You Can't Follow Jesus

As Pope Francis recently preached - you can't follow Jesus - if you are standing still. This is true in every sense - unless you are willing to - move - mind - heart - feet - you cannot follow anything. Great ideas come and go - all the time - making a decision to act - another issue. How often have we come upon a new concept - idea - suggestion - we think we would like to try - engage in - only to fail so poorly - because we never started. When we discover these pearls - we have to move beyond discovery - explore - investigate - make the decision - engage. New job opportunity - better hours - more pay - potential future advancement - laying at our fingertips - fail - never move - made a commitment. All of us - guilty - failing to take that first step.

Jesus knows us so well - never angry - often disappointed - because we did not act. So often He lays opportunities at our feet - opens doors - removes obstacles - levels the rough road - clears the path - only to have us - do nothing. Time and again - He repeats His efforts. Time and again - we stall - stuck in the same time and space. Thankfully He is much more patient than we are ourselves. His offers - always there - waiting for us - to act. Every day is a new opportunity - another chance to follow Him - into a new - deeper relationship. Every day He invites us to follow Him - to move from loneliness - pain - suffering - despair - to a new life in Him - to wholeness - comfort - joy - hope. Jesus' footprints do not have to be the only ones in the sand - yours can be there alongside Him - following Him to a better place. Take the first step - the rest will be easy.

Deacon Dale 

Passing The Torch

Passing the torch - a metaphoric expression - alludes to an ancient Greek race in which a burning torch was passed from one runner to another - viewed at opening ceremonies for the Olympic games. Today - a change of duty - passing on responsibilities from one individual to another - receiving a promotion at work - retirement - leaving someone else in charge. A rite of passage - for some - leaving one set of duties behind to accept new obligations. In a few days this ritual will be observed as our current President leaves office and the new President-elect takes over. In the process the winds of change will fan the flames of that particular torch - how it will affect the United States - yet to be seen - too many self proclaimed prophets - confusing this ritual. This particular ritual - occurring every four or eight years - always generates a lot of interest - quite often an unwarranted amount of misdirection - a game played in particular by politicians.

When Jesus said He had a fire to ignite on the Earth - He did not mean He would be passing any torches. Rather His fire - the flame of His love - for each of us. He wanted people to come alive for God - to share their faith - to deepen their relationship with Him and His Father. He wanted people to make a firm commitment to accept Him as Lord of their lives - to follow God's commandments - to love one another - as God loves them. Once committed to Jesus and His Father the light of  that relationship would be visible to all - the flame of God's love would shine throughout their very souls. Jesus calls each of us - today - to accept His love freely and completely - to let it fill our hearts with warmth - light - to grow in us - that we may - pass the torch - to all we meet.

Deacon Dale 

Sunshine Superman

You have to be older - to even know what Sunshine Superman - was. In the mid 1960's - July 1966 - a number one hit on the American music charts - sung by Donovan - a Scottish singer-songwriter. Basically a love song - trying to convince the focus of his attention on his qualities - "Superman and Green Lantern ain't got nothing on me" - a classic line in the song. Love songs such as this are what made music of the 60's so great. Walking down memory lane - a fun journey - with the right people. Most younger adults have no idea what they missed - not living then. Life was simpler - still complicated - education - jobs - family - drugs - sexual revolution - the draft - Vietnam - marriage - religion. Back then - through everything - most people still had faith - attended church - professed belief in God. Today - much the same - except the latter point. Church no longer relevant - an idea whose time has come and gone - now it is all about self - personalized - lonely - disbelief.

Through the ages God has always been there - for all of us - even when we fail to acknowledge Him. Throughout the ages - His people either pay attention to Him or ignore Him - the Gift of Free Will. God will not - does not - force our attention on Him. When the time is right - everyone eventually makes a conscious decision to acknowledge the Author of Life. As we strive to honor New Years Resolutions - failing time and again - another promise fallen by the wayside - God waits - patiently - Jesus standing next to you - holding Your heart in His hands - with Love.

