My wife Joanne and I are going to Atlanta, GA [today] to help Brian, Laurie, C.J. and Berkleigh for a week.  We ask for your continued prayers for them and us, A Daily Dose of God will resume with an update on Laurie and the Kennesaw Kellys sometime during our week there.

May God Be Praised!

Tommy and Greg sharing the Radiance of God’s love!

Fr. John Powell taught a course – The Theology of Faith. Tommy was the resident atheist – turning in his final exam asked, “Hey, Father, do you think that I will ever find God?”

 Fr. Powell said, “No!” 

“I thought that was the product you were pushing.” Powell, “Tommy, I am absolutely sure of  this, He will find you.”

A few years later Tommy walked into Fr. Powell’s office, he, (Tommy), was all flesh and bones, no hair from his chemotherapy.

Powell, “Are you sick? Are you dying?”  Tommy -  “Yes, I have a couple of weeks to a couple of months.”  Once in class you said “…it would be a pity to go out of this world without telling those you love that you love them…”

Tommy told his father and brother them he loved them – suddenly God was there.

And then the story of Greg Matthews who became a golf pro in 1956:

-       in 1970 lost his sight from diabetes, he continued to golf, scoring in the mid 80’s or lower.

-       In 1980 his right leg was amputated, he continued to play golf, now happy to break 100.

-       In 1996 he had a heart attack, he continued to golf.

-       On 12/11/98 he was hospitalized for numerous complications.

-       At his bedside were his wife, Jan, and his children Tim and Lisa, also Tim’s wife Lynn.

-       Greg was lying peacefully when all of a sudden he took off his oxygen mask looked up at his family and smiled.

-       He saw them for the 1^st. time in 28 years, asked his wife to kiss him – gave a deep sigh and went home to our Father in heaven. Tommy and Greg Matthews went home to God in the land of the living and one day each of us will make a similar trip.                         

 

Do you want Jesus to be the center of your life?  Think about the the story from St. Luke's Gospel that we heard a few weeks ago about the ten lepers Jesus cured.  

We can choose to go about our daily routines like the 9 lepers, or we can make Jesus the center of our life [like the Samaritan].

Reflect on these words, “In a humble listening Spirit, We would live to God’s delight…May our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn.”

To live a life with Jesus we must listen to Him and conform our will to His.

If we do that, like the Samaritan, we will be filled with gratitude and our heart will rest in the Lord! 

Today choose to be like the Samaritan and go to Jesus with our hearts and our lives and put them in His loving care.

May God Be Praised!

Homily Cycle C 10-20-19

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102019.cfm

Today is a wonderful, powerful and grace-filled Sunday here at O.L.P.H.  Fr. Ha started our liturgy by leading us in prayer, “… grant that we may always conform our will to yours & serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.”

Today we celebrate the “Rite of Enrollment” when our 2^nd children and their parents begin an important and spiritually enriching journey of faith together.  I am especially privileged this year because my granddaughters [Abigail & Beatrice Kelly] are in this class.

The preparation for our children and their parents for the reception of 1^st Holy Communion and 1^st Penance begins at this Mass.  Pray for them, and their parents; they will be praying for us during their formation period.

Our readings today focus on Faith Formation and Spiritual Growth through prayer and the pursuit of justice.  Moses needed help on his faith journey; these children & their parents need our prayers.

St. Paul reminded Timothy to “… Remain faithful to what you have learned ….”   These children are called to be faithful to what their parents and catechists teach about the sacraments.  In the Gospel St. Luke teaches us to seek justice in all we do and to develop a prayer life that brings us closer to Jesus Christ.

Prayer is the spiritual oxygen that is essential for our spiritual well being.  The widow points to God, Who calls us to seek justice & resist injustice.  St. Luke reminds us to “Pray always ….” our life should be a life of prayer.  Does God want us to cry out day and night; doesn’t God already know what we need?

Pope Francis answered that questions this way, “… God invites us to pray with insistence, not because he doesn’t know what we need, or because he doesn’t listen to us.  On the contrary, he always hears and knows all of us, with love.
In our daily journey, especially in difficulties… the Lord is not far away, he is at our side; we fight, with him beside us, and our weapon is prayer, which makes us feel his presence alongside of us, his mercy, even his help. [Sunday Web Site Pope Francis, Angelus, October 20, 2013]
“The challenge of the gospel is to keep on praying to a God who wills only good for us.”  [Sunday Web Site, Working with the Word, 10-20-19]

Listen to this poem, Jesus Speaks
         But if you
         don’t open
         your eyes
         and you don’t
         open your ears
         or taste things
         or touch things
         or smell things
         well then
         you will never
         know me
         all that I
       do
       is to show
       my
       love for you.  [Sunday Web Site Poem by J.Janda]

For a few minutes, in silence, think about how much spiritual oxygen you are breathing?

May God Be Praised!   

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ   

Blessed Louis Brisson [founder of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales] said “O Jesus, teach us how to make our soul be silent so that You may speak to us.” 

