No One Wins in Gossiping

"See how wicked people think up evil; they plan trouble and practice deception. But in the traps they set for others, they themselves get caught. So they are punished by their own evil and are hurt by their own violence."

- Psalm 7: 14-16

In my 23 years as a priest, I have always told my successor in an assignment, “If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me. Don’t hesitate to ask!” Because hopefully we leave a place in better shape than we found it. During "transition times" one must die to self and rise to embrace the new mission. I remember a brother-priest calling me several weeks after taking over and saying, “Remember you said if I had any questions ... well, I was just wondering where you left the survival kit for this parish.” After the laughter subsided, I listened to his apprehensions and unrest. I just listened patiently and listened more, and gave him the reassurance that all would be well.

In any transition there is always turbulence and the fear of the unknown. Whether moving to a new town, new job, new school, or embracing a new way of life such as beginning a marriage or facing life without a spouse, transitions are hinges that must connect us to God and each other through trust. Our faith is challenged and strengthened and we must "let go and let God." And then we will grow.

This summer I read a wonderful book entitled "A Survival Guide for Church Ministers" by Fr. William J. Jarema, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica, who is also a psychotherapist, spiritual director, international retreat and workshop presenter promoting the healing and development of the whole person — mind, body, heart, soul and spirit. I ordered 10 copies to share with various companions on my journey — bishops, priests, sisters and lay people. In this book Fr. Jarema speaks of seven habits for a highly effective ministry:

1. Prayer-ways and pathways to holiness: feeding a hungry soul.

2. Spiritual companions for traveling along the way: authentic human intimacy.

3. Examination of consciousness: the ability to ponder, introspect and confess.

4. Self-knowledge as the door to holiness: lessons learned or repeated.

5. Being used by God for the sake of another: instigators and mentors for the salvation of souls.

6. Eucharist: the practice of presence and the Body of Christ.

7. Redemptive suffering: finding God in all this mess.

I found this treasure-read a jewel worth sharing, a valuable help in navigating and charting new ways to grow in faith and to deal with interpersonal struggle. For some people, we may walk on water (do no wrong), but for others we tiptoe on egg shells (nothing seems to be right). For some people we turn water into wine, but for others, we just make sour vinegar. Some people sing our praises to the high heavens, and others can only speak of our lowest depths to every corner of the earth. It is important to have good self-care and nurturance in order to serve others well. We must be good stewards of our bodies, minds and spirits. We must row together and not against each other.

Admiral Hyman Rickover, US Navy, wrote, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” Or said another way, “One reason the dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue” (anonymous). In this book by Fr. Jarema, a chapter is dedicated to why people gossip and he briefly states that gossip has its origin the following areas:

1. Poor self-esteem: putting another down to make oneself feel lifted up.

2. Comparisons: competing with another to gain a false sense of superiority.

3. Sabotage: destroying another person to avoid the sense of failure we have of our own self.

4. Triangle-communication: avoiding discussion with the person with whom we should really speak by gossiping to a third party.

5. I want to be included: trying to gain a sense of being a part of things by talking about other people‘s affairs.

6. Projection: putting on others what we despise in our self.

7. Pseudo-power: manipulating and deceiving others to believe one‘s perceptions of reality in order to validate a sense of strength and influence.

8. Getting even: revenge is a powerful drug — rationalizing and justifying violent intent through slanderous words — evening the slate to gain an adrenaline surge.

9. Ego-blindness: assuming the negative in the absence of information, instead of waiting for the truth.

In his epistle St. James devotes an entire chapter (Chapter 3) on the dual power of tongue. He says, “No one has been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to the Lord and Father, and also to curse our fellow man who is created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out of the same mouth. My brothers, this should not happen!” (James 3: 8-10)

Solomon, in Proverbs 6: 16-19, notes that there are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: “a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another and a person who stirs up trouble among friends.” Solomon goes on to say in 10: 19, “The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, keep quiet.”

