This past Wednesday, the Church celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker. Since our parish is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph it was a blessing to be able to celebrate with those that attended our daily Mass but also to begin what we hope to be an annual choral concert. It was a fine job by our choir and all those who participated…special thanks to Dr. Ostermann for all his hard work!

Saint Joseph is a model for each of us, both men and women, by his commitment to serving God through his self-sacrificing love for Mary and Jesus. Saint Joseph did not have an easy life, but one which required him to work by the sweat of his brow. One of my favorite images in the Cathedral is the rose window near the altar of Saint Joseph. In the center we have the beloved spouse of Mary, Joseph, who is surrounded by all the different images of men carrying out their vocations in their lives. It might just be my way of looking at this rose window, but in my mind, the image that appears directly above Saint Joseph, the one at 12 o’clock would be the pinnacle, most important. What is man doing in this image – working, hard labor! Saint Joseph was a worker and he passed this human trait along to Jesus who also was a carpenter like Joseph.

The work that each of us does has a purpose and it is not just simply for financial gain. Our work has not only a natural, human purpose but a supernatural one as well. When we work, we truly participate in the creative work of God, we join ourselves to Saint Joseph and to Christ, who both worked. But in doing this creative work, we also are able to provide a living for our loved ones, feel a sense of accomplishment in our lives, and contribute to
society by giving needed help to others. When our work loses the supernatural aspect or simply becomes a means for ourselves to benefit, we forfeit the chance of allowing our efforts and work to sanctify us and grow in closer communion with Christ.

Take a minute to think about one person in your life, and it could even be yourself, who loves the work that they do. Why? I guarantee you that if the reason they love their work is based simply upon their paycheck, vacation dates or luxurious lifestyle – they really don’t love the job. They love their work because they feel like they are making a difference in the world, they are able to reach someone, they are able to participate in the work of Christ by being Christ to others. I absolutely love being a priest! Why do I love this “work”? Because I am able to carry out the work of Christ, whether it be in baptizing a baby, preparing a couple for marriage, grieving with a family who lost a loved one, or hanging out with the junior high kids at O’Gorman – seeing both the natural and supernatural purposes – and making me a better man and priest!

Saint Joseph the Worker, help each of us to realize and come to know how the work that we do, no matter how ordinary, can be made holy, which in turn can make us holy and allow us to truly participate in Christ’s work of salvation.

The weather has certainly given us something to talk about for the last week. It is funny how the warm summer days pass by with such ease and the wretched weather is remembered and lamented. Then again, last week the power was out, trees crashed to the ground and the ice was a monster. All that was followed by six inches of snow and the weather this week; so I guess it is fair to hold on to this latest round of winter discomfort a bit.

At the same time, we have experienced another example of the tyranny of the present. We want the good times to last and the frustrating ones to flee. The Lord calls us to be forward looking people of faith and gives us a way of living and being that is way easier said than done. The world is full of turmoil, violence and sin. God is ignored or used a means to justify sins of our day. We feel like we are up against the ropes being pummeled and all we really want to do is what is right and good.

During the Easter season, the Book of Revelation is a great salve for what pains us and a powerful reminder of what we are living for and how to attain it. This is a time of great distress, as it was in the times when John was writing. Our victory will never be found in our checkbooks, smooth faces or a perfect day well-spent; our victory is won through a long, hard slog of faith with Christ as our guide and support. Biological life is fleeting and changes like the day to day weather…our ultimate purpose is to join the great multitude in heaven and stand before the throne and before the Lamb where hunger and thirst are no longer worries like they are during this day we find ourselves in.

The pursuit of holiness is an experience of great effort, failings and growth. It is an aspiration of the soul for union with God that is forced to weather many storms. This beautiful aspiration also allows us to appreciate the good stretches of smooth sailing as well. In the midst of it all, our Easter season of joy allows us to be resolute and confident because our faith finds its truth in the Resurrection and the surety of Christ’s victory over sin and death. The gates of heaven have been opened and what awaits us makes the journey absolutely worthwhile.

Divine Mercy Sunday is an Easter gift from Christ to His Church that invites us to indulge and revel in His unfathomable mercy while we celebrate the Resurrection. It makes sense really, because the two go hand in hand. The God-made-man suffered and died for our sins, and through His singular intent to carry out the Father’s will, was raised from the dead to crown His victory over sin and death. Mercy and the power of God: this is our refuge as sinners, the means through which our intention and hope in life is fulfilled and brought to its true destination in heaven.

