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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!

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The GregBlog Joins The Conclave (Kinda)...

Today the GregBlog steps aside, as the Conclave meets to pick the next Pope. I want to show my solidarity with the process, and I want you to know that I am praying for the Church. My prayer is for new life, new vision, strong tradition, and new hope, especially for those who are poor and forgotten.  I will only offer this prayer here on the GregBlog each day until a new Pope is elected:


O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Church, and it's Apostles are called to have the heart and the courage to bring Christ's message of love, healing and Truth in life-giving water to the all the world. Today's reading from the Prophet Ezekiel outlines all that the Church should and will be... May the Lord bless our Faith, and be with those who shepherd us! Amen.

"Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary." Ezekiel 47: 9, 12

He Used To Be the Pope pt. 2

Today's Readings

"I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:10"

Today's post on the GregBlog is one to simply mark a moment in history, for today is the day that someone on this planet will fall asleep knowing that he used to be Pope.  I'm intrigued by the notion, and moved by the event.  Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Chair of St. Peter with a dedication in his heart to lead in a different way, through the way of prayer!

For the first time in nearly six centuries, and only if he reads a paper or watches a TV, a human being will be able to listen as people argue whether he was a good Pope or not.  He might wonder if the New Roman Missal will make a difference, or his series of books called Jesus of Nazereth will help the world understand the true Christ, or could he have done more to stop the evil of abuse in our Church.  He might wonder if he will be able to face the realities of aging and the continuing daily loss of physical ability.  Dare I say, for the first time in 600 years, a person who used to be Pope will have to grapple with the question, "Was it worth it?"

I have no doubt that the Lord and the Pope know it was!

Pope Benedict XVI will be measured like the rest of us, "according to his ways, [and] the merit of his deeds". (Jer. 17:10)  As we watch him exit the world stage , let us also review our life and purpose to this point.  Have we done enough to make a difference?  Have we helped the world understand the true Christ?  Could we do more to help stop evil?  Are we able to face the challenges of our lives?  Don't be like "the rich man" in Luke's Gospel, who waits until its too late to find out that poor Lazarus chose the better portion.  Do what you can do NOW to make this a better place!

God's speed Pope Benedict XVI... PRAY FOR US!

Thank You Pope Benedict!

He Used to Be the Pope!

Today's Readings

"Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:3

On Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 8:00pm Vatican time (1:00pm here at my house), Pope Benedict XVI will leave "the Chair of St. Peter", and retire as the Holy Father of the Catholic Church.  That chair will remain vacant until a new Pope is elected, most likely sometime in March.  For the first time in 600 years, there will be a person, living on this planet, who can say, I USED TO BE THE POPE!

Today (2-22-13) is the Feast of That Chair... The Chair of St. Peter.  Its a day where we reflect on the importance of the role of the Pope, not necessarily the person.  Its fair to say that there have been some interesting people to assume the role of Pope over the Millennia.  Some are Saints, and some are forgotten.  Some changed the world for the better, and some did not.  The fact remains, however, that the call of St. Peter, and all who would follow him, was to shepherd the flock, and lead the Church by good example!

Pope Benedict XVI is a good and decent man, and his leadership has brought the Church to where it is today.  Some may like that, some might not, but his example of humility, decency, and commitment to his faith have met the standard that authentic leadership demands.  I am praying for our Holy Father, and soon to be again, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.  May he continue to live for years to come as the man who "used to be the Pope", and as a model of faith, leading us by his example, which in this case will be a life of prayer and contemplation.

Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost

Sitting at Mass Sunday, my Pastor, Fr. Phil O'Kennedy, preached about this Easter Season, and the fact that is is coming to a close. The message revolved around the season's three buzz words... Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost. While this is not a repeat of his Homily, I do thank him for the inspiration, most every week. His message and the style he presents always offers me a spring board into how I express my faith. I believe that this is how church is supposed to work. Thanks Father!

Resurrection: This is most definitely the GOOD NEWS of the Easter season and the season of Spring. Each year we get to witness everlasting life, or as a fav' band of mine sings, "The season's cycle moving round and round, pushing life up from a cold dead ground... It's growing green! (Season Cycle - XTC's Skylarking) The miracle of The Resurrection plays out the real possibility that there has got to be "More Than This" (an awesome song by Peter Gabriel off the "Up" collection.). So, preparing one's self to live forever is very much a part of life!

Ascension: An equally important part of life is knowing that we must progress! In moving from "point A to point B", we have to be about improving our existence. In my Faith, I am called by God, through the reality of His Son Jesus Christ, to know, love and serve the Lord AND one another! The improvements in my life gets me ready to care for the lives of others! In a real sense, I am ascending to a high form of action! You see this is Maslow's Hierarchy, and other such explanations of education... One must progress to a greater sense of good, that usually involves the community around them!

Pentecost: This brings forth the necessity of an organized body of people, working together to support one another in their mutual efforts to not only improve themselves, but also bring about the betterment of society. No, I'm not talking communes and stuff, I'm talking about social responsibility and the opportunity we all have to work together to make life great! All social networks have leaders who have experience, and students who need to learn more by following the good examples of those leaders leading the way. Pentecost is certainly a Christian concept, and it is after all the Birthday of the Church! But we, the people of God, are that Church, and it is our responsibility and our opportunity to make things better for those living among us, and those yet to come. Was it Chesterton who wrote that "whether through a garden patch [or something else], [our goal is] to leave the world a bit better off", and to have that world know that we have lived!