 

Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Jesus’ disciples are called, not to be heralds of an idea, but witnesses of a person.”.’”

God called us before the foundation of the world and gave us a mission.  In the book of Amos we read, “I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.”  These jobs were looked down upon in the time of Jesus.  Amos recognized that God called him and despite his social standing he answered God’s call.

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians “In him (Jesus) we were also chosen…so that we might exist for the praise of His glory….  In the Gospel of Mark we find the story of Jesus sending out the Apostles on their mission.  Jesus told them not to get bogged down with the stuff (the things) of this world (not a second tunic) but to share the God News / Gospel message with the world.  

As we experience the change of seasons from fall to winter, it is a good time to inventory our priorities; to check where Jesus fits into our life and what kind of life we are living, to sit in the silence of our soul remembering we are witnesses to the true God & true Man Jesus Christ; we are His heralds to the world.

May God Be Praised!

             Salt, Light & Jesus

Today add some light & flavor to the world.  Jesus taught His disciples [& us] how we can be great saints and missionaries for His Kingdom.  He wants us to be “salt” for the Kingdom & “light” for the world. 

In Jesus’ time salt was a precious commodity, so Jesus is telling us that we are precious.  Salt brings out the flavor of something else and light illuminates something else.  To be salt, in the Spirit of Christ, is to bring forth the “flavor” of God in everyone.  To be light, in the Reflection of Christ, is to illuminate the presence of God in the midst of the darkness that exists in our world.

Ever eat a handful of salt?  Or drink a glass of ocean water?

Of course not!  Salt by itself does not taste particularly good – it might even make you sick to your stomach.  Ever look directly at the sun or into a bright, burning light bulb?  I hope not!

Salt and light of themselves, are not very useful.  Their value is realized only when they mix with other things.  Their addition brings out the fullness of whatever they come in contact with.

A little bit of salt can bring out the natural flavor in every kind of food, from filet mignon to popcorn.  The four ounces of salt in our bodies enable our muscles to contract, our blood to circulate, our hearts to beat.  Salt purifies and softens, cleans and preserves.

Light’s true beauty is realized only when we look away from its source and toward whatever it illuminates.  Light transforms the cold terror of night into the warm safety of day.  Light enables us to study, to discover, to behold the beauty of our world and the wonders of God’s creation.  Light warms, nurtures, sustains, reveals, cheers.

Salt is perhaps the most humble of all chemicals; light is among the most generous of all physical properties.

Jesus reminds us that we are precious & that we have good in us because He put it there.  He gave us that goodness so we can love God & bring God’s flavor & light to the world.

May God Be Praised!

A loving father shows us the way of God

God promises us that He will always be there for us!  Maybe this story can illustrate that.

                          

                           “I’ll Always be There for You!

It’s a fascinating story that comes from the 1989 earthquake, which almost flattened Armenia.  This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.  In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son’s school.  When he arrived there he discovered the building was flat as a pancake.

Standing there looking at what was left of the school, the father remembered a promise he made to his son, “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you!”  Tears began to fill his eyes.  It looked like a hopeless situation, but he could not take his mind off his promise.

Remembering that his son’s classroom was in the back right corner of the building, the rather rushed there and started digging through the rubble.  As he was digging other grieving parents arrived, clutching their hearts saying: “My son! “My daughter!”  They tried to pull him off of what was left of the school saying, “It’s too late!”  “ They’re dead!” “You can’t help!” “Go home! “

Even a police officer & a fire fighter told him he should go home.      To everyone who tried to stop him he said, “Are you going to help me now?”  They did not answer him & he continued digging for his son stone by stone.

He needed to know for himself: “Is my boy alive or is he dead?”    This man dug for eight hours & then twelve & then twenty-four & then thirty-six.  Finally in the thirty-eighth hour, as he pulled a boulder, he heard his son’s voice.

He screamed his son’s name; “Armand!” & a voice answered him, “Dad?”  It’s me Dad!” then the boy added these priceless words, “I told the other kids not to worry.  I told ‘em that if you were alive, you’d save me & when you saved me, they’d be saved.

You promised that, Dad. “No matter what,” you said, “I’ll always be there for you!’ And here you are Dad.  You kept your promise!”

God promises us that He will always be there for us, and God doesn’t break His promises!

May God Be Praised!

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness – a powerful word, a powerful gift from God!   

Do you have the courage to ask for forgiveness from others & from God?

Do you have the courage to offer forgiveness?  Part of spiritual growth occurs when we realize we have sinned & ask for forgiveness!

In the psalms God reminds to ask for forgiveness. ”Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.”  We should take some time to examine our attitudes & our actions in light of Jesus’ message to “Forgive”

Maybe this story can shed some light on the power of forgiveness, “The Flip Side of Love”.  John R. Aurelio, in his book Colors, gives us a beautiful portrayal of God’s Forgiveness.

