Pentecost Homily - You are Christ

"Clouds" Homily for the Ascension inspired by Zach Sobiech

"As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven."

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When faced with months to live, how do you say goodbye?

Zach turned to music.

Zach can't stop writing lyrics, there are so many songs he wants to leave behind. With only months to live his song called "Clouds" was born.

"My name is Zach Sobiech, I'm 17 years old and I have osteosarcoma... I've been told I have only a few months to live, but I still have a lot of work to do. I want everyone to know, you don't have to find out your dying to start living. Most people live kind of in the middle like... "Oh, dream come true and you're dying."

For Zach both of them are true but he's living in hope. "It makes you happy in seeing someone else smile because you put it there."

Zach's mother describes the day they found out he had cancer. "When we found the cancer in his pelvis, I said, You know, maybe you should start writing some letters." She was encouraging him to say goodbye to people and to say the things he needs to say for closure. Zach found it difficult to do that but he began to di it in a way that was one of his greatest gifts. "Music is a way I can express myself without having to burden everyone else."

His mom recalls the discovery: "I was cleaning up downstairs and there was a lot of paper laying around with different scribbling on it and I picked one up and it was CLOUDS."

Sammy and Zach have been dear friends for many many years, their are songwriters.

Zach, who is so genuine and sincere, wants to be there for the ones he loves. "My closure is being able to get my feelings into theses songs so they can have something to remember me by or lean on when I was gone." His mother knows she will be leaning on these songs. "For me its Zachs way of saying I'm OK and saying Goodbye and I'm just so grateful that its there because I'm gonna to need it later."

Zach has written songs for his family, friends and loved ones. Zach's older brother tearing up says: "His music is kind of like a record of how much he cares for us." And his baby sister Grace shares "There's a song that he wrote me "For My Grace" so I'll keep that always with me, constantly. "I love you."

Zach was supposed to go on a date with his girlfriend Amy on the day he went for testing. When he found out it how serious it was the doctors wouldn't let him go. He was so disappointed not to be able to go on this picnic with Amy.

When Amy found out she asked her mother for advice and her mother said: "Would you date him if he didn't have cancer" and she said "Yeah."

Amy decided to suprise him with a picnic of her own later on. She had a picnic for him on the Minnesota Vikings field and as he walked in they saw a red checkered cloth in the middle of the field, a picnic basket, and on the billboard: "I love you Zach, I'll never let go. Amy" Zach remembers "I almost burst into tears just because it was so perfect."

Amy "We know what we both would want in our future, we know we would love each other just the same amount." We talked about getting married and having kids and our jobs and we do that a lot when we have bad days... so like when I start to cry... we'll sit down and plan it all out...

Zach, I kind of want four because you can have two boys and two girls because that's what we had in our family and it worked out pretty well.

It's kind of like one of those things that is your ultimate dream and most people ignore it... and mine obviously probably wont.

Amy "I think the moment I'm most scared about is leaving the hospital after he's gone and knowing that he's not coming with and having to walk out of there.

"I will actually love her to death, to my death, that's the thing it's like why not get married 'cause you know it's like till death to us part and I'm dying so you better get on this. I do love her to death and I will forever."

Zach begins to say his goodbyes...

"Mom and Dad... best parents that anyone could ever ask for, I could only wish that I could have kids and raise them like you raised me, because [big smile] you did one hell of a job, you're the best parents that anyone could ever ask for... [He wipes his eyes with Kleenex struggles to get it out] and I love both of you so much. And thank you for being my parents."

His Mother shares her new found perspective: "I think that's actually one of the blessings of cancer is that you actually come out of denial, and so in doing that things are better, you know that life is richer, everything means more, beauty is more beautiful, he's a beautiful person and I'm so happy to have been Zach Sobiech mom."

I want to be remembered as the kid who went down fighting and didn't really lose.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The Ascension is kind of like Jesus' last goodbye. After the Resurrection he appeared to his disciples for 40 days and now a cloud would lift him up and he would be taken out of there sight, but before doing so he gives them some final words of encouragement, he held his hands over them, and blessed them.

Moments of saying goodbye are often intensified by all the memories of the times shared. Things are said that maybe have never been said, the deepest sentiments are shared, healing takes place, affirmations of love are made, and often one last look at the person that you love to try to remember them by.

It's been said that there are five things that you should always say to someone who you are saying goodby to.

