Is Church Attendance Important?

A pastor heard that one of his parishioners was going about announcing to one and all that he would no longer attend church services. 

This rebellious parishioner was advancing the familiar argument that he could communicate with God just as easily out in the fields with nature as his setting for worship. 

One winter evening, the pastor called on this reluctant member of his flock for a friendly visit. The two men sat before the fireplace making small talk, but studiously avoiding the issue of church attendance. After a while, the pastor took the tongs from the rack next to the fireplace and pulled a single coal from the fire. He placed the glowing ember on the hearth. As the two watched in silence, the coal quickly ceased burning and turned an ashen gray, while the other coals in the fire continued to burn brightly. 

The pastor's silent message was not lost on the parishioner. After a long pause, he turned to the pastor and said "I'll be back at services next Sunday." 

From "The Sower's Seeds" by Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R​

Let Go

 You have to let go at some 

point in order to move forward.

~ C. S. Lewis​

4th Sunday of Easter

Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter usually called Good Shepherd Sunday because the gospel for this Sunday always focuses on Jesus as a shepherd. It also is the 60th World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Jesus established the mission of the Church when he commanded the Apostles to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). With St. Peter as their spokesman, the Apostles followed Jesus’ instructions as our first and second readings today emphasize. St Peter has a clear message for us “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”

By our baptism and confirmation each one of us, in fact every Christian, is called to witness to the truth and proclaim the good news of the Gospel. Every Christian is called to put Jesus Christ at the center of their life. And every Christian has a responsibility to nurture and encourage vocations in the young men and women who may wish to dedicate themselves to full-time service bringing about the Kingdom of Heaven. We need good shepherds.

In his Epistle to the Colossians 3:12-17, St. Paul gives us our Christian vocation description. “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these, put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Sisters and brothers, we should demonstrate these virtues in every facet of our lives; in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our parish and in our work places. Living this way assures that we will “have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Loving God, 

you speak to us and nourish us 

through the life of this Church community.

In the name of Jesus, 

we ask you to send your Spirit to us 

so that men and women among us, young and old, 

will respond to your call to service and leadership in the Church. 

We pray especially, in our day, 

for those who hear your invitation to be a priest, sister, or brother.

May those who are opening their hearts and minds to your call

 be encouraged and strengthened

through our enthusiasm in your service.

Amen.

Building Bridges

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you! Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge! A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you!" said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have so many more bridges to build."

Doing Things We Don't Want To

Doing things we don't want to do, or that scare us, creates flow in our lives and allows us to grow.

Most of us have had the experience of tackling some dreaded task only to come out the other side feeling invigorated, filled with a new sense of confidence and strength. The funny thing is, most of the time when we do them, we come out on the other side changed and often wondering what we were so worried about or why it took us so long. We may even begin to look for other tasks we've been avoiding so that we can feel that same heady mix of excitement and completion.

Whether we avoid something because it scares us or bores us, or because we think it will force a change we're not ready for, putting it off only creates obstacles for us. On the other hand, facing the task at hand, no matter how onerous, creates flow in our lives and allows us to grow. The relief is palpable when we stand on the other side knowing that we did something even though it was hard or we didn't want to do it. On the other hand, when we cling to our comfort zone, never addressing the things we don't want to face, we cut ourselves off from flow and growth.

We all have at least one thing in our life that never seems to get done. Bringing that task to the top of the list and promising ourselves that we will do it as soon as possible is an act that could liberate a tremendous amount of energy in our lives. Whatever it is, we can allow ourselves to be fueled by the promise of the feelings of exhilaration and confidence that will be the natural result of doing it.​ 

Thomas Merton: Resurrection

“So Profound is the meaning of the Resurrection that everything, even the purest negation, that is touched by its light, acquires something of a positive orientation. Even darkness, even evil, even death, even sin: all of them seen by the light of the sacramental fire (of the Easter Vigil), become capable of helping the work of God.”

Thomas Merton, The New Man, The Noonday Press, New York, 1961 pp.244-255

3rd Sunday of Easter

St. Luke's story about two disciples and their encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus has to be one of the most heartwarming and hopeful accounts in all scripture. The two disciples, Cleopas and a companion, turned their backs on Jerusalem that monumental first day of the week and walked seven miles to Emmaus debriefing each other as they went along. They were downcast, disappointed, full of sorrow, and probably very confused. Even though some women in their group and a few of the disciples had visited the tomb and returned with stories about a missing body and a vision of angels "who announced that he was alive", no one had actually seen Jesus.

The hopeful part of the story is that Jesus sought them out. He joined them on their journey and he walked with them all the way to Emmaus. He interpreted scripture for them. And when they invited him to stay with them, he accepted their invitation and shared a meal with them. It was only after he blessed the bread and broke it that they recognized him. Then he disappeared. They returned to Jerusalem immediately to rejoin their community and share their good news with the other disciples.

