Acid Wash

 The final step in the construction phase of building a swimming pool is the acid wash. After everything else has been completed - the excavation - plumbing - rebar - electrical - shotcrete - sculpting - curing - decking - acrylic layer - interior finish - is the acid wash. The step through which the interior is scrubbed clean - prepared for the initial filling with water - start up with chemicals - turning on the pumps and filters. This last step assures that all has been done well - met multiple inspections by the city - guaranteeing safety - meeting all requirements.

When God calls you - beckons you to come to him - He accepts you - as you are - where you are. There is no requirement for you to clean yourself - no bath necessary - no acid wash - to purify yourself. The only thing He asks of you is an open mind - a willing heart - to draw yourself into His presence - to commit yourself to Him - to become a disciple. As you make this commitment - on your own - you will rid your life of anything that is wrong - impure - unhealthy - for a proper relationship with Jesus - with God. All you have to do is to say YES - Jesus stands - arms open wide - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Justification

It seems as if everyone is constantly having to justify - their actions - decisions - thoughts - actions. We live at a time when almost everyone is guilty of judging others - being judged themselves - explaining their actions. We have become a country where the operating code is - political correctness. Nobody is allowed to make a statement about anything without another calling them to task for what they said - how they said it - why they spoke in the first place. If the spoken word fails to meet every one's expectations - not justified - not correct - declared wrong - insensitive - thoughtless - out of place. As a nation - we walk on eggs - overly careful - to not misspeak - state the obvious - fear repercussions - for thoughts - serious - silly - moments of speaking without thinking. 

God speaks to humankind in various and interesting ways - not always accepted - often at the wrong time - inconvenient - not fitting into our idea of proper timing. In the Temple - Jesus did not ask to speak to the person in charge - instead - overthrowing the money changers' tables - driving people out of the Temple with a whip of cords - not politically correct - insensitive - what was He thinking - what drove Him to action.  God calls each of us to accountability - to Him - to ourselves - to our community. We are bound by His commands - to act - to do - His bidding.    The money changers still exist - the wrong people crowd the Temple steps - we stand idly by - watching - fearful - to act. Jesus calls us - as His modern day disciples - to walk boldly - to    speak the truth - to live with conviction - to be examples to the lost - the uninformed. It is we -    you and I - called to share His Divine love with others - wherever we go - at work - school - shopping - on vacation - wherever.  Jesus speaks - He watches - observing how we live our    call - watching - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Anger

Anger - defined by Wikipedia is an emotional response - related to one's psychosociological interpretation of having been threatened. There are many - various - forms of threat - physical - psychological - real - imagined. As a person interprets input from various sources - people - animals - weather - controllable - out of control - they have the ability to select a proper response. When threatened - the decision to act - react - up to the individual. An active response to defend - a passive response to ignore - within the control of the individual. When a person states - you made me angry - they are wrong - they should state - instead - I chose to become angry - in response to your - words - actions. Although admirable - anger is not the easiest thing to control - driven by emotions - sometimes low level - others highly driven. Call me stupid - easy to ignore - easy to avoid anger - insult my spouse - my child - my God - not as easy.

Jesus was the gentle prophet - walking through deserts - strange villages - through harsh terrain - to share God's story of love - acceptance. A simple message - delivered in love - with concern for others - to benefit others - not Himself. His message of living a good - moral life - angered many. They chose to react - not in love - with hate. He - attempting to spread peace - faced - unrest - scrutiny - fear. Even today He attempts to reach the lost - people on the fringe - the outcasts - meeting with anger - often. People fearing to allow Christ into their life - fearing conversion - angered that they are asked to change their life - for the benefit of themselves. Anger does not come from God - anger comes from fear - with Jesus - nothing to fear - with God - nothing to be afraid - except of your self. Giving up anger - the decision to be unhappy - yours. Waiting to help you cast your anger aside - to give you the inner peace you seek - Jesus - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale  

Mission

One of the routine events held during Lent in many churches is the Parish Mission - a time of gathering outside of Holy Mass to discuss in greater detail some aspect of spirituality. The Mission may be presented by a priest - deacon - sister - brother - Catholic educator - evangelist. The format usually combines the weekend homily at all Masses with afternoon or evening sessions for an additional three or four days. The Mission typically ends with a period of reflection and confessions and a Mass of celebration. Through this time of intense study - prayer - reflection - meditation - renewed vigor for one's faith is attained.

