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

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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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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 May 9, 2009

+ 4th Week of Easter

We’re destined to be sons and daughters of God.

Readings: Acts 13:44-52 Psalm 98:1-4 John 14:7-14

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these because I am going to the Father. [John 14:12]

This is not a new teaching. We learned about our ‘adoption’ as “children of God” in our elementary catechism. It’s not complicated. Jesus is not only the example and model but he is the exemplar of what we can become over time as we come to know him—not just know about him.

This is what John the Evangelist meant when he quotes the words of Jesus, “whoever believes in me….” It is one thing to believe what Jesus said and quite another to believe IN Jesus..

Of course these are not Jesus exact words. Writing almost ninety years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, John is reconstructing Jesus words in the light of the oral and written traditions passed down to him. John came to the conclusion that Jesus was in God and God was in him and that we are also destined to be in God and God in us.

People who believe IN Jesus begin to think like Jesus and act like Jesus. But this is more than a matter of adopting cute phrases such as WWJD (What would Jesus do?) It is rather the creative application of Jesus’ teaching in our own time and place.

Jesus din not have a computer and certainly did not have the skills that you and I have. Therefore, Jesus states with justification that we will do greater works than he.

Pentecost is the assurance that Jesus did not leave us orphans. The gifts of the Spirit have been given to us to empower us to live the Gospel in new and exciting ways as we face new circumstances amidst changing times.

Many of our Church leaders out of fear have tried to limit the work of the Holy Spirit as she breathes among the faithful.