A Time for Celebration, Salvation and Reconciliation

"A soul that has believed has conceived and both bears the Word of God and declares God’s works. Let the spirit of Mary be in each of you, so that it rejoices in God."

— St. Bede the Venerable

Last Christmas I received as a gift from a friend the book, The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren. It took me eleven months to finally read this gift, but I’m glad I finally did. Christmas is the largest celebration around the world. And billions of people set aside normal routines to decorate homes, send out greeting cards, buy gifts, go to Christmas parties, attend church services, see Christmas pageants, sing Christmas songs, watch Christmas specials and travel long distances to be home with their families. The birth of the peasant-boy over 2000 years ago in the Middle East, has created such commotion that His birthday causes traffic jams today in places like New York City, Tokyo and Rio de Janiero.

God’s Christmas gift to us is matchless and priceless. He sent His Son Jesus to show us the way to love. What greater gift can we possibly receive than to share the greatest story of love that lasts forever. The gift of faith is extremely practical. We can use it everyday for the rest of our lives. Warren notes that the angels announce three purposes for the birth of Jesus that first holy silent Christmas night: 1) Christmas is a time for celebration, 2) Christmas is a time for salvation and 3) Christmas is a time for reconciliation.

A time for celebration — Birthdays are natural occasions of celebration. When we greet one another with saying, “Merry Christmas,” it reminds us of God’s wonderful news that causes us great merriment and rejoicing. It is a universal celebration for all people. Through the Incarnation, God became one of us and knows the human being story from the inside out — our hopes and dreams, our challenges and crosses and our joys and tears. God communicated best to us when He became one of us. God’s love for each of us is unconditional and God’s love is constant, steady and continuous throughout our lives. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with Us. And no matter what we face in life, it is comforting to know He is with us.

Jesus helps us to face the inevitable problems of life: cancer, death of a loved one, unemployment, addictions, marriage problems, family conflicts, financial difficulties, personal setbacks. Generations come and go but Jesus, His grace and His love remain.

A time for salvation — Jesus came to save us from sin, selfishness and death. It is natural and easy to be self-centered — however, it takes grace to be unselfish. Who can save us? Not the latest gadgets, flashier cars, buying bigger houses, acquiring academic acumen, getting plastic surgery, taking mind-altering drugs. It must start in our heart and only Christ can transform our hearts from within. Christ wants to free us from our sin, regrets, bitterness, expectations of others, addictive habits, fear of death, insecurity, powerlessness and meanness to others. Jesus has redeemed us from this slavery to sin and evil and through His amazing grace helps us to be His followers. Rick Warren notes, “The answer is not in a place, program or pill. The answer is a person. It’s Jesus.”

A time for reconciliation — Human beings aren’t very good at living in peace with one another. We are better at disagreeing, fighting, feuding and cheating. The purpose of Christmas is that the Prince of Peace would restore peace in order that we can be at peace with God, others and within our own hearts. What a powerful miracle the gift of peace is! Sometimes we live in a world in which aggression, belligerence and rudeness rule rather than unity, kindness and consideration. Our culture conditions us to be cynical, sarcastic, gossiping and even demonizing as conflict broods. We complain and we blame others for our unmet needs. There are many symptoms of this disturbed state of being: irritability, a quick temper, impatience, arrogance, boastfulness, holding grudges, the tyranny of the flesh... all barring us from peace. The good news of Christmas is that Jesus came to bring peace where there is brokenness, to restore relationships that are strained and to heal our hearts from self-destructiveness. “Jesus” means “God Saves!"

Warren concludes his book with a Christmas prayer:

Dear God,

Thank You for sending your Son, Jesus,

so I could get to know You.

Thank You for loving me.

Thank You for being with me all my life,

even when I didn't know it.

I realize I need a Savior to set me free

from sin, from myself,

and from all the habits, hurts and hang-ups

that mess up my life.

I ask You to forgive me for my sins.

I want to repent and live the way You created me to live.

Be the Lord of my life, and save me by Your grace.

Save me from my sins, and save me for Your purpose.

I want to learn to love You, trust You,

and become what You made me to be.

Thank You for creating me

and choosing me to be part of Your family.

Right now, by faith,

I accept the Christmas gift of Your Son.

