The Ultimate Commitment

Today's Readings

So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart..." - Daniel 3: 40-41

I have been on a quick trip to visit with a great group of young leaders serving the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools (XBSS). These students from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky have all committed their young hearts to witnessing the Good News, guiding their peers in ways of faith, study, athletics, and various other areas that will ultimately call on entire student bodies to do the same.

Tonight, as I traveled out of Atlanta, the last leg of my trip home, I witnessed another level of commitment that too many of our nation's young men and women have to make... The body of a fallen soldier in a flag-draped casket was respectfully loaded into the cargo bay of the plane with full military honors. The passengers all witnessed this amazing moment of honor and sorrow, as we all gazed out of the right side of the plane. The picture above was taken with my cell, so its a tad dark. When we arrived home, his family and an honor guard were on the tarmac to greet the plane and reverently move the fallen soldier closer to his final resting place. Again, the plane sat silently, and watched this soldier's last journey come to an end.

So the nature of "commitment" can be measured in various ways, and my time with the students of XBSS rejuvenated my spirit and my hope for a generation who will make things better for our community. But witnessing this solemn moment, and the example of the ultimate commitment and sacrifice on the part of this soldier added something poignant to this trip.

My dear friends of the GregBlog... We share these things with one another, so we can know just how amazing God's people can be. The young leaders of XBSS, and all around our church, country, and world seize opportunities to lead by example all of the time. We depend on these witnesses of God's grace! But with this post, I also want offer my condolences to the family of this soldier who I only know from witnessing his last great statement to his home... He made a commitment to serve our country, and he stuck by that promise to the very end!

I will forever remember this night, and these witnesses of God's amazing presence in our world!

From Pretender to Surrender....

Today's Readings

The GregCast was out on the road March 4th in West Hartford, CT serving the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School's XBSS Retreat!  This video, and blogpost was used for the presentation.  Things went well and we got some good video from the evening's presentation that I hope to share on an upcoming GregCast over on YouTube.  Pray for me, as I am praying for you!

Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer, and founder of the Foo Fighters, once wrote this lyric to a song called "The Pretender": "To keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend!"

This world of ours cares, but only to a point. They love, but only if things go their way. They give, but only what's been budgeted. They try, but only until it starts to hurt just a little. They allow their hearts to be moved, but then harden quickly in the face of challenges and change. In other words, this world of ours has gotten good at wanting to maintain control over their own image, and our life's actions and outcomes as well. The world would rather us stay in the dark as, Mr. Grohl put it, "just another soul for sale."

I would like to offer that God wants us to be free... Free to smile, free to choose, free scream, free to retire, and free to live! My friends, "what if I said, I'm not like the others? What if I said Im not just another one of your plays?" I am free to be determined! I am free to survive the struggle! I am free to never surrender to the darkness of sin and death! Like Mr. Grohl, "I'm finished making sense by pleading ignorance"... I'm echoing the voice inside your head that you refuse to hear! I'm the face that you have to face, mirroring yourself!

 Memo to the world: "You're the pretender... And what if I said, I will never surrender?"

The Cardinals of the Church will gather this week, and they are called to open their hearts to the will of the Holy Spirit, and the purpose of God's mission, to allow for His Church to continue to grow as evangelizer of the Good News, empowering us all to become the disciples that they we were born to be!

It's time to consider that being in the light of Christ is a better place to be. It's time to come out from under that bushel basket that wants to hide you. It's time to respond to God's love, and fall in love with His service. And even though it sounds like a contradiction, its time to promise that you'll never surrender to sin and death, so that you can truly live and surrender yourself to God's will.

Reflect...

• Who are you, and who do you follow?
• What are the hopes and dreams that will help you truly live?
• Will you trust the Spirit, and waters of your creation to make yourself a vulnerable witness?
• Will you cross the boundaries and allow for faith and forgiveness?
• Can you commit to sharing God with everyone you meet?
• Can you handle following The Way, The Truth, and the Light?

When you fall...

• Will you allow our Lord to catch you? 
• Will you get back up? 
• Will you?

God the Lawyer... A Slob Like One of Us?

Today's Readings

"Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD." - Isaiah 1: 17-18

What if God were one of us? Just a lawyer like one of us.

 While that's not quite the lyric from the awesome Joan Osborne song "One of Us", I've been dying to reference this tune for a while. The excerpt from Isaiah offers us a glimpse of God who wants to negotiate a plea or a deal with us. Like one of us, He just wants a fair agreement. If you follow the Truth, and do the best you can to help those in need, He'll "set things right."

The actual lyric from the Osborne song is "What if God was one of us? Just a slob, like one of us. Just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home." If justice is the goal, then lets defend the ones who need the help! The wronged, the orphan, and the widow... Society's forgotten ones. While they're not necessarily slobs, they do fit the intent of the song...

God IS one of us, as He is present in the lives of the needy,
He IS the stranger on the bus, trying to LEAD US ALL HOME!

Joan Osborne - One of us by Jo_Bidjoba

It's Time for Square Fish Again!

