Father Michael Denk's Blog

Lent is one week away!

2012-02-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Lent is one week from today. Traditionally there are three practices that we do during Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

Hopefully when next week comes and we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday you will already have resolutions. I’m writing this just to get you thinking so that you are not scrambling at the last minute trying to come up with a resolution and forgetting to do it or doing something without a lot of thought or reflection.

So here are some ideas:

Prayer:

-As Christians we are called to “Pray Daily”. If you do not spend some time every day in prayer than this could be your resolution. Make a commitment to spend some time in prayer every day (5, 10, 15 minutes) come “Hell or High Water.”

-If you need some help with ideas of how, when, and where to pray check out my link: 5 P’s of Prayer http://fathermichaeldenk.blogspot.com/p/5-ps-of-prayer.html

This site may give you some ideas too: http://oblatespring.com/oblatespring0651HomeShrines01.htmc

-If you don’t have a place to pray consider creating a place. Set up a prayer table that you can display some of your sacramentals (Crucifix, Statues, Holy Cards, Rosary, Icon, Candles). You can check some out here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=prayer+table&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=night+stand&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Anight+stand

Order it today and you’ll have it by “Ash Wednesday”. You could also spend time building your own prayer table or take the quick way and go pick one up at Wal-Mart or Target. Ask for Night Stands or End Tables. Or look around your house and find a spare table that you could set up in a room to create a place to pray.

When I was a child my father helped me build a bookshelf and I kept it in my closet. Whenever I wanted to pray I would open up the closet doors and I had my own little shrine that I could kneel and pray before.

You may also consider a Kneeler or what is known as a “Pie Dieu” http://www.churchsupplywarehouse.com/catalog_categoryItem.asp_Q_categoryId_E_47_A_subcategoryId_E_95_A_Prie_Dieu_Kneelers_E_Prie_Dieu_Kneelers. They are pretty expensive so you might want to just use a pillowJ

I think the most difficult part of praying is having a place to go to. If you have your “Go To” place to pray it is much more likely that you will end up praying. 90% of prayer is just being there.

If you need some ideas of “What to Pray with” or “How to Pray” Check out the links on the Right Side of my Blog “Online Sacristy” There are tons of ideas. http://fathermichaeldenk.blogspot.com/

Also, Read your parish bulletin. As each parish offers opportunities for prayer during lent including: Stations of the Cross, Penance Services, Parish Missions, and Lenten Days of Reflection.

Fasting:

An essential part of lent is fasting. Every Catholic should choose something to Fast or Abstain from. For 40 days and 40 nights Jesus went to the Desert and fasted. We are called especially to do this during the Season of Lent. Try to pick something concrete to “Give up” or “Deny yourself” so as to gain freedom in being able to give yourself more fully to God and allow Jesus to give Himself to you in the emptiness that you may experience from Fasting.

Here’s some good resources for learning more about fasting:

http://catholicism.about.com/od/catholicliving/p/Fasting.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_and_abstinence_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Church

http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=180

Almsgiving:

My absolute favorite program for Lent is Catholic Relief Services “Operation Rice Bowl.” Most parishes and schools have them. If yours doesn't you can order them free here: http://crs.org/act/us-materials/itemlist.cfm?cat_id=1

Get a rice bowl for yourself and give them to others that you may know. It is a great way of Almsgiving because not only will it give you practical, thoughtful and creative ways to do it, but it will also help you be connected with the poor that you are collecting for. It is both educational and profoundly spiritual.

My hope is that you will spend some time exploring ideas now so that when Ash Wednesday comes you can make a heartfelt resolution and keep it all through lent.

Unclean... Unclean...

2012-02-12T06:45:00.001-08:00

Think about that awkward moment when your row gets up to go to communion and you realize you can't. Now I know it can be uncomfortable to be here in church and not receive communion. But it is not as bad as it could be. At least you don't have to run around yelling out to everyone "Unclean, unclean." I know that sometimes it feels that way when the whole rest of the church comes forward and you stay back. But trust that when you are doing this you are reverencing the Eucharist.

In today's first reading from the Book of Leviticus - the Lepers had to yell out "Unclean, Unclean," and dwell outside of the community.

While God does call us to community, to communion, to oneness, there are times when a separation, a "time out" is necessary.

How can this be you may ask? Or you may be so bold as to even deny it. Some claim that since the Eucharist is a sign of unity all should come forward we shouldn't be divided.

However our tradition reveals otherwise.
The Catechism shows in fact, that "The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (Jn 6:60). The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. "Will you also go away?" (Jn 6:67). The Lord's question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has "the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68) and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself. (Catechism 1336)

So we can see that even our Lord realized that some would not accept or could not accept what he came to reveal. And so even today, as Jesus comes to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist... as he comes to us in His Real Presence in the form of bread and wine. It really is His Body and Blood that we receive. Some cannot accept this teaching.

I often say to people who ask me: Why isn't everyone welcome to the table? My response is that they are. However we do have certain conditions. Anyone can receive communion and is welcome to our faith, but we do have a process for it. That is called Initiation. Once a person has been fully initiated into the Catholic faith they may receive with a few prerequisites.

1385 of the Catechism: To respond to this invitation [of the Eucharist] we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." 1 Cor 11:27-29. Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

So presuming someone is initiated Roman Catholic, and believes all that we believe, out of a reverence for the Eucharist and the Sacredness of the Act. These three prerequisites need to be present for a person to receive communion.

The prerequisites for the reception of Holy Communion are: 1) being in the state of grace, 2) having fasted for one hour, and 3) devotion and attention.

If for some reason any one of these is not present than we should abstain from receiving Communion.

1) Being in the state of grace.

What would sever us from the state of grace?

Mortal Sin. What makes a Mortal Sin different than a Venial Sin (less serious sin)?

The three conditions that are necessary for a sin to be mortal are:
-The sin itself is objectively grave
-The person knows that the sin is grave
-The person freely chooses to commit this sin

Grave matter includes, but is not limited to, murder, receiving or participating in an abortion, having sexual intercourse outside of marriage or in an invalid marriage, and deliberately engaging in impure thoughts and actions, missing mass on Sunday (the only permission given for this is illness). Scripture contains lists of mortal sins (for example, Matt. 5:28–29, 1 Cor. 6:9–10 and Gal. 5:19–21). For further information on what constitutes a mortal sin, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Every Household should have a Catechism and use it.

In Regards to refraining from the Eucharist when we have committed a mortal sin we look to Canon Law number 916: A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.

A mortal sin is any sin whose matter is grave and which has been committed willfully and with knowledge of its seriousness.
The Church’s ancient teaching on this particular matter is expressed in the Didache, an early Christian document written around A.D. 70, which states: "Whosoever is holy [i.e., in a state of sanctifying grace], let him approach. Whosoever is not, let him repent" (Didache 10).

