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

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

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.

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.'

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

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.

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.

Search

Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Saturday June 30, 2007

+ Saturday, 12th in Ordinary Time

A little hospitality, please.

Readings: Genesis 18:1-15 Responsorial: Luke 1:46-55 Matthew 8:5-17

“At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah dissembled, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh.’ But he replied, ‘Yes you did.’” [Genesis 18:14-15]

You need to read, of course, the entire passage to get the gist and understand the message. It’s part of the longer story of Abraham, “our father in the faith” and Sarah, our “mother” in the faith. Yes, I think that Sarah must be named as such with Abraham. Why not? It was she who bore Isaac in her elder years. And yes, wouldn’t you laugh if someone told you a ninety year old woman was going to have a baby, notwithstanding the wonders of modern bio-technology?

At root, this story is about hospitality and faith and the ability to trust that welcoming the ‘stranger’ on to our turf can give birth to new visions and dreams and uncover hidden realities that can chart a new future.

No, I’m not suggesting that we go out into the streets and invite the first stranger to your table. That’s lunacy! However, I think we could take the risk of ‘engagement’ with the stranger. By this I mean to lighten up and smile. Open up to a little spontaneous conversation with someone while your waiting to check out on the grocery line or at the gas pump or on the elevator. Some people will ignore you. Most will not.

When I’m on the elevator at Morristown Memorial Hospital with one of the maintenance crew or a medical technician, I ask, “Do you own this place?” The responses are interesting ranging from, “I wish I did” to “I’m glad I don’t.” Sometimes the conversation continues outside the elevator and we discover that we share some concerns about medicine and the care of patients.

We are living in a barbaric world that is becoming more and more vulgar in discourse. I think we need more ‘tone setters’ such and you and me to facilitate a change in attitudes. New attitudes can begin with a smile followed by a laugh or two.