God continue to bless our amazing parish family, your family, and everyone who loves and serves the Lord! Fr. Steve
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, Saturday, January 1, 2022
Nm 6:22-27/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21
A New Year’s Blessing from Father Steve,
Happy New Year to you! In everything, our faith tells us that we must always give thanks and praise to God, the Father Almighty. I am thankful to Him for His many blessings upon us as a parish family. I never fail to marvel at what a wonderful family we have here at St. Lawrence and St. Mary Parish. My thanks and appreciation go to you all. I pray God to bless and reward you for your dedication and devotion to our beloved parishes and school. Thank you also for your tolerance, patience, understanding, goodwill, and prayers. This continues to be a great source of strength and support for me.
Thank you for your benevolence and cooperation ~ your words of comfort and compliments ~your constructive criticisms and useful advice. Your strong faith, your smiles, and your laughter have always lifted my spirit. I wish you and your family a blessed, happy, peaceful, and healthy New Year in 2022. God bless you and your loved ones! Sincerely Yours in Christ, Fr. Steve