2) Having fasted for one hour (no food or drink other than water. The sick may take medication and if necessary dispensed from the fast all together)
Canon 988 Fasting for One Hour. By ancient tradition Christians abstain from profane food prior to receiving the sacred food of the Eucharist. Until the pontificate of Pope Pius XII the Eucharistic fast was from midnight. Pope Pius reduced it to three hours, and after Vatican II, Pope Paul VI reduced it to one hour. The current Code of Canon Law states, that alone hour fast before receiving communion is to be strictly followed.

3) Devotion and Attention
Catechism 1387 Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion: "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor. 11:29–30).

So what are some common examples when people should refrain from receiving the Eucharist?
If you are not Catholic. If you are not practicing the Catholic faith. If you are not in the state of grace (committed a mortal sin: i.e. missed Sunday mass, etc.) If you have not fasted. If you have not fully and actively participated in the mass.

So what do you do if you are faced with that "Awkward Moment" when you can't come forward to receive communion? First of all don't receive. This may be an anxiety provoking moment. Maybe you are afraid of what other's may think, maybe you feel sad not receiving, maybe you feel left out... whatever the awkwardness may be, worry more about the sacredness of the Eucharist than about your own self-image. Worry more about reverencing God than disappointing others.

The second thing the Church asks those who are not receiving to do is to pray. Pray for the Unity of the Church. Pray that one day we will all be able to receive together. Pray that you may soon come forward to receive Him. Pray that you may have the courage and the grace to take some steps in your own life to make things right with the Lord, with Yourself, and with His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

So though this may seem awkward, it's not as bad as being exiled and having to run around screaming "Unclean, Unclean." You are still loved by God and loved by His Church. Out of great reverence for the Eucharist sometimes it is better to refrain until we really do live and believe all that is present in this most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist

A serious matter that will negatively impact the Catholic Church in America

2012-01-28T13:34:00.000-08:00

Because of the serious nature of this matter, your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Every parish just received a fax from the bishop... Please read and click on the links at the end to act!

This fax was sent out to every parish in every diocese by every bishop in the country to be read at every mass and inserted in every bulletin!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.

The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people – the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to Contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

Thanking you for your understanding and cooperation on this very important request, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Richard Lennon

Bishop of Cleveland

In today’s first reading from Deuteronomy Moses repeats the words that the Lord had spoken to him.

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin,
and will put my words into his mouth;
he shall tell them all that I command him.
Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."

The bishops of our country are speaking strongly and prophetically about the grave nature of the Ruling of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

They are also, prophetically asking us, as the voice of God to do two things:

First: Commit ourselves to prayer and fasting for our religious liberty

Second: Act. Act by going to www.usccb.org/conscience , learning more, and contacting our

representatives.

To quote, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan:

“How about letting our elected leaders know that we want religious liberty and right of conscience restored and the administration’s mandate rescinded? We can’t afford to strike out on this one!”

The gravity of this nature is echoed in the words that God spoke to Moses:

“Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.”

Go to www.usccb.org/conscience and Act Now.

Fr. Sam Dropped His Net as a Concert Pianist

2012-01-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

Sam was picked to be a concert pianist. His whole life’s ambition was to play the piano. He had all the potential to become one of the greats. He also felt another call… He felt deep down the call to the priesthood. In his last year of high school he had to choose. He was accepted to a prestigious school of music and would receive a full ride. He also applied to the seminary. He couldn’t do both.

It was the most difficult decision he has ever had to make. After some time in prayer and even against his parent’s advice, he chose to enter the seminary.

I got to know Fr. Sam about seven years ago. At the time he was running a home for those struggling with drug and alcohol dependence. For over his 40 plus years of priesthood he has helped thousands of men, women, and families heal. He has literally saved lives and pulled people out of the hell that they were living in.

He talked with great nostalgia to me about his dream of being a concert pianist, but not once has he regretted his decision follow the Lord in his call to priesthood. He, like all of us, has his struggles, but he has found such meaning in his life by being a priest for those in need.

There is no doubt in my mind that God is calling an abundance of young men to the priesthood. I witnessed the same choices they have had to make… A mother might say: “Go to college first and be successful. If you can’t make it, then think about the priesthood.” I know a senior who is looking at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton, the most prestigious schools. I know another senior right now who loves playing basketball. He’s being offered scholarships to play basketball at Ohio State University – his lifelong dream!

What if God has a bigger dream?

You see when Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They abandoned their nets and followed him.

They abandoned their nets and followed him.

When Jesus calls men to the priesthood, often times it is very similar to this. It is a call to abandon their life’s ambitions. It may be to abandon the hopes of a career, to abandon the idea of having a family of your own, to abandon the notion of ever having a wife, to abandon old friends, for James and John it even meant abandoning their father. Notice that their father lets them go. He probably even had to let go of his dreams of handing on his family business to his sons.

Any real calling requires letting go and abandoning dreams, even dreams that seem very good.

What if God could dream bigger?

The first disciples of Jesus abandoned their nets and followed him. They would go on to heal the sick, exorcise demons, free those imprisoned and begin the Catholic Church that we know today. Fr. Sam answered that same call when he abandoned his dreams of being a concert pianist. However, that dream seems so simple to him now, so small compared to what God has done in and through him as a priest. Though his fingers rarely ever “tickle the ivory,” they have over and over again touched the Body of Christ. His hands have been used to bless and anoint, to absolve people of their sins, to touch people in their final moments and commend them into the hands of God. His hands have been used to hold and bless and reconcile people who have lost their dreams long ago. His fingers have helped to draw them new dreams of a life of freedom from addiction.

For the first disciples, for Fr. Sam, and for these young men at the cusp of answering God’s call, each one in giving up their own dreams discovers that God can and does dream bigger. If God calls and we “drop our nets” we will discover a life beyond anything we could have ever imagined. In a special way he does this in the call to priesthood.

Is he calling you? Remember that God can dream bigger. Is he calling someone you know? Remember that God’s hopes and dreams for them are even greater than yours.

If you are blessed enough in your life to experience the great call to “abandon your nets,” follow him and it will be the greatest decision that you will ever make.

Your Life is not Your Own: Mother Teresa Gave All

2012-01-14T19:19:00.001-08:00

Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

“You are not your own.” This is one of life’s greatest and most difficult lessons. It’s also at the core of our struggle with Pride – our original sin.

Mother Teresa, possibly the greatest Saint of our time, can help us realize the significance of this.

A couple of years ago, Mother Theresa’s journals were released. Within these writings are revealed a soul so in love with God that no matter what difficulty, no matter what darkness, she never held anything back from Him.

In order to appreciate her generosity to God it’s important that we have some understanding of the darkness and difficulty that she endured. Few of us will ever know this level, intensity, and length of darkness that she experienced.

“Now Father – since 49 or 50 this terrible sense of loss – this untold darkness – this loneliness this continual longing for God – which gives me that pain deep down in my heart – Darkness is such that I really do not see – neither with my mind nor with my reason… when the pain of longing is so great – I just long and long for God… Sometimes I just hear my own heart cry out – “My God” and nothing else comes – the torture and pain I can’t explain.”

