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Pastor's Desk Archive (August 2008)Understanding The Mass: Concluding Rites (8/3/2008) Understanding The Mass: Concluding Rites (8/3/2008)As the distribution of Communion comes to a close, there is a period of silent meditation and reflection. At the altar, the priest places the remaining Hosts in the ciborium and, after bowing in adoration, he or the deacon goes to the chapel and places it in the tabernacle. The original purpose of reserving the Sacrament in the tabernacle is so that it may be brought to the infirm and homebound members of the parish. Our tabernacle was very uniquely designed to allow for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at all times except during Mass. Following Communion, therefore, the Real Presence of Christ in the tabernacle becomes a primary focus for prayer and adoration. We highly encourage our parishioners to allow a little time for prayer in the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle before and/or after Mass; and to make visits to the chapel at any time of the day or night. This form of prayer and adoration has proven to be of the utmost benefit for countless Catholics all over the world. Now that God has nourished and strengthened us through Word and Sacrament, we are almost ready to go forth to love and serve the Lord. But first, there are a few practical matters to attend to. The reason there are always some form of “announcements” following communion is that this is the only time during the week when all our members are present. Another reason is that we can’t count on everyone to actually read the bulletin. A third reason is that there are some very beneficial recognitions that can occur at this time which helps build up our community of faith. On 1st Sundays we celebrate life by inviting members to share with us the good news of newly arrived or on-the-way babies. This helps remind us that being Pro-Life means a generous openness to welcoming new life into the world. On 2nd Sundays, we acknowledge those who are celebrating the anniversary of the day on which they were baptized. For this was the day on which were given the grace to live as members of a Chosen People, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, and a People Set Apart to proclaim God’s marvelous works. On 3rd Sundays, we celebrate wedding anniversaries to underscore the importance of kept promises. On 4th Sundays, we acknowledge the presence of visitors and newcomers to give expression to our conviction that all are welcome. As all stand for a final prayer of thanksgiving, the priest gives the closing blessing and the deacon dismisses us to go in peace. There is a closing song as the ministers leave the sanctuary. When we came into church we used Baptismal Water as a reminder that it was through baptism that we were given a place in God’s church. If you are going to take it on the way out (not required), let it be as a reminder that you are going in peace to love and serve the Lord and will live the Christian life all week long. Conscientious Convictions vs. Personal Opinions (8/10/2008)Polling data, for what they’re worth, indicate that most Catholics do not follow the Church’s teaching on the moral regulation of births. Rather, they believe that decisions of this kind should be left to the conscience of the individual. Following one’s own conscience, unfortunately, has become a mantra for justifying all kinds of questionable, if not downright immoral, behavior. This results from the erroneous belief that everyone is born with a kind of internal “recording device” which each of us can rely upon to help us recognize the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. Conscience, rather, refers to our capacity for making moral choices based on the principles and convictions upon which it has been informed. Adolf Hitler and Islamist extremists share the conviction that Jews are sub-human creatures and so ought to be annihilated from the face of the earth. The suicide killers who flew those planes on September 11th were convinced that America is the Great Satan and acted in accordance with their consciences. So, maybe we ought to reconsider the basis upon which we make moral decisions. Should the Church not play any role in forming our consciences? That would be absurd, because without the teaching of the Church we would not even know, much less declare, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Since Jesus was a teacher, the Church must also be a teacher. It’s teachings are based on what God has revealed to us through Scripture and Tradition. Why don’t we take a look at some of the consequences of dismissing or ignoring the guidance of the Church on matters as important as human sexuality? This is what nearly everyone once believed:
