"Hey, How Is Everything?"

Today's Readings

"Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher." John 20:16

Have you ever looked at someone and swear that you've met them before, but you're just not sure?  Do you stare at them and say nothing, or do you say, "Excuse me.  Haven't we met?"  Today, on this third day of Easter, I'm reminded of those times when I glance at a familiar face, and I approach them, knowing that we've met, but still wondering who they are.  Sometimes I get a few words out, and sometimes I don't, but these moments always seem to bring forth from this other person, a confident statement like, "Greg!"

At the risk of sounding vain, I have been blessed with an unmistakable sort of build.  I look like I always did, and I guess I always will.  In my own mind, I'm recognizable because of my physical stature, the way I walk, and yes, maybe even a little bit of that "GregBlog" grin as well... But when I come across someone I haven't seen since high school, they remember me enough to say, "Greg?"  I sometimes remember their name, or I just smile and say, "Hey!  How is everything?"

Today's Gospel offers a similar moment as Mary Magdalene in a similar spot... She sees the resurrected Christ, and knows that there is something familiar about his presence, and even opens the conversation thinking that he's the gardner, only to have Jesus say, "Mary!"  And at that moment, she sees him, and calls him Rabbouni, recognizing Him for who He truly is... The Risen Lord!

Just like when I see people that I've known, but can't seem to connect the face and the name, Mary does not recognize the Christ.  But notice that Jesus calls HER by name!  He connects with her very self, simply by saying, "Mary!"  Now this is where I need work, because in that encounter, Mary recognizes Jesus in return... I, on the other hand, would probably have said something stupid like, "Uh... Hey!  How is everything?"  

Which brings up my GregBlog question of the day... 

When Jesus calls you by name, will you see Him and know Him for who He truly is, or just say "Hey," wondering to yourself, "Wow, that guy looks familiar"?

Relaxed in the Spirit!

Today's Readings

"God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.” Acts 2: 32-33

It's Easter Monday, and dare I say I had the day off!

It was a great day indeed!  I slept until 10.  I had coffee on the back porch, while the birds chirped their little hearts out.  I ate a Polish breakfast bread called Babka that some dear friends gave me at the blessing of the Easter Foods on Holy Saturday.  I enjoyed just being home with my family as we just hung out in our pajamas.  And I watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees!

I guess you's could say that I am relaxed in the Spirit knowing that all is well with God's creation.  I have had a full week of interacting with wonderful people making some very passionate strides in their own faith journeys.  I've seen God at work in the hearts, and actions of many volunteers that made the time to make things happen so that others can rejoice!  In reading a blog on Easter Miracles from "Too Bad It's Raining", my friend Margo sums up the special feeling I hope to communicate, as she reflected on seeing Christ in the faces of her fellow parishioners at Easter Mass, making their way back from Communion.  "I am so moved by the uniqueness and depth of each face. I'm struck by their walks, by their hands folded in front of them or hanging down to their sides. Walking tabernacles, transformed by taking one bite."

I guess I am a witness to the Easter rising of our Savior.  I've seen him pour forth His Spirit, and I've heard the sounds of countless people rejoicing.  Even at Yankee Stadium today, some forty thousand baseball fans became a collective witness of God's love and healing as they accepted the invitation by the PA announcer to join together in two minutes of "silent prayer" (Yep, that's what he called it!) for those affected by the violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut!  And as I type these last few words, that chirping bird from this morning continues to sing God's praise in the once again green branches of a very happy weeping willow tree in my back yard!

Happy Easter everyone... We've got 48 days to go in this amazing season of new life!  Don't waste a minute... Keep witnessing, and keep watching for God's little miracles budding all around you!

Things Are Gonna Get Dicey!

Today's Readings

"So [they] said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.' So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. - John 8: 57-59

I am not a Scripture Scholar, and I don't play one on TV, but taking a quick glance at the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John, I can say with some sense of surety that one could entitle this chapter, "And Christ Did Push Their Button!"

There are four distinct sections or moments in this chapter, "The Woman Caught in Adultery", "The Light of the World", "Jesus, the Father's Ambassador", and "Jesus and Abraham".  Three of the four sections end with "THEM" wanting to STOP him from being Jesus, if you know what I mean.  

I AM CALLING YOU OUT!  "The Woman Caught in Adultery": The story of the woman ends with Christ telling "THEM" to go ahead and own up to their own sinfulness. (v. 11)  They departed the grounds outside the Temple with a grumble. (John 8: 1-11)  

WE'RE CALLING THE COPS!  "The Light of the World": Christ then visits the treasury area in the temple area, and reminds us of his place in the world as being light to dispel the darkness. (v. 12)  You can almost hear "THEM" saying, "Wait a second!  Are you telling us that this area is the "darkness" that you are dispelling?"  Needless to say, THEY weren't happy.  He wasn't arrested, but it sure sounds as if someone had the phone in THEIR hand ready to call "the cops"! (John 8: 12-20)

WHERE DID YOU GO TO DIPLOMAT SCHOOL?  "Jesus, the Father's Ambassador":  Christ's opening line as "Ambassador" would not gain him a degree in most of today's Schools of Diplomacy.  He opened with, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.  Where I am going you cannot come.”  Ouch!  But of the four sections, this third interaction with "THEM" had a somewhat nice ending in that "many [of THEM] came to believe in him."  This is a chance to highlight the reality that all Jesus was trying to do was talk straight to THEM, letting the world know that he was truly sent by the Father, to do the Father's will, making him the  "I AM" (v. 28) that THEY all have been seeking since the days of Abraham.  (John 8: 21-30)