Fill me with Your peace and assurance

so that I can be a peace-maker,

And help me share this message of peace with others.

In Your Name I pray.

Amen.

As we come to the home-stretch of the craziest and busiest time of the year, it is good to catch our breath, pause, reflect and pray, on where our life has been (in the past), where our life is now (present) and which direction our life is heading (in the future). May we savor the gift of stillness and silence as God calls us to the intimacy of His love.

Never Underestimate Life’s Joy

“The greatest honor you can give Almighty God is to live joyfully because of the love God gives you.”

— St. Julian of Norwich

Last Sunday afternoon as our Steelers defeated the Bengals, 35-7, it was a joy to gather for our annual Christian Mothers Christmas Party at Junior’s Restaurant in Coraopolis. There were approximately 65 women and 10 men in attendance. There were no long speeches - just the blessing of gift of each other, good food, fellowship and friendship. As always Rudy Bolea out-does himself in hospitality with the lavishness of an extravagant festive banquet atmosphere!

I must confess, I joined the gathering a bit late as it was tough to tear myself away from the football game. It reminded me of the 9th Bishop of Pittsburgh, Vincent Martin Leonard (1969-1983), who would always say, “If you live in the city of Pittsburgh and want to serve the people well in faith, be mindful of their sports’ schedule and respect it!”

It was a joy to go from table to table, person to person, to see familiar and strange faces and greet all alike. I met people who were of different faiths. I met children and grandchildren whose presence graced the occasion. I met caretakers who provide help for certain women there. I met husbands who accompanied their spouses out of love.

As we shared stories around the table, I noticed that the Christian Mothers’ eyes were getting bigger as they spoke of their children, and widened even more when they spoke of their grandchildren! It is great to capture generations coming together, as we seek to help one another grow in God’s holiness, love, wisdom, joy, truth, goodness and grace.

One lady remarked, “I can’t believe it’s your 4th Christmas party with us. I look forward to the next one!” The author, Janice Maeditere said, “Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”

Today, on this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we reach the midpoint of our observance of Advent. Traditionally this Sunday is called, “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning “rejoice.” As the priest dons rose-colored vestments, and the 3rd rose-colored candle is lit, so we share in anticipated joy of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas and our salvation.

John the Baptist heralds as the bearer of good news, chosen and sent by God to proclaim not only good news, but The Good News, Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. In his role as herald, John makes it perfectly clear that he is to announce Christ’s coming and call people to prepare their lives through repentance. There is no greater joy than to experience God’s forgiveness as we come back to life. We need to prepare a way for the Lord in our own hearts and lives as we rediscover our own need for redemption as individuals, as communities, as nations and as Church. If we examine our own lives, we can quickly see our great need for the saving, healing, and restoring intervention of He who is Emmanuel—God with us. The best way to welcome the coming of Christ is to turn from sin, do right and amend our lives.

John the Baptist’s voice cries out in the wilderness to an un-listening world and often times un-listening hearts, reminding them that repentance means changing to please the One who loves us into happiness. Once we admit our sin and de-activate the evil of its power, we are released from its bondage, and the stranglehold of death is no more.

God gives us the grace to perceive our sinful patterns in our lives and the humility to repent of them - to walk again in the light. Joseph Conrad, Polish born and current day English novelist, said, “Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.” Let’s face it, sin may give the appearance that in indulging we will find happiness, but it is counterfeit, superficial and in-authentic. Sin bring misery, pain, suffering, emptiness, loneliness and un-fulfillment. On the other hand, forgiveness bring joy, peace, integration, wholeness, happiness, hope and joy. Let us heed and hear the prophet’s cry to “Make straight the way of the Lord” by living righteous lives in truthfulness, honesty, and humility. Let us forsake the crooked paths of dishonesty, cheating and deceit.

Like the people who listened to the 6th century prophet Isaiah, or the people who listened to the last Old Testament prophet and the first New Testament prophet - John the Baptist - we must spend our Advent trying to remove all the obstacles that stand before us and the Lord’s return. May the Lord knock down every obstacle and roadblock in our hearts. May the Lord uproot the tangled web of our vices. May the Lord break the stranglehold of our addictions and ingrained habitual sins. May the Lord make a path of grace through our cluttered lives. May the Lord unburden us through the unnecessary baggage that we need deliverance from.