My home-pastor, Fr. Thomas F. Carey (who baptized me, gave me First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, dressed me as a priest at ordination and died on 9-9-99), was famous for saying: “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Sound wisdom for every age, indeed!

Ordinary Time 19

"O Lord! All our trouble comes to us from not having our eyes fixed on you."

— St. Teresa of Avila

In our local area, the neighboring parishes rotate to cover hospital calls at Heritage Valley in Sewickley. My day of coverage is Wednesday. I was aroused form sleep at 6:00 AM last Wednesday thinking to be called into action at the hospital only to be informed by the men's spirituality group which meets early on Wednesday mornings that Healy Hall was filled with water! I immediately phoned our maintenance man, Tom St. Claire, to survey the situation. He informed me that the damage was quite extensive and we would need to contact the necessary eperts. I then called Mike Traveris with G. S. Jones Restoration and Consulting of Emsworth. They came immediately along with the McKamish Air Conditioning.

It was found that a dated fabric liner covering the fiberglass insulation on air condition panel had pealed away, clogging the drain. The water overflowed, resulting in a full day of water removal and floor treatment. There was extensive water damage in the storage areas. The dance floor too, made of parquet tiling, had to be removed. Many objects sitting in the water had to be discarded. To prevent this from happening again, McKamish installed a safety switch on our air conditioning system. Gratefully, our insurance helped us to recover the losses. It's amazing how much damage water can do in a short amount of time.

Not long after this call, I was summoned to Heritage Valley of Sewickley to visit a parishioner who fell and broke her hip and wrist at 4:30 AM when she became dizzy in the bathroom. I visited her two daughters and son-in-law who were patiently waiting for her to go into surgery. They were grateful for my pastoral presence and ministry, along with administering the anointing of the sick to woman.

This experience reminded me of a story in Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan's book, Doers of the Word: Putting Your Faith into Practice. He relates, "Recently, I visited a dying woman in the hospital. When I called to ask her if I could come visit her in hospice, she paused, 'Archbishop, I really appreciate your calls to me and to my family. And I’ll be thrilled to see you here for a visit. All of that is a big help. But, if you really want to help me, when you come, please hear my confession, anoint me and bring me Holy Communion. That will be the best help of all.'" The archbishop noted that she truly understood the grace and the power of the sacraments.

Throughout each of our own lives, we face many storms or crises. “Crisis” comes from a Chinese word meaning, “danger or opportunity." A crisis is a danger that can overwhelm and threaten us or an opportunity to draw us closer to God and others. The storms and struggles of our lives often become the means by which we can face ourselves and let go of the things that mar God's image in us. It is through standing in the presence of the transforming God that we are changed.

Because the storms of our lives threaten to sweep us away and take us under, we can be paralyzed with fear and overwhelmed. Sufferings come in many forms and sometimes without a warning bell. No matter what the struggle — sudden illness, injury, accidents, job loss, relocation, relational dissonance, divorce, parenting stress, financial challenges, death of a loved one and personal issues — no matter what the upheaval one faces, it's easy to feel endangered by the storm and become crippled by fear, making one helpless. We are apt to take our eyes off of Jesus, like St. Peter in our Gospel today, who focused on the power of the winds and the waves instead of Jesus. But Jesus is telling us not to be afraid; He wants to bring peace to our troubled lives by the constancy of His calming presence. Focusing on problems can easily lead to darkness and despair. But when we keep our eyes on Jesus, though our problems don't disappear, we find that He is with us through them all.

Elijah did not find God in the violent and powerful earthquake, nor in the earth-shattering hurricane which destroyed boulders, nor in the uncontained wild fire, nor in the heavy winds which raged for days. It was, however, in a tiny whispering sound, in stillness and quiet, in calmness, that Elijah found God. Through all the chaos, craziness and uncontrollable disintegration of the human journey, Jesus summons us to have courage. His outstretched and hand and strong arm seek to deliver and save us from any power that defeats us. As God helped Elijah at Mt. Horeb and Jesus helped Peter on the Sea of Galilee, so too, God's divine help will be never lacking for us. He will never abandon us when the winds of temptation, fatigue or difficulties come on our path. Jesus shows Himself and tells us, "It is I, do not be afraid.” As St. Teresa says, “He never fails His friends.”

