Showing posts with label guest post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest post. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Jesus, Nets, Decisions, and the Holy Spirit

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2016:

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2016

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
February 7, 2016

Every day we are faced with thousands of decisions. Many of which are of little importance. While others can impact the rest of our lives.

For us, as disciples of Christ, they are all a part of the central decision to follow Jesus above all else. At times, it can feel overwhelming, especially when those very consequential decisions have to be made and we don't know what's best, or where God is leading us. But, thanks be to God, we are not left to make these decisions completely on our own.

In fact, it's when we tried to make those decisions without turning to God and seeking his guidance that life becomes particularly difficult. On the other hand, when we take time for prayer and discernment, asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and trying to follow him, while making our decisions, our life could very will be filled with difficult decisions, but can still be very peaceful, because we know we aren't on our own.

For those first disciples whom Jesus called to follow him, a very concrete decision had to be made. Before the call even came, we hear the account of Jesus in Simon's boat. He gives a command, clear and simple yet challenging: "put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch." They have been working hard on night, and, after all, this is their profession, not Jesus' , so human reasoning could respond with skepticism at this man who thinks he knows better.

We could easily imagine Simon responding, "we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing ... I'm not going to do it again." But that's not what he says. Instead he replies, "at your command, I will lower the nets." And what happens? A miraculous catch of fish more abundant than the Nets could hold. Simon immediately recognizes the power of this man before him, and, in the astonishment at the miracle says, "depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." He recognizes his own unworthiness, and, perhaps, there was some doubt in his mind that he's now ashamed of. The decision to do something as mundane as lowering the nets once again gave this man the ability to make the crucial decision to leave everything and to follow Jesus.

So we might ask, "how do I do that?" We are here because we've already made the decision to follow Jesus, but that decision isn't a one time thing. It's something we've got to keep doing. Consider just one thing God gives us to help us make that decision. If something - or, more precisely, seven things - you probably had to memorize somewhere along the way. They're the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they aren't just something we had to learn to pass a test. They're central to understanding how God continues to guide us through life. For those first disciples, it was the Holy Spirit to enable them to recognize Jesus and respond to his call, and today the Holy Spirit continues to inspire us if we are willing to receive them.

Consider again the decision Simon had to make. No human wisdom told him it was the right thing to do. Rather, the Holy Spirit, through his gifts of Wisdom and Understanding, moved Simon to respond the way he did, "Master ... at your command, I will lower the Nets." And his response upon catching the great number of fish wasn't only a natural surprise, it was the fear of the Lord that made him fall to his knees before the God-man, the same one before whom the seraphim cry out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts!" And when the disciples made the decision to leave everything and follow Jesus, they were assured the gift of Counsel to see that it was the right decision, and the gift the Fortitude to follow through with it. They required Knowledge to receive the words, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men," and Piety to humbly submit themselves to God's will. In all of this, it was not human insight alone that guided them. It was the Holy Spirit alive within them.

We, too, have received a call from Jesus Christ to follow him, the decisions we make each day is either to keep following him, or to go our own way, but we don't even do that alone. He continues to give us the Holy Spirit to guide us each day. God gives us Wisdom to see the world as he sees it; Counsel to know right from wrong, and Understanding to know ourselves truly; Knowledge to understand the mysteries of God; and Fear of the Lord to adore in awe before him; Piety to place our trust in him; and Fortitude to strengthen us along the way. In all things he guides us, so that we, like those he first called, by the shore of Galilee, can continue to follow him.

So y'all be good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always using words and holy actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, December 20, 2015

"Blessed are You Who Believe"

Fourth Sunday of Advent, 2015:

Fourth Sunday of Advent, 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
December 20, 2015

"Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
[Luke 1:45]
We all like to get our way. Okay, I won't speak for everyone. So let me rephrase that, 99.9% of us like to get our way as often as possible (myself included of course). Okay, I don't really know the exact number, but my guess is, it's pretty high. From a very early age we start striving to make sure that our wants are being met (even long after we start realizing that others have needs, wants and feelings too). And so, we grab toys away from other kids. We beg mom and dad to make our favorite food for dinner. We want to have absolute control of the TV. (Who can stand those shows adults watch anyway?) And we cry and throw tantrums when things don't go our way. (But I don't want to go to bed now!)

And unfortunately for many of us it doesn't stop as we grow older. It just continues. Oh, don't get me wrong, we don't want it to be too obvious. We're way too smart for that. And so we do our best to disguise our deep desire to get our own way by compromising and giving in from time to time (so that we don't look like big jerks).

But if we are being totally honest, many of us secretly hope our wants and desires get met. And so, will do things like try to convince our teacher to give us a true false or multiple-choice test rather than one that requires an essay. And we don't like it when our parents won't allow us to throw a party for our friends or won't buy us the latest expensive gadget. We want our boss to use our ideas in the workplace and not someone else's. We want to pick the movie when were going out on date night (and choose the restaurant beforehand!). We want our family vacation destination to be our choice alone. We want the final parenting decisions (such as discipline) to be ours -- and not the other way around. (I know the best way to handle kids, right?) And we certainly want to get to pick the car we want to buy for the family. That's a given, the list could go on and on and on.
"Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
[Luke 1:45]
That's Elizabeth speaking to Mary as we just heard in our Gospel passage from Luke. What an incredible beautiful (and wise) sentiment! Elizabeth is expressing something that lies at the heart of living a faith-filled, grace filled life.

And it is this: true blessings arise not only from the utter graciousness of God, but in cooperation with the human heart that is willing to believe, to trust, to hope, and to surrender fully to God's way. Mary was profoundly blessed (and passed that blessing onto the world) not simply because she heard God or knew what He was asking of her, but because she trusted enough to accept and embrace the path God had laid out for her.

Mary knew that God's way is always the best way. And she was more than okay with not getting her own way. It doesn't even seem to have been a consideration.
"Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
[Luke 1:45]
Had Mary chosen "her way" things might have been much, much different. Think for a minute. If she would have chosen for herself (considering only her own needs, concerns and wants) -- would she have wanted to be pregnant and unmarried? Would she have wanted potentially to face a lifetime of ridicule and gossip and shame? Would she have wanted to risk being beaten or stoned? Would she have wanted her motherhood to start out with so many questions, uncertainties, and worries?

Would she have wanted the child whose life was probably going to be unlike that of any other child ever born, a child whose life would lead down paths she could never even imagine? I think we know the answer. But that wasn't what was important to Mary.

It shouldn't be for us either.

