25th Sunday in Ordinary Time [9-22-24]

Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

Let’s pretend for a bit and project our times backward to the days of the Apostles before the resurrection where our gospel passage finds us. A young reporter named Rebekah for “Action News Jerusalem” is dispatched to interview ordinary people who have become followers of Jesus. Given a tip by Mordecai, the assignment editor, about a group of 12 who are currently in town, she asks a certain man named Thomas what the group is discussing at their meeting. Thomas shyly replies, “We’re trying to decide which of us is the greatest?”

Rebekah replies, “Our sources tell us that’s the kind of question that your Leader disdains. Isn’t that true?” Just then the Leader Himself comes into camera range. Rebekah notes the man’s good looks and regal bearing despite His drab clothes and asks him straight away “Sir, don’t you dislike talk of privilege and position among your followers?” “Surely”, He replies, in a voice that could enrapture any audience. These men are good people, but they have a lot to learn about My perspective on things.”

He goes further. “Rebekah, may I call you that?”  “Certainly,” she says, “our viewers call me that, and we’re anxious for your thoughts.”

Jesus at this point calls a little boy over from a group playing tag.  Putting His arms around the boy’s shoulders, He looks into the camera while also addressing His young followers and says, “Look, guys, and those of you watching on TV or online right now, “If you really want to be first, you’ve got to choose the last place. And if you receive a child like this boy here in My Name, respecting His innocence and his not angling for a position, you will be really receiving Me.  Or even better, you will be receiving the One, the Person I call “Father” or “Abba” (Daddy) who sent Me.  And we will always have your back.”

TV reporter Rebekah, taking back her mike, says into the camera, “Well, there you have it, everybody, an unexpected drop- in conversation with the Man himself, Jesus of Nazareth.  Now back to our studio.  I’m Rebekkah in Jerusalem for Channel 144, Action News.”

I trust that you here and now can see the major point of the gospel that I tried to dramatize.   True greatness comes from acknowledging who we are in God’s eyes, not the eyes of fellow human beings.  Setting goals like climbing social or corporate ladders, wishing for fame and fortune, or flaunting our possessions is so much a pursuit of nonsense. As for so many other teachings in Christ’s Church, humility is key. “The person with true humility never has to be shown his place; he is always in it.”

God love you and give you His peace.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 9/15/24 - Father Wilson's Pastor's Corner

The topic sounded interesting.  So, the other day, I attended a seminar held at the new location of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Gwynedd.  Well actually, I attended the webinar.  Of course, attending virtually was rather appropriate, I suppose, since the forum was entitled, “The Pastoral Impact of Artificial Intelligence.”  AI, algorithms, and pastoral ministry – how 21st Century!  Fr. Neo and I are ready to take on the Matrix!  Today, we are surrounded by and immersed in, what we call, “artificial intelligence.”  We live in a world with GPS, smart homes, self-check-outs, curated music lists, and curated advertising.  We’re told that AI is expanding exponentially since computers compute much faster and therefore “learn” much faster than we can.  AI is already impacting the Church.  One can pull up the Scripture readings on a cell at Mass and today’s seminarians can pray the Liturgy of the Hours in a similar way in the new chapel at the new Overbrook.  Most parishes have their bulletins available online and some parishes have done away with paper bulletins altogether.  I’m not aware of a parish that has AI compose its bulletin yet, but it’s probably in the works.  The first speaker at the seminary forum pointed out immediately that some take issue with the term “artificial” intelligence, since it is usually understood that intelligence involves a rational being able to reason.  Basically, I suppose that it comes down to the fact that human beings have thoughts and feelings (not to mention, souls), whereas machines do not.  Machines can analyze data rather well, but they can’t emote.  In a pastoral setting, AI could help one make a moral decision (think of a palliative care situation), but only a human being with mind, body, and soul could make the final decision.  Otherwise, it is simply a statistical analysis which in a situation past would lead One to forgoing Cross and Crucifixion.  AI is here to stay and it can certainly be very helpful – but it does have its limitations.  GPS is a great tool without doubt, yet it seems that there was a greater sense of accomplishment having found one’s way after making use of that crinkled paper map stored in the glove compartment.  Jesus already knew the limitations of AI.  Maybe that’s why He came among us when He did some two thousand years before its advent.  Algorithms are the key to AI, but algorithms can be confused.  Again, Jesus knew this long before there was such a term in our modern sense.  He loved to throw off the “algorithms” of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  Often enough times, He throws off ours as well.  Crucifixion and death are a statistical “dead end” for our modern-day GPS algorithms of intelligence artificial tasked with finding the “best route” to our destination – unless One happens to be the very Son of God!   The seminary seminar was rather interesting, but the discussion of the interaction of human intelligence (authentic) with machine intelligence (artificial) and its pastoral applications will continue well into the future.  Just know that as such discussions continue Jesus is the definitive Way always showing us the best possible “route.”                    

Peace!

Fr. Wilson

Reflection - Rev. Leonard Peterson [09-08-24]

Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

“God is in the details.”  That’s a thought attributed to the minimalist German architect Miles van der Rohe.  He was referring to the attributes of his many creations.  While it might at first seem to be too great a stretch to connect architecture with Holy Scripture, there is much about God’s words and actions in the Bible that feature details we should notice.  They can be profitable for our prayer and reflection. Heretofore hidden meanings emerge.  The divine presence lies just below the surface. Not immediately obvious.

