Summer Heat

Summer Heat

Summer heat presses down,
causing many souls to frown.
Long forgotten winter rains,
‘too cool, too wet’ we complained.
Now we’re hot and can’t cool off,
as summer heat presses down,
wilts the flowers,
burns the ground.

Global warming, many mocked.
Now they wonder and take stock.
Is it funda-vironmentalist ranting?
or can it be actually happening?
So as comfort levels are confronted
As we swelter and we wonder
summer heat presses down,
causing many souls to frown.

Perhaps our Creator would want to speak.
Might that God our soul does seek.
Oil and gas you do seek.
More and more, and make it cheap.
for power is what we want.

But in humanity’s selfish greed,
Yes, we cause the earth to bleed.
All creation groans and cries
to be set free from selfish pride.

So as summer heat presses down,
Let us pray instead of frown.
Yes it's Oil and Power,
we must seek,
but not in greed and havoc wreak.

Holy Spirit, Oil of God,
Guide and lead us in the love,
And the power from above.
for all of life Your stewards be
to nurture and creation free.

What are you looking at? or The Focus of our Faith

Homily 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time ~ Cyber-version

I was a teenager learning to drive a stick shift. But this was no fancy synchromesh tranny. It was an old, 3-speed stick on the column in a 1960 Ford pickup. An old, used Ford pickup. The clutch and tranny were fussier than a newly trained liturgist. To add to my driving pleasure and my Dad’s stress as he taught me, the steering was sloppier than a liturgist who has forgotten their important lessons. So picture it..I was driving down the country road, approaching a curve, and a one lane bridge when coming the other way is another car, a new, fancy car ...my Dad calmly (or so it seemed to me) said.”.just keep your eyes on the road, on where you need to go.”..Somehow I downshifted, steered and made it across the bridge without hitting the walls, the other car or driving into a ditch. I was learning to keep my focus. This brings us to focus on the Gospel.
“So He was not able to perform any mighty deeds there...He was amazed at their lack of faith”. This sad commentary from our Gospel reading shares with us a lesson of the peril of misplacing the focus of our faith. Our Bible readings challenge us..WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? What is the focus of your faith?

LOOKING ALL AROUND: Jesus, God, come in the flesh was essentially handicapped in today’s Gospel account from doing any of the real dynamic works of His Kingdom. Why? The people in his hometown were looking at everything but what really mattered. They focused on family, the past, their limited knowledge. They looked to their expectations. They were simply focused on the externals. This is a vision problem we all must confront. We may be tempted to focus on the faults, the problems or our expectations or the appearances of an issue. All these things need to be recognized, dealt with and then we need to move on. But we can’t afford to be looking for the foolish distractions that hide what, Who is real.

FOCUSING INWARD: Our reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church helps us understand another hazard to our spiritual eyesight. Paul the Apostle, struggled with some deep, pervasive weakness. Scripture does not elaborate what it was and while scholars have enjoyed speculating the specific problem is unimportant. What is important is the lesson Paul learned...to allow his need, his weakness to be an opportunity for the grace of Christ. To put it another way. Paul learned to look beyond is inner-self, his need, to the grace and strength of the Crucified. And yet how we cherish our inner struggles. We myopically gaze in hypnotic fascination on self...our needs..our wounds..our expectations or hopes and all the while we miss the opportunity to see anew, more clearly He who arose to meet our deepest need.

LOOKING TO CHRIST: The Psalm proclaims..our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy. It is as we allow ourselves to seek and behold Christ, His holiness, His Love that we see our utterly foolish all the other things we focus upon can be. In the Light of His Truth, His Presence that we can start to see what is truly real, important, eternal. In that light we see, clearly the need we all share for His mercy. And it is as we seek His face we can know the sorrow of His tears when one of us falls or His smile when we share the embrace of His forgiveness. Let us seek Him then. Otherwise we face the peril of missing our Lord. St. Augustine understood this peril when he said” “I am afraid of Jesus passing. “ The people of Nazareth were missing an opportunity of eternity by their distractions. Jesus would not, nor will not, overstay His welcome. He abides where He is welcome.

So...What are we looking at? Looking all around? Focusing inward? Or looking to Christ? Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full into His wonderful face.
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Courage or Fear?

