“From Ministry to Mission and Back Again”

Week 2. Service is Not Optional

Reflections from our Summer Seminarian

Dan O’Brien

Dear friends in Christ,

Our readings for this weekend challenge us not only to hear the Word of God but to embody it, to move from contemplation to action, and then to return to the source of our strength for renewal.  In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we are reminded that God’s commandments are not distant or unattainable but are very near to us, in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe (Deuteronomy 30:10-14).  This closeness implies a personal responsibility and an intimate relationship with God, which forms the basis of our ministry.  The responsorial Psalm echoes this sentiment, calling us to praise God and seek His help in our need: Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live.  Our Gospel presents us with the story of the Good Samaritan, a poignant lesson which could also tie into our previous theme “Together: Built to Belong.”  The Good Samaritan, moved by compassion, crosses boundaries of social and religious norms to care for the injured man.  Pope John Paul II noted that the parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates our mission of how we ought to treat every person if we wish to live by God’s commandment of love.

            How often do we, like the priest and the Levite, pass by those in need, perhaps because we are too busy, too preoccupied, or too afraid?  This parable calls us to be active in our love, to compromise ourselves, and to take the necessary steps to approach others, identifying with them in their need.  Even though there are a small handful of ministries that take the summer off, it is crucial that all of us who lead or serve in some capacity integrate the two elements of mission and ministry in our daily lives.  Let us embrace God’s closeness in our lives, striving to continually grow our Christ-centered relationships with others.  Let us be Good Samaritans while crossing the boundaries and taking the risk to church the unchurched, and let us return with a promise of renewal in our hearts so that we can better serve the needs of others through the service we do with our parish family.  Be at peace this week!

Reflections from our Summer Seminarian Dan O’Brien:

“From Ministry to Mission and Back Again”

Week 1: Serving and Sharing Faith Go Together

Dear friends in Christ, welcome to our next summer series!  This weekend there is a central theme of ministry and mission, which seems to be two sides of the same coin.  In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them out in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit, instructing them to carry no purse, bag, or sandals, and to focus on proclaiming peace and healing the sick, bringing the Kingdom of God near to those they encounter.  Here is a crucial part of our mission, to announce the salvation of Christ through our words and actions.  The readings suggest that ministry and mission are not separate entities but rather two sides of the same coin.  The call to mission flows from the life of ministry, and the fruits of mission call us back to a deeper engagement in ministry.

As members of the Church of St. John, we are called to bear witness to Christ in our daily lives, contributing to the Church’s mission by aligning our actions with our faith.  Each of us, through Baptism and Confirmation, is called to share in the Church's saving mission, actively participating in its life and contributing to the spread of the Gospel.  My question to you all is this: how has your experience of our parish mission impacted the ministries you lead, or are called to serve in?  Does anything need to be changed?  Be at peace this week!

“Together: Built to Belong”

Week 3 the Witness of the Apostles

The Church is built on the faith of Peter’s confession, united with the missionary work of Paul – the two greatest Apostles who are considered “pillars.”  Peter’s confession is the rock we stand on, and Paul’s words and example instruct us how to live Christ’s mission for us.  Peter is given the keys which signify he is to become the “prime minister” of the household of the Church, with the authority given by Christ the King to bind and loose. 

Reflections from our Summer Seminarian Dan O’Brien

You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).  My dear friends, since the days leading up to the election of Pope Leo XIV and now, we have probably heard or seen that verse ad nauseam.  There’s good reason for it, especially if you look at the Gospel for today. Simon Peter’s answer is what Jesus wanted to hear while walking with them, and giving him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven was no small task.  Paul, on the other hand, focused more on the power of the Word and spreading it to the ends of the earth.  Given both of their martyrdoms in Rome, it is only apropos that Rome be the heart of the Catholic Community.  While it is customary for clerics to wear red for days commemorating martyrs and the blood they shed, do not look at this martyrdom as an act of vengeance, but a powerful force that overcomes hatred with love, and establishes a new community.

               The Gospel for this weekend is a popular choice for episcopal (bishop) ordinations, especially in the case of Pope Leo XIV.  “Tu est Petrus (You are Peter).”  As soon as he said, “I accept,” he took on this monumental role as the successor to St. Peter, and the Bishop of Rome.  As we celebrate this solemnity, please continue to pray for our Holy Father as he continues to serve us as Chief Shepherd of the flock. Be at peace this week!

“Together: Built to Belong”

Week 2

God builds us up and

invites us into Communion

We live in a culture where people are lonelier and more disconnected than ever, and it’s important to be reminded regularly that we belong.  This series is about convincing everyone that they belong here!  God who is a Communion of life and love invites us into his Divine Life.  In Christ we are daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father, and we have the Spirit of Love within us.  This week we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ.  God pours out his love in very specific and visible ways, most especially in the gift of the Eucharist.  This week we will look at the words “communion” and “body” – two concepts from Paul’s letters that describe how we are built up both individually, and with one another in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Reflections from Dan O’Brien, our summer seminarian

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  This is my favorite solemnity outside Christmas and Easter because it shows us the importance of the real presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Some of us have probably seen the 2019 Pew Research Survey saying that only 31% of Catholics believe in the True Presence.  That has been updated, and now as of 2022, Catholic News Agency (CNA) says that 69% believe.  That is a vast improvement, but it’s nowhere near enough.  The 2019 survey was the catalyst leading to the National Eucharistic Revival, and to spread awareness and devotion to Christ in the Eucharist.  The new study mixed Pew’s original wording with updated Catholic language so that people can more accurately answer the questions.

            Another reason I love this day is I think back to the story of Pope St. John Paul II’s visit to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.  When the Secret Service and their K9s swept the building and the seminary chapel, they found nothing until they got close to the tabernacle.  The dogs were barking at the tabernacle because they saw something that the officers didn’t.  Jesus was there.  This weekend, especially when you come to receive communion, don’t just say “Amen” because you were taught to.  Think about why you are receiving Jesus into your body as spiritual food for the journey, and pause for a second.  Are you a part of the 69% that truly believes?  Or are you just “in it to win it?”  Think about where you stand, and as always, be at peace this week!

Week 1 We are God’s Children

through Christ and in the Holy Spirit

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers!  Today we begin “summer mode” which means a laid-back approach to the weekend so that our staff leaders and volunteer ministers can enjoy a well-deserved summer break.  Today we kick off a three-week preaching series that’s all about belonging.  In our culture today, people are looking for belonging and seeking out strong foundations to stand on.  Many of our senior citizens remember the days when everyone you knew in your neighborhood was part of your parish and Catholic School, and the life of the whole community often centered around the church.   Likewise, in past generations Catholics tended to emphasize belief over belonging, because it was just assumed that everyone belonged and was a Catholic or Christian. 

