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 

Flames and Glory

Today we celebrated Pentecost - that event that marked the Gift of the Holy Spirit - manifested by the Sound of rushing Wind - Tongues of Flame - Speaking in multiple Tongues - all a Grand Effort - God getting people's attention.  After Jesus returned to Heaven to be reunited with the Father - a Promise fulfilled - the Third Person of God - Spoken of in History - Revealed by the Son - United in some unexplainable Way - the Holy Trinity.  On this Pentecost Day - as in years past - celebrating the Birth of the Church.  The Birth of the People of God - assembled together in mass not church as in a structure - rather Church as People - Gathered together as the Human expression of God - His Love - His Forgiveness - His Healing - His Acceptance -  what we Call - The Body of Christ.

Two thousand years since the First Pentecost event - What we - the People of God - have Accomplished in that time - Amazing - Unbelievable - Fantastic - Things - all in His Holy Name. Now is not the time to sit back - brag about what we have done - Now the time to Accomplish even More.  Each of us has received his Spirit in - Baptism - Confirmation - Holy Communion - in Every Sacrament we have celebrated - Now is the time to Truly Act - Be the Body of Christ.  With that Power in His Body - All Things Are Possible with God!

Deacon Dale 

High Times

Today in place of the Seventh Sunday of Easter - we celebrate The Ascension of the Lord - this Feast of the Ascension commemorates Jesus' ascension into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. Thus Ascension Day falls 40 days after Easter - on the 6th Thursday of Easter - due to the  importance - moved by many Bishops to the Sunday Celebration of Holy Mass - making it available to more of the faithful to celebrate who normally cannot attend daily Mass due to work commitments - other obligations.  In this celebration Jesus gives His final instructions to His disciples - to Go - Baptize - to the Four Corners of the World.

What He instructed His disciples to do some two thousand years ago - still applies - today - to those of us who claim to be His modern disciples.  Ordained or not - each and every one of us - who professes the Creed- who tell others that we are Christians - called by Our Lord - to proclaim His Gospel - everywhere we go - whether convenient or not - that His Message reaches the ears of all people.  Today we celebrate that day when Jesus joined His Father in Heaven - that day when we - His disciples were joined with Him in His ministry to share the Truth with all we know.

Deacon Dale 

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