Courage or Fear? This is a question faced by firefighters virtually every time the tones sound and a dispatch comes in. Firefighters are recognized for their courage. Many of the calls that come in are "routine" medical assists, accidents or fires. That routine can change in a fraction of a second as any experienced fireifghter knows. Hence the demand for courage is always there for firefighters. Whether waking up from a sound sleep in the middle of the night or hastily wrapping up an equipment inspection midday firefighters can face an array of dangers in rapidly changing moments.
The picture of the firefighter on a roof, in a venting operation illustrates this point. There are numerous dangers to face, the height and pitch of the roof, smoke, heat, flames, the danger of the roof collapsing, the saws used to cut the opening...all illustrate SOME of the dangers that have to be faced IF the job at hand is to be done. The need for courage is experienced quickly and often repeatedly, on a single call. It leads to a basic point of firefighting: conquering the challenge. This is usually expressed in controlling and extinguishing the fire, the medical emergency or whatever crises is manifested.
The reality of facing fear and conquering the challenges of life is something I have observed and known, both as a firefighter, a clergyman, parent, or more simply a human. It is especially as Christians and particularly as Roman Catholics that privileged reality is being felt in mnay ways.
The second picture of a church in flames illustrates my point. There would be those who see this picture as a church being destroyed. In fear (or perhaps for some, in glee) they would wring their hands and lament (or applaud) the flames.
Once again in my own Diocese of Santa Rosa a new allegation of sexual abuse by a priest presents flames to be faced. The priest involved has sadly succumbed to fear and apparently fled to Mexico. This is very wrong, yet very human. Guilt, especially when compounded by a virtual witch-hunt mentality as commonly preached by our local paper, The Press Democrat, makes the demand for courage even more difficult. That dread and desire to flee is also being felt by many of the faithful.
The reality of fear is faced by many, in diverse fronts. The problems above are just one example. The fear may be more personal. Sickness, financial needs, family struggles, relationships, job or education demands, all are examples of fears we face in life. And for the individual confronted by the flames of their fears it can be as searing as standing on a roof needing to be vented amidst smoke and flames. So what is the answer, what is the solution?
I can only share what I have known to work, in the middle of a fire or whatever the fear might be. The answer is not a solution, but a Person, Christ Jesus. "THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR...FOR GOD DID NOT GIVE US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND A SOUND MIND" { I John 4:18 & II Timothy 1:7}. We cannot be courageous except in a frightening situation. It is in those places we can reach out and know the arms of the Crucified about us. God will not allow anything to cross the path of the faithful that would separate us from His love. All things can be for our good and His Kingdom, if we persevere in loving, courageous faith {Romans 8}. In His Presence and Truth fears can and needs be faced and conquered.
Let's look again at the picture of the church in flames. Is it a church destroyed? Or is it a Church consumed by the fire of God's courageous love? A church in flames or a church that will know the power of the Resurrected One? Will we respond in courage or fear?

Feast of the Holy Trinity

Homily (Cyber-version) for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, 11 June 2006

IMMERSED IN GOD

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Alright...Let’s do it again but this time close your eyes and picture your greatest distraction. Perhaps a problem, a need, a person, and event..whatever it is, now picture it in your hand. And, let’s PRAY again,

In the name, of the Father,.......of the Son,........and of the Holy Spirit......Amen..

It is as we pray that our hands that were holding our distractions had to open, and, in taking and making the sign of the Cross we reached out....to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. One God, three persons, the Holy Trinity. The specific word is never mentioned in Scripture. However the truth of the Trinity is found from Genesis to Revelation . The Holy Trinity will never be explained or understood to the limited, finite capacities of our human intellect. God is too infinite, to big to fit. We are called by God, not to an intellectual understanding of the Trinity but to know, by relationship, by experience, the Triune God. We are called to be baptized, immersed in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Baptized in the Father’s Love: St. Paul speaks of the working of God whereby we are freed to call out Abba, Father. From our wilderness wanderings as children who have strayed to a loving daughter or son who eagerly calls out to their papa upon seeing them the relationship is meant to be one of Love. We are created for and called to be immersed in the love of the Father. This love understands the needs and weaknesses, strengths and talents, of each and every child and yearns for that child to grow to the fullness of life for which they were, in love, created. Yet there will be those who say: “ I cannot relate to God the Father...my father was cruel, distant, absent....how can I know God the Father of which you speak?” We all can know the Father’s love as we are immersed in the Passion of His Son, our Savior.

Immersed in the Savior’s Passion: It is in the infinite mercy of God that we are brought to be immersed in the Passion of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father.
It is as we allow ourselves to come to the Cross of Christ, touch and enter His wounds that we are immersed in Him. In His Body and Blood, Present in the Holy Eucharist for our lives, our wounds are healed, filled with the fullness of God. Wound, by wound, need by need, day by day the holy flood of His Passion and Love will immerse and fill our lives as we yield to Him. As we make the sign of the Cross we need to truly let go of all our distractions and be filled in His embrace. As we grow in the Father’s love, are immersed in the passion of His Son we will know the fullness of Truth in the Holy Spirit.