As priests, we're always on the call-watch. We never know when danger will strike as we journey with God's people, seeking to lead them to greater faith and holiness. Yes, at times the forces of the world are very mighty and strong, however, these stresses challenge us to place greater faith in Jesus who is infinitely stronger.

In the turbulence of our times, we must seek the constancy and calm that faith in prayer brings to our lives. May the crises we face throughout our life's voyaging be the opportunities for us to call out to God and walk on water. The Lord wants none to be lost, none to drown. Sometimes the dark and distressing moments of our lives bring us to more courageous and truer faith. I always admired a woman named Kathy who worked in the emergency room at Mercy Hospital while I served as a chaplain. For over 25 years she took person after person in trouble and crisis, and with reassurance, reached out to bring Christ's hope, peace and calm. She was an inspiration, showing the power of moving people from dark clouds of Good Fridays to bright Easter Sundays.

Hungering Hearts: Jesus Alone

The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.

- Psalm 145: 15-16

On Friday, July 22, I attended the Pirates/Cardinals game with my brother and two nephews who were in from Greensboro, NC. They distributed Pirate tee-shirts that evening and there was a standing-room-only crowd of 38,490 people. After a half-hour rain delay and flashes of lightening, the fans settled in for the Friday night game. My nephews Daniel Patrick, 8, and Alex Pace, 5, inevitably asked, “When are we going to eat?” Their dad’s response was, “You can only eat after you find your seat.” We found our way up to Section 310, Row M, on the first base side only to find out that the healthy food is at the lower level. Those in the upper level had to settle for pizza or hot dogs. Then I thought to myself, “Wonder how many hot dogs, nachos and Cokes will be consumed at PNC Park tonight at PNC Park?” Not to mention the Starbursts and Skittles purchased from vendors outside. (Of course the kids wanted cotton candy and Dippin’ Dots, as well.) Although the Pirates lost that night, I treasured the time together with my brother and nephews.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that there are 925 million people, that is, approximately 1 in every 7 persons, who are hungry in our world -- in Asia and the Pacific (578 million), in Sub-Sahara Africa (239 million), in Latin America and the Caribbean (53 million), in the North East and North Africa (37 million), and 19 million in developed countries. The number of malnourished people and those who go hungry is staggering.

Mother Theresa fed 9,000 people every day in Calcutta, India, but she could never have done it without the generosity of countless people across the world, the assistance of her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, and lay helpers. In our Catholic tradition, feeding hungry bodies is one of the corporal works of mercy. No doubt, Jesus was concerned about the well-being of those who were hungry. The miracle of the loaves and the fishes is found in all four Gospels. And it involved a lot more than just giving food to people. It was an expression of the care and the love of God for His people. Jesus did not just feed people’s bodies, He nourished their minds, their hearts, their souls and their spirits.

In some countries today, there is a problem of over-eating and over-consumption where food is plentiful, supermarkets are bulging, fast-food establishments are common place. In other countries, the problem is getting anything to eat at all. And the gulf between the “have” and “have-nots” gets ever wider. Mother Theresa would often comment that the problem with the world is that we have forgotten that we belong to one another. That we are all God’s children, and sisters and brothers of Jesus to one another. It is our native American brothers and sisters who would often say that we can’t really understand another person until we walk in his or her moccasins. The late Fr. Henri Nouwen would say, “The necessary virtue that we must all embrace is that of empathy.” I’ve heard it said that God gave us two hands — one for giving and the other for receiving.

The prophet Isaiah in 55: 1-3 invites us to “Come!” Four times he uses the word. He says, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water. You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, Drink wine and milk ... Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” Isaiah repeatedly invites us to come, which foreshadows the hospitality and welcome of Jesus Himself. This invitation is to real life, to share an eternal relationship, an eternal friendship and an everlasting covenant with the Lord.