The temptation that we all face is that we can “make” ourselves happy, that we can “be” God and create our own destiny. What we forget is that we are not our own. It is God who moves and breathes and lives in us. We could do nothing without Him and yet we try to take the control, to live our lives, to do what we want.

Mother Teresa realized the foolishness of this. She was able to see through the deception and live her life as if it was not her own. Her life given to God not only made her a Saint, but helped others to believe in God and brought the Light of God to those who were most in darkness. The Poorest of the Poor.

Here is a litany of her trust in God. Over and over again, laced throughout her journal, Mother Teresa admits that her life was not her own:

“I do not want money – my trust in God is blind – I know He will never let me down.”

“The Call” was a delicate gift to me- unworthy – I do not know why He picked me up - I suppose like the people we pick up – because they are most unwanted. From the first day to this day – this my new vocation has been one prolonged “Yes” to God – without even a look at the cost. – My conviction that “the work is His” – is more than the reality. I have never doubted… I know for certain He asked – “Will you do this for Me?” Everything was his – I had only to surrender myself to His plan – to His will – Today His work has grown because it is He not I that do it through me.

“Put your hand in His [Jesus’] hand, and walk alone with Him. Walk ahead, because if you look back you will go back.”

“Do not think that my spiritual life is strewn with roses – that is the flower which I hardly ever find on my way. Quite the contrary, I have more often as my companion “darkness.” And when the night becomes very thick – and it seems to me as if I will end up in hell – then I simply offer myself to Jesus.

“In the years following her final profession, Mother Teresa’s passionate love for Jesus continued to prompt her to seek new and hidden ways of expressing her love the most striking of these was an exceptional private vow she made in April 1942: “I made a vow to God, binding under [pain of] mortal sin, to give to God anything that He may ask, ‘Not to refuse Him anything.’”

“To give ourselves fully to God is a means of receiving God Himself. I for God and God for me. I live for God and give up my own self, and in this way induce God to live for me. Therefore to possess God we must allow Him to possess our souls.”

“We can refuse Christ just as we refuse others: I will not give you my hands to work with, my eyes to see with, my feet to walk with, my mind to study with, my heart to love with. You knock at the door but I will not open. I will not give You the key to my heart.”

“Now, I am His, only His – I have given Him everything – I have not been seeking self for sometime now… God has done everything. He simply took everything. - Now I am His.”

“The life I want to live with my sisters, I know, will be a difficult one… But nothing is difficult to one who loves. Who can outdo God in His generosity – if we poor human beings give Him everything and surrender our whole being to His service - ? No – He is sure to stand by us, and with us, as everything in us will be His.”

“In Him and with Him I can do all that He wants me to do.”

Time and time again she gave her life to God. During one of her retreats she journals:

“My heart and soul and body belong only to God – and to this Father I have made the resolution in this retreat –
To be at His disposal.
Let Him do with me whatever He wants as He wants for as long as He wants. If my darkness is light to some soul – even if it be nothing to nobody – I am perfectly happy - to be God’s flower of the field.”

"[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, — Listen and do not hear — the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak ... I want you to pray for me — that I let Him have [a] free hand."

Over and over again Mother Teresa gave herself to God. She realized in a very deep and profound way that the life she lived was not her own, it had been purchased at a price. She in turn gave her life back to God.

How willing are you to give your life to God?

Do you realize that you have been purchased at a price?

What are you holding back right now that would allow God to work more fully in your life and in our world?

When we realize how much God has given to us, that He has given us His life in Jesus, there is nothing we would want more to give ours back.

Remember that “You are not your own.” Give your life to God, give it all, no matter what difficulty, what fear, what darkness, and He will give you back more than you could ever imagine.

The Help: "You kind, you smart, you important." - Feast of Mary Mother of God

2011-12-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

There’s a beautiful scene in “The Help” where the maid, Aibileen, takes Mae Mobley, a child who has just been criticized by her mother, into her arms and encourages her.

“Ever afternoon, me and Baby Girl set in the rocking chair before her nap. Ever afternoon, I tell her: You Kind, you smart, you important. But she growing up and I know, soon, them few words ain’t gone be enough.”

These are the words Aibileen speaks to the two year old child Mae Mobley every day. In “The Help” (Which was a bestselling novel and blockbuster movie now on DVD), Aibileen is a third-generation house maid who has raised over 17 white children. She has seen them abused and neglected and often been more of a mother to the children then their real mothers ever were.

She decides with Mae Mobley that from now on, every day she is going to speak these words of affirmation over and over to Mae Mobley so that no matter what her mother calls her, or how she is treated, she will come to realize that she is “kind, smart, important.”

These words of affirmation are really a blessing. These simple words spoken with love help Mae Mobley know that she is good.

As we celebrate today the Feast of Mary Mother of God it is important that we realize the power of a blessing. We bless Mary and Jesus every time we say the Hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

What does this mean “to bless?” When the priest gives the blessing at the end of mass it is also known as a benediction. This comes from the Latin “Benedicere”: Bene (well or good) and dicere (to speak). Benediction literally means to speak well of or to say something good. So to bless someone really means to say something good about them, to speak of their goodness.

How often do we do this? How often do we speak well of people? How often do we bless those we love? Think about it in your own life. Do you have more of a tendency to bless or to curse? How do you speak to the people in your life?

We hear from the Book of Numbers:

This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

These words are echoed in the Hail Mary and echoed by Aibileen in “The Help.”

“The Help” comes to an end, and I won’t tell you why, but Aibileen is fired from her job and has to leave. Mae is five is now five years old, in school, and old enough to beg Aibileen to stay.

Please don’t leave, Aibee,” she say, starting to cry again.

“I got to, baby, I am so sorry.” And that’s when I start to cry. I don’t want to, just gone make it worse for her, but I can’t stop.

“Why? Why don’t you want to see me anymore? Are you going to take care of another little girl?” Her forehead is all wrinkled up, just like when her mama fuss at her. Law, I fell like my heart’s gone bleed to death.

I take her face in my hands, feeling the scary heat coming off her cheeks. “No, baby, that’s not the reason. I don’t want a leave you, but…” How do I put this? I can’t tell her I’m fired, I don’t want her to blame her mama and make it worse between em. “It’s time for me to retire. You my last little girl,” I say, because this is the truth, it just ain’t by my own choosing.

I let her cry a minute on my chest and then I take her face into my hands again. I take a deep breath and I tell her to do the same.

“Baby Girl,” I say. “I need you to remember everything I told you. Do you remember what I told you?”

She still crying steady, but the hiccups is gone. “To wipe my bottom good when I’m done?”

“No, baby, the other. About who you are.”

I look deep into her rich brown eyes and she look into mine. Law, she got old-soul eyes, like she done lived a thousand years. And I swear I see, down inside, the woman she gone grow up to be. A flash from the future. She is tall and straight. She is proud. She got a better haircut. And she is remembering the words I put in her head. Remembering as a full-grown woman.

And then she say it, just like I need her to. “You is kind,” she say, “you is smart. You is important.”