Filled with the Holy Spirit: Old Testament example and New Testament promise teach us that we are each to be Temples of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit longs to dwell within, fill us with the power, the Truth that is in God alone. One of the clear indications of the working of the Holy Spirit is the way the Comforter will lead us to the Truth..that sets us free.
In the cleansing, liberating confines of the Confessional we can especially know and experience this working of God who knows us, loves us and sets us free to be filled with the joys of Heaven.
We are called to be immersed, baptized in the Love of the Father, the Passion of His Son and the Truth of the Holy Spirit. This occurs as we pray, from the heart...

In the name of the Father, ....the Son, .....and the Holy Spirit..... Amen.

Feast of St. Ephrem

St. Ephrem ~ "The Harp of the Holy Ghost"
Today is the Feast of St. Ephrem. He is one of the more obscure of the saints (except perhaps in the Syrian church). I sense this relative obscurity does not trouble St. Ephrem in his heavenly home in the least. However his spirituality has much to teach us today. His legacy is shared in virtually every parish and church in the world every time we worship our Lord.
St. Ephrem (306-373 A.D.) was one of the first doctors of the Church in spite of his relative lack of schooling. He was, however, deeply schooled in the Scriptures that resulted in powerful insights into the mysteries of God and in sharing Godly wisdom. St. Robert Bellarmine wrote of the saint that he was; "more pious than learned". It was this piety, rooted in God's Word, and prayer that brought forth a harvest of wisdom and teaching.
St. Ephrem was a prolific writer and teacher. He expressed this fruitfulness usually in poetic form. He wrote many ancient hymns. It was this early 'troubador of the Lord' that is credited with introducing sacred song into Christian public worship.
In many ways he was a saint in the model of St. Francis of Assisi. His intense appreciation of the Passion of our Lord, humility, love of Scripture and relative poverty of worldly learning were all precursers of St. Francis.
St. Ephrem, relatively late in his life, was ordained a deacon in the Church. For me, all deacons, and all the faithful he is a real and practical example of learning and living the Gospel of Christ.
St. Ephrem, pray for us that we may learn and live the ageless wisdom and power of God's Word. Amen.

Pentecost

Pentecost ~ The Gift of the Holy Spirit, the fire of God

Holy Spirit, consume and purge all that is not of You, in me.
Holy Spirit, may Your holy fire burn to ash the dry, deadwood of our lives,
Holy Spirit, ignite within us the Passion of Christ, His Cross, His love,
Holy Spirit, may your flame of Truth help us to see our wounded self in Your Light,
Holy Spirit, may that same Truth guide us to the wounds, the Body of Christ, and entering in,
Holy Spirit there may we discover, daily, the beauty of your holiness the glory of Your love.
From there, Holy Spirit, empower us to live and share that same holy love wherever You lead.

Ascension

Feast of the Ascension of Christ
Here is a cyber-version of my homily.

Alfie, was a dog we had for several of the earlier years of our family. He was a black cocker/over the back fence mix. When my wife and I picked him up as a wee pup we met his mom. She was the cocker, very sweet, intelligent and loved to play ball. Alfie was a very good, sweet, loving dog. He was great with kids, adults and other creatures, accepting each for who they were. But...Alfie was not smart. If you threw a ball he would look at you with his simple dog smile, wag his tail..and that’s about it. He never would have run a canine agility course, be a service dog or take part in a dog show. He was, simply, Alfie. My wife and I used to think of the song..”what’s it all about Alfie?” when observing his expressions of puzzlement about the complex stuff of dog life.
I suspect that the disciples had Alfie-like expressions on their faces as they witnessed our Lord ascend to the heavens. As the angels came and asked them what they were looking for they probably were wondering....”what is this all about?”. They had witnessed Jesus develop the Gospel in three years of miraculous ministry. They had travailed through His Passion. The horror, sorrow and disappointment of His death almost destroyed their faith, their lives. Then the resurrection, joy, fear, experiences that defied any comprehension and now....Jesus was gone. Defying gravity, sin, death and fear He literally ascended the clouds and returned to Heaven. He had instructed them clearly: wait for the promised Holy Spirit. I will empower and be with you always to guide and confirm my Gospel through your words and actions....but he was gone. What was happening?

Our Lord’s ascension is about the places, provision, and purpose of God. This event occurring between the resurrection and Pentecost culminates the incarnation, the epiphanial journey of Christ. It leads the Church and the believer to carry on that journey and work of Christ the King.

