Taxes

Tax Time - one of the most dreaded times of the year. To struggle with the task of the annual reporting - accounting - of your financial life - is indeed taxing - a burden that very few people enjoy. Because of the stress - most people delegate this task to somebody else. Not so in this household - the challenge of being able to track down all the data - place it in the proper space on the form - is an annual challenge that - to this one person - is a labor of love. This annual task - provides a time for one to sharpen their thinking skills and research capabilities. It is not only the tasks of "where did I put that information" - but understanding what the form is requesting. In years past it was actually more difficult - today - thanks to programs such as TurboTax - it is almost easy. Easy of course is a relative term and what is easy to one may be daunting to another. Rest assured that this tax payer will have the taxes filed on time - with a sense of accomplishment in doing so.

Taxes have been with us since the time of Jesus. Those who govern people and provide services on their behalf have always "bit the hand that feeds them". Nobody in their right mind would ask anyone to become their keeper - watching and directing what they do or how they live. That is exactly what the "Lord of the Manor" does. He watches - directs - guides - limits - imposes - all in the name of being a good provider. Unfortunately - throughout history - those who tax - waste. Waste our monies - not on us - but on themselves - self-serving - personal - private - personal ambitions and goals. Too much ends up in the wrong pockets - not for the good of the many - only a few benefit - personal gain. Jesus told us that the "poor will always be with you" - never indicating that the poor would be us. Truth be told - even with unfair taxation - even with the wasted dollars - the majority of us do live decent lives. When considering the big picture - how much money we do or don't have does not mean as much as how well we love God. If we are rich in dollars - but love God not - then we truly are the poor of the world.

Deacon Dale 

Divine Mercy

Today - the second Sunday of Easter - is Divine Mercy Sunday - proclaimed such by Blessed Pope John Paul II. On this Sunday we stop our lives - for a bit - to recognize just how merciful God really is. It is through His Divine Mercy that we are saved - saved from death - saved from hell - saved from ourselves. Nothing of this Earth can ever give us the solace - peace - joy -  that is found in Christ Jesus. There is nothing we can do - it is a free gift - freely given - freely received - to all who accept. No strings attached - no terms - no conditions - no if or ands - just there for the receiving.

In His Divine Mercy - Jesus hung on the cross for us - not because He had to - because He wanted to.  He gave His all - for our all - our sins - our lies - our deceptions - our blindness - our cruelty - our selfishness. Today we rejoice - our God has come to the Earth - our God died for us - our God saves.

Deacon Dale  

Patience

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances - meaning persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance or anger in a negative way. How many times have we been heard to say -  "God grant me patience..."?  There are those who come in and out of our lives who are gifted with the ability to try our patience on a daily basis. To some - it is amazing - that drastic actions are not taken as a result. To be patient with someone who habitually is an irritant is a definite gift from God. Without that special grace - we would probably act in a very unkind manner - doing very unkind things to the very person who tests our level of patience.  I find it unbelievable that those who cause so much irritation - are completely unaware of what they are doing - even when told to their face what is happening.

Jesus had to cope with impatience all the time - people following Him all over the place - begging Him for miracles - pestering Him until even His patience wore thin. Through all the irritation - no matter how bothersome - He did maintain patience. That is what He asks us - be patient - ask for more patience from God - endure even when it hurts - because they are - our sisters and brothers - our mothers and fathers - our friends and foes.  Patience - true patience is a gift from God.  In this Easter season - as we celebrate Christ's victory over death and sin - we need to keep things in order - our eyes focused on the important things - to be patient - to see only that which truly matters - Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

A New Blog!

Yes - another blog - El Camino de los Santos - The Way of the Saints.   This new blog is all about the creation of a "mini" - Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  As most know - Arlene and I will be walking the Camino de Santiago this fall - a walk of some 800 Kilometers - about 500 miles over 5 or 6 weeks.  As part of our training - I have created a much shorter version - here in Illinois - that will replicate a one day version of the Camino in Spain.  This one will not be as challenging - since the terrain in Illinois is not as hilly as in northern Spain.  It will not be easy - as we intend to walk from Yorkville, Illinois to Plano, Illinois - and for those who want the complete daily expereince - back to Yorkville - a total of approximately 18 miles.  To read this new blog or the blog on the Camino de Santiago you may click the respective tabs at the top of this page or go here:  http://thewayofthesaints.blogspot.com/