I AM!  "Jesus and Abraham":  This final section continues his conversation with "those who believed in him", with Jesus affirming that they have been "set free", (v. 31-32) but THEY seemed to resent being called SLAVES.  They probed, and Jesus answered back, probing even deeper!  The idea that Christ could come to THEM and proclaim himself "I AM" was getting too much to handle.  One more time, Jesus tries to connect the reality that he has come from God, the Father who sent him, but then notices that THEY just can't understand, prompting one of the harshest responses that most "diplomats" learn never to use:  "You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies." (v. 44)  Can you hear THEM?  THEY yelled back, “Now we are sure that you are possessed." (v. 52)  Jesus tried to continue his line of Truth, but the logic was just too much, "so they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area." (v. 59) (John 8: 31-59)

Things are gonna get a little dicey this coming week!  Jerusalem, New York, Hong Kong, Toronto, Moscow, Brisbane, Buenos Aries, Birmingham, L.A., London, Afghanistan, Rome, Siagon, and ... Look out "WORLD", here he comes!

Very Dangerous... You Go First!

Today's Readings

Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

The passage above witnesses to the proclamation made by Christ just after forgiving the "Woman Caught in Adultery," or as a good friend in the Church told me, "the only woman in history to commit adultery all be herself."  : )  In other words, why wasn't there another person being accused with her?  It does take two, doesn't it?  Anyway, this woman, singled out by all as the worst of all sinners, was to be put to death by stoning, when Jesus stepped to not only defend her, but forgive her as well.  Unfortunately, history provides many examples of communities who would condemn their own for similar, or even less.  Even more unfortunate is the reality that history does not offer as many examples of Christ's level of forgiveness to accompany their stories.

In the "Blogosphere" one can enter a very dangerous area, if one decides to go on record as forgiving criminals, as they are often seen as somehow condoning their criminal actions.  This GregBlog will walk this fine line ever so carefully so as not to be misunderstood.

First, I have to offer my understanding of a person's call to discipleship; that is to say, the job description offered to us at the beginning of Jesus' ministry as witnessed in the Gospel of Luke:  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free..." Luke 4:18  The key phrases for this "job description" are:

• Proclaim Liberty to Captives:  Some are captive to things outside of their control: Loneliness, disability, economic struggle, etc.  Our job and privilege is to help accept them for who they are, and work WITH them to overcome certain obstacles that they face, e.g. visit the lonely, feed the hungry, and assist the disabled.
• Recover Sight to the Blind:  There is such a thing as INJUSTICE, and when we observe such things, our job and privilege is to speak out against it, and encourage a solution, especially by our actions.  We can write a letter to our congressman, vote for change, and protect the innocent in prayer and outward support!
• Let the Oppressed Go Free:  To help those who are oppressed infers that they are in prison against their will, or under some form of force or intimidation.  Like those who are captive to economic injustice, almost a combination of the two categories above, we must speak on their behalf.  But what about the prisoners?  What about those, like the "Woman Caught in Adultery"?  What about the one's who commit the crime, and serve the time?  Does one have to be captive, or blind, or oppressed to be loved by God?  Can God love the guilty, and if so, can WE serve them, and share the love of Christ with them?  Absolutely!  Christ knew of the woman's guilt, and forgave her all the more.  For the record, he would have forgiven the cowardly man that joined her in that adulterous affair if he had had enough guts to ask instead of hide.  We as disciples are called to learn from "The Teacher", and do the same!  

There are some prominent criminal cases in the news today, and some convicted criminals that need God's love.  I wonder if WE could step up and pay a visit to them?  I wonder if WE could be the ones to shine Jesus' light into their darkness?

I told you this was dangerous!

What's Up With Galilee?

Today's Readings

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him,  “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”  - John 7: 45-52

The opperative question for today is an important one to ask as we progress on our Way through the rest of our Lenten Journey... What's wrong with Galilee?  I stand aside and let the following resources offer some perspective:

Galilee
Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent)
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06341c.htm

"From Jesus to the Christ"
A PBS - Frontline Special
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/galilee.html

+AMDG+

Today's Readings

Welcome again to Pope Francis!

I must admit that I too was wrapped up in the coverage of this major step in the history of OUR Faith.  He's the Pope of firsts, the first Francis, the first from the Americas, and the first outside Europe (in modern times - Thanks Renee!).  He's the Pope of prayer, as he stepped out of the norm and asked us to pray for him before giving his first Papal blessing on us!  He's a Pope for the Poor, as he brings a history of ministry that focuses on those thirsting for God's love and society's acceptance.  He has lived his faith for all to see, a simple man, with basic values, in a simple existence.  You know he's got the world's attention when the news focuses on the fact that he lived in an apartment and not a chancery, and made his way to work each day on a bus, and without a chauffeur.

