RETREAT NATIVITY 2 PATH Sunday Evening, Sept. 30, 2018
WELCOME SONG “COME HOLY GHOST.” PRAYER -SIGN OF CROSS - COME HOLY SPIRIT- MARY OUR MOTHER, PRAY FOR US. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE STORY ABOUT MSGR. MILLER WHEN THE ARCHBISHOP ASSIGNED HIM TO HIS FIRST PARISH. SOON AFTER HE ARRIVED IN THE PARISH YOUNG FR. MILLER MET A YOUNG BOY ON THE STREET. HE ASKED THE BOY HOW TO GET TO THE POST OFFICE. THE BOY TOLD HIM. THEN FR. JIM SAID TO THE BOY, “IF YOU COME TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY, I WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN. THE BOY SAID, “I DON'T THINK I WILL, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET TO THE POST OFFICE.
WE HAVE COME TO OUR PARISH MISSION TO BE WITH OUR GOD. THIS IS HOLY GROUND. IN THE GOSPELS JESUS WOULD OFTEN INVITE HIS CLOSE FRIENDS TO COME APART AWHILE TO BE ALONE WITH HIM. WE HAVE HEARD HIS CALL TO US TO COME WITH HIM ON THIS MISSION. WE SAY “YES” AND WE COME JUST AS WE ARE. COME HOLY SPIRIT. LIKE MARY – WE SAY HERE I AM LORD. DO WITH ME AS YOU WILL. JESUS IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR OF OUR HEARTS- WE WANT TO OPEN OUR HEARTS – COME LORD JESUS COME. OUR MISSION THEME AS SELECTED BY OUR PARISH MISSION TEAM IS, “BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS WHO WANT TO TALK AND WALK WITH GOD.” ONE DAY JESUS TAUGHT US THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. THIS IS THE FOCUS FOR OUR REFLECTION THIS EVENING. JESUS SAID “GOD LOVES YOU.” THIS IS THE MAIN THING. JESUS SAID, “LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS”, THIS IS THE MAIN THING.” THIS IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. MANY THINGS CAN COME UP IN OUR LIVES WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER THAT MAY NOT BE THE MAIN THING – EVEN SO WE WANT THE MAIN THING. WE WANT TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS JESUS TEACHES. JESUS SAID, “THIS IS HOW THEY WILL KNOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” WE KNOW THIS IS A PART OF THE MAIN THING. NONE OF US ARE PERFECT – WE ALL NEED TO HOLD ON TIGHT TO JESUS. WHEN WE FALL SHORT WE ASK FOR HELP AND FORGIVENESS AND TRY AGAIN. TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING.
LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY OF MY GRANDMA KATHERYN. GRANDMA KATHERYN IS A HERO TO ME. I NEVER MET HER. SHE DIED AT HOME OF COMPLICATIONS GIVING BIRTH HER LAST CHILD. GIVING BIRTH AT HOME WAS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THOSE DAYS. IN HER LAST HOURS AS SHE WAS DYING SHE CALLED EACH ONE OF HER CHILDREN TO HER BEDSIDE TO SHARE A PERSONAL WORD OF WISDOM FROM HER HEART. MY DAD WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. HE TOLD US THE STORY MANY TIMES. SHE SAID TO HIM - HEART TO HEART, “MARTIN, YOU BE A GOOD BOY. REMEMBER ALWAYS, GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH. TREAT OTHERS RIGHT, AND REMEMBER TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS.” THESE WORDS TOOK ROOT IN MY DAD'S HEART. ALL HIS LIFE, DAD WANTED TO LIVE BY THESE WORDS FROM HER HEART. HE TOLD THEM TO ME MANY TIMES. WE KNOW OUR LIFE OF FAITH IS A LOVE STORY- GOD LOVES US –WE LOVE GOD. JESUS IS THE CENTER OF OUR LOVE STORY WITH GOD WHEN OUR LIVES ON THIS EARTH END AND WE MEET GOD, THIS IS WHAT IT WILL BE ABOUT – GOD’S LOVE AND OUR LOVE. THIS IS WHAT OUR PARISH MISSION WILL BE ABOUT. IT WILL BE ABOUT GROWING IN OUR FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD. ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING FOREVER, AND HOW WILL YOU GET THERE. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR HAPPINESS WITH GOD FOREVER. WE WANT TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING.
LET ME TELL YOU TRUE LOVE STORY. (GRANDMA KLEIN STORY) WHEN I WAS FIRST ORDAINED PRIEST, I TOOK COMMUNION TO GRANDMA KLEIN. SHE WAS IN HER 90’S AT HOME IN A HOSPICE BED AS SHE HAD ONLY A FEW DAYS TO LIVE. WE BECAME FRIENDS- FAST AND OUR VISITS TOUCH MY LIFE TO THIS DAY. SHE WAS SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH GOD. SHE KNEW THAT GOD WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. SHE LONGED TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER - AND SOON. AFTER I WOULD GIVE HER JESUS IN COMMUNION WE WOULD BE STILL WITH HIM FOR A WHILE. THEN WE WOULD VISIT. I ASKED HER TO TELL ME ABOUT THE JESUS SHE LOVED SO MUCH. SHE ASKED ME TO TELL HER ABOUT JESUS TO WHOM I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO SERVE AS A PRIEST. THERE WAS AN INTIMACY AND A JOY – BEYOND WORDS. IT WAS TRULY HOLY COMMUNION - JESUS –GRANDMA KLEIN - AND ME. I HAVE ASKED GRANDMA KLEIN TO PRAY FOR US ON OUR RETREAT.