It seems fair to me to observe that the wholesale departure from these beliefs has weakened marriage and family life; has contributed to widespread failure in marriage; and has brought great harm and confusion into the lives of countless children. In no small measure, a great deal of this could be traced to the notion that people ought to be free to do whatever pleases them. What do you think? A Purpose Driven Covenant (8/17/2008)Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now! I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His word. Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful, resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family. Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me”, character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today. I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race. I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me. To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!” I found the above covenant at the website of Saddleback Church in California. The pastor of that church is Rick Warren, whose book The Purpose Driven Life, has sold untold millions of copies around the world. I am grateful for a purpose driven life. Are you? Jesus Asks: Who Do You Say That I Am? (8/24/2008)We were reminded in today’s Gospel of how Simon, the brother of Andrew, answered this question: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Because of this response, Jesus gave him a new name: “You shall be called the rock (Peter means rock) and upon this rock I will build my church and the power of hell shall not prevail against it.” As if that were not enough, Jesus bestows on him the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the authority to admit or exclude people from that kingdom. In Simon Peter’s case, an awful lot was riding on the answer to Jesus’ question. May I suggest that there’s a lot riding on how you and I respond to the question this very day. Here’s my response: Jesus is the one who heard my plea when as a young man I cried out for God’s help. I believe it was His Spirit who led me to confess and repent of my sins. I remember to this day kneeling at the altar rail of the church in which I had been baptized. As I wept over the foolishness and pride that had brought so much misery upon me, I felt His compassionate mercy. It was as if He was saying to me that everything is going to be alright. Prior to this moment of repentance, Jesus was pretty much a mere religious figure. I had learned about Him in catechism classes as a child and in theology classes as a young adult. Until I was a teenager, I was at Mass on every Sunday and Holyday. There were many moments in which I had sought and experienced something like the reality of presence of God, but they were largely fleeting. Ironically, it was not until I began to wander away from the church and the sacraments, that God really began to make His presence known. Because of that very personal experience, I was later able to look back at the things I learned about Jesus and to make sense of sacred things like baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. The fruit of that reflection was the recognition of something that I could never have imagined: Jesus Christ was calling me to serve His people as a priest. In confessing in a very personal way that Jesus is Lord, he bestowed on me a gift of persevering faith that culminated in my ordination as a priest 35 years ago this weekend. A lot has happened of that span of time, but the most important thing has been an ongoing conversion that defines my very life. Thank you, Lord, for all your gifts—especially the priesthood. Catholic Officials and Abortion Politics (8/31/2008)House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described herself recently as an “ardent and practicing” Catholic while declaring that the Church’s teachings about abortion over the course of its history have been ambiguous. She suggested that each Catholic must decide the morality of this issue for themselves. Several Archbishops challenged her assertion by making it clear that abortion has always been regarded as a grave sin. They added that Ms. Pelosi would do well to refrain from giving scandal to other Catholics by refraining from Holy Communion until she was able to embrace the church’s clear condemnation of the destruction of innocent human life. When Mr. Obama’s newly named vice-presidential nominee, Senator Biden of Delaware, also described himself as a practicing Catholic, his own bishop came down hard on him for being a consistent supporter of so-called “abortion rights” and urged him to refrain from Holy Communion lest it appear to Catholics that the worthy reception of the Sacrament and advocating abortion rights have nothing to do with each other. So what are we to make of this conflict. Is this a case of bishops interfering in the political process or are they merely exercising their legitimate rights as authentic teachers of the gospel and custodians of the Sacraments? Surely, it is the latter. Unfortunately, many Catholics over the past many years have adopted a form of the faith that is based more on their personal & individual beliefs rather than on the faith that has been handed on to us from the apostles. This has led many Catholic politicians to make the absurd claim that while they “personally” oppose abortion they will not “impose this personal belief” on their constituents, many of whom disagree with the Catholic position. It’s an absurd claim since they regularly “impose” their personal beliefs whenever they vote for one policy over another. Either human life begins at conception or it does not. If it does, as everyone from biologists and archbishops believe, then ending a human life—however small—is gravely wrong. The Declaration of Independence declared there were certain self-evident truths revealed by our creator and that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We will be hearing more about this as the presidential campaign unfolds. Pay close attention to what each candidate believes on this issue of fundamental importance, and act accordingly.
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