“Becoming a father is easy enough; but being one can be tough.”
- Wilhelm Busck (1832-1908)
Recently while I was at the Little Sisters of the Poor, I was speaking with Bishop Zubik’s father, Stanley Zubik, affectionately known as “Stush.” I usually stop in his room after visiting Mom and share my world with him, updating him on my weekly itinerary, such as worldly events, Diocesan happenings, parish activities, and family news. He especially enjoys friendly banter about the Pittsburgh sports teams. He regularly gives me newspaper clippings from articles he thinks are good including ones by my favorite author, Bishop Bob Morneau, from “The Compass,” a Catholic paper in Green Bay, WI. I told him that I would be travelling to Mt. St. Mary Seminary for a retreat this week, and he spoke of the spiritual giant in his own life for whom he was named, Msgr. Stanislaus R. Labujewski, commonly called “Msgr. Labbie.”
For over 5 decades the Monsignor served Ambridge as the pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish for a total of 56 years. Wow! To be a priest for 56 years is itself a miracle, but to serve only one flock is amazing. He knew all the stories of countless generations and was in fact, a spiritual father, mentor, guide, teacher, and exemplary role model. His life was entwined with people of various ages and was rich and fulfilling. They knew him, and he knew them. There is a towering monument in Good Samaritan Cemetery in Ambridge atop the mountainside depicting Christ, the Good Shepherd tending his sheep. That monument stands as a tribute to the Msgr. Labbie, buried there, whose steady, constant, faithful fatherhood planted imperishable and incorruptible seeds that nourished spiritual life, growth and maturity. When you enter you cannot help but see this tall monument of a towering person who has graced so many generations. Here, the shepherd lies in eternal rest among those he served in life, his very own sheep. So, both in life and in death they are wedded together as they walked as God’s children seeking to do His will on earth.
As I go to the “Mount” this week, I will visit the cemetery and pay my respects to Fr. Thomas J. Byrd, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who taught me homiletics. He was laid to rest there in 2000. He would always say, “Gentlemen, remember you only have 7 minutes in your homily to make them laugh cry and feel religious. The more you do that, the more they will be touched by God’s grace, presence and love.”
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity, the birthday, of St. John the Baptist, the prophet who foretold the coming of Christ. He is one of my favorite saints. He tops the list. I like him because he was an important person in salvation’s history and knew his place. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first of the New Testament — a bridge builder — and was in many ways, outstanding. He was a prophet, a preacher, a disciple and a martyr. John didn’t try to impress or pretend to be important. He didn’t sugar-coat anything. His candor and direct style prepared the way of the Lord. “Too much honey is bad for you and so is trying to win too much praise” (Proverbs 25:27).
His birth coincides with the summer solstice which, this year, is celebrated on June 20 in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice comes from 2 Latin words -- “sol” meaning sun and “stitium” meaning to stand still. It’s the time of the year when the sun is at the greatest distance from the equator. It is the time when it appears that the sun has stopped moving and is higher in the sky, thus the daylight time is the longest and the nighttime is the shortest. After this zenith point of the solstice, the daytime light begins to decrease as we draw closer to the birthday of Christ on December 25.
Things seem brighter on the inner landscape of our lives when we are surrounded by light. Summer is a season of light and we are called to witness to the Light. As a hospital chaplain for many years, I was amazed at how many people waited for the first streams of daylight as a welcoming of brighter hope. When we share the light of other believers, it brightens the path of faith.
John the Baptist is more than an “Advent prophet.” In all 4 of the Gospels, John is seen as the “best man” and not the bridegroom. He is a herald not the “main event.” John is a “voice” not the Word. John was a signpost to direct people — not to himself, but to the One coming after him. John baptizes with water, Jesus with the Holy Spirit. John points the way to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose coming brings light to all the nations. When we believe in Jesus we are freed from the discouragement of spiritual paralysis by being freed from sin — the cause of all evil. Jesus frees us from sin, selfishness, and death. For the Jewish people, the lamb is primarily the Passover lamb, the ultimate symbol of freedom. John harkens and summons us to repentance and belief in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
How well do we prepare the way of the Lord by pointing others to Christ? Each of us must be a signpost on the journey leading others in the right direction by the good choices that we make. “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (Proverbs 20:30). John teaches us the great lesson of humility. Christ must increase, and sin and selfishness must decrease in us. John the Baptist proclaimed, regarding Jesus and himself: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).
There is a continuous call to conversion in every season of our lives. We are to follow in John’s footsteps and prepare the way for Christ by burning brightly with the love of God as we celebrate John’s birth. May his birth bring blessings to our discipleship. May you enjoy all the blessings summer affords!
Prayer for Summer Blessings
Creator of all, thank You for summer! Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight. Thank You for the beauty I see all round me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation. Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season. Draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing. Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel. As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
- Unknown