The message of Jesus’ Divine Mercy was given to Sister Faustina, a simple Polish nun, who
became one of the great saints of the twentieth century. Her simple diary described the incredible visions and revelations that Christ provided her for the singular sake of redeeming souls. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, and it was his wish that the entire message of Christ as spoken through St. Faustina be observed and applied on the Second Sunday of Easter.

Today’s readings speak of this mercy as they point to Christ’s invitation to trust in His benevolent mercy and desire to forgive our sins. It is a call to face the trials and tribulations of the present day and future with a steadfast participation in Christ’s mercy by performance of corporal works of mercy, prayer to His Divine Heart and meditation on the meaning of His great love and mercy. Divine Mercy is Christ’s Easter gift to His Church. We only need to gaze upon the blood and water flowing from His side to see that this blood of Golgotha speaks of His willingness to die for us as the water of Baptism recalls the forgiveness of sins at Baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christ’s singular attention was focused on completing His Father’s will. His sacrifice brought about our Redemption, which is mercy itself. Seek the meaning of this mercy in your prayer today, and the ways in which you apply it to your daily life.

Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the greatest day of the Church year – the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Imagine yourself back in the time of Christ, putting all of your hope and trust in this man who seemed to be what you expected in a Messiah.They had been waiting for the Messiah to come. This man seemed like the one. He was a guy who healed, cared for, welcomed and loved everyone, not just those who thought or acted like Him. They must have thought, this is HIM – the person who all the Scriptures had foretold would come and save His people. Great news! But then, in the dark of night He is arrested, beaten, crucified and hung on a cross for death. The one they had placed all their hope and trust in was a fake! Now what?

If we ended the story here, there would have really been no point to the coming of Jesus into the world. Death would still happen, sin would still prevail and there would be no hope for the gates of Heaven to be opened. We would have no hope – life would be a cruel trick. Fortunately, this is not where the story ends, but Jesus Christ truly did rise from the dead, opening the gates to Heaven for each of us – so that we too might enjoy eternal paradise with God.

So where does the story end for you? Do we simply stop at the cross and never proceed or do we advance to the resurrection? Do we get stuck in the grind of the day or the sufferings of this world, or do we look to the hope of the future? This world we live in passes away as will we. Our hope is in the resurrected Christ. Our hope is our own entry into Heaven to share in the heavenly banquet of Christ. Getting simply caught up in the things of this world, we will be like the disciples today that simply “seek the living one among the dead.” If we want to seek life, eternal life, we must look beyond the cross, beyond the daily struggles, beyond life on earth – to the resurrection!

This is our Easter Joy! Christ came among us not simply to live and die – but to rise again! Live today with this Easter Joy! Live this year with this Easter Joy! Live with Easter Joy, all the days of your life! Jesus Christ Is Risen, Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad!

Last Wednesday Bishop Swain celebrated the Mass of the Blessing of the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Consecration of the Sacred Chrism. As explained in the liturgical guide, “this Mass, which the Bishop concelebrates with his college of presbyters and at which he consecrates the holy Chrism and blesses the other oils, manifests the communion of the presbyters with their Bishop. Presbyters are brought together and concelebrate this Mass as witnesses and cooperators with their Bishop in the consecration of the Chrism because they share in the sacred office of the Bishop in building up, sanctifying and ruling the people of God. This Mass is therefore a clear expression of the unity of the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ, which continues to be present in the Church”.

Implicit in the theological explanation of this Mass is also the unity of the People of God with our Bishop and priests of the diocese. Founded upon the common priesthood of our Baptism, the unity of the Church with Christ is the first of the four marks of the Church; One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. This order is not arbitrary.

The rancor and fear that exists today in everything from politics to family life emanates from disunity; they are the byproducts of a deviation from God’s will and His Natural Law. The four marks of the Church are marching orders, it is what we should strive for and how we are called to live. This is Christ’s will for His Church.

At the same time, we have witnessed disunity in the Church that exists at its highest echelons. It exists in our diocese as well. This doesn’t mean the Church itself is less than holy, it means the humans who comprise it are in the same boat as all the sinful people Christ came to save. The Church is holy because of Christ, not its leaders or people. His Gospel, Sacraments and grace are what help us to be holy in His Church. We are all disappointed in the way the world is going, including the public sins of our beloved Church. That is why we will do well to heed the Gospel lesson Christ gives us today of the woman caught in adultery. Instead of throwing stones at each other or giving up on the Church because of the sins of others, wouldn’t we do well to concentrate on reforming our sinful ways and strive to build unity in holiness under the banner of Christ?

