• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Editorial - Op Ed
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Search

Daily Scripture

+ 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Be wise but don’t be a ‘wise guy!’

Readings: I Corinthians 3:18-21 Psalm 24:1-4, 5-6 Luke 5:1-11

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: “God catches the wise in their own ruses,” and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that are vain.”

Wisdom (Sophia) is a feminine attribute of God. True wisdom is rooted in deep faith and an abiding confidence in God’s abiding presence in all of creation and in the depth of our being. Wisdom comes from study, prayer and from the daily effort to live in God’s grace with Jesus as our mentor. Reason without faith leads to rationalization of our wants and desires. Reason combined with faith moves us to contemplation and moves us to probe and ponder the greatest mysteries of life that exceed the power of the human intellect to explicate or explain. That’s why poets, artists and composers are enable us to comprehend the qualities of God in nature, in the human body and in the qualities of a life lived in union with ultimate truth and beauty.

So we need to go to our prayer chair for at least twenty minutes at the beginning and end of every day. We need to walk among the trees and along the sea. We need to listen to music that stirs the soul and sing songs that touch the heart.

Only then can we be thoughtful people of measured speech and positive deeds.

Ash Wednesday 2009

Wednesday February 25, 2009

+ Ash Wednesday

It’s a season of grace and opportunity.

Readings: Joel 2:12-18 2 Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17 Cor. 5:20-6:2 Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

“Lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for “lengthen.” We are already ‘tilting’ toward spring and the days are getting noticeably longer. In just a few weeks our clocks will be pushed ahead so that the daylight hours at least in the northern hemisphere will seem even longer. Although we are sure to have a few bouts of bitter weather but as the sun moves higher on the horizon, the soil will soften and the buds on the trees will thicken waiting for the sap to rise so that they can blossom once again.

It is a time to make fertile the soil in which God’s Word can be sown in our minds and hearts. I think this means doing away with so-called entertainment that distorts truth and beauty and distracts from the core of Christ’s message of unbiased and indiscriminate love.

It’s a time to moderate our excesses and to live more modestly in a world of plenty in which more demands more. The economy will not fold if with live within our means and if those with means give more generously to those who through no fault of their own are without means. In fact, for many of us, less can be more than enough.

Eliminate from your life whatever detracts from living more authentically and with greater integrity. If you have been over indulging in food, cut back and eat healthy. If you have been over indulging in drink, cut back and drink healthy. Stop gossiping and try to be more patient with your children or your parents or your co-workers or whomever. If you have been grouchy in the morning because you are not getting enough sleep, go to bed earlier. If you are one who has an opinion on everything but haven’t done your homework, then close your mouth and do your homework and do a lot more listening. Don’t try to accomplish everything. Select your sacrifices and be generous to them.

So Lent is a time not of punishment but a time for renewal in preparation for the feast of the Resurrection. People who are into holistic health understand the importance of the blend of physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Put your house in order and readjust your priorities.

If Lent works this year, then you will want to continue to live “Lent” all year.