Easter Joy

 Yes - we are still in the Easter Season - Yes - plenty of Easter Joy to experience.  In today's scripture we start with Philip spreading the Gospel Message - just as Jesus said the apostles should do.  Bonus in that effort - unclean spirits - leaving many people - shouts of joy at being freed.  In the Gospel - Jesus reassuring His disciples that they will not be left alone when He ascends to Heaven - God sending the Holy Spirit to guide - help them. 

Even today - as modern day disciples - each of us - benefitting from the help of His Holy Spirit.  In so many ways - in so many circumstances - the Holy Spirit - helping His followers around the World.   We are after all - Easter People - those who have made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as Lord of our Lives - Our God - Our Savior - the One in whom we put our complete trust.  Yes - there is a reason to be joyful - every day of our lives.  No matter what may happen in our lives - Jesus - stands there - gracing you with His Love - truly-  something to be joyful about. 

Deacon Dale 

Landlord

Before anyone buys their first home - most rented an apartment - house - getting established as an adult - new graduate from school - moving away from parents - changing jobs - locations - career.  As we grow into adulthood - finish our years of education - training - settle into new situations - majority do not make the financial commitment to purchase property.  Instead we elect to rent - go through the process of credit checks - inspection by the rental agents - proving that we are worthy of a tenant - landlord relationship.  When all goes as expected - rental agreement is signed - sealed - delivered - we move in.

Hofburg Palace, Vienna 

In today's Gospel - Jesus tell His disciples - all of us - that when the time is ready - no house hunting required.  He already has a place for each of us - in His Father's house.  No inspection - security deposit - no credit check required.  Your place secured - the price - paid in full - by His Blood.  His Father's House much grander - larger than the palace shown here.  Our home in Heaven - with Jesus - a Gift from God - simply for being His loyal servants - followers - doing as He asked.  The way to Heaven - to His Father - always through Jesus - Him and no one else.  Jesus is the Way - the Truth - the Life.

Deacon Dale 

Jesus - Gatekeeper

Today - the Fourth Sunday of Easter - Good Shepherd Sunday - in the Gospel Jesus talks about sheep - gates - pasture - crooks - thieves.  So what is going on here - what does this have to do with the Fourth Sunday of Easter.  Isn't Easter about celebration - pastel colors - happiness.   In Today's Gospel we hear - John 10:9  -  "I AM the Gate - Whoever enters through Me - will be Saved - will come In and Go out - find pasture". 

Yes we are still in the Easter Season - Need to remember what Easter is all about.  If we back up just a few weeks - Death - Dying - Torture - Sadness - Resurrection - New Life.  In today's Gospel - Jesus reminding His disciples - reminding Us - that Life in Christ means - Life.   Putting our Trust in Jesus - in His Words - Knowing that He - the Lord - really Knows each of Us.  He knows our voices - we know His - an intimate relationship - one that guarantees us - Life in the Fullest.  No gate to separate us from enjoying Life.  Freedom to come - go - In - Out - as we wish.  A challenge to really act like disciples - to share His message of - Forgiveness - Healing - Love - Acceptance - Tolerance - Becoming Christ Like in our own lives.  A challenge - a reality - for all things are possible with God.   When He met Moses - He told him - I AM.  Today He tells you - me - I Am - the Gate - I AM - Here to give you New Life.

Deacon Dale 

Burning Hearts

In Today's Gospel - (Lk 24:13-35) - We heard - "Were our hearts not burning" on the road to Emmaus - walking with Jesus.  Just imagine what that must have been like for those two disciples - walking towards Emmaus - no clue that their - Lord - their God - would encounter them in that - time - that - space.  That is a part of Our religious history - a part of the Truth - that is Christianity.  Imagine when I - along with my wife - 25 other deacons - wives - ended up at Emmaus - ourselves in 2010.  The words to describe that experience - not enough adjectives exist to properly describe - that very Gospel floating  through our minds at that moment.  Now thirteen years later - having walked that same path that Jesus walked at Emmaus - not once - rather three times - still an experience - hard to put into words - that Gospel reminding me - of my personal experiences in Israel.