Jesus' life was one long Mission - every day seeking the lost - confused - sick - alienated - on the fringe of society. His constant message - love - forgiveness - healing - redemption - salvation. He came for all - not all accepted - He preached to all - not everyone listened - He offered healing to all - not all were healed - refusing to accept the graces He offered - skeptical - not trusting - God. Today the message is the same - God works through His instruments of choosing - Holy men and women - speaking truth - love - exactly as Christ did. Today - through these people - Jesus offers everything to all - acceptance - not by all - waiting - for you.
Deacon Dale 

Search Light

 A searchlight - spotlight - is an extremely powerful source of light used when looking for an object - person - place. Most often the search is for one - something - lost - at risk of danger. A lighthouse will operate very powerful searchlights to seek out boats in danger of running into hidden dangers in the water - helicopters utilize similar searchlights - seeking to locate the search object from the air - police - fire fighters - rescue teams - use those same handheld lights to assist them in their efforts to locate - save - rescue - apprehend - people. It is the size of the light beam - the luminescence generated by the power of the unit - which provide the light needed to see deeply - to seek what is lost. 

Jesus may be considered the original searchlight - seeking the lost - lonely - sick - forsaken - confused. As the source of all love - the light of His heart - more powerful than any man made searchlight. Strong enough to pierce into the heart - the very soul of people. Jesus came to seek - to search - for those who had lost their way - confused by worldly wisdom - unsure of God's plan - for their life. He began His search over two thousand years ago - seeking disciples - followers. His search has never stopped - still seeking - still calling - still lighting the way - to His Heavenly Father.  Even now He calls - waiting - for you - to step into His light.

Deacon Dale 

Kindle

 When most people hear the word kindle - they immediately think of the e-reader sold by Amazon - originally designed as a convenient way to read and to promote sales of books in an electronic format - today a full fledged tablet with functionality similar to Apple's iPad and other tablet devices. The official definition of kindle means to ignite or set on fire - arouse - inspire - awaken - to bring one to awareness of new and awesome possibilities. As we celebrate the second Sunday of Lent - Holy Mother Church seeks to kindle a renewed love of God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - within each of us. As the catechumens and candidates in the OCIA process experienced last Sunday - at Holy Mass - the first of a series of scrutinies - deeper observations of them - their intent - their desire to become Catholic - each of us in the pews - serving at the altar - needs to also look at our intent - desire - to deepen our personal relationship with God. Through prayer - through inspiring homilies - through gestures and responses - through each other - we pray that we are inspired to become the people God intended us to be.  Today also marks the transistion of parish leadership.  As we say goodbye - good luck - to Father Matt - leaving for his new assignmeent - we also begin what will be a new - renewed - commitment to our parish family.

When Jesus said that He came to light a fire on this Earth - He meant a fire in our hearts -     minds - souls. He wanted each of us to be completely inspired by Him - the teacher - the      healer - the preacher - so that we could attain all that God had promised His people throughout the ages. Many have said yes - been inspired - many - wait - unable to make a decision - a commitment. Over the span of two thousand years - that fire - kindled by Jesus - still burns brightly - still arouses - still inspires.  Jesus stands waiting to kindle that fire in your heart -    waiting - for you to accept a newness in your selves - in our parish family - leadership - and all these chanes that His Holy Spirit may bring - a new Fire inside each of us. 

Deacon Dale 

Broken Promises

 Ask anyone and they will say one of the worst things anyone can do is to break a promise - not do as intended - commitment not honored. There are many reasons why this happens - sudden change in plans - unexpected illness - something critical came up - character flaw. For those who habitually break their promises - do not keep their word - fail to honor a commitment - a serious character flaw. The average person rarely breaks a promise - then only for a very good reason - a few others - cannot trust them any further than you can throw them. During Lent - biggest promise broken - failing to make an effort to make a commitment for spiritual growth and failing to honor that commitment. The good news - there is still plenty of time left to work on your relationship with God. What is important is the intent and the effort. God does not care how lofty a goal you set - nor does He care how many days you commit to. To put it very simply - just do it - do it well.

Jesus told us that He didn't promise us a rose garden - He never said following Him would be easy. He did promise a great reward - not here - in Heaven - not immediately - at the end of     time. If you hesitate to make a Lenten commitment - don't - your promise to yourself - assures His promise to you. Before any more days of Lent pass - do it now - Jesus is waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Thirsting

 When walking through any desert - whether actual - symbolic - thirst is a major concern. Before setting out for any journey one of the most important items to pack - water. Your hiking shoes may be the newest on the market - your backpack the largest made - your trekking poles lightweight aluminum - your clothing quick drying fabric - none as important as your provisions for water. You can hike barefoot - you can carry nothing but your poles and very little clothing - you cannot walk without water. Not only must you start with water - you must know where you can get additional as you travel your selected path. If more will not be available - then an adequate amount must be carried from the start. When walking a spiritual journey the same applies - whatever it is that you will need - your Bible - Rosary - prayer book - must be in hand before you start the journey. To get half way into your trek and have no water - no spiritual guide - dangerous - in a desert - life threatening - on a spiritual trek - risk of a bad experience.