Enjoy
Deacon Dale 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter?  What? - Have I lost my mind? - After all Easter was three days ago - was it not?    Well - yes - that was Easter Sunday - unknown to many people - Easter is actually a Season in the Church Liturgical year - that lasts for 50 days!  Surprise! - it is still Easter - all the way up to Pentecost and including Trinity Sunday.  So Divine Mercy Sunday which arrives in a few  days - is a part of Easter Season - as is the Ascension of Our Lord - Pentecost - Trinity Sunday.  So you ask - what are we to do - the chocolate bunnies have all been eaten - as well as the yellow marshmallow peeps and we found almost all the colored eggs - only one still hiding somewhere - and even that will be eventually found once it starts to radiate an obnoxious odor.  What is a person to do with 50 days of Easter?  The answer is simple - Live it. Practice what you believe - daily - at home - at work - at play.  Be a Christian - don't be afraid to show it - say grace before you eat - even in restaurants - even at McDonalds.  Teach what you believe - there are thousands of people starving for the Word of God - feed them.  Share what you have received - let others in on the "secret" - the gift of New Life - given freely by God - to all who ask.

That is all Jesus did - He lived His faith - practiced it daily - said His prayers - as any good Jew did. He lived the Truth - He spoke the Truth - He shared the Truth. We can do no more - no less.

Deacon Dale 

Easter

Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the most important Christian holiday in the year. Many people confuse the celebration of Christmas and Easter - in regards to importance.  At Christmas - Christians celebrate the birth of Christ - but as all of us can attest - we - like Christ - have experienced birth. None of us - on the other hand - have experienced resurrection. That reason alone is why Easter is the more important celebration. Before Jesus could die for mankind - He first had to be born - born into a world - just as we were - to be  tempted - lured - as we were - without failing - unlike we - who fail on a daily basis. He alone was born to die - for us. We are born to die - for nobody. We live our lives - hopefully good lives - to leave the world a better place than we found it - but none - leave the world - as payment for the sins of ourselves or others.  Jesus paid the price - for all.

When Jesus died - paid the price - for sins - He died for all mankind - past - present - future. He paid for the sins for those who have not been born yet - because - all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. No matter how hard we try - we will fail - we will sin. That is the nature of mankind - not because we want to - but because we are born to. Only One is God - Only One is the Christ - all others - are ordinary men and women - seeking the best - missing the mark - attaining - hope - not perfection.  In Christ Jesus - alone - the One - is Glory - Salvation - Life.

Deacon Dale 

VIGIL

According to Wikipedia - a vigil -from the Latin vigilia - meaning wakefulness - is a period of purposeful sleeplessness - an occasion for devotional watching - or an observance. The Italian word vigilia has become generalized in this sense and means "eve"  - as in on the eve of the war.  To participate in any vigil means sitting - waiting - expecting. To sit in vigil does not means always at night - a person may spend hours in the waiting room of a hospital - sitting in vigil - while a loved one undergoes surgery. Waiting at home - for hour upon hour - waiting for delivery of new furniture - or the arrival of a repair person - may also be considered a vigil. To those who participate in religious services - the thought automatically is the night of a significant event - the spiritual waiting period - an anticipation of a revelation from God.  In the Catholic church - any service celebrated the evening before a specific morning service is considered a Vigil. 

The Mother of all Vigils - is the Easter Vigil - the most Holy Mass of the liturgical year - the most significant Mass in the Catholic Church. At the Easter Vigil - numerous significant firsts of the liturgical year are celebrated.  The Church blesses the Easter fire from which The Paschal  - Easter Candle - is lit. Then the Exultant - a song of Easter joy - is chanted. The service continues with seven readings from the Hebrew Scriptures - with accompanying Psalms - followed by the  reading of the Epistle from Saint Paul - then the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord. A Homily - explaining the salvation story - from the Israelites to Jesus' Death and Resurrection follows. At this point the Rite of Christian Initiation is celebrated during which the water in the font is blessed for the first time - followed by the Baptism and Anointing of the candidates with Sacred Chrism - with full reception into the Holy Catholic Church. Mass then continues as normal with the neophytes receiving Holy Communion for the first time with their new parish community. Finally the Vigil concludes with the Deacon chanting the double Alleluia - sending all out into the World to continue the Works of Jesus. In two to three hours - the parish community - with their priests and deacons - sit Vigil - remembering those hours that followed the Crucifixion of Jesus.  History has revealed the miracle that followed - the Resurrection from the dead - the new life offered to all in Jesus the Christ. Each year we remember - we recreate - we believe - that Jesus is Lord,