As a people of faith, we come to the Eucharist each Sunday to be nourished with the Word of God and the Bread of Life. As we partake of the Bread of Life on earth, God has invited us to partake of the banquet of eternal life in heaven. In the Holy Eucharist we taste the love of God. And the proof that we have experienced that love is our willingness to share love with others. As in the miracle of the loaves and fishes, each one of us has been given “five loaves and two fish." It may seem a small amount and we can only give in small ways, but through the amazing grace of God and our willingness to share with others, others will be drawn into the circle of His ever expanding love. It is through our simple gestures of love, compassion and kindness that we are drawn closer to Jesus and ourselves. Bread and fish was the basic diet for poor Galileans, peasant fisher-folk of the 1st century Israel. This miracle of the loaves and the fishes is much more than giving food to a hungry, desperate crowd. It is the expression of the care and love of God for His people. Through the celebration of the Eucharist, we are refreshed and renewed so that we can recommit ourselves to Christ and feed others His love.

Recently, while making a visit to the hospital, I met a man sitting in a wheelchair at the entrance doors along with his son. The man asked for a blessing and then asked if I had Holy Communion. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer together, and he, with a sunburst smile, remarked, “It’s a Jesus Day! A perfect day! To receive Jesus makes each day complete.” Would that we had such simple and profound faith. Yes, the Eucharist is the act of giving and receiving, being transformed into the community of Christ’s living body. The Lord can do a lot with a little, a miracle of love.

Poor me, we say, I’m so old, so young, so middle aged.

Poor me, I’m so ordinary, so deprived, so deficient.

Poor me, I’m so weak, so tired, so inferior.

Poor me, I’m a sinner.

But "poor me" is not an excuse for inaction.

In fact, it lies at the very core of my discipleship.

"Poor me" is the really reason I need a Savior in the first place!

Say not: "Poor me!"

Say instead: "Poor me, I need Jesus!"

Lucky me, I’ve got Him!

— Sr. Melanie Svoboda, SND

By the Way: 100 Reflections on the Spiritual Life

Ordinary Time 17

“Among all human pursuits, the pursuit of wisdom is more perfect, more noble, more useful and more full of joy.”

— St. Thomas Aquinas

On Friday, July 15, I attended the parish festival of Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Township. That was my first pastoral assignment 23 years ago. When I walked on the grounds, I met my first pastor, Fr. William Kohler. I remarked how great it was to see him and told him that he looks better than when I first met him 23 years ago. He said, “That’s what happens when you’re retired! The weight of the world and the pressure of being a pastor is no more.” Fr. Kohler is a classmate of the retired Bishop William J. Winter, and celebrates his 82nd birthday on Tuesday. He told me he doesn’t take a single pill and that his father died at age 99. As we were “kibitzin” it was good to reminisce and share stories of our ministry together. I always admired that Fr. Kohler completed the “Quick Crossword Puzzle” in the morning Post-Gazette and the more difficult New York Times crossword puzzle as well. I told him that’s what keeps the dendrites in his brain active, what keeps his mind so alert.

I remember Fr. Kohler as a quiet a man of solitude who loved to paint, who loved to read and who traveled more to Hawaii than anyone I know of. The parish named their former church “Kohler Hall” in his honor. His steady, silent and simple presence has guided Our Lady of Fatima for decades. In his unassuming way, Fr. Kohler has been a model to me and to his flock of one who has pursued the wisdom of God for many years. Happy Birthday, Fr. Kohler!

Sirach 1:1 tells us, “All wisdom comes from the Lord and with Him it remains forever.” Wisdom is the application of God’s Word to our daily life. It is sharing in the mind of God. The ultimate source of wisdom is God. In 1 Kings 3, the Lord appears to Solomon, the son of David, in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon did not ask for longevity of life, the gold of riches or the life of his enemies. Instead, he begged God to have an understanding heart to judge God’s people and to distinguish right from wrong. Wisdom is the ability to discern what is of God and what is not, what is God’s way and not our way.