“Oh Law.” I hug her hot little body to me. I feel like she done just give me a gift. “Thank you, Baby Girl.”

“You’re welcome,” she say, like I taught her to. But then she lay her head on my shoulder and we cry like that awhile.”

Mae Mobley remembers the words that Aibileen put in her head. We remember the words that people speak to us. These words form and shape us from the time that we are a child.

What are the words that you put into your children’s heads? Your wives heads? Your husbands heads? Your friends? Your employees?

Mae Mobley is called a lot of things by the people that are supposed to love her, but it is only Aibileen who blesses her every day “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.”

This could be a wonderful model for all of us. Remember that the words you speak will be remembered. Take time every day to bless the people in your life.

Just as the Shepherds blessed the new born child in the manger “All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

As the Shepherds spoke these words to Mary and she reflects on them in her heart, and as Mae Mobley remembered the words of blessing from Aibileen “you is kind, you is smart, you is important.” May your words be a blessing to others that they may know of their goodness and reflect on your blessing in their heart.

2011-12-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,

On a late evening I had some free time so I went to visit someone in jail. One of the perks of being a priest is that you can usually get access almost anywhere. I had done everything that I was supposed to do to set up all the clearance, got on the chaplaincy list and be approved for visitation. I was expecting to see him face to face. However, when I got to the prison I was surprised by a couple of things. First of all the guard said rather brusquely to me… you’ll see him at number six all the way down. I figured it would be a conference room, but when I walked in to the visiting area it was a line of phones… like you are used to seeing with the glass and the prisoner on the other side.

When I sat down and picked up my phone I was surprised that I wouldn’t even see him behind glass because there was no glass, only a computer screen. I went back out and told the guard that I couldn’t do what I needed to do over skype… she said I would need a court order for that.

What I realized is that no matter how great our technology is it can’t replace the human person, face-to-face. And we love all of our technology toys like the IPhone, Kindle, Ipad, Android and computers; they can’t replace the human touch.

You see, all of the Sacraments require human touch. The sacraments all an encounter with Jesus, incarnate, “in the flesh.” “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

This may be one of the few times you go to mass this year… and people often say “Why do I need to go to church? I can just pray to God on my own.” Well it’s the same reason that Skype wasn’t enough for me to visit that young man in prison, it’s the same reason why a Christmas card or gift can’t replace having your loved ones with you on Christmas. God wants YOU to experience Him “in the flesh.”

I use all of the social media: You can “Friend me” on Facebook, Sign up on my Blog, get “Tweets” from Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Skype, but if it doesn’t bring you here to mass on Sunday, if it doesn’t bring you to experience Jesus in the Sacrament of confession than it is worthless. Because our faith is about a real child, the Son of God, “in the Flesh.”

On Christmas we remember that God comes to us… “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus wants you to experience him in the priest, to be touched by His community of believers, to Hear his Word in the Proclamation of Scriptures, and above all to receive his Body and Blood in the Eucharist… you can’t do this by yourself… you’d be missing out on what and how He wants to come to you … “The Word made Flesh.”

This Flesh takes the form of a child whose whole purpose in coming into this world was to show us His Father in Heaven.

I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me

There is a man in China who has been searching for his son for over 13 years. Guo Gangtang has travelled over 400,000 kilmoters (that’s 240,000 miles) hopeful that he will find the son who was two years old the last time he laid eyes on him.

Although he hasn’t found now 15-year-old Guo Zhong, Gangtang has found seven other lost children for other families.

Chinese children are often stolen and resold to barren couples. Male children, like Zhong, are particularly desirable.
After all these years, what keeps Gangtang going? A lingering hope that he will one day reunite with his son.
“I have a feeling that if I carry on, one day he will come to find me. Maybe he will watch TV or go online and read about me. It may jolt some memory or something that doesn’t fit with the life he knows. Even if it’s not in the next couple of years, even if it’s after he gets marries, it’s not too late.”
These same words could be said of God to you, his child… “I have a feeling that if I carry on, one day you will come to find me… Maybe you will watch TV or go online and read about me. It may jolt some memory or something that doesn’t fit with the life you know… It’s never too late.”

If you have been away from the faith, if you haven’t been to mass, if you haven’t been living the life that you have been created to live… if deep down there is some memory of an experience of God… He is being reborn in you right now this Christmas.

We can hear these words echo in our second reading: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” God is your Father… He will never give up on looking for you… seeking you… desiring to have you back with him.

This is the whole purpose that Jesus came into this world… to show us to the Father… to reveal to us that no matter what experience we have had of ‘fathers’ here on earth… we have this Father in heaven that loves us unconditionally and never ceases looking for us.

This love is so deep that from the day that Jesus was born, the Father wed himself to humanity... to you personally and individually.

No more shall people call you "Forsaken,"
or your land "Desolate,"
but you shall be called "My Delight,"
and your land "Espoused."
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

There’s a YouTube video that has been going around of the British Navy returning home for Christmas. It’s a hilarious video where all of these Navy Men and Women are singing along to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You.” It’s really about returning home to their husbands or wives this Christmas. At the end of the video it says… “Returning from Deployment… for Christmas 2011”

One of our parishes is home for Christmas before being deployed to Afghanistan. The wife said to me in front of her children and husband… “This is the greatest Christmas gift I could have… just to have him here with me.”

That’s the love that God has for us… All He wants is to have us Home with Him. And all we should really want is to be with God, our spouse, for Christmas. Listen to the Lyrics of “All I want for Christmas is You.” And imagine God saying it to you and you saying it to God this Christmas.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you

This is the greatest Christmas gift… right now… at this mass… we are with God… we are home…

Unlike the young man in the prison we are not separated by glass or phone or a computer screen, He is here with us “In the Flesh.” In the Eucharist. If you’ve been a way for a while go and experience Him “Face to Face” (or behind the screen) in Confession.

Just as the man in China has been searching for his son for over years, God is searching for you hoping and wishing that you will return to him. Realize that you are missing something in your life without him… It’s never too late.

And as a young man rejoices in his bride… and as those men and women in the Navy wanted nothing else for Christmas than to have their spouses. God wants nothing less than you.

He wants you in the Flesh and he wants you to experience Him “In the Flesh.”

This Christmas make his wish come true… come back to Him… “All He wants for Christmas is you.”

New Translation Christmas Cookie Recipe

2011-12-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

From commonweal magazine

Christmas Cookie Recipe
(New, Corrected Translation)

Serves: you and many.

Cream these ingredients, that by their comingling you may begin to make the dough:
1 chalice butter, 2/3 chalice sugar

In a similar way, when the butter is consubstantial with the sugar, beat in:
1 egg

Gather these dry ingredients to yourself and combine them, so that you may add them to the dough which you have already begun to make:
2 1/2 chalices sifted all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the precious dough with your venerable hands.

Into the refrigerator graciously place the dough so that it may be chilled, for the duration of 3 or 4 hours, before the rolling and cutting of the cookies.

