Dear God, I Believe!

Dear God, 

I know that the first step in all spiritual healing is to believe. I believe! I open my mind and heart believing in your infinite power and possibility. I believe that healing is a dynamic and reachable experience, a reality that can be experienced right now. I maintain a patient and loving attitude, for I believe that your healing activity is now at work in my mind and body. I look forward, with joyful expectation, to the perfect wholeness that you are now bringing into manifestation through me. I believe in your constant expression of perfect good in and through me. I rest in the certainty of your healing power. I know that with you all things are possible.

In Your Holy Name, 

Amen

Advent is Near

As I look out the window I see the trees. Their trunks, limbs and branches are bare. They look really beautiful against the clear sky, so different from when they are hidden by all the leaves.

At the end of November, we remember our dead, particularly those who died in the past year. And I think that one day I will appear before the Lord with all my leaves gone, all those things that hide me from myself and from others. Just the bare me. I hope the Lord will see some beauty in me also.

This thought reminds me to repent and prepare for that meeting.

That's one of the things Advent is for. The Holy Season of Advent is very near and Advent ends with our commemoration of the birth of our beloved Savior. That's where my hope is, in his coming. I trust that's where your hope is also.​

1st Sunday of Advent

Today we begin the season of Advent; the beginning of a new liturgical year. Advent means coming and the early Christians used the term to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. Advent is a time for us to reflect on the actual birth of Christ more than 2000 years ago and to prepare ourselves for the time when our Lord will come again in glory. For most of us, Advent is a time of preparedness but not in the manner our early Christian ancestors envisioned. Many of us see Advent as the four weeks we have to pull everything together for our Christmas celebrations. It is the time for shopping, baking, decorating, partying, sending cards and working ourselves into a total frenzy. It is easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we loose sight of the sacred significance of this time. Don't worry about the parties, the cards, the presents or Christmas dinner. Rather, focus on what is important, getting ourselves ready for that time when "the Son of Man will come” (Matt. 24: 44).

All three of our readings today provide us with suggestions about how we can prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. In a vision, Isaiah sees people streaming to “the mountain of the Lord’s house” so that God can instruct them in His ways and they can “walk in the light of the Lord”! St. Paul reminds the Christians of Rome and us that we are to “throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,” and that we must “conduct ourselves properly as in the day.” And in our Gospel from Matthew 24: 37-44, Jesus, himself, tells us to “stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”

Lord, mighty God, once, long ago, 

your Son Jesus Christ came as God with a human face. 

And yet, we are still waiting in hope for his full coming today. 

Make us more aware that you too are waiting for us 

to create with you the peace and the freedom, 

the love, justice, and light 

that bear witness before all that your Son is here and is alive 

and that one day he will take us into the lasting light 

of your home for ever and ever.

Amen.

We Thank Thee!

For flowers that bloom about our feet,

Father, we thank Thee.

For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,

Father, we thank Thee.

For the song of bird and hum of bee,

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,

Father, we thank Thee.

For pleasant shade of branches high,

Father, we thank Thee.

For fragrant air and cooling breeze,

For beauty of the blooming trees,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,

Father, we thank Thee.

For rest and shelter of the night,

Father, we thank Thee

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God."

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

May God Bless You on This Thanksgiving Day!

Pie

A Jesuit and a Franciscan sat down to dinner, and pie was served for dessert. There were two pieces of pie, one cut smaller than the other. The Jesuit reached over and took the larger piece for himself. The Franciscan remonstrated, "St. Francis always taught us to take the smaller piece." So the Jesuit replied, "And so you have it!"

Bill

A man suffered a serious heart attack and had open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital .

As he was recovering, a nun asked him questions regarding how he was going to pay for his treatment. She asked, “Do you have health insurance?”

He replied in a raspy voice, “No health insurance.”

The nun asked, “Do you have money in the bank?”

He replied, “No money in the bank.”

The nun asked, “Do you have a relative who could help you?”

He said, “I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun.”

The nun became agitated and announced loudly, “Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God.”

The patient replied, “Send the bill to my brother-in-law.”

It's Not About You

The Purpose Driven Life has sold millions of copies, and transformed millions of people and churches across the world. Instinctively, most people want to know: What is my purpose? How can I be more fulfilled?

What a shock to open this best-selling book and read the first sentence: “It’s not about you!”

And it’s not about you. Though Jesus is intently interested in you, and loves you more than can be described, he is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and is worthy of our worship.

We have been created to worship him, not the other way around.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Given all the war, famine, drought and persecution going on in the world today have you ever wondered where God is in the midst of it all? Do you question God about suffering and injustice? The children of Israel did throughout their forty-year sojourn through the desert, King David did in the Psalms, the prophets Job, Isaiah, Jerimiah, Micah and Habakkuk did as well. There is a long history of people questioning God in the midst of suffering. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “The world we live in often seems very far from the one promised us by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering, injustice, and death, seem to contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith and become a temptation against it” (CCC 164)

According to the Catechism, rather than become overwhelmed by the seemingly hopelessness of it all, we “must turn to the witnesses of faith: to Abraham who ‘in hope …believed against hope.’ to the Virgin Mary, who in ‘her pilgrimage of faith,’ walked into the ‘night of faith’ in sharing the darkness of her son’s suffering and death; and to so many others …”(CCC 165). Our greatest “witness of faith” is Jesus Christ who by his own very human suffering gave us “redemption. The forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:14).