In choosing his name, Pope Francis seems to have chosen to follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi.  One CNN article identifies St. Francis as "A great, great Saint", quoting Pope Pius XI when he said that "there has never been anyone in whom the image of Jesus Christ and the evangelical manner of life shone forth more lifelike and strikingly than in St. Francis.". (See the CNN full article)  In St. Francis's own vision, he was called by Christ to "go and repair my church in ruin", so he gave up everything and followed his faith, "preaching the Gospel, and only using words when necessary."  (Read about St. Francis)  

Other's are joyful because Pope Francis is a Jesuit!  Time Magazine notes that he is "an accomplished intellectual [playing a] “leading role during the Argentine economic crisis” as a “potent symbol of the costs globalization can impose on the world’s poor."   My little understanding of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, would say that Pope Francis would encourage all of us to see God in His creation, especially the poor.  Work for God's Mission as a true and authentic disciple for Christ.  Know that Christ gave himself, and God gave His son to show us LOVE, and call us to a meaningful conversion!  "The three phrases instilled in every Jesuit child — Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (“For the Greater Glory of God”), Cura Personalis (“Care of the Whole Person”) and “Finding God in All Things” — are three of the conclusions reached after the [Ignatian] Spiritual Exercises." (See the full TIME article)

Pope Francis also has ties to St. Francis Xavier.  "One of the 16th-century founders of the Jesuit order, Francis Xavier was a legendary missionary who spread the faith as far as India and Japan — giving the new Pope's name further resonance in an age when the Church is struggling to maintain its numbers." (ZeeNews.India)  I couldn't help but focus in on the Pope's comment that his fellow cardinals went "to the other end of the world" to find a Pope!

Finally, it wouldn't be a GregBlog if I didn't try to make a connection with Today's Readings.  On the surface, the message today cries that we need to get back to Lent!  But there seems to be a connection today as God calls on Moses to recognize that His people are a "stiff neck" group, unwilling to follow His ways.  Similar to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, God is ready to pack up and go home.  "Let me alone," God said, "that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them." (Exodus 32:10)  But Moses "implored the Lord", and asked for another chance for His people.  The Lord agreed, and down the mountain Moses went with the Law in hand, ready to REFORM God's people.

Pope Francis is not Moses, nor is he Francis of Assisi, or Xavier... He is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, of Argentina by way of Italian immigrant parents.  He seems to love serving the poor among us!  With his Jesuit education, he is NOT a push over, as I am sure he knows his faith, and the strong tradition of the Church.  He has come with the Law in his hands, and he will simply ask that we IMPROVE our ways, as we continue to do what we do for the greater glory of God, caring for ALL His people, finding Him in all things!

+AMDG+

The JOYS of Lent

Today's Readings

"Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people." Isaiah 65: 18-19

The Spirit of Laetare: We are in the fourth week of Lent, and passed the midway point of our Lenten journey, so there's room for rejoicing!  The week begins with Laetare Sunday, and the rejoicing of the Father upon the return of his wayward son (Luke 15: 11-32), and continues this week with Isaiah's joyful tone in Isaiah 65: 17-21 (quoted above), and the healing of a royal official's son in John 4: 43-54.  We celebrate Ezeiel's vision, and the water of life flowing from the Temple to fortify the land so as to bear much fruit (Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12), and the healing of yet another in John 5: 1-16 (but this time on the Sabbath to make things interesting).  And finally, we join the Psalmist as we acclaim that "the Lord is good to all!" (Psalm 145: 8-9)

While Lent is not meant to be a season of JOY, it does have its joyful tone, now and then, to remind us that all of this journeying is worth it!  We can all come home and "rejoice with our Father!  We are all healed in the loving presence of our Lord!  We can all be fortified by the living water of our God, so as to bear much fruit to a world that desperately needs its nourishment.  And we can all do our part, working for the good of others, so as to affirm that the Lord is kind and merciful!

PS: Another Reason to Rejoice... Laetare Sunday also marked the 18th birthday of my eldest kid Michelle.  Her sister, Megan decorated the house, and my wife broke out the family manicotti recipe made with my Mom's amazing sauce, and we  had a good 'ol family feast... It truly was a great day!

The Crowds Will Be Amazed!

Today's Readings

"Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech." - Jeremiah 7:28

I promise not to go on and on about the evils of the world, and its inability to allow God to coexist with its "reasoned" thoughts, but I am very entertained by a connection made in today's readings. If you're new to the GregBlog, I have made it my goal to begin each day with Morning Prayer and some reflection on the day's Mass readings as outlined by the Lectionary of the Church.

Today's connection begins with the Prophet Jeremiah dealing with the very same reality that I believe is prevalent in our society today. We have relegated God to stay within the four walls of Churches, not allowing Him to be part of the collective dialogue of life. We're very uncomfortable when someone tries to sneak Him into a conversation. Many would prefer to have "the word itself banished from their speech" (Jer. 7:28) The Psalm celebrated today, is what some would call common for the season of Lent, "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (cf. Psalm 95: 8-9) This, of course, is built on the assumption that God is always speaking to us, and that when He does speak, we should try to listen.  Now for the fun part... Today's Gospel reading begins with the verse, "Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed." (Luke 11:14)  It's another one of Jesus' healings, and it offers us some motivation.  The best way to ensure that God is part of our world, is to talk about it!  The Prophet predicted the dilemma well, and God continues to be removed from the day to day discussion of life, but the Psalmist offers the no-brainer solution:  Allow God to be God, as He will speak when He darn well pleases.  Our task is to simply listen, and then share!