Case in point: this weekend’s beautiful passage about the encounter of Jesus with a deaf mute.  Note first how the crowd already knew where to go and whom to see if they wanted a person to be helped.  Jesus.  His reputation preceded Him.  This “herd,” if you will, was attracted to the possibility of a miracle in their midst.  On the surface, they seemed not to care much for the sick man’s feelings.  

It gives me pause to think that sometimes that we have just wanted to “use” Jesus’ power and might for our own needs to be met. We forget that He is a Person, not a machine. A divine person no less, who took on our human nature to save us from hell. Not a dispenser of wish fulfillment.

We note the detail that Jesus leads the deaf man away from the crowd. Away from the raucous voices with mixed up ideas about God. Or the cheering cries of people that just want to make noise and enjoy mayhem. The Lord wants the man to have some well-deserved privacy. To look the Lord in the face and express with hand gestures his longing to be normal, even if he cannot yet voice it.

In a world filled with what are called “social media,” users are allotted an outlet to express themselves, however crude or misinformed they may be about a given issue. They can do it anonymously with their privacy intact. But they have no qualms invading ours.

Do we ever go so far as to prohibit God from entering our so-called “private space?” That place where we decide what to do no matter what the Commandments and the Beatitudes? That’s a detail in our story.

After touching the man’s ears and tongue, we note that Jesus “looked up to heaven” and “groaned.” In His prayer to the Father, Jesus took on the needy man’s pain and deprivation. Just as He takes on our own troubles every time, we request His help. A major detail in our lives: “We never walk alone.”

Lastly, there’s that detail wherein Jesus tells the crowd to keep quiet about what He did. St. Mark wants his readers to wait until the Passion and Resurrection story to learn Jesus’ full identity. Sometimes we must wait for God to answer our prayers. We must admit that we can either be deaf to His responses or mute in our thanks.

Let me quote the great Christian apologist C.S. Lewis for my closing thought today: “On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him.”

God love you and give you His peace.

Helmsdorf is the name of the town! - Father Wilson [09-01-24]

Helmsdorf is the name of the town.  It was supposed to take place in Dietelskirchen, but the church there is under renovation.  Hence, the nearby Helmsdorf Filialkirche, named for Stephanus, the First Martyr, hosted the baptisms.  Two months ago, I had the privilege of   baptizing two children there.  Johanna and Alexander are the children of dear friends.  I baptized Johanna’s older sister and was a close friend of her father, who died tragically at a young age.  It was her father that some time ago introduced me to the father of Alexander.  We first met during a football game…well, playing a football game actually…in snow and mud.  It was great fun despite my being just a bit sore afterwards.  At least I didn’t break any bones or get the wind knocked out of me like one guy.  He couldn’t breathe momentarily and we were all in a panic.  That panic passed as the guy soon stood on the sideline catching a smoke.  Then, of course, we continued the game.  With this in our background, Alexander’s father really wanted yours truly to baptize his second son.  That Sunday afternoon was beautiful and there was a large gathering of family and friends for the children’s reception of their first sacrament.  I had actually checked out the church ahead of time.  I had never been inside and wanted to get a “lay of the land.”  Fortunately, the church was unlocked and the sacristan was there.  It had been a little while since there had been a baptism.  The sacristan would set-up for the baptisms and he would be there throughout.  He told me that he was a little nervous.  He wanted to get everything “just right.”  His nervousness peaked as I noticed the “high pulpit” in the quaint little country church.  I simply had to climb it, even though it was no longer used.  I ambled up the steps as the sacristan frantically urged caution.  Looking down from above, I knew in that moment, that I had my baptismal homily.  On Sunday afternoon, the church was full and festive.  There were parents and grandparents.  There were young and old.  After the Gospel, all eyes were on me as I ascended the high pulpit.  From above, I looked down upon all as they looked up upon me.  The sacristan was even more nervous now hoping that I didn’t trip and tumble on my lengthy cassock.  This is Baptism, I said, God looking down lovingly upon all of us and our looking up to Him longingly.  God so loves us that He chose not to remain apart.  Since we couldn’t ascend to Him, He chose to descend to us and raise our dignity to His.  In Baptism, Our God comes to us.  I then, very gingerly descended from the heights of the high pulpit and stood among the people.  I stood in the midst of Johanna and Alexander and prepared to baptize them; transform them, and welcome them as God’s children raising their dignity that day to the Heights of Heaven.  Though they can’t yet ascend the steps of the high pulpit themselves, one day they will be able.  In the meantime, it is God Himself Who carries them.  The day of their Baptism was simply their first step – as it was for you and for me.  Now, please just be careful on the steps!  I’d hate to see you tumble getting the wind knocked out of you and merely standing on the sidelines of the Heavenly Heights catching a smoke!           

Peace,

Fr. Wilson

8/25/24 Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

The cause of our disappointment can be anything from a car to a carnival; a rest stop or a restaurant; a movie or a meeting.  The frustration with whatever letdown happened ultimately makes us say, at least to ourselves, “I’m never going to buy, or buy into, that item again.

Something akin to that decision must have formed in the minds and hearts of many of Our Lord’s early followers on that fateful day when He announced the Eucharist.  It was altogether “too much” for them to accept what He said.  Time to walk away, back to their former way of life. 

