When I made the decision to live in Arizona for the winter months I knew that I would not be able to continue my diaconal ministry while in Arizona. The process to receive faculties - to function as a Catholic deacon - involves red tape - lots of red tape. The Church moves slowly when approving ministers from outside their boundaries - giving permission to function when visiting - relocating. For four months I have been the - man in the pew - observing other deacons - praying along with the local community. This weekend - I visited a brother deacon in California - invited to serve Holy Mass at his parish - welcomed by his pastor. It felt very good to proclaim the Gospel - announce the prayers of the faithful - distribute the Body of Christ at communion. It felt like home - serving the people of God - at the altar - a ministry lost - newly found - hope regained.
The primary mission of Jesus - seeking the lost - those who had strayed - drifted away from His Father. In three short years He not only located the lost -attracted thousands away from lives lived poorly - to relationship with Him - with God. This Easter - Jesus again found new hearts to bring into His Church - new souls to save. As we continue our Easter celebration - we rejoice that we who were once lost - have been found - that others still - in this day - may also be found - for a new life in Christ.
Deacon Dale
Go West! - The opportunities are in the west - chances for a new start - begin over. When life seems stuck - not going where we thought it would - time to pick up - start over. A friend of mine felt very frustrated a few years ago - with job - location - future possibilities - going nowhere quickly. Sharing his frustration with his employer - new opportunity laid before him - in front of his eyes - to go west. Fulfilling a life long dream to relocate to the west coast - a reality - definite possibility. Within months - plans finalized - move implemented. A visit with him recently - at his new home - found a very happy person.
Jesus calls us to be alive - mobile - ready to spring into action. It is not just our spiritual life - also our daily life - where He wants us to be happy. Too often opportunities are laid before us - we miss - ignore - avoid - refuse to believe are possible. As people of faith - God expects - wants us to seize the day - the opportunities - for ourselves. We need to keep our eyes - ears - open to the possibilities before us. We need to walk in faith - knowing that God - calls us - to new adventures - with Jesus.
Deacon Dale
There is a discussion currently going on in our community in Arizona in regards to dogs - people who own dogs - dogs who bark - people who allow their dogs to bark - telling dogs not to bark. Just as any other animal - including humans - needs to communicate - so do dogs. Dogs need to tell us when they are hungry - need to go outside - when danger is approaching - when the neighborhood cat is trespassing - among other important things. Dogs bark - at - to - other dogs - cats - birds - people. Depending on the tone - intensity - we know if they are welcoming or threatening. It is completely natural for a dog to bark - yet some - usually people with too much time on their hands - complain about dogs who bark. I am sure there is an occasional midnight howler who disrupts some body's sleep - but in my opinion - the exception - not the rule. Tolerance - is called for by all - especially those who do not have dogs in their home.
That is one of the most important things that Jesus tried to get across to the people - tolerance - acceptance - not throwing stones - building bridges instead. He never promised a rose garden - but declared it a possibility - if we would become more Christ like. It is not only our actions - also our reactions - that determine the person we will be - the effect we will have - in - on - our neighbors. Jesus asks all to walk proudly - but speak - with a tolerant bark.
Deacon Dale
Rations - fixed allowances of provisions or food - especially for soldiers and sailors - civilians - during a shortage. Most people will never experience a time of rationing - a time of lack of enough for all. Some - in special circumstances - in wars - in natural disasters - will go without - receiving only the minimum of supplies - water - necessary to sustain life. During times of disaster - rationing done only until normal supplies are replenished - normal routes of delivery resumed.
When God sends His blessings upon His people - no rationing occurs - His blessings - flow freely - upon all - whether they accept them or not. Renewed energy - healing - joy - peacefulness - comfort - poured freely - for all. Many will reject these blessings - refuse to acknowledge God's presence - failing to accept what is offered. For those of us who do acknowledge and receive - a burden placed upon us - to share the Good News - to proclaim to all - Jesus is Lord - God loves all - blesses all - enough for everybody. When asked how much He loves us - Jesus spread out His arms - and died.
Deacon Dale
In an effort to learn more about the native inhabitants of Arizona we visited the Gila River Indian Community HuHuGam Heritage center in Chandler, Arizona. This site is a repository for photographs - oral histories - historical documents and artifacts - relating to the pre-historic Huhugam and the Akimel O'odham - Pima - and Pee Posh - Maricopa - Native peoples. The building sits by itself in the Arizona desert just off the I-10 highway. In photos and artifacts the story of these people is told - how they went from a thriving community - to a struggling group - because of the diversion of the Gila River and their precious water supply. Like many communities that suffered changes - due to development - housing projects - new people with modern methods - the natives had to cope with a quickly changing environment. In the community where our Arizona house is located - the natives - those here for ten or more years - constantly comment - complain - about changes to the people - businesses - moving into the community - making changes. Nobody likes development that changes the way one lives.
Jesus found out first hand - people do not like change - happy with the status quo - even when it is not healthy - bad for them. Many preferred that He leave well enough alone - they were comfortable as was - with taxes - being ruled by others - being pushed around. He told them life could be better - they didn't want it. He told them they had a Father in heaven that loved them - they rejected the concept. Much of what He shared with them - they did not want. Same old - same old - comfortable - even with low quality of life - happy to not - rock the boat - become invisible - leave well enough alone. Jesus offered so much more - their life - back as intended - their heritage - as the promised people. Today He still makes the same offer - to you - to me - take what has been offered freely by His Father - take what is rightfully yours - accept His salvation - your heritage.