In life the only constant that we may rely on is Jesus - He is always there - has always been there - since the beginning - with the Father - with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God is what nourishes us - feeds us - quenches our thirst. When entering any prayer experience - the Holy Spirit - that breath of fresh air - the living water - that quenches all thirst - must be invoked - before starting any journey. We begin with prayer to God - through Jesus - His Son - through the power of the Holy Spirit - we continue prayer as we journey - at the conclusion - an ending prayer of thanksgiving. If you thirst for life - if you seek fulfilment - seek Jesus and His Holy Spirit - He is there - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale

Desert Experience

 Living - working - walking - in a desert climate - takes some adjustments. Coping with excessively bright sun light - extreme heat - dust storms - lack of water - takes awhile to adapt - learn how to live with those conditions. One would think it impossible - very difficult - hard on individuals - families - elderly. Reality - it is no worse than adjusting to any new climate. Excess heat - no worse than excess cold - just the other side of the spectrum. When very hot in the desert - escape to the inside with air conditioning - when very cold in the north or mid-west - escape inside with furnace warming the air. When these minor inconveniences are ignored - living in the desert opens one up to amazing and interesting things - the animals - plants - people. One after another - each has a story to tell - experiences to share.

As Jesus walked in the desert of Israel - He was able to view first hand - God incarnate - how people lived - coped - adjusted - treated each other. He knew from His own life's experiences what people were really like - good and bad - saint and sinner - young and old. As the God - who walked among His people - He knew patience - love - concern - for all mankind.  Even now - as you walk through the desert of Lent - He knows exactly where you are - what you have done well - where you failed - in all of this - He waits patiently for you.

Deacon Dale 

Dusty Feet

 If you wear sandals in the desert you are guaranteed to get dusty feet - sand underfoot - pebbles between toes - an occasional thorn or two. Logic would seem to demand wearing another style of footwear - yet - desert in Israel - desert in Arizona - most prefer sandals. The airy open shoe style - very comfortable - allows feet to breathe. Sandals have been a favorite of many since the time of Jesus - a favorite particularly with women even in 2015.

Jesus instructed His disciples to travel with no extra baggage - one pair of sandals - a walking stick - the earliest ultralight trekkers. Dust in sandals a given - not being accepted when proclaiming the Gospel - uncertain - possible - not probable.  For those who refused to listen - dust shaken from the sandals - a sign of displeasure - a lesson for all.  Walking with Jesus - dusty sandals a given - expectations - many - walking alone - never.  He stands - looking for a companion - waiting - for you. 

Deacon Dale 

Not All Bad

  During Lent it is not uncommon to find people who think they are the worse person in the world - all bad - doomed to hell - forsaken forever. Yes - there are many bad people - people who are so bad - the rest all look like saints.  Everyone has sinned - period - everyone has redeeming qualities - even the worse sinner - can be forgiven. It does not matter what the sin is - how it was committed - when it was done - where it happened. Believe it or not - sin - is - sin. There are no colors to sin - no taste - no flavor - no size - no shape. It is not big sin - nor little sin. It is like being - a lttle bit pregnant - either you are - or you are not. Sin is the same - one size fits all - not gender specific - not limited to one age or another. My sin may be completely different from your sin - it is still sin. How often we sin - slightly different - yet the same.  If someone sins once and another ten times - it makes no difference - if neither has repented - asked for forgivemess.  When sinners do finally repent - all receive the same  giveness from God - like sin - forgiveness has no size - no limits.

Jesus promises all - come to me all who are weak and burdened - I will give you rest.  Not a little rest - not a big rest - simply rest. He loves all equally - He forgives all equally - He calls each of us to holiness - equally - no limits - no restraints - no time limit.  His call is constant - His love unmeasurable.  Listen - today - God is calling - waiting - for you.
Deacon Dale 

Cookie Cutter

 According to the Urban Dictionary cookie-cutter means marked by sameness and a lack of originality - mass produced - often used to describe housing developments in which all of the houses are based on the same floor plans and differentiated only by color scheme. The benefit of cookie-cutter houses translates into saving for the home buyer.  Same design plans - same square footage - translates into large savings - quality housing - fair and equitable prices.  The trade off - lack of uniqueness.  In some areas - easy to get lost - since all of the houses share the same appearance.  Benefit - clean design - organized - outrageous - unpleasant designs avoided.  Pros and cons - abound.