Yesterday, I offered four areas that relate to our role as disciples: Proclamation, Witness, Dialogue, and Liberation.  (These come from a DVD lecture entitled Discipleship from NowYouKnowMedia.com, presented by Fr. Anthony Gittins, C.S.Sp., M.A., Ph.D.)  Notice that three of the four could involve speaking, with the fourth (liberation) serving as a positive outcome to allowing the "speech" to be made.  I would like to offer that in light of today's readings, we commit ourselves (believers or not) to allowing God to BE, and be part of the discussion of life... That's all.  Just let Him be a part of the conversation.  If you're a believer in God's Mission, and in Jesus' ability to evangelize the Good News, then you know that all shall be well.  God's plan is one of patience and persistence.  When it is part of the dialogue, "the crowds [will be] amazed." (LK 11:14)  If God threatens your comfort zone, just by the mere presence of His name, try and relax... There's no hidden agenda; in fact, it's actually quite public!  

One final note:  At the risk of trying to sound like a mini-prophet, woe to you who use God, and His holy name to justify sin, or make people feel uncomfortable about their place in this world.  In your proclamation, witness and dialogue, give them peace, faith, hope, and love.  Allow God to do the liberating!

And Now Back to the Show...

Today's Readings

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.” - Deuteronomy 4:9

My routine is back in place, and as I sit here on a Wednesday morning, with a snow flurry or two squeezing out of the cold grey clouds above (literally one or two flurries), I am reminded of all that we already know... 

The Law of God is not just some list of things to do, its that inner voice that guides us to do the right things at the right time.  Listening to that voice takes time, energy, practice and patience, but it is something that is always with us!  As Christians, Christ fulfills and confirms our ability to follow this Law as it is written on our hearts. (cf. MT 5: 17-19)  Our job as his disciples is to proclaim that Truth, witness to it, dialogue about it, and ultimately liberate the world with it on our lips and through our actions!  (This comes from a DVD lecture entitled Discipleship from NowYouKnowMedia.com, presented by Fr. Anthony Gittins, C.S.Sp., M.A., Ph.D.)

So to coin the phrase from the 80's band Simple Minds, and stretch it towards applying to today's reflection, our Lord is simply saying, "Don't You Forget About Me", or the Law I rode in on!

U Ready to Rumble?

Today's Readings

"Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28

In today's readings, Jesus, in so many words, echoes the now famous phrase, "Are you ready to rumble?" he lays out the reality that suffering is on the horizon, and that things are going to get tougher before they get easier. The initial response to his motivational, but realistic prediction was probably a tad disappointing to our Lord as the mother of disciples James and John stepped forward to say, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

"Whaaa?  Mom!   I'm sorry!  What my Mom meant to say was..."

Jesus, and the disciples were facing a similar effort that had been repeated many times before.  Factions were plotting against them, and it was obvious enough that Jesus had to speak to it, to reassure the twelve that all would be well.  They must have been a little nervous, like Jeremiah in the first reading today, "Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf, to turn away your wrath from them." (Jeremiah 18: 19-20)

Now every good son loves his mother, but there are times when a Mom is not supposed to speak on their Son's behalf... This might be one of those times. James and John, while nervous at the potential results of heading into Jerusalem, were not the one's worried about where they were to sit.  Their mother's concern, however, was fair as she worried for their lives.  Jesus handles the request like a pro, stating that we all have our chalice to drink from, or our cross to bear, and that no matter where we sit, the task at hand is to SERVE those in need, even if it means we suffer!

Today, in our own Lenten journey, are we willing to suffer, and work harder than ever before to reach our goals?  Are we willing to serve, rather than be served?  Are we willing to forfeit the comfort of knowing all the answers, placing our trust in God?

I'm ready to rumble!

"It's OK Mom, try not to worry (although I kinda love it that you do)... I'll be fine!  Thanks for loving me!"

The New & Improved "Eye for an Eye"

Today's Readings

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” - Luke 6: 36-38

If Gandhi said that the philosophy of an "eye for an eye" would make the whole world blind, then what would happen if the philosophy of "forgive and be forgiven" began sweeping the nations? The answer to that is obvious, and quite pleasing. Jesus' teaching, challenging us to be merciful, as God is merciful, is the precursor to the many peaceful, and somewhat "pie in the sky" philosophies that simply ask, "Can't we all just get along?" (R.I.P. Rodney King)

Be Merciful (Stop Judging): The simplistic notion that we can always be nice, is one that we all learn early in life. Sure it becomes more and more difficult as we grow, as advice is always easy to give, but rarely easy to follow. But Christ offered a new way of thinking, as he looked at these concepts from a beneficiary's perspective. If God does is merciful to you, then...

Forgive (Stop Condemning): Mercy in action is forgiveness, and its especially difficult when that forgiveness is not deserved! In the logic offered here, we forgive because we are forgiven. Condemnation takes a lot of negative energy, and an ongoing commitment towards feeding itself, that is you can never let it go. Forgiveness, on the other hand, also takes a lot of commitment, but it allows you to be free, letting go the burden of carrying the negative energy.