Dr. Robert J. Wicks, a psychologist at Loyola University in Baltimore and author of over 30 books, wrote a book entitled, "Sharing Wisdom: The Practical Art of Giving and Receiving Mentoring." He stressed our need to receive mentoring from parents, grandparents, teachers, family members, friends, clergy, co-workers — those who counsel, comfort, support and guide others. We need people we can trust both to love and challenge us. Mentors are chosen primarily because we respect them. God blesses our journey with wise people who show us the path of life by modeling it for us to grow in God’s ways. “My children, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands; for many days, and years of life and peace, will they bring you” (Proverbs 2: 1-2).

Wisdom-people bring us into the presence of God. The greatest wisdom-person of my life is my mother who turned 89 years old this week. We gathered at Mass at 11:00 AM to give thanks to God for Mom’s life and the 89 years of her shared wisdom. Mom taught us not only to read and pray but to love and suffer. I’m grateful for another wisdom-person, Sr. Melanie Svoboda, SND, who rummages through life finding its treasures and sharing them through stories and books. A great teacher, companion, mentor and friend. Another wisdom-person is Bishop Robert Morneau, auxiliary bishop of Green Bay, whose poetic heart and pastoral wisdom and road-map compasses have helped form and guide my discipleship. My youngest brother Dan (15 months younger), a dermatologist in Greensboro, NC who adopted three children, is also a wisdom-person in my life. Dan inspires me to strike a balance between work, leisure, fitness and spiritual pursuits. Another is Fr. John Jordan, a friend for almost 20 years, with whom I spend my day off on Tuesday. At age 65, Fr. John imparts countless pearls of wisdom through prudence, pastoral theology and the wisdom gained through practical experience. I always found St. Francis of Assisi to be a wisdom-spiritual director behind the scenes of my life — a model of renouncing the world, embracing simplicity, humility and poverty of spirit. Although I could not become a Franciscan, I take wisdom from this great saint. I once heard it said to make life worthwhile, one needs a conscience to live with, a creed to live by, a cause to believe in, a love to care for and a dream to strive for.

It was three years ago on July 28, 2008 that I came to serve here at St. Joseph, and I pray daily for the gift of God’s wisdom to lead His people to lives of integrity, authenticity, sacrifice and service of one another. I feel blessed to be your servant in the 120th year of St. Joseph’s existence. The parable of the lost treasure and pearl demonstrate the zeal we must have to pursue the wisdom of the kingdom of God.

Your word, O Lord is wisdom,

Deeper than the sea,

Wider than the heavens.

It reveals to us the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Give us, Lord your wisdom, your Son Jesus.

Your word, O Lord, is a treasure,

More desirable than the gold of the world,

More precious than life.

It enriches our hearts.

Give us, Lord this treasure, your Son Jesus.

Your word, O Lord is a pearl of infinite beauty,

Brighter than the stars,

More radiant than the sun.

It dazzles the eyes of our heart.

Give us, Lord, this pearl, your Son Jesus.

Your word, O Lord, is new and ancient,

Newer than the dawn of the day,

More ancient than the first day of the world.

Give us, Lord, your eternity, your Son, Jesus.

Engrave on our hearts, Lord God,

The face of your Son Jesus.

When your word calls to us on the day of your love,

Recognize in us the face of Jesus,

Your firstborn Son and our brother. Amen.

—Lucien Deiss, CSSp, A Garden of Prayers

God’s Graces Make Us Grow

“Christ sowed the seed of salvation in humanity in order that it might grow especially in each individual soul.”

— St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Recently I was called by a friend to see if I could visit a doctor (age 77) who is in the intensive care in a hospital in Pittsburgh. Before I entered that intensive care cubicle, I had to don a yellow gown and put on blue rubber gloves and I could see by the expression on the man’s face that he was delighted to see me! Since he was intubated (a tube in his throat), he was unable to speak. He had a clipboard with paper and a pencil attached to it to express his thoughts in writing. I said to the semi-retired doctor, “It’s a lot easier being a doctor than being a patient, isn’t it, Doc?” He shook his head in agreement. The first words he wrote in his tablet were, “Fr. Jones, the word-smith.” I was coming to console him and he shared a kind word with me.