In the wake of their shuffling sandals and their overheard murmurs, the Apostles were stunned into silence and confused by the mystery.  Then Jesus asked: “Do you also want to leave?”  For a few moments, there was a “loud silence,” if you get my meaning.  The birds still chirped overhead; the breeze still tousled their hair; images still troubled their thoughts. Eating flesh and drinking blood broke every law of Moses they knew.

But in the nick of time, our bold, brash, and impetuous first pope St. Peter broke the silence and asked the same question we sometimes ask, “Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  Indeed, He did and still does forever.

Yet, here was the perfect opportunity for Jesus to ease their minds and say: “My people, I was only speaking figuratively!”   Or “I mean for the bread and wine to be symbols.  Not my actual body and blood!”  But He never did.  In fact, that mistaken understanding is the very one that anchors every non-Catholic Christian church up to today. With due respect for the goodness in those churches, their founders exemplify what happens when hearers of the truth don’t like what they hear. 

The Bible stands strong here, when human weakness finds this teaching of Jesus unacceptable. How ironic that fundamentalists, who prefer to take literally what they read in Scripture, will not do so with words that Jesus said on Holy Thursday night.

At any rate, here is a powerful quote from the talk that Pope St. John Paul II gave at Phoenix Park during his three-day visit to Ireland in the Fall of 1979. He unknowingly but prophetically describes the situation we find right now in our own country:

“When the moral fiber of a nation is weakened, when the sense of personal responsibility is diminished, then the door is open for the justification of injustices, for violence in all its forms and for the manipulation of the many by the few.  The challenge that is already with us is the temptation to accept as true freedom what in reality is only a new form of slavery.  And so, it becomes all the more urgent to steep ourselves in the truth that comes from Christ…It is especially in the Eucharist that the power and the love of the Lord are given to us”

Thank you, St. John Paul, for pointing out the locus of true Love.

Stress! [8/18/24] - Father Wilson

Stress!  There is much of it in our world and in our lives today.  From aggressive driving to navigating construction zones or from election-year political antics to outrageous, blasphemous, Olympic Opening Ceremonies, ours is an undeniably stress-filled world.  Parish life too, can be filled with stress.  Believe me!  They say that it is not a good thing health-wise.  It can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, anxiety, sleep deprivation, panic attack, headache, and all kinds of heartache emotionally and spiritually.  Yet, we encounter it every day it seems, from the moment that we awaken.  Everyone and everything seems rushed.  Life is more complicated than ever.  Technology was supposed to make our lives simpler with more time for leisure.  Ha!  Instead, we have our heads down while staring at our phones with the expectation and, for so many, the need to be available 24/7.  I remember having a phone conversation with a priest friend.  At one point in our conversation, I heard some noise in the background.  It was the toilet flushing.  There is a reason it’s called a “rest” room.  My goodness, give it a rest and call me back for crying out loud!  In the Incarnation, God Himself, experiences the stress of our human condition.  Imagine how that first cry of the Infant Savior newly born must have reverberated unto the heavenly realm.  Angels most certainly wept.  The stress we experience in our lives is a stress known to Our Lord.  Perhaps, we encounter that Messianic Stress most poignantly as we recall a Savior in a garden praying intensely prior to His Passion with sweat as droplets of blood running down Most His Holy Face.   Can we bring Him comfort as we seek our own?   Come away by yourselves and rest for a while; come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.  The Lord already knows every stressor that we have in our lives.  We might say that on Good Friday in Christ crucified, stress too was crucified.  The Cross was as a pair of scissors cutting all tension releasing stress and leading to relief – the Ultimate Relief of Resurrection.  We need to comfort Him in the Garden and on the Cross, because that is exactly where we will find the rest and relief that we so desire.  It is there that the Lord will transform and relieve all our stress enabling us to take our foot off the gas, slow down, and relax while rooting for our Church and Team USA!       

Peace!

Fr. Wilson

August 11, 2024 [19th Sunday in Ordinary Time]

Oftentimes, priests have an online profile.  There is perhaps a picture on a parish webpage and curriculum vitae of sorts.  It gives insight into just who Father is; his background; his studies.  The information often includes the year that he was ordained, seminary attended, and degrees held.  It may include family background, former career information, and any universities attended.  His profile will usually list his various titles, roles, and assignments had in his diocese or beyond along with any special notes of interest such as language abilities, awards won, or maybe an unusual fact, such as his being a former MLB player (like Fr. Ed Cipot of the Archdiocese of New York and a classmate from my Spirituality Year in the seminary).  Such profiles are fine and quickly inform those who might be interested.  In parish settings, I have been asked about such profiles over the years.  I have always been hesitant.  In a sense, for me, the fact of being a priest is really all that one needs to know – at least, at first.  I sometimes wonder what it would be like if Jesus had such an online profile, curriculum vitae, or some business card of sort.  Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus the Christ.  Born in Bethlehem; the only Child of Mary and Joseph.  Popularly known as a rabbi and teacher though having had no formal schooling.  His native language is Aramaic, but speaks Hebrew and a bit of Latin as well.  Never really into sports, but quite the itinerant preacher.  Had a large following rather early in life and His exploits appeared to tragically end with an unjust crucifixion.  His greatest claim to fame is His own Resurrection from the dead, which inspired even more followers.  Jesus looks forward now to serving our parish and meeting each one of you!  Could the very Son of God really be explained in a one page profile or a little business card with contact information?  Jesus revealed Himself in what He said and what He did.  I feel inclined to do the same.  I believe that ultimately, all of us are called to do the same.  Jesus had the Evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to record for us His words and actions.  I don’t have such writers, but I can write – and so I do.  I owe a debt of gratitude to my elementary school teachers, among whom were the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who helped in this regard.  I hope that in my words written all will discover a priest revealed, but more importantly, I hope that they will discover a Christ known as Jesus – the only Child of Mary and Joseph, who had no online profile or curriculum vitae of His own, but made Himself known over time and most especially, in the Breaking of Bread.  I hope that in the end, I can be revealed there too and there I hope to discover you as well!     