An Opening GregNote: Today's GregBlog is a growing train of thought on the nature of fasting during Lent. Check back often to see the Blog grow, and feel free to share a quick thought or two of your own. It's like one of those group written stories, where we pass the piece of paper around the group, each person adding their own new details... Have fun, and let's see what this fasting thing is all about!

Today's Readings

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own." Isaiah 58: 6-7

Why do we Catholics eat square fish on a bun on Fridays during Lent?

Some random thoughts during this First Friday of Lent, 2013.

• Disclaimer: The term "square fish on a bun" was inspired by the highly educated Deacon, and my friend, Dan who asked the question: "When does Lent officially begin?"  The answer: "At the imposition of ashes and your ordering your first McDonald's fish sandwich." The term "square" of course refers to the rare cod fish that migrates this way every February, and is caught, fried and served with great care! :)
• I got a Facebook post the other day from someone quoting a sign in our local Walmart: "Seafood for Lent!" 
• My Pastor always says this time of year that we kinda miss the point when we give up our double cheeseburgers on Friday, only to order Lobster instead. 
• If He can give me so much, the least I can do is avoid those things that get in the way of me giving back! 
• Let us consider that giving up vices might be more productive than giving up meat. (cf. St. Basil the Great's Homily on Fasting) 
• When you meet those who are in need of clothing, do not turn away from them, for they are your brothers. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your good deeds shall go before you. (From The Office Morning Prayer 2-15-13)
• I do, cause I like to eat the crunchy corners off first! However, THIS LENT, I will be eating just the fish. Gave up bread! (From Laurie on FB) 
• Because it fits! (From Alice on FB)
• Because you aren't supposed to eat meat… Cause it's good… Ewwwww… Because Catholics like squares. (?)… Par ce que les Catholiques ne mangent pas du viande les vendredi's pendant le careme. (from Karen’s class at Notre Dame Collegiate HS in Calgary, AB Canada)
• For the same reason that we Roll Up the Rim during Lent. A surprising number of fast food chains cater to Catholics. (Roll up the Rim is put on by Tim Horton's - it's irresistible, and likely intended to keep Catholics drinking coffee throughout Lent, rather than giving it up.) Note: Tim Horton's is Canada's most beloved cup of coffee, not that SB stuff! (From Ryan on FB)

A Closing GregNote: The original intent of the GregBlog today was to have a little fun.  But let's admit it, there's more to Lent than a square fish sandwich.  The Prophet Isaiah saw a day when people like you and me would reach out of our own selves to share love, or coats, or time, or even food like square fish on a bun with our neighbor.  Let's do this thing people; let's make this Lent about sharing the Good News, and all that people need to feel the love of God in their midst!  Thanks to all who participated in the GregBlog today!

The Good Sam I Am

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. (Luke 10: 33)

After a nice long vacation, the GregCast is slowly getting up to speed again. This is a great day to begin another string of GregBlogs in that today Gospel offers more than just a nice thought, it calls us to be “moved with compassion at the sight” of someone in need.

Dr. Suess coined the phrase “Sam I Am” from Green Eggs and Ham, but there are considerable roots to the history of our people here in “Who-ville” that makes “Sam” something more than a cool rhyme! The Good Samaritan is whom I speak of, and it is he that offers us the example of what to do when serving the needy... SERVE THEM! Yep, that’s it... SERVE THEM! Do what they need, and give them the things they ask for, and you are giving them Christ!

Will you be taken advantage of? Maybe.
Will they keep bothering you for more? Possibly.
Will others follow because you’re the kinda’ person who gives first, and asks questions later? Probably.
Will you make a difference? Absolutely!

So, be the “Good Sam” and say “I am” the one who was sent to provide help to the people in need!

50 Ways to Get Through Easter... Brio!

“The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.” (Acts 4: 32)

Today’s word: Brio!

Today’s word, “Brio”, is very unique; so much so that we NEVER seem to use it. I mean I’ve been living 45 years and never once have I heard, “Please pass the brio.” So what is “Brio”? Here’s the official definition from Dictionary.com:


Brio: (noun) vigor; vivacity.
Origin: 1725–35; < It < Sp brío energy, determination < Celtic *brīgos; cf. OIr bríg (fem.) power, strength, force, Middle Welsh bri (masc.) honor, dignity, authority


Today’s scripture from the Acts of the Apostles is all about community. It’s fair to say that some people misunderstand this reading as political in that it speaks of the “good of the society” by keeping everything in common. Communism is dead, so we’re not talking about that here. What it does say, however, is that WE must work for one another in the caring department in life. WE hold all things in common, especially when it comes to one another’s well being. WE must be energetic in seeking to help our neighbor. WE define strength and power through a force of LOVE. WE are called to have a vigorous and vivacious faith, willing to SERVE instead of be served! “Brio” is NOT an adjective, so don’t try to describe yourself as being more or less brio. “Brio” is NOT a verb, so you can’t do brio. “Brio” is a noun, a person, place or thing. Brio is what we are! Brio is our church! Brio IS! We lead by example. Our authority comes not by our power, but by our success in loving one another! So, be energetic about your faith, and stay determined to BE, and DO, and stay BRIO for the Church!