Places of God: The ascension completes the journey of Christ that begun with His incarnation, His birth and years in the fullness of humanity. Jesus, God, come in the flesh has conquered sin and death and now returns to the Father, to His heavenly throne. Journeying from the womb of Mary, through years of humanity to the depths of Sheol He now is home returning in joy to the embrace of the Father and the infinite joy of the Holy Spirit. But that is not all. St. Paul in writing to the Ephesians and Colossians declares that we are seated with Him in Heavenly places..that your hearts may be enlightened...that you may know His call..the riches of His glory. Our Lord’s ascension expands the spiritual geography, the places of our hearts to prepare and enable us for the Kingdom of Christ.

Provision of God: Jesus, in returning to the Father, opened the gates of Heaven to a fullness of the provision of God. The love, the glory, the beauty of His holiness, being so infinite simply needed to expand to all creation. In ascending Christ enables the the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of each believer and hence fill the Church. In that same provision and promise of the Holy Spirit He enables to fullness of His Eucharistic Presence to be shared and known in an ever growing tide of grace and mercy. From the single table in the upper room the provision of God is expanded with the ascension so that today, in every church at every holy altar of Christ another leaf is added to the table that was once in that upper room.

Purpose of God: With God’s places expanding, and His provisions shared we are brought to realize that in the ascension we are called to know and share the very purpose of God. As He bring us to the places and riches of Heaven we are called to share that very wealth. To know and experience the healing of His mercy, the joy in His redemptive embrace is but the beginning. We each, and together , are then called to share His ascended Presence with every creature allowing the truth the He is with us to be expressed in our actions and words.

So what’s it all about? Why did Christ come and then return to Heaven? Alfie was a simple dog. He shared our place, enjoyed our provisions, and faithfully loved in his own unique, uncomplicated way. Perhaps he was smarter than we realized.

St. Paschal Baylon
17 May 2006

Today is the feast day of St. Paschal Baylon. This humble Franciscan would shun any adulation and therefore would not be concerned about the fact he is not well known in current times. Yet in prayerfully heeding his life and spirit I sense he would yearn to share with many today that which he shared while serving our Lord in Spain in the late 1500’s.
St. Paschal Baylon was born on the Feast of Pentecost, 24 May 1540, in Torre-Hermosa Spain. He grew up a rather poor shepherd boy and as a young man entered the Franciscan order. Although only a lay brother and poorly educated he did nurture a deep love and knowledge of Scripture. This combined with a deep love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament resulted in a man of rather simple yet very practical and powerful faith. Although never rising in social status above the task of friary doorkeeper many sought his prayers, counsel and friendship. He died in 1592 and was canonized in 1690. This Patron Saint of eucharistic confraternities and congresses is a saintly friend to spend time with especially in times of Eucharistic adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
What would St. Paschal share with us today? I believe his message would be the same now as it was in his time in Spain. To know, love and serve Christ, faithfully, courageously is what matters most. If we are struggling with the affairs of this world we would do well to come to Christ in prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament, and prayerfully read and listen to His Word, the Scriptures, and then simply trust and serve Him our crucified and risen Lord.
St. Paschal, pray for us!

BRIDGES or BARRIERS

The following is a cyber version of my homily for this weekend.

This 4th Sunday of the Easter season the Scriptures present us with a resurrection-powered challenge. In the first reading from Acts, from St. Peter’s sermon we hear that in Jesus Christ..”There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven..by which we are saved” Further readings from God’s Word proclaim that we are called to be and become God’s children, through the leading of Jesus, the good shepherd. These truths are enhanced in our parish this weekend by two other facts. This weekend has been set aside by our Pope to be a World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We also are blessed to celebrate at our 10:30 Mass First Communion for our young ones. All these things present to us this vital resurrection challenge: Are we bridges or barriers for Christ our Shepherd?

Living our Holy Communion:
As we receive our Lord, present in the Holy Eucharist we are each called to enter into His holy wounds. In coming to Him in our brokenness, our woundedness, we can enter into and know His wholeness and holiness. As we allow His sacred Body to heal, as we allow His Holy Blood to nourish us in His redeeming love we then can know His Body being made whole. We can be and become His children, reaching out to others, wounded, hungering and in need of...Him. In the Presence of His love the walls of fear can be conquered, bridges of truth and mercy can be built.

Following our Vocation:
This Sunday we pray for vocations, especially to the priesthood and religious life. The callings of God are clear and plentiful. We need to pray for men and women , for ourselves to heed their vocation, to follow Christ our Shepherd. Now more than ever we need those who will faithfully heed the call to follow and proclaim Christ's Presence and Truth in their lives and words. The importance is not in the specific role. The importance is in our being faithful in our relationship with Him allowing Him to reach out to those He brings into our lives building bridges of His redeeming love.

