Nobody likes to wait - the sooner the better! What is it about waiting that causes so many people so much stress? We call for an appointment and we are told that we have to wait two weeks - unreasonable we think. Why can't I get it done now? If you are sick and need to see a doctor that would be justified - but, if you are talking about something else like dining out or making an appointment to see your barber or hairdresser that should not be a problem. What about waiting in line to make a purchase - to some people standing in a two person line is too much. I realize that some merchants tantalize us with forty check out lanes and only two are open - but still waiting a few minutes should not be that critical - should it?
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When we were little babies our parents took us to church and had us baptized. We were officially received into the church and since we were unable to speak for ourselves - our parents spoke for us. "What do you ask of God's church for this child?" "Do you clearly understand the commitment that you are making?" And our parents answered "Yes!" to each question. It was very similar to the time when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple for the redemption of the firstborn, in obedience to the Law of Moses. Jesus could not speak for himself so Mary and Joseph did it for Him. Now that we are older and grown adults - the church expects us to speak for ourselves in the way that we live our lives and practice our faith. This faith that you received was the faith of your parents but now it has become your faith - your faith to understand - your faith to practice - your faith to live. If you are not doing this then Jesus asks - what are you waiting for?
Deacon Dale
If you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or any other breathing problem - then you know what it means to have a wheeze. Not being able to breathe or catch your breath or constantly feeling like every breath will be your last can be very scary. That is why it is so important that you are properly diagnosed and the correct treatment is ordered to cure or control your breathing problem. Once under control - life returns to normal.
People who have lost their way spiritually can be considered to be out of "spiritual" air. The word spirit comes from the Latin Spiritus which means breathe. So when we mention the Holy Spirit we literally are saying the Holy breath or Holy air. The Holy Spirit comes from God and moves in our lives to accomplish whatever it is that God wishes to do. In all that we do as Christians - we need the presence of God's Holy Spirit working in our lives - guiding us - helping us - giving us strength to face the realities of life. With the Holy Spirit you will never have to worry about being spiritually short of breath - today your prayer should be "come Holy Spirit, fill my life with your presence"
Deacon Dale
Have you ever felt like the entire world was set against you? You wake up expecting the best out of the day and from there it just goes down hill. The tube of toothpaste is empty, the battery on your cordless shaver just died and there is no hot water for your morning shower. Then after you are all dressed and almost ready to leave you notice a) a button missing b) a stain on your shirt or blouse or c) you can't find your car keys. You stop for coffee - simple enough "black please" and as you drive off and take your first sip - you are surprised with cream and sugar! At the job - well you get the point - one thing after another just keeps making a bad day worse until finally you end up being on the end of a brutal attack by your a) boss b) co-worker c) spouse for something that you had no involvement in at all - you are completely innocent but for whatever reason you had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the right time. Having a miserable day filled with miserable events is bad enough - but when you are innocent and become somebody's whipping boy - that is just completely unjust!
That had to be the way Jesus felt as He was led around by the soldiers and mocked, ridiculed, whipped and spat upon. To be put on trial for all the wrong reasons - to be blamed for all the wrong things - how do you suppose Jesus felt? And where was His moral support - where did His disciples all disappear to - where was everybody when He was at the lowest point in His life? Oh, but He is God He could take it - really? Is that really the way it should be? When is it justified that any innocent person should be made to suffer for what others have done. And yet this is exactly what Jesus experienced - a bad day gone from bad to worse - from abuse and ridicule to crucifixion! It is hard to imagine that anyone would have to endure this - and yet - if asked to do it all over again - Jesus would! He loves you and me that much!
Deacon Dale
Breakfast - the most important meal of the day. This is when you start your day - freshen yourself up - get ready for everything that will happen during the next twenty-four hours. Breakfast starts the day with food for the mind and muscles. Two eggs sunny side up, sausage links or bacon, coffee and toast and you are off and running to accomplish your agenda for the day. Interesting enough the fat in the meats are considered by many to be brain foods. Nutritionists have shown how important it is for babies and very young toddlers to get an adequate supply of fats to promote healthy brains. As adults, most of us know that we will have a hard time functioning during the day if we skip breakfast - so we take that fifteen or twenty minutes needed to eat at the start of our day. Fortified we attack the day with a smile and bright sunny eyes.
