What is most important to being a good Christian?  Our rules?  Or the commandment of love? 
 
In our first reading from Acts of the Apostles, Peter undergoes a conversion.  As a Jew, he had always believed that the Jews were the Chosen Ones and would be defiled to have contact with those who were not “in.” Everyone else was lost.  That was the long-standing “rule.” But when he sees the Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius and other “Gentiles,” as the Spirit had come upon the apostles, Peter was able to move beyond what they believed and accept what the Holy Spirit was telling them: all are children of God, made in God’s image, and Jesus came to save all. That was a huge change for those early believers who had been Jewish; who knows what rules and traditions will change as we move forward, led by the Holy Spirit!
 
Our second and third reading emphasize LOVE.  The word LOVE appears 9 times in each reading. In the first letter of John, we hear this very blunt statement: Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In the Gospel, Jesus is also very direct:  This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. These two statements leave no doubt: we need to make love and acceptance of others, despite their faults and sins (which we all have), the focus of our spiritual life.
 
I believe what Pope Francis said: who am I to judge? As a pastor representing the Church, I believe it is important for me to convey what the Gospels and the Church call us to live and be.  But when people know these things and make decisions to live in a different way, that is between them and God.  If I rigidly demanded observance of every commandment and rule in order to be part of the community, there would be no one in the community, including me.
 
Rules and rituals and traditions are important: they help keep us from straying and they join us to the community. But we need to lead with love and acceptance of God’s children, not rules and barriers.
 
Church sign of the week: Maybe you wouldn’t have to mention you are a Christian all the time if you just acted like one most of the time.

Once, at Metro Market, I ran into a parishioner whom I had not seen in a long time.  Maybe feeling a little uncomfortable that he hadn’t been to Mass for a while, the man said to me, “I pray every day when I get up, Father, and I pray longer on Sundays.”
 
That conversation came back to me when I read a passage in the Little Black Book for Lent that compared praying alone at home with practicing the clarinet by oneself in a practice room, whereas joining the community at Mass is playing in an orchestra (maybe that analogy stuck with me because I did play the clarinet many years ago).
 
It is worth reflecting on that analogy: praying alone is like being in a practice room.  And we do need to practice: it is what prepares us to be a contributing member of the orchestra.  But if we only practice alone and never join an orchestra, we are not sharing our talents with others.
 
My friends, the Mass is our praying orchestra.  The celebrant is the conductor of the service.  The cantor is the conductor of the music.  The lector is the conductor of the Word of God. The Eucharistic ministers are conductors of the Body of Christ.  And each one of us makes up the body of the orchestra, sharing our talents and supporting the needs of those around us.
 
In our Gospel, Jesus tells us we will bear much fruit if we remain in Him.  In the short passage, He uses the word “remain” 8 times, beating us over the head with the reality that alone we are like a branch cut off from the source of life – or someone alone in a practice room.  We need to remain connected with Jesus, not just by ourselves, but through the community, the Gospel, and the Eucharist.  If we are to remain in God, we can’t go it alone: we need to be an active part of the community. 
 
I invite us this week to reflect on what a gift our community is, resolving to participate regularly as we give to and receive from each other, struggling to remain in God.
 
Church sign of the week: Church is not just someplace you go but something you are.

While there is a different focus in each of the three cycles of Sunday readings, every Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Easter focuses on the Good Shepherd.  For that reason, it is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Sheep are timid, easily scared, and vulnerable. A good shepherd guides and protects them, he lays across the gate to keep out danger, he stands up to the wolf.
 
The image of the Good Shepherd is perfect for the Easter season, because Jesus was the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to save us. He always wants to guide us, to protect us, to be there for us. There are two important points to reflect on as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday:
 
First, Jesus wants to help us and guide us, but we have to cooperate.  We have to be listening to Him.  We do that in community when we listen to the scriptures and homily at Mass, but we also have to do it ourselves by spending quiet time talking with Him, listening to Him, asking for His guidance. I can’t emphasize enough the importance to our spiritual life of quiet time with the Lord each day: it is never time wasted.
 
Second, we call ourselves “Christians,” which means we have committed ourselves to do our best to live as Christ modeled for us.  Christ lived a life of being a Good Shepherd and protecting others, especially the lowest of the low.  Think of the woman caught in adultery, the 10 lepers, Zacchaeus the tax collector, etc., etc.  If we truly want to live as Jesus did, we need to do our best to be good shepherds to those around us, especially those who might be rejected or ignored by society. 
 