Opening up a highway for the Lord to come into our lives is a never ending process. The work of conversion is not just for an Advent season, but the work of a lifetime. Change is possible in all of our lives. Repentance in Greek is “metanoia” (a change of attitude, heart and outlook), which suggests “taking a second look,” “taking stock,” “recollection and renewal.” In the words of St. Louis de Montfort, “By Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, we can do all things.” As Christmas quickly approaches, let Christ’s redeeming work usher a “new era” in us by turning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to recognize our sin, to turn from our sin and to turn back to God asking for forgiveness and mercy.

I encourage you to tune into EWTN each Sunday for Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. from 8:00 PM to 8:45 PMas he speaks of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. He is a masterful teacher who has taught the spiritual exercises for over 20 years. Last week’s episode #4 spoke of the desolations and consolations in our spiritual life. The Enemy uses desolations and God uses consolations. May the Lord grant us the consolations of joy this holy season of Advent.

"Come Lord Jesus, come!" — Rv. 22: 20

“Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.” — The Talmud

Advent: Increase and Decrease

“The first thing I recommend to you for advent is to keep yourself in the presence of God deep within your heart, just as the Blessed Virgin before the birth of Our Lord, Adored Him within herself.”

- Ven. Emmanuel D’Alzon

Last week before each Mass, our organist, Ginny Ambrose, gave a talk about the new Roman Missal. She told us that a fellow organist sent her a text before the 4:00 PM Mass that read, “Missal launch in 15 minutes!” I heard a local newscaster say, “The Catholic Church has gotten a complete make-over.” I had been used to the same Mass since my first Communion, which was 41 years ago. In April of 2002, Pope John Paul II established the Vox Clara Committee to assist and advise as to why we need the new translation. This year, on the First Sunday of Advent in the English speaking worlds, the Third Edition of the New Roman Missal was initiated. There are some 12 countries affected including Australia, the Philippines, British Isles, Canada, India, Africa, Ireland and England. But Hong Kong will wait one more year. (So in case you’re traveling to Hong Kong, you can still hear the old version of the Mass.)

I mentioned in my homily that it’s no secret there are 3 groups of Catholics concerning this change: 1) those who embrace it enthusiastically, 2) those who accept it reluctantly, and 3) those who are okay with it as long as it doesn’t make the Mass longer!

We learned as youngsters that “practice makes perfect” and “repetition is the mother of learning” — one just has to practice, practice, practice. As we welcome this New Roman Missal, the familiar parts of the Mass will seem a bit foreign, as we have used the same for the last four decades or so. However, as the American bishops put it, these are “new words, a deeper meaning, but the same Mass.” Let’s not get lost in the translation. Every translation has its critics. And no translation does full justice to the original. Each new translation has its boosters and its detractors, its gloaters and grumblers. However, no text, no translation is perfect. Even the last translation had its critics when it was released.) With the promulgation of the new translation of the Roman Missal, the Church is giving us a new translation that hopes to be more beautiful, more prayerful and more attuned to the scriptural connections of our prayers. The translators felt it was important to stay very close to both the literal meaning and the structure of the Latin prayers. Many of the prayers will sound very different and it will take some getting used to. I found myself tongue-tied, struggling to make sense of some new English phrases which seemed disjointed to my ears. We hope that this new translation will help us pray as one in Christ through the Holy Spirit as we offer praise and thanks to the Father and intercede for the life of the world.

Once priests and people are more familiar in getting to know and pray with the new translation it will give us a great opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Mass itself. Of course these new texts are going to be awkward and clumsy at first. But in time, these words will become second nature to us. A new translation offers a new way of seeing things, hopefully to stretch us and cause new growth of a new beginning as we forge a new path.

One parishioner commented that it would take her a month to master the word “Consubstantial” in the Creed. (“Consubstantial” is a term in the retranslated Nicene Creed that replaces language calling Jesus “one in being with the Father.”) Another noted that it will take him one year before he is familiar with the proper responses. But let us remember that beyond the new words and new changes, we pause, ponder and pray the liturgy. This change allows us the opportunity to pause and slow down, to enter into the Paschal Mystery more deeply, to be more fully aware of what we are and are becoming in Christ — living His life in the events of our own. I find myself suspending my own feelings and needs which must take second place to the needs of our Christian Community. As T.S. Eliot said, “What life have you, if you have not life together? There is no life that is not in community, and no community not lived in praise of God.” We must never underestimate the grace of gathering together as God’s people to hear His Word and receive His Body and Blood. What a gift the Church is. What a gift the liturgy is. What a gift a faith–journey is. What a gift salvation!