Advent is rapidly coming to an end. In a few days we will once again welcome the Lord Jesus into the world, into our hearts, into our lives. And our God comes to us not simply for a visit, not simply for a short time, but to be with us always. He wants to dwell with us and within us-- shaping all that we say and do. And He wants to speak to us in the deepest recesses of our hearts, wants to invite us to help Him in his sacred work -- wants us to help Him shower the world with love and mercy and compassion and generosity. Put simply, God is going to be asking a lot of us-- as he does each and every day. Too often (sadly) we hear-- but don't listen, hear -- but don't act, -- hear but don't have the courage to put our wants and desires far behind those of our loving God.

And so we look to the Blessed Mother as an example for us all-- a woman who had enough faith to hear God speaking to her through an Angel, a woman who had enough trust to say, yes, to whatever God was asking of her, and a woman who hoped deeply and confidently in God's promises. Elizabeth saw in her, just how blessed Mary was for listening to God and saying yes to Him. May we do the same each and every day.

The Father does know Best!

So you all be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always using Words and Holy Actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Mother — When mamma prays

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2015:

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
August 30, 2015 (and following Sundays)

I have titled this homily, "Mother" with a subtitle, "When mama prays".

We are taught in our class on Homiletics that we are to take from Scripture the basis to our homilies. This will be a little difficult this weekend because this homily was prepared for last week's readings. But nevertheless we can take from this Gospel reading the last two sentences, "They were exceedingly astonished and they said, he has done all things well. He makes the deaf to hear and the mute speak". This fits the purpose of my homily this way. If we are to be other Christ's in the world should we not do as he did? When mama prays.

Jumping back to last week reading from the same Gospel, how the Jews traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. Which reminds me of the story that my mother told of working for a Jewish family in the Twin Cities before she was married and how she had one time used a meat knife to cut butter, the man of the house was quite horrified and took a tea kettle of hot water to scald that knife back to purity.

Mother also taught us when we were very young how they used to pray the rosary in Bluffton, in German. They would insert in the Hail Mary a few words reflecting on the mystery that they were praying. An example would go something like this: Hail Mary full grace the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, .... who was announced, would be the first of joyful mysteries, .... holy Mary mother of God......... this little insert in the Hail Mary helps to keep our minds on the mystery that we are praying and it can be used for all of the 20 mysteries of the rosary including the new Luminary Mysteries. When mama prays.

My Agnes is gone for me now 11 years as of last week. Her claim to fame was and is that she is a mother. Good wife as well she told father Andrew shortly before she died that she was happy that Lawrence was a Deacon it would give them something to do. The first Christmas after her death we found enough of her rosaries to give each one of the grandchildren a rosary along with one that stays by my chair. When mama prays!

A week ago Thursday when we were at Mass at St. Paul's we found it to be the feast day of St. Monica. Her claim to fame, was as much that she was a mother but more so a mother who prays. She was born in North Africa, a Christian married to a pagan, yet it is said, that she remain faithful and was concerned that all of the Christian values were made prominent in her home. She had three children, one to be St. Augustine, which is a story in itself but most important is Monica prayed for her husband and her children, for 17 years. Finally her husband and Augustine embraced the Catholic faith. When mama prays.

A week ago Tuesday when we where at Mass at St. Paul's we saw all these women arrayed in front of us. Yes, there were a few man but for the most part all women representing Holy Family School. More than anything else every women there, was and are mothers, whether maternal or spiritual, who have taken on the responsibility of teaching our children. Taken now from the second reading of St. James, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself undefiled by the world." How easy it would be to add to this passage the instruction of our little ones. When mama prays.

When I would teach my seventh graders concerning the Corporal and Spiritual works of Mercy I would use their mothers as the prime example: we don't have time for everything but let's take a look at the Corporal works of Mercy as relates to mother. Who feeds you when you're hungry? Who gave you to drink when you are thirsty, who clothes your nakedness, who provide you shelter, who visited you when you were sick, who came to you when you were imprisoned in your crib our playpen? And how many mothers have had to bury their own children? When mama prays!

With the Spiritual works of Mercy we find mother converting the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries, and praying for the living and the dead. Why does mother go through all this torment and pain to instruct her little ones, the simplest answer to all of this is that mothers know full well, instinctively, that they are to one day populate heaven along with their children. When mama prays!

We think today of St. Faustina, a spiritual mother to all of us and who spent her entire life interceding before the throne of the Merciful Jesus on our behalf.

When mama prays!

We can think of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton a mother of five and yet founding the first Native American religious community for women the Sisters of Charity and opened parish schools and Catholic orphanages. When mama prays!

We could go on and on remembering all the mothers in Heaven who still Pray for us because they wish for us to join them! When mama prays!

Finally we take a look at Mary the mother of Jesus and our Spiritual Mother, not because she is the last on the list but because she is a total example of motherhood, who taught her Son to pray and for sure she taught in the Psalms. She joined her Son in His Passion and Death, and as prophecy would dictate a sword of sorrow pierced her Miraculous Heart. Even though she must have received word from her Son that at the appointed time they would be together in Heaven and she would be crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, nevertheless seeing her Son suffer so, must've nearly broken her heart and maybe did. Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us!

I speak now, not only of mothers, but dads and children as well! The one assurance we have, here, as family is to gather around the altar of God, really not only on Sunday but as often as possible, again for a simple reason, there is no greater happening on Earth than what takes place on this altar. There is nothing more beneficial to our community, nation and world then what happens right here in a few moments from now.

Now in part the reason for this homily, is titled when mama prayed, by Randy Travis. [Deacon Kaas explained that one of his granddaughters, my daughter, often played guitar and sang when visiting. A favorite song on these occasions is "When Mama Prayed." — B. H. Gill]

So you all be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always using Words and Holy Actions!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, May 31, 2015

The Trinity, Baptism, and Eternal Life

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, 2015:

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 31, 2015

Today is Trinity Sunday, a Solemnity we celebrate throughout the Catholic world.

Our challenge is to try to put form to the idea of three persons in one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are taught that the Father is the Creator, and at the Word of the Father we have His only Son, with the Love of the Father and Son we have the Holy Spirit. We are also taught that the three persons of God are One. By the way, if you can figure this all out give me a call cause I want to know.

Quite a number of years ago even before I was ordained I either read or heard of a hypothesis that makes sense. And have meditated much on this idea since. It goes something like this.

