Touche

Touche - from the French - touché - a term used in fencing - to mean that an opponent has scored a point - by a touch.  Outside of fencing - touche often used to mean that one person has scored a point - made a point or witty comment in a discussion in which there is no retort or comeback.   People love to debate issues - testing their mental capabilities - intellect with others - normally in a friendly game of mental gymnastics.  

When talking with God - no need for mental - mind games.  God tell it like it is - does not beat about the bush.  Many people do not understand why Jesus spoke in parables - often think He was trying to confuse His listeners.  The opposite is quite true - He used examples that the common person could understand  relate to. Straight talk then - straight talk now.  The only time Jesus needs to touch you is when He enters your heart - touche.

Deacon Dale 

Breathe...

When a person breathes - inhales to take air into the lungs - exhales to expel air and body wastes out of the lungs.  Breathing is essential to all life - not just humans and animals - also to plants - other organisms.  When we open a bottle of wine - we leave standing - allowing it to breathe - to let air from outside mix with the contents of the bottle - to bring the wine to full body - alive to enjoy all the flavors hidden inside..  When construction crews work with concrete - a breathing process is followed to allow the concrete to properly cure - to breathe from the inside out - to dry solid - rock hard. Without air - life would cease to exist.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection - He breathed upon them - instructing them to receive His Holy Spirit.  Literally - Air - Latin derivation spirare - meaning to breathe - He told them to receive His Holy Air - Breath.  Just as breathing is essential to life - so too the Holy Spirit.  As Christians we cannot live without Jesus' Holy Breath.  When His breath is in us - we come alive - do good deeds - live lives worth of a modern day disciple.  As disciples our duty - to breathe on others - to share freely what we have freely received - the very Spirit of God.

Deacon Dale 

The Hour of Mercy

Today - Divine Mercy Sunday - we will gather at 3:00 PM - the Hour of Mercy - to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy.  This prayer was given to Saint Faustina in the early 1900s - to be shared with the world.  This small young Polish nun - with little training - with a giant heart - love for Jesus - became the secretary of Jesus - writing a diary of her conversations with Jesus.  Today - the Diary of Saint Faustina Maria Kowalska - read around the world - complete approval by the Vatican - a book which should be read by all.  The things revealed in this diary - enriches all who take the time to read.

Saint Faustina felt the call of God at a very young age - joined a religious community as a teen - died at the age of twenty-four.  Not all are called that young - not all die that young - but all - everyone - are called.  Even though all are called - not all listen - among those who do listen - not all respond to that call. We are called to be disciples - to spread the message of God's awesome love - forgiveness - acceptance - mercy.  First we must experience His mercy - then share His mercy.  It is not a hard task - one that will bring special joy to your heart - once you confess that you are imperfect - accept your imperfections - you will know God's Divine Mercy.  Jesus stands waiting - talk with Him today - He stands at the door of your heart - knocking to come in.

Deacon Dale 

Novena

A novena - in simple terms - a series of prayers offered for nine days.  There are many novenas available for anyone to select from - for many different causes - issues.  My wife and I have been praying the Divine Mercy Novena - begun on Good Friday and ending on the first Saturday following Easter Sunday.  On the Sunday following - tomorrow - Divine Mercy Sunday.  Throughout the nine days of prayers various issues are offered in prayer - the souls of priests and religious - all devout and faithful souls - those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not know Him - souls of separated brethren - meek and humble souls and souls of children - souls  who venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy - souls detained in purgatory - souls who have become lukewarm.  

God loves it when we talk with Him in prayer.  He loves to hear our praises - needs - desires - concerns - especially for those of others. Jesus promised that as a community - He woudl always be with us - in Spirit - prayer.  We only have to open our hearts - mouths - to begin the most powerful conversations we will ever have.

Deacon Dale  

Praying For Mark

It is very normal for people of faith to say prayers - for themselves - family - friends - others.  In the celebration of Holy Mass - so important - prayers of the people - every time Mass is celebrated - praying for leaders - religious and secular - community - individuals - victims - dead and dying.  In particular we pray for those with special needs - very often those with medical issues - concerns.  This week - Mark - on our minds as he prepares for a cardiac procedure to place a stent.  First attempt unsuccessful - now praying that the second attempt this coming Monday - a success.  Prayers for Mark - many others - too many to name - seeking God's blessing on their situations.