I invite you to spend some quiet time this week reflecting on Jesus, our Good Shepherd, allowing Him to speak with you and help you grow into being a better good shepherd for others.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: you can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

Usually when I reflect on this Gospel story of Jesus appearing to the disciples in Jerusalem, right after they had been told what happened on the road to Emmaus, I reflect on how the disciples must have been feeling.  As I was mulling over what to share in this reflection, I focused more on Jesus.
 
Jesus had every right to be angry with them or, at least, to
reprimand them for abandoning and denying Him.  Yet, He knew they were basically good people who had very human weaknesses.  If Jesus had focused on Himself and how they had treated Him, if He had shamed them, what would have happened?  Would they have been crushed?  Would they have left in shame?  Would they have been able to recover?
 
But Jesus focused on them and the future: by His gentleness and kind words (peace be with you and why are your hearts troubled?) He put them at ease.  He showed them His wounds and ate something to prove He was real.  He showed them that He still loved them and they had nothing to fear.  He had forgiven them, before they even asked.  That enabled them to become the great missionary disciples, spreading the Good News to others. Jesus built them up, rather than crushing them.
 
There is a strong message for us in this: there will be problems and disagreements with others in life. It is part of being human. When we focus on ourselves and our hurt feelings, we look for revenge and want to give the other what they deserve.  But, when we can step back, look at the bigger picture, and remember that the other is a good person with weaknesses (like us), we can react more like Jesus did with His disciples.  When we do that, when we reach out in peace and not wait until the other has asked for forgiveness, we bring peace and our actions invite the other to be a better person.  It is really a win-win, because we are also at peace, rather than angry.
 
I invite us to reflect this week on the wisdom of responding as Jesus did to being hurt or betrayed.  It is not easy, but, with His help, we can do it and everyone, including ourselves, will be happier and at peace. A win-win!
 
Church sign of the week: If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.

Our Gospel today is John’s version of Jesus’ first post-resurrection encounter with His disciples, which took place Easter evening.  The disciples were hidden in a locked room. They knew something was going on, because Peter and John had been to the empty tomb and Mary Magdalene had told them that she saw and talked with the risen Lord.

Can you imagine their fear of encountering Jesus?  They had run away and abandoned Him in His time of need.  Peter, who had proudly declared he would die for Jesus, had denied Him three times.  What embarrassment and dread they must have had! What would Jesus say?  Would He yell at them?  Would He dump them as friends?

But look what Jesus does: the first words out of His mouth are “peace be with you.”  No recriminations.  No reminding them of what they had done.  Just “peace be with you.” Then, to calm their fears about Who He was and what was happening, He showed them the scars of His wounds.  Peace and assurances that He was legit and all was Ok.  What mercy and love Jesus showed to them!

My friends, this first Sunday after Easter is called “Mercy Sunday” to remind us that Jesus offers the same mercy, love, and forgiveness to us.  We all sin, we all fail, we all deny Jesus, as did the apostles.  But Jesus says “peace be with you” and welcomes us back.”  We simply have to turn to Him and accept His love and forgiveness.

Once we do that, the next step kicks in.  Jesus sends His disciples to bring that same mercy and forgiveness to others.  And we are one of those disciples.  We receive mercy and forgiveness from the Lord and He sends us to share it with others.

As we celebrate this “Mercy Sunday,” let us renew our commitment to be forgiving, loving, compassionate disciples to all we meet. That’s how God treats us: we need to do the same for others. God bless.

Church sign of the week: There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. 

It is early in the morning of March 7th, as I jot down my first thoughts for this Easter message to my wonderful St. Pius X community.  I am in Racine at Siena Center, attending the Provincial Chapter of the Society of the Divine Savior, my religious community.  Siena Center is right on Lake Michigan and, as I walked from my room to get the first cup of coffee that I sip with the Lord each morning, I passed a window facing East and was greeted with the sun just peeking out of Lake Michigan, its rays lighting up the various strands of light, fluffy clouds in the sky.  I sat and watched for a while (true confession: after I ran and got the coffee) as the sun rose and the colors in the sky became more vibrant and alluring.  I sat there, spell-bound by the beauty of the moment.

