Valentines Day

As normal - Valentines Day approaches - February 14th - with it tons of feelings - positive - negative. What is the point - just another holiday invented by merchants to sell more useless trinkets - flowers - candy - to many who would honestly prefer to skip the whole observation.  Does that sound like you - someone you know?  Perhaps you are one who loves this holiday - a true lover of all things that reflect the concept - nature - gift of love.  It is very easy to see both sides of this coin. Throughout time people have loved - been loved - shared love in many simple - awesome ways.  Just as interesting is the fact  that many persons - named Valentine - have been honored in various ways.  In different Christian denominations Valentines Day - a Feast Day when the Church celebrates multiple persons named Valentine - all martyred for their faith. 

Love exists in may forms - love - for that special person in ones life - spouse - children - parents - friends.  The greatest of all loves - the love that Our God has for each - everyone of us.  Love without limits - no boundaries - no strings attached.  This year Valentines Day shares the day with Ash Wednesday - one special day of the year when we acknowledge the One - who shared His love with the entire world - who calls us to reflect on the depth of our love - for the special people in our lives - for Him - who loved us first. 

Deacon Dale 

The Way - Day 17

 On this walking pilgrimage we quickly settled into a daily routine - sleep as late as possible - too many early walkers who disturbed our sleep - 5:00 AM - lights still out - rustling noises as they dress and repack their back packs in the dark - some with flashlights or hiking head lamps trying to gather all their belongings - too often those lights shining into the eyes of those trying to get more sleep - the noise from shuffling all their stuff also making it difficult to sleep. We had to leave the albergues by 10:00 AM at the latest - that allowed the staff time to clean the facility and bunk beds.  Most days we were up and ready to leave by 7:30 AM which still allowed us plenty of walking time as well as stopping early enough to get a bed.  Some people reserved ahead - not knowing how difficult each day would be we played our day by ear and using a guide book to know where the hostels were located - we had a good idea when to stop - time of day - how bad my blisters hurt. We learned very early that those who walked until dark often found the albergues filled and no beds available.  Taking that into consideration - time of day - distance walked - making sure we had a bed - had us stopping by 4:30 PM at the latest.  Less people in the albergue a better choice of bed - away from the bathrooms - closer to the windows for a good breeze since they are not air conditioned.  Just because we were back packing did not mean it had to be too rough of an experience.  In Lent as we try to follow our plans for prayer time - accomplishing our daily spiritual exercises - fitting those in with our daily obligations sometimes challenging - so we adapt. We pray.

Back into the country side 

Another beautiful day - although we were prepared for rain - we only had light rain on our last day of pilgrimage.  This section mostly flat - near here we met a couple from the Philippines - during our time in Spain we met pilgrims from 24 countries - all spoke English 

 

A new style Camino marker with yellow arrow & Filipino pilgrims

Random monument dedicated for pilgrims who died while walking 

Pilgrim biking the Camino 

Walking through a grape field - didn't pick any

A Camino directional sign with local history 

Village of Najera - Our albergue for tonight 

This night we experienced semi-private dormitory beds - two bunk beds in a shared room. One of us on top the other got the lower - just to be fair to the others sharing the room

Dormitory bunk beds

Alburgue entrance - Must leave boots & trekking poles at entrance to avoid 

bringing dirt to bed area & pray they are still there in the morning 

We ended our day early enough to find a place to eat and wander around the town. The alburgues all lock their doors at 10:00 PM so must be back or you get locked out. The sunsets in Spain - always beautiful - time to pause - give God the praise for another fruitful day. 

 

Beautiful Sunset 

At bedtime - always time for many prayers - prayers of thanksgiving - prayers of praise - intercessory prayers for self - those at home - those also walking the Camino.  In Lent as any other night - final prayers for the day.  