Today, things are very different.  Some people predict that organized religion is going away.  We no longer can assume that people know they belong.  In the next 3 weeks, the Church celebrates the great feast days of the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, and Saints Peter and Paul.  During this series, we will be exploring the foundations and pillars of our faith, not just abstract truths distant from our lives, but a lived reality that we participate in.  Our identity is found in God’s very nature as Father-Son-Holy Spirit; in Jesus we are beloved children of the Father.  Our union with God is a gift to us given in Holy Communion, in which we are built up as the Body of Christ.  Our purpose is found in the witness of the great apostles Peter and Paul to go out on mission.  The goal of this series is that everyone knows and feels that they are part of these sacred mysteries that are the foundations of our faith. 

Reflections from our summer seminarian Dan O’Brien!

Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate Trinity Sunday.  After hearing Fr. Greg’s messages on the Holy Spirit in the series, “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” the last verse of the second reading today should stand out to us: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Romans 5:5).  Now, we reflect on the love of God in the three Persons, which is not merely a doctrine to be understood, but a relationship to embrace.  God the Father — Creator of heaven and earth; God the Son — Redeemer of the world; God the Holy Spirit — Sanctifier of the faithful.  I can find no better way to sum this up.  This is a God of perfect unity and loving communion and should remind us that we are created in the image of this divine relationship.

I hope that this Trinity Sunday will challenge each of you to reflect this divine relationship in your lives — living not for yourselves alone, but in loving connection with God and with one another.  In a world that often values independence over communion, the Trinity offers a radical vision of unity, love, and mutual self-giving.  My questions to you are these: how is your relationship with the Holy Trinity?  Do you feel a stronger connection with one member or all three?  Be at peace this week!

“Veni Sancte Spiritus”

Week 3

Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit

Congratulations to our students this weekend who are receiving the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation!  Remember that you are the Body of Christ, and you have gifts to share to build up the Body, which is the Church, as well as to witness to Christ in the world!  Many thanks to the parents and families of these students, as well as to our facilitators for Confirmation, especially Karen Malachowsky and Francis Oquendo.  Many blessings! 

In these weeks we’ve talked about Who the Holy Spirit, is and what the Holy Spirit does.  Today we will talk about tapping into the power of the Spirit.  Imagine someone who has lived her whole life in poverty and didn’t know she had a bank account that had millions of dollars.  Many of us at times try to live our faith on our own power and in spiritual poverty.  Often, we focus on things in life that pass away, like material possessions, work, or hobbies like sports.  We can have a confidence that if we ask God anything he will hear us (1 John 5:14)!  Even with that great promise, there are hinderances, as we’ve talked about.  It could be lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit; we’ve never taken the time to get to know him.  It could be our pride, thinking that we can live our life solely by our own power.  Another hindrance is our need for control, or our desire for money or status.  Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  The Holy Spirit wants us to be drawn into an intimate relationship with the Father and with Jesus.  We can expect many distractions that will come our way.  The greatest hindrance of all is our lack of faith without which it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

The Holy Spirit will never force himself on us.  If we live a natural or secular life, Christ lives outside of us.  If we live a carnal life we may be seeking Christ, but we are still directed by many things that are not from God.  If we live a Spirit-filled life, all our interests will be ordered and purified by the Cross.  Here are some great markers of spiritual maturity: (1) we recognize that life is not about us, but about God.   (2) We live lives of sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  What things are we holding onto instead of God?  We need to be willing to confess everything that hinders us.  We do so in the Sacrament of Confession and in our daily prayer to God directly (James 5:16).  Unconfessed sin is like a wet blanket quenching the Holy Spirit; but when we confess our sin God cleanses us (1 John 1:9). 

As we live a Spirit-filled life, we continually can remind ourselves daily that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Cross and that the Spirit dwells within us!  As we wrap up this series, I invite you to take this prayer into your daily prayer:

Father, I need you.  I have sinned against you and I thank you that you have forgiven my sins through Jesus’ Death and Resurrection on the Cross.  Jesus, I need you.  Thank you for taking the cost of my sin and I invite you to take control of my life.  Holy Spirit, I need you.  In faith I ask you to fill me and equip me to live a life that would bear Your fruit.  Veni Sancte Spiritus – Come Holy Spirit!

Welcome to our summer seminarian,

Dan O’Brien!

It is great to be here at the Church of St. John in East Stroudsburg.  I was born in 2000 in the Crimean Autonomous Republic of Ukraine, and immigrated to the US in 2001 by means of adoption.  I grew up with the church as a second home, given my mother’s employment in the parish office for now just over 30 years.  I was quite involved liturgically, singing in the children’s choir; I was an altar server since 3rd grade, and eventually participated in the adult choir, occasionally playing my trombone or the organ for masses.  While at Marywood, I was one of the supply organists on campus, helping Mike Sowa with Sunday nights, and word got out to all the local organists in the area after sending my contact info to both him and the cathedral.  I have substituted for countless weekends and funerals around the Diocese, but I loved doing it because music ministry is one of my absolute favorite ways to serve others.

As a seminarian, I am learning more about the ins and outs of spirituality, prayer, and morality.  One of the things that was stressed to me in an undergraduate business course is that we live in a world of VUCA.  Those of you with a business degree know what I’m talking about, but for the rest of you, VUCA spells out that our world is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous.  With all the drama in today’s society, there’s a reason seminaries exist: to teach young men how to navigate and find God’s love in the world and to teach his love to the ends of the earth.  On Pentecost (next weekend, heads up), the disciples were given the Great Commission, and today, that could take us to less-than-desirable areas.  At the end of each Mass, when Father Greg or Deacon Max says, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life,” it’s not just their job to minister to the flock.  It’s yours as well.  Remember, Jesus had MANY disciples and apostles, not just one.

I am excited to be here this summer and get to know you all more.  I would love to talk with you and get to know you more.  I may remember my keypad combination to the airport perimeter fence gate, but I only know Fr. Greg and a small handful of you that I met on Memorial Day Weekend.  Please do introduce yourself or correct me if I get your names wrong.  Otherwise, I’m just going to call you Betty.  Thank you, and God Bless!

