Fr. Bob's Corner

On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29, 2009) Pope  Benedict XVI  published an  Encyclical entitled: "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth). Here are a few quotes that speak of our integral human relationship to Creation. “The way humanity treats the environment influences the way it treats itself, and vice versa” ……. “The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere.”

In 2010 in his New Year Message he said, “It should be evident that the ecological crisis cannot be viewed in isolation from other related questions, since it is closely linked to the notion of development itself and our understanding of man in his relationship to others and to the rest of creation.” I encourage reading and study of the two documents. Here is a video that might inspire….

The Jesuits have put together an inspiring and helpful website to help our prayer and meditation during Advent. “A new prayer session is produced every day.  It is not a 'Thought for the Day', a sermon or a bible-study, but rather a framework for your own prayer.

Lasting between ten and thirteen minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection.  The aim is to help you to:

  become more aware of God's presence in your life

  listen to and reflect on God's word

  grow in your relationship with God.

It is produced by Jesuit Media Initiatives, with material written by a number of British Jesuits and other experts in the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Although the content is different every day, it keeps to the same basic format.”

I haven’t posted for a while for a variety of reasons: health, parish duties, and a sense of weariness from the many problems our church is  facing. As I meditated on this Sunday’s Gospel about the lost lamb, the lost coin, and the prodigal son – powerful parables that leave no doubt in my mind of God’s unconditional love for each and every one of us, I felt the comforting sense of the Lord’s presence and love in my life. Yet, I still tossed and turned after I went to bed, and found myself getting up and reviewing emails and then coming across a little article from a previously unknown Jesuit publication: Company Magazine.

Today is the Anniversary of 911. Lately we have been bombarded  by controversies about ground zero in New York. ( I don’t need to name them, you’ve probably heard most of them.) In the midst of all the rhetoric and arguing  there seems to be a total loss of the courageous outpouring of heroic love this tragic day released. In the midst of mayhem, death, fear, and even despair, there was a powerful message of hope and inspiration, as the people of New York and around the world responded. This little article (albeit vintage), “Amid the Ashes: An Ignatian Response to September’s Terror.” could  prove a partial anecdote to the weariness you might be feeling too. The world has definitely changed since that day – war, terror, religious bigotry, etc…. Yet, it is in the midst of darkness that the light becomes bright and stunning. David Nantais, SJ, a university minister for the College of Engineering and Science at the University of Detroit Mercy, was so inspired by the response of many of his Jesuit colleagues and friends that he wrote:

 “Men and Women for Others. We (Jesuit’s) say this so often that it can seem trite. But it was anything but following September 11. At Jesuit institutions all over the country love definitely showed itself as deeds. Whether working in the midst of the horror of Ground Zero, showing up to donate blood In Kansas City, or lighting a candle at a prayer vigil in Chicago, the true heart of Ignatius’s words were witnessed and felt.

Read his little article, it will help relieve some of the darkness of this present time: “Amid the Ashes: An Ignatian Response to September’s Terror,”

Don Luigi, Mille Grazie e Arrivederci!

Posted using ShareThis

This week’s Gospel is directed at men who believe themselves to be ‘God’s Best’ – ‘God’s Favorites’ – ‘God’s Important Leaders and Teachers’. The ‘chief priest’s and elder’s of the people’ who challenge Jesus’ authority in this week’s Gospel have inflated egos, and perceive Jesus to be nothing but a fraud because he associates with (sinners) prostitutes and tax collectors. We might say that their own sense of self-importance and worthiness blinds them to God’s ways and Jesus’ message, They judge only by appearances and their own inflated sense of self-worth and holiness.These are not humble holy people, but self-important querulous men, who consider others to be well beneath themselves in holiness and goodness.

Jesus has little time or respect for their self’ important critical ways, and tells them a little story about two sons:

A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I am going,sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” (Matt 21: 28-32)

The first son (reflecting the sinners Jesus associates with in his ministry) is far from perfect ,and he verbally refuses to respect his father’s authority and wishes. No,”I will not,” he says to his father, but then changes his mind and fulfills his father’s wishes. The second son (reflecting the challengers) appears respectful and obedient, but ultimately ignores his father’s request. He says ‘Yes’ with his mouth, but ‘no’, by his actions. When Jesus asks them which one did the father’s will, they say the first. In that case, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” By his response, he is telling them that looks can be deceiving. Just because someone is a sinner, doesn’t mean that there is little or no hope for them. In fact, it is the other way around. It is those with the puffed up attitude of perfection – the better than others syndrome – for which there is much less hope. Yes, the saying in the title is correct: Pride goes before a fall. Pride cuts us off from others, ourselves, and from God and God’s ways.