Peace!

Fr. Wilson

Fairhill [08-04-24] - Father Wilson

Fairhill…it sounds so lovely; like a scenic overlook.    I don’t know the origin of Fairhill.  Perhaps it was someone’s last name.  There was definitely no scenic overlook, although there was most certainly a beauty and calm.  I wish that I could go back.  Fairhill was the name of the little street upon which sat our little house when I was a little kid.  The street did incline just a bit, but it was certainly no hill.  It was there that I learned to ride a bike, played baseball, football, and all sorts of games with the other neighborhood kids.  Long summer nights of Ghost-in-the-Graveyard or Kick, Kick, the Can were great fun.  It was there that I skinned my knees at times and went crying to my mother.  It was there that I smelled the honeysuckles as I played Godzilla among the little Japanese that curiously looked like ants.  It was there that I kissed a girl, fought with a friend, got into a little trouble, but far more good while simply learning about life.  They were good times and simple times.  Again, I wish that I could go back.  Fairhill was my street and my youth.  We all have a Fairhill.  What’s yours?  And what if we really could go back?  I find that with Our Lord, we really can.  When we take time with Him and are One with Him, we do go back all the while remaining firmly planted in the present.  The Lord of All Time brings comfort and consolation and takes us, at times, to the simplicity of your Fairhill and mine.  In the TV series, The Chosen, there is an episode in which Jesus visits with His aging ema, Mary.  Mom right away tells Jesus that His hair leaves something to be desired.  It needs a washing.  Oh, Mommmm!  The next scene shows Mary washing her Son’s hair just like she did when He was but a boy.  This has Jesus wishing for a simpler time and desiring to go back…back to His Fairhill.  Jesus, on His part, will in fact “go back,” but not until after some Resurrection preceded by a bit of suffering.  Then He will definitively return to His Fairhill.  Ask the Risen and All-Powerful Lord to now take you back.  For Him for Whom stormy seas and locked doors mean nothing, it is not impossible.  Today, the Risen Jesus will take you back if you but ask. Then, He will walk with you and play with you on that peaceful, calm little street that is your own Fairhill.  Have fun, smell the honeysuckles, and enjoy the view!  Just watch out for Godzilla!

Peace!

Fr. Wilson

We Are Family! [07-28-24]

We Are Family is the signature song of the vocal group, Sister Sledge.  Released in April of 1979, it has received countless hours of play in clubs and discos.  It has been heard in movies, TV shows, and commercials.  I’m pretty certain that I danced to it back in the day with my date at the senior prom.  The song describes a happy and hopeful family that invites everyone to get up to sing and dance with them.  I think that it should describe us, because isn’t this a family to which we all want to belong?  As Church, we are called to be family.  As Church, we are a Community of Faith in relationship with one another.  And it’s not a matter of dancing at the disco or at the prom - though that sounds fun to me – but it is a matter of dancing with our lives in loving relationship with one another.  It is just the beginning of the Ultimate Prom which in the end, we all hope and pray to attend.  Unfortunately, families sometimes fight.  Brothers and sisters sometimes fight.  The song is off key or the dance is refused.  My own father had a brother with whom he didn’t speak.  There is an uncle that I never met and cousins that I will never know.  Although without siblings, I did have a best friend that was like a brother to me.  One day early on as kids, just for “fun,” he had me in a tight-head lock for a time.  This resulted in his being shoved hard over a low brick wall.  For a bit, we cursed and stammered.  I rubbed my sore neck while he rubbed his sore back side and we’ve remained friends and brothers ever since.  During these times of transition and change at our parishes, there can be tension at times.  There can be “head-locks” of sort and all kinds of “shoving.”   Where there had been three priests now there are just two that neighboring parishes must share together with a grade school and high school to boot!  Mass schedules and other schedules need be adjusted.  What is one to do?  Well, perhaps begin with a song.  I think that Our Lord would have liked Sister Sledge’s song about family.  I’m sure that He would have danced to it had the DJ played it at Cana, because He knew about the importance of family.  He knew about hope and happiness; joy and forgiveness.  He knew about the call to family.  In fact, He invites us to be a part of His.  We are family – just like the song says.  Look!  The Lord is already out on the dance floor!  Together as One Family and One Church, let’s run out to join Him!  Enjoy the dance! 

Peace!