When, in the fullness of time, you are ready to bake these spotless cookies, these delicious cookies, these Christmas cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out the dough and, taking up a cookie cutter or stencil of your choosing, fashion the cookies into pleasing forms.

Sprinkle colorful adornments over cookies like the dewfall.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies have just begun to manifest the brownness that is vouchsafed to them by the oven’s heat.

May these cookies be found acceptable in your sight, and be borne to a place of refreshment at your table, there to be served with milk or hot chocolate, or with your spirits.

Merry Christmas!

----------

Here was Fr. James Martins response

“O God, who see the cookies that you have graciously deigned to allow us to bake here according to this recipe that you have given us that we may give to others that which you have given to us here, bless, we pray, them, O Lord, that you may allow us to offer them in return to many, as we seek to preveniently nourish these your holy people, we pray, with the ineffable taste of the flour that you have graciously allowed us to refine, O Lord, with the milky milk that milkily issues forth abundantly from the many bovine animals which you have made and from the sweet sugar that sweetly comes from the sweet sugar cane plants which you have created for we your people, who humbly implore your blessings, that all of us may humbly eat of them, in order that you might, O Lord, we humbly beseech you, bless us and them, and, we pray, O Lord, and I forgot what where I was going with this prayer.”

Christmas Caroling

2011-12-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

On Friday night I joined some of our children and parents for Christmas Caroling. It was dark and the snow had just begun to fall. I think it may have been the first time that I actually went Christmas Caroling. What I noticed and reflected on the most were the people’s responses. When we arrived at the first house, the kids knocked on the door and began singing. An old, crotchety looking man appeared at the door looking slightly perturbed at the late evening interruption. And then his eyes began to focus and his ears heard the sound of the little children singing and smiling in the lamplight. His once stern looking face quickly transformed and he began to beam with a contagious smile. You could see the joy in his face as his hardened expression turned to a warm smile and tender eyes.

I’d like to say all of the houses were like this. Many weren’t home, some didn’t answer, and some were pretty awkward. The children were greeted at one of the houses by a middle aged man who didn’t appear to have any pants on, just a long T-Shirt… one of the little girls shrieked and said I can’t believe I just saw that. I laughed and assured her that he had shorts on; it was just a really long shirt. The house after that was an elderly man with a bandage on his nose… I began to think we were on a bad streak here. But then he asked the children to stay there he disappeared. We led the children in another song. Moments later he appeared again with a plate of cookies for the children. It was a beautiful moment for him, for the children and for us. He was so excited to see them that he gave away all of his wives fresh baked Christmas cookies.

One mother answered the door and disappeared for a moment only to bring her two children and her husband to see. They sang along and wished us a Merry Christmas.

What I noticed is that each person was not expecting to be greeted by the Carolers and each family reacted differently to the surprise. Some families were overjoyed, some families were a little uncomfortable, and some families weren’t sure what to do. One lady saw the children from her kitchen and ran and hid in her bedroom! It’s not like this was Grim Reaper at the doorstep, it was a bunch of little angels, children singing Christmas songs.

If angels came to sing at your door how would you react? Really… think about it. We all have a tendency to be surprised when God speaks to us. And, He does tend to come at unexpected moments. Times when we aren't really prepared, sometimes we may not even be decent.

Mary was afraid when the Angel Gabriel greeted her. She “pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” She didn’t know what to make of it and asked, “How can this be?”

I think we would all probably react differently to an angelic greeting. It really is something so other-worldly. And while it is something that should bring us joy, sometimes we aren’t sure what to make of it. God does speak to us through angels and it’s always a surprise.

During this Season of Advent God has probably greeted you in different ways. He is probably asking something of you right now. Either it is something in your life to let go of to make room for Jesus, or it may be something in your life to take on.

This can bring about a lot of mixed feelings. Their might initially be fear like Mary, there might be an awkwardness like some of the families had, their might be a reluctance, we might even want to run and hide. The initial feeling is very human and acceptable because God is speaking to us and we are not quite sure what it is going to mean.

The hope is, though, that we will come around and respond with joy. Like the hardened crotchety guy that answered the door and was transformed into a joyful, warm soul with a hint of tears in his eyes. It may take some time for our eyes to adjust to the light or our ears to become attuned to the mystery of His call.

Mary, who was initially afraid but then responded with “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Hopefully our response will be on of grateful acceptance of God’s will and a joy that fills our hearts.

As we approach Christmas, God desires for you to receive His child Jesus. That may come as an invitation, it may come as a challenge to prepare for something, it may come as encouragement to let something go and make room for Him. It may be an invitation to take on a responsibility that you are not sure how it will happen.

What is God asking of you this last week of Advent? What feelings does it evoke? What is your reaction? Can you say yes? Can you, once disturbed, afraid, or surprised respond now with joy?

For Mary, her yes to God would change the world forever and so could yours.

Keep Christ in Christmas

2011-12-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

We are all very well aware of the many attempts of stores and government officials to sterilize Christmas, to take Christ out of Christmas and make it kind of a secular holiday.

There was a recent news story in providence Rhode Island about the Governor who
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Carolers singing "O Christmas Tree" crashed Rhode Island's Statehouse tree lighting on Tuesday after Gov. Lincoln Chafee unwrapped a holiday hubbub by calling the 17-foot spruce a "holiday" tree.

City of West Palm Beach officials refer to the city’s 35 foot tree as a holiday tree.
“It’s a holiday tree because it’s the holiday season and we want to be respectful for everybody’s views and respectful for what they celebrate this time of year,” said City of West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation Director Christine Thrower.
This has been something that is going on around the country and spreading year after year.

Now I don’t mention this to cause frustration or discouragement but just as a reminder that we are blessed with the Freedom of Speech in this country. We can all “Testify to the light” as John the Baptist did. We can help put Christ back in Christmas.

How do we put Christ back in Christmas?

Well this is more of a practical reflection of ways that may help stimulate your own creativity. Here are three ways to “Keep Christ in Christmas”

The first way comes to us through the prophet Isaiah:

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

If you have been confirmed, you have been anointed to do these very things… to bring glad tidings to the poor, heal the broken hearted, set prisoners free… Do you bring glad tidings to the people in your life, in your home, in your work, running errands?

Do you bring glad tidings wherever you go? Think about it. When you drive to work on these dark cold mornings and you walk into see your fellow workers… Do you bring glad tidings? When people encounter you are they better off for having met you that day? Or think about coming home from work. How do you treat your family? Do you bring glad tidings? Or do you come home, tired, irritable, cranky, impatient, and mean? If you do then you need to do something different before you come home! How about the people that you meet at school or running errands? Think about the young kid at the gas station, the waitress at Outback, the worker behind the counter at Wal-Mart. Do you bring them tidings of comfort and joy? Or maybe you work at a retail place and people are franticly running around trying to cross those gifts off of the lists… Do you take the risk of reminding them to slow down and remember what Christmas is all about?

How do you treat people that you encounter throughout the day? Are they better off for having met you? At your confirmation you have been given the grace and the power to bring glad tidings, to bring comfort to the broken hearted, and to set prisoners free. Do you use this grace to “Keep Christ in Christmas?”