There are many lessons for us in this story. The most important lesson is that Jesus is always with us. Jesus seeks us even when we try to run away. He is with us in good times and bad times. He is with us on our important, life-changing journeys and our everyday activities. We may not recognize him, but he is here. Jesus speaks to us through scripture and in prayer. Jesus is present when we gather as a congregation in worship, which is why we are called the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist both through the priest in the act of consecration and in the bread and wine we eat and drink. We believe that the consecrated host really becomes the Body of Christ and the blessed wine really becomes the Blood of Christ. The risen Christ is very real and present here in Peachtree City, Georgia. Having received Jesus through worship, word, and Eucharist it is our responsibility to carry Him out into the world we live in, sharing the good news.

God our Father,

our road in life is often tiresome

for it is the road of pilgrims.

Give us Jesus your Son

as our companion who journeys with us

and who warms our hearts with love and joy.

Let him keep breaking for us

the bread of himself that gives us courage.

Open our eyes to recognize him

in our downhearted and suffering brothers and sisters,

that they may see in us

something of our faith that our Lord is risen

and that he lives for ever and ever.

Amen.

Class Assignment that Lasted a Lifetime

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in their paper.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "Yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot." After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it." All of Mark's former class mates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home." Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album." "I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary." Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times, " Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

~ From “The Inspiration List”

Perfectly Imperfect

Love must be learned, and learned again and again; there is no end to it. Hate needs no instruction, but only waits to be provoked. ~ Katherine Anne Porter

We often enter into our relationships believing there is one perfect way to act, and if we can only find that way, we'll be successful, accepted. But there is no such thing as one best way to be with another person. The wonder of any relationship is that it involves two imperfect people.

Believing that perfection will ensure love is addictive thinking. Love is a gift that must be given freely, there is nothing we can do to control someone else's choice to love us or not love us. All we can do is our part by learning each day to love as best we can. It may be difficult to find within ourselves such qualities as emotional maturity, separateness, honesty, forgiveness, patience, and self-respect. But those are the very qualities we must cultivate to love someone else.

It can be frightening to trust another person enough to take risks and let go of the outcome. But love is a risk that's worth it.

I am learning that I don't need to be perfect to be accepted and loved by others. I'm also learning that I don't need to expect perfection from others to love and accept them.

~ From “Answers in the Heart” by Anonymous

In God's Care

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are." ~ George Bernard Shaw

It's easy to let circumstances determine how we think and behave. While it's true that some events seem devastating, our relationship with a Higher Power can help us accept and even grow from experiences that seem impossible to cope with.

We all have known men and women who've handled grave upsets far more easily than we have. How did they do it? They have no magic. Rather, they may be more comfortable letting their Higher Power help them accept and understand unfortunate circumstances. Once we accept our anger or disappointment, we're free to move on to better feelings. We begin to realize we have choices in how we look at problems.

We are never given more than we can handle. We can develop acceptance of any circumstances, but our success in doing so comes mainly through our reliance on God to show us the way.

God will help me handle the uncontrollable events of today. Through acceptance, I can change my feelings at any moment even right now​.

Divine Mercy Sunday

The Second Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday. It was on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 30, 2000, that Pope John Paul II canonized Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska and declared that the Second Sunday of Easter, “from now on throughout the Church, will be called 'Divine Mercy Sunday'.” Pope John Paul II died on the Vigil of the Feast of Divine Mercy, April 2, 2005. His last message to us was read after his death on the Feast of the Divine Mercy, “As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!” This message of Divine Mercy was a consistent theme throughout the pontificate of John Paul II.

The message of Divine Mercy should be a great consolation to all of us. God revealed His overwhelming mercy and love for us in the Resurrection of his Son, Jesus. As St. Peter tells us in today’s second reading. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (1 Peter 1: 3 – 4).

This special feast reminds us to trust in God’s merciful love constantly. In the midst of our dark moments, in the midst of our doubts and fears, the mercy and love of God is there for us. God’s merciful love is faithful and enduring. None of us can actually see love or touch love but we all can feel the power of love in our lives. God our Father revealed His love for us through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus. God poured out His love on us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. God bestows His love on us through the sacraments. When we experience the total forgiveness of our sins through the sacrament of reconciliation and when we receive the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist our doubts and fears, our hurts and sorrows are transformed into healing and peace that we can extend to others. In this way we can transform our world.

God, merciful Father,

in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love

and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter,

We entrust to you today the destiny of the world 

and of every man and woman.

Bend down to us sinners,

heal our weakness,

conquer all evil,

and grant that all the peoples of the earth

may experience your mercy.

In You, the Triune God,

may they ever find the source of hope.

Eternal Father,

by the Passion and Resurrection of your Son,

have mercy on us and upon the whole world!

Pope John Paul II

It is Not Easy

 

Paying Attention to Others

When we hold a piece of crystal to the light, it paints rainbows on the wall. When we tap it lightly with a spoon, it sings like a bell. But when we drop it, it shatters in colorless, silent pieces on the floor.

Human beings, sometimes to our amazement, can be as fragile as glass. It's especially easy to forget what makes people we live with or have known for a long time shine or sing. We take for granted the very qualities that made us love them in the first place.