Fr. Wilson

6-23-24 - Father Wilson's First Pastor's Corner

He was up at 6:00 and by 6:15 he was ready to go.  Such was my father on the first day of our annual vacation to the Wildwood Crest during his company’s “two-week shutdown” in early days of my youth.  My father got up early for work anyway throughout the year.  This was kind of a late start for him.  He understood though, that I was a child in the midst of a whole summer off from school and that my mother would need a little more time to get ready.  I’ve always been more like my mother in this regard.  His aim was always to leave by 8:30 or 9:00 at the latest.  His little bag would be quickly packed: toothbrush, comb, bathing suit, a pair of pants, shorts, two shirts, three pairs of socks and undergarments.  The fishing equipment was already in the car.  He finished his first cup of coffee and then would start on his second.  Then, he would wait and wait and wait some more.  The sun was already up and temperatures were rising quickly.  My mother would pull me out of bed shortly after seven.  That wasn’t much of a problem since the thoughts of beach and boardwalk kept me up most of the night anyway.  My mother then continued her previously started packing and double checking everything that she had already packed…and it seems that my mother did, in fact, pack everything.  If it would have snowed at the shore that summer, we would have been ready.  Maybe it was the coffee that affected my father.  I guess he should have switched to Sanka.  By 10:30, he was beside himself muttering and cussing under his breath.  Why do you have to pack so much stuff?  We’re not going for the whole year! That actually would have been okay with me.  Then he turned his attention on me.  I had a whole bag just with my select toys that I couldn’t leave home without.  Really?  You’re going to be by the pool or at the beach all day!  You don’t need all this stuff!  Stop crying!  In between expressing his anger as to why my mother could not have packed things up earlier in the week and again asking why all this was needed, he employed my help in carrying things out to the car where he would strategically load up the trunk and the roof top luggage rack of our four-door sedan.  We would drive to the shore in a vehicle that looked like it could have belonged to the Beverly Hillbillies.  Just before noon, after bidding a fond adieu to our next-door neighbors and checking three times to make absolutely certain that the door was locked, the Minnow set sail.  Of course, first we had to stop by and pick-up my aunt and cousin who would be joining us on our three-hour cruise, so it would be yet another hour and a half before we truly set sail.  I could actually hear my father grinding his teeth.  Dad, you really need to switch to decaf.  When it comes to bags and baggage, I’ve always been one to over pack – just like my mother.  Yes, it is good to be prepared and there were times when we needed a light jacket, but a snow brush would be a bit much in July.  I suppose most of us are like this in terms of our Faith.  We so often focus on all those things that we supposedly need, instead of realizing all that we don’t.  My father knew that in the desolate outback of the Wildwoods, one could find not only beaches and boardwalks, but washing machines, supermarkets, and even toy stores.  All of us need to pack less especially in our baggage fee world of today.  In terms of our Faith, there have always been “baggage fees.”  Save money, time, and effort!  Get rid of the excess!  Get rid of the things not needed!  Get rid of all the unnecessary baggage in your life!  Jesus is Captain of the boat and it’s not a three-hour tour, but an eternal one that brings us to the shores of Heaven.  As great an effort and unnerving as it can be to pack, perhaps it’s the “unpacking” that’s even more difficult and yet more necessary.  Besides, it’s all quickly forgotten when one arrives at the shore late on a warm summer day and witnesses a beautiful sunset over the bay with wife and son by your side.

Peace!

     Fr. Wilson

Pentecost: It's Why I Believe

Well folks, I might as well come right out with and finally say it, and maybe you have already figured it out, but I tend to be a rather skeptical person. I definitely would fall into the “trust but verify” category.   It is not my normal way to just accept things, especially those things that seem to defy reason and logic without at least some kind of serious scrutinizing on my part.  In my late teens and young adulthood, which is probably at least somewhat typical, I did not know what I believed; I wasn’t even sure if I believed in God. I questioned pretty much every thing. And I truly questioned the Resurrection; I was not impressed by the fact that the stone was rolled away or even that Jesus’ body was not there.  I mean, really, if you were Mary Magdalen, would those circumstances have led you to conclude that Jesus was alive? I don’t think so.  Than we get into the eyewitness accounts, and while they do give more substance, I probably would still remain a doubting Thomas. I mean, after all, like Thomas thought, if the other apostles had seen the risen Jesus, then why did they stay locked in the Upper room?  As a matter of fact, they stayed in that room until guess when?  Pentecost would be the answer.  I have no doubt something really big and really special happened on that day. And whatever it was that did happen put their hearts on fire and allowed them to change the world and literally bring us to the faith today.  I have no other explanation for what happened after Pentecost, except that the apostles were literally transformed on that day.  It is pretty clear that they were going nowhere before Pentecost happened. But after Pentecost there was nowhere they didn’t go. Furthermore, it only makes sense that what they proclaimed was the truth and the inspired Word.  For me, Pentecost, is what makes it all make sense. Just look at what didn’t happen before and what did happen after.  I challenge any one to come up with another explanation.  The long and the short of it is that because of Pentecost I believe, and it just might be why you believe as well.

Father Maloney's Pastor's Corner [5/12/24]

With today’s celebration of the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we find ourselves between the time when Jesus has left His mission completely up to His Apostles, and before they were fully empowered by the Spirit to accomplish that mission.  That will not come until Pentecost.

For now, it is good for us to reflect on what Jesus says to us today:  “Holy Father, I pray not only for my disciples, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” It seems to me as if what the Lord is saying is that if His teaching and presence to us on this earth are to be of any enduring value, they must be put at the service of the Lord’s will to bring all people together in faith in God the Father, so that the world may know that the Father has sent the Son, and that the Father loves all of us just as He loves His own Son. 

Right here, right now, we need to ask ourselves in a very practical way how the Lord’s gift to us can help us to accomplish the mission that the Lord has put before us. To help us to answer this question we need to look no further than the Words that Jesus will speak to us next week on Pentecost Sunday: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words.”