Second, Listen to the words from today’s readings form St. Paul to the Thessalonians:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.

Keep Christ in you this Christmas. Listen to these words on this “Gaudete” Sunday. Yes, “Rejoice” Sunday (By the way a good way to remember the difference between Gaudete for Advent and Lautare for Lent is – “L” Lautare for Lent). These words are so moving, so wonderful, and so powerful – REJOICE ALWAYS!!!!!!! Pray without ceasing! In all circumstances give thanks! Wow! This is preparing for Christmas. Is Christ in you? What I mean by that is are you rejoicing? Or are you stuck in despair? Sometimes during this time of year as the days get darker and colder, maybe there is grief at the loss of a loved one, or tensions in the family, separation from loved ones, a son off in war, a daughter across the country… the joy and intensity of Christmas can also intensify some of the darkness.

If you find yourself in desolation or despair or depression – do something to get out of it. Increase you prayer. Go to confession. See a counselor. Share your struggle with some spiritual wise person. Get some help. Exercise. Rest. Make a retreat. Take advantage of what your parish is offering: Christmas concerts, Communal Penance Services, Advent days of recollection, days of reflection. Get involved in some sort of service where you can get out of your own misery and find compassion for others. Often the reason we experience desolation is because we have been tepid, lax or lazy in our own spiritual life. Do not Quench the Spirit! Find a way to rejoice!

The third way to “Put Christ in Christmas” is to Testify. This comes to us in the Gospel.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

Jesus is the light, and just as John was not the light but testified to the light so can we? What do I mean by this? How can we testify to the light? Well I don’t mean become a Baptist preacher, though that Spirit wouldn’t hurt, but what I do mean is that “We are all witnesses”. We can all in some ways witness to and testify to the Light and “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

Here are some examples of testifying. I recently received an email that was an invitation to keep God in our state:

You have an opportunity to vote for the best description to be placed on the new Ohio license plate. If you follow this link http://myplate.ohio.gov/ you can vote.

What is great is you can vote for, "With God All Things Are Possible", the official Ohio State motto. I love it! While government agencies are trying to squash God, we have a chance to promote Him!

Imagine if everyone responded to this email our license plates could say “With God All Things Are Possible!”

I know another faithful catholic friend, Walter Lazuka, who writes a pro-life message on everyone of his checks. Everyone that sees his check is “witnessed” to by Wally. One lay man that in a very gentle and loving way upholds the dignity of life in the womb.

Another friend, Dr. Phil Gigliotti who is a doctor in Parma, witnesses to every patient, drug rep, and staff member that walks into his office. He has a stack of bibles there and asks if they read the scripture, if they have a bible and if they read it. If not he hands them one and tells them to read a passage. How many spiritual lives have been changed because of this medical doctor?

One man that I worked with years ago started his own business in the music and concert industry. The founder and president, Tom Arko, named it “Eight Day Sound” which is the with the image of the “Last day”, the day when Jesus Christ would come again, the day we long for during Advent. He does the staging, sound, video, lighting for your favorite concert tours all over the country and the world. And how many people will ask him: “Where did you get the name Eight Day Sound?” Each time he can witness to Christ and point to the light in a business that is normally about money.

What I mean by these examples is that we all have thousands of opportunities every day to witness, to testify, to “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

Buy a “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnet from your parish’s Knights of Columbus and put it on your car. Post the readings from this upcoming Sunday on Facebook. Make your signature on your email your favorite scripture reference. Wish people Merry Christmas. Put a light up Advent Scene in your front yard. Name your company after something scriptural. Write something intriguing and meaningful on your checks. Witness and be the light in every way that you can.

We are all not called to be John the Baptist, but we are all anointed to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to set prisoners free, to rejoice always, and to testify and witness to Christ.

How will you “Keep Christ in Christmas?”

Advent Journey Making some adjustments along The Way

2011-11-26T11:20:00.001-08:00

The Lord be with you… and with you [Now] and with yourspirit.

You notice this weekend that we have begun using the NewTranslation of the Roman Missal. TheChurch found that what we were using here in the United States was a little offso an adjustment is needed.

The prophet Isaiah proclaims in today’s first reading: “Whydo you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that wefear you not?”

Life is a journey and sometimes we need to make adjustmentsalong the way. For some reason in God’splan of freedom he does allow us to “Wander”.

There is a movie that I’m very excited to see called “TheWay” If you haven’t heard of it yet itis a movie directed by Emilio Estevez and his real life father Martin Sheen (Whoby the way is a Devout Catholic and took his screen name after FultonSheen).

The movie opens with a scene of father, Tom, and son,Daniel, driving to the airport. The sonis begging his father: “You should fly with me… Come on a father son trip itwill be fun.”

“When you coming back?” His father asks.

“I don’t know.”

“So you don’t have a plan?... You know most people don’t have the luxury ofjust picking up and leaving it all behind.”

“Well I’m not most people.”

“My life here might not seem like much to you, but it’s thelife I choose.”

“You don’t choose a life dad, you live one.”

Sometime later the father receives aphone call that his son was dead. He waskilled in an accident during a freak storm in the Pyrenees while making theCamino de Santiago de Campostela, the centuries-old pilgrimage route to theCathedral of St. James in Santiago, Spain. The father goes to France to reclaimhis son's body. When he learns that his son was making "the Way" -the traditional name for the pilgrimage - Tom impulsively decides to take hisson's backpack and gear and to complete the pilgrimage in Daniel'smemory.

Though he prefers to keep tohimself, Tom finds himself journeying with three other pilgrims - all very differentpersonalities, all with their own reasons for undertaking the 800-kilometertrek: A bitter Canadian divorcee treks to St. James to quit smoking, but findsforgiveness and acceptance along the way; a gregarious Dutchman wants to shedhis excess weight, but discovers the kindness and joy within him; an Irishwriter is looking for a story for a novel but rediscovers his lost faith; andTom goes to spread Daniel's ashes but comes to a new understanding and lovingrespect for his son.

Their journey is quietlytransforming. Tom along with the othersfind that their hardened hearts begin to break and soften. During their trek,Tom and his fellow travelers help one another discover the difference between"the life we live and the life we choose."

We can’t always choose the lifethat we are living, but we can choose to live it differently. Advent is a time to make some adjustmentsalong the journey. Just as the Churchrealized that we needed to make adjustments to the way that we pray the mass,we too need to look at our own lives and make adjustments along the way.

As we enter into this Season of Adventare there any adjustments that you need to make in your life?

Are there any adjustments that youneed to make in the way that you pray?

Are there any adjustments that youneed to make as you continue the journey and prepare for the SecondComing?

Allow this time of Advent to be aretreat for you, a preparation for Christmas. Commit to some time to pray or learn a new way of praying.

Go to a presentation at yourparish.

St. Joseph ishaving their annual Advent Day:

Advent Day 2011 - Sunday, Nov. 27th

Join us in the Social Hall for these activities!