God sent Jesus to Mankind to show us how to live - in general terms. Treat your neighbor as yourself - for most of us - night and day - what pleases me - not pleasing to you.  Jesus offers salvation to all - His love - His forgiveness - His acceptance - not in equal ways - only in equal opportunity. For each - customized for individual needs - to individual situations. No cookie-cutter relationship - with God - with Jesus.  If any of us were the only person who needed salvation - it would be customized specifically for us.  No cookie-cutter - no mass produced forgiveness - quite simply - one on one - waiting - just for you.
Deacon Dale 

Repent & Believe

Repent and Believe in the Gospel - as was proclaimed this First Sunday of Lent. Repent - admit your wrongs - be sorrowful that you thought or acted wrongly - make amends - take corrective actions. We have all sinned - saint and sinner - humans - mortal - well meaning - thoughtless - frivolous - people. Only One was perfect - He was God - is God. How can we compare with Jesus - we can't. How can we be exactly like Him - the Author of Life - we can't. Not needed - not intended - not expected. When God created mankind - He knew we would not be infallible - He knew we would have limitations - He knew that each one of us was a possibility - holding the potential of greatness within ourselves. He knew we would fail - error - make mistakes - mess up. Just as He gave us the Rainbow as a promise - He gives us hope - weekly - daily - hourly.  Ate an apple before it was offered to you - apologize.

Jesus came to show us the right path to walk - the right way to act - the right way to think - the right way to live. He came that we could have life and live it to the fullest. In that fullness - experiencing all that God has planned - good and bad - joy and sadness - health and sickness - the things we do not like to think about - the wrong - the evil - the cruel times. His promise of New Life - New Hope - the Rainbow - moments of touching the Divine. He knew - He forgives - He waits - for you. Now time for each of us to take action.

Deacon Dale 

Time To Retreat

 Today is the Annual Lent retreat for all adults in our parish church.  The parish has been offering this time at the beginning of Lent so that eveyone may begin Lent with the proper focus.  Some consider that Lent does not begin until this weekend when we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent - in our parish we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday.  Once Ash has been imposed on our foreheads we are in Lent mood - praying - fasting - meditating on the various aspects that will help us all grow during these next 40 day.  This Saurday our theme - A Journey Through Lent With Jesus and Faustina.  St Faustina who brough the Divine Mercy Devotion to the Church is one of the focuses in our parish whenever we discuss God's Divine Mercy.

As we spent time this morning with Holy Mass - a presentation by Fr. Jim McCormack MIC
- sharing various prayers - we began to immerse ourselves into this most precious period
of 40 days.  Just image if the person pictured above was not St Faustina - rather You. How would that make you feel with His hand on your shoulder?

Deacon Dale 

On THe Road

Our Lenten journey has begun - we are now into our third day - still energized by the imposition of ashes on our foreheads - still excited about our 40 day adventure - walking with Jesus - walking closer to God. Before we get much further - we assess the supplies - equipment needed for a long journey.  Our Bible - spiritual food for the journey - Sturdy Sandals - protection from the rocks in our path - Living Water - with the Spirit of God flowing within - all things are possible.  As we walk this journey - important to pace ourselves - too fast - the risk of burning out - getting spiritual blisters - walking too slow - risk of distractions - falling off the path of life.  

Jesus asks us to walk with him - to see where He lives - to see what He sees - to hear 
what He hears - He stands at the road of life - beckoning - calling - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

The Day After

 The Day After

Faces washed - ashes gone - the second day.  So we are into our Lenten experience.  
A day to reflect on yesterday's ashes - the prayers spoken - the songs sung - the thumb on 
our forehead - the ash that fell to the ground.  Did anything happen - was there a spark of 
hope - a glimmer of anything?  Why did we go - what did we expect - God's forgiveness? The end of the second day - close at hand - what lies ahead - questions - hope - faith?

When Jesus spoke to the crowds many wondered - questioned - speculated - sought answers.  Today we do the same - two thousand years later - nothing has changed - God is still God - Jesus is still Jesus - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Ash Wednesday 2026

A Smudge - A Stroke - An Ash

Ash Wednesday - observed today around the world - different nations - different continents - 
different cultures. A day of acknowledgement - the beginning of a Holy Season - a Season of repentance - Repentance for what we have done - have not done. A time of deep reflection - where we have been - where we are going - unless a change is made. A Season made for all mankind - religious - or not. Today we received ashes imposed on our foreheads - ashes from the burnt palms from lasts year's Palm Sunday celebration. Palms once waved in joyful expectation and remembrance of Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. From Celebration to Repentance - Joy to Sorrow - Hope to Renewed Hope.

