In Your Eye

When somebody tells you - in your eye - they are usually referring to doing something good - right in front of you - that you thought was not possible. Basketball players are known to use this phrase - particularly when another player is in their face defying them to attempt a shot at the basket - and they do - right - in their eye. There is something magical about the eye - often called the windows to the soul. We just returned from a two day pilgrimage to Wisconsin - one site we visited was the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. Everyone agreed that the most outstanding feature of that visit was viewing the Statue of Mary at the site of the apparition. What made that so memorable was the statue itself - particularly - the eyes. Most statues are void of eyes - rather - eye sockets or plain globes fill the socket - as it is very difficult to reproduce the human eye in a statue that look real. In this case the artist not only captured an exact essence of the human eye - but a gaze from the statue that pierces the soul of the observer. Gazing upon this statue of the Blessed Mother - gazing down at those kneeling before her - has an unbelievable effect on everyone who kneels there to pray. It is difficult to explain - one of those occasions when words fail - you have to experience for yourself.

Jesus was known for His piercing gaze - looking into the souls of those who looked at Him. He was able to see the lies as well as the truth - the disappointments as well as the hope - the failures as well as the potential. Two more days and we will be celebrating His entrance into Jerusalem - looking at those who celebrated His arrival - those who feared His presence - His eyes that loooked into their souls. As we wave our palms this Sunday - we focus on our eyes- what we see - what we will see - what affect - it will have on us - as we begin the holiest week of the Christian year.

Deacon Dale

Senior Moments

For the next two days we will be traveling with a bus of seniors for a two day pilgrimage to Wisconsin. Traveling with seniors is always fun - they are just like younger people - except most of them have done it all - so their experience means less hassle and stress - more time for open sharing and laughs. This is a spiritual journey - visiting two shrines - time for prayer - Holy Mass - meals - being together - sharing God's blessings. If this is what people refer to as "senior moments" then I want more of them. The other senior moments - times of forgetfulness - we will just ignore - because the moments we remember are the ones we value.

Jesus calls all of us - seniors as well as youth - to follow Him - to share in His gift of salvation - love - acceptance. Taking time to journey with Him on our Lenten Camino - on foot - in a bus - leads us down the path designed for us by His Heavenly Father. All are called - all are drawn - not all respond. Each of us needs to keep our ears open - to hear Him - calling - our name.

Deacon Dale 

Taxing Times

Life is beautiful - grand - enjoyable - full of surprises - accomplishments - rewards - most of  the time. Then there are those moments - hopefully few - when life kicks you in the back side - becomes unpleasant - troublesome - filled with concerns - taxing. Everyone has these moments - unavoidable - hard to escape - inevitable. It is one week away - income taxes are due - many - like myself - put off until the last week - placing pressure - stress - on ourselves to gather and complete that annual task. It will be done - on time - accurately - a sigh of relief at the end. Why do we do this to ourselves - why create a taxing scenario - year after year? The reality - it is a challenge - we place upon ourselves - like a sport - knowing that we will do well - waiting until the final bout - the championship match - going for the gold - we are enlivened by the challenge. Stressful - yes - taxing - yes - long hours - yes - but it is the knowledge - of success - final completion - doing a job well done. It is sport - and we love sports.

God offers us life - life in the fullest. Jesus said He came that we might have life and live it to the fullest. Notice He said might - not would - His promise of the potential - if we accept His challenge - to go for the gold - to grab the brass ring - to compete well - to run with the bulls - soar with the eagles - to seek what is offered - to find what is hidden. Doing so could be stressful - taxing - but in the end - well worth the effort. God has laid all this out before us - it is we who need to make the effort to take - to conquer - to enjoy - to rejoice - in His gifts. Our Lenten Camino continues to take us to places where we are encouraged to walk a little farther - to go the distance. The journey is not over yet - so we continue daily - prayers in hand - as we seek a deeper relationship with Him - the Author of Life.