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King. It is fitting that our Gospel for the day does not present us with a triumphant King. Rather we are confronted with the image of Jesus hanging on the cross jeered and mocked by the crowd and by a criminal who was crucified with him. This is not the portrait of a regal leader. It is the portrait of a suffering human being. Christ our Universal King is our king because he was willing to suffer as we do. He joined us in death so that we could join him in Paradise.

In today’s second reading St Paul reminded the Colossians and he reminds us that, “He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col 1:18–20).

This brings me back to the question “where is God”? The suffering Jesus hanging on the cross is right here with the suffering people of the world suffering with them. The loving and compassionate God also is here working through people who are helping their neighbours who may be in need. The merciful God is in all of us from every corner of the world as we respond generously to the needs of our brothers and sisters. As long as there are people who respond to others with justice, compassion, mercy and love Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Universal King is with us welcoming us into his Kingdom just as he welcomed the second criminal crucified with him, the first citizen of Christ’s Kingdom.

You have rescued us, O God,

from the powers of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of your beloved Son,

that we might share the justice and love of Christ's reign.

Grant that we may walk in the footsteps of Jesus,

the path of obedient faith and self-sacrificing love,

laying down our lives, as he did,

for our brothers and sisters,

in the sure and certain hope

that Jesus will remember us

when he comes into his kingdom

and share with us the glory of Paradise.

We ask this through the Christ

who was, who is and who is to come,

your Son who lives with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s readings from Malachi 3:19-20a and Luke 21: 5 – 19 present apocalyptic images of blazing fires, “wars and insurrections …. awesome sights and mighty signs,” suffering and persecution. While these images may seem extreme to us sitting here in Peachtree City, it occurred to me as I read that I could be reading the Atlanta Journal and Constitution or watching the evening news on television. The media inundates us with vivid pictures of war, earthquakes, famines, plagues and mysterious signs in the sky every day. And while it is not likely that we Christians in Peachtree City will suffer persecution, more than 310 million Christians in many parts of the world are suffering persecution for their faith, today – now! Christians in North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libia and Sudan top a list of 50 countries where people suffer for their faith (Open Doors International World Watch List 2025 ).

The difference between what we read in the AJC or watch on the evening news and what Jesus describes in Luke 21 is a message of hope and a call for perseverance. Jesus told his disciples and he tells us not to be deceived and not to be terrified. Yes, terrible things happen. We can expect to experience natural disasters and tragedies invoked by humans. What Jesus offers us is the courage to face disasters and tragedy. He says, "When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand" (Luke 21: 28).

These are not easy times. It could be easy for us to become complacent and absorbed with our own daily lives. But as citizens of the kingdom of God, we know that we must "Be vigilant at all times and pray... [for] the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21: 36).

O God, the beginning and the end of all things,

you fashion all humanity

into a living temple for your Son.

Through all of this life’s changes,

its joys and its sorrows,

may we hold fast the hope of your kingdom,

certain that by our patient endurance

we will come to possess eternal life.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN.

A Hermit's Prayer

 I Pray…

That I may depend on You and myself;
That You, Jesus and Your Spirit will fill my emptiness;
That I will ask You for help;
That You will give me a sense of well being;
That You will fill my loneliness;
That I will yearn only for You;
That Your Blessed Sacrament will give me dignity;
That I will solve my own problems with Your guidance;
That I will face myself;
That I will face the responsibilities of life;
That I will face my commitments;
That I will face life's tensions one day at a time;
That I will face myself;
That I will find my security in Your mercy;
That I will know that I am not alone, that You are with me as You said;
That I will turn myself over to Your care and protection;
That I will be available to myself;
That I will recognize my delusions and other's illusions;
That I will intimate with myself;
That I will ask for faith;
That I will know You are with me;
That will know that You will make up for my inadequacies;
That I will understand that I am worth your Son's life;
That I will know I am in Your arms and You will never let me go!

~ Sr. Emmanuel Bryant

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Every year on November 9, the Church celebrates the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran. The Catholic Church has observed this feast since the 12th Century. The Lateran Basilica is the mother church of all Christians. It has been a place of worship since the 4th century. The building was a gift from the Emperor Constantine probably to Pope Miltiades who hosted a synod of bishops there in 313. Pope Sylvester I celebrated the official dedication of the Basilica in 324 AD when he installed the Papal Throne making it the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. It was home to the Popes for over a thousand years.

