Moving On

The phrase - rolling stones - gather no moss - very applicable right now - spiritually - morally.  We have just experienced a very unusual Lent - Triduum - Easter - sheltering in place - staying at home - in isolation.  For the lucky ones - with spouse - family - those alone - definitely more isolated.  We have come to realize that in this period of pandemic - we need each other.  When we first discovered God - Jesus - wandered on our own - joined a group - parish - community - we began to grow - with the help from others.  We learned that our faith journey was never in total isolation - God placing the right people along the path - to guide - inspire us.  With the help of others - God revealed His Truth - Love - to us.

Once you meet Jesus - you can not continue to walk the same path - your eyes set on new directions - avenues - to walk as you continue your growth as a disciple. The same with this pandemic - so much revealed - inadequate health facilities - unfair employment practices - unjust benefits provided by employers - government - lack of housing for those unable to provide for themselves.  Jesus told us 2000 years ago - the poor will always be with us - does not explain why - after 2000 years - nations still have not found a way to address - poverty - adequate housing - feeding - clothing those poor.  I recently read that in one part of the world - the people take mud - formed into patties - baked on the ground in the sun - eaten to fill the stomachs of those without food. As Christians - as people of God - now is the time to make changes.  Returning to what was the norm - no longer an option - now the time to make drastic changes - to correct these social ills.  As we work to do this - we will also grow in our relationship with Jesus - doing as He asked - feed His sheep - love His sheep - care for His people.  The time to act is now - not later - rolling stones - we the rocks of faith - gathering no moss - as we move forward - into His future. 

Deacon Dale 

Rolling Stones

From Scripture we read that on the first day of the week when the disciples went to visit the tomb where Jesus had been laid - found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance to the tomb - peering inside noticed that there was no body - nothing - inside.  The discussion about this event - how heavy was that stone - who could have moved it  - was it possible for a single person to move - multiple people involved - miracle?  

The majority of us know nothing about rolling stones - except for the famous English rock group founded in 1962.   For the majority  of believers - that issue no concern - rather a faith statement - that God moved that rock - released Jesus - to transition into the next stage of His ministry.  Resurrection - spreading His word to all - now a task of His disciples.  Bringing the Word of God - unbelievable story of death - resurrection - the story that got their foot in the door.  Today that task still ours - many still do not  know - many do not believe the resurrection event.  Now as His modern day disciples - our duty - continue His work - spread His message of love - forgiveness - acceptance - tolerance - healing - to all.  Nothing more - nothing less.  We leave rolling stones to God.

Deacon Dale 

He Is Risen!

Alleluia - Alleluia - Jesus Christ is risen today!  Nothing could keep Him down - The Lord of Lords - the King of Kings - around the world - social distancing in place - stores closed - churches closed - stay at home instructions in place - we may be down - but just as Jesus rose from the dead - we too will rise from these restrictions.

Today's celebration of Resurrection - the promise of New Life - Life after death - continues.  This Easter - your special opportunity to focus on your immediate family - those with whom you live.  Today we focus on them - Jesus - the gift each one of them is to us.  Together - with united voices - across the miles - across the internet - we exclaim - Jesus Christ is Risen!

Deacon Dale 

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday - the third day of the Triduum - this day spent in prayer - mourning the death of Jesus - lying in a tomb - His disciples left confused - trying to understand the events of the past three days.  Today - we who commemorate these events - know how it all turned out.  Now in modern times - we also wait - not for  the resurrection - the end of the current pandemic.  Had the internet existed at the time of Jesus - the entire world would have been in mourning - as it was - a handful of those closest to Him.  Instead we took our Easter baskets - to be blessed for our Easter Sunday celebrations - done at home by ourselves - for some - online.  This evening - the Easter Vigil - online - very few allowed to actually be in Church.  The Vigil goes on - people or not - just as Easter will come - people in church or not.  In faith - this is the final night of waiting.