Emmaus 

Just the idea that Jesus - showed Himself - shortly after His crucifixion - a moment in time few could experience.  I - like most of us - have never seen Jesus appear before my eyes - but I - have felt His presence in my life -  just as many others have - most notably - in the Breaking of the Bread.  As a Roman Catholic - as a Permanent Deacon - as a Believer for my entire life - Jesus has always been a reality in my life.  In sad - unhappy moments - joyful - happy times - Jesus - always near to me.  At Holy Mass - proclaiming His Words - sharing in Holy Eucharist - my Lord always so near.  As we continue our Easter celebration in these Fifty days of Easter - may each of you have your own personal moment when Christ becomes real to you. 

Deacon Dale 

23rd Anniversary

It is always special when an anniversary is celebrated - a religious anniversary - more so.  On May 5, 2000 Pope John Paul II declared that the second Sunday of Easter would forever after be known as Divine Mercy Sunday - based on the Diary of St Faustina Kowalski who the Pope had just canonized on April 30, 2000 - the Polish nun - known as the Secretary of Jesus - whose diary shared with the world her visions she shared with Jesus.  The great focus - primarily - the Divine Mercy of God - Mercy unknown to anyone other than God. 

Because only God is able to possess agape love - a love not humanly possible - all of us are benefactors of His Awesome - Unbelievable Mercy.  God with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as One Divine Person - can - will - forgive - anyone - any sin - any deed gone wrong - if only one is willing to ask - with a heart filled with faith - sorrow - for whatever might have been done wrong.  On this Sunday - the Second Sunday of Easter - this Sunday which ends the Octave of Easter - these special first eight days of the Easter Season - we rejoice in this Special Easter Egg - offered to all - Christian or not - a Gift worth celebrating everyday of our lives - most importantly on this Feast of the Divine Mercy.

Deacon Dale 

The 50 Days of Easter

Jesus Christ is Risen! Yes - 2000 years ago He rose.  Two thousand years ago - run that through your mind - what have We accomplished in that time - where are We as His people.  Is there Peace on Earth - All people Believe - Worship Him - unfortunately No.  That means WE still have work to do.

Looking To The Future

Jesus is the same today as He was two thousand years ago.  Today in 2023 - the need for Disciples to spread His Gospel message as important as when He instructed His first Disciples.  Many people hear - not all listen to the Message.  It is up to You - Me to not only speak His message - need to also Model - that lifestyle which He professed.  Now for the next Forty-Nine Days of this Easter Season - let us ALL see if we can do just that.

Deacon Dale 

Easter Sunday!

Alleluia! He is Risen! Yes - finally - Lent completed - Triduum finished - NOW - Easter for the next 50 days - until Pentecost. Easter Sunday - celebrating that day when Jesus rose from the dead - opened the doors to Heaven - for all of us. This is what we have been preparing ourselves for - throughout Lent. Prayers - quiet time - reflecting on our lives - now - finally - this is it - just as we hoped.

Jesus did exactly as He promised - preached - spread His Gospel to all. Many listened - some did not - for those who did - New Life in Christ. It just cannot be better than that. Praise God that you are a part of this Gift. Amen..

Deacon Dale 

The Triduum Day #3 Holy Saturday

Day #3 of the Triduum - silence - laying in the tomb - waiting - nothing to do until - the Vigil.  In many churches the morning is used to decorate for Easter Sunday - the Vigil Mass that will be celebrated after dark.  Masses typically not celebrated until after dusk.  Free time in the morning used to bless parishioner's Easter food baskets - review with the catechumens the liturgy - flow of the evening Vigil Mass.  For the catechumens - anxiety - final blessings - preparing for Baptism - Reception into the Church - Confirmation - Holy Eucharist.  

Lighting the Paschal Candle

This evening everything is new - starting after sundown - blessing of the new Paschal candle - blessing of a new fire that will light the new candle - singing the Exultant - the official chant as Holy Mass begins - the large number of Scriptures tonight - the blessing of the font - water for baptism - renewal of baptismal vows - after the homily - baptism - confirmation - Eucharist.  A night of beginnings for the Church - Catechumens - parishioners.  Meanwhile - Jesus in the Tomb - a night of waiting - anticipation - resurrection.   Easter morning will reveal all.