Yes, it always comes down to this: loving Jesus means keeping His commandments. Any accomplishment that we achieve through the grace of God is fulfilled when we give to it the purpose of helping us to better keep His commandments and love Him, which by definition means to love all people as one in union with the Father and the Son.  We do need to ponder this truth, and even be awestruck by it, but at the same time we need to understand one of the lessons of the Ascension. 

Of course, the apostles were completely dazzled and utterly speechless as they saw Jesus ascend into heaven, but they were soon brought back to earth by the words of the angels who said to them:  “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up at the sky?”  While we must reflect on the awesomeness of God and His message and His commands and how they relate directly to our accomplishments, we must not fall into the trap of admiring and marveling at Jesus so much that we forget to follow Him, that we forget that we must do what He does.  As Jesus forgives, we must forgive; as Jesus heals, we must be agents of healing; as He loves, we must love. When we get caught between the Ascension and Pentecost, we cannot allow ourselves to become so awestruck by the glory of God that it prevents us from doing His will.  Instead of just “standing there” we need to do His will, in the faith that the Spirit of Pentecost is right around the corner.

John 15:11 (5/05/24)

I know that I have said this many times before, but this is truly one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.”  And this time I can prove it; this is the verse that I chose to have printed on my ordination holy card 33 years ago.  You might say that this verse is my “John 3:16.”  Why this verse, you might ask, out of all the others?  Well I suppose it is because, at least to me, this verse expresses very clearly the desire that is so much in Jesus’ heart-that His joy might indeed be our joy.  Isn’t that a wonderful concept? He wants His joy to be our joy and he wants our joy to be complete.  That is what he so desires for us; it is why He says everything He says; it is why He does everything He does; it is why He died on the cross-so that we might be full of joy.  At the time of my ordination I felt that these words expressed what needs to be at the heart of the mission and ministry of the priest; to express Jesus’ desire that all people might be full of true joy and to be agents of spreading the joy of Jesus to everyone.  To this day, I try, albeit very imperfectly, to use these words as a guide to all my thoughts, all my words, and all my actions. The priest is called to strive to be a bridge which allows people to have access to Jesus. To me, that’s what these words are all about. Of course, however, these words are not just meant for priests. They are meant for all of us. They teach us that Jesus’ primary purpose is to help us experience His joy. That is what it is all about- not sin, not suffering, not death, but joy-His joy.  But not only does He want His joy to be ours, He needs us to spread His joy to everyone. And the way that we do that is to live as if we believe it. If we believe that Jesus wants His joy to be ours, and live as such, then indeed we will spread His joy to others and our joy will be complete.

Love Lives. Love Accepts. Love Challenges (4/28/24)

Jesus, of course is the perfect personification of the love of God the Father, rose from the dead-on Easter Sunday and lives eternally. But Jesus is not only the embodiment of love.  He is the embodiment of love in action. Jesus is love in action.  He is perpetually acting in a loving way. He loves everyone exactly as they are, whether, it is the woman caught in adultery, the rich young man, Nicodemus, the man born blind, the ten lepers, etc. He accepts everyone, He accepts, us exactly as He finds us. But He does not stop there; love does not stop there.  He loves us as we are but then He calls us forth just as He called Lazarus forth from the tomb. He forgave the adulterous woman but then commanded her to sin no more. He looked at the rich young man with love but then challenged him to give his wealth to the poor. Love is accepting; but because love is love it is not satisfied with leaving us stagnant. Jesus loves us where we are and because He does He calls us, He challenges us to change, not to remain the same. Jesus calls to “Remain in His love,” and we cannot do this if we remain the same, we have to move, we have to grow and change if we are going to follow Him.  That is what the image of the vine and the branches is all about. He is the vine, we are the branches. Our challenge is to remain with Him, to stay connected with Him so that we might bear much fruit. This means that we have to change, that we have to be pruned so that we might become more like Him. If we do not change and grow with Him we will wither away.  Love lives. Love accepts. Love challenges. 

Father's Pastor's Corner 4-21-24

If we lived in Israel at the time of Jesus, we would instantly relate to what Jesus told us today in the Gospel. Sheep were the people’s main source of meat, milk and cheese. They provided wool for clothing. And they were regularly used for sacrifice in their liturgy. If I were to try to think of something in our culture today that would be similar to the relationship of a shepherd to his sheep, the best comparison I can come up with is a mother who needs to care for several toddlers. Just as toddlers depend on their mother’s care, the sheep depend on the care of their shepherd, and the shepherd, who usually, had dozens of sheep, is kept busy all hours of every day. Today’s Gospel makes reference to an activity that was part of the shepherd’s daily routine. Each night, a number of shepherds would come together with their sheep and put them in a common pen. Then they would sleep as one shepherd would stay awake to guard against thieves or predatory animals. In the morning, each shepherd would call out for his own sheep to follow him to pasture. The sheep knew the voice of their own shepherd and would follow only his voice when they were called and would ignore the calls of the other shepherds. Remember, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. Some people are offended to hear themselves compared to sheep. Maybe that’s because they don’t realize they need God’s constant care at all times and not just when they become aware that they have problems or are in need. We live in a society where everyone is trying to get our attention. We constantly are bombarded with commercials, information and pseudo information on radio, TV, internet, social media, as well with all kinds of signs, posters and billboards all over highways, streets and buildings trying to catch our eye. Sometimes, we have a tendency to simply follow the latest message we’ve heard, or sometimes, because we hear so many messages, we might be tempted to just follow the crowd. However, if we want to follow Jesus, we have to be able to hear and to recognize His voice, from among the many that are competing for our attention. We have to make a conscious effort to shut out all kinds of other noises so that we can listen to Him. If we don’t do so, we can easily lose touch with Him. More than ever, we must be intentional and proactively seek out His voice. We need to take time to be quiet, to be still, to pray, so that we can stay in touch with the Good Shepherd. Our Lord does not want to lose any of us. He wants us to be with Him forever. He wants to wipe away every tear from our eyes. He leads us through this very celebration each day and each week. Sheep may not be the most intelligent creatures, but they are smart enough to know that they need their shepherd and to recognize His voice and to seek it out. May we also be intelligent enough to know that we need Jesus and smart enough to recognize His voice so that He might lead us through the present time to the eternal pasture of Heaven.