Give: If you can take on the attitude of living your life in the merciful way that God lives with you, and you can practice it by "letting go", moving forward in a spirit of forgiveness, then the challenge shared by Jesus, Gandhi, and now the GregCast, is to GIVE of yourself, so that others (and you) may receive this precious gift of God's love!  The 80's group Missing Persons offers us this "pie in the sky" notion of the value of giving in a song appropriately named "Give":

When's the last time you really touched someone
How did it feel
Did it surprise you when you found yourself unselfish
Did it seem unreal
The pressure's everywhere-everywhere around you
Beckon you to turn the other way
But I say the results are superficial
There's only one way to play
Give-when you have anything at all to give
You have everything to live for
(Give all you've got to give)
After you've given all you can
Give again, give again, give again

Measure:  The imagery of "good measure" used by Jesus is crucial, because (back in the day) when a person would go to buy flour, they were wise to be sure that the measure was "packed together and shaken down", otherwise they would not receive the full amount that was purchased.  Jesus was eluding to the old, and dishonest practice of tipping the scale in the favor of the dealer.  Our God, not only made sure to measure out our just portion, He also offers it to us "overflowing", painting the image of His abundant love coming to us in excess!  The conclusion?  "Give again, give again, give again!", and give some more, for the promise is that if you live as God loves, then you will receive even more in return!

An Evolving Equation:  I was leading a Confirmation Retreat for the youth at St. Aloysius Parish in Birmingham, Alabama this past Saturday, and this equation came off the dry erase marker on to the white board:

      (4)
L + G + D = Praxis (Faith in Action)
i       i     o
v      v
e      e

I offer this in the context of Matthews Gospel, referring to our being a light, not hidden, for all to see, so that we the world may glorify God! (Matthew 5: 14-16)  If we LIVE, "4-GIVE", GIVE and DO, then our faith IN ACTION will lead to a world of many blessings, as people will not only SEE, but BE loved by God, through the love we share!  More on this as it evolves in the coming weeks, months, and years ahead.

Three of a Perfect Pair

Today's Readings

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9: 23-24

The calendar this year offers a unique combo of dates that truly helps define our real purpose as a people. To combine Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day allows all to see that with sacrifice comes love.

• Sacrifice... Sacrifice is the day to day work. Sacrifice is the full commitment to each other over the things that could be getting in the way. Sacrifice is the reality that, even when it doesn't seem to be working, the work and the commitment continues. Sacrifice is an intentional "giving up" of self, so as to "give" so as to help meet other's needs. Sacrifice gets more difficult before it gets easy.

• Love... "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

• Work... The work of Ash Wednesday is to let your heart know that you are ready to "repent for your sin, and be faithful to the Gospel." (That's what they said when you were getting that ash on your head yesterday... Hope you washed your face this morning!) The repenting is the sacrifice, and the love is the Gospel; which by the way, calls us all to love one another!  The work of Valentine's Day is to let your heart be shared with the people you love, usually uttered in the phrase, "Will you be mine?" (Which usually is accompanied by a box of chocolates, or a rose to symbolize just how sweet and beautiful they are!). The Sharing and the symbols are the work, and the love is the purpose that drives us.

So, just like sacrifice, love is not a feeling.  It is work.  Just like sacrifice, love is not easy, it is purposeful.  Just like sacrifice, love tells the world that you mean business... You care... You have faith... You have hope... And yes, you have a love that serves them, struggles with them, rejoices with them, and grows with them, denying your very self to work for them daily.

That's life, that's sacrifice, and that's love... And that's why Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day go well together, and why sacrifice, love and work are "three of a perfect pair!" (a stretch of a King Crimson reference).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hunger Games: All for a Children's Crusade

A thought is brewing in my head over "The Hunger Games", and even though I've not read the book, nor have tickets for this weekend's premiere... I've been getting the gist from some as to the story line and some of the real world connections...

So even though the story per se is fictional for sure, there are places in our world where the kids have to do battle, so that society can prosper… Think about it!  How old were the soldiers who fought in previous wars… How old are the soldiers today?  One song I love, is entitled Children’s Crusade by Sting… Listen to the song (via YouTube or other means) and read these lyrics:

Young men, soldiers, nineteen fourteen

Marching through countries they'd never seen

Virgins with rifles, a game of charades

All for a children's crusade

Pawns in the game are not victims of chance

Strewn on the fields of Belgium and France

Poppies for young men, death's bitter trade

All of these young lives betrayed

The children of England would never be slaves

They're trapped on the wire and dying in waves

The flower of England face down in the mud

And stained in the blood of a whole generation

Corpulent generals safe behind lines

History's lessons drowned in red wine

Poppies for young men, death's bitter trade

All of those young lives betrayed

All for a children's crusade

The children of England would never be slaves

They're trapped on the wire and dying in waves

The flower of England face down in the mud

And stained in the blood of a whole generation

Midnight in Soho nineteen eighty four

Fixing in doorways, opium slaves

Poppies for young men, such bitter trade

All of those young lives betrayed

All for a children's crusade

Twelve for '12... Happy New Year!

Twelve for '12!

With a little more than twelve hours left in the "Old Year", I thought I'd offer my Twelve Most Random Thoughts for Making 2012 The Best Year Ever!

12.  Gumbo!  I'm making a pot of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo today, and I'm thinking that while life may be "like a box of chocolates", our New Year can be like a pot of Gumbo.  Make the best of everything you got, use it all and throw it into a pot... Let it simmer and take its own sweet time, for the combination and the spice will make the joy all thine!