The Lateran Basilica is a symbol of the endurance of the Catholic Church in the world. It survived an attack by the Vandals, an earthquake and two major fires. Rebuilt after each calamity, it stands today, a magnificent tribute to our Catholic heritage. However, as St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading from 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, we “are God’s building.” We are the church, the body of Christ. And like any good building, we must have a strong foundation. As St. Paul tells us, “Each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.”

When we observe the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, we celebrate our efforts and the efforts of the whole Church to make the Kingdom of Heaven a real presence in our world. Our Parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, here in Peachtree City, Georgia is part of this one Church. We share in the mission of our mother church to bear witness to the risen Christ.

Father,

You called your people to be your Church.

As we gather together in your name,

May we love, honor and follow you

To eternal life in the kingdom you promise.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

One God, forever and ever.

AMEN

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

No age of the Catholic Church's history is without its share of confusion and corruption. Still, even in moments when disorder may seem overwhelming, individuals and movements eventually arise to propose the faith with clarity and demonstrate it in action. St. Charles Borromeo, a central figure in the Council of Trent, is remembered on November 4, as a model of such leadership in difficult times.

The circumstances of Charles' birth, in 1538, could have easily allowed him to join the ranks of corrupt Renaissance-era clergy. He was born into luxury, the son of noble parents, with a guaranteed income comparable to modern “trust funds.” Early on, however, the young man signaled his intention to go against the cultural grain. He announced his desire to serve the Church with sincerity, asking his father to give away the majority of the fund's money to the poor.

Charles could not escape a certain degree of wealth and prestige, which were expected due to his social class, but he insisted on using these forms of leverage to benefit the Church, rather than himself. When he was 22, his opportunity came: the young lawyer and canonist's uncle was elected as Pope Pius IV. Charles soon assumed staggering responsibilities, serving as a papal diplomat and supervisor of major religious orders.

The young man relaxed from these tasks through literature and music, taking no interest in the temptations abounding in Rome during the late Renaissance. He considered renouncing even this temperate lifestyle, for the strict observance of a monastery-- but found himself more urgently needed in the work of concluding the Council of Trent.

The Church's nineteenth Ecumenical Council had begun in late 1545, but experienced many delays. Its twofold mission was to clarify Catholic doctrine against Protestant objections, and reform the Church internally against many longstanding problems. As a papal representative, Charles participated in the council's conclusion in 1563, when he was only 25. He also played a leading role in assembling its comprehensive summary, the Roman Catechism (or Catechism of the Council of Trent).

In reward for his labors, Charles received even greater responsibilities. Ordained a priest during the Council, he was named as archbishop and cardinal only months later. He found his diocese of Milan in a state of disintegration, after two generations of virtually no local administration or leadership. The new bishop got straight to work establishing schools, seminaries, and centers for religious life.

His reforms of the diocese, in accordance with the decrees of the council, were dramatic and effective, so much so that a group of disgruntled monks attempted to kill him. His survival was called miraculous.

The new archbishop's efforts for catechesis and the instruction of youth were especially fruitful, initiating the work of the Confraternity for Christian Doctrine and the first “Sunday School” classes. He also gave important pastoral attention to English Catholics who fled to Italy to escape new laws against the Catholic faith.

St. Charles Borromeo's amazing diligence, frequent travel and ascetic living eventually took their toll. The once young prodigy of the Papal Court also died young at the age of 46 on November 3, 1584. He was canonized 26 years later, in 1610.

He is the patron of catechists and catechumens.

All Souls Day

Pope Benedict XVI, wrote: “I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory, then we would have to invent it, for who would dare to say of him/herself that he or she was able to stand directly before God”. He goes on to say that purgatory means God can put the pieces back together again that we presumably have broken off by our sins.

This is the feast we celebrate today, a remembrance of friends and loved ones who have passed away. This day follows All Saints Day in order to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. This feast reminds us of our obligation to live holy lives; to live the way God has told us to live in the Scriptures.

Let us pause for a time today and remember all of those who in the past have had a significant difference in our lives, who were good people, and ask God to receive them into his Kingdom.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

All Saints Day

A saint is anyone who tries to live their life according to the way of God. The Church has always honored those who die in the Lord. The history of the Church is filled with stories of these people, some remembered throughout the ages, and some forgotten and never to be remembered again. They may be people we know right now and try to imitate. Some have been canonized or recognized by the Church; others have not been recognized but tried to live as God revealed he would like them to live. We honor them all on this day.

This feast that we call All Saints Day began as a feast of All Martyrs early in the Church’s history – the 4th Century. It came to be observed later on May 13 when Pope Boniface (608-615) rebuilt as a Christian church an ancient Roman Temple called the Pantheon or Temple of All Gods. The Church re-buried many martyrs here and dedicated the Church to the Mother of God and All the Holy Martyrs on May 13, 610.

About a hundred years later, Pope Gregory III converted a new chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all Saints (not just martyrs) and set the date of the feast on November 1. The vigil of this important feast, All Saint’s Eve, Hallowee’een, was apparently celebrated as early as the feast itself.​