Jesus came that each of us might experience life to the fullest - to all He came - not everyone accepted Him - the same exists today - many believe - many others do not. It is not up to us to worry about the non-believers - that is God's business - that is Christ's concern. Our focus -
this Lent - is on ourselves - on our own salvation - on the direction that our individual life is 
going. It will be hard enough for each of us to straighten the path we walk - the life we live - 
hard enough that Holy Roman Church gives us the gift of this Season - to pause - pray - to 
reflect - on our own life.  We have 40 days....

Deacon Dale 

It Is All In God's Time

 Well - what can I say?  Yes - it has been months since my last post - what gives?  It is simple - Life.  Life is the most flexible variant in our existence.  So many people feel that their lives are very stagnant - same thing - day after day - routine - boring - nothing new to experience.  I would disagree.  If you really take a step back - look at what you have been doing - what you wanted to do - what you actually did - not at all stagnant.  Similar - yes - identical - no.  When you pause - take time to really look deeply into your personal life - lots of differences - on a daily basis.  Sure - a lot of those difference most likely were not planned - not really welcomed - most often completely unappreciated - wished they had not happened at all - but - they did.

On some level - probably good for us to experience - good or bad - happy or sad - detrimental or beneficial - in all of them - an opportunity to grow - to become a better person.  Next to God's greatest gift to the world - His Son Jesus - Free Will.  Free Will to make decisions on our own - right or wrong - ours alone to make. Each of us - created by God - to experience Life - pretty much on our own terms.  Yes - He laid down rules - guidelines - People who followed - as examples for us - not as rigid puppets - rather flexible - fluid individuals.  Made a good decision - congratulations.  Made a bad decision - time to rethink that choice - other options always available.  As we grow as individuals - up to us - none other - to see that we walk that correct path to a life filled with all God intended.

Peace

Deacon Dale  

Easter Tuesday - Easter Monday - Pope Dies

 Although many of us had a sad feeling that Pope Francis' days were numbered after seeing him bless the crowds at Easter - passing only a few hours later quite the surprise.  At least he was able to be with the people that he loved serving for the past twelve years.  Like so many other world figures - some loved him - some did not - not on a personal level - rather different ideologies.  This just highlights how humans are so easily drawn to the dark side of personal relationships merely because they think - process - information differently. What people tend to forget - no matter which side of  the "coin" you are on - it is still the same "coin".  Something to really think about.

When God created the world - the universe - all was good - perfect.  Then He created Mankind - gave us the Gift of Free Will.  That is when "it hit the fan".  The information we are given as we grow into adults - the information that is placed before us - how that information is processed in our minds - how it is presented with various highlights - the twists and turns of propaganda - affects all of us.  Folks - all of us hold so tightly to our beliefs - refuse to open the door to new insights - possibilities - resulting in arguments - fights - all over the same "coin".  We are in the Easter Season now - maybe just maybe - the Words of Christ will settle into our Hearts - not just in our minds - as we attempt to work Together to minister to each other - solving the issues that face each of us.  Jesus rose from the Dead - assuring us that there is more to life than just this life - in this Easter Season - may we open our hearts - minds - to honestly come to the same "loving" solutions for the benefit of all.

Deacon Dale 

Easter! - Resurrection Sunday - New Life in Christ

Easter Sunday - Resurrection - New Life - the focus of this day - around the world - the Holiest Day of the year for Christians and those who believe in Jesus as the Christ - the Anointed One of God. Today we celebrate - we rejoice - we praise God for His awesome deeds done for us. Sending His Son to walk - live with us - to teach - preach - prepare us for a life after death - life in heaven - with Him - His Father. On one hand it seems impossible - impossible that any of us would be good enough to be granted this gift - for all have fallen short of the Glory of God. Yet in His awesome love for us - that gift is offered freely to all people. One does not even have to be a Christian - nor baptized - to receive this gift. All it takes is an open mind - heart - willing to accept Jesus into their mind - heart - to profess Him as Lord and God.

Jesus came for all - not all will accept Him - to those who do - New Life in Christ. Last night at the Easter Vigil - people were baptized and received into the Church. Following that Holy Mass they may now call themselves Christians - official members of the Church. Last night was not the end - rather the beginning of their formation into disciples of Christ. They along with those of us - renewed and energized by them and the sacraments celebrated - now called to go forward - to become intentional disciples - to spread the Good News - that lives can be changed - those on a path to doom and gloom - may change their focus - walk a new direction. To those on the edge looking in - the invitation is there always - come join us - the community of believers - invite Jesus into your life - He is waiting to be your own life saver.
Happy Easter!
Deacon Dale