11.  Planning!  One always has to set goals, and make a run for achieving each and everyone of them!  Make your list on New Year's Day, and call them promises, or plans or resolutions... My hope it that we all promise to play the game and try to achieve a level of greatness that we didn't reach during the year before!

10.  Coffee Break!  While the caffeine isn't always considered good for you, it's the break that I am touting!  Let's take more time to "break", and put more time into being productive when we work... Breaks should not be procrastination, but rather relaxation!

9.  Sunshine!  I hope the New Year greets you with a little warmth and light.  New light bulb standards take effect this year, and light will cost more for the bulb, and supposedly less on the "light bill".  Get outside and enjoy the free stuff whenever you can... That big huge warm ball of gas in the sky can offer some amazing warmth, even on the coldest day!  Sounds like a good analogy for another source of light.  I won't preach, just point... God is good, all the time!

8.  Fire!  Like it or not Apple, the Kindle Fire made its mark this Christmas!  Many will read more in 2012, and we all have to promise to get out of the habit of communicating just throughout the "Status Update"  Let's read more, and write more... You know, multiple paragraphs and pages!  Let's formulate and communicate thoughts and ideas, and not just feelings!

7.  Water!  In my Catholic Christian tradition, a simple reminder, every now and then, of my "Baptismal Promise" is in order... I am called to be "Priest, Prophet and King!"  That is, I pray that we all can be a priestly people, offering a caring and compassionate hand to those in need.  I pray that we can proclaim a Truth in life to all who can hear and see and experience, so that our actions will offer hope to a world that needs a kick in the pants every now and then!  Finally, I pray that we all experience this existence of ours as one of great promise and expectation!  We are ALL children of God, and a special people at that!

6.  Mission Possible!  OK... It's a tad hokey, but WE CAN DO THIS THING!  Having a good year is knowing what's ahead of us, but also being prepared to adapt to the surprises!  No, I'm not Tom Cruise, and I'm not sure I want to be, but we all have to use those tricks that we have up our sleeves for the good!  OK, that was hokey.. I'll stop now!

5.  Gold Rings!  You've heard the sappy phrase that maybe it can be Christmas all year round.  Actually, and never forget, that New Year's always happens during the Twelve Days of Christmas!  If you count, I think its day 8, but no matter the day or the symbol, Christmas is a process that begins with the birth of hope (Christmas Day), calls us to plan how we can live out that hope (New Year's Resolutions), and challenges us to leave what we have in the hands of the one who will lead us, trusting in His promise, guiding us "home by another way". (Epiphany: January 6th)

4.  Square!  In 2012, lets think think ahead even more, and plan to lay a foundation for an amazing life ahead.  Four points can make a square, and three dimensions makes it a block... Let's construct a firm foundation with "blocks" that our sturdy and strong!

3.  Ideas!  I'm a big fan of TED, and their motto, "Ideas Worth Spreading", is good rule for all of us to follow.  Let's come up with three "ideas worth spreading" this year!

2.  You and I!  I'm not necessarily a "Little Monster", but one of my highlights from 2011 was watching Lady Ga Ga on Thanksgiving night challenge an entire world (or at least those watching) to be OK with who they are.  I watched a grown up, and kinda weird entertainer, speak a Truth that was loud and clear to an audience of "little monsters", reassuring us that we are loved no matter what!  I know its a stretch, people are moving on to the next "super star", but Ga Ga took us on a ride that culminated with the reality that it is about "You and I"!  Notice the order... YOU then I... If Lady Ga Ga can match the Gospel call of making sure that the other guy is good, before worrying about the self, then I think us "monsters" can do the same!

1.  Confession!  I recently posted a link to a USA Today article on "Confession" entitled "In New Year, Be Honest With Yourself".  It's not necessarily about the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation, but it is about something equally important... Internalizing forgiveness, humility, and self confession into your everyday life!  (See a sample of the article below)

I'll wrap up this Twelve for 12 by simply wishing you a Happy New Year, and a lot of gumbo, great plans, coffee breaks, sunshine, fire, water, missions, continued days of Christmas, firm foundations, awesome ideas, "little monsters", and humble heart!

God Bless,
Greg

Here's an excerpt for the article based on the Paul Wilkes' book "The Art of Confession":


Each night before you go to bed (I recommend kneeling; it puts us in the right state of mind: thoughtfully humble), simply review the day. Let your mind meander back through it. As you do you may be surprised that you skip right over what seemed to be the major events of the day and find yourself instead pondering the seemingly inconsequential. Take detours; that is exactly the purpose of this exercise.


If you find yourself making connections between something that happened today and something in the past, all the better. Most of us are creatures of habit. Our objective is to find and reinforce those habits that enrich our well-being and find and eventually put aside those that are not in alignment with who we really are.


Some possible questions:
• What did I do that made me happiest?
• Where did I feel ashamed of myself?
• What action would I do over again and how?
• What moved me to act the way I did?
• What habits or tendencies worked for or against me?
• When did I feel most in alignment with what is best in me?


Try this simple form of self-reflection tonight. And you will be practicing the art of confession, confession in its purest sense: self-confession. Just zero in on one thing that showed you at your best and resolve to be that person tomorrow. Think about one thing that you didn't like about yourself and try not to repeat it.