There are four Advent banners adorning our sanctuary with the words, hope, peace, joy and love atop each, the major themes of the Advent season. Each banner pictures one lit candle, mirroring those on our Advent Wreath. We are reminded that Christ is always seeking to enter our world and our lives with hope, peace, joy and love. In every generation God raises up prophets who rouse us to a heightened awareness of God’s exciting presence in our world and in our lives. Such a giant was the late Archbishop Dom Helder Camara of Recife, Northeast Brazil (1909-1999) and champion of the poor. He wrote, “God permit the symbol of my life to be like a candle that burns itself, spends itself, consumes itself while there is still wax to burn.” As Christians, we must bear and bring Christ’s light to others.

John the Baptist, the prophet of Advent, cousin of Jesus and precursor and fore-runner has echoed the words that have carried through the corridors of time, our Advent posture: I must decrease while He must increase” (John 3:30). Let us consider in our own Advent journeying, focusing on our increase and decrease during this holy season.

• increase in God’s vision — decrease our will and agenda
• increase in holiness and grace — decrease in giving in to sin
• increase in generosity — decrease in stinginess
• increase in the spiritual life — decrease in a material existence
• increase in gratitude — decrease in taking things for granted
• increase in family togetherness — decrease in sterile isolation
• increase in forgiveness — decrease in holding grudges
• increase in peace — decrease in compulsive drives
• increase in repentance — decrease in hardness of heart
• increase in kindness — decrease in cruelty
• increase in solitude — decrease in noise
• increase in enthusiasm for life — decrease in apathy
• increase in healthy relationships — decrease in dysfunctionality
• increase in self-mastery — decrease in out of control behaviors
• increase in temperance — decrease in covetousnes
• increase in self-examination — decrease in judgment of others
• increase in Eucharistic adoration — decrease in selfish idolatry

In every age we are challenged to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3) as we await His Christmas coming. The Church proclaims a major way to prepare His way through the invaluable gift of repentance. In order for Christ to increase in our lives, repentance is absolutely essential. The Advent mantra, “Come Lord Jesus” is the epitome, essence and summary of our Advent season. Jesus truly comes closer to us and we come closer to Him.

Advent: A Season of Promise

“To order one’s life properly, one must always think of being able to end it with a peaceful conscience.”

— St. Nicholas Von Flue

Today marks the beginning of our Advent 2011. This will be a very different one as we begin with the Roman Missal Edition III with the changed translation of the Mass. In any change it takes patience and what better season to master the virtue of patience than the holy season of waiting, hoping, expecting, longing for the coming of the Messiah.

In the preface to Elizabeth O’Connor’s book, Search for Silence, N. Gordon Crosby writes, “The one journey that ultimately matters is the journey into the place of stillness deep within oneself. To reach that place is to be at home; to fail to reach it is to be forever restless.” Advent is a time to pause, to ponder, to pray, to prioritize and to have a perspective. Sometimes our secular and commercial world can drown out such a posture. Our culture breeds:

• instantaneous results versus self-restraint
• immediate gratification versus mortification
• hyper-activity versus stillness
• hurry-sickness versus patience
• mental chaos versus self-composure
• self-pursuit versus self-emptying (kenosis)
• injuries versus restored relationships
• violence versus birthing-love
• gloomy discouragement versus radiant hopefulness
• rampant infidelity versus commitment
• self-absorption versus self-transcendence
• psychic exhaustion versus integrated togetherness

Recently I was called to Caring Heights Nursing Facility in Moon Township to anoint an 83 year-old woman named Rose. Her husband Carmen resided with her there at Caring Heights. This couple was married for 65 years and the family kept vigil for her in prayer. Our Pastoral Assistant, Jim Crable, sang Ave Maria and offered prayers with the family as she was released from this earthly limited existence to her eternal reward with God. The family commented that their parents were like two intertwined souls, devoted, centered, and committed to one another’s well being, growth and holiness. It was a powerful experience to see such enduring love. In such a power-less moment, we felt the power-full presence of the living God.