God, who created all things and has given each of us a body, whether that body is human, an animal's or even plant's. That gives us a good start, at the bottom of the Trinitarian ladder. This idea goes on to claim that each of us whether human, animal or plant are gifted with a soul. Now we might shudder a little bit but hear me out. By this hypothesis the soul gives form and animates the body. Here is where there becomes a distinction between humans and the rest of God's creation. For in order for us to hold to the idea of eternal life there has to be an intimate relationship with the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, that is the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that gives life to the soul.

To clarify: every living thing on earth that has been created by Almighty God will completely return to dust, except the soul of man that has been gifted of the Holy Spirit. The final gift of the Holy Spirit given to man then is the restoration of his body at the end of the world.

I'm sure some of you already thinking, there is something missing? And you are right! The missing factor here is Baptism. In order to give eternal life to the soul one must be Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Sacrament of Baptism fills out this hypothesis that could easily be summed up again as: the body created by God is animated by the soul which is given life by the Holy Spirit.

A point to be made about baptism: when we are baptized we are made sons and daughters of the Father with the same hereditary right of his firstborn Son. The point here is to understand that this is our right, given by the sacrament, the right to everything that belongs to the son now belongs to the new baptized. That is Eternal Life. And of course it's good to remind the adult that it is sin that destroys this beautiful gift granted at baptism and can be restored by a good confession.

To my way of seeing things this completes the Trinitarian comparison between God's creation of man and his own Trinitarian life.

I'm not trying to tell you that this is the only way to look at our relationship with the Trinity but I think it's certainly worth our meditation!

So you all be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel using Words and Holy Actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Bible Stories and Anonymous Christians

Fourth Sunday of Easter, 2015:

Fourth Sunday of Easter, 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
April 26, 2015

Most of us tune out stories we've heard repeatedly. If it's from an old friend you may hear them say, once again, "did I ever tell you about the time", and on goes the story. Inwardly we may even groan a little bit knowing how long this story will last. It's a little different watching TV because if we don't like the story we can change the channel. We may even ask one of our children to find a different story than the one you've been reading to them, it seems like 50 times.

Maybe even some of the Bible stories can impact us in this way: they're just too familiar to engage our full attention. As a lectionary-based church with fixed readings every Sunday of the year, we don't have the option of changing channel. What helps is to hear in an old story, even a Bible story, the little hidden details. Sometimes we can pose questions to ourselves as to the hidden meanings of some of the Scripture passages. For example: the good Shepherd story of today, --- let's forget the hired man, the sheep, and the Wolf. We know the Wolf will attack, the hired help will bolt, and the vulnerable sheep are in danger. These characters played to a type that is predictable, as in the movie, the bad guy moves in for the kill, the working stiff saves himself, and the victim is exposed.

The good Shepherd, meanwhile, does the courageous thing: he risks his life for the sheep that belong to him. In the movie version, we would expect this too: the hero would put himself or herself in harms way because someone is in need. We expect the hero to win, or it wouldn't be a satisfying movie. Yet sometimes the hero dies in rescuing the vulnerable one. While this makes the ending bittersweet, self-sacrifice is a recognizable part of the code of good storytelling.

The most curious detail in the story isn't about the wolf, the hired man, the flock, or even the Shepherd's sacrifice. It's about those other sheep that don't belong to this fold. The sacrifice of Jesus isn't just for the flock in plain sight, but for these mysterious others too. Scholars have identified the mysterious sheep as future believers---like us. Before we were born, Jesus accepted death for our sake. These others, however, might also be the non-Jewish Christians who came to faith after the time of Jesus. The mission of Jesus was mostly limited to his fellow Jews in his lifetime, the church evolved into a church of Gentiles in ages to come.

It is also possible the other sheep referred to, were believers who, even during the time when this gospel was written were sharing the faith of the apostles, it could also include the divergent ways of the Johannine community. Important too, the other sheep could include other groups, those Carl Rahner called anonymous Christians who live Christ-like lives outside the boundaries of formal church. The good shepherd may, well have, plenty of flocks we haven't suspected yet.

We must remember that Jesus came to find and save the lost!

So you all be good, be holy, preached the gospel always using words and holy actions!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Jesus Christ is Risen!

Easter Sunday 2015:

Easter Sunday 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
April 5, 2015

Jesus Christ is risen! This means that life takes on a new horizon. Have you ever thought of yourself as immortal? Have you ever considered that you have "forever" to live? The resurrection from the death of Jesus casts a new light on our human existence. No longer are we bound by finite ends. Our life has an all new endless and brilliant horizon, and we come to share in this new resurrected and glorious horizon gifted us by Christ Jesus through our baptism.

In baptism, we are born into the resurrected life of Jesus Christ, a life that knows no end, no boundaries. Death has no more hold on us. Yes, we still died, but that is not the end of our life. For not only will our souls live on past our death, but our bodies and souls will be reunited and resurrected from the grave on to the glory that we have already seen in Jesus the firstborn of the dead. With this faith, we come to find that urgencies and anxieties that death can put upon our desires for a life come to fade to nothingness as we now see that we have a "forever" to existence---meaning, for all that we could ever yearn.

Sin, likewise, loses its tempting appeal. Sins' allure, makes us believe that it can fulfill our every need in the here and now, and that there will be no greater opportunity to be so fulfilled in the future. The resurrection of Christ Jesus shows us the folly of this allure, unraveling its false logic. The resurrection shows us the opportunity for an endless future of glory and fulfillment, and that the present is not the only opportunity we ever have to satiate our desires. For there is truly a great and majestic glory that awaits all who persevere in Christ Jesus, and with faith, put their hope and a future filled with all the love one could ever desire.

The resurrection gives us our freedom to decide our life's direction, unencumbered by the insidious snares of the devil. The death of Jesus-- just like the death of those who have gone on before us, and who fought so that we may have freedom-- bestows a great and inevitable dignity on our liberty to make choices in regards the direction of our life. It begs the question: "what do we use our freedom for, that was purchased at such a great price?" Furthermore, the resurrection of Christ shows us a great light to guide us in our choices. It shows us a glimmer of the glory that awaits when we use our freedom to embrace, not the fading allurements of the present but an endless glory of resplendent beauty in the future.

The glory of Easter is a future glory. It calls us to wait for fulfillment, to use our freedom to choose the greatest good-- a good that lies not in any temptation before our eyes at present, but for a beauty that can only be attained through holy patient. Easter freedom is a freedom for a better tomorrow. It is, therefore, as an Easter people-- by virtue of our baptism, and nourished in the sacred food of the Eucharist that we journey and live, not for today but for the beauty that awaits!