The NEW Missal Makes a Direct Hit

This past weekend, the New Roman Missal made a direct hit on english-speaking parishes around the world. A new and what is thought to be a more vibrant and formal translation of the Mass landed in a pew near you. I am sure that some of my initial observations in my own parish are very similar to what greeted the Church around the world...

A LITTLE CONFUSION, BUT CERTAINLY NOT CHAOS:  Like most parishes, ours has a new hymnal with everything you need to follow along.  We've even added the follow along,  "red letter marks the changed language" script and the Mass Music Assembly Booklet.  Its all there, and its probably a tad too much to navigate, but it seemed to have taken only a small portion of the hour for folks to figure out where to look and what to follow.  The fun part was watching the faces of many, many well intended people simply fall back into the routine... "The Lord be with you"... And also with y--, oh.. um... your... And with your spirit!" :)

EVERY BIT OF THE PREPARATION WAS WORTH EVERY SECOND:  I'm sure many parishes within the Church worked very hard for many, many months to prepare for the weekend debut of the New Missal.  Some chose to begin practicing months ago, and others have been studying the reasons behind the changes for a year.  Our parish, like many others, worked throughout the last year praying and deciding on what to do, but began the using the new translation only within the past few weeks, focusing on the Gloria, the Confiteor, and the Nicene Creed.  We made the decision not to debut any new music until this past weekend as well.  I believe that like us, the parishes who waited until the official start time of this past weekend to "do the new Mass" were treated to the value of what comes with that newness and how it compliments the season of Advent.

"WHAT ABOUT THOSE BELLS?"  There a certainly a few nay-sayers in the pews, and some people that just aren't happy with the changes in the New Roman Missal.  Our parish has maintained a relatively "middle of the road" approach when it comes to celebrating the Mass.  The ringing of the bells has not been a usual practice at my parish.  While the use of the bells is certainly NOT part of the change of the Roman Missal, in other words, it is not a required element within the liturgy; adding the ringing of the bells at the two "elevations" of the Eucharistic Prayer came as a little bit of a shock to many in our congregation.  I would say that 85%-90% were pleasantly shocked, and enjoyed or could live with their return.  But like the usual "Bell Curve" (no pun intended), 10% just couldn't believe it.  When confronted by the unhappy, I was challenged to have to defend their re-placement within the liturgy because frankly I don't lose too much sleep over such things, but this is a great example of just how much we have to respect the 10%.  No, this isn't some "Occupy Rally", it's just a simple fact.  Many of our faithful, truly thought through, and have owned their style of worship.  No amount of training or prep classes in understanding the "New Stuff" was gonna make things any easier for these folks.  Their Mass was giving way to a new Mass!  One of our staff members put it quite nicely.  "I am now feeling what some of the older folks must have felt when I was younger, and those changes in the Missal "turned everything around".

So, I'll end by saying that while change is difficult, it is a part of growth, and that is exactly what's happening here... We, the living Body of Christ continues to grow!  We seek to perfect our worship because that's what is asked of us... Not by the Vatican, but by God.  We were created to love and worship Him.  He who fashioned us from the dust, and gave us the breath of life, has given us a chance to express our faith in the best way we know how... And that is what we'll do!

Actually, Friday Was Quite Bright!

I get the reason why it's called "Black Friday"... It's an economic thing, right? They, the company, ate trying to turn a profit ("In the Black"), while we spend the money, and go into debt ("In the red"). We started "Black Friday" a few hours early, and hit Wal-Mart at 10pm Thanksgiving Night. Frankly, it was more fun than I thought it would be! I shopped with my a,axing wife, and my two beautiful gals, and about three-million others who were running around buying stuff just because they could. I saw carts with boxes, upon boxes of Rubbermaid storage containers... Everybody seemed to be required to purchase at least one box for $6.88. There were folks with not one, or a couple, but 30 DVD movies. Everyone seemed to need a TV, and we're quite happy standing in a line in the frozen food section to get it. But as is the order of the universe, only 200 were privaledged to be given the right to spend the $298 on the 32" flat screen. I hope they're not disappointed when they plug her in. A 32" TV is actually kinda small. I talked to a guy in the checkout line who wanted me to think he was a genius for having spent $999 on a 55".

We needed a printer, and just before midnight, a few gentlemen rolled out a pallet of boxes containing hundreds of them. I giggled when my wife broke in one direction, and I in another to claim a spot near the stack of valuable, and yet cheap printers. For a guy my size, I was doing pretty well to muscle in on the prize, but Karen actually had her hands on one first. Again, in the order of the universe, we had to wait there next to the pallet until the stroke of midnight, when things magically become cheap! The girls and I headed for the checkout line to reserve our spot. When we got there it was actually very calm, with no line in sight, forcing us to wait on Karen and the printer to reunite with us. We sat next to cooler with the Red Bull in it and waited for her arrival. Then without warning, and I'm not exaggerating, hundreds of people with printers in their hands came rushing for the checkout. We sprang to our feet, and as Karen and our precious little printer arrived, we were at the end of the line. Yep, I failed in my only duty of the evening. We had to wait for another 30 mins. I saw a couple of old students from the high school I used to work at, and I had to endure the advice of that "expert" who went on to tell me that, not only did he buy the 55" TV, but he bought a 32" as well. Yes, he was one of the 200! BTW, he had two printers! Speaking of the 32" TV, actually said, "I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it!". GENIUS!