So, in the end, we celebrate the everlasting life given to us by God (Resurrection), and the opportunity to grow and progress through life as we "know, love and serve" that God and one another (Ascension), and do so in the midst of other great people who care for and serve those around them as "One Body", unified with one purpose!

Now, to deal with the whole concept of agreeing on what that purpose should be... That's why this whole thing is certainly NOT a piece of cake... To quote the great Frosty the Snowman on this hot almost Summer day, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

What Are You Doing on the Sabbath?

“The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath." (Matthew 12: 8)

The weekend is here so what are you doing on Sunday? Going to Church? Sleeping in? Taking that walk or run? Mowing the yard? Playing with the kids? Working?

Certainly, going to church is a must, but whatever you are doing, you may take time to give it up to the Lord who made Earth and sky. You may consider adding in the extra few minutes, or even an hour of quiet. You should try and prioritize relaxation, rejuvenation and worship! As Jesus said, the sabbath is not a day to be worshipped, but rather it is a day TO WORSHIP. We were not made for the sabbath, the sabbath was made for us! So we need to use it for what it was intended... Worship!

There are a lot of thoughts out there on what constitutes worship, and I will not spend a lot of time here debating what it is or what it is not. I will offer that while one can worship alone, our Christian worship, Muslim worship, and the worship of all organized religion seems to thrive on gathering in a community to praise and give thanks to God, Allah, our Creator.

So, you guessed it... All I’m saying is GO TO CHURCH! But I am not saying it with a veiled threat in mind, because the sabbath was made for you, and you have to make a point to utilize it for what it was intended to be... a day of worship! So head to your place of worship, and sing those songs with the congregation! Go to the Eucharist! Pray those prayers out loud and join the person next to you, as you pay homage to the Lord of Hosts! We are God’s people, the sheep of His flock!

If anyone make you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome, let me know... I’ll take care of them! But I bet you’ll see some smiling faces, and shake a few warm hands! Give it a shot and make the sabbath your own!

50 Ways to Get Through Easter... Vitality!

“You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever..” (Psalm 16: 11)

Easter Day #47: Vitality!

What is VITAL to your faith? What is the thing you must have above all else to have this all make sense in your life? Is the resurrected Christ enough? Do you need a bit “self-help”? Are you interested in books or videos to help open up the message? Are you interested in learning or studying the history and reason of it all? Are you wanting to get involved and help someone? Is it about the music and the worship? Do you need an amazing sermon? What is VITAL to the continuation of your faith, and how do you plan to proceed with “Church” come this Pentecost Sunday? No matter your motivation, or what it is that you need from faith, there is one thing that is very clear to me... YOU are VITAL to The Faith!

I’m struck at the number of factors that we make VITAL to experiencing faith. It does have to be convenient, and personally meaningful. It seems to need an entertainment value, or a good way to pass the hour. We must have a sense of control over it, to make sure it is worth our time and effort. And it does carry the expectation that a person should become “improved” by its fruits. But with all of that said, I feel its all secondary to the VITAL role that you must play in my faith. If you don’t go to church, then “WE” don’t meet. If you don’t pray, then “WE” can’t listen. If you don’t participate, then “WE” can’t serve. So YOU are the one who is the VITAL piece to the faith! There will always be a fine line between the priority of what you get out of faith, and what you are to The Faith. So its fair to add that we may not always get something, and it may never achieve the entertainment value that you expect... But The Faith teaches that we are here to love and serve God , not be served by him. (Not a very American concept is it?)

As VITAL as you are, we also need your VITALITY! Like verve and vigor, your VITALITY brings an energy and liveliness to “US” that “WE” desperately need. Without the dictionary beside me, I will go ahead and define VITALITY as the embracing of the VITAL nature of it all, and showing it in your everyday actions. I would challenge “US” to always keep focused on the nature of faith, while allowing the specifics to change as God wills. To bring a sense of VITALITY means that “WE” are always excited about the potential of what God is doing through “US”, the Church.

If “WE” see ourselves as VITAL to “the other guy”, and “WE” also share a sense of VITALITY with that “other guy”, then the Holy Spirit is flowing at maximum capacity!

50 Ways to Get Through Easter... Church & Taxes!

“We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5: 32)

Today’s word: Church!

Today is TAX DAY in America, which is bringing forth all kinds of discussion on whether WE should pay, or what WE should get for our money that WE do pay. Should the government be allowed to spend OUR money, and who should WE allow to be in OUR group to benefit from those funds? Phrases like “Fair Tax”, and “Tea Parties”, and “Welfare”, and “Tax Cuts”, and “Tax Hikes” are being bantered around, all in the name of making sense of what it is that WE are called to do and be in our community!

Wherever you stand this day, and whether you get a “refund” or not, should never negate the fact that WE are called to live together, and SERVE one another as a community. Our journey through the Acts of the Apostles in this Easter Season reveals a group of folks that are trying to form a community of believers, “a more prefect union” perhaps. They are willing to suffer and sacrifice so the CHURCH can be what God calls it to be... A rock, a firm foundation, where all are welcome, and all are cared for, and all can celebrate the love of God! But in the spirit of TAX DAY, all also have a responsibility to participate and contribute to keep this CHURCH strong. WE witness to one another of its life changing ways; so to should WE share in the effort to keep it’s foundation firm. OUR living a good life, helps US all live good lives, and therefore WE as CHURCH should remain strong!

Now I think I’ll have a nice spot of tea, or two!