Sharing the Shepherd
In living our communion with Christ, in following our vocations, we are called to follow and share our Shpeherd. This brings us to recognize and experience that there will be those who don't tread the same path we trod. There may well be those whose beliefs we may not agree with or understand, whose lives and actions may not adhere to our convictions. Does it matter? Is the answer in blind tolerance? or angry fear? The answer is in Christ. As we remember there are sheep of other folds we can then learn to share our Shepherd. We can know that while Christ is the only way to the Father, there are many paths to Christ. Paths that need bridges not walls built for the Savior.

Are we bridges or barriers for Christ? The answer will be found as we each seek, together, to live, in faith-filled love our communion with Christ and each other. It will be known as we seek to heed and follow in loving courage, the Shepherd of our lives in His vocation for our life.

St. Boniface & the Homeless

These photos of St. Boniface Church in San Francisco (from the San Francisco Chronicle) and their outreach to the homeless speak volumes. What do they say to you?

Good Friday ~ The Way of the Cross ~ God's way of Forgiveness

The season of Lent has come to a close. We are in the midst of the three holiest of days in our faith. As we anticipate and prepare to celebrate the joy of our Savior's resurrection we may be tempted to leave behind the call to take up our crosses and follow Him. As we witness the conflicts and strife in our world let's follow, even more closely, our Lord in the Way of the Cross, the Way of Forgivness in His redemptive love, the way of the resurrected One.





The Way of Forgiveness in Christ & His Cross

First Station: Jesus is Condemned
We Adore You...
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...For the Jews demand signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called... Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. I Cor. 1:18, 22-24

Heavenly Father, like the Jews we want proof to satisfy our finite senses. Like the Gentiles we want knowledge to gratify our intellectual pride. As we come to your Son help us realize that we cannot contain or comprehend the love, the mercy, the life you call us to share.
Forgive and free us to follow you our God and Savior.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Second Station: Jesus takes Up the Cross
We adore You...
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord... Ac. 3:18-20

Jesus, Lord, you take your cross showing us the path and way of repentance. Lord as we, with you, take our cross help us let go of our sins, of anything that hinders us from knowing and loving you. It is in your Presence, at your holy cross, we find the fullness of life you created us to know. It is there we find the path to you and your Kingdom of truth and love.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Third Station: Jesus Fall the First Time
We adore...
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it...The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:14 & 18

Holy Spirit, open our eyes to recognize the reality and sorrow of evil that caused you to stumble and fall. Forgive us for pretending or for trying to excuse the lies of sin and deception our enemy offers. Spirit of God lead us to the power of your peace, and the fullness of your mercy. Heal the brokeness of our hearts by your Presence. Restore those crushed in spirit by the embrace of love.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
We adore...
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. Joel 2: 28-29

Blessed Mother as you saw your son, struggling with his cross, as you came to him in your sorrow your broken heart was filled with His Spirit. That same Spirit longs to fill and flow through our hearts and lives as we embrace the freedom of the cross. Holy Spirit fill our lives with your truth and love, empty us of all that is false and selfish.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
We adore...
But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world...Peace and mercy be upon all who follow this rule. Gal. 6:14 & 16

Jesus, like Simon we sometimes face the cross thrust into our lives. You let us choose to follow you and take our cross, or to deny you and that which you would offer. Lord, may our glory, our pride be found only in you. May we share the truth of your peace and the power of your mercy in the journey of our lives .

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be..


Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore...
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. II Chron. 7:14-15

Jesus, Savior, with eyes of humble faith help us to seek your face. In the beauty of your holy smile may we know your forgiveness for our ignorance and failures, for our sins. Jesus the gift you let us share, to bring a smile to your face, that knew such suffering, to bring joy to our angels who strive so hard for us, by simple repentance and trust in you, as we pray:

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
We adore...
Have mercy on me O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Ps. 51:1-2

Heavenly Father, we pray with King David for your mercy. Cleanse us of anything that would cause my sister or brother, or me, to stumble or fall. May the nail-scarred hands of your Son wash away the grime of this world and the lies of the deceiver that have stained our souls.
Lord we thank you for the freedom of your forgiveness. May we live that freedom for you and your Kingdom.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Weeping Women of Jerusalem
We adore...
Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Ps. 51:8-11

King of Kings, struggling up Golgothas hill you met the women of Jerusalem. Days before they had come to meet you with praise and palms. Their joy had been robbed as they yielded to the doubts and fears of the masses. Lord of the cross, forgive us for allowing our faith to falter, for trusting our fears more than your love. Jesus free us, to simply love and trust you and your word.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Ninth Station: Jesus Fall the Third Time
We adore...
Behold thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Ps.51:6-7

