Monday, November 26, 2018

Christ The King


George Orwell  -Animal Farm & 1984 -  “I thought of a rather cruel trick I once played on a wasp. He was sucking jam on my plate, and I cut him in half. He paid no attention, merely went on with his meal, while a tiny stream of jam trickled out of his severed esophagus. Only when he tried to fly away did he grasp the dreadful thing that had happened to him. It is the same with modern man. The thing that has been cut away is his soul, and there was a period - during which he did not notice it."

A man who lost his soul.
Pontius Pilate – 5th Roman Governor of Judea.  Appointed by Tiberius to serve from 26 to 36.
His job - Keep law & order and send taxes to Rome.

Along comes this Jesus – whom some are calling the king of the Jews.
In time he realizes he is no threat to Rome – after all, he said - my kingdom is not of this world.
But he is torn. What to do with this man?
One hand – wife had a dream – have nothing to do with this innocent man.
Other – what was politically correct thing to do, to keep the peace?

1)      He washes his hands. How often have we done that – should have said something, done something, but did nothing?  Should have spoken – did not
A German theologian, Martin Niemoller, reflected on what happened in WWII:
 They came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not object
Then they came for the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist so I did not object.
Then they came for the Poles, but I was not a Pole, so I did not object.
Then they came for me. And there was no one left to object.

2)      Sent Jesus to his death to satisfy constituents.  What was politically correct?
Politician – I am personally opposed but  .   the polls say.
No longer interested in the truth.

Famous – Man for all Seasons
St. Thomas More vs. King Henry VIII
Henry – How is it you cannot see. Everyone else does.
More – They why does thy grace need my poor support.
Henry – Because you are honest. What’s more to the purpose, you’re known to be honest . . . there are those like Norfolk who follow me because I wear a crown, and there are those like Master Cromwell who follow me because they are jackals with sharp teeth and I am their lion, and there is a mass that follows me because it follows anything that moves – and there is you.

In the last moments of his life – he uttered those famous words – I am the good king’s servant – but God’s first!
What profit to gain whole world and lose soul.
All kingdoms have come and gone.
One kingdom has lasted forever.  Our King and Our Lord, Jesus Christ

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Thanksgiving

Eucharist means Thanksgiving! Join us for Thanksgiving Day Mass at 8:00 a.m. We wish all of our parishioners a Happy Thanksgiving!

Note - On Thursday & Friday our offices will be closed and the Adoration Chapel will be closed.

Behold, I Stand At The Gates


Kurt Vonnegut called it  the greatest American short story  of all time – An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge.
Peyton has been sentenced to death by Union soldiers. A board has been placed on the bridge and the condemned man is made to walk out over the water. His thoughts are of his wife and children, then he hears the ticking of a watch, his watch.  A rope is placed around his neck and, he waits.
A command is given and Peyton plunges down. But the rope breaks and he lands in the water. He begins to swim for his life. He notices a branch in the water and the beauty of the leaves. He sees a spider spinning a web and he is amazed by the intricacy. He feels the wetness of the water and sees the blue of the sky. It  never felt so beautiful.
Suddenly he hears gun fire and he swims and swims. He lands on shore and sees a flower. He smells it.  Then, he starts running – he comes to the house with the white fence and his wife comes running out to greet him.
Just as they embrace – the scene shifts back to Owl Creek Bridge – and there he is - dead.  The escape didn’t happen at all. He imagined that he had got a second chance at life – a life he saw in a new way with new eyes.  
Life – such a precious gift   “How Long Have  I been alive for?”
I have been alive for 23,325 days – 559,814 hours – over 2 billion seconds.
I don’t remember most of them. But the time will come when they will end – and I will have to stand before Christ and account for them.  For every moment, for everything I have done or failed to do, for every decision or indecision, for every choice for and against love, for every opportunity taken or missed  – I will have to give an account – without excuses.
I am afraid that at my judgment, I will see that, far too often, I settled for something less. I know that Christ is merciful, but, at this point in my life, I must take the opportunities given to me.
1)      Recommit to living out my faith as a child of God – pray, fast from sin, and serve others.
2)      Keep asking for the grace to remove anything from my life that is unworthy of my Christian dignity.
3)      Must re-order my life around the commandments to love God and love my neighbor
The gospel today  reminds us – the moment will come when we meet Jesus at the end of life. Unlike the man at Owl Creek Bridge, we have a second chance to prepare – right now.   Will I finally begin to love as Jesus loved. Will I finally begin to serve as Jesus served?

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Veteran's Day (Observed)

Monday, November 12 is Veteran's Day (observed). Morning Mass is at 7:00 a.m. Our parish offices will be closed and the Adoration Chapel will be closed. May God bless all of our Veteran's!

The Widow's Mite!


Nov 11, 1918 – 100 years ago tomorrow (today) – WWI ended – the ‘war to end all wars.”  Our President, Woodrow Wilson, hoped to prevent another war by creating a “League of Nations.” He had to get the backing of the American people, so he set out on a train trip across the country.

One day the train stopped at Billings Montana. Two little boys got through security and stood right in front of the President & Mrs. Wilson. One boy was waving a flag, and presented it to the President. The other  boy realized he had no gift to give, so he reached into his pocket and pulled out a dime (a lot of money). The president thanked him warmly.

Five years later, after the President died, Mrs. Wilson opened up his wallet. Tucked inside, neatly wrapped, was the dime. He never forgot the generosity of a young boy!

Today we meet a widow -  word means “unable to speak”
In that culture the husband always spoke for wife -  husband dies, she has 2 choices – to marry his brother or to go back to her father’s home -   often neither wanted her – then she was on her own.
Remember – no welfare system, no social security -  she had nothing but charitable support.

She approaches the temple -  “Court of Women”
Thirteen containers   shape of trumpets   little signs
She drops in 2 copper coins – hear a clang -   and Jesus noticed.

Reactions of Jesus:

1)      There might have been Anger –  is this widow being taken advantage of?  God help anyone who takes advantage of our elderly. Would often see my dad with a stack of requests for donations. – but no – he would always want to help others and so did she.
2)      She had forgiven God – her husband was gone, but she was grateful for the time she had with him. She realized each day was a blessing – and you can’t count on tomorrow.
3)      ) Amazed at generosity  -   poor widow had very little – gave her all.
He was about to give his “all”  on the cross.  This is Love!

Someone has enumerated four different types of giving.
1)      Grudge giving. I hate to part with this twenty dollar bill but I will.
2)      Shame giving. I must match whatever the others are giving.
3)      Calculated giving. We part with our money with what is called, a "lively sense of favors to come." Bingos, Las Vegas nights, and raffle tickets fit in very nicely in this category.
4)      Thanksgiving. I share my funds precisely because God has been generous to me. I realize that all I am and all I have is ultimately a gift – what return can I make to the Lord???   To live in that Spirit of Thanksgiving changes how we look and life and how we behave toward others.

Another President - Lincoln
A young lawyer – approached by a man – I want to retain you – a man owes me $2.50  a lot of money at the time – my retainer fee is $10.00  -  OK  -   Lincoln receives the $10.00  -   goes to the other man, gives him $5.00   now go repay what you owe.
What we do with money tells much about us and what we value!

Monday, November 5, 2018

PARISH MISSION

Our Parish Mission will be held November 5-6-7 - Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday. Our Preacher is Father Tom Garrott of the Dominican Order.

Our Schedule:

Morning Mission Mass at 9:00 a.m,
Mission Rosary at 7:10 p.m.
Parish Mission at 7:30 p.m.

All Welcome!!!

Note - Adoration Chapel will close each evening at 7:00 p.m.