Buen Camino 

Deacon Dale 

Brrrrrrring In The New Year

It is no surprise that this new year of 2024 has begun with some very cold extreme weather - if we admit it - very often any new project - any new effort - often begins with challenges - anticipated or not.  So this year - like many before it - has entered our lives with a few bumps in the road.  The important thing - it has begun.  Now that we have some three weeks into this new year - most of us have been able to formulate an idea of what we hope to accomplish in 2024.  New years resolutions - made - already forgotten - weight loss programs - started - waiting for future success - one plan after another - scheduled - rescheduled - already tossed to the side.  Now before  the first month of this year passes - time to get real - settle into a real plan.  Don't know where to start - why not focus on yourself - this time look inward - look towards your spirituality - what can you add to your spiritual life that will make a difference to you - to those around you.  The opportunities are numerous - new book - video series presenting old concepts in new ways - too many to mention.

The point - time to finally get started - commit to a new agenda.  We have all enjoyed the freedom of these past three weeks - starting - stopping - contemplating - going nowhere.  Now before this month slips away - make a commitment - if nothing else - commit to make a new start - follow through - make 2024 a year of growth.  God calls each of us - on a daily basis - come to Him - draw closer - embrace Him as He embraces you.  It is very possible - with Jesus at your side - you will be successful.

Deacon Dale  

Christmas Joy

We all have options in our lives - what else could I possibly post on December 25th - anger - unhappiness - loneliness?  Yes - those things do exist - my blog - my choice.  I chose - JOY - an emotion foreign to many people.  In spite of everything that surrounds Christmas - too many people find Christmas to be a very stressful - angry - time of year.  I understand - death - loss of a loved one - loss of a job - loss of hope - colored in a lot of different ways - creates a sad environment.  I remember a time when I had - parents - in-laws - an older brother - a twin - the expectation of a child who was never born.  Very personal - very sad.  I could hide myself away - ignore others - feel unhappy - chose sadness - not my choice.  I chose to look at life differently.  Rather than dwell on what was - I chose to focus on what is.  Family - here and now - the promise of future happiness - acknowledging the blessings God has given to me - my spouse - my children - my friends.   If any of us would count our blessings versus the negative - we would have to admit that all of us have received many more blessings than not. 

Like most of my friends - Christian - otherwise - we are people of HOPE.  We accept the bad moments in life as moments - time that passes away - lives in the past - looking forward to all the good - Joy - that we will experience in the near future.  Religious or not - Christmas is about Jesus - The Christ - God wrapped in swaddling clothes - laid in a manger when there was no proper room for the King of Kings.  If He who is LORD can accept His first bed made of a manger filled with straw in a space shared with cattle can't we do as much?  Life is filled with thousand of moments - most of them very good.  In your own life - stop this Christmas and think - I am certain there are many moments - when you experienced Christmas Joy.

Merry Christmas

Deacon Dale 

Adventus

Adventus - no - not Advent - Adventus means arrival.  Arrival of what you ask - obviously - the Season of Advent.  Yes - this Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent which means there were two Sundays of Advent previously.  So what is the point - why do we have Advent in the first place?  Some will say - it marks the beginning - start - of a new Liturgical Year on the Church Calendar.  Again - yes - the Church has an official Calendar.  Similar to the secular yearly calendar which goes from January 1st to December 31st or the Fiscal calendar that normally goes from July 1st to June 30th - the Liturgical Calendar goes from the First Sunday in Advent - normally the Sunday following Thanksgiving - to the celebration of Christ the King Sunday the week ending the liturgical year. The cycle repeats itself every three years though Cycles A - B - C - thus giving the Church three years to read through a majority of the Bible - giving it the time to share with it's parishioners a very full view of what the Bible contains - exposing all to the majority of the Gospels - Words shared by Jesus - to all believers.  

Advent is a Season of four weeks - four weeks in which the faithful are encouraged to prepare themselves for two things. The first two weeks focus on End Time Theology - that time when we will meet Jesus at His Second Coming - either the end of this world - or the end of our life. The second two weeks tend towards our preparation to properly celebrate Christ's First Coming - His Birth at Christmas.  In this Season of Advent we take time to reflect on ourselves - our goodness - our failures - how well we have prepared ourselves for that day when we will meet the Lord - face to face - when our life ends here - as we transition from this existence to a heavenly one - how well we have prepared ourselves to celebrate his coming as Emmanuel - God with us - at Christmas.  As people of Hope - as modern day Christians - as true committed believers - we pray that we have prepared well - for both.

