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January 26, 2003
Life Lessons, Assessments and Transformations
You who are by nature sensitive souls might have observed that I am walking with a limp. Three weeks ago Father Mendez had a limp because he sprained his knee while gardening. Last week Sister Benedict had a limp, because she turned her ankle in the parking lot. Now this week it is my turn. Some say that Santa Claus should not bring gifts of liquor to the rectory or the convent! This weekend the church also celebrates St. Paul and his conversion, which happened when he fell off his horse. Who knows if there may be a hidden message of repentance in all of these falls.
I wanted to share a little about my case. Last Friday it was a cold but beautiful day and up in Liberty, Pennsylvania, there were blue skies, the sun was shining and snow was all over the place making it perfect for skiing. I have been in physical fitness training since the beginning of the year because I am aware of the fact that next month I turn 59 and I wanted the body of a 30-year-old. I have never felt so fit as I scaled the expert slopes. On the last run of the day at the bottom of the hill there was a big drop and I did not land gracefully.
I then did all the wrong things. I continued skiing because I felt no pain. When I got home I applied heat and used an arthritic pain lotion that gives more heat. At 2:00 AM Saturday morning, my knee looked like a small football and by the evening a bigger football. When I woke up I thought there goes my physical fitness-training program since I can't run. I also remembered Tiger Woods, his injured knee and the speculation whether he will get his game back again. With all these clouds, I think, "maybe I am turning 59 after all". I received no consolation at the Polka Party last night when a man told me, "You are too old for skiing".
So pride goes before a fall. I learned that when you are crossing the street and dragging your leg, it takes a lot more time and attention. I will have a little more compassion for those that have to watch for traffic all the time. A silver lining at the edge of this cloud was having not to dance with Sr. Benedict last night at the Polka Party!
St. Paul falling off a horse or other events that occur bring moments of inner reflection. St. Ignatius got injured in battle and developed a new army, the Jesuits, while he was recovering. The Gospel today is filled with transformations. Fishermen get a call that suddenly changes their lives completely. Fishing probably seemed very pedestrian to them from then on. Jonah was called to be a prophet even though he did not want to be a prophet. He was perfectly content with being a good religious devout Jew with a conviction that if you were Jewish you were saved. He had no intention of going to the people of Nineveh, those foreigners and strangers, to bring them the message of salvation. That was not on his agenda. What happened to him? He was aboard a ship and there was a big storm. . He was thrown overboard, swallowed up by a whale that spat him on the shore where he was to preach the word of God anyway. He is wonderfully successful. Not only the individual people of Nineveh but the king himself is in sackcloth and ashes. They repent, change their lives and experience salvation. Who is unhappy? Jonah. That is because he didn't want them to receive the message of salvation in the first place. So God has to do a little talking with him.
In our lives there is a call for all of us, however it may come, to reassess where we are in life's journey. What is it all about, what gives your life purpose or meaning? As the poster says, "Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits". We are called to sit down every so often to take a moment to reevaluate.
An 8th grader from St. Charles School considering the call to be confirmed writes:
"I am looking forward to become a confirmed candidate of the church. I know that upon being confirmed the Holy Spirit will be strengthened within me. I know that this new strength will support me as I do God's will. I also want to be confirmed because people will look at me in a different way as an adult when I go to church.
To the members of the Catholic Church, I bring friendship and company. I believe it is great gift to know how to make a friend but also to gain friendship. To Jesus Christ, I bring the power of prayer. Through prayer I talk and listen to Jesus and I pray for others. To prepare for my confirmation, I will do 20 hours of community service. Nine hours, which I have already completed. I also will try to be more dedicated to God and God's will. The name I would like to receive in confirmation is Luke. I think Luke is a great example for me; he evangelized the word of God. Luke was not only an apostle of Jesus but he was a doctor. For now as I conclude this letter, I pray for loving guidance of the Holy Spirit and for a great confirmation. Thank you Father Creedon for taking the time to read my letter."
The letter is framed by the rosary. Whether you are an adolescent in life wondering who you want to be, what confirmation name you choose or whatever juncture you are in life's path, we are all called to transformation, to change, to reassessment, and to hear the voice of the Lord in all of the events of our life. Let's say yes with more clarity today as we hear this word.
For my part getting rid of some false pride and maybe learning a little humility and compassion are not easy lessons. They take patience.
* * *
February 9, 2003
Honoring and Celebrating World Marriage Day
Listening closely to today's readings you might ask why they were chosen for the readings on World Marriage Sunday. These readings are a description of misery and illness. Among the sick are those possessed by demons, which is probably another way of talking about schizophrenia.
"Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? I have been assigned months of misery and troubled nights have been allotted to me. When shall I arise? Then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope. My life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again?"
My task is to tie this misery together with World Marriage Day.
To focus on Christian marriage I invite a couple, Debby and Eric, to come forward and share with us some of their insights about matrimony and how we can support this sacrament as a church.Eric: Good morning. My name is Eric West and this is my wife Debby. We are here this morning to tell you about the ministries supporting the sacrament of marriage, which are available to you in our parish.
All of us who are working in these ministries along with the Pastoral Team are committed to helping the married couples in our parish to be strong witnesses to the truth about the family in a society, which doesn't encourage such love.
Debby: As the Holy Father said recently in an address to the fourth world meeting of families: "Above all, be 'good news' for the 3rd millennium by remaining faithful to your vocation. Whether you were married recently or many years ago, the sacrament of matrimony continues to be your own special way of being disciples of Jesus.
"The grace received in marriage remains with couples through the years and helps you in the face of inevitable trials. It is the grace of a selfless love which forgives the hurt it has suffered, a love faithful unto death, a love bursting with new life."
Eric: Retrouvaille, a ministry in which Deb and I are serving, describes four stages in a marriage: romance, disillusionment, misery and re-discovery. These stages can cycle many times in a marriage.
St. Charles has programs, which support you in every stage of your marriage. These programs are detailed in today's bulletin. We want to go over each briefly. Deb and I will be in the cafeteria after mass in case you have further questions about any of these ministries.
Debby: Let's start with the romance stage of marriage. St. Charles has two programs: the Pre-Cana process, which is a 6-month program required by the diocese, and the Engaged Couple Sponsor Couple Program. This is a very special program where a married couple takes an engaged couple under their wing and the two couples go through a series of meetings where they explore the trials and joys of a committed Christian marriage.
Eric: Next we come to the disillusionment and misery stages of a marriage. Retrouvaille is a program geared toward the couple that is stuck in this stage. The word "retrouvaille" loosely translated means to discover a treasure that you lost. So Retrouvaille gives hurting couples a chance to rediscover each other and work on restoring a loving marital relationship. The program consists of a live-in weekend and 6 follow-up sessions. Retrouvaille is available not only to couples who are together, but also separated or divorced couples who want to give their marriage another try.
Debby: For couples in the fourth stage of marriage, there is the marriage encounter program. This is a chance for couples in strong marriages to build up and revitalize their bond as they experience intimate communication, a strengthened relationship and renewed commitment. It consists of a weekend and then voluntary support groups which meet on a regular basis.
Eric: Last is the St. Charles marriage circle. This is a group which welcomes married couples of all ages and stages. In our circle we have couples that have been married for a few months to couples with 40+ year marriages. As a matter of fact, we should probably put in a plug here for CYA because 3 of our circle couples met at a CYA activity!
The St. Charles marriage circle meets once a month to share scripture, fellowship and social activities. Our hope is that more marriage share circles will evolve, perhaps one in each neighborhood.
Debby: So there you have it. As Eric said earlier, we will be in the cafeteria after mass to answer questions you may have about any of these ministries. We also invite couples who are present today and who belong any of these ministries to come to the cafeteria and help us out.
I'd like to close with another quote from the Holy Father: "Such a [selfless] love is not always easy. Daily life is full of pitfalls, tensions, suffering and even fatigue. But on this journey you are not alone. Jesus is always present at your side."
Thank you, Father Gerry, for allowing us this time.
Thank you Eric and Debby and thanks to all sponsor couples who are involved in so many different programs.
In the cafeteria after Mass, a couple came up to me to share the following experience, "We were just married when my husband was diagnosed with a serious pancreatic condition. I spent the first two months of my marriage not working but at the hospital helping to take care of him. After two months the doctor called me in to ask my plans. I asked him what he meant and he asked if was going to get divorced or annulled? I asked the Doctor, "Did you find a return ticket inside when you did surgery, because I didn't find a return ticket outside. I think I have him for good."
For the doctor it was inconceivable that the husband would recover or that he would be a lifetime companion for this young woman. She was of the mind that it was for better or worse. Of course he recovered and they were happily renewing their vows yesterday at St Charles.
Relationships can be stressed by illness. That's why in the movie, "A Beautiful Mind", we just marveled at the fact that they stayed together even though he was afflicted by demons (schizophrenia). Of course, the movie was romanticized because in the book you find out that she actually left him for a long period of time. When my sister and I watched that movie, she cried and I came close to tears. We have a brother who does have schizophrenia, and his wife never left him.
