Lord Have Mercy!

Lord Have Mercy! - a commonly used expression - by many. I remember a sitcom from years back in which the mother constantly was exclaiming - that phrase - in response to almost everything her children were doing - usually showing her unbelief or displeasure. Lord Have Mercy! - also a Canadian sitcom in 2003 - about a youth pastor - his head pastor and others focusing on comedic situations - nominated for an award for Best Comedy Series. While this phrase is frequently spoken - in jest - lightheartedly - more often an honest request for intervention by God. In a more serious vein - a common phrase among believers when praying for themselves - others - often pleading for situations involving health - death - serious accidents - forgiveness

Jesus told us that no one knows the Father - unless He knows Christ - the only Son of God. Just as Jesus showed compassion - forgiveness - to those seen as - unworthy - the man born blind - the woman at the well - the leper - the tax collector - so does His Father - show that same forgiveness - Mercy to each of us. The Mercy shown by Jesus - God - goes way beyond our understanding. He forgives the unforgivable - those throughout history who have committed unbelievable sins - most notably - Judas. How is it possible that He can find Mercy for the one who betrayed His Son - Divine Mercy - mercy that goes beyond our understanding - our comprehension.  Saint Pope John Paul II recognized the awesome power of God's Divine Mercy - declared the Sunday immediately following Easter Sunday - Divine Mercy Sunday. On this day - the Church focuses on - Divine Mercy. My home parish recognized this message to be of such importance - in the early 1980s - before it was fashionable - before the Pope's declaration - my wife with a close friend and I - at the prompting of a priest friend from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception began this devotion and celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday the year first proclaimed by the Pope. Frequently I stress to people - turn to God with your concerns - He hears and answers all prayers - in His Divine Mercy - He gives you what you need. This Sunday in parishes around the world - we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday - and His Mercy - all year long.

Deacon Dale  

Chain Gang

A chain gang - a group of prisoners - chained together to perform menial - physically challenging work - as a form of punishment. That work might include repairing buildings - building roads - clearing land. This system existed primarily in Southern United States. As of 1955 - phased out nationwide - Georgia being the last to stop this practice. Some - reintroduced in the 1990s - form of get tough on crime effort - by Alabama - ended after one year. Arizona still the one state - in Maricopa County - prisoners may volunteer for a chain gang - to earn credit towards high school diploma - avoid disciplinary lock downs. The introduction of chain gangs initially following the American Civil War - free labor for public works projects. In Maricopa County - today - inmates wearing bright orange coveralls - working on roadsides to keep the public landscapes well manicured. 

During Easter Season many churches filled with chain gangs - different from above - rather groups - men - women - joining together to pray the Rosary - before morning Holy Mass - afterwords - spread throughout the day. Praying for the needs of others - for the church at large - for the sick - lonely - homeless - hungry. Most do not benefit personally - prayers - mostly for others. The fruits of their labors - the benefits gained from these chain gangs - healings - prayers answered - restored faith. Praying for others - natural for most Christians - intercessory prayer - sharing their faith with those in need. Easter Season - filled with opportunities - for any gang.

Deacon Dale 

What's For Dinner?

It is not too often that anyone asks what is being served for breakfast or lunch - dinner - a whole other story. Most of us are conditioned - trained from childhood - groomed by our mothers - a feast at dinnertime. Mom always served up her best for the evening meal - dinner - supper - call it what you want - always great. In my family as a youth - dinner - on a schedule - certain meals - specific days of the week. Fridays - always fish - even though we were not Catholic - mom - from Italy - a Catholic - so we ate fish. Then there was pot roast - spaghetti with meat balls - country fried chicken and dumplings - always on Sunday - had to keep my dad - a Kentucky boy happy. Each meal carefully planned - executed - kept the nine of us - very happy.

As we continue through this Season of Easter - not one day - rather fifty - we continue to experience our New Life in Christ in many - various ways - some days repeating themselves - falling into a routine - creating a spiritual menu - where we are fed - kept happy. All of us have a choice - daily - what spiritual food we will consume - perhaps a routine - Holy Mass one day - Bible study another - sitting in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - yet another. As we continue our Easter celebration - these fifty days will provide us time to select what we need - when we need it - formed into a spiritual banquet.