Lord we get so cluttered. We carry such silly burdens of the stuff of life. All the worries and grudges, resentments and fears we cling to make us stumble and bring sorrow to you. Lord the false light of our pride of achievement or abilities simply blinds us from seeing you and ourselves. Jesus we are sorry. Forgive us. Help us to learn that you set us free from the burdens of this world to take our cross with you. You open our eyes to see the gift of who we truly are, created for and restored in your love.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
We adore...
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified...my speech and my message were not plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I Cor. 2:2, 4-5

Jesus, what did you think as they stripped your clothes from your beaten and bleeding body? Fear? Embarrassment? Shame? Yet, in your holiness and love you must have felt ...sorrow. Lord in stripping off our pride and excuses, in simple repentance, we are afraid, embarrassed, ashamed. But Lord in your Presence we find we can be clothed in mercy, filled with forgiveness and sharing in the beauty and joy of your holiness. Jesus may the truth of your love calls us to you and to your cross.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
We adore...
One of the criminals who were hanged railed upon him saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong”. And he said: “Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingly power”. And he said: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”. Lu. 23:39-43

Savior, as the nails pierced your body you heard the cries of the fallen being crucified with you. You heard the cries of all of us, who have failed and sinned. In your pain and anguish you carried the pain and anguish of all those pierced by sin. You brought to all who call out to you, in simple repentance, the promise of the Paradise of your Kingdom, the truth of your forgiveness and love.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies On the Cross
ALL KNEEL
We adore...
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty will say to the Lord, “my God in whom I trust”. Ps.91:1-2

Holy Savior, mercy-filled God, in the shelter of your cross we find peace. Jesus in the Presence of your broken Body we find your holy love that fills us with... You. Savior, for all the times we trust in self, the emptiness of the world, or our fears and failures, forgive us. Jesus you are our God in whom we trust.
.
Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
We adore...
For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgments. Ps. 51: 3-4

Heavenly Father, as they took the Body of your Son from the cross you saw the sorrow and fear of his disciples. For the only time of eternity you felt the emptiness of your Son separated from you, by our sins. And, Father God, you saw our fears and sorrows. You saw the emptiness of our lives apart from you and apart from each other. And you saw the holy blood shed for our forgiveness and healing. You saw your Son, Jesus, our hope, as we turn to you in prayer.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
We adore...
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children and to all that are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him”. Ac. 2:38-39

Holy God, at the tomb it is so quiet.
Yet in the silence we can hear the hope and promise of your resurrection, the promised fullness of your Holy Spirit.


Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be...

St. Anthony of Padua & The Cross

Saint Anthony of Padua said: "Extending his arms on the cross like wings, Christ embraces all who come to him sheltering then in his wounds."
The cross beckons in the darkness of our woundedness of sin to Christ. In his wounds, at his cross we find shelter, healing and wholeness. This season of Lent let's pray that all those struggling in life may find the peace and healing that Christ longs to provide. Together let's surrender anew to His wounds.

SURRENDER
His call to love he heard anew,
Surrender made that clear.
His broken heart in trust
He offered up without fear.

The tears and broken heart,
he gave in simple hope,
That Loves dawn
shine through
and brighten
others dark nights.

Spiritual Warfare

There is an interesting post on another Christian website, Bob Larson Ministries, that describes a profound meeting that took place recently at the Vatican. Bob Larson is a Protestant Christian minister that is quite active in the ministry of exorcism. He describes his meeting with the Vatican's chief Exorcist, Father Gabriel Amorth,( http://www.boblarson.org/Bob_Larson_-_Vatican_Report_/bob_larson_-_vatican_report_.html ). This prayerful meeting, I am convinced, has caused great joy in Heaven and intense fear and consternation in Satan's legions.
Spiritual warfare is a reality affirmed in Scripture (Eph. 6:12-20). It is intensely evident in the harsh and graphic warfare of the spirit seen in our world today. The blindness, hatred and violence expressed in the bloody Islamic reactions to cartoons, the greed, corruption and violence that fuels the wars in the oil soaked mideast, the scandels in the church (Catholic and protestant), the battle for the family (divorce, materialism, hedonism and sexual promiscuity), abortion, the false gospel of SELF, all of these and many more are powerful examples of Satan seeking to destroy the soul and life of humanity.
Sadly Christians can fall to two common temptations in this conflict. One is to ignore or pretend that this warfare is not real but just the stirrings of ultra-conservative Christians. It seeks to either dismiss the manifestations of evil as only psychological problems or the product of ignorant superstitious minds. The second popular temptation is to over emphasize the power of Satan and yield to fear and doubt. This is evident when Satan is blamed for every disruption or challenge to the harmony of life. It may be fed with virtual superstitious devotions or scrupulosity.
The truth-filled response and teaching of the Church lead us as Christians to rejoice in the victory (and yes the battle) we share in the triumph of Christ achieved at the holy Cross and the resurrection. We need to take the time to prayerfully heed the message of God's Word and His Church: (II Cor. 10:4, Lu. 22:31;; Jn 16:33;; I Jn 5:4 and the many exorcisms shared in the Gospels, done by Christ and in the Book of Acts by His Church; also study the Catechism of the Church, paragraphs:391-395 & 1673).
The meeting of Bob Larson and Fr. Amorth invites and challenges all beleivers to recognize the conflict at hand and to allow the Holy Spirit to unite us, at the Cross, with our Lord, our Blessed Mother and all the saints to grow in the victory of God's grace and redemptive love. Jesus promised Peter that upon this rock He would "...build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" Mt. 16:18. Jesus describes a growing, victorious people and faith that would confront and overwhelm the very gates of hell. This battle of holy love is ours, with Christ and His holy angels.