Deacon Dale 

Hot Air

Hot air is great in the winter and colder months - it keeps you warm - comfy - happy. Those who fly hot air balloons - major necessity for hot air - to stay afloat. In mid-summer - hot air - not appreciated. While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain last year - hot air - especially on the meseta - desert area - not wanted - uncomfortable. Sitting next to a group of peregrinos - talking loudly - trying to impress each other - unwanted hot air. Bragging and boasting - not desirable - anywhere.

When Jesus spoke to the crowds - to individuals - to the people in the temple - no hot air - no bragging - no boasting. His words - words of encouragement - words of hope - words of forgiveness - words of healing. As we draw closer to the end of this Lenten Camino - springtime - new life - warmer - not hor - air - welcomes us. In these last days we focus not on the greatness of those around us - we focus on the simplicity - the truth of Jesus. As we walk this Camino - we focus - on Jesus.

Deacon Dale 

Dead Wrong

Dead wrong - completely wrong - no possibility that you might be even slightly correct. Most of the time when we get information that is tainted - not completely true - flawed research - we will be wrong - but only partially wrong. When all the information is bad - the research done very poorly - the data transmitted frivolously - chances of being correct - very very slim. When we realize that we have errored - we can only admit the error - move on - seek new data - accurate information - come to a new and better conclusion.

The disciples were told that their friend Lazarus was dead - dead and buried - in the grave four days - bought the farm - kicked the bucket - pushing up daisies -  said his final farewell. Lazarus' sisters thought the same - as did the towns people - all dead wrong. Jesus - frustrated at their lack of faith - in Him - in His Father - in His promises - wept. Wept for  their lack of faith - not because Lazarus had died - wept for their disappointing reaction. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead - His disciples should have known that He would perform a miracle - but they doubted - failed to trust - did not believe. We have the benefit of the facts - the records of history - documented evidence - so we do believe - we understand - we trust - we hope in His promises. We trust that like Lazarus - we too will have life forever - in God's Kingdom. This Lent if we learn only one thing - we learn that we can trust the promises of God - the words of Jesus. If not - we will be - dead wrong.

Deacon Dale 

Debit Cards

Debit Cards - also known as bank cards - check cards - are plastic cards used to pay for goods or services via electronic access to financial institutions. Some cards have a stored value which allows payment - most send a request to the cardholder's bank to withdraw funds from a designated bank account. The card - where accepted - may be used instead of cash. In many countries - debit cards have become so widespread that their volume has overtaken or entirely replaced checks/cheques - in some instances - cash transactions. Unlike credit and charge cards - payments using a debit card are immediately transferred from the cardholder's bank account. Debit cards usually also allow for instant withdrawal of cash - acting as the ATM - cash card  - for withdrawing cash at ATM machines - Bancomats - Telebanco stations. While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain - we found large cities accepted both types of cards. On the Camino - itself - in small villages and towns - which comprise perhaps 90 percent of the Camino path - only cash is accepted. Those walking the Camino need to be aware that in those remote areas of Spain - it is strictly a cash economy - for beds - bars - food - groceries. Paying in Euros - instead of a card - was actually liberating in a sense. You selected - paid in Euros - transaction completed. Simple - easy - no stress - the way of the Camino - direct and immediate payment - in full. 

When Jesus died on the cross - for you - for me - He paid our debit - for the sins committed - past and future. He did not use a credit or debit card to pay the price - nor did He use cash - rather He paid with His life - His blood. Nobody had to coerce or beg Him to do that - He did it freely - of His own will - for one reason and one reason only. His love for us - each of us. If I were the only sinner in the entire world - I know He would still have died - just for me - because that is in God's plan. Salvation for all - male and female - rich and poor - black and white - young and old - for all. As we walk these last weeks of Lent - as we continue our Lenten Camino - may we constantly keep in our minds what Jesus did for each of us - and why. We owe Him a debt - for paying once - for all - for our sins - in full.