How much better for us if we could add another ten minutes into our morning routine and give God the same attention that we do to our mind and muscles. To wake a bit earlier and devote some time each morning in prayer - to thank God for a restful night and a sunny morning and the hope of a pleasant and rewarding day. To open our Bible or Breviary or whatever prayer book we use and to praise and thank God for creation - for life - for family - for jobs - for opportunities that will present themselves throughout our day. "Lord open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise..." should begin our day - every day. Each and every morning we should see the eyes of Jesus encouraging us to carry Him - the One who loves us - with us throughout our days.
Deacon Dale
"But for the grace of God - there go I..." How many times have we been in a situation where we compare ourselves or our situation to others? Usually it is at a time when we observe either great grace or great despair - extremes at both ends of the spectrum. We may know of a certain situation where someone we happen to know is doing very well financially or in their relationship or family situation and we become jealous - or - we observe a different person completely down on their luck - on the street - maybe homeless, without anyone to care for them or about them. Two extremes and yet we offer the same "but for the grace...." commentary. Why do we find ourselves comparing our situation to that of anyone else? Could it be that in specific moments of our lives we see either the complete presence or absence of God in our life? Do we use these moments to praise or blame God for what we have done or allowed ourselves to become? Although we are creations of God's divine love - we do have the gift of free will and it is how we use that gift that sets us on the path of our lives. We choose either very well or quite poorly - but in the end it is our decisions that place us where we find ourselves.
Love and hate - happiness and sadness are decisions that God leaves up to us. He gives us opportunities to act and react to multiple events and opportunities in our lives and in our actions or lack of action - we create the reality of the world that surrounds us. In John 12:27 Jesus said "my soul has become troubled and what shall I say 'Father - save me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour'." Jesus had a choice to make in His life - to trust completely in His Father or to walk a different path. Like us - Jesus was faced with decisions. He had to rely on His faith and in our lives Jesus asks us to rely on our faith. He guides us along the path but He does not force the path we chose to walk. In our decisions - the right and the wrong - Jesus walks with us. It is through Grace that we have the courage and strength to walk with Him.
Deacon Dale
Have you ever been in a group or team where one or more of the group add no value to the project or activity? Besides dragging down the momentum establish by those who are actively participating, they often exude negative energy and after time begin to affect the positive energy of the entire group. Slowly the momentum stagnates and the group either has to "cut" those who are not being active participants or they lose all energy and the project experiences a slow and agonizing death. Worse yet if you were that participant who was considered "dead wood" and you were guilty of ruining the event. Why do we allow this to happen - not only in others - but in ourselves? What is it that drains our energies and we become apathetic and listless? The most common and simplest answer is burnout - over involvement- to the level that nothing peaks any desire to participate much less excel. Very sad - and even worse - when that applies to our prayer life. Going from an ordinary, active prayer life to a non existent one is unbelievably sad.
Thank God that He - above all else - is very patient with us. For God knows that when we appear dead to ourselves and others - there is still hope - there is still life - in all of us. He knows us so well that He waits patiently - not forcing Himself into our lives. He knows that when the tree appears dead to the world - that its strong roots will bring forth new life and new growth come the Spring rains. He knows that we - like the tree- need only to be watered by His Love - by His Holy Spirit - by the warming rays of His Son - and in time we will sprout and burst forth in prayers to Him. In this Lent when you are feeling that you are walking through a dry spell - through a desert of emptiness - know that Jesus walks with you.
Deacon Dale
If I say "Remarkable Power" what do you think of? Superman? Wonder Woman? Captain America? Or maybe Michael Jordan or some other sports figure? How about Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking? All these figures have one thing in common (whether real or imaginary) - they all have the power to influence. When people read of their activities and what they do - they inspire awe and admiration. To be able to inspire people is an awesome gift and talent. When put to proper use it encourages others to seek goals beyond their normal means - to push themselves beyond otherwise normal limits. And when they do - they can accomplish almost anything. What a gift to mankind that we have those who fall into this category.