Deacon Dale 

The Triduum Day #2 Good Friday

What is so Good about Friday - that day in the life of Jesus filled with - lies - betrayal - judgement - crucifixion - death - sinking down to the bowels of hades - not what anyone wants to think about.  For many people - a day to quickly pass through - a bump on the road to Easter - flowers - fun - food.  For others - those more deeply invested in their faith - sadness - confusion - sometimes anger - always a big WHY.  No one really knows - understands the mind of God.  What made this event necessary - was there another way to accomplish the same thing - how - why - when - questions asked for centuries.

Basically it boils down to Mankind - not something God really wanted to do - His response to people - their poor use of - Free Will - being allowed to make bad decisions -  Time and Again.  He sent prophets - messengers - over and over - simply ignored.  Finally - as we all know - if you want something done correctly - have to do it yourself.  So God stepped down from His throne - Humbled Himself - was born of the Virgin - grew as any human would - grew into the man - Jesus.  In words - parables - miracles - He shared His Plan - Hope - Goals - for humanity.  The Result - Hanging on a Cross - Crucified - Pierced with a lance - Scourged - Flesh torn - Blood dripping from His Body.  For what?  For You and Me - for All of us.  He paid the Price - Debt paid in Full - that is what is so Good about Friday.  Jesus did it for US.  WE do not have to go through what He did - WE do not have to Suffer.  All WE need do is accept the Gift of Salvation - from Him - from HIs Father - through the Power of the Holy Spirit.  He did the work - WE stand besides Him - wave His flag of Victory - Victory over Death - over Satan. Today we Celebrate Good Friday because it is Good.

Deacon Dale 

The Triduum Day #1 - Holy Thursday

No Mass this Morning - unless the Bishop blesses Holy Chrism - that is usually done earlier in the week. Holy Mass tonight - Holy Thursday - focused on institution of Holy Eucharist and of the priesthood.  Special focus tonight - washing of feet of Mass participants.  Lent officially ends following Evening Prayer and the Triduum begins with the beginning of tonight's Holy Mass. The banners in church have been Purple throughout Lent - tonight - White - a celebratory color indicating purity - new beginnings - a very special event in the Liturgical calendar. 

Tonight at Holy Mass the oils which were blessed by the Bishop earlier this week are presented at the beginning of Holy Mass - Holy Chrism - Oil of Catechumens - Oil of the Sick. The Oil of the Sick - used anytime a priest wishes to bless those who are sick - often used near death - the final anointing. The Oil of Catechumens - used prior to baptizing infants - adult catechumens during the Baptism Rite. Holy Chrism - the most special of the three oils - used when a person is being confirmed - during infant baptism - ordination of priests - consecration of a bishop - anointing of altars - vessels - consecration of churches. Tonight celebrating that Jesus during His Last Supper - washed the disciples feet as a model of Christian service to others - telling HIs disciples - "If I - therefore - the master and teacher have washed your feet - you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow - so that as I have done for you - you should also do." (John 13:14-15)  At Tonight's Mass additional bread is consecrated to be used tomorrow afternoon - since no Mass is allowed - these Hosts to be shared in a communion service on Good Friday.  Tonight the tabernacle is left empty - the altar stripped bare - any consecrated Hosts moved to a special place where all may sit in quiet Adoration - meditating on the Mysteries celebrated this night - waiting in Vigil - Jesus taken away by the guards - tomorrow the Passion - sentenced to Crucifixion - by the people - trading Him - the Son of Man - for an insurrectionist - sending Him to Calvary - death on a Cross.  Them - you - me - by our Sins - we have all had a hand in that event.  Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow - He paid the Price - for what we have done - what we have failed to do - what we will do.  Tonight - we sit in darkness - praying - Jesus I Trust in You - Lord - have Mercy on me. 

Deacon Dale