On the sixth day, God created Father Adam and Mother Eve.  On the seventh day, as God was resting, they asked Him if He would give them something special to commemorate their birthday.  So God reached into His treasure chest and took out a sacred coin.  Written on it was the word “LOVE”.  On the eighth day, Father Adam and Mother Eve sinned.  As they left the Garden of Eden, they asked God for an assurance that He would not abandon them.

“You have the coin,” He told them.  “But, the coin says LOVE,” they answered.  “We have lost love. How ever will we find it again?  

“Turn it over,” God said.  On the other side of the coin was written the word “FORGIVENESS.” 

 

Aurelio goes on to say that there is no love without forgiveness and no forgiveness without love. They are the two sides of the same coin. (Crossroads Publishing Co., 1993).

Forgiveness is difficult to give & to receive.  Knowing that God’s Son Jesus Christ loves us & forgives us is wonderful. 

May God Be Praised!

A story about a man named “Al”

Not all dads appear to be so sterling at first.  A man tells of someone he knew named Al, who had lost a son. Then his wife left him, and he had to raise their other child, then six years old, alone.

Unable to cope, he turned to alcohol.  Eventually, Al lost everything, and died alone in a motel room.  The man thought “What a complete failure!”  “What a totally wasted life!”

As time went by, he began to re-evaluate his earlier harsh judgment. He knew Al’s adult son, Ernie who was one of the kindest, most caring, most loving men he had ever met.  

He watched Ernie with his children and saw the free flow of love between them.  He knew that the kindness and the caring had to come from somewhere.

One day the man worked up my courage to ask Ernie: “I’m really puzzled by something,” "I know your father was basically the only one to raise you.  What on earth did he do that you became such a special person?”

Ernie sat quietly and reflected for a few moments.  Then he said, “From my earliest memories as a child until I left home at eighteen, my dad came into my room every night, gave me a kiss, and said, ‘ I love you, son.”

Tears came to the man’s eyes as he realized what a fool I had been to judge Al as a failure, because although he had not left any material possessions behind.  He had been a kind and loving father, and he left behind a fine & giving man.  We never know the impact that we have on people.  Let the Father of us all be our guiding light through His Son Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit – One God today and forever.

The poet John Donne wrote, “God never says, you should have come yesterday; he never says, you must come again tomorrow, but today if you will hear his voice, today he will hear you… All occasions invite his mercies, and all time are his seasons.”

God is waiting for you right now, go to the Lord!

May God Be Praised!

A few thoughts on Marriage!

Married love and fidelity are part of God’s original plan, part of Jesus’ Kingdom. Robert Quillen wrote, “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”  A good marriage is based on forgiveness, trust and love.  The sacrament of marriage…is a total giving and sharing by each spouse so that the line between “his” and “hers” disappears into only “ours.”

Each of us married or single, ordained or lay, are called to focus our lives on doing God’s will!  Our relationship with the Lord is the most important relationship in our lives.  If you are married then, your relationship with your spouse is next in importance.  Each relationship we have with another human being should bring us closer to God.

The Art of Marriage

A good marriage must be created.

In the marriage, the little things are the big things…

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together and facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right person.

It is being the right partner.  [Anonymous]

In the book of Genesis, we read “… a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and the two of them become one flesh.” 

You’re aware of the high divorce rate and how painful the break up of a marriage is - - too many times people are married without the vocational call to marriage.  Without a mature understanding and commitment to the hard work and sacrifice needed to make a marriage successful.  Married life/Family life is under attack in our nation and we must all pray for family life and married love and fidelity in our land.

 

Whether you are married or not you can listen to and act on the words of St. Francis de Sales. “I see good in you and am happy for your sake. I choose and act to make your goodness grow for your sake.” 

Or Thomas Milton, “… love seeks one thing, only the good of the one loved… Love, therefore, is its own reward.”  But our starting point is loving of God, de Sales, “Nothing in this world can satisfy the person who is not first satisfied with God.”  So let’s love God and pray for those called to the vocation of Marriage.

May God Be Praised!

Take a few minutes today to reflect on these words that call each of us to holiness, they come from The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church promulgated by the Second Vatican Council (Article 40):

                  

 “No matter what your condition of life,

                  No matter who you are

                  Or what you do,

                  Christ is calling you to be holy.

                 

                  In fact, the Spirit is even now moving

                  you interiorly to love God more deeply

                  and serve God more fully.

                  We have been made sons and daughters of God

                  through baptism and now we share in the divine life.

                 

                  This means that we are truly made holy,

                  we are truly called to live accordingly.

                  We are among the saints,

                  God’s chosen ones,

                  beloved of God,

                  called to be meek,

                  to be kind,

                  and to be loving.

                  God’s mercy is upon us.”

                  Amen.

We thank you, O God, for calling each of us to live in holiness and love.  May we now embrace this calling with faith.  We believe your Spirit fills us and empowers us to respond to your presence.

We have been touched and healed by Christ who lives with us now and forever.  Lord Jesus, fill us with grace and lead each of us to a holy life.

Dear Jesus, we adore you and we ask You to bless us, and be with us, now and forever.  Amen.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm

May God Be Praised!