While it is beautiful to focus on all the joys of marital bliss, sometimes our relationships are tested and grow into commitment and renewed dedication through times of stress. In times of joy and in times of misery, Christian marriage proclaims love 'for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health, till death do us part'. It is a unique kind of loving.
* * *
February 23, 2003
Forgiveness as the Power of Healing and Saying Yes to God
I have an old friend who had a falling out with the management of a certain golf club. It was twenty years ago. He still will not play golf there. A mutual friend commented, "All those years that old man has carried that baggage around on his shoulders. Isn't it time that he let it go?" We all get involved in situations where we forgive, yet carry the baggage around because we can't forget.
The first reading tells us how God deals with us, "I who wipe out for my own sake your offenses. Your sins I remember no more." God has amnesia about our sins. When we keep the memory, we may dump that baggage on someone at an inappropriate time. To let go and move on in forgiveness brings a healing that we all need.
Today's Gospel speaks physical and spiritual healing. As a church we not only have the sacrament of forgiveness but we also have the anointing of the sick, our sacrament of healing. Sometime ago, Fr. Mendez and I thought we should take the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the oil of chrism form where they are hidden in the sacristy and place them at the entrance of the church. Today we place one of those containers in the sanctuary for all to see.
Oil has two different meanings in the church's life. It has healing as one of its primary meanings. In the old days if someone was dying we called in a Priest to administer the last rites. It was a private event. Today we imitate what we see in the Gospel. As the friends of the paralytic opened up the roof and helped organize for the healing of Jesus, so are we all called to help.
The church participates here through our Circle of Caring when someone is dying, seriously ill, or praying for recovery. The entire church prays. The family is invited to participate with the priest around the sick bed. Oil is rubbed on the person's forehead, hands, and feet as a sign that the healing power of Jesus is continued in and through the church.
But oil has a second meaning. It is not an accident that oil is a dimension of the crisis in the Middle East. Iraq is a country laden with oil. Oil is energy and power.
Baptism is called a Christening. The oil of chrism is given to a new member in the power of the spirit. In the sacrament of confirmation n our young people are sealed on the forehead by the bishop with the same oil. The spirit empowers for service. In ordination the priest is anointed similarly with the oil of chrism. The power of the spirit is for service not control.
In the liturgies today we are called to say yes to these two dimensions of oil, healing and service.
The second reading says don't say yes and no. Say yes. Eighth Grade candidates for confirmation share their reasons for saying yes to their baptismal identity:
One young lady writes: "There are two reasons I want to be confirmed. The first reason is that my parents are making me do it. I really like hanging out with my friends during confirmation class but I would not be doing it if I were not made to. I am glad I'm doing it though because I am getting closer to God. Being confirmed will not only make me a better Catholic but also a better person because I have spiritual beliefs. I have been told one religion is as good as another but I think this religion is good for me. My parents just want me to have a good environment to put me on the right track during my life. I guess that is a good thing to have me do. It is sort being pushed on me but I think it is good for me too."
Another letter from someone a little further along the path to a whole-hearted 'yes' is a young boy who writes: "Confirmation is an important step in anyone's life. It is one of the most important milestones in one's life. I also see it as a sign to the church that you are responsible for your actions. Confirmation grants you a deeper understanding of the world around us. It is the way you mature in God's eyes. I want to be confirmed for several reasons. I think the most important reason is to be in touch with God in a deeper religious sense. Unanswered questions are answered; hidden things are made seen. When you need guidance God will offer advice through your Patron Saint. God created the sacrament of confirmation so people could not only hear the word but also understand it. Another reason is protection and guidance. When you are choosing a Patron Saint, you are choosing a guardian and mentor. Someone you look up to as a guide and protector. The saint you choose affects your decisions and your actions. Your saint is a friend and a teacher.
The last reason I want to be confirmed is to complete the initiation into the Catholic Church. I have been baptized, received the Eucharist, and am now going to become confirmed. Upon the completion of these steps, I will be a full member of the Catholic Church. I will be a full member of God's family. I will be able to talk to him and fully understand his word. Being confirmed is the end of the first journey but the beginning of next. You are now in the church on your own. Not quite but you have your saint to guide you and God watching over you. You are protected."
Beautiful expressions of faith by 8th Graders!
Their thoughts challenge all of us wherever we might be on our journey. Whether you got up for Mass today a little reluctantly, or eagerly to praise God, or somewhere in between, you are challenged by the word to say yes. Say yes to the healing power of Christ manifested through the sacraments of forgiveness and anointing. You are called to say yes to the power of the spirit you received in your Christening and Confirmation.