Deacon Dale 

Why Hide Your Talent?

This Sunday the Gospel (Mt 25:14-15, 19-21) focused on the talents (i.e. money) that the land owner left with his workers.  In those times a talent was usually a large heavy object worth a large sum.  At first look - we assume that the talent in mention is money - since that is very often what the average person thinks about. Money to sustain life - buying food - paying rent - affording all the things that helps everyone have a comfortable life.  That is very reasonable - however - the real talent - considering that God is the land owner - the servant - us - His disciples - workers - changes the whole focus of the Gospel.  The One who received - one talent - buried it - returned it back to the Land owner - God - unchanged - is our focus. That  One is not a sinner as many would guess - rather - an unfortunate - a person who did not have faith in the one talent - gift - they had received.  Questioning what they had - what they could accomplish - what they could achieve - in fear - hid that talent - that gift - that ability.  They are not alone - so many people in this modern day have received numerous gifts from God - completely unaware of those gifts - unaware that they have been empowered to accomplish many -mighty - things.  Those gifts - buried deep inside  their very being.  They walk among us - sit next to us in the pew - stand next to us in the shopping line - going about their life - completely oblivious of the talents they have. Many years ago when my sons were competing in sports - when they took first place - after congratulating  them on their  accomplishment - very often they would reply that they were not the best - only the best on that day - in that specific competition - acknowledging that there were others - much better than them - who were elsewhere - not at that specific event - acknowledging their talent - recognizing others also shared that same gift. 

For those who believe they have not received any special talents from God - need to take time - look deeply inside - to discover what the real gifts are that they have received.  Once seeing those gifts - time to dig them up - take out of the depths - share with those around them. So many talents - gifts from God - go undiscovered - unshared - because of a lack of faith.  All of us have to remember as children of God - as His disciples - as followers of Jesus - each - every one of us - have been blessed mightily.  As true disciples - our duty to share all that we have received.  With God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - All things are possible - in Faith we share all we have received.

Deacon Dale 

Virgins & Oil & Wailing of Teeth

The Gospel this Sunday (Mt 25: 1-13) seems to focus on the ten virgins - half who were prepared for a long night - half who did not think far enough ahead.  It also seems to make oil the thing to focus on - how much is necessary for success.  While that is what what we read at Holy Mass - the real focus in on - us - the faithful.  As we near the end of the liturgical year and approach the beginning of Advent - the first season of a new liturgical year - we are being asked to focus on the - End Times.  All of us are journeying toward the end of our life on this Earth - every day moving towards that day when we will meet the Lord - face to face.  We hate to admit it - all of us have an end date - known only by God.  It is  not about how many days we have left - it is not about how much faith we have - it is not about how much we pray - fast.  The whole point is about being prepared.  If the Lord calls you to Himself today - will you be ready - will you be able to drop everything you are doing - will you be able to take His hand - let him embrace you - walk into eternity with Him.

Each of us has been told over and over again how much Jesus - God - His Mother loves us.  We have heard over - over again - repent - make things right in your life - prepare the way of the Lord - to be Lord of your life - to accept Him as Your Personal Savior - to walk with Him on a daily basis.  It is not a hard task - pray the sinner's prayer - Lord have mercy on me a sinner - accept Him into your life - then continue your journey in peace - harmony with Jesus.  It is never too late - today would be a good day to start.

Deacon Dale 

I'm Back!

 And - I am back.  Some may have noticed that I have not posted anything for the past few months.  Obviously - I have been occupied with things more important than this blog.  I am no different from any other person - more important things occupy all our lives compared to posting on a blog.  Family - friends - medical needs - helping others - preparing for an annual pilgrimage - all took precedent over this blog. Finally - some time to share a few thoughts with everyone. 

Number #1 - the conflict in the Middle East.  I have to admit that I do not understand that in this age - people are not able to resolve conflicts without killing each other. I understand we all have history - accepting change - different cultures - different belief systems - changing attitudes - new ways rethinking old ideas - developing new ones - none justify killing those who have different ideas - beliefs.  Acceptance - tolerance - the only way to cope with differences.  At this point - prayers needed. 

