It Is Too Hard!

This weekend, ML baseball is being played in Europe for the first time – London, England. They are putting on a great pitching clinic!

At the start of the game they played  – the Star-Spangled Banner – it was written after Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry by the British in the War of 1812.   Our National Anthem was followed by – God Save the Queen. Our Revolutionary War was fought to declare freedom from the rule of the king.

The great turning point was the Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776.

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their resolve resulted in great suffering for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed

At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

There was a great cost in signing the Declaration of Independence.  We are reminded today, there is a cost to following Jesus

A person approached Jesus – “I will follow you wherever you go” – “Foxes have dens, birds of the sky have nests, Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”   Rome has occupied Israel and they lord it over them – In the same way, more and more, our governments, especially in our State, challenges our beliefs – so, do we give in? Go along? St. Thomas More – “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

Jesus tells another “follow me” – Let me go and bury my father first.   Who could be against burying father?   Points to excuses.  There is always an excuse!   Ask ourselves – will this action lead me to heaven or away from heaven?

I will follow, but (conditions) “first let me say farewell to those at home” Conditions – what is in it for me?  What am I getting out of this? 

Those who signed the Declaration could have said – lets go along with whatever the King says – or – could have made many excuses – or – made conditions – what am I getting out of this?

It is not a simple thing to be a disciple!!!

Remember the movie - A League of their Own – Women’s baseball League WWII   “There’s no crying in baseball”

Dottie wants to quit – her manager sees her packing - her husband is at war - tension with sister - grind on the road

It’s too hard!  -    Manager: It’s supposed to be hard - that is what makes it great!

We are called to greatness – Jesus says – come and be my disciple!!!

Trinity Sunday

Recently visited the Museum of Jewish Heritage – Exhibition on Auschwitz – “Not long ago – not far away.” First time many of these objects have come to North America. The purpose is – so that we never forget – so that it does not happen again.

After just a few minutes – one is speechless – what can be said in the face of such cruelty, such evil? A question some ask – where was God? Is there an answer? Will there ever be this side of the grave?

God does exist, but God has given us free will – chose path of light or darkness. God chooses to work through us, his children, to bring His light into the world, into dark places.

This is very much the role of Chris Merenda as he begins his ministry as a Deacon for the Archdiocese of New York.

He will do this – as a human person – as a father – as a Deacon.

1)   As a human person. At the exhibit, I was happy to see a remembrance of St. Maximilian Kolbe. In the midst of the Nazi terror, he and his fellow priest hid over 2,000 Jews. They were arrested. He was sent to Auchwitz. One day 3 prisoners disappeared – Nazis said because of this 10 will be put in the starvation bunker. One shouted out – please not me, I’m married, I have a family. A voice was heard – take me – Father Kolbe. He survived 2 weeks, the last one alive – led them in singing and in prayer. Light in darkness – no greater love.

2)   As a Father – how can father bring a light?

-          Be a father who loves their mother.

-          Be a father who prays.

-          Be a responsible father – provide for and protect family

-          Be present to your family.

-          Be a father who knows he is not perfect.

3)    As a Deacon – Chris will do many things – he will baptize, witness marriages, lead wakes and burial services, distribute Holy Communion, read the Gospel at Mass, pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Particularly attentive to the poor. But what is a deacon?

During the Nazi era, more than 2,500 priests were incarcerated at the Dachau concentration camp alone, many of whom over the years would be assigned to cell block 26, nicknamed the Priesterblock. Now, what did they talk about? Why wasn’t the church able to somehow influence society to prevent all of this from happening? What can we do in the future so this doesn’t happen again?

Immediately after the war these Dachau survivors, especially two Jesuit priests, Fathers Otto Pies and Wilhelm Schamoni, wrote about their conversations in a series of articles.

One of the things that they had discovered at Dachau was that the church seemed to be missing a servant’s heart. They began to say, “We have images of Christ the king and Christ the priest. But maybe what’s gone missing is Christ the servant. For 100 years we’ve been talking about the possibility of deacons here in Germany—that’s the missing piece, and that’s how this could come together.” I come among you as one who serves!

2^nd Vatican Council – German church made a push - renewed Deaconate – so that Dachau – Auchwitz would not happen again.

To be the Light of Christ in the world, at home, at work, in schools, in parish. That is the deacon. God bless Deacon Merenda as he begins his ministry among us!