Here is a little story that might help:

A man received a promotion to the position of Vice President of the company he worked for. The promotion went to his head, and for weeks on end he bragged to anyone and everyone that he was now VP. His bragging came to an abrupt halt when his wife, so embarrassed by his behaviour, said, “Listen Bob, it’s not that big a deal. These days everyone’s a vice president. Why they even have a vice president of peas down at the supermarket!”

Somewhat deflated, Bob telephoned the local supermarket to find out if this was true. “Can I speak to the Vice President of peas please?” he asked, to which the reply came: “of fresh or frozen?”

St. Paul tells all of us about the ‘make or break’ nature of love in our lives. He says:” If I do not have love, I am nothing.” (1Cor.13:2) We can have all kinds of wonderful gifts, but if we don’t receive and give love, life becomes meaningless, and we become meaningless and lost.

Here is a little story told by Fr. John Jay Hughes that helps us appreciate the significance of Paul’s words.

Marie is eighty-seven years old and a widow. She has lived for several years in a nursing home. It is hard to grow old, to have to give up your own place and to be dependent on others. Marie has never been able to adjust. She is crabby and disagreeable much of the time. She complains over trifles. She criticizes those who look after her, often for little or no reason. Her loved ones have reproached her for her bitterness, and tried to talk her out of it. They’ve failed.

One day Marie received a letter from her grandson at college. He told her how much the whole family loved her, how she was an inspiration to them. He said how much he admired her. Shortly after she received the letter a priest visited her. He found her clutching the letter, in tears.

“I want you to read that, Father,” Marie said. When he had, she told him she wanted to go to confession. She did so and received the Lord’s forgiveness: that love that will never let us go, which heals us and makes us well again.

Afterwards Marie was transformed. For the first time anyone could remember she was kind to the nurses. Instead of criticizing them, she thanked them for all they did for her. What had changed her was simply a letter which said: “Grandma, we love you.” It is love that breaks through. And the cross is a picture of God’s love for us.

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of The Exaltation of the Cross. Through the centuries many have been mystified, and even scandalized by the Cross.” Why did Jesus have to die in such a horrific and gory manner,” some ask? Others, look at this Christian symbol, and find it morbid and depressing. “I can’t bear to look at it,” some will say. “Put it where I won’t see it,” they say.

As Hurricane Ike swept through the Gulf of Mexico and into Galviston,Texas this weekend, I imagined the horror and suffering of the people that were living through it. How tragic, how hopeless, how scandalous, it all seemed. Some were probably asking: “Where is God? Why does God allow this? These are the same types of thoughts and questions that Jesus’ disciples had when Jesus was tortured and died on a cross.

With these thoughts in my mind, I found myself remembering the father and son who wandered aimlessly in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina . The father of the little boy had clung to his wife’s hand as long as he had been physically capable of, after which the roaring flood waters pulled her away from him to her death. “I wanted to save her,” he said, “I loved her. I would have changed places with her, if I could have.” (not a truly verbatim account, but my recollection) As, I thought of this event, and the love that this man had for his wife, I was reminded of God’s love for us, and God’s all powerful ability to reach out and hold on to us, even in death.

Not one of us can escape suffering and death for we are all mortal. Most of us will cry out in agony when faced with life’s mysterious tragedies, but if we turn to the ‘Cross of Christ’, we will hear the Savior’s voice: “I love you.” And in that moment, we will truly understand, appreciate, and accept the Cross for what it is – the ultimate sign that God does understand and loves us. Yes, at times, we might feel lost and abandoned in times of suffering, but the love of God will always give us hope and comfort in the midst of our pain, if we allow God’s spirit to dwell in our hearts

As we celebrate Eucharist this Sunday, let us cling to the words from this Sunday’s Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

When faced with the mystery of suffering, let us remember and rely on these words for inspiration.Yes, God loves us, and the cross is the ultimate tangible sign of God’s enduring unconditional love. Let us pray that the Cross will always remind us of God’s love, and that we are called to be bearers of God’s love in this world. Let us pray that we never forget in despair that the Love of God, the Love of Christ, is a conquering and saving love.

Having a wonderful time. Here are the links to some of the pictures I have uploaded to flickr. They are not very organized, but you can see what I have been up to, and where I’ve been taking in the sights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/parishpictures/sets/72157606048655495/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/parishpictures/sets/72157606045137408/

If you would just like to read the letter, it is excellent, here is the link: www.acbc.catholic.org.au/documents/200804271910.pdf

The Easter Triduum renews in us great hope, says Holy Father