The structure of the Eucharist calls each of us to say yes each week. Think about it. The next thing you will do in today's Mass is to profess your faith. Saying yes, this is who I am. Then you follow up your words with the offering of gifts when you sacrificially give, to compensate for the snow last Sunday and to support the mission of the church. We commit in concrete ways.
You especially say yes through the old word 'Amen'. We acclaim the Great Amen at the end of the long Eucharist prayer. We say yes or Amen as a community. Then you say yes individually as you come before the altar. The priest proclaims, "The body of Christ". You respond, "Amen", "yes"; not yes and no or maybe but yes.
* * *
March 2, 2003
Choosing Peaceful Alternatives to War
"I will espouse you in right and justice, in love and mercy" Hosea.
We are poised to fight Iraq. Pope John Paul appeals for an Ash Wednesday of prayer and fasting for peace: "The future of humanity will never be assured by terrorism and the logic of war".
There are those who argue for military action. They say the just war tradition was suited to a different world of wars between nation states. The old wineskins will not hold the menacing wine of terror. Force is necessary to win a war between good and of evil. In the myth of redemptive violence, God is not neutral. War will win security at home. It will banish cowardice and the appeasement of tyranny. It will disarm Saddam and control terror. It will give birth to democracy and human rights, a land flowing with milk and honey and oil! The freedom it will bring to the Iraqi people will be contagious in the region.
There are those who argue against military action. They question the promised consequences. Could Saddam escape, as did Bin Laden? Might Baghdad resemble the urban warfare of Somalia, which at the time soured the US appetite for nation building? Have we accurately counted the human cost to American lives? Of Iraqi lives? Might the "awe and shock" (Pentagon term) of overwhelming force produce hatred and a new crop of terrorists? Is fighting Iraq the right place or method to combat terror? If we threaten the use of tactical nuclear bombs, how can we argue against the production and possession of weapons of mass destruction by others? If we engage in a pre-emptive unilateral strike, do we destabilize the international community? Will the many billions spent buy greater security?
There are no easy solutions and people of good conscience can come to different conclusions.
Our Catholic Church increasingly comes down on the side of peaceful solutions. "War is no longer an apt means of resolving conflict", ("Pacem in Terris, The Encyclical Letter of Pope John XXIII on Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty, April 11, 1963"). "War is always a defeat for humanity" ("State of the World, Address to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Vatican, January 13, 2002, Pope John Paul II). Instead we need to strengthen international treaties, an international criminal court and structures such as the UN. We need a vigorous development commitment to erode the base of terrorism, hunger and the alarming increase in global inequity.
From my years near the Haitian Border with the Dominican Republic, I recall the response of the people to the Americans I worked with in the field of development, human rights and ministry. We were called "Los ojos azules" (the blue eyes) and were reverenced and loved. This outreach developed a reservoir of goodwill and longtime security.
We need to spread democracy not at the point of the sword, but through the painstaking work of civic education. We need a renewal of understanding of the legitimate aspirations of cultures and religions to maintain their integrity in a secularizing world. We need a new commitment not to the containment but to the abolition of all nuclear weapons and the restoration of broken treaties. At the close of the Cold War, Michail Gorbachov called for their abolition by the year 2000. We need to renew the commitment to diplomacy and statecraft to renew world coalitions in favor of security and human rights. We cannot be a church that promotes human life and cleanses itself of the crime of the abuse of children and stay silent about the human costs of collateral damage. 'The battle for peace is a battle for life ("State of the World," Address to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Vatican, January 13, 2002, Pope John Paul II). "Development is the new name for peace. If you want peace, work for justice (Message Of His Holiness Pope Paul VI For The Celebration Of The Day Of Peace 1 January 1972).
This reflection is related to Lent and Easter; it is a time when we renew our baptismal dedication to Christ. When the disciples wanted to uproot the weeds saying, "an enemy has done this", the Master counseled, "let them grow together till the harvest". Let us leave final judgment about who is good and evil to God. "It was said of old, 'an eye for an eye'; I say, ' offer no resistance to injury' ". 'Blessed are the peace makers.' To Peter he said, 'put up the sword, those who live by the sword will die by the sword'. His last will was: 'That they all may be one'. His cross was his witness to the power of non-violent suffering love. It would be the sign of reconciliation. His Easter greeting is "Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam."
Let us find the wine of freedom in the new wineskin of peace.
Texts for Pope John Paul's statements and Bishop Gregory's February 26 statement are available on the St. Charles website or see www.usccb.org/sdwp or www.zenit.orgComments are welcome at: gerrycreedon@erols.com.