Number #2 - the Fatima - Lourdes Pilgrimage this September was excellent!  We had a group of 40 people - from various walks in life - in two days - melded into one happy family. Although we did this same pilgrimage in 2017 - different people - similar - different experience.  When we repeat a pilgrimage - always a chance that it might feel a bit - been there - done  that.  That did not happen - in retrospect - never has on any of our pilgrimages.  

Number #3 - total knee replacement - this time my wife's - mine in 2020.  Another repeat experience - same procedure - same surgeon - same hospital - she doing much better that me.  For  that I am very grateful - pleased she is doing so well.  God is Good - Prayers Work - Community Awesome.

Now beginning of November - time to start preparing for Thanksgiving - Advent - Christmas - New Years.  Unlike the past few months that were comparatively low key - the anxiety level starting to ramp up - not a real issue for people of faith.  We know from experience that God never gives us more than we can handle - when it feels that we are approaching our limits - He blesses us in ways unimaginable to help us get through the stress.  As in every single month of the year - in every single situation - Jesus - Our Lord - always there - holding our hands - leading the way.

Deacon Dale 

Walking on Water

No - I have not been walking on water - I have to leave that up to Jesus.  It has been a while since my last post.  Since June I have been very busy trying to keep my head above water - coping with lots of different issues.  We are now only about three weeks away from our pilgrimage to Portugal - Spain - France to visit Fatima - Burgos - Montserrat - Lourdes - La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  At the same time - also arranging a new pilgrimage to Italy for October 2024 - honoring a surprise request from my pastor to arrange a pilgrimage for him to the Holy Land in June 2024.  In addition - coping with a family funeral and conducting multiple funerals for the local funeral homes.  In my spare time I have managed to mow the lawn every four days - taking care of the farmette at home.  Today a bit of a breather - my time - creating this post - meditating on the Scriptures for this weekend - preparing a homily for Holy Mass.  You guessed it - the Gospel this weekend is about Jesus sending his disciples across the Sea of Galilee after feeding the five thousand - taking a break to go up the mountainside for a little - Me and Thee time - catching His breath - rejoining the disciples very late at night in a choppy sea - walking to them on the water.  

The Scriptures are not about Jesus walking on water - He is God - He can do anything He wants.  It is not about water - over seventy percent of the Earth is water - it is not about Peter who quickly sinks into the water when he leaves the boat.  No - the Gospel for this Sunday is  about you - me - all of us who are struggling - coping with the chaos of life.  It about the state of the world - all the things going on around us - the things that are going wrong - disappointments we are facing - plans gone astray.  It is about us - drowning in the daily struggles of life - how we step out on our own - like Peter - quickly realizing we are literally over our head -  feeling alone - abandoned - reaching out - looking for help - from anywhere.  Like Peter - we need to look at the Lord - to focus - reach out to Jesus - to cry out - Lord help me!  Just as He spoke to Peter - to His disciples - He reminds us -  Take courage - it is I - do not be afraid.  In the chaos of our lives we need to ignore the sounds of the world seemingly crashing around us - we need to ignore the thunder - lightening - instead stop - listen to the Lord - whispering to us in the silence of the breeze - in the silence of our hearts -  reminding us to focus on Him - to proclaim - Jesus I trust in You.

Deacon Dale 

Honoring The Trinity

Last week we celebrated the Holy Trinity - Father - Son - Holy Spirit.  Today we continued that celebration with the Feast of Corpus Christi - The Holy Trinity - One person - One God - summed up in the Physical Body of Christ.  The God - in human existence - who gave His life - on the Cross - that All of us might share in His redemption.  God who put Himself on the Cross - that each of us might have Life - Live it to the Fullest. On this day we processed through the neighborhood in our annual Eucharistic procession - sharing with those around us - our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  An open invitation to all to join us.

Just as Jesus walked among the People of God in His days - He still is here with us - even today.  We may not see His Human appearance - He is still very much present to us today. In prayer - times of silence - at Holy Mass - receiving Him in Holy Communion - He is always available to all who seek Him.  In Him we live - breathe - experience the fullness of life.

Deacon Dale