“Veni Sancte Spiritus” Week 2: How the Holy Spirit Works

Last week we talked about who the Holy Spirit is, and this week we’re thinking about what the Holy Spirit does.  We are reminded that the Risen Christ promised the Apostles that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes (Acts 1:8).  Think about our frustration when we’re using our computer, phone, or device, but we don’t have the right charger or connector.  How can we connect with the power of the Holy Spirit?

We learned last week that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things (John 14:26).  The Spirit will also convict us of sin (John 16:8); for example, when we want to respond to someone in anger or retaliation, the Holy Spirit guides our conscience otherwise.  The Holy Spirit often commands people to speak about Jesus (Acts 8).  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays through us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).  The Holy Spirit regenerates us (Titus 3:5).  The Holy Spirit seals us in Christ (Ephesians 1:13) and fosters unity with God and others (Eph 4:1-6).  St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Spirit (1 Cor 6:19); and to be filled with the Spirit instead of being drunk on wine (Eph 5:18); I would add anything that “fills” us (work, hobbies, sports) instead of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit also assures us of our calling.  Remember that if we are going to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we must be rooted, like a tree that bears good fruit.  We can’t bear these fruits on our own strength. 

The Holy Spirit gives us various gifts!  Read all of 1 Corinthians 12: we are given the gifts of teaching, administration, assistance, and healing to build up the Body of the Church.  Some gifts are given in service to one another within the church; and others are given in mission outside the church walls.  It’s incredible that the Holy Spirit gives us power to witness to the abundant life found in Christ.  The key is to stay plugged in and connected! 

“Veni Sancte Spiritus”

Week 1 Become a Millionaire. 

Who is the Holy Spirit?

               There’s an old story about a man named Mr. Yates who was about to lose his farm in Texas to a foreclosure.  One day an oil driller came by and asked permission to drill on his land.  Almost instantly he discovered oil gushing out, and Mr. Yates went overnight from utter poverty to becoming rich.  Think about it: did he become a millionaire when he first bought the piece of property, or when the oil was discovered?   In the same way, many well-intentioned Christians do not realize that they are spiritual millionaires!  The Holy Spirit’s mission is to give us strength and guidance to accomplish God’s purpose on earth.  The Holy Spirit eludes most of us; I’ve heard that 80% of Christ followers don’t understand who the Holy Spirit is.  We have an untapped gift and power source given to us by God! 

How about you?  Have you recently felt far from God?  Is your inner peace less than it should be?  Do you have trouble loving someone, or loving yourself?  Do you have difficulties talking to God?  Is reading God’s Word a challenge to you?  Does your happiness depend on your circumstances?  If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions like I have, then we are living in spiritual poverty.  Like many Catholics, you may know the Father and the Son well enough, but not the Spirit.  Ove the next three weeks we will look at who the Holy Spirit is, what the Holy Spirit does, and how to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has been active and alive since before creation and continues today!  Genesis 1:1-2 mentions the Spirit of God hovering over the primordial waters.  Throughout the Old Testament the Spirit was actively working with people to accomplish God’s will.  David says: Take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11).  In the New Testament Jesus actually says: It is better for you that I go.  For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you (John 16:7).  The Holy Spirit is eternal with no beginning and no end; all-present (Ps 139:7); omniscient or all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:10-11); and omnipotent or all powerful (Luke 1:35).

Most importantly the Holy Spirit is God who is a Person and not some impersonal cosmic force in the sky.  As a Person he can be obeyed (Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9-33); lied to (Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11); opposed (Acts 7:51); grieved or saddened (Ephesians 4:30); stifled or quenched like placing a wet blanket on a fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19); or insulted (Hebrews 10:29), just like you and me.  In the Scripture there are three major symbols of the Holy Spirit: a dove (like at Jesus’ baptism); a flame (like at Pentecost); and wind which conveys mystery because we don’t know where wind comes from or is going.  In the New Testament Jesus gives the Holy Spirit a nickname: the Paraclete, which is translated in various ways and understood as Comforter, or Helper, or Advocate. 

So who wants to be a (spiritual) millionaire?  You don’t need to live in spiritual poverty!  Join us for these three weeks to get to desire, to know and to love the Holy Spirit who is always seeking us!  We will be praying together a novena to the Holy Spirit as well.  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love!

“Victory” Week 5

Barnabus the Encourager

Congratulations to our children who are receiving their First Holy Communion this weekend!  Many our Lord Jesus, who gives us his Presence in his Body and Blood and nourishes all of us on our journey, continue to bless them.  May they and their parents remain faithful and practicing Catholics (defined as the habit of going to church every week) and thus enrich the lives of our parish family and our community. Most of all, may they be filled with a Spirit of encouragement to go forth, take risks, and to become the saints God calls them to be!

During the season of Easter, we’ve been talking about how God redeems our stories and wants to use us to redeem the life of others.   We’ve seen this in the stories of Thomas, Peter, and Paul.  We can all identify with different aspects of these diverse personalities we’ve talked about.  Today we’re looking at Barnabus whose birth name is Joseph but whose given name “Barnabus” means in Aramaic, “Son of Encouragement.”   Barnabus sees something in Paul, even though most other Christians didn’t want anything to do with him; he then partners with Paul to spread the Gospel.  One could argue that without Barnabus there would be no missionary journeys to the Gentiles, and we wouldn’t be here!  Barnabas also encouraged the young Mark to write the Gospel of Mark.

You may not naturally be an encourager, but no doubt there have been many encouragers who helped you along your journey – coaches, teachers, bosses, coworkers, or family members.  One encourager in my life was my mother who supported me every step of my journey.  As an adult and a pastor, I’ve realized that I’m naturally an encourager, although I don’t always exercise this gift well. 

How do we become more like Barnabus?  It could mean practicing paying attention when others are doing good, and then routinely telling them what good they’re doing.  Don’t just say “good job” but point out specifically, because that lets them know you’re truly noticing.  One thing that we do as a Parish Staff is trying to celebrate others’ wins, because we believe in the saying, “What is rewarded is repeated.”  On the other hand, you may not have been raised in a family that had a lot of encouragement.  You may need to learn to actually receive and appreciate encouragement, instead of simply moving on to the next thing or dismissing it as something not important. 

One last point: sometimes our encouragement of another person, especially if it involves commitment on our part, is taking a big risk.  Barnabus took an incredible risk with Paul.  In our Next Gen ministries at St. John’s, we often call young people to step up into various roles, and sometimes that’s risky.  I’d always argue that it’s better to take the risk than not.  This young person could be the next superstar, leader, or pope!  How might you step out to support others in a job search, career, or calling? 