The third day - many confuse Easter Sunday as the third day.  Jesus said - destroy this temple and on the third day it will rise.  In the time of Jesus - days counted from sunset to sunset.  Thursday - The Last Supper - Day 1 - Friday - The Crucifixion - Day 2 - Saturday - Day 3 - The Resurrection - The Triduum.  Easter Sunday - Day 4 - the people learn of the Resurrection.  Tonight - final preparation for Sunday's celebration.

Deacon Dale  

Good Friday

What is so good about Good Friday?  In ancient times when our vocabulary was very different - people used the word good to mean someone - something - that was holy.  The two words were interchangeable back then.  As time passed - cultures evolved - language changed - that connection has been lost - except in this particular case.  This Friday - definitely a holy day - time stands still - churches empty - the faithful - isolated in their homes - deprived of religious observances.  This is a memory that will not fade - just as the memory of the crucifixion of Jesus does not fade. 

Today in our own way - we remember that eventful day when Christ was crucified - not for His sins - rather for ours.  Our sins are the metal that held Him to the wood of the cross.  Our sins - the reason He came in the first place.  Our sins - that keep Him nailed there - even today.  Today is the one day - we reflect on what we have done - what we have failed to do - what God did for us.  His Gift to us - forgiveness - reconciliation - resurrection.  Our gift to Him.........?

Deacon Dale 

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday - the first day of the Triduum - the three holiest days of the Christian year.  No morning Masses today - the only Mass tonight.  We normally wash feet at this Mass - not tonight - all Masses online only - minimal people involved - we do listen to God's word - we commemorate the institution of the Priesthood and Eucharist - things definitely worth celebrating.  Normally - the Blessed Sacrament removed to a place of Adoration - while the altar and tabernacle stripped bare. The Mass - ending in silence - awaiting the events of tomorrow - Good Friday.  Not a lot to say - Jesus has said it all.

Our focus - our relationship to Jesus - God - what we are called to do - what we have done - failed to do.  Have we washed feet - carried a burden for another - offered a drink to the thirsty - given money to the poor.  Have we made an intentional donation to a food pantry - care center - resource center for those in need.  In these days of isolation - sheltering at home - have we called - parents - siblings - friends - anyone - have we accepted - with Grace - our difficulties - thought about those who cannot care for themselves.  These are the three Holy Days - it is up to each of us - to make them - Holy.

Deacon Dale 

It Is Finished - Maybe

Today brings us to the official end of Lent - Thursday marks the beginning of the Triduum - the three holiest days of the Christian liturgical year - Holy Thursday - Good Friday - Holy Saturday. Following those three very special days we begin the Easter Season - marked by the celebration of Easter Sunday. The Season of Easter is the period of 50 days - spanning from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  One might wonder - why so long - first 40 days then 3 more days just to get to Easter - why another 50 days?

I could ask - how many days did it take for you to be born - the majority - nine months - 280 days - 40 weeks - of gestation - growing in our mother's womb - just to enter the world - helpless - none of us ready to walk - talk - eat - on our own.  As with most things in life a period of gestation - time spent developing - evolving - preparing - for life.  Many people wrongly think Easter is a day - similar to Christmas only a day.  In reality both Christmas - Easter are seasons - two very special days which deserve our extended attention.  Easter - the one major feast - celebrating life - death - resurrection - new life in Christ - deserves many days to celebrate this miracle of resurrection.  Today Lent ends - tomorrow the next season on our journey to the Easter miracle.

Deacon Dale 

Down Not Out

Right now the entire world is fighting a battle with an enemy that cannot be seen.  When most people are called to fight - arm themselves - prepare for battle - they know what their enemy looks like - where they live - their strong points - weaknesses.  This battle - not like any normal battle. As big - as strong as we may be - nothing to compare when fighting microscopic enemies.  Our strength - our knowledge - our intellect - our faith.

