Opening hearts

Hearts can be soft fleshy organs that pump blood throughout our bodies - filled with love for mankind - life - God.  Some hearts - cold - stony - diseased - not with biological issues - rather unemotional - hardened by the tests of time.  Too often - beaten up - beaten down - individuals lose the ability to love - be loved - conditioned by unfortunate events in life.  Most people confuse their biological heart with their emotional heart - that center where we store love - hate - pleasure.  The place that we call our "heart" - actually a spot in our minds - where we process all sorts of memories - happy - sad - fun - tragic - good - bad.  Majority of people have open hearts - freely sharing - what makes them - special - different from others.  A smaller number - closed hearts - difficult to get inside with them - where they live.  

Jesus calls us to be lovers - to have open hearts - freely sharing ourselves with others.  In doing so - we benefit from good relationships with others - life takes on a better meaning - problems openly  shared - experienced with each other.  When we made the decision to become Jesus' disciple - we made a commitment to trust in Him - to openly share all that we are with others - opening our hearts to their concerns - worries - needs.  In freely sharing our self with others - we open the door to the Divine - to touching the hearts of many - with God.  Jesus knocks at the door to your heart - is it open to Him?

Deacon Dale 

Ears to Hear

God calls all of us - not all hear His voice - some expecting to hear an audible sound - others refusing to accept His words flowing from the mouths of others - not His.  When God tries to get our attention - not always in big - grand - explosive moments - more often - in the quiet - whisper of the winds.  To hear God - one has to place themselves in a place where there are no distractions - where one is open to hearing His call - that would be normal.  In some instances - amidst the clamor - noise - of chaos - there are those who will hear His call.  It is in exceptional times - quiet - noisy - when He speaks our name.

As we wander throughout the days of Lent - busy in all our devotions - it is imperative that we open our minds - hearts - ears - to the sound of His voice.  It may be in a bird song - the rustlings of leaves - branches - in the wind - the cry of a baby - the mewing of a cat - bark of a dog - rarely - in the spoken voice.  In meditation - contemplation - quiet of our hearts - we might just hear what He has to say to us.  For those who have ears - let them hear.

Deacon Dale 

Consecration

This past Friday - March 25, 2022 - the Pope consecrated Russia - Ukraine - all of humanity to Mary.  This was not the first time this consecration was done.  From Wikipedia -the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary by a specific act of a reigning Pope along with all the other Catholic bishops of the world was allegedly ordered in a Marian apparition by Our Lady of Fatima on July 13, 1917. Sister Lucia dos Santos, one of the three visionaries publicly stated that at different times the Blessed Virgin Mary had given her a message of promise, that the consecration of Russia (as a country) would usher in a period of world peace.  Pope Pius XII, Paul VI, Pope John Paul II have consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart, albeit without directly referencing Russia or the USSR.  Some have felt that the request made by the Blessed Mother had never been properly done - thus the reason why the area commonly known as Russia continues to be an area of unrest.  Some question why Pope Francis included Ukraine in the recent consecration - failing to realize that Mary's request spoken in 1917 included that area called Russia - including all the regions of the U.S.S.R. - The United Socialist Soviet Republic which consisted of not only Russia but also - Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia to name the majority.  Thus when Pope Francis consecrated Russia AND Ukraine - he was doing EXACTLY what the Blessed Mother had asked and intended.  

Holy Mass Fatima Shrine 

When anyone is consecrated to Mary - the understanding is that they are making a commitment to Jesus - through Mary. Anyone may consecrate their self to Mary - assuming they have a special devotion to Jesus - through - with - His Mother. When I was in formation - prior to ordination - we had some classmates who held a deep devotion to Mary - the Rosary - thus when we met for classes - whoever was available - joined in the chapel to pray the Rosary before class. In approximately our second year of formation - it was proposed by a few of our class - that we as a group of future Catholic deacons consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Thus - our next time together we did just that - setting a precedent - the only class in the Joliet Diocese - since the restoration of the diaconate in 1968 - to be consecrated to Mary - almost twenty years after the restoration in the United States. As mentioned - any person - group may be consecrated - all it takes is a desire to make an honest sincere commitment to Jesus. Jesus calls all of us - different paths for different people - where is He calling you?

Deacon Dale 

Running on fumes

Anything worth doing involves physical - mental - energy.  Even when all the plans have been  made - schedules planned - team gathered - tools ready - energy - the key ingredient.  Without energy - a fuel source - back up reserves - failure almost guaranteed.  It doesn't matter if you are adding a garden feature - addition onto the house - publishing a book - novel - short story - leading a prayer service - helping with a youth group - all take considerable - time - energy.  Heading into any project when one is already feeling exhausted - failure looming on the horizon.  To be properly prepared - start with a full tank - energy reserves - close at hand. 