Prayer to St. Michael

St. Michael the archangel
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against
the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

St. Sebastian

May the same grace that brought St. Sebastian into the arms of Christ through the martyrs path be with us. For those in deep persecution and for all the faithful in their daily spiritual sacrifices, St. Sebastian, pray for us.

ST. SEBASTIAN
by H. Martin
20 January 2006


Body broken, pierced by arrows,
Sebastian knew and felt the sorrow.

Called by God to simply trust,
Faced the hate that doubt did thrust.

Roman soldiers, courage known,
Sebastian something more did own.

Called to serve the King of Kings,
A holy joy his life would sing.

Strength, courage, faith he shared,
with those cringing under persecutors glare.

Strength and character much admired,
the Roman court was inspired.

“Honor Rome, the world is yours”,
Sebastian faced the tempters throne.

Pleasure, pride, senses heed,
let your noble flesh be pleased.

While admired, sought by men,
to serve and be their pleasing friend,

Sebastian heard a greater need,
from the soul of men did plead.

“Fill the empty void I know,
while pleasure, power, pride do flow”.

Empty hearts do ache and long,
for love, for purpose, to belong.

Sebastian heard the desperate plea
and to Christ he did flee.


Finding there Love’s full embrace,
he found the courage with to face.

Doubts and fears, hatred strong,
for those denying Satan’s song.

Called to choose whom to serve,
Sebastian for the Christ did yearn.

Doubt in hate the arrows lust
for his body with killing thrust.

Left to die the martyrs death,
arrows failed his life to quench.

Holy care a sister gave,
life remained, courage brave.

Doubt and hate, pride did hear,
so chose to attack again their fears.

Clubs assailed, the body pierced,
crushing breaking his noble face.

Sebastian’s holy body died.
Sisters, brothers , faithful cried.

Tears of love they did know,
tears of joy even more so flowed.

Sebastian brave, in holy love
shared with us his martyrs blood.

Bringing to all who will,
the hope, the love of Christ to fill.

Persecution still does flow,
from doubt and hatred’s brutal blows.

Called to Christ to love, to live,
in simple faith and courage give.

Our lives in trust and love for Him,
who frees us from the chains of sin.


Free to follow, serve and fight,
in the quest for holy life.

Saint Sebastian for us pray
that with courage we may stay,

Close to our Holy King
So His praise and love to sing.

Rain, winds, floods, mud and debris ushered in the New Year. While the weather has mostly cleared there is still a lot of clean-up being done. Roads especially take a beating in this sort of weather. from potholes, mudslides and flood damaged bridges we find that the normal path of life can be disrupted. Sometimes this is for a brief period. it may be just an ongoing aggravation as we detour around a slide, a pothole or wash out. Some roads may face extended closures. The picture in this blog is the First Street Bridge over the Russian River just below flood peak. Our neighbors to the south in Geyserville are facing an unknown time of closure of the Hwy. 128 Bridge over the river. It was significantly damaged during the flood.
Having worked "flood duty" for many years (American Red Cross, Twin Hills-Gold Ridge Fire District, Calif. Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection) I was especially constrained to pray for both victims and responders during these challenges. Floods bring many hazards and challenges but one in particular is that they tend to impact those involved for extended periods of time. A fire or accident can be a tragedy that can change lives profoundly. However they tend to be of fairly short duration. The recovery or rebuilding may be extended but the actual crises is usually short, yet painful.
Floods are usually more prolonged in there assault on our lives. They are usually preceded by a stormy siege (in an of itself problem laden). Some floods are gradual with time to prepare and respond. Flash floods can occur very quickly with horrendous results. Here in Northern California we face both. The actual flood can occur for hours, days or even weeks. Then comes the clean-up and rebuilding. That can take years. All this brings about the reality of flood-fatigue. This is the condition that sets in when victims or responders run out of adrenalin and the harsh muck and stench of the damage is recognized.
Storms, floods and the damage and decay they bring are sometimes the seeming condition of life on a broader scale. In personal struggles, family or work challenges we can often face sieges of harsh weather. Then come the actual floods of life. Sickness, financial troubles, relationship losses all can overwhelm and inundate the individual or family. While we may face the early tides of trouble in our own strength,soon we all can face the exhaustion of flood-fatigue.
The pictures at the top of this blog are of our flooding river. While the river was flooding, just to the northeast of the bridge the rainbow appeared. Once again I was reminded that it is in the storms and floods of life that we discover the promises, the strength and provision of Christ. It is in our need, fatigue and weakness that we experience the epiphanies of Emmanuel, God with us.