In all of our lives, we need some center of worship, devotion or adoration to whom we give ourselves over. Since we were created in the image and likeness of God, we come from God and we are destined to return to God. However, sometimes addictions can be short-circuits of our journey when we insert another person or object, other than God, for our centering, worship and devotion. This substitute for God in fact is a false-god and leads us into the practice of idolatry. One can de-center through such substitutes as: shopping, partying, unhealthy relationships, workaholism and greed. It’s easy to get off track, to lose purpose and direction, pulling us away from our authentic path which leads to freedom, fulfillment and promised future. We look to the holy season of Advent as the Church in her wisdom gives us guidance, affirmation and even correction when we are off-track in order that we seek to stay attached to Jesus Christ.

This season calls us for our heightened spiritual antenna and to exercise a regular self-critical vigilance. We must review our lives in the light of the Word of God and actively engage in the Church as the Body of Christ. Advent is a pause, a break, a four-week centering on Who we adore and what we’re devoted to and what is the purpose of our lives — to be a shared gift blessing and grace to others’ journey to God. I like to think of all the faith—companions who have been light to me on my path whose faith, witness, example and service have illuminated my path.

During this extended Thanksgiving weekend, I’m grateful that two of my brothers and their two daughters are visiting Mom and I in Pittsburgh. As I know you share this cherished and treasured time with your loved ones, may we be centered on the blessing of faith, family and friends. I thought you’d enjoy this Thanksgiving meditation in counting your blessings.

Thanksgiving

O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,

my heart admires, adores, loves thee,

for my little vessel is as full as it can be,

and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in

ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee

ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,

ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,

ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,

crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou has created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it,

though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me,

for preserving its strength and vigor,

for providing senses to enjoy delights,

for the ease and freedom of my limbs,

for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for a full table and overflowing cup,

for appetite, taste, sweetness,

for social joys of relatives and friends,

for ability to serve others,

for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,

for a mind to care for my fellow-men,

for opportunities of spreading happiness around,

for loved ones in the joys of heaven,

for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,

for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Happy Thanksgiving!

“If the only prayer in our life is 'thank you' that will be sufficient.”

- Meister Eckhardt (1260-1327)

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day and celebrate one of America’s most beloved national holidays, we give thanks to God for our blessings of freedom, peace and plenty. We also remember in thanks the many contributions each generation of Americans has made to preserve our blessings. Thanksgiving doesn’t just come on a calendar on the fourth Thursday of November, but a grateful attitude is giving thanks year round for each and every blessing. I thank God for the parish family of St. Joseph and pray for each and every one you. Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Christ, the King of Hearts

“I am not the King. Jesus Christ is the King. I’m just an entertainer.”

— Elvis Presley

I remember when I was in third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Jordan, said the most important virtue to acquire in life is self-control. She believed that self-mastery, self-possession, self-governance and self-discipline were the hallmarks to a successful life.

As we reach into our very being, our personality, our choices and our very self, we find that the key to life is within ourselves rather than outside. We must accept or refuse this invitation to grow into greater intimacy with God and with ourselves through the cooperation of the Spirit, who calls us to heights of maturity and the fullness of life.

As Jesus grew and aged in grace and wisdom, so too, we must grow through life’s school of experience. Today’s feast of Christ the King is the climax of the liturgical year. This solemnity was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Jesus is the Son of God, the King of the universe, the Lord of history and salvation — the Alpha and the Omega who has overcome life’s deadliest foes of sin, Satan, and death. His rule is redemption.

The central message of Jesus is announcing and proclaiming the Kingdom of God, an interior kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love and peace. By continuing to know ourselves we allow Christ’s living presence to come into our hearts. Christ must reign in our heart in order to love; in our mind in order to know truth; in our will in order to yield and surrender to a higher power; in our soul in order to know peace; in our body in order to be pure; in our conscience in order to be blameless and in our actions in order to be called Christian.