I offer much encouragement and gratitude for the parents of our children, to Marybel our Director of Faith Formation as well as Connie DiGregorio and Erica Johnson our level 2 facilitators; and a special thank you to Alex Kolakowski, a graduating senior this year, who has served here several years as the “priest” when the children are practicing for First Penance and receiving Communion.  May the God of encouragement remain with you always!  Questions for Small Groups:

1. What about Barnabas and his life or personality connects with you? 
2. Who is someone who has encouraged you and recognized your gifts and abilities?  What did they do to encourage you? 
3. On a scale of 1-5, how much do you encourage others?  What can you do this week to grow as an encourager of others?
4. Who is God calling you to take a risk on?  Who does God want you to invest in, and what action step can you take this week?
5. What is your primary insight or takeaway as we wrap up the series?

“Victory” Week 4

St. Paul’s Redemption

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday and Happy Mother’s Day!  During the Easter season we’re looking at the faults and failures of some of Jesus’ earliest followers and how they were redeemed.  Today we are talking about St. Paul, a figure whom we know more about than any of the other apostles because of his 13 New Testament letters as well as his biography in the Acts of the Apostles.  He had many stops in his journey because of his missionary endeavors.  One part of his life story we don’t talk as much about are his ten years in isolation – after his conversion but before he set out as a missionary – a period when he was being prepared.  You might look back at periods in your life which were preparatory periods for what was next, and how important they were.  In my life I think of the extra years I had as a student as a slightly older seminarian (I was ordained a priest at the age of 31); and then my graduate studies in Rome after I was ordained. 

When people make big mistakes in life, at least in the moment we don’t realize God can use those mistakes.  For example, the young Paul, who is a religious hardliner and zealous Pharisee, actually took part in a murder as a young man!  Yet he arguably has had more influence than any other Christian in world history because of his great missionary efforts.  In fact, polls sometimes ask the question, “Who is the most influential person in history?” and some results say Paul is #1, even above Jesus! 

Paul himself speaks of his earlier education and how God pivoted the course of his life.  We can look back at our lives and see how God uses both the good and the bad to glorify him.  God has given us gifts and strengths, and maybe we aren’t always using our gifts in the best way.  With our gifts there can be both a negative and positive side to them.  One small example in my life is my intense focus on a given task at hand, which means I can accomplish things with great success but sometimes miss out on appreciating the moment. 

If there is something from our past that we can’t forgive ourselves about, remember Paul’s words: “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5), part of his great eulogy on love.  That’s hard for us to accept.  Maybe our mistakes are part of our redemption process!  God redeems Paul from his anger, intolerance, perfectionism, self-righteousness, and exile; but he uses his ability, ambition, courage, and resolve to bring the Gospel to the whole world.  Like Paul, God can redeem us no matter what our past may hold!  Questions for Small Groups:

1. What about Paul’s story or personality resonates with you?
2. What about your childhood or early formation might God want to use for good?  Who does it position you to influence for Christ?
3. What are your top two or three gifts and strengths?  How might you use them to influence people for Christ?
4. Read Acts 13:46-49.  What do you think Paul was feeling at this moment?  How was God redeeming his past?
5. How much do you struggle with perfectionism on a scale of 1-5?  Why do you answer as you do?  How does this impact your relationship with God and others?

“Victory” Week 3

Peter

We are in week three of our series where we’re looking at how God redeems our faults and failures; Jesus used very flawed individuals to build a movement that continues to this day and has changed the world!  Each of these individuals has a different personality.  Peter, once paralyzed by fear, eventually became a bold leader of the early Church – willing to lay down his life for Christ.  This is the same man who denied Jesus three times.  Peter’s transformation shows us how redemption frees us from fear and strengthens us with courage and conviction. 

Peter is impetuous, impulsive, rash, like a bull in a China shop, perhaps slightly crazy; but he has a big heart, and he lives his heart on his sleeve.  We can see his progression through stages of belief and growth throughout the Gospels.  At times he thought he couldn’t approach Jesus, but Jesus came to him anyway.  For example, he is filled with shame when Jesus first calls him to go out to deeper waters and become a fisher of men.  At the Transfiguration he is filled with fear.  At the Garden of Gethsemane, he cuts a guy’s ear off with a sword to defend Jesus, but then later that night would deny Jesus.  Even if you don’t identify with Peter’s personality, we can all relate with his failures, because we’ve all failed God and others in some way. 

Jesus is always determined to draw out the best from him as he gives him the title, “Rock.”  We see God’s tenderness for Peter’s heart, a reminder of how tenderly God is concerned for each of our hearts.  Read John 21:15-17.  After the Resurrection Jesus revives Peter by drawing out three times his response of love to tend his sheep.  You could say Jesus is “finding the gold” in Peter’s personality and giftedness.  Despite the fact that Peter denied Jesus, he put him in charge of his Church!  God’s vision is so much bigger than ours.  It’s a reminder to always bring God into our projects and plans.  By the time we hear about Peter’s leadership in Acts, he is bold and courageous.  Read Acts 5:27-29 as an example. 

I very much relate to Peter’s personality that seems to be self-centered at first but becomes other-centered through his growth and maturity.  We can move beyond our self-centeredness and poor decisions through the power of the Resurrection.  We need not be bound by our past, but instead our giftedness and even our woundedness can be used in the present and the future to bring blessings to others.  Like Peter, God perfectly loves us as we are!  He sees the bigger picture of our life stories that we can’t see day-to-day.  Not only can you be redeemed and forgiven, but God can use each of us, warts and all, for his glory!  Questions for Small Groups:

1. What about Peter’s story or personality resonates with you?
2. What fears or failures in your life might God want to redeem?  What do we learn from Peter’s story about how God redeems our failures?
3. Read John 21:15-17.  What does Peter’s story tell us about Jesus’ heart and response when we let him down?
4. On a scale of 1-5, how much do you struggle with fear?  Why do you answer as you do?
5. Read aloud Acts 5:27-29.  What does Peter’s response teach us about overcoming fears?

“Victory” Week 2

Doubting Thomas

In this series we are looking at the real stories of real people – the first followers of Christ – and how they were redeemed and transformed.  Today we hear the story of Thomas the Apostle, a person who is so incredibly easy to relate to.  How often do you hear something and you think, “This can’t be true?”  It cold be good news or bad news – but you won’t believe it and know it for certain until you check it out for yourself.  This past week, for example, someone emailed me at 5 am about the passing of Pope Francis and I didn’t believe it until I checked the news. 