1) I love you
2) I'm sorry
3) I forgive you
4) Thank you
5) I will always remember you

Maybe you never had the opportunity to say these words to someon you loved. In prayer, because of our union with Christ and the Community of Saints, you can call them to mind. Imagine their face and speak these words to them: I love you, I'm sorry for anything I ever did that hurt you, I forgive you for anything you knowingly or unknowingly did or didn't do that hurt me, Thank you for all that you did do for me, and I will always remember you.

This can bring great healing in your life, because as we hear in the funeral rite "For those of us who believe life is changed, not ended." That means life is only different, we can still say those words, we can still hear the words that we have always needed to hear.

But, as Zach Sobiech pleads with us: "I want everyone to know, you don't have to find out your dying to start living." We don't have to wait until someone is dying to say these words.

You could say these words to your loved ones everytime you see them, every time you say goodbye... or just maybe, if you've never said them before... say them once. "I love you, I'm sorry, I forgive you, Thank you, and I will never forget who you are to me."

On this Solmnety of the Ascension of The Lord we celebrate and are encouraged by the Opening Prayer:

"Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before us in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God Forever and Ever."
Zach Sobiech has the opportunity to say goodbye and it is a sacred time, but we don't have to wait until we die to say these words.

As our Lord Ascended into heaven, it was not to leave us behind or to seperate Himself from us, but to go before us and lead the way that we may follow in Hope.

As The Lord was taken up into the clouds, Zach realizes that soon he will be taken into Heaven... and though he is experienceing joy now and going "Up, up, up" into the Clouds, he is going to fly a little higher.

Well I fell down, down, down Into this dark and lonely hole There was no one there to care about me anymore And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge You were sitting there holding a rope

And we’ll go up, up, up But I’ll fly a little higher We’ll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer Up here my dear It won’t be long now, it won’t be long now


The truth is, it won't be long now for any of us, but we don't have to wait until we are dying to live. We can "fly a little higher" right now.

Find a way to say those five things to the people that you love: "I love you, I'm sorry, I forgive you, I thank you, and I will never forget you."

 

 Watch the Music Video "Clouds"

   

 Watch the Documentary!

 


.... Update....

(CNN) -- Zach Sobiech, 18, passed away this morning, surrounded by family and friends.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/20/health/sobiech-viral-video-death/index.html?c=homepage-t

Beautiful Day Off - The Lake was Glass.

Angels and Saints at Ephesus (New CD)

Their Advent CD was awesome - now here is one for Ordinary Time... Enjoy... You can download and listen to instantly!

100 Totally Awesome Blogs By Catholic Priests

I made the list, last but not least - They are in no particular order:)  Check out the others!

"Home" Homily with the Ukulele

Listen to the words of the song and let God sing them to you...

When you receive the Eucharist "Know you're not alone... Because God's going to make your place His Home."

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone
Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone
Cause I'm going to make this place your home. 

----

We all have times when we feel like we are doing this life along.  Have you ever felt that at work?  Or with your family?  Or with your problems?  With your children? With school?  With yourself?  With your sin?

YOU DON"T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE ANYMORE!

In the Gospel Jesus assures us "my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

To make a "dwelling" means to take up permanent residence.  

When you receive the Eucharist, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit dwell in your heart.  God lives in you.  

So first of all, "Hold on to me as we go, as we roll down this unfamiliar road."  Just hold on to Him.  It may be unfamiliar you might not know exactly what you are doing in life, but just hold on to Him.  God's going to make your place His home.  That means that everywhere you go He is with you, in you, Home wherever you go.  Know you're not alone.  

Secondly, "Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear."  

Jesus assures us: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

So settle down, do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid, it will all be clear.  God will reveal Himself and His plan to you.  And don't pay ANY attention to "the demons" that fill you with fear.  Those voices, anxieties, worries, are not of God.  God's voice, if you are leading a good and holy life, will always bring you to peace, calm, joy, serenity... that is the "Peace I leave with you."

Finally, The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found.  

Your troubles may get you down and from time to time you may lose your way or get caught up in sin.  "If you get lost, you can always be found."  

If you find yourself getting anxious, worried, afraid... If you have fallen away from your faith or turned from Him or have run away.  YOU CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND.  Come back to Him... Let Him live in you.  Hold on to Him.

You don't have to do it alone anymore.  

"Just know you're not alone... He's going to make your place His home."  

photo.JPG

photo.JPG, a photo by fathermichaeljdenk on Flickr.

Spring at the Lake House

Share on Facebook, a set on Flickr.

Sunflowers are sprouting, Seminarians are getting their assignments, and the sun is shining... God is so good!

