Posts
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Christ the King Sunday
Today is the feast of Christ the King. It is a relatively new feast, established in 1925 on last Sunday of the church liturgical year (a new liturgical year begins next Sunday as Advent begins) to emphasize the place of Christ at the center of life and to challenge the increasing denial of the place of God in life seen in communism and the secularism of that time [and as it is today still]. The Kingdom of Jesus is about a new way of relating to one another — a way that Jesus revealed by His life and teaching. Jesus demonstrated His kingdom as he blessed, loved, forgave, healed, and served the people He was speaking to. He welcomed the poor and the marginalized. He taught about His way of relating in parables that prioritized forgiveness over revenge, service over being served, and sacrificial love over self-serving arrogance. The Kingdom way of relating is expressed in this Sunday's Gospel as Jesus tells us that what we do to the least of our brothers or sisters we do to Him. Jesus’ Kingdom is present whenever we relate to one another as the God of all creation desires us to relate. It is the only Kingdom that will last forever.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The Leaning Towers
Deacon Ken of my parish
always manages to have a great post each Sunday. Here is another:
The Leaning Towers … The Tower of Pisa, one of the world's great landmarks, was originally designed to stand up straight. In 1773, it began to lean shortly after the onset of construction due to a poorly laid foundation. The word Pisa “, I've heard, actually means "marshy land." This might explain why history's most famous church bell tower started going off-kilter before it was even completed. Several years ago it looked like the Tower of Pisa was headed for toppling. Moving one-twentieth of an inch each year, it eventually ended up 17 feet out of plumb. Alarmed architects and engineers puzzled over it, and in 1990, created a plan to remove 38 cubic meters of soil from underneath to straighten the tower by 18 inches. Now, they say, it is stable for another 300 years.
Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that the leaning Tower of Pisa is not the most tilted tower in the world. In November 2007, the honor was given to the leaning tower of Suurhusen in Germany. Though not as beautiful or old as her sister in Pisa, the 15th century Suurhusen bell tower is the greatest leaner on earth. You don't have to be pretty to be crooked. Once again, the sway from vertical is due to marshy soil and a faulty foundation. These twin towers teach us an important lesson. If you want to stand straight, you need to have a firm foundation. Parents, if you want to grow good adults, start your children when they're young. This is the most important task for mothers and fathers. Teach your children the depths of truth, character, integrity and faith. And most importantly, teach them about God. When they are older, they will display it.
Engaged couples can build a great marriage by building on the firm foundation of selfless love, faith and trust. Marriages built on shallow soil seldom last. A life, built on the rock solid foundation of God, faith and the Bible, will stand straight and strong through all the storms of life. If you've started off wrong, and find yourself leaning, there's still hope but it always goes back to the foundational issues.
Blessings
The Leaning Towers … The Tower of Pisa, one of the world's great landmarks, was originally designed to stand up straight. In 1773, it began to lean shortly after the onset of construction due to a poorly laid foundation. The word Pisa “, I've heard, actually means "marshy land." This might explain why history's most famous church bell tower started going off-kilter before it was even completed. Several years ago it looked like the Tower of Pisa was headed for toppling. Moving one-twentieth of an inch each year, it eventually ended up 17 feet out of plumb. Alarmed architects and engineers puzzled over it, and in 1990, created a plan to remove 38 cubic meters of soil from underneath to straighten the tower by 18 inches. Now, they say, it is stable for another 300 years.
Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that the leaning Tower of Pisa is not the most tilted tower in the world. In November 2007, the honor was given to the leaning tower of Suurhusen in Germany. Though not as beautiful or old as her sister in Pisa, the 15th century Suurhusen bell tower is the greatest leaner on earth. You don't have to be pretty to be crooked. Once again, the sway from vertical is due to marshy soil and a faulty foundation. These twin towers teach us an important lesson. If you want to stand straight, you need to have a firm foundation. Parents, if you want to grow good adults, start your children when they're young. This is the most important task for mothers and fathers. Teach your children the depths of truth, character, integrity and faith. And most importantly, teach them about God. When they are older, they will display it.
Engaged couples can build a great marriage by building on the firm foundation of selfless love, faith and trust. Marriages built on shallow soil seldom last. A life, built on the rock solid foundation of God, faith and the Bible, will stand straight and strong through all the storms of life. If you've started off wrong, and find yourself leaning, there's still hope but it always goes back to the foundational issues.
Blessings
Book Recommendation: A Call to Joy
"Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism is not a religion of sin and punishment, rules and regulations, but a religion of growth, fulfillment, love and joy."
-- Matthew Kelly - A Call to Joy, p 43.
This is a great book. DynamicCatholic.com
-- Matthew Kelly - A Call to Joy, p 43.This is a great book. DynamicCatholic.com
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The Cost of Making a Difference
Deacon Ken, of my parish, posts an article in the parish bulletin each week, and if you have read my emails, you will note that I have forwarded many of them. Well, he did it again. Here is a good one:
This article hit home. I see so many people, most of them young, who just seem to be coasting along, like a dead fish in the water. I worked all during high school and college. In fact, my first jobs in seventh and eighth grades were at a neighborhood youth center where I “manned” the coat room for the other kids who were there after school until their parents came home from work. I then swept the activity rooms and halls and stairways. During the summer I helped the adults with the children on the summertime day trips – all for five dollars a week.