But the brightness and alluring colors only lasted a very short time.  Then the sun was up and the light spread and daylight was everywhere.

It strikes me what a wonderful analogy this is for what we celebrate today: the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The event we focus on today is like the sun rising in the morning: with all its initial beauty, it drives away the darkness that envelopes the earth and brings light and warmth to a waiting world.  Jesus came to bring the warmth of the Father’s love and the light of Gospel truth to a world in darkness: He brought us salvation.

But while on Easter Sunday we reflect on and marvel at the life-saving event of His Resurrection, we must remember that its purpose is to give light and warmth to the whole world.  Just as the beautiful, alluring colors of the dawn quickly give way to the light and warmth that spread over the whole world, our task, as disciples of Jesus, is to make sure the Good News of the resurrection spreads over the whole world, that the light and warmth of living Gospel values invade every corner of the world where we, His disciples, move.

As we remember and celebrate Christ’s resurrection with gratitude this weekend, let us renew our commitment, as disciples of Jesus, to bring His light and warmth, His goodness and kindness, to all that we meet. God Bless.

He is truly risen!
Alleluia!  

Church sign of the week: Jesus is back by popular demand.

Palm Sunday is our kickoff to Holy Week, a special time of
remembering the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  It is
unusual that we have two Gospel readings at Mass: a reading of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the very beginning of the service and the Passion of our Lord according to Mark at the normal place for the Gospel. 
 
As I reflected on this, it struck me that this anomaly is a very clear and direct statement of what Jesus was all about: teaching us that to be first is to be last, to be the greatest is to be the servant to others. Why did I think of that?
 
In the first Gospel reading, Jesus enters Jerusalem, the principal city of the Jews, in a triumphant manner, as would a king (or the Messiah).  It would appear that He was the political Messiah that the Jews were waiting for, the Messiah who would conquer all other nations and make the Jews #1.  But there is one clue that this isn’t the case: He was riding on a donkey, the work animal of the common person, not a mighty steed, as would a “real” king!
 
Then comes the second Gospel, the passion and death of Jesus.  Yes, He was the Messiah, but not an earthly power. He was the Messiah who suffered and died for all of us.  He put Himself last in service to us: that was His messianic role.  His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was preparation for the greatest act of service for others in human history.
 
The message to us, who call ourselves “Christian,” is that to be first is to be last, to be first is to serve others! There is no way around it: Jesus gave us the clearest example in His actions on Good Friday.
 
As we move through Holy Week to our celebration of the Resurrection, I invite us to reflect on how well we are doing at imitating our Master, who gave Himself for our salvation.  We need to give of ourselves for others.
 
May you have a spiritually fulfilling Holy Week.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: Share love and it grows; share sorrow and it lessens.

Most often when we see a picture or statue of Christ, it is the strong, radiant, risen Christ.  But our scriptures keep reminding us that Christ was a human being like us, with the same emotions, who had to find His way to His Father’s will and then accept it.  He wasn’t always in control.  In our reading from Hebrews, we hear, In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death… “With loud cries and tears”!  It wasn’t easy for Him, as it wouldn’t have been for us.
 
In the Gospel, Jesus realizes that things are getting closer and closer to a deadly confrontation with the religious leaders. He says that “His hour” has come.  He then says, I am troubled now.  Yet what should I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.  We can see Him going back and forth in His mind: be saved from this hour or accept it?  The same dynamic plays out in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus ultimately says, not my will but yours be done.
 
How was Jesus able to arrive at this point of accepting such a brutal, unjust death?  Through His consistent pattern of going off by Himself to be in His Father’s presence and seek guidance.  When He
began His ministry, He went into the desert for 40 days.  During that time, He realized that He was not to be a powerful political leader, thus rejecting Satan’s temptations and accepting His Father’s will.  He went off to pray by Himself before He chose His apostles.  When He was tired, overburdened, confused, etc., He went off by Himself to be in His Father’s presence and calm down, finding His direction forward.  The final time was in the Garden of Gethsemane, when, as I noted above, He uttered the ultimate words of obedience, not my will but yours be done.
 
Like Jesus, we are not in control.  “Life happens” and it is sometimes very difficult.  How do we cope?  How do we find our way forward?  Jesus shows us how: give God time and space to be with us and we will surely find our way.
 