Deacon Dale 

The Phoenix

In Greek mythology - a  phoenix - a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated - reborn. Associated with the sun - a phoenix - gets new life - arising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some believe the phoenix dies - in flames - combustion - then born again. The story of the phoenix - gives hope to all that when one life ends - another begins - when a situation comes to an end - a new opportunity awaits. To those who are facing the loss of a job - a loved one - or any loss - always hope - that the future holds new - better things.

During the Easter Season - many stories - about opportunities - new ventures - hope - life goes on. In any situation - good - bad - there is always another chapter - a book that never ends - chapters yet to be written. As we continue to rejoice in this Octave of Easter - these first eight days - we continue - in a special way - as people of hope. Each day will reveal more and more - if eyes are kept open - minds tuned to the possibilities that exist. Jesus did the hard part - now it is our turn - looking at the future - experiencing New Life. 

Deacon Dale 

After Shock

An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake - in the same area of the main shock. That is not the after shock that this article refers to. What I am focusing on - when something of unusual proportion occurs - an event that surprises - shocks - most people. It may be a good or bad event - winning the lottery - getting a surprise promotion - receiving a proposal for marriage - house burning to the ground - being fired from your job - sudden death. All of these events cause shock - great concern among those affected - confusion - a rush of emotions - happy - sad - joy - anger. In the time following the surprise - the after shock - those minutes - hours - days - following - trying to sort things out - clearing ones mind - making adjustments - looking to the next days. Focusing on what happens next.

When Jesus rose from the dead - His disciples - in a state of shock - was it real - was He a ghost - a figment of their imagination - trying to sort reality - from exhaustion - anxiety. The aftermath - sharing stories - putting it all together - to make sense - to create comfort. Two thousand years later - no after shock - we have been conditioned all our lives - to accept this unbelievable event - the Easter Event - Mystery of God's plan - Jesus - Resurrection. For believers - the Easter Mystery is an event to be celebrated - not dissected - analyzed. We rejoice in Christ's victory over Death - the next 50 days - Easter Season - focusing on what happens next. 

Deacon Dale 

Life Not Death

I read a comment somewhere yesterday where the person was asking what the big deal was with Jesus' death. Scripture does clearly say that Jesus died on Good Friday - rose on Easter Sunday. From the writer's perspective - Jesus was only dead - three days - whereas others - soldiers for instance - dead forever. For some reason he seems to understand that Jesus only had to be dead for three days - then return to life as before. What? Obviously the fact that Jesus was raised to - New Life - a Glorified Body - NOT the same as before - Resurrected! The only person recorded in history to be resurrected from the dead - Jesus. His whole death - passion - was not about dying - all of us can - will - do that at some point in our lives. The Easter Mystery is about - Resurrection - only done once - only by Jesus.

Faith is a very big pill to swallow - very hard for many - not logical - defies understanding - wisdom. Faith cannot be held in the hand - nor can it be felt - smelled - seen. As an intangible object - invisible - impossible - for many. That is why Jesus performed miracles - why the disciples performed miracles - signs of God's presence - in ordinary people - in out of the ordinary events. Believing in God - the Holy Spirit - Resurrection - takes Faith. To believe one has to be open to the possibility - the opportunity - without hard evidence. - willing to place logic aside - to open oneself to a Mystery beyond human understanding. God wills it - Jesus speaks it - the Holy Spirit does it. It is all about Life - not Death.

Deacon Dale 

Victory Dance

A Victory Dance - any dance or special traditional movement - done in celebration of a small or grand victory - over anything. If you Google the term victory dance you will find a vast array of what is called a victory dance. In a nutshell - anything worth celebrating - worth dancing for. The most common victory dance - on the sports field - after a goal - win. Other victory dances - personal - among friends - celebrating small accomplishments. As a people - it is good to celebrate our small wins - with family - friends. Many cultures - celebrate - with dance. Dance expresses in movement - music - where words fail to convey - fully express - the emotions of joy - happiness.

When Jesus rose from the Dead - the angels in heaven danced for joy - rejoiced as He defeated Death - the enemy of mankind. His disciples - shocked - amazed - over joyed - filled with new hope - anticipation - of more to come. Today as we Celebrate Easter - a once pagan celebration - Christianized - now a celebration of Christ's Victory. The victory - not His alone - also ours - as we who call ourselves Christians - share in that victory over Death. To us - the promise of New Life - Life with God - an eternal gift from God the Father. - with fellow Christians. Today each of needs to dance with Jesus - celebrate His victory - in a victory dance.