"Faith with Father" On Living Bread Radio

Click here to listen to my interviews on questions of our faith.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine, a photo by fathermichaeljdenk on Flickr.

Boston - Nothing will shake them

I find it very difficult to preach during times like this when we are supposed to be celebrating the Easter Season and everybody is thinking about the tragedy that happened earlier this week in Boston. I think the only people that have it more difficult than us priests and deacons during this time is late night comedians.

I read an article recently titled "How Late-Night Handled the Boston Tragedy." And I realized in many ways it's how we have to handle it. We are a people of the Resurrection, so we rejoice even in the face of suffering, we can even laugh in the face of death!

We read in the book of Revelation:

“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

We are the one's who have survived and continue to survive great distress in our Country. The Boston Marathon is only one of unfortunately numerous terrifying events that have rocked our country over these last years. Our clothes and our memories have been stained with blood.

I'm sure you saw the video and the graphic images from the explosion near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. There was blood splattered on the concrete, people being wheeled away with missing legs, a man comforting a victim laying his body over her trying to protect her and take on her pain, survivors embracing, Marathon runners confused and not knowing which way to turn, and the picture of the little boy in his white first communion suit with the banner of the bread and wine.


There are three things that we can learn from this tragic event if we look with the eyes of faith: First, We can laugh in the face of death. Second, There is an answer to the question: "Why would God let this happen?". And Third, we are called to become love and light.

First, We can Laugh in the Face of Death: "How Late-Night Handled the Boston Tragedy."

Conan O'Brien began his show as always center stage with his big wave of hair in a very heartfelt way: "What an upsetting and sad day it has been... Boston's my hometown – it’s where I grew up, it’s where my family lives. So I wanted to take a moment to say that, like everybody here, my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Boston and everybody who's been affected by this senseless act..." that being said he changed his demeanor and continued: "it is our job to do a show. We’re going to try and entertain you the very best we can. Which, given our track record, gives you people a 20 percent chance of having a good show tonight!"


I think my "job" as a priest and as a preacher is certainly not to entertain or get people to laugh, but to point to the light and to the truth.   We hear in the book of Revelation:

"For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
We do have a Shepherd that is leading us into Eternal Life. Take a moment now to allow the Father to wipe your tears, to calm your fears, and maybe even to allow you to laugh.

Stephen Colbert began his show with an enthusiastic "Tonight..." and then quickly shifted into a somber tone not without a twinkle in his eye:  "look, before we begin, I just want to take a moment to talk about the attack in Boston yesterday. Obviously, our thoughts and our prayers are with everybody there. And as the president said, we don't know who did this, but they will be found, and they will be brought to justice. But whoever did this obviously did not know (anything) about the people of Boston. Because nothing these terrorists do is going to shake them. For Pete's sake, Boston was founded by the pilgrims — a people so tough they had to buckle their (darn) hats on. It is the cradle of the American revolution. A city that withstood an 86-year losing streak. A city that made it through the Big Dig, a construction project that backed up traffic for 16 years — I mean, there are commuters just getting home now. Even their bands are tough. It's the hometown of Aerosmith, who are, in their fifth decade, still going strong. Even Steven Tyler looks fantastic, for a 73-year-old woman!"

He continued, "But here is what these cowards really don't get. They attacked the Boston Marathon. An event celebrating people who run 26 miles on their day off until their nipples are raw — for fun. And they have been holding it in Boston since 1897. And do you know how tough you have to be to run in a whalebone corset? And when those bombs went off, there were runners who, after finishing a marathon, kept running for another two miles to the hospital to donate blood.

So here's what I know. These maniacs may have tried to make life bad for the people of Boston, but all they can ever do is show just how good those people are."

I

It's interesting how a late night comedy show host can help us see the beauty in an event like this.

The Psalmist reminds us: "Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song."
We can laugh in the face of death because we are a people of the Resurrection.



Second, There is an answer to the question: "Why would God let this happen?".

As a priest many people will ask me this question, not so much as a question but as a doubt in the goodness of God.  The truth is though, that there really is an answer to this question.

The distress is over, the suspects have been stopped and caught and the light is shattering the darkness. But, why did God let this happen?  Many will focus on the horror, the tragedy, and how to protect ourselves in the future.  I suggest looking at this event with the eyes of faith.  

The Late Mr. Rogers had a favorite quote that he remembered from his childhood: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me 'Look for the people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster' I remember my mothers words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."