Deacon Dale 

Pascal Tridumm

The Tridumm - the three holiest days of the Christian liturgical year - begins today.  There is no morning Mass today - in preparation for the beginning of the Tridumm - marking the official end of Lent and the beginning of the Tridumm with The Holy Mass of the Last Supper. As Lent and that period of reflection now ends - we focus our attention on the ritual of The Mass of The Last Supper. Tonight at that Mass - we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood - for it was at the Last Supper - that Jesus said " take and eat - this is my body - take and drink - this is my blood" the first time that He performed the mystery of transubstantiation - changing bread and wine - into His body and blood. It is also at that time when He gave the authority and power of His disciples to do the same. As He did - so were they to also do - to perpetuate this mystery until the end of days.

As the final three days of the discipline of Lent -  the Easter Triduum has traditionally been observed with even stricter fasting and abstinence - as well as prayer and almsgiving. Since 1956, however, the Paschal Triduum has been regarded as its own liturgical season, and thus liturgically Lent ends before the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.  The Tridumm consists of Holy Thursday - Good Friday - Holy Saturday and ends with the beginning of the celebration of the Easter Vigil - celebrated at sundown - the ending of the day and the beginning of the night of the next day. In these three very holy days we celebrate Eucharist - the Priesthood - the Crucifixion - and wait at Vigil - for the Easter Resurrection. Three very special days - three very holy days - three days of preparation - leading to Christ's victory over sin and death. In all this we can only be active participants - not bystanders.

Deacon Dale 

Holy Week

Holy Week officially began with Palm Sunday. Now three days into this special week preparations are being made around the world for all the special activities that will take place in churches of all denominations. Training sessions - reviewing liturgies - cleaning vestments - checking communion supplies - making sure the welcome mat is out - all occupy the minds of those responsible for making Holy Week a special experience for all worshipers - the regulars as well as the casual. Of course there will be glitches - copy machines that run out of toner - who forgot to order more - paper supplies that are not available - last minute runs to pick up forgotten supplies - a thousand things to do - just to make sure  the holy house is in order for the guests that will visit. Challenging and exhilarating all at the same time - all done to make sure that this Easter - this special Easter is better than the last. 

God must have one grand ole time watching all our activities - all our busy activities - all our concerns - about perfection.  In reality - all He asks - is a pure heart - a loving heart - a heart accepting all. He doesn't care about things like how new - or how shiny - or how many. No - He cares only about one thing - Your Heart.  Is it in the right place - have you opened it up to all the possibilities He has provided for you - have you allowed old hurts to be healed - have you created room for His love - for others - for those who challenge you - for yourself?

Deacon Dale 

Palms

Palms come in all sorts of sizes - children's, teens and adults - among adults they vary in size from small ladies to large men's sizes. The palm is the center of the hand to which are attached the wrist - thumb and fingers. It is the palm that holds most objects - creating a center into which objects are held and contained. Without the palm - the fingers and thumb would have a much more difficult time grasping and holding onto object - thus we see quite readily the value of the palm. Of course the one palm that is most important to Christians is not the one in their hand but rather the one held high yesterday on Palm Sunday - when palm branches were carried aloft and waved triumphantly as they commemorated the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week.

Waving palms and branches was the custom of years gone by to celebrate the event of kings and soldiers returning home from a triumphant victory - such was the case when Jesus entered Jerusalem.  His followers were sure that he was the Messiah - the promised one - who would come to remove their oppression and difficult lifestyle. Little did they know that His kingdom was not an earthly one - but a much higher - loftier - one - unseen by human eyes - untouched by human hands - in the realm of the One true God.  Palm Sunday joy rapidly turned to sadness and confusion as the events leading up to the Crucifixion played themselves out.  This year as in years past we remember - we recreate - we celebrate and at the same time we beat our breast - we ponder - we wonder how this all could have happened - then we remember - in all this - in everything that we will celebrate this week - the Passover - the Last Supper - the Crucifixion - the Resurrection - all is in God's time and a part of His plan for the world - today as much as it was in the time of Jesus.  This week allow yourself to dine at the table of His grace.

Deacon Dale