“The Lord of all is not afraid of anyone, no matter how great he is, He Himself made everyone, great and common alike, and He provides for all equally.”
-Wisdom 6:7
As the men were erecting the tents for our parish festival, with soaring temperatures and high humidity, they were parched with great thirst. I offered a gallon of water and several cups to quench their thirst. Their music was reverberating across the buildings with pulsating new generational music.
A dear friend, Sr. Melannie Svoboda, a great author, teacher, retreat master and inspirational writer from Chardon, OH journeyed 2 hours and 20 minutes to have lunch with the staff and visit me. We stood under one of the booths and recorded the weekly “Minute Message”. I conveyed to her that the parish festival is the single largest evangelization event each year in our parish. For it brings together Catholics and non-Catholics, former parishioners and new parishioners, young and old, neighbors and visitors, festival-hoppers and passers-by. It reminded me of the words of long-time parishioner, Mrs. Borden, “let the fun begin”!
Of course, the external motivation of having a festival is to increase revenue of the parish to help the budget and to pay bills. However, the interior motivation is most necessary, bringing people together, forging relationships, building community, serving one another, seeing and supporting one another along the journey and having fun.
Sr. Melannie relayed the story that in the early 80’s she was attending Duquesne University to study Spirituality of Human Formation under the direction of the late Fr. Adrian Van Kaam, CSSP and Dr. Susan Muto. She was residing with the Benedictine Sisters in West View at the time.
She is an avid Cleveland sports fan and it was difficult living in ‘enemy territory’ here in Pittsburgh. Thankfully she survived. Sr. Melannie gave us her blessing on the festival, but not on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It reminds me of the story of a sports fan in Cleveland who was strolling along the beach when he spotted a bottle floating in Lake Erie. He searched and fished for the bottle from the lake and suddenly opened it and lo and behold, a genie popped out. Now a genie is one in fables and stories who is confined to a lamp or bottle and grants the wishes of whoever releases him. The genie said “’Master’ you have released me from the bondage in this bottle, ask any three wishes and I will grant them to you.” So the man thought for a moment and remarked “I would like the following three things to happen this year: 1) The Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl; 2) The Cleveland Indians win the World Series; 3) The Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Title.” The genie then thought about this for a brief moment… and then jumped back into the bottle.
In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus sends out the 72, two-by-two, andin Luke 10: 17-20, the 72 return with great joy. It was 20 centuries ago that Jesus summons 72 committed people and sent them two-by-two to communicate God’s love: to bind up wounds and to be peacemakers in a troubled world. Through the gift of Baptism, we are all called to the universal call to embrace Jesus’ mission and ministry. As we listen carefully to the Holy Spirit, He will reveal His plan for our lives.
1. Travel light—less is best. We are freer and can go faster when life is uncluttered and unburdened.
2. Travel undistracted. Don’t have an overload or be overwhelmed. Just take what you really need.
3. Visit each person with “Shalom”, a greeting of peace. To be at peace with God, oneself and others and even to be at peace with one’s enemies. The goal of each day should be striving for peace.
4. Move purposely and with a sense of direction—The gold of life is in the goals that we set for ourselves. Sometimes we live with the illusion that the grass is greener on the other side, but there is still grass to cut there too.
5. Accept what is offered you—Be grateful, be content with the small acre that God has entrusted to you in your lifetime, be satisfied.
6. When rejected from one town or home, shake it off and let go. Let rejection and anger flee from us.
7. Above all, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
The mission of Jesus is dangerous and difficult, but the 72 returned, filled with joy and thanksgiving - a triumph of grace.
In May, 2013, Msgr. Steven J. Rossetti, a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, NY, gave the farewell address to the seminarians who were being ordained. He showed them a video on YouTube of a priest after a number of years whose life had crashed and bottomed out as he hit a wall. He told them so, too, that could be them if they don’t take the necessary measures to avoid being a workaholic which can cause burnout and disillusionment. He discussed the importance of preventative care by having a good balance, setting priorities, remaining focused on prayer, celebrating daily prayerful Mass and daily recitation of Breviary, drawing healthy boundaries, sustaining healthy friendships among colleagues, making time for family commitments, and being sure to take vacations and rest for they are essential to sustained long term life commitment of priestly service. For if one does not have good self care and nurturance, one cannot effectively care for others.
Every life and every ministry is beset by trials, disappointments, failures and challenges. However, one cannot be stuck or give up during these times. Continue to persevere and trust that there will be a new breakthrough of a great new beginning. To share in Jesus’ mission fills us with untold joys and countless blessings.
