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From the Pastor's Desk
St. Paul says, "Whoever is in Christ is a new creation!" God doesn't want to just make a few cosmetic changes; he wants to renovate us inside and out… Many people have the idea that you get to heaven by doing good deeds. That was the attitude of the older son in today's parable. He thought he could demand his father's love: "Look at all the things I have done. How hard I worked! And I never got anything it return. I expect some credit."… But the older son had it wrong. No one can demand love. Nor can we earn love. In the same way, no one can "earn" heaven. People today tend to look at heaven as one more entitlement program - like Social Se- curity. You pay something into it and when you retire, you get the benefits. Heaven does not work that way…. The younger son, he understood what heaven means. He said, "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called you son." That boy knew he could not demand his father's love. He could only receive it as a free gift…. The new creation involves much more than touching up the exterior and sweeping out a few rooms. No, it is a complete renovation - a whole new interior. Heaven, after all, is a relationship with God - through Christ - in the Communion of Saints. It requires a humbled heart - like that younger son had, after he repented. Mar 7, 2010 In this season of Lent, we prepare for the feast of Easter by trying to purify our body and spirit, in order to abundantly receive the fruits of the Redemption of the Lord. Each week, Jesus, in his Gospel, invites all men and women to repentance and conversion of heart. The further on in time we get, the more we feel the rigor of judgment. For Easter is, of course, the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, but it is above all the feast of our own resurrection in Christ! Our resurrection in the Lord is near! Soon, the Mother of us all, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, will lead us into the presence of her Divine Son, in order that we might share in his Glory! But Resurrection and Glory is arrived at through trial and suffering willingly ac- cepted in love: may Mary obtain for us the grace of a charity that will withstand any trial! Feb 28, 2010 St. Paul tells us today that, sadly, some former Christians have become "enemies of the cross." Instead of serving God, he says, "Their God is their stomach." What does St. Paul mean by that? How can food become an idol, a false god?... God created the earth to produce food - in abundance. Food has two purposes: The first - and most obvious - is to nourish our bodies, to keep them healthy so that we can do the tasks God wants. The second purpose is to create bonds between people. Notice how often Jesus shared meals: with Zacchaeus and Matthew the tax collectors, with Pharisees and public sinners - and above all the Supper with his disciples the night before his death. A lot more happened at those meals than simple nourishment. Like Jesus, we should share - and enjoy - meals with family, friends and fellow parishioners. God uses food for important purposes… At the same time, we can misuse food, make it into a false god. That's what St. Paul refers to when he says some have become enemies of the cross - "their god is their stomach." Rather than eating to live, they live to eat. Feb 21, 2010 Today, as we begin Lent, the Bible readings invite us to acknowledge our personal wrong doing - our guilt. The prophet Joel tells us to weep, fast and mourn -to return to God. To be grateful that God is "slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment."….. In his mercy God has given us a second chance. Don't miss this opportunity. Lent 2010 may be the final one for you or me -maybe for all of us. St. Paul says, "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." The apostle pleads with us "not to receive the grace of God in vain."….. The first step of Lent is to face personal guilt. ….. The Lenten practices will give you great peace. You may not help every person and every innocent animal. You may not save the planet -but you will do your part. Acknowledge your genuine guilt, place it before the Lord and then do something practical: pray, fast and give alms. Your Father, who knows the secrets of your heart, he will reward you. Jan 24, 2010 We are all on a team, Team Christ, if you will. We all have certain roles to play, certain positions to maintain for the sake of the team, to help the team win the great contest: the battle for God’s Kingdom on earth, the battle against the forces of evil that are continually waging war on each of us and all of us. The position that we have on Team Christ is determined by our general vocation in life for each stage of our lives. Some are good Catholic mothers. Others are good Catholic fathers. Both are necessary so the next round of troops, their children, can learn how to integrate mascu- line and feminine gifts into their Christianity. Some are married but have no children, or their children have moved on with their lives. These are called to sustain the Team by filling the world with the sacrificial love of Christ that is the foundation of the Christian marriage. Some are single, perhaps looking to marry, perhaps not called to marriage, or perhaps made single by the death of their spouse or by a marriage that was never a real marriage. Should the single live for themselves as wild bachelors or im- moral seniors, or what have you, then Team Christ would be deprived of their ability to devote their time and energy to serving Christ. Our parish has many, many wonderful singles who cannot do enough to serve Christ in all sorts of dif- ferent ways. Some of our very senior seniors have refused to give up working for the Kingdom, even though they cannot leave their homes. They spend all day praying for us, calling down God’s grace and strength upon the rest of us. Some of us have been called to the priesthood or religious life. We are called to serve the Team in Word and Sacra- ment, to make intercession for the members of the team before God, and to do battle against evil as priests and religious. We all have unique positions to play on God’s team. Fr. Tony |
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