To many - Lent is very tiring - an exhaustive process - spread over a long time.  To some - six weeks a drop in the bucket - to others - anything beyond twenty-four hours - a long burdensome trek.  In those times when you feel like you are - running on fumes - no reserves available - the tank rapidly becoming empty - time to push the pause button - stop - seek respite.  No one in their right mind should ever criticize one for taking a break - putting a project on hold.  For some - a feeling that they are disappointing God - good news - He has all the time in the world - for you - for any effort you might make.  God is very patient - He created you to be Good - not perfect - so give it a rest.  If you need time - Jesus - always - will wait for you.

Deacon Dale 

Walking On Dry Land..

When we read Holy Scripture - often the recognition of walking - on dry land.  The significance - not walking in water - crossing from one side to the other - on dry land - God making the path - easier - safer.  So it was with the Israelites when Joshua led the people over the Jordan River.  In Hebrew Jordan is translated Yarden or יַרדֵן which means to descend - go down.  It was given this name because  the river physically descends downwards to the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on Earth - significant to us spiritually - after we have descended to the lowest point - we move forward with our lives - we ascend - go up on a path closer to Jesus - to God.  Recalling the baptism in the Jordan when Jesus was baptized by John - He first descended downwards as an act of humility - at which point the dove appeared above Him as He ascended upwards to the start of His ministry.  As we were cooling off in the pool at the Arizona house today - escaping the 94 degree temperature - we descended down into the water.  After splashing around a few minutes - I spied a tiny winged creature - a bee - a hornet - struggling in the water - having made a bad decision - seeking dry land.  I gently lifted it up on the back of my hand and carefully set him on the concrete decking surrounding the pool.  I watched for a few minutes - wondering if it was alright - then swam away - leaving Him in His creator's hand.  Later on as we were placing the solar blanket back on the pool - I looked for it - nowhere to be found - hopefully restored to good health.

So many times in our lives we feel like we are lost in a sea of troubles - floating in an ocean of worries - emotions - fearful - looking for some sort of help.  In Lent - not unusual to have that same lost feeling - wondering how we can escape our current feeling of loss - failure.  In those moments - when we need to allow ourselves to descend - give up our self sufficient ideas - admit that we are not a god - that we need help.  Looking upwards to Heaven - we seek the hand of God - Jesus - standing there on the shore of our lives - hand outstretched - saying - Come to Me - All who are weak and tired - I am here for you.  Like my little - bee - hornet - your life has value - meaning - He will help you to ascend to a higher place.  If only - you will ask Him.

Deacon Dale 

Stations..

What would Fridays during Lent be without - Stations of the Cross - a prayerful Journey of thirty minutes or so in which we are led through the meditation of the Stations Jesus endured on His Journey.  The practice of Stations origins vary depending on who you ask.  Originally when people came to realize who Jesus was - The Son of God - The God who came to Earth - the Author of Life - only then - did people wish to pay respect to Him - what He did - what He experienced.  In the very early days - people travelled to the Holy Land - to visit - see - the significant places where Jesus walked - ministered. Specific sites were visited - Calvary - Pilate's House - a few others.  Eventually - The Via Dolorosa - the path that the Roman soldiers would have taken Jesus from Pilate's to the place of Crucifixion.  Starting at the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - a distance of about two thousand feet - with nine specific stations - stopping places - with five additional stations inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  The Via Dolorosa is not one specific street - rather a route involving multiple streets as it winds through Jerusalem. I can personally share - walking the Via Dolorosa - on three different pilgrimages - is a very - spiritual - emotional - experience.  When it became apparent to Church leaders - the majority of Christians would never be able to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem - the concept of building Stations in places other than Jerusalem developed.  Over the years the numbers have varied - finally being set by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742 at fourteen when he exhorted all priests to erect Stations in parish churches and grounds- in order that all the faithful could experience walking the Stations.  More recently Saint Pope John Paul II rewrote some of the Station prayers and added a fifteenth Station. 

Stations in the Sonoran Desert 

It does not matter if one walks the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem - the route has been modified over the years - or if one prays the Stations hanging in their parish church.  What is important is that one acknowledges - meditates - prays the Stations - as a spiritual exercise to draw them deeper into the mystery of Faith. Stations may be prayed any day - week of the year - not just during Lent.  It is there for the faithful to take advantage of - to help - bring Jesus closer to their - mind - heart.

Deacon Dale 

Prayer Time...

When my wife and I walked the Camino de Santiago - majority of our waking hours - focused on the trail - where we were - where we wanted to be - the path - the obstacles.  Our number one priority - our well being - staying safe in a foreign country - following our guide book - staying on a well marked trail - speaking a foreign language that we were not fluent in.  In the large cities - English readily spoken - in the villages - hamlets - no hablo ingles.  Walking in the mountains - valleys - through - the backyard of Northern Spain - in between the thousands of steps - our time dotted with - prayer.  We prayed so many - Rosaries - Divine Mercy Chaplets - free form prayers - that we lost count.  When you have been married to your trekking partner for forty-four years - not a lot to talk about - so prayers flowed like water.  Our basic day - from eight o'clock in the morning until four o'clock in the afternoon - eight hours daily - on the trail.  At a minimum we spent six hours daily in prayer.  In that time as we drew closer to - Jesus - God - we also drew closer to each other.  One giant prayer experience that lasted over thirty days.