Begin with LUNCH following Noon Mass (about 1:00 PM).

We’ll have salad, soup, sandwiches, & goodies fordessert!

Reservation can made at the parish office - 988-2848

At 1:45 PM, our own Fr. Michael will present:

“Enter the Manger:Contemplating Advent”

Do an online Advent Retreat:

Fr. Larry Gillick is an amazing priest that I met yearsago and hosts one online: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/AudioRetreat/Gillick-Advent/gillick-advent.html

Make a retreat:

TheJesuit Retreat House in Parma http://www.jrh-cleveland.org/

Loyola of the Lakes Retreat House http://www.loyolaretreathouse.com/loyola/default.shtml

Go on your own pilgrimage to one ofour shrines in Ohio and spend the day in prayer

http://www.phonyexpress.com/catholicshrinesohio/pages/main.html

Begin reading a good SpiritualBook:

Here are my favorites: http://fathermichaeldenk.blogspot.com/p/fr-michaels-favorite-spiritual-reading.html

Also Check out all of the links as you scroll down theright side of my blog.

Read the latest edition of our newsletter with an article beautifully written by Diane Peabody about "The Journey".

Make some adjustments to get backon the right path!

Isaiah asks “Why do you let uswander Lord.” Have you wandered from thepath?
Isaiah asks “Why do you let us harden our hearts?” Have your heart been hardened?

This Advent can be a time for you to make the adjustments you need to continuethe journey.

Dr. Naft - A Teacher who Believed in Me

2011-11-13T19:49:00.001-08:00

After along time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.'
His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.'

As a priest I’m often given the opportunity toreflect on life. It happened recently ata conference where we were called to share in small groups. I have a friend in the seminary who jokesthat he believes this is what hell will be like. We were asked to share about the first timewe had a teacher that really believed in us. I knew who mine was right away. Dr. Naft was my Speech teacher in my first year of college atTri-C. Now I have to tell you that I wasnot thrilled about speech class. I wasterrified to have to speak in front of other people. I remember I was sweating bullets, nervous,legs shaking for my first speeches. Buthe saw something in me and said something to me in a way that I’d never heardbefore. “Michael you have a gift forthis.” It was the first time in my lifethat I’d ever heard someone say something like that to me… it wasn’t until myfreshman year in college that I heard a teacher say that he actually believedin me. I have never forgotten thatmoment.

In the weeks since then I havethought about Dr. Naft often and thought I should let him know what I’m doingnow. I should let him know what aprofound affect he had on me. So Idecided to look him up. I triedFacebook… No. LinkedIn… No. Twitter… No. I wasn’t finding him anywhere so I had to go the old fashioned way… Ifound him in the phone book! He lives inSolon. So one evening around 9 O’clockat night I was finishing up with all of the stuff that I “had to do” in theoffice and could now get to something that I wanted to do. I nervously waited as the phone rang and awoman answered. I asked if Dr. Naft wasthere: “Who’s this?” she said as if expecting a telemarketer. I said “Well, I don’t think he will know me,but I think I was one of his students. Did he teach at Tri-C around 2001?” “I’ll put him on,” she responded.

I recognized his voice immediatelyand began introducing myself as “Fr. Denk”. I said that I had him back in 2001 and he said: “Well I’ve been retiredquite a while.” I said in a very gentlewarm tone “Dr. Naft, I wouldn’t expect you to remember me because I’m a lotdifferent now than I was back then. Butyou were the first teacher that ever told me that I had a gift… you were thefirst one that I knew ever believed in me. And I just wanted you to know what an impact that has had on me over theyears. I want you to know that I usethat gift all the time now… I’m a Catholic Priest and I have to get up in frontof hundreds of people every Sunday and Preach. I’ve also been asked to preach for Catholic Relief Services to priestsin other diocese and am often asked to speak at other parishes and events. I just wanted you to know that you helped mediscover this gift.”

I turns out that he’s Jewish! But he loved that I called. We had the most wonderful 15 minuteconversation. I could tell by his voicethat he absolutely delighted in me. Hesaid “Well I did have a knack for seeing things in people.” And just the idea that one of his studentswas using the gift of speech brought him such great joy. He even offered to take me out to lunch justto hear more about it. There was so muchjoy that was shared... me in what I was doing and in what he had done for me,and he seeing some of the fruit of his years of teaching.

How much more does God delight in us? God, the Father, who created us… who knowsus… whose Spirit shapes us and molds us. Imagine what it will be like for us after this long journey of faithwhen we finally come to that last moment when we meet our maker and we say:“God, look at all that I have done with the gifts you’ve given me.”

Inthe Parable of the Talents we hear that a man went on a long journey and cameback to see what his servants had done with the talents that he had given tothem. The interesting thing is that whenthe master discovers what they have done with their talents he not only gavethem more but he ended each time with this phrase: “Come and share yourmaster’s joy!”

Godtakes such joy in us when we use our gifts.

Now here’s the part for you to think about. Have you ever had an experience like thiswhen someone helped you to realize your gifts? It’s a wonderful thing when we realize that we do have gifts, that thereare people that believe in us, and that our talents will bring God, ourselves,and the world great joy.

First, do you know what your talents are? God has given each and every one of us giftsand talents. In a special way you havebeen given a gift. Do you know what itis? God created you, shaped you, moldedyou into being and continues to work in your life. He has gifted you with something that is veryspecial to Him and very personal to you. Do you realize the talent that He has given to you?

Second, are you using your talent? God gave us these gifts and talents to beused for the life of the world. In someway we can use our gifts and talents to serve God and to build up the Kingdomof God. Are you using your gifts?

Finally, is there fruit? Just as we hear in the parable today oneservant says: 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made fivemore.' The other “Master you gave me twotalents. See, I have made you twomore.” When we use the talents that wehave been given there will be an increase… there will be a fruitfulness… therewill be an abundance. This is the way ofreally determining if we know our gifts and are using them. You see life wasn’t meant to be a drudgery…it is supposed to be enjoyed. When weuse our talents we will find that God is going to bless us more and more. We will be using them in ways that we neverimagined. If there isn’t this fruit,this joy in your life… maybe you haven’t been using your talents. Maybe you haven’t yet discovered your giftedness. Pray that God will send someone into yourlife that will help you to see them. AskGod what your talent is. Ask God what heis calling you to in this Life. And youwill discover your true vocation.

And just like the master after he returned fromhis long journey. God, our master, willtake great delight in us when we share with him all that we have done with thetalents that He has given to us. Imaginethat moment when we meet our Maker, when we see God face to face, and he says…

“Well done, good andfaithful servant, come and share your master’s joy!”

Praying in Your Sleep

2011-11-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

Is God the last thing that you think about before you goto bed and the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning?

Sometimes I have difficulty falling asleep andI was going through one of those spurts a couple of weeks ago. When I mentioned it to Fr. Larry he gave me agood suggestion. He gently said: “Tonight,when you’re trying to fall asleep meditate on the Good Shepherd. He’ll protect you. He’s got you inside the gate. Whatever you are worried about leave itoutside the gate and just rest with him.”