One last final reflection: Thank God for Easter. We don't have scientific evidence for life beyond the grave, but we do have historical evidence. The respected theologian and author, Wolfhart Pannenberg once said, "the evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: first, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe that it happened, you have to change the way you live."

He's right, of course. The testimony of those who experienced Jesus' resurrection is so compelling that the only real reason a person might reject it is that it might require them to make a change in how they are living. That too is right, of course, of those who reject this knowledge. It is sad, but they are free to reject the good news of Easter if they so choose. As for me, and, I suspect for you, we will leave this church with "hallelujah" ringing in our ears and in our hearts. Jesus is alive, and because he lives we shall live, too. Easter is Gods light beaming into a dark, dark world. Because Jesus lives, the world is brighter than it has ever been before.

So you all be Good, be Holy, preach the Gospel always using words and holy actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Transfiguration: More Than Just a Man

Second Sunday of Lent, 2015:

Second Sunday of Lent, 2015

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
March 1, 2015

This year we hear St. Mark's account of the Transfiguration. The event took place a few weeks before Jesus would travel to Jerusalem to suffer and die. The Transfiguration has a three fold purpose: it was intended for Jesus himself, for the Apostles, and for each of us.

For our Lord, the Transfiguration was His early preparation for His own passion and death. Luke tells us that our Lord was praying, probably in the evening. Then something happens instantaneously: Jesus is "transfigured." His body changes and His clothing becomes "dazzling white." His divine nature, which He has kept carefully hidden until now, shines through His human nature.

Then, Moses and Elijah appear. It was the consistent Jewish belief that when the Messiah appeared, He would be accompanied by these two historical figures. Why them? Because the Jews at the time of Christ believed that Moses and Elijah were the only two people whose bodies had been assumed into the next life. Elijah's body was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. And ancient book, titled "of the Assumption of Moses," it told of the devil trying to use Moses' body for some sinister purpose. As a result, Saint Michael came and snatched Moses' body away from the devil and took it to heaven. In addition, Moses and Elijah stood for things. Moses was the great lawgiver, bringing God's law to men. Elijah was the great prophet, the voice of God providing direction, guidance and wisdom. These two men were the greatest figures in Israel's history, and they came to speak with our Lord during the Transfiguration. They spoke to Jesus of His departure--in Greek, His exodus---which He was to accomplish in Jerusalem. As he approached Jerusalem, the great lawgiver the great prophet appeared to encourage Jesus so that He would completely fulfill all the law-giving and prophecy of the Old Testament.

As God, Jesus needed no encouragement. As man, however, he needed encouragement. His sacrifice, His passion and death, were going to be bloody, and an excruciatingly painful experience. Not even the God-man would want to endure it. These two Old Testament figures came to offer consolation and encouragement for the upcoming trial of His life.

After Moses and Elijah encouraged Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit appears in the cloud. The cloud is one way God frequently appears to people in the Old Testament (remember the cloud that led the Hebrews out of Egypt). In this cloud the Father called Jesus His "beloved son". The cloud, also often represents the holiness.

The Transfiguration was also for the apostles. Peter, James, and John were the leaders of the 12. Jesus will also bring these three closest to him during the agony in the garden. None of the Apostles had been happy, hearing a few days earlier that their Lord was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. They complained about it, to no avail. So Jesus took them up on the mountain to witnesses Transfigured Glory. The Transfiguration gave Peter, James, and John greater insight into who Jesus really was. God the Father told them to listen to Jesus. The Transfiguration also gave these three Apostles hope by providing a window into the future. And they, in turn, reassured the rest of the Apostles about what was to come. Although no one really knew how painful our Lord's agony would be. It would help at the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost--50 days after the Resurrection--that the Apostles really could start to understand everything that happened to Jesus, as to what He had been telling them. Finally, the Transfiguration account is meant for all of us. It shows us that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of everything God did for His people, especially through the law and the prophets of the Jewish religion during the thousands of years between the creation of Adam and Eve, and the Annunciation, at which the Blessed Mother said, "May it be done according to your word."

The Transfiguration teaches us that our Lord Jesus is not just a man, not just the teacher, not just the great moral leader. He is also God, Himself, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, God-in-the-flesh. But as a man, in His human nature, as a human being, He underwent a tremendous sacrifice to die for us so that each of us could share in His life and glory forever, after our earthly lives are ended. He wants to transfigured every one of us, too, if we cooperate with him. So we need to heed the Lords voice, and obey his commands.

We do that by listening, by being active members of his Mystical Body, the Church; by obeying His teachings and morals; by living our faith--the seven Sacraments, especially the Eucharist-- our personal Mt. Tabor experience with prayer, and carrying our crosses with Him. And we don't just do that one day a week, or occasionally when we feel like it, or when it's convenient or easy.

The Transfiguration reminds us that our Catholic religion is not just for special occasions, like Sundays, or when we are in serious need; not just up on the mountain, like midnight Mass at Christmas, Easter Sunday, or an Ordination to the Priesthood. Catholicism is supposed to permeate every part of our lives, and touch everything we say and do. We may fail from time to time, but we have to keep trying to live as Jesus taught.

If we lived by the teachings of Jesus, after our lives on earth are ended, we will get our own Transfiguration. And we are going to change to "dazzling white" like a very bright light, too. We will be beautiful and handsome, without spot, wrinkle, blemish, or any disfigurement; we will be in perfect shape, like an Olympic athlete, only to a greater extent than we can possibly fathom. May the Blessed mother, who bore the light of the world in her womb, pray for us that we will open our minds and hearts to the light. Amen.

So you all be Good, be Holy, preach the Gospel always using words and holy actions and be faithful to the Gospel!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, January 4, 2015

Love, Hate, and "Silent Night"

Epiphany Sunday, 2015:

Epiphany of the Lord, 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
January 4, 2015

Epiphany is still Christmas, especially for all of us who are Gentile. The gifts we have received really do not compare to the greatest gift of all--- the babe of Bethlehem, the word made flesh and dwelt,s amongst us, is the precious Son of the Father.

Music is a part of this special gift, for music is a gift from God. How many of us are put in a mood of joy and hope through music, especially Christmas music. I listened to the sound of music a week 10 days ago and even after hearing it many times it still seemed like the first time. We can even here in our minds, Bing Crosby's White Christmas and if you are on a little more of the low brow side of music you may hear Elvis singing I'll have a blue blue blue Christmas without you.

It is special for me that my granddaughter comes to my house and takes the guitar and sits in the middle of the living room floor and plays and sings, and of course this time of year, Christmas songs.