Read John 20:19-31.  Remember Thomas was not with the other disciples on Easter Sunday.  He was dealing with profound disappointment and grief at the death of Jesus, and perhaps like many people he needed to get away and have time for himself (I certainly understand this after Easter)!  Sometimes when we grieve we react like Thomas; and it’s not so much about questioning our faith; it’s more about our hurt and sadness.  There’s a lot unsaid in John’s description of this episode; for example, what did Thomas and the other disciples do during the time between Easter Sunday and the next week?  Did he have lively discussions with the others?  Then, note that when Jesus appears to them a second time, he already knew Thomas’ doubt; he wasn’t angry with him but supported and helped him in his quest to find the truth. 

There is an older generation of people were taught that doubt is a bad thing, but that’s not Jesus’ example in this scene.  I often hear stories of people going through seasons of doubt.  Perhaps it’s when you take a science class in school, and it leads you to question the Bible or other aspects of faith.  We hear in God’s Word: When you look for me, you will find me.  Yes when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13-14).  I believe that if you go deeper with your questions, your faith will always be stronger.  You’ll also gain the ability to more clearly speak and articulate your faith to others as well! 

Every moment in my life that I’ve questioned my faith, God led me deeper.  Jesus says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29).  Jesus has given us his Word and his Presence in the Sacraments, as well as the wisdom and encouragement of fellow believers, that we may grow beyond our doubts to a deeper faith.

1. Does anything about Thomas’ story or personality resonate with you?  If so, what? 
2. Why do you think Thomas doubted the other disciples? 
3. How did you come to faith in Christ?  Was there any evidence or argument made that has helped you believe? 
4. When you experience pain, do you tend to pull away from others or seek out relationships? 
5. When you have doubts about faith, how do you address them?

Palm Sunday and Holy Week

Dear brothers and sisters,

            Holy Week, the most solemn week of the year, is upon us today with Palm Sunday, as our Lord triumphantly enters Jerusalem, only to be rejected, abandoned, tortured, and crucified for you and me.  This Tuesday April 15 I will join Bishop Bambera and all priests of the Diocese of Scranton at the solemn Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 4:00 PM.  All faithful are invited to this beautiful Mass where we priests will renew our promises to the Lord and to the Church, and where the Sacred Oils will be blessed and brought back to every parish in the Diocese.  Our celebration of the Triduum (“three days”) here at St. John’s begin with Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 PM.  All are invited on this holy night to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament until at least 10 PM.  On Good Friday the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, with the veneration of the cross, will begin at 5:00 PM.  On Holy Saturday at 12:00 PM I will bless Easter Baskets.  Finally, our Easter celebration begins with the Solemn Vigil of the Holy Night on Saturday at 8:00 PM, and Easter Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 11:00 AM.  Come – let us together follow our crucified Savior to risen glory! 

            I want to personally congratulate our thirteen candidates and catechumen who are entering into the fullness of life of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.  We are extremely blessed to welcome such a wonderful group here at St. John’s.  They are the “fruit” of the life of the Risen Christ found at our parish family, centered in the celebration of the Eucharist and in all the Sacraments.  May we continue to bear fruit as a parish family through the action of God’s welcoming and healing Spirit.  A blessed Holy Week to all!

With blessings,

Fr. Reichlen

“Attitude Adjustment”

Week 5

Practice Humbling Yourself!

               In this Lenten series we’ve been talking about an attitude adjustment we all must make when it comes to humility.  We’ve said that as soon as we think we mastered humility, we’ve then lost it.  The habit of humility is incredibly powerful, because if we can be humble, we can be patient; we can be generous; we can grow in every virtue.  The basis of humility is that everything comes from God.  We grow in humility by listening, praising others instead of comparing ourselves with them, and by repenting from sin and acknowledging our faults and failures. 

There’s one more way to grow in humility that Jesus teaches us about in an episode found in Luke’s Gospel.  At a certain point, Jesus is at a leading Pharisee’s house; and he has just healed a man suffering from dropsy on the Sabbath, thus violating the Sabbath laws.  He was at this house attending a dinner where presumably other religious and community leaders were present, and he begins noticing how people are jockeying for places of honor at the dinner table.  People do that all the time, whether it’s businessmen at the airport, or kids on school buses fighting for the best seat, or a family in a queue at Disney World, or friends taking prominent seats at a restaurant.  There’s something in us that wants to be in a place of honor!  So in response to the people’s behavior Jesus teaches:  When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor.  A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, “Give your place to this man,” and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.  Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, “My friend, move up to a higher position.”  Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table (Luke 14:8-10).   Jesus is teaching us not to take the highest place of honor, but the lowest place, so that the host will then lift you up from lowest to highest.  In this parable, the host of the dinner is God, and this is what God will do for us.  Instead of jockeying for a place, if we regularly and habitually take a back seat in life with all things large and small, God will lift us up! 

Jesus then gives the final word: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11).  All honor comes from God, and receiving honor doesn’t come from our “jockeying,” but from God.  A Proverb says: before honor is humility (Proverbs 18:12).  The way we gain God’s honor is by humbling ourselves.  We all need to practice doing this, and what we need to practice is different for each of us.  Some people need to stop bragging about their accomplishments; others need to stop jumping into conversations about their own ideas or experiences.  For some people it’s the habit of grabbing the limelight at work or school.  When we hold our tongue or stop our behavior, nobody else may notice us doing this but God!  For some, it’s our deeds or the way one serves – to serve not to attract attention or to receive recognition, but in a way that nobody else notices.  Perhaps it’s “practicing the art of not having the last word” (Dallas Willard).  In this way it’s a kind of “fasting” when we do so, whether it’s with our words or deeds.  If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us!  Questions for Small Groups:    

1. Where have you seen or do you see people jockeying for positions of honor?
2. What would it look in your daily life for you take the lower seat or lower place as Jesus describes?
3. Is there a difference between marketing ourselves and our abilities verses seeking places of honor?  If so, what is the difference?
4. Read Proverbs 18:12.  Where have you seen that principle work in your life or the life of someone else?
5. As we wrap up this series, what key insights have you learned about humility?  How will you apply it to your life?