Throughout history - many battles fought - won - lost - by people all over the world.  Some large - some very small.  In all battles - always a winner.  This current battle with Corona Virus - not our first - not our last.  We may be down - feeling subdued - not out.   We have not lost - we will not lose.  In all battles - time determines the final winner.  A few days left in Lent - our 40 days in the desert drawing to a close.  When Jesus was ready to leave the desert - His battle with the Evil One - never gave up - walked away - to fight another day.  Like Jesus - we too will walk away from this battle - like Jesus - victorious - as long as we remember - with Jesus at our side - we may be down - not out.  

Gone MIssing

The one thing I hear the most from Catholics during this pandemic - shelter at home - how much they miss Holy Mass. In particular - receiving Holy Eucharist. It has been estimated that perhaps only one-third of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In simple terms - that the Bread and Wine have in reality been turned into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Very few believe in transubstantiation - the changing of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood. The majority treat communion as a - symbol - something representing Jesus. Unfortunately more Catholics believe in purgatory - than the Real Presence. Some think this has happened because almost all Catholics have Protestant friends whose belief in Communion is different from that as Catholics - communion - a symbol of Jesus. Thomas Aquinas is one of the first to use the term transubstantiation - when the "substance" of the Bread and Wine is changed into the "substance" of Jesus' Body and Blood. . This is called faith - when visible proof not available. It is interesting that believing in the Real Presence or not - does not make a difference in the fact that it is missed.  So for a few weeks we have been denied receiving communion - imagine when - according to Father Frank O'Dea SSS - Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament - a period from the fourth century on - Christians were reluctant to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. A new kind of vocabulary of awe and fear was attached to the sacred mysteries. This situation was not reversed in any significant way until the early twentieth century with the letter of Pius X urging frequent communion. By the thirteenth century the reception of communion had become so rare that the Church made a law that everyone must receive communion at least once a year. That such a law should be necessary indicates how poorly the Eucharist was understood at that time. Thankfully - through better catechesis - our understanding has improved such that a majority of Catholics now receive Communion almost weekly - some daily.  

Not being able to receive Communion - a special sacrifice for the faithful - pales in comparison to the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross. In our diocese - typically on this Monday - the bishop would bless the oils used during the liturgical year - Mass not happening as normal.  Social distancing - disrupting all liturgical celebrations during Holy Week.  As mentioned - our sacrifice small in comparison to what the entire world is experiencing.  The Blessing - Eucharist is still celebrated daily - our participation will return in time.  When that day does come - when we are able to once again attend Holy Mass - when we can once again be offered Holy Eucharist - we will be able to respond with our hearty - Amen!

Deacon Dale 

And So It Begins

Today - Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday - marks the beginning of the holiest week of the liturgical year.  Holy Week - all the significant celebrations that brings Lent to a close - leads us to the three holiest days of the year - the Triduum - finally Easter - the Season of Easter that follows.  This week when the bishop blesses the oils used thought out the year - renews his commitment along with his priests - to serve the Church with their entire being - promising to pastor the flocks they lead - when deacons and religious and the laity promise their obedience - heart felt service to the community of believers - the celebration of the institutions of Holy Mass - Holy Eucharist - the Priesthood - the washing of feet - New Life in Christ.  This is the week  that will be - when the Elect professes their belief in the Holy Roman Catholic Church - receive Baptism - Confirmation - Holy Communion.  This is the week when all this should happen - this year - 2020 - the year of the pandemic - putting almost all of this on hold - liturgical celebrations limited to a few who will live stream - to be viewed by the masses - denied the blessing of attending in person.

For probably all of us - the first time - Holy Week - without us in attendance.  To most - an extreme sacrifice - nothing to compare with the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross - for all of us.  He came for all - many received Him - but not all.  He came to offer us life - life filled with His Grace - not all accepted His Gift. He carried our sins onto the Cross - He endured a fate that none should experience.  This Easter as we feel denied of the graces of Holy Week  - may we be united with Him - Our Lord and Savior - in this once in a lifetime - Easter Sacrifice.  He has endured - we will also endure.  In God - in Jesus - we trust.  It is all in His hands.  Jesus We Trust In You.

Deacon Dale