Deacon Dale 

Waymarks

Waymarks - signs placed along a route - to help travelers follow the route. They may be intended for travelers on foot - bicycle - horse - in a vehicle - any mode of transportation. Milestones -  common in Europe - are a form of waymark - along the Camino de Santiago - numerous different waymarks - all intended to show people the correct path to follow as they seek to journey to a final destination. While walking the Camino in Spain - waymarks became your best friend - reassuring each time you discovered the next one - telling you that you were walking the correct path. Without waymarks - completing the journey - very difficult. 

As we walk our Lenten Journey we are given signs - from God - that we are on the correct path. Scripture that speaks to the heart - prayers that stir emotions - sights and sounds - that move the inner spirit - all waymarks - reassuring us that we are headed in the right direction. Moving through Lent - we encounter the presence of God - in others - in special moments. We experience moments of grace - peace - love - assurances we are on the correct path. 

Deacon Dale 

Ground Floor

Starting on the ground floor is where most people start - ground level - easy access - no elevation - smooth and easy. Moving anywhere on the ground floor - no major effort required. Attempting to rise above the ground floor - energy necessary to progress - desire to move upwards. Walking up a flight of stairs - starting low - seeking height. Entry level job - intern to CEO - seeking status and wealth. All of us have begun a project - started a job - on the ground floor - seeking to improve - to achieve - to greater challenges - bigger successes. It is the story of life - moving from inception towards a grand conclusion.

When we were brought to the temple - to church - presented to the high priest - to be baptized - to begin our initiation into a life with Christ - we began on a spiritual ground floor. As we age and mature - other sacraments celebrated - Eucharist - Confirmation - as we progress upwards on a life long journey towards God. Walking our Lenten Camino we started on a path - right where we were - over these past weeks - walking closer to Jesus - trekking a spiral path - upwards - closer to Him. Each day of our Camino - we move one spiritual foot after another - along the path of life - towards the Cross of Christ - towards Easter.

Deacon Dale 

True Value

When a person considers making a purchase - paying for a service - contributing to a common cause - consideration has to be made as to the true value of that transaction. All too often goods and services are intentionally overpriced - to allow room for negotiation - bartering - quick and excessive profit. As long as the final consumer realizes the difference between what is asked and the real value -  and is able to freely negotiate a fair price - all is well. That is the free market system - supply and demand - want and need - fair pricing for both parties involved. In some parts of the world - bartering - negotiating - is part of  the culture - nobody is expected to really pay the quoted price - a game - a social interaction - money being the common game piece. When the game becomes a lie - falsehoods professed - an uneven playing field created - injustice occurs. It is up to everyone to heed the warning - buyer beware.

Jesus offers each of us true value - honesty - God's Word - proclaimed freely for all - no strings attached - no hidden clauses - no fine print. What He says - True - what He promises - True - what He proclaims - True. The life He offers - the healing - the acceptance - reconciliation - True. Continuing on our Lenten Camino - what we see is what we get - all True Value - guaranteed by God.

Deacon Dale 

April Fools

April Fools is an informal holiday celebrated every year on April 1. Popular since medieval times - the day is not a national holiday in any country - but is widely recognized throughout European cultures and celebrated as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other - called April fools. Hoax stories are also often found in the press and media on this day. It is not unusual for the media to report outrageous stories in early news - only to be retracted - with an apology - later in the day - for the hoax. Everyone needs at least one day in the year - when they may laugh - have fun.  Except in very rare cases - all is done in good humour - offending very few if any. Nobody enjoys being called a fool - except on April 1st - when everybody becomes a fool.

Christians - in good humour - are often called fools for Christ - living lives contrary to the way the world lives. To be Christian - is counter cultural  - living as Christ commanded - doing things that others think are foolish. Those who walk with Christ are His - living good Holy lives - those who reject Him - those who deny Him - those who close  their eyes and ears to His invitation - are the real fools. As we continue our Lenten Camino - each of us walks as a fool - a fool for Christ.

Deacon Dale