Psalm 98 was one of the Psalms we heard at Christmas and was Isaac Watts favorite song. In fact he paraphrased the Psalm and put it to music. We know that, as, "Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let Earth receive our King." We are particularly influenced by the last verse, "he rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and the wonders of his love, the wonders of his love."

Now I have three short stories for you and then a question: I'm sure many of you are country music fans and have heard of Travis Tritt. Like many country music stars he spent his early years playing in bars, and he goes on to explain that many of these were dangerous places, with drunks starting fights over the smallest matters.

But he found a unique way to keep the peace in such situations. For he says, any time things get too rowdy, he would begin singing, and playing, "Silent Night." Here's how he puts it, Silent Night proved to be my all time lifesaver just when bar fights start getting out of hand, when bikers are reaching for their pool cues and rednecks were heading for their gun racks, I start playing Silent Night, it could be in the middle of July -- I didn't care. Sometimes, I swear they even started crying, standing there watching me sweat and playing Christmas carols.

This year was the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall built on August 13, 1961 it was to keep the East Berliners from fleeing to the West. It fulfilled that mission for 28 years. Months before the fall of the wall, citizens of Leipzig, in East Germany, decided to peacefully protest their imprisonment behind that wall. Their movement was called the Velvet Revolution. It was then, and seems to be now, a most unusual protest movement. For you see the people of Leipzig met in a local church on Monday nights to sing hymns and pray. An amazing thing happened, starting out with about 1000 people in two months that grew to 300,000 people. A military officer was asked why didn't you put down this protest? His answer, "we had no contingency plan." The wall came down!

Many of us have seen the movie, The Bridge over the River Kwai. This bridge was to be constructed by prisoners of war who had to deal with degradation and desolation and mistreatment besides. What I don't remember of the movie was how these men on Christmas of 1944 were given a break from work detail and were even given a bit more food. In one of the barracks a soldier began to sing Christmas Carols, gradually all around camp the men began to join in and finally they sat there in the yard in a great circle. Gordon, one of the prisoners said, " God touched us that day." Gordon said, it was the most sacred event that he had ever been involved with. No preaching, just men United by their common misery, singing of God being with them. We were touched by God, they said.

Now my question; if history proves that the worst degradation of man can be overcome with song, why are we hearing hateful protests? A lady I know was at the Mall of America two weeks ago and witnessed the protest and she said we had to get out of there you could feel the hate from the protest that was going on.

Does anyone truly believe that blind evolution would have given us a world that blends together a soprano, alto, tenor and bass to make the most pleasing sounds on Earth? For music is from God, for music of Christmas is defiantly from God. Music can do things that nothing else can do. Music can change the world, music can change hearts, music gives us hope. So I hope and pray you will leave here today with the sound of Christmas music singing in your hearts, giving you hope, peace and joy.

Our Bishop has asked us to remember that this is immigration Sunday. He said in his letter: On this day we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have come here from other countries. We also reflect on our own responsibilities, as loving Christian communities, to welcome them and advocate for policies which respect their human dignity and promote the well-being of their families.

We would have a hard time disagreeing with this policy because are we not all immigrants? I am a second-generation immigrant because my father came over to this country from Holland when he was 12 years old with the rest of his family. He tells me that they even had received a wireless from the Titanic, but didn't respond because they were too far away plus the fact they didn't know what a Titanic was.

I also hear stories of how our parish, Our Lady the Angels was built by Irish immigrants, and there-fore was given the name the Irish Church.

Recently, I met a lady by the name of Maria, a beautiful Hispanic grandmother, so at one point I asked her how long she has been here in the United States. She said, all my family has been here for generations, born just this side of the border with Mexico. Thankfully the question did not offend her and she preceded to tell me stories of her family's life here in the US.

We could go on with this type of stories and never be able to tell it all, but, as we listen to the news of the present and near past we find, it seems, that the whole world is on the move. Stories coming out of the Middle East of people taking great risks to go to countries like Italy for example, and other European countries. Legal or illegal becomes a mute question when desperation dictates that one has to flee from one's own country. So was the case with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, having to flee to Egypt to protect their child.

So as this Mass continues, pray for the present-day immigrants, some that you know and some you wish you knew better. Amen.

So you all be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always, using Words and Holy Actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, November 16, 2014

Fear of the Lord: Ancient, Timeless Wisdom

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014:

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
November 16, 2014

Our Catholic Christian tradition teaches us that happiness and friendship and marriage should all be based on a healthy loving fear of the Lord. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the psalmist expresses it very simply and poetically. "Blessed are those who fear the Lord," and then he explains what, exactly, that means: "to fear of the Lord is to walk in his ways." This is the wisdom of the ages. It is the perennial principle of human happiness. And it is the foundation of true success in marriage.

To fear the Lord is to walk in his ways. How blessed are those who fear the Lord! Those who fear the Lord are to be praised! Some kinds of fear are good, and some kinds of fear are bad. Bad fear should be resisted. Good fear should be encouraged. To fear the Lord is to understand that the meaning of life is to love God and to seek his ways. To fear the Lord is to appreciate the unsurpassable value of faith in God and faith in the son of God. To fear the Lord is to live a sacrificial life for others in imitation of the one who sacrifices himself for us on the cross.

But this way of life must begin at home. It begins in the context of marriage and family, and the family must always have priority in the spiritual life. We must sacrifice ourselves first of all for those who are closest to us, for those we love the most. The husband sacrifices himself for his wife. The wife sacrifices herself for her husband. As parents, they sacrifice themselves for their children. To fear the Lord is to see the beauty in the sacredness of this sacrificial way of life. Our faith enables us to see what the world does not appreciate: the sacredness of marriage, and the beauty of a life that is lived for one's family.

What exactly does that look like, a life lived for one's family? In our society we are surrounded with many models of infidelity and unfaithfulness. We are constantly confronted with out right violations of marriage and family, and we see many family relationships breaking down and falling apart. It's easy to become kind of skeptical about the whole idea. But we know how it's supposed to work. Deep down in our hearts, we know how it is supposed to be. And our faith tells us how it's supposed to be.