When I returned home to the rectory, I looked up in Webster’s Dictionary “word-smith”. It states, “A professional writer who uses language skillfully. A person who coins new words.” Sometimes we can underestimate the potency and the efficacy of the power of words — a word of encouragement, a word of appreciation, a word of gratitude, a word of forgiveness, a word of love. One word can convert a sinner. One word can make a grace-filled day. One word can bring hope where there is no apparent solution. The visit to this doctor made me want to be a greater artisan of the spoken words, written words and lived words that I communicate as a herald of the Gospel.

The prophet Isaiah says in 50: 4, “The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear.” The prophet Isaiah further explains the life-giving movement of God’s Word when he writes 55: 10-11, “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats — so shall my Word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void but should do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” Thus just as rain and snow have a purpose, to water the earth so that crops will grow and produce fruit, the Lord’s Word has a purpose — to do God’s will, bringing life to those who hear it. The American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) wrote, “A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.”

I was happy to receive an e-mail from parents who informed me that their son whom I baptized 18 years ago has been accepted to enter St. Paul’s Seminary. I was delighted to hear their son is discerning a vocation to the priesthood. The word “seminary” means a “seed-plot, nursery, a place where something develops and grows. A place where persons are trained to become priests, ministers or rabbis.” We must cultivate the gardens that are entrusted to our care whether these gardens are family, parish, work or community.

Before leaving for her vacation, our organist Ginny Ambrose reminded the staff, “Don’t forget to water the flowers and gardens around the rectory while I’m away.” As Ginny is a harbinger of growth of our landscapes, she did not want me to be deficient in my responsibility in taking care of Mother Nature, especially in these humid and hot summer weeks.

As I was walking around the parish grounds with a couple who will be married next July, we witnessed a lady pulling weeds from the stones around the courtyard near St. Joseph’s statue. She told me that she was a parishioner and that she was 96 years old. She said, “Father, I love my church, I love St. Joseph’s and I love my priests.” And I responded, “Your church loves you, St. Joseph loves you and your priest loves you. Thank you for picking the weeds and doing such a beautiful job.” She then informed me, “At age 96 if you don’t keep moving, you don’t move.” This was good therapy for her and she enjoyed tending to the parish grounds. St. Julian of Norwich wrote, “The power of the Lord’s Word enters the soul and enlivens the heart and makes us rejoice in the Lord.”

We have been hearing for several weeks that the Word of God is to the human heart what the seed is to Mother Earth. God’s Word is always a life-giving word, never a negative word. The seed of God’s Word once dropped into the human heart never dies. And it is never too late or one is never too old to act on the Word of God. Just as food nourishes the body, so the Word of God nourishes the mind, the heart, the will and the spirit. God speaks to us in the most hidden part of our being. Growing in wisdom, age and grace is the work of a lifetime. God wants our faith to grow and progress. As I encountered this 96 year-old parishioner, she inspired me by sharing in a simple way her great love of God, church and parish family. We witness to our faith by simply living our faith through good actions and virtuous deeds. When we share our faith with others, ours increases. And we describe how God is working in our lives. God has blessed us, God heals us and God rescues us over the years of our journey. And we invite others to experience His saving love, by walking humbly with one another as companions on the journey.

There are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world today and we are indebted to those first disciples for handing on the faith so that each subsequent generation can receive it and share it. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston wrote in his Pentecost homily, “Evangelization always seeks to propose our faith, never to impose it.” We have the mission to repair the world by living and sharing the Gospel which will transform the culture and the society in which we live. The seed is the Word of God; the sower is Christ; all who listen to His word will live forever. I recently attended a priest-friend’s 90 year old mother’s funeral in Canonsburg. The couple would have been married 69 years in August. The woman’s priest-son looked at her beautiful, gnarled, arthritic hands and the bunions on her feet and kissed them for the nine decades that she sowed faith with the gift of her hands and the foot-path she traveled. Her son sang the Ave Maria at Communion in thanksgiving to God for the blessing of his mother. Whether age 77, 18, 96 or 90, may we sow God’s seeds of grace in every age.