Jesus is like that. A seemingly ordinary individual living a seemingly ordinary life until that moment when God chose to reveal Him to the world. A neighborhood carpenter - "isn't this the son of Joseph and Mary?" - one who lived among the common people - and yet the Son of God filled with Remarkable Power. Power to heal - Power to make whole - Power to make the unbelievable believable. By His life and actions Jesus inspires men and women of all ages to be more than they ever thought they could be. He takes an ordinary person and blesses them with the power to touch hearts through music and song - through art and dance - through poetry and prose. In ordinary people and in ordinary events of daily life - Jesus reveals His Remarkable Power to each of us. As you experience His presence in your life and His Remarkable Power - bend your knee - touch the Earth and praise God for finding you worthy to be called a child of God.
Deacon Dale
In the Midwest when somebody mentions White Castle you would most likely think of the hamburger chain that specializes in "sliders". That would be expected since food is probably one topic or thought that is at the top of most people's minds throughout the day. It starts with morning coffee progresses to mid-morning snacks and then finally lunch. Considering that most people tend to burn their candles at both ends - fast food and food that seems to "slide" right down are the first choice for many. We think nothing about how quickly we consume our lunch - it just seems to be a part of our lives. Years ago when I was just out of college, I got a call from my twin one day who was laughing his head off. When I asked him what was going on he mentioned to me that he knew he ate his lunch very quickly as he ate on the run while still working. So on that particular day he decided to time how long it took him to eat his hamburger. Thirty seconds! Thirty seconds - he laughed - he claimed to have perfected the 30 second lunch.
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And not much has changed in the forty-two years since that phone call. We still gulp our lunches and rush on to the next client or immediately turn our attention to the next task at work. How many of us treat our prayer life like we teat our lunch "hours". How many of us claim to spend quality time with God in our prayer lives and yet in reality we give God no more time than it takes to gulp down a "slider"? Perhaps in these days of Lent we can reconsider how we consume our spiritual food and give God the time He deserves. I know it may be hard to "swallow" but taking time to speak and listen to God will be an early Easter gift to all of us!
Deacon Dale
Greetings - You are invited! Don't you feel great when you get an invitation in the mail? It feels so good when someone considers you a person that they want to spend time with and they invite you to spend time with them. What is it about you that they want to be in your presence? Sometimes you know why you were invited - maybe it's a family event and you are automatically included in all family events. Maybe it is a close friend who wants to spend time with you.
Or maybe it is someone who knows you better than you know yourself and they want you to get to know them better. It just might be the one person in your life who really understands and cares for you - the one who feels your hurt - who feels your pain - who knows your heart. In this Lenten season - just maybe - it is Jesus calling you - inviting you to a deeper relationship with Him. Do the smart thing - accept the invitation.
Deacon Dale
Dark Energy is a term that scientists use to explain the expansion of the universe contrary to what was believed to be a slowing of that expansion. It all has to do with Einstein's theory of gravity and the effect gravity has on all matter. Einstein proposed that the expansion had to slow down but the Hubble Space Telescope in 1998 showed that the universe had been expanding much slower than it is today. Some mysterious force is fueling this expansion and that is Dark Energy. Although scientists hate to admit when a theory is proved wrong - in the end they basically say "oh well - data proves otherwise" and they give up their grasp on the old theory and fairly quickly embrace the new.
It would be great if Christians and non-Christian alike could be as logical. All too many people learn very early in their conversion to faith bad and even outright wrong information about God and His relationship with them. They are fed myths and anecdotal stories that feed unbelief and mis-belief. Rather than seek out those who know the real answers they wander in that gray area where untruths are told. When confronted why they think the Church would promote bad information - they might say "it is a mystery" and they are partially correct - but only insofar as they are willing to admit their ignorance. The only way to know what is true is to actively study what your faith is all about. For Catholics the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the place to start. As you continue your journey towards Easter - take the time to really learn about the One who Loves You.
Deacon Dale