Deacon Dale

An Epiphany

So this Sunday we celebrated the Epiphany - the revelation of Christ to the Magi - in modern days - to those who know nothing about Jesus. My personal epiphany - I missed saying Happy New Years to all my readers. Sorry - not justified - been very busy since the end of the year traveling from the cold Illinois winter wonderland to warm sunny Arizona. Most moves not always to plan - of course - neither were ours.  However - in just 10 days - we are here - and have accomplished quite a bit.  Now back to blogging - praying more intently - seeking God's will for us while we are here. You know that being avid Cubs fans - our first priority - securing some tickets to the Cubs spring training games.  That accomplished - we are set for four games - we turn our attention to other less important projects. The yard here all spruced up - yes even gravel needs some care - small projects around the house almost all done.  The bigger issue - my leg and difficulty walking - hiking - biking.  It has been a very slow process - not happy with the outcome so far - but in His time - not mine.  I am now on my seventh doctor and third round of physical therapy.  If the exercises don't kill me - I think I will get a handle on what is happening with my body - and they call these the Golden Years.

You know the saying - into every life a little rain must fall - and fall it has.  With Jesus holding an umbrella over my head - it is tolerable - one day the rain will stop.  For most of us - we know what that is like - things go pretty well - then a bump in the road - a diversion - a hiccup in our plans.  Being faithful to God - being faithful to yourself - goes a very long way. As long as we have life in our bodies - as long as we have air in our lungs - the battle with life continues. All we need is a positive attitude - trust in God - willingness to hang in there - no matter how long it takes.  With God - all things are possible.  May each of you have a Blessed and Healthy New Year.  May 2017 - be your year!

Deacon Dale 

Countdown To Christmas

The Fourth Sunday of Advent - the last week of prayerful preparation - waiting for Christmas - the second coming of Christ. For three weeks we have prayed - reflected - spent time assessing our lives - what we have done - should be doing. Now in this final week we bring this time of preparation to completion - hoping that what we have done will be enough - for now - to be welcomed into the heart of Jesus - into His Father's heavenly kingdom. In a few short days all our preparation efforts - for ourselves - for the Christmas Season - will be brought to completion. 

Jesus calls us to Himself -  to become incorporated into His heart - to be wrapped in the blanket of comfort and joy - prepared for us - since the beginning of time - by God. Many find it difficult to believe that this gift is offered to each of us - for free - no strings attached. Those who do believe - have faith - faith in God - faith in Jesus. In this last week of Advent - look deep inside - discover the faith in you.  It's there.

Deacon Dale 

In The Pink

The Third Sunday of Advent - at this point we are - in the pink - literally. Pink - more specifically - rose - is the color assigned to the Third Sunday of Advent. In our parish we do not have rose colored vestments - instead we wear purple. We were given a vestment a few years back - not rose - definitely pink - not a favorite of most priests. Purple is acceptable - thus that is what our priest and deacons wear. Why the rose color in the middle of Advent - you ask.  The focus in Advent is hope - hoping that we are not as bad as we think we are - hoping that we will be accepted into the Kingdom of God - when our days have ended - hoping that through serious reflection and prayer - we may become the people God intended us to be. Four weeks reflecting on your life -  straight through - is taxing on many people - in its wisdom Mother Church tells us to lighten up a bit - switch from purple to rose - reflect on the joy of the season quickly approaching. Focus on the joy one will experience at the end of Advent when we have made ourselves into better people - focusing more on others and less on ourselves. Saint Paul reminds us - rejoice in the Lord always - in all ways - today we heed that advice.

When God created the Earth and all the creatures and plants and humans - he knew - because of His gift of Free Will - that we would go astray - from time to time. Stretching our wings - so to speak - to try things on our own - even when we know better. He knew when in times of stress and trouble - we would try - to do it ourselves - relying on our skills and knowledge - forgetting to invite Him into our lives - to help and bless us.  Whether it is misdirected or just uninformed intentions - we offend God - we become gods - failing in our efforts. The good news - He knew - He understands - He forgives. On one hand He must be proud of us - His children that we wish to take the initiative to be better - yet - at the same time - disappointed that we don't realize that He - is there at our side - constantly - waiting for us to ask Him into our lives - to make things better.  Quietly - like a sentry - armed with everything that we need - He waits.  If you are seeking joy in your life - turn to God - turn to Jesus - invite Him to be a part of your life.  He waits - for all.