Ordinary Time 15

“All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.”

- Adeline Stevenson, American Diplomat and Politician (1900-1965)

Be kind to everyone you meet, for you do not know the burden that they carry. In Webster's dictionary, it defines burden as “anything that is carried; load; to bear or put up with; heavy load, as of work, duty, responsibility or sorrow; burdensome, heavy oppressive, hard to bear.”

Many times people will say, “Father, I don’t want to bother you with my request” (meaning “add one more thing to your plate, add one more burden to your back.”) I simply remind them that I was ordained to be burdened, to help share their crosses, problems and sorrows.

Burdens come in all shapes and sizes. Some are big, small, everyday or unforeseen. But burdens have a tremendous effect on our personal well-being and how we relate to others. What are your burdens? For some it may be the burden of the battle of the bulge. To stick to and stay on a diet to trim the waist-line. Some carry the burden of parenting that lasts a lifetime and especially those who have the added burden as a single parent. The burden of a false accusation that has tarnished a name or reputation. The burden of loneliness, where one feels no accompaniment or presence. The burden of grief, as one carries a loss. The burden of guilt, that one carries through regret, shame, and sorrow for one's sins. The burden of secrecy where one is not able to disclose freely their hardship. The burden of unemployment and the emptiness of this aching feeling. The burden of illness, old age and infirmity. The burden of financial debts. The burden that comes with responsibility of office.

It is sometimes said that the fastest growing disease in 21st century America is stress. Because we are human and limited, there is only a certain amount of stress that we can endure. Jesus gently and masterfully reminds us and invites us simply to, “Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11: 28-30).

As a priest, it is a humble privilege to serve as pastor. However, there is a price to pay, like any vocation. The priesthood is not about power or prestige. It is not an office or an occupation. It is a sacrament. And it is a response to God to serve souls. Namely, to be another Christ, as His voice and His hands and His heart.

It was a great joy to be away for continuing education last week at Bon Secours, meaning “good wellness” or “health,” in Marriottsville, MD (about 250 miles from Pittsburgh). There were ten of us present for the week. We listened to such gifted speakers as Dr. Robert J. Wicks, Fr. Jan Michael Joncas, Fr. Joseph Fox, OP and Fr. Dan Crosby, OFM Cap. I met a priest, 51 years of age, from Philadelphia who was diagnosed in 2006 with pancreatic cancer. He had whipple surgery. After breakfast, I thought he was taking his eyeglass case out, only to realize it was his pill box holding the 48 pills he takes daily to stay alive. All of the organs of his body have been reconfigured. He is grateful to be alive despite the weight of his tiredness and challenge of his terminal illness. I spoke with a deacon, 70 years of age, who noted that he had 3 children — a son who was a doctor, another son, a lawyer and his daughter, a superintendent of a school district. He said, “Don’t let that external success fool you. Please keep them in your prayers, as they have their own problems and burdens.”

In ancient times a carpenter made a yoke — a wooden bar or frame over the necks of two animals which allowed them to walk side by side and plow a field. The device changes independence into dependence. The animals depend upon each other to save their own neck. And if one animal balks or runs ahead or sideways, both of them get a stiff neck. They have to carry the weight together. And the yoke must be easy and well-fitted with the correct measurements, adjustments and the right approach. The carpenter must make this tailor-made, custom-made for the animals. If it is not properly fitted, it quickly leads to chaffing, irritation, abrasions, lesions, and can cause ulcers, can cripple and even kill the animal.