Lent is rapidly building to a crescendo to Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. Use the confessional in the days ahead to confess sins and strive to fully enter into this most holy time of the year through an increase of fasting, prayer and alms-giving. The Church exists for the sanctification of the world and the salvation of souls. Now is the time to avail ourselves to the mercy Christ exemplified in today’s Gospel…our pathway to living in peace through unity and holiness before the Lord.

Thank you for granting us your servant, Pope Francis.  May you inspire in his heart the spirit of St. Francis, a spirit of humility, spiritual poverty, and tireless devotion to your love.  Grant him a sincere understanding of your will that he may rebuild your Church and offer her new strength.  Remain close to his heart that he may reflect to the world the love of your Son.

Amen

Lots of wind and chill this week; and just as we declare victory over our icy sidewalks and begin to believe that our salt stockpiles might just make it through the season a new enemy begins to show…Spring.

This is not some official declaration that Spring has sprung, rather its an admission that whatever plateau we think we have arrived at there are more challenges ahead. While the weather has been dreary, and the snow melt offers entirely new struggles, it seems we have taken it with a grain of salt (pun intended). Why? We have begun to dream about warm sunny days and flowers blooming. All we have to do is endure March, realize there may be another blizzard or two and wait for warm weather to come to us.

This is Laetare Sunday, and the reason to rejoice can be founded upon the fact that time is passing quickly and the rigor of Lent is leading to the joy our hearts seek; our Redemption that is won through Christ.

Look at the way in which we see time as an ally regarding the coming of Spring; conversations are hopeful, the gallows humor of shared winter miseries has abated, and we are more resolute in our determination to negate the effect of the weather on our moods. All this stems from what we perceive in the air, our memory in which the way winter’s back is broken year in and year out is recalled and our will to be stoic in the face of what the rest of winter may have in store for us.

Do not miss the spiritual parallel here! Our joy this day springs from the fact we are making progress in time as we advance toward Holy Week and Easter, but it must be realized as more than chronological progress. Hopefully our joy is founded upon the spiritual progress we seek due to our prayer, fasting and almsgiving in cooperation with the gifts of grace.

Time and eternity cooperate in our lives. If we look upon time as an enemy, we are going to miss the awareness of God’s will in the challenges and joys of daily life and fail to integrate our toils in time with the eternal now of God beckoning us toward heaven.

Lent is a gift. This is the time set aside each year to attune our memory, intellect and will to the eternal Will of God so that it harmonizes with our daily life. Time wants to teach us to stave off death by seeking comfort and peace in material things. The eternal gives life and answers all questions about time. Lent implores us to adorn our souls with virtue. Time doesn’t last….its NOT eternal. Christ calls us forward and wins for us life eternal; which is the better deal? Throughout these winter months we dressed warmly, shoveled our driveways and endured icy blasts of wind and snow, all the while knowing better days were ahead. We better be doing the same for our souls; shielding ourselves from sin through the practice and use of virtue, eradicating sin from our lives and adorning ourselves with a love for charity. Through these practices, time will never seem like a tyrant because it will be our ally. With our minds and hearts fixed firmly on the desire for holiness and life eternal we can live in the eternal now of God despite what the seasons of life throw at us.

Habeumus Papam! We have a Pope! I think most of us remember that day eight years ago, after the passing of Blessed John Paul II, when the Cardinals in Rome elected a new Pope! Where were you when this happened? I remember that I had taken the morning off as a Marine to go and apply for a teaching job at the local Catholic School. I walked into the school all dressed up in my suit and the priest grabbed me and dragged me into the principal’s office because the white smoke was spotted coming up from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. So my interview began with the entire staff around this table waiting for the newly elected Pope to come out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica! As they announced Joseph Ratzinger, I was filled with joy. I had read some of his books and thought him to be a brilliant man, but most importantly a man who loved the Church that he had served for many years.

When I look back at the past eight years, my own journey to priesthood was influenced and helped by the example and witness of Pope Benedict. It was under his time as Pope that I took the leap of faith out of my comfort zone and decided to enter into seminary thinking that I might be called to be a priest. While studying at Holy Apostles in Connecticut, I had the privilege of traveling down to New York with the seminary to be present when he made his pilgrimage to the United States. Our seminary was the first to arrive at the field where the event was to occur – practically 10 hours later! I thought I had it great being only about 25 yards from where the Holy Father addressed the crowd! I thought it couldn’t get much better than that until I was told that I would spend my final four years of seminary in Rome, Italy, less that 5 minutes from Saint Peter’s Basilica! Throughout those four years I was able to go to many of Pope Benedict’s Masses, General Audiences, and Angelus Prayers on Sunday. I grew to love him even more through these different encounters but hoped one day I would actually get to shake his hand and greet him.