"You are Witnesses of These Things" [04/14/24]

And so the disciples who had just left Jerusalem, who were returning home to Emmaus, who were about to try to figure out the next direction their lives would take after the death of Jesus, suddenly found themselves back in Jerusalem speaking to the 11 Apostles about the amazing experience they had just had.  As they were walking along, they encountered someone they thought was a stranger, someone with whom they were so enamored that they begged him to stay with them for their evening meal. Finally, when He broke bread at their table, they realized that He was no stranger at all but that He was Jesus risen from the dead! But as soon as they recognized Him, He vanished from their midst.  At this point they could think of nothing else but to quickly get back to Jerusalem and tell the Apostles.  That is how it’s like when we have had a true experience of Jesus, isn’t it? All we can think of is to tell other people.  And while they were recounting their story to the 11 Jesus appeared in their midst.  He (Jesus) did His best to put everything He ever said or did in perspective for them and then left them with these beautiful words: “You are witnesses of these things.” Those are great words, wonderful words, aren’t they? But then again, on second thought are they not much more than just that? Do you think that Jesus would come back from the dead and visit His disciples simply to say nice things to them, or whisper sweet nothings in their ears? I think not!  I can almost hear my mother exclaiming, “Not for nothin’!”  Folks, the more I think about it, the more I cannot help but think that those words are not merely a nice statement of the obvious-they are a command. Jesus did not suffer and die and rise for us just so we could live “happily ever after” (besides that’s very boring anyway) or bask eternally in the knowledge that we are witnesses. He did so, so that He would have witnesses to spread His good news. Being a witness is not something that we are; it’s something that we do-it is a tremendous responsibility.  We are witnesses of Him. So just don’t sit or stand there, go out and proclaim through your words and deeds that Jesus Christ is risen.

Are Your Doors Locked? [04-07-24]

So here we are, celebrating the Second Sunday of Easter, the Sunday within the octave of Easter, the Sunday also known as “Mercy Sunday,” and, as per usual, we hear the story of “Doubting Thomas” and we know how that story goes.  The Apostles were locked in the Upper Room for fear of the Jews, the Romans and whatever else might be “out there.” But I don’t think that’s all they were afraid of. I think they were also afraid of what was inside as well. I think they were afraid of what was in their hearts, of the future, of who they were, and how they would go on, even if what was currently “out there” was no longer out there.  Remember, each one of them, with the exception of John, had betrayed Jesus, they failed to stand beside Him in His hour of need. I am pretty sure that a lot of soul searching was going on. I am pretty sure that, yes, they were scared, but I bet they also were pretty remorseful, pretty sorry, pretty regretful, pretty down on themselves. And so the doors were locked. Do we ever do that? Do we ever lock the doors of our hearts, of our souls, perhaps because partially we are afraid of what’s “out there,” but maybe even more so because of the regret that’s already in our hearts to the point where we just can’t take any more?  I am pretty sure that we do, I am pretty sure that many of us have done this, that many of us are doing it right now, and that many of us will do it again. But that’s where the lesson of this Second, Sunday of Easter, this “Doubting Thomas” Sunday, this Mercy Sunday comes in. Although the doors were locked we are told that Jesus came and stood in their midst. That’s what He did for the disciples, and that’s what He does for us. Imagine, their amazement, but also imagine there shame and their fear because of their guilt?  But what does He bring?  “Peace be with you,” He says to them. He brings mercy and forgiveness and gives them a mission- to forgive the sins of all. That’s what He brings to us, and to our locked hearts. Peace, Mercy, Forgiveness and New Purpose. Amazingly and Unbelievably… Are your doors locked?  They might be able to keep the bad guys out there, but take heart, they won’t be able to keep Jesus out, not if you long for Him.

He is Risen...and He Reigns - Easter Sunday 2024

Good morning everyone and welcome to Saint Aloysius where we are all gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday and the two tremendous and life saving truths of our faith:  He is risen and He reigns.