As we enter into the final stage of Lent and prepare for Holy Week and our memorial celebrations of Christ’s suffering and death, I invite us to spend extra time in quiet conversation with the Lord.  Like Jesus, we can complain and share our troubles, even with “loud cries and tears,” but we also need to be quiet and listen.  Ultimately, we need to be able to say, not my will, but yours be done.
 
Church sign of the week: If Jesus can rise from the dead, you can get out of bed on Sunday morning.

Our first reading from the end of the second book of Chronicles gives an overview of salvation history through creation, the fall, the covenants God made with His people, their unfaithfulness, the exile, and their return to Jerusalem through the largess of a pagan king.  What comes through it all is that God’s love is always there. He never abandons His people, no matter what they do: He is waiting for their return.
 
The same is true today: no matter what we do, the Lord is waiting for us to return to Him.  That is the focus and purpose of Lent: Come back to me, with all your heart.  Don’t let fear, keep us apart…Long have I waited for your coming home to me…
 
The sacraments are a special way we come to God in our need.  At Masses this weekend we have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, asking God to heal us and support us in our weaknesses.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an opportunity to return to the Lord, asking forgiveness for what we have done wrong or for the good we have failed to do.  In addition to our normal confession times on Saturday afternoons, we have the opportunity on Tuesday evening, March 19th, to participate in a communal celebration with individual confession afterwards.  Three priests will be available. I urge you to mark your calendar for that evening and join with other members of the community in celebrating this important sacrament as a preparation for the celebration of Easter.
 
Finally, on Holy Thursday we remember the institution of the Eucharist: Christ feeds us with His Body and Blood, strengthening us to be better able to move through life living the Gospel values of love and forgiveness. I hope you can join us as we gather, as the Body of Christ, to celebrate this wonderful sacrament.
 
Jesus suffered, died for our salvation, and rose from the dead, all of which we remember on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter.  The sacraments are the gift which bring us the graces Christ has won for us.  Please join our community as we walk with Christ through these final days of his life, his death, and his resurrection.  To prepare ourselves well, let us take advantage of all the above-mentioned opportunities to receive the sacraments.
 
Church sign of the week: I have given God a thousand reasons not to love me.  None of them have changed his mind.

All of us get angry.  It is a part of being human.  Unfortunately, when I was a child, I was taught in religion class that to be angry is a sin.  That is baloney. Having angry feelings is a part of being human and we can’t keep them from coming.  What is important is how we handle the anger and what we do with it. There is destructive anger and constructive anger. Let’s look at them:
 
Destructive anger: if someone cuts me off in traffic and almost causes me to hit parked cars, I am going to feel angry.  I have been threatened and anger is a natural response.  There is no sin in that.  It is what I DO with the anger that is important.  If I engage in road rage, if I get out a gun and shoot the person, that is allowing the anger to be destructive and is sinful.  But if I manage to control myself, if I can remind myself that I have done stupid things in the past, and if I manage to say a prayer for the person, I have channeled my anger to be constructive. Bottom line: anger isn’t the sin, but rather what we do with it.
 
In our Gospel, Jesus gives us another example of constructive anger, that is, being angry that the poor and vulnerable are being abused by those in power.  The poor had to bring doves for sacrifice.  Upon
inspection, they would be declared imperfect and the people would have to buy other ones at an exorbitant price. They also had to exchange their money for special temple money, again at exorbitant prices.  And, of course, this was allowed because the religious leaders got bribes or kickbacks.  Jesus displayed constructive anger in our Gospel, doing his best to stop the scamming of the poor. It was the last straw that led the religious leaders to have him arrested and crucified.  A modern reflection of this is those whose anger at racial discrimination led them to participate in the civil rights movement.
 
My friends, it is important to understand that anger is not the problem: it is what we do with the anger.  When someone confesses to me that they were angry, I ask them “why” and “how did you handle it?”  That gets to the crux of the issue. When someone confesses that they got angry and hurt someone, I know they are understanding the real issue.
 
I invite us to reflect this week on how we do at handling anger.  We all will get angry; there is no way around that.  Making sure we respond in a constructive way is the challenge we have to rise to, as disciples of Jesus. With the help of God, we can do it.
 
Church sign of the week: Love difficult people. You are one of them.