Deacon Dale
Years ago - more than I like to think - we owned horses - an appaloosa for me - a pinto for my wife - and a Shetland pony and a small mixed breed pony. Every day we mucked the stalls - feed the horses and ponies - shoveled manure - brushed and groomed them - on occasion - rode them. Those were good days - good memories. Last week - while my son and daughter-in-law and grandson visited us in Arizona - we went horse riding - the first time for my grandson. Everyone had a great time - everyone - casual riders - did well - stayed in the saddle - none fell off their horse. Afterwards - my legs - killing me - not as limber as when I was younger - not as flexible. My legs spoke to me - for days - telling me - I am out of shape - no longer a young horseman.
Returning to church - after an extended absence - as a Catholic - similar to riding a horse. The Catholic Church - moves slowly to make changes - an absence of years - hardly noticeable by most - lack in regular attendance - return to Holy Mass - back in the saddle - an easy adjustment. No major pains - no major adjustments - faces different - songs similar - Scripture unchanged - same old - same old. Jesus welcomes all - regular worshipers - casual Christians - to visit Him - often - the empty saddle - waiting for you.
Deacon Dale
Having just celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday - it is only fitting that we focus today on the Holy Year of Mercy - proclaimed by Pope Francis this past March - in which he announced that he is convoking a jubilee year to be called the Holy Year of Mercy. The year officially begins December 8, 2015 - a special year - a jubilee year - to receive blessing and pardon from God and remission of sins. Typically jubilee years are called every twenty-five or fifty years and on occasion also called on special jubilees years - the last jubilee year was held in 2000 - declared by Saint Pope John Paul II. The jubilee year will close on November 20, 2016 - the feast of Christ the King.
Those who have experienced God's Divine Mercy - celebrate His Mercy daily in their lives - a normal part of their life. Their obligation - to share their stories - how God acted in their life - their experience of Mercy - His Divine intervention. This celebration should be an integral part of every one's daily life - not only on one day or in one year. Jesus has shared all with all - not all respond - but all should. As a committed Christian - we who have shared this gift - called to proclaim daily - in our lives - in others - God's Divine Mercy.
Deacon Dale
Mercy - the lenient or compassionate treatment of a person - group - community. When God is the One showing mercy - Divine Mercy - divine treatment. Today the Church celebrates - Divine Mercy Sunday - a day proclaimed by Saint Pope John Paul II on the Second Sunday of Easter in 2000 - the same day He elevated Sister Faustina Kowlaska to sainthood. In the last fifteen years the Divine Mercy devotion has grown immensely in the Catholic and some Anglican communities. Praying to God - praising Him for His unbelievable Mercy - thanking Him for prayers answered.
When Jesus walked this Earth - He shared with the people God's Good News - His love - His forgiveness - His healing - His reconciliation - His Mercy. It is hard to believe that His message was rejected by many - ignored - laughed at. To those who did believe - to those through the ages - to those who today still trust in Jesus' message - blessing upon blessing. To all who have accepted Jesus as their personal savour - to all who call God their Father - grace has been given - received - enjoyed. On this Divine Mercy Sunday of 2015 - each of us offers to Him - our faith - our belief - Jesus I trust in you.
Deacon Dale
Tornadoes have been in the news again - in the Midwest - causing destruction - grief - loss. The recent Illinois tornado reminds us of the power behind wind - natural forces of nature. Unfortunately - at times - life - property - security - is lost. There is no prevention - only precaution - recovery efforts - sympathy for those involved.
One would wonder why God - creates - allows - tornadoes - hurricanes. There is no simple answer - acceptable to most - uncontrolled energy - unleashed upon the world. The Holy Spirit - the Holy Wind - of God - not an element of destruction. Through the power - energy - of the Holy Spirit - healing - creation - recovery - life. It has to be hard for Jesus - God - to stand by and watch the forces of nature run wild - out of control. Luckily - although on a grand scale - the personal impact on most - minimal and in those lives - God works His miracles. Alongside the stories of destruction - death - stories of miracles - unbelievable moments - when people were spared - life preserved. Jesus is there - constantly helping each of us to weather all the storms in our lives - personal - natural - looking to grant us His safety - protection - peace.
Deacon Dale
It is done - words to bring a smile to any one's face - involved in a long project - composing a musical score - writing a play - filing their taxes. Nothing is sweeter than speaking those three words - it is done. Shout for joy - throw hands in the air - break out in dance - swing your partner - child around the room - it is done! A sigh of relief - the tension gone - a sense of accomplishment - relief. We have all been there - done that - everyone understands the concept - the feeling of relief - the absence of pressure - life looking good again.
When Jesus exclaimed - it is done - finished - sacrifice completed - stress gone - peace following. The difference between Jesus and ourselves - He was giving up His life - not a project. His suffering on the cross - over - ended - completed. As much as we enjoy the relief of stress being eliminated from our lives - Jesus could only enjoy the approval of His Father - the obedient Son - salvation guaranteed for the lost. When we contemplate all Jesus did for us - in this Easter season - we proclaim with sincerity - it is done.
Deacon Dale