So that night as I was trying to go to sleep I didthat. It was such a simple suggestion, butit worked. As I was going to sleep anythingthat caused me any anxiety I just imagined leaving it outside of the gate andthe Good Shepherd closing the gate and saying “Don’t worry about that, it willbe there tomorrow, just rest with me.” Ihad to do this a number of times with all the things I was worried about, untilfinally I could just be with him, no worries, no carries, just rest. I slept like a baby. I woke up the next morning peaceful, joyful, andgrateful. There was something verywonderful about being able to sleep safe in the care of the Good Shepherd.

What do you fall asleep thinking about at night?

What was different about that night?

What was different about that night is that I fell asleepmeditating on the truth. Jesus is the GoodShepherd. He’s got us in his care. We are inside the gate, safe, protected,nothing to worry about. Just graze inthe green grass beside restful waters. Muchbetter than being focused on what I have to do in the morning, being worriedabout something I did or something someone said, thinking about something I hadjust read in the news, or seen on TV.

Jesus tells us to pray always… Does that mean even whenwe are resting or sleeping?

Here are some excerpts from today’s readings that do indicatethat we can and meditate on God from the time that we go to bed until the timethat we wake up in the morning.

Psalm 63

I will rememberyou upon my couch,
and through the night-watches I will meditate on you:

The psalmist delights in remembering God in times ofrest. “I will remember you upon my couch.”

What’s the first thing that you do when you lay down on thecouch?

Grab the paper? Grab the remote? Grab the bag of chips? What if that became a time just to rest with theLord? What if instead of grabbing theremote and just numbing yourself in TV you remembered the Lord for amoment?

Here are just a few ways of doing this. Sit for some time in silence and justrest. Enjoy the sun coming through thewindow, or the sound of silence. Noticethe trees outside. Delight that youfinally have this time to rest with the Lord. Thank Him for something good in your day. Keep your bible on the coffee table so youcan pick it up and meditate on one of the psalms or your favorite parable. Pray the Rosary meditating on the life ofChrist. Spend some time journaling orreflecting. How will this transform yourafternoon or evening? Can you imaginethe peace, the rejuvenation, the joy?

and through thenight-watches I will meditate on you:

What if you kept some of these things by your bed so thatwhen you wake up in the middle of the night instead of worrying or tossing and turningor watching an infomercial, you could meditate on the Lord?

Maybe it’s a picture of the good shepherd, or an image ofJesus, an icon or painting. You couldfall asleep to your favorite parable, psalm, the creation story, or meditating onthe daily readings or best of all the reading for the upcoming Sunday. Wouldn’t that bring much more peace thanwatching those late night infomercials: Ms. Cleo’s Psychic hotline, Ginsu steakknife, ShamWow, or the Snuggie?

How much deeper could our sleep be if we immersed ourselvesin Jesus and meditated on Him in those last moments of consciousness?

The book of Wisdom invites us:

and whoever forher sake keeps vigil
shall quickly be free from care;

The dictionarydefines a vigil as this: A vigil (from the Latin vigilia,meaning wakefulness) is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, anoccasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word vigiliahas become generalized in this sense and means "eve"

Do you have this “purposefulsleeplessness?” This time of “devotionalwatching” sometime in the evening?

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus warns us in the parable ofthe 10 virgins with the lamp:

Since thebridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,

stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour."

The catechism makes it very clear that if we don’t make thetime for prayer it isn’t going to happen.

The choice of the time andduration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secretsof the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has thetime: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up,no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot alwaysmeditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of theconditions of health, work, or emotional state. (2710)

Finally, what is the first thing that you do when you wakeup in the morning?

Is Jesus the first thing that we think of when we wake up inthe morning?

In today’s 1^st reading from the book of Wisdomwe are given great hope that if we think of Him first in the morning, he willbe there for us all day…

Whoever watchesfor her at dawn shall not be disappointed,
for he shall find her sitting by his gate.

What if the first thing that we did when we woke up I themorning was meditated on Jesus? Imaginehow our day would be transformed if before we did anything else… check ourphone for texts, emails, missed calls, read the paper, turned on the TV… weprayed.

This could be as simple as opening the bible to thatfavorite psalm or parable of yours. Maybeit just kneeling down beside your bed and saying your favorite prayer. I always begin my day by lying down prostratebefore the crucifix and giving my day, my life to the Lord. If we did something like this we would findhim “wisdom sitting by our gate.” Wewould find the Lord right there at our bedroom door just sitting and waiting tojoin us and be with us throughout our day.

Jesus can be the last thing that we think of before we go tobed at night and the first thing that we think of when we wake up in the morningand Oh how much more peaceful, joyful, and prayerful our lives would reallybe.

All Saints: Spiritual Reading

2011-10-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

"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."

The saints are the ones who have survived the time of great distress. Think about it, most of the saints have been through a lot worse than us – and they made it!

John XXIII in his Journal of the Soul made it a practice to do some spiritual reading every day. I was so inspired by this that during retreat one year at the seminary I made a resolution to do 15 minutes of spiritual reading every day. I used to be amazed at how priests could have walls lined with books and now I’m one of those priests. You’d be amazed at how much good reading can be done over the years 15 minutes at a time.

I say this because it has been a tremendous blessing in my life to have spiritual reading. Those 15 minutes can transform my day, focus me, challenge me, inspire me, bring me hope when I am discouraged, joy when I am sad, stillness when I am all over the place.

As I read I underline, star, bullet point, ear mark – you know one of my books when you see them. Just one line can change not only your day, but your week, your month, your life. And over the years I have begun to compile the quotes… pages and pages and pages of lines that inspire me.

15 minutes a day… what do you think? How much time do you spend on the internet? Watching TV? Facebook? Imagine what life would be like after immersing ourselves for 15 minutes in the truth.

Reading the Lives of the Saints is encouraged by all of our great saints: St. Ignatius, St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila, and many of the Mystics had their conversion by reading the writings of other’s that had walked that path before.

Now I don’t suggest you start with John of the Cross, but you can start somewhere. Grab a book that has excerpts from the saints, reflections on the saints, biographies of the saints. Find one that you are interested in, one that speaks to you, one that has been through your “Time of great distress.” And before you know it you’ll be reading their writings, their biographies, their journals… and then they’ll mention one of the other saints that helped them and you’ll have a whole other direction and treasure of wisdom.

This All Saints day may we realize the great tradition we have in the Communion of the Saints and how they can still help us because they have “Survived the time of great distress.” And so can we!

Here are some recommendations to get you started:

All Shall Be Well: Hope and Inspiration from Great Catholic Thinkers by Jane Cavolina, Matthew Bunson and Mary Jane Frances Cavolina

All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time by Robert Ellsberg

My Life with the Saints by James Martin

Book of All Saints by Adrienne Von Speyr

And the Classic:

Butler's Lives of the Saints (4 Volume Set) by Alban Butler, Herbert J. Thurston and Donald Attwater