He is Risen!  What a glorious truth of our faith indeed!  But on what basis do we believe? Or do we believe?  Do we really believe?  During these next few weeks we will hear several eyewitness accounts who saw Jesus after His death but there are no such reports here on Easter Sunday.  In today’s gospel Mary Magdalen did not see Jesus and it never entered her mind that He rose from the dead. She saw an empty tomb. Peter saw exactly the same thing and a resurrection did not occur to him either. John, however, witnessed the very same scene as did Peter and Mary but he saw and “believed” that Jesus was alive.  Why?  Because he saw two neatly placed burial cloths. His faith told him that if thieves had stolen Jesus’ body they would not have gone through the trouble of tearing the cloths, which would have adhered to the body because of the burial oils, and neatly folded them.  And, undoubtedly, the cloths would have had to have been ripped into many pieces and could not have remained in two singular pieces.  We can believe in Jesus’ Resurrection today because in the midst of the “messiness” of our regular ordinary lives Jesus leaves signs, i.e. his neatly folded burial cloths, every where and primarily in the love and goodness that we receive from others. For us though, we need to believe so that we can see. I actually believe that is how it happened with John as well. I think that it is because he believed already that He “saw” that Jesus was alive even though he did not see Jesus in the flesh. Once we believe that Jesus is alive we can truly rejoice and strive through our joy and holiness of life to allow others to believe.  But there is more to it than that. This is not the ending, this is only the beginning. There is no ‘happily ever after” because this is not a fairy tale.  And thank God it isn’t. “Happily-ever-afters” are so very boring, and if there is one thing Jesus is not He is not boring.  After His resurrection, He doesn’t just live happily ever after He reigns over heaven and earth.  He judges us based on our lives on earth. So, the good news is that because Jesus conquers death we will all live eternally. But it is also true that we will face a judgment.  Truly, it might have been easier for Lazarus to have remained in the tomb. Sometimes the thought of a judgment which has eternal implications is pretty scary to me. Because I just know I wouldn’t make the grade of my own accord.  And I hate to tell you this but I don’t know if any of you would make the grade either.  But, don’t fret, there is more good news. In the First Reading, St. Peter says this: “everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name.”  This means that those who believe in Him will be judged by God the Father in Jesus Christ. So, because Jesus is alive, we have eternal life, and He becomes our judge. That’s why we’re all here today, folks. So, the question is do we believe and live as we believe or do we take a chance at being judged, not in Jesus Christ, but on our own merits?  I know where I stand on that one, I can tell you that!  Remember, He is Risen and He reigns! Alleluia!

Holy Week at Saint Aloysius - DO NOT MISS IT. [03-24-24]

Believe it or not, it is Palm Sunday, 2024!  We are about, once again to enter into holiest of all weeks of the year, as we begin by commemorating the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His Passion. Next Sunday of course, we will celebrate His Resurrection. But what about all the days in between-remember it is “Holy Week”; it is made up of seven days, not just one or two. Our invitation and challenge are to make sure that we do not miss it, that we accept the invitation and challenge of Jesus to walk with Him from the time of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through His sorrowful passion to His joyful Resurrection.  I firmly believe that here at Saint Aloysius Parish you will have ample opportunity to do just that.  Of course, we will begin by participating in today’s celebration of the Mass of Palm Sunday. Note that we are invited to leave from Mass in silence as a sign of the fact that we are beginning the most solemn journey with Jesus through the holiest of weeks. Perhaps you would consider participating in our 8:30AM Masses on Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday mornings so that you might continue walking with Jesus as He moves closer and closer to the Upper Room and Gethsemane.  On Monday [3/25] and Wednesday [3/27] evenings will be the last opportunities to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter at 6:30 PM in church.  Please note this is your last chance to receive the sacrament before Easter.  Then, on Holy Thursday we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 PM. Join us as we present the newly blessed sacramental oils, celebrate once again with Jesus the Last Supper, the First Mass, the institution of the Eucharist and of the Priesthood.  At the end of Mass, we will process the Blessed Sacrament down Hanover Street and back into the Gather Center to the Altar of Repose which will be located where the Sacred Heart statue now stands.  As the Triduum continues we will commemorate Christ’s passion and death with the celebration of Morning Prayer on Good Friday at 8:30 AM.  Adoration will continue throughout the day until our Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 PM.  This is an absolutely moving service which includes the most powerful ritual of the veneration of the Cross.  On Holy Saturday morning at 8:30 AM you may bring your Easter food to be blessed within the celebration of Morning Prayer.  Then we wait with heartfelt expectation for the blessing of the Easter Fire at 8:00 PM on the evening of Holy Saturday [3/30] as we begin the Easter Vigil and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.  As you can see, this is indeed the holiest of weeks.  Do not miss it! 

Greek Salad, Anyone? [03-17-24]

In our Gospel passage for today, the 5th Sunday of Lent, the last Sunday before Palm Sunday (can you believe it?), we hear a story that is presented only by John.  It is the story of some Greek Jews who were in Jerusalem for the Passover who expressed their desire to see Jesus to Phillip.  Now by this point, folks, we should know that we are in for some kind of very special teaching.  We are coming up against the mystery of the Passion and Jesus now has the opportunity to speak to these, probably very well educated, visitors from Greece, who are always interested in wisdom and learning.  So, what is he going to serve them and us?  Well, here is some of what He says:  "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.  The Father will honor whoever serves me.”  That certainly is a mouthful, is it not?  Some of the most profound teachings that Jesus ever gave us were first served up to these Greek visitors.  Jesus is saying nothing less than, that He is about to be glorified-on the cross; that if we want to live our lives to the fullest, we must first lay them down; that if we endure all kind of suffering in this life for Him, we will enjoy eternal life with Him; and that the Father will honor whoever serves Him.  I know how I feel as I try to fully comprehend all that Jesus is saying in these few lines even though I have heard them so many times before; can you imagine how His Greek guests must have reacted upon hearing it for the first time?  I wonder if Jesus advised them to allow themselves a little extra time to digest what He had just served them.  Actually, that’s still some pretty good for us today. We are, after all, only a week away from Palm Sunday.