I did this not only to supplement the family income and have some pocket money, but to save money to buy a car. I had to have a car to drive my dates around. I have to wonder where is the enthusiasm and motivation of today’s youth? Mostly, I see the girls driving the guys around, probably in her father’s car.
Happily, I have a neighborhood kid who is always coming by asking to cut my grass, snow-blow my driveway, or some other odd jobs. He has bought himself a cool bike, neat shoes, and buys his brother and friends treats, like McDonald’s.
I know the physics; all objects want to remain at rest unless another force moves them. We get into a comfort zone, we like familiar things, watch the same TV programs, drive the same way to and from work every day. I think the trick is to break those patterns. We need to get used to change, so we don’t get traumatized when new challenges arise.
I’d like to share two things that have to help me along. My friend Pat told me about a dream board (I think that is what she called it) – to post a picture of something you would like on your refrigerator. This will remind you of your goal several times a day. Perhaps a picture of a car or a new sofa, perhaps a picture of a thin person to lose weight, or a cigar with a circle and line through it to stop smoking.
The other is what I call “Page for the Day.” The night before I will write down what I need to address the next day. It is funny how easily we can forget the things we need to address. Then there is what I call “One Thing.” I ask myself what is the one thing I can do that day to address some problem or get something accomplished that day? Even if it is something small – it provides a sense of accomplishment and progress.
I hope Deacon Ken’s article and my random thoughts are helpful to you.
THE COST OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE ...
Don't pray that God will make your life easy – instead, pray that he will make it worthwhile. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. There is a price tag for any measure of accomplishment. I have never met a successful person who coasted to their desired destination. You can't win if you merely float. The only fish in the river that float along are the dead ones.
Some folks think that if they just sit around in their Lazy-Boy recliners long enough, success will come knocking on the door thinking, "Someday my ship will come in." Perhaps you have great ideas swirling around in your mind. You have great visions, dreams and intentions; however, if you don't do something about it, you're just daydreaming. You're acting like a dead fish. If you wish to go the distance, and make your dreams happen, you must pay the price. There is always [a] price tag for achievement. What is the price?
1. Hard work. People who [win] in life generally work harder than those who don't. Those who squeaked by fulfilling minimum requirements will never rise to the top. "Success," said Thomas Edison" is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration."
2. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. When a job gets hard and problems pile high, we are all tempted to quit. The difference between those who make it and those who don't is whether or not they cave into that temptation. Instead of giving up, give it your all.
3. Misunderstanding. Anybody who rises above the ordinary will be misunderstood. Critics come out of the woodwork when someone begins to accomplish something new and worthwhile. People often question the actions, motives and even integrity of the brave soul who dares to make a difference. Consider the whale. When he rises to the surface and spouts, he gets harpooned. There is definitely a price to pay, but it's worth the cost. Wouldn't you rather go out in a blaze of glory then die of dry rot?
This article hit home. I see so many people, most of them young, who just seem to be coasting along, like a dead fish in the water. I worked all during high school and college. In fact, my first jobs in seventh and eighth grades were at a neighborhood youth center where I “manned” the coat room for the other kids who were there after school until their parents came home from work. I then swept the activity rooms and halls and stairways. During the summer I helped the adults with the children on the summertime day trips – all for five dollars a week.
I did this not only to supplement the family income and have some pocket money, but to save money to buy a car. I had to have a car to drive my dates around. I have to wonder where is the enthusiasm and motivation of today’s youth? Mostly, I see the girls driving the guys around, probably in her father’s car.
Happily, I have a neighborhood kid who is always coming by asking to cut my grass, snow-blow my driveway, or some other odd jobs. He has bought himself a cool bike, neat shoes, and buys his brother and friends treats, like McDonald’s.
I know the physics; all objects want to remain at rest unless another force moves them. We get into a comfort zone, we like familiar things, watch the same TV programs, drive the same way to and from work every day. I think the trick is to break those patterns. We need to get used to change, so we don’t get traumatized when new challenges arise.
I’d like to share two things that have to help me along. My friend Pat told me about a dream board (I think that is what she called it) – to post a picture of something you would like on your refrigerator. This will remind you of your goal several times a day. Perhaps a picture of a car or a new sofa, perhaps a picture of a thin person to lose weight, or a cigar with a circle and line through it to stop smoking.
The other is what I call “Page for the Day.” The night before I will write down what I need to address the next day. It is funny how easily we can forget the things we need to address. Then there is what I call “One Thing.” I ask myself what is the one thing I can do that day to address some problem or get something accomplished that day? Even if it is something small – it provides a sense of accomplishment and progress.
I hope Deacon Ken’s article and my random thoughts are helpful to you.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Fortnight for Freedom - 2014
I’m late on this. June 21st began the 3rd
Fortnight for Freedom initiative. Not sure how I missed it. Perhaps it was not
publicized enough. Did you hear of it in church, was it in your bulletin?
Our religious liberties are in danger of being taken away.
This is real. We need to pray, to know the issues and be actively involved.
This is of great concern for me. As a student of history, I've learned how easy
it is for a state to take away one’s freedoms and liberty; Nazi Germany is the
prominent example. Think of Poland and the other Eastern European countries
under communist rule. Please don’t be like an ostrich with your head in the
sand, or next you may find yourself attending Mass in someone’s basement.
By the way, if you didn't hear of this in your parish, or
the diocese made no efforts to bring this to you, you may want to ask your
pastor, or even write the bishop and ask them why not.
Peace and all Good!
Please see the article in the National Catholic Register here.
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