“Attitude Adjustment”

Week 4

The Kingdom of God

               In this Lenten series we’ve been talking about humility.  Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.  This week we will talk about something that is important because as we live today in an apostolic age, when most people around us are not believers, we all should have what I call a prepared “elevator speech” about our faith to share with others.  Whenever we are interacting with friends, family, coworkers, how do you in a brief few sentences communicate faith?   In view of that, in Small Groups this week we will talk about the Kingdom of God as it relates to humility.  The Kingdom is something that seems so much bigger than us, but we can describe it in a very concrete and grounded way.  The Kingdom is not a property or piece of real estate, but God’s rule or reign over people.  We hear about it throughout Scripture; and in the Old Testament, there is a growing expectation that the Kingdom will come when the Messiah comes, ushered in through outward manifestations and signs.  John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of God was near, and people were looking for these outward signs.

When Jesus then comes on the scene, he teaches and ushers in a much different understanding of the Kingdom.  At the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, we hear the very first words of Jesus’ preaching: “This is the time of fulfillment; the Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).  According to Jesus, the Kingdom is here and now, but not just here in time, but here in this place!  When Jess says, “Repent and believe,” he’s suggesting that he’s ushering in a Spiritual Kingdom, not an outward manifestation but something that is more on the inside, within people’s hearts. 

Here in this one verse is defined what we want people to know and to do: know that the Kingdom is here; and so repent and believe.  Repentance is changing our loyalty to Jesus and his authority.  Why do we need to repent?  Well, since the beginning of this series we’ve been saying that humility is true knowledge of oneself.  In humility, we acknowledge that we all have sinned, and we have done so time and again.  We’ve said that humility is being grounded in the reality that there  is a God who alone is  perfect, and we are not God!  He alone is the Holy One.  We were created in God’s image and likeness, but because of sin there is a gap between God and us. 

We have to repent, and how do we do so?  First, we acknowledge that this gap exists.  By our own efforts we cannot bridge the gap between God’s perfection and holiness, and our sinful state.  Thanks be to God he draws near to us in the Person of Jesus Christ.  Second, Jesus then calls us to believe in the Gospel which means literally, “Good News.”  The Good News is that Jesus came to offer grace and forgiveness to everyone.  Through his death and resurrection, he actually exchanges his life with ours.  We don’t have to live under our authority anymore, because in Christ we are a new creation and death is defeated.  Living under Christ’s authority we find meaning and purpose within this great exchange. 

In all honesty, so many Christians still live, at least partly, under the authority of themselves.  All of us at times do what we want when we want.  When we accept repentance as a gift, then through this great exchange we find our greatest calling and purpose, to share the Good News with everyone.  The bottom line is that the Kingdom of God begins within the humble heart of a fully repentant and fully obedient follower of Jesus Christ.  So we can share this Good News by our own testimony, and in our own words!  Questions for Small Groups:    

1. Before reading this message, what were your initial thoughts/visualizations of the “Kingdom of God”?  Did they change at all? 
2. How is the “Kingdom of God” seen on the inside of a person? 
3. Read aloud Mark 1:15.  Repentance is described as a “change in loyalty/authority.”  Why do we need to repent? 
4. What is the good news that God asks us to share with others?
5. On a scale of 1-5, how surrendered are you to God’s will in your life? 
6. What is one sin you need to confess to God and repent of, so the Kingdom of God can be more present in you?  (If you feel comfortable, share with your group.)  What is a tangible step you can take toward repentance?  How can your group help you with this?

“Attitude Adjustment”

Week 3

the Comparison Trap

               We continue our Lenten series on humility.  If we can be humble, we can grow in so many ways: we can admit our mistakes; we can grow in patience, generosity, and every other virtue.  Last week we talked about listening to God and others as an expression of humility.  Today we’ll talk about praising others and celebrating their giftedness and wins.  Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less, including the ability to rejoice with others’ successes.  We might be good with this in one area of our lives but not another; for example, with praising your friends’ achievements; but then we get jealous with the success of the rivals of our favorite sports teams.  Sometimes, when we hear about the success of others, we honestly might feel bad about ourselves, and jealous in our hearts.  Then we so easily fall into what we can call the “comparison trap.”  

        Pastor Andy Stanley has said: “There is no win in comparison.”  Comparison is something we all do and can become stuck in, rooted in the sin of envy.  To discuss this topic in Small Groups, we’ll read a passage from the Gospel of John early on in Jesus’ ministry: Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing.  John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized for John had not yet been imprisoned (John 3:22-24).  Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist who later will be arrested by Herod.  This is the only mention in the Bible about Jesus and his disciples actually baptizing people, just like John.  Note that John the Baptist had his own disciples just as Jesus did.  Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.  So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him” (3:25-26).  There are great crowds going to see John, but at this point Jesus is becoming popular too.  We’re not sure what the dispute mentioned here is about.  John the Baptist’s followers appear to be getting jealous of Jesus’ growing popularity.  How does John respond?  John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven” (3:27).  John has done nothing wrong; he’s simply following God’s will.  “You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him” (3:28).  He has already said that he’s not the Messiah; and he has recognized in chapter 1 that Jesus is the Lamb of God.   He says: “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.  So this joy of mine has been made complete” (3:29).  John is not the groom at the wedding; he’s the best man.  He’s not envious of Jesus’ popularity.  He’s overjoyed at the coming of Jesus. 

Then famously John says: “He must increase; I must decrease” (3:30).  This is a verse that all of us should memorize and apply to our lives as Christ followers – Jesus must increase, and I must decrease.  So, in whatever area we are jealous and comparing ourselves with others, and whenever the feeling of jealousy and thoughts of comparison come up in our minds and hearts, we can say to ourselves that it’s not about me; I’m not going to go there.  Instead, I’m going to let Jesus increase in me because of their successes and I’m going to celebrate their successes and blessings – “He or she must increase; I must decrease.”  Questions for Small Groups:

1. With whom are you tempted to compare yourself?
2. Why is the ability to praise others an important step for growing in humility? 
3. Do you find it easy or difficult to praise other people’s accomplishments and successes?
4. Read aloud John 3:30.  What does that verse mean to you?
5. Is there any person you secretly enjoy seeing fail?  What can you do to extend grace to that person?
6. Have you ever worked or lived with someone who had to be at the center of attention all the time?   What was that like?

“Attitude Adjustment”

Week 2

Humility in Prayer

               In this series we’re talking about the surprising power of humility in our lives.  It’s something that can be overlooked because it doesn’t seem natural to most people; most people tend toward pridefulness, even people who appear to be humble.  Think of a person who may be a high achiever and has received accolades in business, health care athletics, teaching, art, music, public service, volunteering, but whose identity is entirely rooted in God and in others – that’s a humble person.