Deacon Dale 

The Color Purple

We are now in the Second week of Advent - the liturgical color most often used to decorate Catholic churches and liturgical vestments is purple - also referred to as violet. As a color -  purple is very interesting. According to Wikipedia - In the traditional color wheel used by painters - violet and purple are both placed between red and blue. Purple occupies the space closer to red - between crimson and violet. Violet is closer to blue -is usually less saturated than purple. While the two colors look similar - from the point of view of optics -there are important differences. Violet is a spectral color – it occupies its own place at the end of the spectrum of light - first identified by Newton in 1672 - and it has its own wavelength (approximately 380–420 nm) – whereas purple is a combination of two spectral colors - red and blue. There is no such thing as the "wavelength of purple light" - it only exists as a combination. Purple is generally identified as a single color - yet - if you study violet - it has some fifteen different shades!  Those who study the color wheel know that people respond to different colors in different ways.  For example - red - the color of fire and blood - is associated with energy - war - danger - strength - passion - desire - love. Some colors are calming - others - the opposite effect. In regards to purple - it combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power - nobility - luxury - ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom - dignity - independence - creativity - mystery - magic.  According to surveys - almost 75 percent of preadolescence children prefer purple to all other colors. Purple is a very rare color in nature.  Analyzing all the characteristics of purple - one can understand why the color of Advent is purple.  In Advent in which we respect the dignity of the individual - acknowledging the royal nature of each - as a child of God - blessed with the creative - mystery - magic of the Divine - we see the unlimited potential of each person - young and old - to improve their individual life - to remove bad habits - activities - to redefine - who they are - how they act - think - treat themselves and others - to become the people that God has intended.

As children of God - we are given this liturgical season offered by the Church - to renew ourselves - to become more - all - that we are intended to be. 

Deacon Dale 

NEW! 2017 Fatima - Lourdes Pilgrimage

Fatima - Lourdes - Burgos - Barcelona

Pilgrimage

November 5 - 14, 2017

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Itinerary

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Election Decisions 2016

I have to admit that I hate politics and in that sense - many politicians. These men and women - voted into office by you and me - fail all of us - on an almost daily basis. People who promised us one thing - to get  elected - became opponents - to the very issues we believed in.  When does truth - become anything - but the truth. Politician - after politician - have compromised their beliefs - in an effort to stay in office - even when doing so - means they become that - which they campaigned against.

Today it is almost impossible to find an honest politician - actions justified by - "that is the way of the World" - the way things get done. Sad - very sad. Tomorrow - millions of Americans - go to the polls to place their sacred vote - their God given right - to select the candidate - who will work to guarantee them - a full and rewarding life.  Unfortunately - the majority will fail - guaranteeing only - the good life - for themselves - casting their supporters to the side.  

All the issues come down to one thing - one thing alone. Not their past - not their hollow promises - not how much money they have - not who they party with - who they are married to - what they look like.  The one issue that all of us should be looking at - who will support life. Who will guarantee - that all lives matter - Black lives - White lives - Brown lives - Yellow lives - Old lives - Young lives - lives of those not yet born. Only those who support life - from the cradle to the grave - who will support - education - healthcare - job opportunities - equality for all - no matter what race - gender - creed - culture - only those candidates
deserve our vote. None other - period.

Jesus died on the Cross - for all of us - no matter our color - gender - nationality - language - creed. He died for all - believers - non-believers - for all - that we might have life - and live it to the fullest. Fulfill your life - protect the life of others - vote today 

Deacon Dale 

Gianna Molla

Those in the know understand when the name - Gianna Molla - is spoken - referring to the modern age saint - Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. In this instance - not correct. The Gianna Molla I refer to in this post - Gianna Emanuella Molla - the living daughter of the Saint. This past weekend - we had the honor of hosting the daughter at our parish. She was here - as a featured speaker - at a fund raising event at the parish - raising funds to help the completion of the Mid-West Shrine for Saint Gianna in Yorkville, Illinois and the Shrine and Complex in Ponte Nuovo of Magenta, Italy.  Doctor Gianna Emanuella Molla is a geriatric physician from Italy who spends her days sharing a joy filled message about her Saint mother and her commitment to Christ.  

Doctor Gianna Emanuella Molla is a joyful smiling servant of God - bringing hope and joy to all in her message. Just like her Saint "mum" - as she frequently refers to her mother - Gianna Emanuella brings God's message of love and healing to all she meets. My personal contact with Gianna Emanuella was very limited - as she attempted to talk with all who flocked around her.  A few brief words - in my limited Italian - brought forth a very genuine and warm smile from her. She is a delight to meet and listen to - her excitement - generating an energy that effected everyone.  Like all of us - she has been called by God - to proclaim Christ's love to all - unlike many - she actually follows through on that call.  We can all take a lesson from Gianna Emanuella - to proclaim to all - God's Divine Mercy and love for all - sainted mother - or not.

Deacon Dale