In the first reading, the book of Proverbs speaks of the woman who has true wisdom. How does this woman live her life? How does she spend her time? What does she value? What makes her happy? Does she live for herself or for her family? Well, let's see. She obtains wool and flax, and makes cloth with skillful hands. She reaches out her hand to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel. She watches over the conduct of her household, and she does not eat her food in idleness. She is resourceful and productive. Her children rise up and praise her, and her husband extols her. The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Of course, the Scriptures affirm the very same truths about the husbands. The man of wisdom is the one who works hard for his family, and is faithful to his wife. The man of wisdom is the one who avoids worldly allurements, and controls his unruly impulses. The man of wisdom is the one who fears the Lord, and spends his free time going to church and studying the law of the Lord. The man of wisdom is the one who accepts hardships, stays humble, mourns over his own sins and the sins of others, hungers for righteousness, shows mercy to those who have wronged him, keeps his mind and heart clean, and works to bring his family and friends closer to God. This is the wisdom of the ages, the wisdom that our society has lost and thinks it doesn't need.

The foundation of our society is marriage and family. In the foundation of marriage and the family is a healthy fear of the Lord. The fear the Lord is the key to wisdom, the key to a successful and productive life, and the key to happiness in this life, and the next. If we truly believe this, then we actively and constantly restructure our lives so that they revolve around the walking in the ways of the Lord. And very soon, we discovered that it is not going to be easy. We may find that we are insulted and persecuted, and marginalized and excluded, because we have committed ourselves to a Christian set of values and the Christian way of life.

Is our Lord demanding? Yes, because he is Truth and Goodness, and Truth and Goodness are demanding. We have to stay awake and alert. We have to work hard to stay sober. We have to be good and faithful servants. We have to use the gifts and talents Lord has given us.

The more we use the gifts and talents he has given us, the more gifts and talents he gives us. They're given to us for others.

All he asks is that we remain faithful in small matters. All he asks is that we follow his ways in the details of our lives. All we have to do is lead a quiet life and do the work he has given us to do. All we have to do is put ourselves at the service of our families and friends with the resources he has given us.

His demands are reasonable. In the face of such demand, the wrong kind of fear will lead us to protect ourselves, abandon our duties, and live for ourselves. But the right kind of fear will lead us to abandon ourselves, accept our duties, and live for others.

You'll notice now that I close with a little different closure, that I have been have been doing in the past because the New Evangelization requires that we use words.

So you all be Good, be Holy preached the Gospel always using Words and Holy Actions.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, October 12, 2014

God's Kingdom, a Wedding Parable, and the Rest of the Story

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014:

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
October 12, 2014

This is a story of an older couple to be married. Both had lost their spouses to death and had grown children. The combined children sent out this wedding invitation to their friends on behalf of their mother and father, Philip, Richard, Karen and Allison, John, Matt and Steve, we request your presence at the marriage of our mother and father. Because they are combining two households, they already have at least two of everything, so please! no presents! Reception and garage sale immediately following the ceremony.

There is no more hopeful event on earth than a wedding... at any age. Jesus loved weddings. On one occasion he referred to himself as a bridegroom. So it is not surprising that at least one of his parables is to teach us, using a wedding parable.

So in the gospel today a parable about a wedding. Jesus seems to have such a concern about a man and a woman joining together in marriage that his first public miracle was performed at Cana in Galilee. The changing of water into wine at the request of His mother, this was so that there should be no embarrassment at the wedding feast. The Church has added to the significance of this wedding at Cana that it is now called the second of the luminous mysteries of the Rosary.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king, He said, who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them that all was ready. But they did something quite extraordinary-- they refused the invitation. This was most unusual-- to refuse the Kings invitation. Nevertheless, there were those who refuse to come.

Then the king sent more servants and said, "tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and fatted cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet."

Again his invitation was spurned. Some of those who receive the invitation went back to their fields or back to their businesses. The rest seized the king's servants mistreated them and then killed them.

The king was enraged as you might imagine. He sent his army and destroy those who were guilty of these crimes and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'the wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners an invite to the banquet anyone you find.' "

So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

This parable sounds very much like the parable we had last week about the land owner who rented out his vineyard to some rebellious tenants. But this story takes a strange twist. The wedding does go on with those who chose to come. However, "when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding garment." How did you get in here without a wedding garment, friend? The man was speechless. He was not wearing the right clothes.

We were told when we studied this in class that the King provided the wedding garments for his guests. So to find a guest without a wedding garment, was a great insult. Because of this insult he told his attendance to bind him hand and foot and cast him outside into the darkness where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

This can be a shocking text for many people. For you see, it is not about clothes at all. This text implies that there are certain qualifications for those who follow Jesus. This text implies that God cares how his children live.

Many people today have heard the message of grace: "Jesus loves me, Jesus accepts me just as I am. Whoopee! I'm saved. I'm headed for the promised land." But, wait just a moment. That is only part of the gospel message.

The point of the story is, that God's kingdom is the kingdom in which love and justice and truth and mercy and holiness rain unhindered. These are the clothes you need to wear for the wedding. And if you refuse to put them on, you are saying you don't want to stay at the celebration.

You may think these are harsh words, but they are very much a part of the gospel. God loves us as we are, but God expects us to clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus Christ. That's one reason we come to worship. To get to know Christ so that we might be more like him.

The great reality is coming here, some of us daily and for sure the rest of us on Sunday and receiving Holy Communion makes us more Christ Like, for what we received we become.

To come to a conclusion we may wonder how a 2000 year old parable concerning an invitation to a wedding is a concern to us today. So I purpose a question to you, why are you here? Who invited you here? Please remember the words we hear at Communion time which says, "Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb." I wish for you to consider that it is the Father calling you to the wedding feast of his Son in this Mass and every Mass. The challenge for us is what do we wear? I wish to challenge you that it isn't the clothes we wear although that is important, but as you heard earlier in this homily is Love, Justice, Truth, Mercy and Holiness that we are to wear as a response to the call of the Father to the wedding feast of his Son.

So you all be good, be holy preached the gospel always and if necessary use words!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, October 5, 2014

Love, Death, and Families

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas

I've been asked, to write something for this Sunday's bulletin, but what to write?

How about something of an 80-year-old, celibate, Deacon. Right off someone is going to ask, "well, priests retire at 70 what about Deacons?" We are required to send a letter of retirement to our Bishop when we turned 70 years of age and so I did. I got a letter back from the Bishop when we turned 70 years of age and so I did. I got a letter back from the Bishop saying, "your time clock is not run out yet, you can go on for a while." I was so proud of him that he even remembered that I worked on clocks. So now 10 years later having had lunch with our Bishop a few months ago and for some reason telling him I was 80 years old, he said, "Ak, only 20 more years ago." I'm not sure what that means, are you stuck with me or am I stuck with you? Ha.