God uses suffering to help us know ourselves as suffering’s penetrating light will unmask us, exposing the falsities, lies and deceptions that we sometimes use to camouflage ourselves. God the Father did not exempt, save or rescue His Son from suffering. Jesus did not rescue or exempt his closest friends from suffering as they, too, were to endure in His passion and death. The prophets remind us that God is the Divine Potter who continually reshapes, refines and remolds us in order that we may be purified through our sins, wounds, truths, lies, miseries, sufferings and trials in our lives.

There are many kings in our world. Let us look at some of the dynasties, tyrants and false-selves that we use as substitutes for Christ, the King. Let us do an inventory of our own lives to see whose rule and reign is over us. Webster’s New World Dictionary lists 170 definitions of “self,” both positive and negatively described. Here are a few...

1. Self-Will (Persistent carrying out of one’s own will or wishes especially when in conflict with others): Do we surrender to God’s plan or do we impose our will, our way and our agenda?

2. Self-Indulgence (Indulgences of one’s own desires and impulses): The world says eat, drink and be merry! Indulge yourself! But when pleasures are over-satiated and over-sensitized it leads to self-gratification which minimizes moderation, temperance and self-control.

3. Self-Complacency (Self-satisfied, especially in a smug way): When one gets into a rut in life, and never seeks to move to a new growth or challenge, one’s life is “stuck in neutral” and may even head backwards in reverse. This leads to stagnation, status quo and fails to go beyond comfort zones which allow growth, challenge and change.

4. Self-Glorifying (Being self-centered and selfish; one’s conception of one’s self and ability or worth): One can have a “big head” that becomes inflated, grandiose and proud, while at the same time possessing a shriveled heart. We’re not here for the adulation of others, but for the glory of God.

5. Self-Importance (Having an exaggerated opinion of one’s importance): Sometimes the compass of life - North, South, East, West - can revolve around one’s own image, idealism, needs and wants, where one feels they must be the center stage act. We must de-throne our self-centered, selfish attitudes and enthrone and praise the Lord and King.

6. Self-Criticism (Being your own worst enemy): One can “run oneself down” feeling inferior, less-than, comparing oneself with others, seeking approval, being insecure, having low self-esteem, looking at what one cannot do rather than accepting what one can do.

7. Self-Righteousness/Self-Opinionated (Showing a conviction of being morally superior; smugly virtuous; stubbornly holding to one’s own opinion): One can become arrogant, smug and proud, looking with disdain at others, becoming hypocritical, phony, judgmental and condemnatory.

8. Self-Sufficiency: Sometimes we pride ourselves in our autonomy, in being able to “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” However we must see that we need one another in order to grow, support and sustain us. Our lives are inter-connected and we are interdependent. No one is strong enough to carry life’s burdens alone.

9. Self-Deception (The deceiving of oneself as to one’s true feelings, motives and circumstances; to deceive, to trick, to be unreal): It is a lie to lie. A primary work of the devil is deception and the devil’s work is to split, fracture or divide us within ourselves and away from God.

10. Self-Justifying (Justifying, excusing or rationalizing one’s actions, beliefs, and motives): One can find loopholes even in the law in order not to be accountable for one’s actions.

As people of faith, Christ must reign and rule our hearts so we must choose loving rather than hating, forgiving rather than revenge, faith rather than fear, persevering rather than quitting, praising rather than criticizing, acting rather than delaying, building rather than destroying, giving over taking, smiling rather than frowning and community rather than isolation. “The Lord is our King” (Isaiah 33:22)

Christ’s desire is eternal life for all people. By His death and resurrection, He has fulfilled that desire. Whenever Jesus is the center of our desires and longings we conquer sin and overcome self-centeredness. May Christ teach us, heal us, strengthen us with supernatural vision of faith in all things.

We All Have Something to Give

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.’”

- Erma Bombeck

I was recently speaking with a friend who attended the farewell reception for a priest, Fr. Bob Miller, who was leaving a parish after 10 years. My friend mentioned that Fr. Bob was well loved, respected and appreciated and the people will miss him greatly. Since my friend knew Fr. Bob well, I asked him what the secrets of his success were. He gave these reasons:

1) For the first three weeks of his arrival at the parish, Fr. Bob praised his predecessor, Fr. Tom Marpus, to the high heavens who had served the parish for 34 years. Fr. Tom had left over $1 million in the bank for repairs, updating, staffing, projects and programming. It was a financially sound and stable parish that he inherited.