Praying Hands & Trekking Poles 

In Lent - if we are very diligent - most may be able to accumulate some one hundred twenty hours of prayer time - over the course of forty days. On the Camino in ten days less - some eighteen hundred hours.  The goal in Lent is to find ways to add more prayer time into our lives.  In truth the goal in Lent - more prayer time - not the number of hours spent in prayer.  All of us are busy - have obligations that fill the hours of our days - prayer time - a luxury.  Adding additional time in prayer - a win - a successful accomplishment.  In those prayers - for ourselves - for others - for specific needs - all excellent.  In prayer - we immerse our minds - link our thoughts - with God.  In those minutes - hours - we connect with the Creator of Life - we make our Lenten experience - meaningful.

Deacon Dale 

Game On..

If you are a fan of baseball - very happy that the extended negotiations between owners - players - finally over.  Games are finally being played again - able to go to the ballpark - enjoy an afternoon - evening - of baseball.  It is unfortunate - millionaires - arguing with millionaires - at the expense of fans - majority who will never be a millionaire themselves.  This is an issue that all of us have to contend with - those with money - too often make their wealth at the expense of those with much less.  Unfortunately - many aspects of life that are not fair - majority - coping as best they can do - accepting - what they cannot change.  Better to move on - concentrate on the really important things in life that are within ones control.  

Finally

Bottom line - our personal happiness - taking care of self - family - friends - the things that really matter in life - where we focus our energies.  Rather than waste - time - on things we cannot change - focus on those we can.  The Serenity Prayer comes to mind - 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can,  and wisdom to know the difference."  

In life we can focus on our health - physical - spiritual - our occupations - our relationships - family - friends - God.   It is imperative that we do not let things beyond our control occupy our thoughts - actions.  Instead - the truly important things - especially our personal relationship with Jesus - must be our number one priority.  As we continue our Lenten journey - we need to be consistent - diligent - in our efforts to improve as much as we can.  Our focus - not on  the games played around us - rather that which leads us to our eternal life with God - Game on.

Deacon Dale 

Commitment

It is so easy today for everyone to join in - I am here - I want to be counted - I am standing up for all that is right - correct - hear me roar - I am not lying.  Then - almost as soon as the commitment proclaimed - gone - disappeared - cannot be found - lost in the dust of time.  Yes - so many - making proclamations of commitment - gone almost as quickly as their vow professed.  Quickly - loudly - shouting for all to hear - in the next instance - gone.  Fifteen seconds of fame - done - over with.  Best intentions - already in the toilet.  What to do.

In reality - not unusual - so many - best intentions - the busyness of life - getting in the way.  Does  that make one a total loser - sinner - fallen off the path of life - leading to Christ?  God - as mentioned previously - does not expect perfection.  So you have not been able to do as  you intended - all that means is that you did not do all that was intended - nothing more - nothing less.  It does not mean you are bad - just easily distracted - perhaps a little weak in your commitment.  Time to calm down - admit your are - human - normal - easily distracted. Developing a strong faith life does not happen over night.  Even clergy - with many years of experience - stumble fall - on occasion.  It may mean one is down - not necessarily out.  Jesus - constantly at your side - offering a hand - up - helping one back onto the path. Remember you belong to God.  He is your Father - always there - waiting - offering - accepting - no matter what happens.  His commitment to each of us - one hundred percent - even when our commitment is less than perfect.  In these moments - pray - pray again - seek strength - recommit your self to a good Lenten experience.  It is possible - still.

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Deacon Dale 

Paying Tribute

The other night my wife and I attended a performance at the neighborhood high school performance center presented by UPTOWN - a tribute singing group.  Tribute groups typically select a single performer or group - learn their history - songs - all they can - when they perform - usually very similar to the original - very often - as good as the original.  

UPTOWN - A Tribute to Motown

When a person or group of people make the decision to form a tribute group - takes a lot of research - work - practice - before they are able to appear in public.  The goal is not only to provide entertainment - also to honor the person - group - their music - showing honor - respect - for their accomplishments.  When one makes the decision to become a disciple of Christ - requires learning all about Him - The Son - The Savior - The Lord - of Life.  One does not - should not make this decision lightly - committing oneself to living a life - honoring - glorifying - The Christ.  In Lent - we ask our self - do I truly reflect the values proclaimed by Jesus - do my words - actions - thoughts - honor Him - if not - why not.  We have begun week three of Lent - now is the time to get serious - to finalize our plans for a great Lenten experience - to jump in - both feet - mouth open wide - singing praises to God - now - paying Him the Tribute - He deserves - one that we know will surely honor Him.

Deacon Dale