Having been ordained now for 27 years, and having lost my wife, Agnes 10 years ago, there is one thing you could say, for sure, and that is that my life is definitely changed. She told father Andrew shortly before she died that she was glad Lawrence was a Deacon: It would give them something to do! Looking back these 10 years, did she really know what she was saying? First of all living alone, as many of you have found out, is not all fun and games. And yet, when you're 80 years old and have been around this community and parishes most all those years, you have special attachments. Sometimes for no rhyme or reason one comes in contact with people that become your love and joy in the world.

So that begs the question, do I really live alone? Do we find people in similar circumstances really living alone, I pray the answer is no. I find myself falling in love with people that I have just met and are added to my extended family. What's so interesting for me is that every family I come in contact with is different than any other family. That doesn't make them bad, that just makes them different. My family of seven, further proves the point: for each one is different and that doesn't make them bad, it just means they're different, God love them!

So whatever years the Lord has allotted to me: I promise to love you, to pray for you as my extended family. So you be good, be holy, preach the Gospel always, an if necessary use words!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, August 10, 2014

"Be not Afraid"

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014:

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
August 10, 2014

It's interesting to note: that in the first reading from the book of Kings we hear of a big, strong and heavy wind, which was rending the mountains crashing rocks before the Lord. Yet Elijah did not find God in the wind but recognized him in a tiny whispering Sound. If this confused Elijah so it would seem confuses us. The question being, why in a tiny whispering sound? Elijah must have known as we know that God is all-powerful and is controller of the universe, why then in a tiny whispering sound? Maybe the answer is as simple as this whispering sound in that God did not want to make Elijah frightened. How often have we heard Jesus say in one way or another, "be not afraid!"

In the gospel too, we hear of wind. But what leads up to this account of the walking on water, takes place after Jesus went off by himself to pray, reflecting on the death of John the Baptist. Having sent his disciples off by themselves to the other side of the sea, a strong wind develops and makes it difficult for them to gain any headway to the other shore. It is now the fourth watch of the night, in other words, 3 O'clock in the morning, when the disciples see someone walking towards them on the water. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. Jesus then spoke to them saying, "take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Once again it was Peter, who jumps in, so to speak, without thinking first. Saying Lord if it is really you tell me to come to you across the water. Everything seemed to be working out quite well until Peter becomes frightened and then he starts to sink. Jesus stretch this out his hand to support Peter when Peter cries out Lord, save me! Finally Jesus would, say to Peter, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" As Jesus and Peter climbed back into the boat the wind dies down.

"Be not afraid"

How often do we here, even in central Minnesota become fearful of the wind. From time to time we will have frightening winds even at times tornadoes. We will even light blessed candles or burn bits of palm, knowing full well that this is not magic but is a symbol of our prayers rising to heaven bagging God to quell the storm.

I remember some years ago when our children were still young, on a particular day, I was working in the shop and the kids came running out, daddy, daddy the Alexandria radio just said that the storm would hit Sauk Centre in 15 minutes: apparently the storm was in Alexandria and heading our way. I close the shop and stood in the back window of our house and sure enough, the wind started to pick up, it seemed right on time. And I don't remember that I was particularly frightened but certainly concerned because I had a wife and children in the house. I started to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and after some time realized that every time I started the prayer with the words "Eternal Father" the wind died down. I did marvel at that, but then being called in for supper, I looked out, for there was a small tree outside our kitchen window and was bent over in the wind and once again I repeated the prayer of Mercy and said "Eternal Father" and little tree straightened up. I've never shared the story in homily before, but decided I wanted you to hear it not to convince myself but to convince you that God can and does work in this way.

Then remembering the storm about which Sister Faustina writes in her diary that would have inundated her native country of Poland. She prayed and she prayed and as her account in the story is given to us, the Angel of this storm complained that his purpose could not be accomplished because of the prayers of then Sister Faustina.

We hear in the news these last days of a double storm that is headed for Hawaii, the first such storm in 22 years. The weatherman tells us that this type of storm is a rare occasion for the islands even though they are stuck out there in the middle of the ocean, but because they are not much more than a pinpoint on the map a direct hit is rare. "Be not Afraid".

In the many storms of life, whatever they, will may be, we can and should hear Jesus saying to us, "take courage! It is I, do not be afraid."

I have one last story that I need to tell you, it's kind of a silly story, but it takes place right here in Minnesota. A young man by the name John had been hearing from his father, grandfather and great-grandfather how they had all walked on water on their 21st birthday. John has just turned 21 and besides, if his father, grandfather and great-grandfather could walk on water on their 21st birthday he could do the same. He along with his friend go out in the boat and John steps out of the boat and nearly drowns. Coming home spitting and sputtering that he couldn't walk on water on his 21st birthday! His grandmother takes him aside and says, "but John their birthdays are in January, yours is in July."

Can you walk on water on your birthday? I can! Even as Jesus is saying, "take courage be not afraid."

So you all be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always and if necessary use Words.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Peter, Paul, and 16 Soldiers

Readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, 2014:

Saints Peter And Paul 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
June 29, 2014

As kind of a test: how many soldiers were assigned to guard Peter? In the acts of the apostles we are told that they laid hands on members of the Church to harm them. And under that persecution Peter was arrested and taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. And as the story goes the Church is praying for Peter and so finally an angel appears to help Peter escape the chains from his wrists and was told put on his sandals and cloak, follow me said the Angel.

Now my question to you is why did it take 16 soldiers, Roman soldiers at that, to keep one Christian in custody. There is no indication that he was out to hurt anybody. Did they think that by arresting Peter, who was obvious the leader of this new band of troublemakers, they could keep control of them.

The question needs to be asked, "what made them so fearsome that they had to be imprisoned, persecuted, executed and brought under the control of the state? Well the simple answer is, they preached the gospel. The preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles and the followers of Christ was clearly coming against the dictates of a very sinful world.

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves has anything really changed these last 2000 years. I declare to you without hesitation that unless we realize that we are in a war against evil in the world and this war can only be won if we turn our hearts and our minds to Christ, we will not win. Remember Christ died on the cross to overcome death and sin in our world.

So now another question: why does God allow evil to exist in the world. Maybe the simplest answer I've ever heard to that question was posed in the movie entitled, Oh God, when God, played by George Burns was asked that question, by Denver, he gave the answer, "I don't allow evil, you do." We are taught a more philosophical answer to that question, that God allows evil in the extent that God can use it for good. Yeah I know, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me either but when it comes to the mind of God we are all left in awe!

We can reflect along with Peter that the Lord sent his angel and rescued him from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting. The new Evangelist is convinced that if the risen Jesus can do it once, the risen Jesus can do it again.