"For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" - {Luke 2:8-13} So proclaimed the angels to the shepherds. Now over two thousand years later the proclamation has not lost any power or majesty to any who will listen in faith. The Sandro Botticelli painting helps us to realize the profound immensity of this event. It also invites us to open our hearts to the unseen, or unheard beauty and message of the Kingdom of God. As we worship Him this Christmas may we truly join the angels in proclaiming His glory. May we allow Mary to bring us to know, as we have known Him before, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
This Christmas may we each draw near to the Christ child and allow Him to touch our hearts to believe, our ears to hear, and our eyes to see Him.

The Roses of Guadalupe

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a rich and beautiful account of the visitation of our Blessed Mother to a struggling new believer in a land where the Gospel of her Son was struggling agaisnt the paganism of the native Americans and the cruel greed and politics of a conquering world power. It was a setting with failure written all over it. Not unlike the the Church, Christ's Kingdom today. But for the grace of God.
I find many aspects of the story inspiring. But as a gardener the Castilian Roses are of special interest. For the native American, Juan Diego, to find the roses, in December in Mexico and the for the roses to transform into the image of Our Lady provide a two-fold miracle whose power should not be lost on us today.
Juan Diego found the roses in response to trust and a loving obedience. The blossoms of God's grace bloom wherever fertile hearts are willing to allow the Light of the Gospel to shine. The external seasons, the climate (spiritual, moral) will have as much impact as God's design and faith determine.
One lesson is clear. The beauty of God's grace and love longs to bloom in our hearts, our lives and our times as we but trust and have the courage to follow Him.

Closed for Christmas?

According to Fox New's Brit Hume several "mega churches" are planning on being closed for Christmas day, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177763,00.html . The rationale given by the church leaders is that since Christmas has become so secularized that it doesn't really matter and that this provides staff time to spend with their family on Christmas day.
This is a sad commentary on the focus and health of the American Christian depth of faith and love for Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. IF the primary focus of these "mega church" worship services is entertainment and the gratification of the American appetite for sensory gratification then perhaps it is just as well. I guess it is truly is a lot of work to produce and present some of the weekly media productions and the staff will probably like the day off.
However what about..coming to Him who came for us, to worship and adore Christ Jesus? What about simply listening in faith and love to the Scriptures, or receiving His sacred Body and Blood in the Eucharist? What about worshipping, together, with family, the birthday of our King?
What about Jesus?

Christ is coming...Where are we going?

Advent..it struck me today how much is said about the coming of Christ, appropriately enough. Christ is coming, returning in glory, it is a real and powerful promise. Also the truth and beaurty of Christ's first coming, the Incarnation, God, made flesh, born in a stable, in redeeming love for us all. Simply, truthfully powerfully said..God came and is returning...yet it leads me to consider, where are we going?
Are we "going crazy" trying to meet the absurd and impossible demands of the season played out in the glossy advertisements and commercials? Buy this gift and your loved one will forever love you and be happy!!!! HOGWASH!

Are we going to make all the family meet our hopes and expectations and when there any get togethers everyone will be in place with their smiles of harmony?? Probably not. And if our hope is that they will meet our expectations perhaps it is better to thankfully pray for our loved ones and ask God to bless and guide them where He wills for their happiness.

Are we going down memory lane visiting all the "what if's", the "if only that hadn't happened" or "if I had only"...Memories are precious and need to be visited. But to live in the past???

There are many places we can go this Advent season. But if He came for us. Might we not want to go to Him?

Dark the Night

DARK THE NIGHT

Dark the night,
embraced only by the empty ache of loneliness.
Dark the clouds,
with their cold caress of sorrow.

Questions torn from the heart,
borne on the wind,
buffet the soul,
with stinging tears.

Weary and in pain,
stumbling in the dark,
with wounds confounding
his senses.

But, the whisper of dawn is heard..

"I know and understand,
your needs and your hopes,
they are of My design...
Surrender to My arms
know my Holy Love"

Surrendering anew,
Light from dawn beckoned,
In weary hope he saw
that His Love would never die.