Well, that's another Black Friday perspective... It was actually not back at all. We're a tad in the red, and it was actually a lot of fun... A real bright spot in my Thanksgiving of 2011! Post Script: can you believe that girls brought me home around 1am, picked up my Mom, went out for another round at a different store, brought her home a little before 3am, then went back out to find shoes! They're still sleeping. Oh, the printer works great! I'll complain about the evils of capitalism on another day! :)

To Be Thankful, and then Sleep!

I am sitting in the midst of the preparation for our family Thanksgiving meal. My job is to simply to simply stay out of the way, yet keep the glasses the full. So far so good! The Turkey has been rubbed, stuffed, and is roasting ever so slowly, and the kitchen (like yours) smells marvelous! We are all so blessed and, dare I say, should all be very thankful for the stuff (and stuffing) we have this day. When we sit down and eat our abundant meal, know that God and his beautiful nature have built in the ingredient to make it all perfect. TRYPTOPHAN! Tryptophan is, as defined in the British Dictionary, which is appropriate on this truly unique American holiday :), "an amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates." I'm sure that it is essential for many reasons, but one ting I know is that anything to help this country relax is certainly essential! Later, we will drift off to sleep knowing that our bellies are full, life is great, and all shall be well! Is Tryptophan a drug? No, not really! Do we need it to relax? No, not really! But it sure is a welcome gift this day, and yet another reason to be thankful! "To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub..." - Hamlet

Hope: The Goal and Desire That Gets Results!

This is gonna sound funny, but I just had a ministry moment at my Parish Finance Council Meeting. When I sit at meetings like this, believe it or not, I have nothing to say. Let's just say that I'm a tad outta my league, and am very happy to let this part of the think tank do all the thinking. Tonight was no different, but in my listening I heard one member offer a statement that brought a concept of our faith into clear view. The word "goal" was used in a statement, as in looking ahead and setting goals for the future. One of the members stated that they preferred the term "desired result" instead of "goals". This prompted another member to add that maybe "hope" was the better term. But the person who likes "desired results" thought that the term "hope" might not have enough "umph" to it, or measurability. This got me thinking about the Gospel, and the whole WWJD thing. What would Jesus prefer? With respect to our faith, should we have goals or desired results? I would argue that both terms would be fine in planning one's journey of faith, but another term might be "more better!" :) The term is HOPE! I would say that a GOAL involves a victory that comes after much effort and hard work! This process seems to involve research and dreaming, but the key word is "victory". I would say that achieving a DESIRED RESULT also comes with much effort and hard work, but the term seems to imply that the outcome was understood from the beginning, and the culmination of the process is simply a measured and understood result. I'm not 100% sure, but I would maintain that nowhere in the Scripture do the terms "goal" or "desired result" appear. The term HOPE, however, appears quite frequently. It's most popular appearance is of course it's listing as one of the big three of FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE in St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians. HOPE seems to involve the similar elements that "goals" and "desired results" have, but it is unique in that it involves trusting a promise. St. Paul promises that with Christ one can have a new life. Christ promises that in living this new life, one can have life everlasting! With those kind of promises, one can live with HOPE, and it is in that hope that one becomes motivated to work hard and give supreme effort. So let me offer my thanks to tonight's Parish Finance Council Meeting for giving me some great stuff to pray about. I would say that I prefer the term HOPE, for it is HOPE that gives us the purpose to dream dreams, set goals, and work for desired results. It is also HOPE that gives us the courage to keep trying, especially when we falls short of the victory of achieving goals, or being able to relish in results. It is HOPE that breeds goals and desires that will some day get the ultimate result. Because of the promise made by our Father in heaven, HOPE will always keep us alive!

On or Off... Sharing God Right Here, Right Now!

It's been a while... Actually it's been just too long since I've taken a real opportunity to share and reflect on what it means to be "Greg" on this little planet of ours. That's what these Blogs are for, right? Share yourself with a world that pops in to see what's what about the people who offer a piece of themselves and their lives as a witness of what it is that makes them tick... I've been blessed today to participate in the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) as a workshop presenter. I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Anne Marie Cribbin, Parish Youth Minister in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.. She also serves the Church as a motivational speaker and story-teller... It was a joy serving today with her. Back to my opening thought... My purpose and the purpose I'd like to suggest for all those that do this digital stuff, is to use this opportunity to continue sharing all that is you, so as to further the Kingdom of God! We'll talk more later as to what that can mean, especially those "popping in" that aren't interested in God these days. We are called to be prophets of hope, and not doom. We need to be instruments of change, and peace, not evil. This is our challenge and this is our opportunity. This was the subject of our workshops today, and this was our privaledge. We shared the challenge to our young Church that, as disciples of Jesus Christ, every tool, every gadget, and every moment can be one of simply sharing the love of God. It's never been a complex principle to me, just a tough thing to start. Everything we do on blogs, or FB, or over on Twitter can simply be the continuation of the Word of God, and Truth of the Gospel. Anyway, thanks for the rumblings. Peace!

This is a GregCast video tribute to my Dad that I did last year... It's worth the repeat... Today he would have been 73 years old. Happy Birthday POP!