When we forget how to see and hear the people we love, how to appreciate them, we grow careless. Too often, from sheer neglect, the relationship between us grows dull and silent, then slips, falls, and shatters. Paying attention to other people's needs and feelings can prevent this.

Whose presence can I appreciate today?

Easter Sunday

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus has risen! Alleluia!

Back in the 4th Century AD St Augustine wrote a beautiful discourse on the psalms. For Psalm 148 subtitled All Creation Summoned to Praise he wrote “we are given two liturgical seasons, one before Easter and the other after. …What we commemorate before Easter is what we experience in this life; what we celebrate after Easter is something we do not yet possess. This is why we keep the first season with fasting and prayer; but now the fast is over and we devote the present season to praise. Such is the meaning of the Alleluia we sing. “

It is very easy for us to get stuck in the before Easter mindset that St Augustine wrote about so long ago. All we have to do is turn on the television or read the newspaper. Bad news makes for exciting media. But we are not bad news people. We are good news people. And the good news is that three days after he was crucified, died and was buried, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, was raised from the dead. ALLELUIA! And, St Paul tells us, “We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life” (Romans 6: 4). ALLELUIA!

Given this extraordinary historical event we all should be out in the streets shouting “Alleluia, Alleluia, Jesus has risen from the dead.” There is more, St Augustine tells each one of us to make sure that “your praise comes from your whole being in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions.” Sixteen centuries later, Saint Pope John Paul II said “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus has risen! Alleluia!

Heavenly Father and God of mercy,

We no longer look for Jesus among the dead,

For he is alive and has become the Lord of life.

From the waters of death, you raise us with him

And renew your gift of life within us.

Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ,

And help us to grow as your people

Toward the fullness of eternal life with you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

But Still He Walked

He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"

He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... his heart was broken,
But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger...his heart broke,
But still He walked.

Was he scared?
You and I would have been
So his humanness would have mandated that he was. He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
And he knew that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew
That because of him, they would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through
The crowd. The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet
Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his
Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",
And God's heart broke.
He had let his son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead he asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,
I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
I remember his walk.
When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,
I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
And I walk.

Parable of the Black Belt

A parable tells about a martial artist who kneels before a master sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

"Before granting the belt, you must pass one more test," the sensei solemnly tells the young man.

"I'm ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of sparring.

"You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

"Why, the end of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved reward for my hard work."

The master waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The sensei finally speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."

As the student kneels before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

"It is a symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art." the young man responds.

Again the master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."

A year later the student kneels before his sensei and hears the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

This time he answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever higher standard."

"Yes," says the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and begin your work."

You may not be hoping for a Black Belt, but you might be at a crucial point. Maybe you're facing a life change, perhaps even a painful one. Or maybe you are awaiting something you have worked hard to attain - graduation, a new job, a promotion, or even retirement.

All wise people see that changes can be new beginnings. Change need not be feared. And neither should we be looking for a permanent resting place, for a full and happy life is never stagnant.

Does the change you face represent, not just an ending, but a new beginning in your life's journey? If so, you may be ready to move forward.

Choose Your Outlook

Unlike some things in life, we can choose our outlook. Sometimes we just need a reminder that happiness can often simply be a result of choosing attitudes:

"I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

"Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

"Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

"Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

"Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

"Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

"Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

"Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

"Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

"Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because God has provided shelter for my mind, body, and soul.

"Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me.

"I get to choose what kind of day I will have!"

Am I a Polar Bear?

A young polar bear cub approached his mother one day and asked, "Mom, am I a polar bear?"

"Of course you are," she replied with a smile.

"OK," said the cub, and padded off.

Later, he found his dad out by the iceberg. "Dad, am I a polar bear?" "Sure you are, son!" said his dad, wondering a bit at why his son would ask such a silly thing.

The next day, the cub asked the question again and again. "Are you and mom polar bears? You are? Well, then, does that make me a polar bear? Pure, 100% polar bear?"

Finally, his parents couldn't stand it any longer. "Son, you're driving us crazy with this question! You are a polar bear! Why do you keep asking? The cub looked up and confessed, "Cause I'm FREEZING!"

And then there's me. Sometimes I go to my Father, and I say, "Am I really your child? Are you really my Father? Because sometimes I doubt, and other times, I don't act much like you. And I'm not sure if I'm the kind of person you would want to call your child. And sometimes things don't go well for me, and I have pain and anger and is that ok for one of your children?" And then, though I can't see it, I can feel it -- the warm hug, the reassuring smile, the affirmation of son-ship. I don't have to be perfect, I'm not expected to never feel pain or worry or care. But I'm expected to know whose I am, and that I belong. And that for whatever extravagant, outrageous reason, I've been loved and adopted by the One True God.

Even polar bears get cold. And even Christians, the adopted children of God, fail and fear and falter. But we are still His.

Praise God!

Saying a Prayer

There is a story about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands.

One day, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out to sea, because the day was fine and the sea calm.

However, they weren’t long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.

But he replied, “I say my prayers when it’s calm. When it’s rough, I attend to my ship.”​

May You