My third year of study in Rome, our college celebrated its 150th Anniversary of its founding, so Pope Benedict invited our entire college to the Vatican for a private meeting – private being about 500 people! I chose to go as far up front as possible in the hall so I could see him. My mistake, I should have been along the railing because as he entered he shook hands! I thought my one chance had slipped by me now until the Archbishop of the Military came to Rome last year and asked if I would accompany him to a meeting with the Holy Father, which I quickly said yes to! I was able to go up into his study, greet the Holy Father, have a picture taken and receive a rosary from him. The pictures are quite funny – most of them look as if I told him a joke and we were both laughing! My 25 second meeting allowed me to look into his eyes and see his tenderness, love and affection he had for his flock, for us, for me.

People have asked me why Pope Benedict stepped down from his position. My response, as I reflect back on my different encounters, words of wisdom I heard him say or that I read come down to one thing – he knew he was unable to fulfill the role any longer and that he loved the Church so much he couldn’t allow it, allow us to suffer because of it. He summed it up best at his last general audience on Wednesday,

“Loving the Church also means having the courage to make tough choices, difficult ones, having always before oneself the good of the Church and not oneself.”

The Transfiguration of Christ gives great insight to the meaning of the adage ‘action follows Being’. It points to this theological reality and our desire as children of God; we want to be like Christ and we want to act like Him. Our actions either confirm or betray what is in our hearts and the way we respond to Christ. Our heart or soul is that immaterial part of us where our Being (who we are, what we are, that we are) and the Truth of God intersect. This combination and interaction is the life-force of God that creates and sustains us. The glorious Transfiguration not only tells us who Jesus is, but helps us understand what His mission really means for all of Creation. His actions follow upon Being; the great I AM who is life itself. Hence, as the Divine Redeemer, Christ gives life where death seeks to prevail, healing where sin abounds.

 Fasting, prayer and almsgiving is never a ‘hurts so good’ proposition that we engage in to appease God as if to hold back His vengeful hand. What we are seeking to do is purify our intellect so that we can see rightly the things of the world in relation to eternal life. At the same time, we seek to straighten and correct the willfulness that causes us to deviate from the will of God; we want our minds right, we desire to choose the Good. Our triumvirate of Lenten practices is about much more than human effort because grace abounds in the midst of our Being and actions…we are not alone in the barrenness of Lent, we are cooperating with God.

There is no scandal to the Cross, as if Christ’s road to Calvary and subsequent crucifixion was a failure…Christ’s death was permitted by the Father so the Son could conquer death and give us life eternal. As we progress through Lent, our increase in fasting, prayer and almsgiving are efforts that spring from the heart; a purity of intent for the sake of purity in action. We are making room for God in our hearts in order for our sinful nature to be eradicated, that we may act in accord with His will. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. As we receive Him at this Mass, remember it is Christ who is part of us, feeding our soul in the most intimate manner so we may act upon His loving initiative and ‘Be’ His children in thought, word and deed.

As we begin this season of Lent, what really matters is where it leads us. We know by our place in the history of Salvation that Lent ends in Easter joy. We prepare by rending our hearts to the Lord in fasting, prayer and almsgiving; a Lenten journey that seeks to raise our spiritual aspirations above what we demand for our bodily needs. To borrow a phrase from our Declaration of Independence, we desire pretty basic things: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The methods we use to attain these goals and what we define these as can complicate our spiritual life and lead us away from the goal of heaven and the Gospel of Christ.

 Lent is more than giving something up for the sake of the season. At its core, Lent is a recalibration of the methodology we use to live our American values within the context of Gospel holiness. When we choose to ‘give something up’ or exercise a corporal or spiritual work of mercy each day, it is imperative that we place our sacrifices in terms of our own sinfulness and desire to be reconciled to God.

 Have we noticed the amount of noise in our lives? The television barks about the dire political and economic woes facing the world, our radios blare as we put on our socks or find ourselves stuck in traffic. We feel we have to be constantly engaged on the cell phone, on the computer and social expectations keep us on the run. “It’s life!” we say, but how important to our lives is the question. Even in the midst of our Lenten sacrifices, can’t we just slow down and disconnect a little more? If we could do this, we’d have more time to reflect and listen to the Lord instead of the constant jabbering of daily life.

 We seem to refute the possibility that time can indulge us in the pursuit of quiet prayer and reflection. If we are too filled and preoccupied with the things in life, where will we ever find the life that is Christ? One hour out of a week that has 168 isn’t going to leave us as filled as Christ promises or desires us to experience. Careful examination of time will lead us to surprising conclusions, foremost of which is the fact that we have more time for what is spiritual than we realize.