What is it that kept those exhausted Marathon runners going for another 2 miles?

What is it that allowed people that instincts would drive to run away to turn and run back into the danger?

What is it that causes our whole nation to grieve for those who were killed or injured?

Love...

Why would God let something like this happen? ...Love

You see God gave us a free will in order that we might have the potential to love. This free will also allows us to do quite the opposite. We know in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." He allowed his own Son to suffer a violent death because He so much believed in Love.

God does not intend the evil that happens in this world, but He does permit it. Why? He permits it because of the potential for us to love. He believes in Love so much so that He is willing to risk tragedies like this.  Why does God allow things like this to happen?  "Look for the helpers."  God allows evil to happen because he believes in love.

Third, We are called to become light and love.  
"For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 13) 

What Stephen Colbert, Conan Obrien, and the late Mr. Rogers point us to is light and Love.  

 If we look at this tragedy in Boston with the eyes of faith we can see that the light does overcome the darkness, the people of Boston were not destroyed by the explosions... if we "look for the helpers", we see that good people rose up.
  



The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.

This is only a tragedy if we fail to laugh in the face of death, know the answer to the question "Why does God allow this to happen?", and finally become the people of light and of love that he created us to be.  

We do have a good Shepherd leading us and showing us the way to love... 

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand."

Pictures from El Salvador

Easter Vigil - Candidates 2013

Good Friday Homily: Pleasure or Pain. Which do you choose first?

Mother Theresa carried one book with her at all times.  It was Fulton Sheen's the Life of Christ.  She read it constantly and encouraged all of her sisters to do so as well.  I highly encourage you to read it as well.

Fulton Sheen wonderfully describes Good Friday:

The world generally gives its best pleasures first; afterward come the dregs and the bitterness. But Christ reversed the order and gave us the feast after the fast, the Resurrection after the Crucifixion, the joy of Easter Sunday after the sorrow of Good Friday.

Isn't this so true?  Think about the pleasures the world offers and the "dregs and bitterness" that follow.  You drink to the point that you feel euphoric... you get a hangover.  You eat your favorite fast food, mmm... tastes great.... You get sick to your stomach and feel gross about yourself moments later.  You escape into Fantasy and self pleasure... instantly after the moment of satisfaction comes guilt and shame.  You feel the high that comes from a drug... your body becomes addicted and you need more or suffer withdrawal.  You engage in the pleasure of premarital sex, your relationship instantly becomes complicated and there's anxiety of pregnancy and sadness from giving  yourself away.

All of these at first intense pleasures so quickly followed by "dregs and bitterness."

"But Christ reversed the order and gave us the feast after the fast."

The idea is that if you fast first, if you wait until marriage, if you abstain from that which is not good for you, if you avoid the intoxication the world gives.  If you fast - you will experience the great feast.

What this means for us is that we can abstain from immediate pleasure (especially if it is sinful) knowing that a far greater pleasure will come, if not immediately after.  It means that any suffering that we encounter, if endured and not escaped, will be transformed into the Resurrection 

Jesus came to reverse the order.  If we suffer first we will experience pleasure and joy later.

This means that our suffering is not meaningless.  All of it can and will be transformed by God if we join ourselves to Christ.

Are you suffering in any way right now?  Have you had some tragedy in your past that caused you great suffering?  It is not without meaning and it is not without purpose.

Though we may not know or understand it now, God can and will work through it, not only for your redemption, but for the redemption of the World.

Your suffering is not in vein.

Christ reverses the order and gives us the Feast after the Fast.

These past 40 days of fasting during lent have hopefully helped free you to more thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of Easter and ultimately the unbelievable ecstasy that we will experience in the Resurrection 

Easter Sunday ALWAYS follows Good Friday.

Homily for Holy Thursday: Anima Christi

Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

The "Anima Christi" prayer was made popular by St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises. Over the years it has become personal piety and through the ages has been closely tied to the Eucharist as well as the Holy Thursday Celebration which celebrates the Commemoration of the Eucharist.


Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malignant enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me. And bid me come unto Thee, That with all Thy saints, I may praise Thee Forever and ever. Amen.

This prayer is very profound and makes for a good meditation on the Eucharist for Holy Thursday. The following will lead you through verse by verse, with references to the Readings for the Mass of the Lord's Supper and questions to reflect on. May Christ bid you to come closer through this reflection.


Soul of Christ sanctify me.

"So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” John 13


It is through following the model of Christ that we become Holy... most especially in the celebration of the Eucharist. How faithful have you been to celebrating the Eucharist? Are you living a life modeled after Christ?


