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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.

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

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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.

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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

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

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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.

Good Friday 2009

Friday April 10, 2009

Just another day on the landscape of humanity?

Readings: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 Hebrews 4:14-46; 5:7-9 John 18:1-19, 42

Christ became obedient for us even to death on a cross. [Philippians 2:5]

If ‘good comes from the word “God,” then today is “God’s Friday.” For many it is the beginning of the Easter holidays. Some offices and most schools are closed. Packing day. Off to the islands or to Florida for ‘spring break.’ Happy Holidays! Let Good Friday be good!

As with every exaggeration, there is an element of truth to the celebratory nature of the ‘feast.’ As believers, we have a right, indeed, an obligation to be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus’ life which, we were taught, saved us from our sins and won our redemption.

But there is a deeper reality that I believe we need to ponder. It is the reality of the choice that believers face every day of our lives. It is the choice to ‘listen’ to the voice of God within our deepest selves or to tune it out.

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians that Jesus was “obedient unto death.” The word obey shares a common root with the Latin word, audire, i.e., to ‘listen.’ Jesus listened to ‘Abba,’ his Father, who told him that he must be faithful to goodness and ‘godness’ though it cost him his life. God did not will the death of his Son. He willed that he live his humanity to the fullest. It was because he was so faithful to the spirit of the ancient law that he was rejected by the proponents of the law.

This is a dayto ponder all that we live for or perhaps to ask, “what do we live for?” What is the driving force that bids us rise each day? To what or to whom are we omitted as Christians in the Catholic tradition? Money? Status? Power? Title? Or truth, integrity and the pursuit of what is right and just for humanity.

Let us go together into the garden and ponder these hidden realities.

“We adore you O Christ and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.”