Deacon Dale 

Carpe Diem

According to Wikipedia - Carpe Diem - is a Latin aphorism - definition - usually translated - seize the day - taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace's work Odes (23 BC). In modern terminology - grab it now - do it while you can - take advantage of the opportunity now - while it is there. So to all - today I urge you - carpe diem - Holy Saturday - grab it - become involved with it - become an active participant - because tomorrow it will be gone. This is the final day of the 3-peat - the Triduum - the religious hat trick - the three holiest days of the year. On this day in churches around the world - the final examination - blessing - of the Elect - those preparing for Baptism - Confirmation - Holy Communion. This morning also - the blessing of Easter food baskets - food to be prepared and shared with family and friends at the Easter feast.  A day of fasting - prayer - in preparation for the Easter Vigil - the Mother of all Vigils - celebrated tonight after sundown. The darkness of the night broken by the outdoor lighting of the Easter - Pascal - Candle - in a solemn light service - the entrance into the church - in a victory march to begin the Vigil - Holy Mass. Twelve scriptures - maximum - with sung psalms - the Epistle - Gospel proclamation - words of encouragement - the blessing of water in the font - Baptism - Confirmation - finally Holy Eucharist. The community gathered at prayer - joyfully celebrating - the Resurrection. 

Tonight - Heaven - Earth - join together in a moment when ordinary people experience the Divine. Listening to Holy Scripture proclaimed - reassured by the words spoken in the Vigil Homily - God draws all of us deeper into the Mystery - that is God. Tonight we remember Creation - the Escape - God's Call - Jesus' Passion - the dark moments - the emptiness - the Glory - the Hope. As a family we witness - Baptism - Confirmation - First Communion - the addition of New Members - to the Family of God. Tonight we celebrate Hope - we celebrate Joy - we celebrate Jesus. Carpe Diem.

Deacon Dale  

What Is So Good About Friday?

Today - Good Friday - the day we remember when Jesus was led to the Cross - crucified - unjustly - for our sins - although He had committed no sins of His own. Unjust - not fair - should never have happened - why did God allow this to happen - what went wrong here? In our eyes - a terrible mistake - plans gone wrong. What did this accomplish - how have we benefited - what was the big picture? To many people - Good Friday is nothing more than a day off from work - a holiday - time to party with friends - the beginning of a long weekend. Christ's death - a historical fact - nothing more. The significance of Good Friday lost - in the celebration of Easter joy - hunting for eggs - bunnies - chicks - Easter baskets - family - food - fun. Too many people focus their eyes on the celebration - forget that before the celebration there was suffering - anguish - blood - tears - death. 

In the beginning God knew - knew everything. He knew that this day would come - hoped it would not be necessary - but mankind failed - God intervened - took corrective steps - sent His Son - to save the world from itself. The enemy to be confronted - not people - rather Death. Death - the final enemy - that which robs people of hope - life. Death - an enemy too powerful to be fought by ordinary means - by ordinary people. Only Jesus - the Son of God - able to face head on - that which placed fear in the hearts of men - women. Jesus - armed with spiritual battle gear - prepared from birth - for this one day - this one battle - for mankind. He was prepared - ready for whatever happened - ready to suffer the pain of physical death - prepared to die and sink into the bowels of Hell - to defeat Death where it lived - to escape - rise - to New Life. That is what makes this Friday - Good.

Deacon Dale 

Spiritual Hat Trick

In sports - a hat trick is the achievement of a positive feat three times in a single game or another achievement based on the number three. The most common reference to hat trick is hockey - when one player score three points in a game. Today - Holy Thursday marks the first - of three - very significant events in one series known as the Triduum. In the Triduum - Catholics around the world celebrate the three most holy days in the year - Holy Thursday - Good Friday - Holy Saturday with celebration of the Easter Vigil. Each event on its own is significant - the three - celebrated in three consecutive days - very significant. 

The Church gives us these three very holy days - to remind and reassure us that all that we profess and believe - is true. So true that it bears repeating - year after year. Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood - the washing of the feet of the twelve - being called by God - ordained to service to each other - strengthened by the spiritual food of Holy Communion. Each day of the three - the final teachings - lessons in preparation - for the celebration of Easter. 

Deacon Dale