Body of Christ save me.

"Every family shall procure for itself a lamb... and shall share in the lamb." "That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with..." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Cor 11

Only Christ can save us from our sins and it comes through the very eating of His Flesh.

What sins do you need saved from?


Blood of Christ inebriate me.

"For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

"This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

"Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ." 1 Cor 10:16

"The cup of salvation I will take up," Psalm 116

"In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes."

It is no accident that Jesus chose wine to become His blood... rather than a drunken inebriation we become inebriated by Christ when we Drink His Blood... There is a sense of joy, exhilaration, exuberance, and celebration. This Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and The Easter Vigil plunge us into the Paschal Mystery of Christ, we experience and enter into the sorrows of the passion and death as well as the joy of the Resurrection.

You may find your life dry, barren, even boring, until you discover the inebriation that comes with Drinking Christ's Blood. Wouldn't you like to let go of control and be inebriated by Christ?


Water from Christ’s side wash me.

"Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around His waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Master, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.' Peter said to him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.' Jesus said to him, 'Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.' For He knew who would betray Him; for this reason, He said, 'Not all of you are clean.'" John 13

We all have our sins and are in need of cleansing. Every time we receive the Eucharist our sins are washed clean. Do you need cleansing?


Passion of Christ strengthen me.

"They shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

Life, suffering, work and toil can get us down... but when we unite it to the Cross, when we enter into Christ's passion we are strengthened. Are you in need of Strength?

O good Jesus hear me.

"To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, I will call upon the name of the Lord." Psalm 116

Right now in this moment as you prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ call upon the name of the Lord... say these words "O good Jesus hear me." What would you like to say to Him?

Within Thy wounds hide me.

It is the Passover of the Lord. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt - I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

"He rose from supper and took off His outer garments." John 13

We all have a desire to be protected, to be hidden in the Lord. He was wounded for our sake. Imagine yourself hiding in Christ's wounds... protected and sheltered by the King of Kings. What do you need refuge from? Let Him hide you.


Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.

"You have loosed my bonds." Psalm 116

"How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done to me?" Psalm 116

"He took a towel and tied it around his waist." John 13 

There is no greater suffering in this earth than to be separated from God... we have all probably experienced some sense of separation from God. Remember a time when you were separated from the Church... Ask him now to keep you united.


From the malicious enemy defend me.

"When I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

Do you have any enemies that you need defense from? He will defend you.


In the hour of my death call me,

"Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones." Psalm 116

"Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father." John 13

At some point we will all come to the point of our death. Would you know the voice of the Good Shepherd? Could you follow His voice through the darkness? Ask Jesus to call you that you may hear His voice.


And bid me come unto Thee

"This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution." Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

"I am your servant, the son of your handmaid" Psalm 116

"So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God..." John 13

As Mary said "I am the handmaiden of the Lord, do with me what you will." Have you been running from God, avoiding intimacy with God? Ask Him to invite you deeper right now.



that I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels. 

"Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ." 1 Cor 10:16

"My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of His people." Psalm 116

Is there anyone in your life who has died? Someone that you miss terribly... realize that in this very Eucharist they are present... they are interceding with you and for you... Is there anyone that you would like to pray for now? Know that they are praising God with you along with all of the Saints and Angels.


Forever and ever,

"He loved His own in this world and He loved them to the end." John 13

This moment now is forever. When we celebrate the Eucharist we enter into Eternity where we will worship and praise God, adore and contemplate God in all of His Glory.

Do you want to be with God forever?

He will never abandon you, He will never fail you, He is with you through the good times and the bad... God is with you forever and ever.


Amen

We have a Pope!!!!

What an amazing experience this was to be in El Salvador to have a Hispanic Pope... we watched in great anticipation as we heard the news "Habemus Papam..."  a lot of firsts... the first Jesuit Pope, the first from South America - also making him the first non-European Pope - is a significant move for the Church, taking the Papacy to a continent in which 42 per cent of the world's Catholics live!  Also the first to choose the name "Francisco" So we have Francis the First.   Maybe the name signifies, like Saint Francis, he will have a great love and devotion to the poor.  

 

It was a true joy to be here in El Salvador especially with Sr. Rose!!!!! 

 

Prayer for our Holy Father Francis I

 

 

--

Fr. Michael J. Denk

http://fathermichaeldenk.blogspot.com/

St. Joseph Church
200 St. Joseph Drive,
Amherst, Ohio 44001
(440) 988-2848