2) When the diocese permitted 4 pm Masses for Saturday evening vigils, Fr. Bob jumped on that and made his parish the first to offer it in the area. Every one flocked there for the early bird special.

3) Fr. Bob had sufficient capacity in the church parking lot for all the cars and everyone felt safe as the lot surrounded the church.

4) Fr. Bob took on an additional parish down the street, doubling his work load and duties, yet finding double the blessings and graces.

5) Fr. Bob was always young at heart and kept himself involved in the plays at Seton LaSalle, helping the students, and making sure they stayed involved in activities which developed character.

As Fr. Bob makes his transition to his new parish at Saints Peter and Paul in Beaver County, he will find it much different than his churches in Brookline. Established in 1830, Saints Peter and Paul was among the first six parishes founded in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This parish is in a professional area with a quaint town, Beaver Medical Center, Geneva College, a jail, cemetery, and, it’s a dry town. This parish had been writing letters to Bishop Zubik for several weeks as they were demanding and expecting the arrival of a new pastor. Recently, at the 51st Serra Club Dinner at St. Frances Cabrini in Center Township, I had the opportunity to speak to Fr. Bob and he was delighted to accept this new challenge in his life.

I recently heard the Archbishop of Atlanta, Wilton Gregory, state that he spends more time in sleepless nights and prayer over the assignment of a priest than anything else in his responsibility as a bishop. It’s not just a matter of filling slots and billets randomly and haphazardly. A bishop must look at the needs of the people, the talents and limitations of the priest, the dynamics of the community in which he will be serving and the challenges that lie ahead, whether declining and decaying areas, a status quo community or a community on the rise of development. Every bishop wants a good fit for the people, the pastor and the community itself. Every parish assignment, like every person, has its plusses and minuses. And no one priest has all the gifts or can be everything: administrator, preacher, fund-raiser, counselor, organizer, inspirational leader, brick and mortar person, scholar or teacher.

Every time a parish is open, due to a retirement of a priest or the ending of a six-year term, the personnel director sends out a profile of the parish with such stats as: number of families, parishioners, baptisms, marriages, funerals, Mass times, staff size, organizations, finances and all the particular outreaches that the parish offers. There are currently 210 parishes in our diocese of Pittsburgh. There are 492 total priests in our diocese— 380 diocesan priests (77.2%), 112 religious priests (22.8%), 243 active priests (49.4%), 99 retired priests (20.1%), 150 other, including—medical, study, military, diocesan positions, teaching institutions and religious institutions (30.5%). Of the 243 priests in active ministry, 43 have multiple parish assignments (37 priests have 2 parishes and 6 have 3 parishes).

Msgr. Steven J. Rossetti, in his latest book, Why Priests are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests, notes that one healthy, happy and holy priest can positively influence a large number of people. So too an unhealthy, unhappy and unholy priest negatively influences a large number of people. It is critical in order to have care of others that one have the self-care of diet, exercise, spiritual reading, friendships, prayer and spiritual direction. I have found with St. Paul that one must be adaptable, flexible, versatile in the changing times in which we live to be the constancy of Christ’s presence despite in our world today.

With my silver anniversary on the horizon in 2013, I often think of the words of my Godmother Aunt Jo, who says, “Yard by yard; things are hard. But inch by inch, it’s a cinch.” A life-time commitment of serving others in the priesthood can be intense, grinding, challenging and deeply rewarding. But like anything in life, nothing is perfect, and not even the priesthood. But it is a gift.

In today’s Gospel of the talents, Jesus entrusts us with various talents and He wants us to take risks and to invest our talents for the growth of others. Not everyone has the same gifts, skill sets and abilities, but everyone has gifts, graces and blessings to confer on others. Never underestimate the gifts God has blessed you with. In every vocation, whether, married, single, priesthood or consecrated life, we are called to help one another grow in holiness, love and wholeness. In every one of us, there is an amazing capacity to contribute to the well-being of others, whether family, parish, work-place, community, nation or even world. The evangelist Billy Graham turned 93 on November 7. He wrote his 30th book, Nearing Home, and expressed his desire to preach one last sermon. I’m reminded of his words especially as Thanksgiving draws near and as we think of our talents: “God has given us two hands: one to receive with and the other to give with.” Let us be humble in receiving and generous in giving.