               If I’m honest, sometimes I want to be accepted; I want to be praised; and I want to look good.  If we’re not giving God glory and honor in our achievements, then even our good work can become an idol.  Various sinful behaviors are often hidden pridefulness.  For example, if we lie to cover up something or if we can’t admit we’re wrong, that’s pride; if we gossip to make ourselves feel better, that’s pride; if we always have to win the argument, that’s pride; if we think we’re better about somebody else because of our house, our car, or our athletic ability, that’s pride; if we constantly brag about our kids’ achievements, that’s pride.  On the other hand, pride can also mask itself as a lack of self-esteem, constantly focusing on how miserable we are.

               Humility is practiced by consciously and intentionally putting God and other people first.  The Litany of Humility, included in this week’s bulletin, is a famous prayer attributed to Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who served five Popes and who is thought to have been snubbed several times by powerful popes and cardinals during his career in the Vatican in the early 20^th century.  I invite you to say this Litany in a heartfelt way in your daily prayer during Lent.  In Scripture, humility is sometimes viewed as so important, that God will not hear us unless we are humble!  2 Chronicles say: If then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Notice the conditional statement “IF my people … humble themselves and pray.”  Pride seems to render our prayer ineffective!  In Isaiah God promises to be with the humble: For thus says the high and lofty One, the One who dwells forever, whose name is holy: I dwell in a high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, to revive the heart of the crushed (Isaiah 57:15).  God who dwells in heaven will be with contrite and lowly, but we have to be humble to receive and enter God’s presence! 

               Sometimes my prayer can be filled with distractions – just reading or saying prayers, going through the motions.  Authentic prayer is always humble in a desire to receive and respond to God’s offer of his grace.  Let’s practice that kind of prayer this Lent!  Questions for Small Groups:

1. Who do you know that is a humble person?  What are the qualities in him or her that you admire most?
2. Do you think that people are naturally humble or have to work at humility?  How do you “work” on humility?
3. Going through The Litany of Humility, which aspects of the prayer do you struggle with the most?  How possible do you think it is to achieve this level of humility?
4. What would it look like to go to God in humility during your prayer time?  Is there a particular space, posture or attitude that would facilitate humility for you?
5. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Isaiah 57:15. What is the condition under which God graces us with his presence and forgiveness?  Tell about a time when you were able to meet this condition.  Do you think that if you met this condition more often, you would feel God’s presence in your life more?  Is that something you desire?

 “Attitude Adjustment”

Week 1: Introduction

               We all need a bit of an attitude adjustment when it comes to humility.  There are a lot of misconceptions about humility.  Humility is not thinking less of yourself – it’s about thinking of yourself less.  Humility is learning to not put yourself as the center of attention, and it affects every other Christian virtue.  If I’m humble, I can admit my mistakes, grow in patience, be generous, praise others’ successes, put aside anger, lust, envy, and other vices; and grow in Christlikeness.  It can be incredibly hard to put our feelings, our thoughts, or our will aside for a moment to do what we know is right or needed.  Pastor Tim Keller has said that it’s not our feelings that hurt; it’s our pride and ego that really hurts at times.  We all have an ego.  When we learn to leave our ego at the door, we can grow to become the people God wants us to be.

Today we’re looking at a passage that teaches us an important lesson about our gifts and talents.  In Small Groups we’ll look at Daniel chapter 4.  At the time the best and brightest in Judea had been taken into exile in Babylon in the court of the king, Nebuchadnezzar, including Daniel who has the gift of interpreting dreams.  One day the king has a dream of a tall, majestic tree that reaches the heavens, and a voice ordering to cut the tree down to a stump.  The king asks Daniel to interpret the dream, and Daniel replies that it’s about him.  Read Daniel 4:24-26 – Daniel says that the king’s reign will be cut down, and he will become like an ox grazing in the field for a time, basically losing his mind.    

Daniel says to the king that this dream will not happen to him if he humbles himself by doing good deeds and serving the poor; if he does so then God will not cut him down.  Are we going to put our agenda aside to serve others or do good, or will we wait until God humbles us?  The king forgot or ignored what Daniel told him, and as a result he lost his mind, living like a beast in a field for 7 years as was predicted in the dream.  At the end however the king is humbled and accepts that everything is a gift from God: Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, all of whose works are right and ways just; and who is able to humble those who walk in pride (4:34).

We only have what we have because of God’s grace.  It doesn’t mean that we don’t work hard every day, but all is a gift in the end.  We all can be tempted to think that many different things are ours: our possessions, success, or accomplishments, to name a few.  The key to growing in humility is to regularly put our agenda aside to acknowledge that all things come from God.  Questions for Small Groups:

1. How would you define humility?
2.  When is a time when you saw the power of humility in your own life or in someone else’s?
3. What area of your life where you are tempted to be proud and forget that what you have comes from God?
4. When is a time you saw that if someone would just humble himself or herself, the situation would radically improve?
5. What good deeds can you do so that you humble yourself and put God’s agenda before your agenda?
6. Read aloud Daniel 4:25-26.  Why is it difficult at times do remember or believe that God gives power and authority?

“Deep Water”

Week 4 Results

               This is the last week of our series that’s about the disconnect between faith and life.  How do we connect what we do on Sunday with everything going on Monday through Friday?  I would like to point out the tremendous witness of love in our parish on the occasion of the loss of Kathy Goeke, a long-term parishioner who served at St. John’s as a Eucharistic Minister, former Faith Formation teacher, lector, Pastoral Council member, member of her Small Group, and most recently a hospitality minister.   Her witness of faith in service, prayer, and giving of herself is something to be celebrated and passed down.  To her husband Bill and her children and grandchildren – our deepest condolences on your loss.  Kathy will live on in you and through her amazing example of generosity, prayer, and service! 

So far, we’ve spoken of steps to bridge the gap between faith and life.  First, answer the Call, and renew that calling day by day with the One who calls.  Jesus desires that we know him as he knows us –not just as a nice idea, but as a Person.   Second, enter his Presence.  Thanks be to God he is close to us always!  We enter his Presence not just by saying prayers, but by regular commitment to prayer and worship: listening to him especially in his Word, participating in the Sacraments, and in devotions like Adoration and the Rosary.  Third, take Action.  We spoke of things like loving your enemies, turning the other cheek, giving to the poor.  Christian Love is not a feeling but is about our deeds and behaviors. 