Jesus told us that when two or more are gathered in His name - that He would be in our midst - He would hear our prayers - answer them.  As people of faith - we believe - trust - in His promises.  Because we believe - trust - we know that prayers for Mark - everyone - will be answered.  we praise God - Jesus - for His faithfulness - for hearing all that we ask.  In Easter joy - we celebrate all His gifts.

Deacon Dale 

I Offer You...

On Easter Sunday - at Holy Mass - everyone given a chance to renew their own baptismal promises. In those promises - a re-commitment to follow God - Jesus as He commanded.  Even the best intents not always easy to follow.  Promises made - often promises forgotten - fallen by the wayside. The majority of people - honest - well meaning - helpful - looking out for their neighbor - as well as themselves - these are the people God asks us to be.   

When God proclaimed to His people that He would be their God - they His people - in a nutshell - He meant - do as He asked - be kind to each other - kind to yourself. Unfortunately it is often easier to treat others much better than we do ourselves.  We may forgive another in a heartbeat - yet - ages when forgiving ourselves a similar fault. For some reason - we seem to think we are the worst - unforgivable.  With the gift of Easter - we learn that we too - are as precious to God - as all the others.  To Jesus - make the commitment - I offer you - my self - my entire being - my heart and soul.

Deacon Dale 

Eternal Father We Offer...

As one who has been born again in the waters of baptism - New Life - a reality.  A few months ago I had the opportunity to speak with a gentleman who had a spiritual experience - time when he touched the Divine.  He could not really put the experience into words - that special moment - defying common vocabulary.  Through our conversation - I could sense - feel - see in  his eyes - what he was attempting to share with me. He wanted to be baptized - following church rules - a waiting game - until the Easter Vigil.  I have not spoken with him yet - the experience to be shared at a future date when I return to Illinois - the news is Good.

Deacon Dale - Father Matt - Deacon Jerry - Commemorating Their Baptism in the Jordan River

When people come seeking God - they often find Him - in special ways.  Very often caught off guard - not expecting to touch - the Divine.  When it is real - one knows it - cannot be faked.  In the Easter Season - many opportunities to experience - again and again the real presence of God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - in our lives.  

Deacon Dale 

Have Mercy On Us....

Mercy - we ask for Mercy - constantly from God. All have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) - none of us has been spared from sin - errors - mistakes. We are humans - not gods - therefore - none of us can ever expect to be perfect. Only One is perfect - Jesus - the Christ.  The One promised as far back as promises were made - salvation through God announced to His people.  In  the Easter Season - we celebrate those promises - commitment to us by God - we His people - He Our God.

God's Divine Mercy - unfathomable by many - those who either do not believe He will - has done merciful things - for His people.  It only takes an open mind - heart - to hear the stories shared by many - to realize how true those promises are. 

Deacon Dale 

For The Sake Of His Sorrowful Passion....

For the sake of His sorrowful passion -  Easter Sunday is over - gone for another year - the Season of Easter - just beginning. The Easter lilies still alive - our memories of an awesome Easter celebration - still on our lips - as we share our 2018 Easter experiences with family and friends. In the following weeks - many opportunities to live out our commitment to Jesus - to discipleship.

God calls all of us - not just the ordained - all of us - to respond to Him.  Through our baptism we have been immersed into the life of Christ - to be a modern day disciple. This should give all of us - food for thought .

eacon Dale 

Easter Blessings

There are so many ways to say Happy Easter - Buona Pasqua - Felices Pascuas - Wesolego Alleluja - Frohe Ostern - Paskalya bayramınız kutlu olsun - to name a few. Quite often - no spoken words - rather smiles - hugs - handshakes - kisses. This is truly the day the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in it. Gathering today in church with parish family - meeting in homes with blood relatives and friends - all for the purpose of celebrating life - New Life.  Children searching for colored eggs - hidden in and around the home - real and plastic eggs stuffed with jelly beans and candy. A joyous day for all.

In all these celebrations - Jesus reigns supreme - King of the Universe - Lord of All. As we gather and share our stories - we are reminded of God's love story for mankind - recorded  in the Bible - through Holy Scripture.  God - the Author of Life - every day sending His Blessings upon us - today in a very special way.

Deacon Dale