The other Saint in our Solemnity today is St. Paul. As the letter of St. Paul to Timothy reminds us that he must have been anticipating that the time, that, he calls his departure is at hand. He says I have competed well; I finished the race; I have kept the faith. How often have we heard father Statz say of himself and of his ministry that if only he can finish the race and keep the faith. As I reminded you and him last Wednesday's 5:30 Mass, as Paul reminds us in his letter, that a crown of righteousness awaits. Paul reminds us in his letters that being an Apostle for Christ is not paved with palm branches and flowers, but is paved with thorns, and thistles, rocks and potholes, also in our day rough paved and gravel roads.

So the question arises again what has changed in 2000 years? One thing we can depend on absolutely is that the Church was persecuted in the past and will be persecuted today and in the future. For the Church is Christ's active body in the world. So as they Crucified Christ on the cross the Church will be Crucified in the politics of our world. WHY? Because, the church being the body of Christ can do nothing else but engage in this war on the side of Christ. Our opponents in this war can get very vicious and mean at times but remember they follow no rules. But when there are, no rules, engagement comes to light people of goodwill recognize it and want more and more to have what we have. So sometimes, when it seems like rules and more rules control our lives we nevertheless with patience and Love for Christ and his Church, we come to realize the peace and security we have in this, One Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. You might reflect on this too, from time to time, what a great blessing it is to belong to a Church that recognizes that we are all sinners and yet provides a means to restore our Baptismal Purity. This is no small matter for there is no greater means to Salvation, Eternal Life, then the Sacraments of this Church.

So we can reflect on the lives of Peter and Paul and how sin affected them personally. And finally how they were martyred for their faith and yet are remembered as great Saints of the church. I would want all of us to understand that sin is never, never, the last word. The church looks at sin, as a doctor looks at an ill patient, someone to be healed and brought back to perfect life, in Christ. Do I dare ask, "what are you waiting for?" Sin, can devastate the soul, as cancer devastates the body. How does this all work?

The closing words of our gospel today are great comfort to us individually and as a Church community because it says, "I will give you the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." This authority has been given our priests in the Sacrament of Confession! Because this homily is attempting to deal with the sins of the world I beg you to not add your sins as ammunition to the evils of the world.

You all be Good, be Holy, Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, May 25, 2014

Guide, Friend, Counselor, Comforter: the Holy Spirit

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014:

Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 25, 2014

In an anonymous e-mail, we are told a story we need to hear on this Memorial Day weekend. It's about an old man and his wife sitting in the parking lot of a supermarket. The hood is up on their car. Evidently they were having engine problems.

A young man in his early 20s with a grocery bag in his arms walks in the direction of the older couple. The older gentleman emerges from his car and takes a few steps in the young man's direction. He points to the open hood and asks the young man for assistance. The young man puts his grocery bag into his expensive SUV, turns back to the old man and yelled at him: "you shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he gets into his car and speeds out of the parking lot. The old gentleman pulls out his handkerchief, mops his brow and goes back to his car. Again he looks at the engine. He then goes to his wife and appears to reassure her that everything will be okay.

A stranger approaches the old man. "Looks like you're having a problem," he says. The old man smiles sheepishly, and quietly nods his head. The stranger looks under the hood of the car, but he has no more expertise with engines than the old man.

He assures the elderly gentleman he will return and heads to a nearby service station. He explains the situation to a mechanic saying he will pay him if he would help the elderly couple with their car.

Returning with a mechanic, the stranger gets into a conversation with the old gentleman. The stranger is wearing a ring signifying that he had been a Marine. Coincidentally, so had the old man. He confides that he had served in some of the harshest battles in our nation's history, including Guadalcanal in Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps after the war.

After the car was repaired and running, the old gentleman handed a card to the stranger and shook hands and parted. Little while later the stranger happened to look at card and the name of the old gentleman was on the card in gold leaf and under his name was written: Congressional medal of honor Society. It was only then that the former Marine realized that he had come to the aid of one of America's heroes.

This, just a reminder that this Memorial Day weekend there are men and women who have served their country, and received very little in return. It is only right we recognize their sacrifice and honor their memory this holiday weekend. And with much sadness we hear of the scandal at the VA Hospitals across our country.

Our gospel for today is of a loving relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and how this relationship extends to all of humanity with a simple admonition: "if you love me, and keep my commands, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. With a further promise: I will not leave you as orphans; for I will come to you before long.

Another Story:

A man who underwent open-heart surgery told his friend about his experience. He said, "the day before surgery a nurse came into my room to visit she took hold of my hand and told me to feel it and to hold it."

"Now, she said, "during the surgery tomorrow you will be disconnected from your heart and you will be kept alive only by virtue of certain machines. When your heart is finally restored and the operation is over and you are recovering, you will eventually awaken and a very special room. You will be immobile for as long as six hours. You may be unable to move, or speak, or even to open your eyes, but you will be perfectly conscious. You will hear and you will know everything that is going on around you. During those six hours I will be at your side and I will hold your hand, exactly as I'm doing now. I will stay with you until you are fully recovered. Although you may feel absolutely helpless, when you feel my hand, you will know that I will not leave you."

It happened exactly as the nurse told me, the man continued. "I awoke and could do nothing. But I could feel the nurse's hand in my hand for hours and that made all the difference in the world.

Similarly this happen to me some months ago when getting up in the morning, attempting to get dressed I knew I was in trouble. I know I shouldn't use names, but in this case I feel it necessary. I called Connie and asked her to call Dr. Jim from next door and Maria Minette that I needed their help. In a very short time they came to my aid and stayed with me all morning. To say that I was and am grateful is an understatement, but much like the old man whose hand was being held by a nurse I felt their comfort, their concern and their love.

It does make a difference when someone comes along side us when we are in need. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. In some instances the Holy Spirit comes with power. At other times the Holy Spirit comes as a guide. But there are times when we need a friend, counselor, comforter. Then the Holy Spirit served in these capacities as well. But why did Jesus say, "I will give you another advocate."

The writer of John wants us to understand that the same Spirit that was in Christ is a Spirit that will be with us in our time of need. John is very clear that this is why Christ departed from this world so that his Spirit could be available to every person in this world who opens himself or herself to him. This is the importance of the Trinity. The same Spirit that created this world became flesh and Jesus Christ returns on the day of Pentecost to make available to every believer, with guidance, comfort, and empowerment, also for clarity of mission and for strength as we seek to be Christ's people. All this is wrapped up in that short phrase, "and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever."

You all be Good, Be holy and Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.