Today we come full circle with the final step: Results.  In doing so I might sound like a demanding boss who pushes his employees so much that they’re in constant fear of being reprimanded or fired.  God is not that way and neither am I!  However, charity requires clarity.  The Word of God is clear that growth in faith demands bearing fruit.  If there is no fruit, there is something lacking, usually at the level of the mind and heart.  Today’s first reading is a kind of measuring stick when it comes to speech.  Sirach is one of the collection of books in the Old Testament often called Wisdom Literature.  Sirach offers practical wisdom, and today’s words truly put us to the test: When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks (Sirach 27:4).  The author uses the metaphor of a harvester using a sieve to separate the husks from the grains of wheat being harvested.  Our speech is a kind of sieve that can reveal our lesser nature.  All of us have said things we regret.  However, not everyone takes the time to show remorse or apologize if needed, and most importantly to examine where that speech comes from in one’s heart or mind.  As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just. (27:5).  The author uses another metaphor of a clay pot put into a hot furnace to be hardened.  If it cracks or shows damage, the potter’s shoddy work will be revealed.  Even the best of us in times of stress and tribulation can reveal our lesser selves in our speech.  

The passage continues: The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.  Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested (27:6-7).  I think of when I was first ordained a priest and how I constantly worried about being authentic when I was giving my homilies.  Each week I’d question whether I was just saying words or really communicating from the heart.  We can often tell what a person really means by their words, tone, and disposition: if they’re truthful or lying, sincere and genuine or not.  Sometimes a person says incorrect things because they have the wrong facts about the situation.  Other times it’s about their heart. 

Thanks be to God we can always seek the Holy Spirit to renovate and renew our minds and hearts!  You may feel guilty that you’ve spent your life with a disconnect between faith and life, and it has not borne fruit through habits like service, generosity, support of others, commitment to prayer, or sharing faith.  It may be a matter of taking time to reflect deeply, to examine ourselves, and to realize that no matter what, young or old, we can seek God’s wisdom to bear fruit, and it begins today.  Questions for Small Groups:

1. Growth in faith requires results.  Do you agree?  Does this sound harsh to you?
2. Tell about a time when you said something you regretted.  Did you take the time to examine where that speech came from?
3. How can you tell when a person is being genuine in their speech or not? 
4. Do you feel like your faith life has borne fruit?  What are those fruits?  If not, what element in your mind or heart was lacking or is lacking? 
5. Do you have regrets about your past life when it comes to faith?  Do you believe that anyone, young or old, can still bear fruit as a Christ-follower?  How can you begin bearing fruit today? 

Dear friends,

This is the last week that Heather Sparks is editing our Parish Bulletin.  For eight years, every week she has faithfully served our parish by preparing, drafting, and sending out the bulletin to be published by the Bonventure company.  She has recently moved out of the area with her family, and she has helped us with the transition by helping to train and welcome Daniella and Ronaldo onto our team.  I am so grateful for Heather’s great commitment to deadlines, her faithful reminders to me to keep me honest and accountable (!) and especially her incredible kindness and faith in action!  On behalf of the whole parish, thank you Heather from the bottom of our hearts!  Many blessings to you and your family always!

• Love, Fr. Reichlen

“Deep Water” Week 3

Faith in Action

               We are talking about the disconnect between faith and life.  Faith is meant to be deeply connected to our life Monday through Friday, but so often we experience a disconnect instead.  This series has been about how to bridge that gap.  Two weeks ago, we spoke about answering God’s calling to go out into deep waters, and day by day, week by week, year by year remember and answer that calling.  Where is God calling you right now in your life to go deeper?  Last week we spoke about God’s presence and learning to trust in him who is close to us especially through a daily habit of prayer.  Those who trust in God rather than solely in themselves or others are spiritually grounded and resilient. 

               We continue today with the next step, which is obvious but not easy, especially when there are people in our lives who have harmed us in words and deeds.  In Small Groups read 1 Samuel chapter 26.  In summary, this is a wonderful story about the relationship between David and King Saul.  At this point in David’s life, he is a fugitive on the run, pursued by the King who wants to murder him out of jealousy and rage.  Saul finds out that David is hiding out in a certain place in the countryside, so he leads a battalion of soldiers, along with his general Abner, to camp in the area David and his friends are hiding.  David sends out spies and receives news that Saul and his army are approaching, so he remains in hiding; and then he and one of his captains, Abishai, sneak into Saul’s camp at night.  They find the entire camp in a deep sleep.  As they approach the place Saul is sleeping, Abishai whispers to David that he can kill Saul, but David forbids it: “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and remain innocent?” (1 Sam 26:9).  Only God determines when the King will die.  Instead, they steal Saul’s spear and water jug, so that the camp will know they were there.

               The rest of the story unpacks the meaning.  David retreats to a distant hilltop where he cries out and wakes up the entire camp.  He taunts Abner for not doing his job of keeping watch over the king.  More importantly, David gets Saul’s attention.  Saul recognizes David’s voice, and he is remorseful for his pursuit of David.  David shows the king his spear and says: “The LORD repays everyone’s righteousness and faithfulness.  Although the LORD delivered you into my hands today, I could not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed.  Just as I regarded your life as precious today, so may the LORD regard my life as precious and deliver me from all dangers.”  Saul then replies: “Blessed are you, my son David! You shall certainly succeed in whatever you undertake” (1 Sam 26:23-25).  David is blessed by God for showing mercy to King Saul his enemy.

               Saul is the King’s anointed one, chosen by God; and in Christ all of us have a dignity.  In the celebration of baptism, we become the anointed of the Lord, just like the kings of old.  What does this have to do with putting our faith into action?  It means being aware of our dignity and that of others.  Sometimes it means serving the poor and those in need around us.  Other times it means withholding criticism or retaliation even if we have the chance to get back at somebody.  St. Paul’s advice comes to mind: Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  Rather, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.”  Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).  Questions for Small Groups:

1. When you have a conflict with someone, how do you tend to react?  Do you have a habit of wanting to retaliate? 
2. Who are or who have been the “King Saul’s” in your life who have pursued you?  Is it challenging to recognize that they are the “Lord’s anointed,” that they have a dignity regardless of their behavior? 
3. Have you ever had the chance to get revenge but chose not to?  What was the result? 
4. The core of Catholic Social Teaching is respect for human dignity, whether it’s the unborn in the womb or the immigrant.  Is there a “David” that you are “pursuing” by your negative judgements just because of their race, language, lifestyle, or political preferences?  Are you challenged like King Saul to repent of this way of thinking? 
5. How can you put mercy into action this week among family and friends, or in the community?