As a pastor, the parish is yoked by all the wonderful people who support, sacrifice and help carry the good works of the Church so that they continue. Recently with the crushing change in our parish of the closure of our school, an in-depth consultation with diocesan officials and financial counsel of the parish, it became apparent that we had to shift the weight to carry the freight in order to pay for it. Preaching the Gospel, celebrating the sacraments and visiting the sick is what I was ordained for. However, administration of the business and the management is necessary for stability. Unfortunately, we had to trim the budget to balance the budget and that meant the loss of some devoted and committed personnel.

Our relationship with God must be our top priority. On July 1, also the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a parishioner handed me a book on the visions and promises of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque ("Seemingly Impossible...But True! The Nine First Fridays" by Father Gnarocas). What a refreshing gift it was as I sought and prayed for Jesus' Heart in this most difficult time in our parish life. We must admit that we are all capable of great generosity and down-right mean-spiritedness. It is critical that when our spiritual life is strong, our attitudes toward others are meek, gentle and humble. When our inner life feels nourished, our hearts are open to other people's pain. President Harry S. Truman, 33rd president, said he could sleep at night despite the pressures of his office. “Lord, I’ve done the best I could today. You take over from here.” Or St. Thomas More wrote, “If I am in need of light and prudence in order to discharge my burdensome duties, I draw near to my Savior.” As we celebrated this 235 anniversary as a nation on Independence Day, we celebrated our 120th year of St. Joseph Parish. May we who have been given this torch of faith and freedom, pass to the next generation. May it never go out.

Corpus Christi

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.”

- Siddharta Gautana Buddha (Founder of Buddhism, 6-4 Century BC)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, “Corpus Christi,” a Sunday which Mother Church sets aside to accent the importance of this greatest Gift, the Eucharist. St. John Mary Vianney said, “When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary — a joy — a fragrance — a well-being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exult.” Ever since I was a little boy, going to church on Sunday was the highlight of my week. My Mom often asked me, “Who did you offer your Eucharist for today? A person making a major decision? A person who is hurting? One who is suffering? One who is sick or dying? A soul in purgatory waiting to see God?” After 23 years serving as a priest, that simple joy of participating the Eucharist remains with me, as I now celebrate the Mass for God’s people to grow in the likeness of God. The Eucharist is the heart of Catholic life and worship.

Last week the American bishops held their Spring conference in Bellevue, WA, near Seattle. They were discussing a fifty-page document on the importance of good and effective preaching. I enjoyed listening to the various bishops offering comments, observations and concerns for this important ministry with which we, as ordained clergy, are charged. I was intrigued by Emeritus Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington, DC, who noted three reasons to preach: 1) Biblical preaching - breaking open the Word of God to teach, inspire and move God’s people to conversion. 2) Covenant preaching - to lead God’s people more deeply into a covenant of God’s love. God reveals Himself through the divine traits associated with the Covenant: mercy, steadfast love and fidelity. Thus the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist, this two-fold table, feeds us as we seek to live this covenant. 3) Preaching which strengthens and increases faith, the divine communion of relationships - for when faith is fortified and nourished, it strengthens belief, witness and action as Christ’s follower.

In article 1374, the Catholic Catechism explains that in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the whole Christ, is truly, really and substantially contained. Article 1387 stresses that in order to prepare worthily for this Holy Sacrament, the faithful should observe a one-hour fast before reception of Communion. (This fast is one hour before Communion is received, not before Mass begins.) The Catechism further explains that our bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing, appearance), ought to convey the respect, solemnity and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest. Blessed Pope John XXIII said the Blessed Sacrament contains all the splendor of Creation, the Incarnation and the Redemption—the whole life of Jesus. And that priests are to present the Eucharist all to the faithful as their daily nourishment, love, prayer and contemplation.

In the Sacramentary, the book that a priest prays from at the Mass, there are beautiful prayers in Appendix One for preparation for Mass and in thanksgiving after Mass. The following is a prayer attributed to Pope Clement XI, which I thought would be fitting to pray on this feast:

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me: in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins, and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me, or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and to reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I will be away studying from June 26-July 1 at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD for continuing education through the International Institute for Clergy Formation of Seton Hall University.