THIS TALK IS ABOUT YOUR SACRED LOVE STORY WITH GOD. GOD'S INTIMATE AND HOLY LOVE FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVE FOR GOD. YOUR PERSONAL HOLY COMMUNION OF LIFE AND LOVE, NOW AND FOREVER. WE WANT TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. AS VICAR FOR THE ARCHBISHOP HANUS, I WOULD CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION WITH TEENAGERS. SOMETIMES I BEGAN THE HOMILY BY ASKING THEM ------ WHAT'S UP? GOD LOVED US INTO BEING IN HIS OWN IMAGE HE MADE US TO HAPPY WITH HIM FOREVER. WITHOUT HIM WE ARE RESTLESS AND INCOMPLETE. HE HAS TRACED A LOVING PATH FOR US. WHEN WE SINNED HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO SAVE US. HE ADOPTED US AND GAVE US OWN DIVINE ETERNAL LIFE. HE SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DWELL WITHIN US. HE PROMISED US AN INHERITANCE OF JOY FOREVER WITH HIM.
THAT IS WHAT’S UP –GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS THE FOUNDATION AND MEANING OF LIFE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT’S UP. THEY ARE IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, LIKE BLACKIE THE PUPPY CHASING HIS TAIL I TALKED ABOUT IN OUR WEEKEND HOMILY. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MEANING AND JOY IN ALL KINDS OF FALSE GOD’S. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT’S UP – THEY ARE LOSERS. MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, ON THIS MISSION WE WANT TO REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD GOD HAS SAID AND DONE FOR YOU BECAUSE HE WANTS A PERSON-TO-PERSON LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH ME/YOU HERE AND NOW AND FOREVER FOR ETERNITY. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!
THE WORD OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE TEACHES US OF GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU. GENESIS STORY GOD CREATED US IN LOVE. GOD BREATHED HIS OWN LIFE INTO US -MADE IN HIS OWN IMAGE-ABOVE ALL OTHER CREATURES. PSALMS 8- SAYS “WHEN I BEHOLD ALL THE WONDERS OF CREATION WHO AM I THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF ME?”
VISIT TO COLORADO MOUNTAINS. “WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY MOUNTAINS? YOU ARE MORE PRECIOUS TO ME!” *YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES - AWE OF CREATION. WE ARE DESTINED TO SHARE LIFE WITH GOD AND-NOTHING ELSE WILL SATISFY US - IT IS THE WAY WE ARE MADE. THERE IS AN OLD LEGEND, A STORY THAT TRIES TO TELL THIS TRUTH. IT SAYS THAT – WHEN GOD MADE OUR IMMORTAL SPIRIT BEFORE HE INFUSED IT INTO OUR MORTAL BODIES HE KISSED IT AND DEEP INSIDE WE LONG TO RETURN TO GOD’S LOVING EMBRACE FOREVER. THIS IS WHAT GRANDMA KLEIN WANTED – ME TOO – YOU TOO.
GOD MADE US THIRSTY FOR HIM *CHILD STORY – I’M THIRSTY” GOD MADE US TO THIRST FOR HIM. MYSTERIOUSLY GOD FIRST WILLED TO THIRST FOR EACH OF US BEFORE HE CREATED US TO THIRST FOR HIM. RECALL STORY OF JESUS AND THE WOMAN AT THE WELL HER THIRST FOR WATER - HIS THIRST FOR WATER BECOMES HER THIRST FOR JESUS WHO SAYS, “I AM THE LIVING WATER* JESUS THIRST FOR HER – IS WHY HE CAME FROM HEAVEN. BUT THIS STORY IS ALSO ABOUT OUR THIRST FOR JESUS. MY THIRST, YOUR THIRST. EVERYONE IN THIS BROKEN WORLD IS THIRSTY.
JESUS ON THE CROSS SAID “I THIRST” OF COURSE HE THIRSTED FOR WATER BUT THE REASON HE WAS THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE HE THIRSTED FOR US AND OUR SALVATION. BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS – GOD THIRSTS FOR YOU.
THE BIBLE GIVES US SO MANY OTHER IMAGES OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US. ISAIAH USES THE IMAGE OF A THE LOVE OF MOTHER FOR CHILD. THE BOOK OF THE SONG OF SONGS USES YOUNG LOVERS- MANY OTHER PLACES ALSO AS BRIDE AND GROOM OUT OF LOVE - GOD PROVIDES FOR US - MOSES AND EXODUS- MANNA RETREAT HOUSE ROBIN STORY AFTER DAY OF "DISTRACTION" BY A ROBIN FEEDING ITS YOUNG - GOD SAID TO MY HEART -"DO YOU THINK THAT ROBlN LOVES ITS YOUNG MORE THAN I LOVE YOU?"
JESUS TAUGHT YOU TO CALL GOD “OUR FATHER” -”ABBA” - DADDY. WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS ALL THE QUALITIES OF BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER. JESUS DELIGHTED IN THE FATHER'S LOVE AND INVITES YOU TO DO THE SAME. “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON FOR YOU.” GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS GREATER THAN YOUR SINS. JESUS SHOWED THIS LOVE FOR US SINNERS ON THE CROSS. JESUS AND THE FATHER GIVES THEIR OWN SPIRIT OF LOVE TO DWELL IN YOU.YOU HOLD THIS TREASURE IN YOUR EARTHEN VESSEL- GOD LIVES IN YOU AND YOU LIVE IN GOD. WE KNOW JESUS CAME TO TEACH US AND SHOW US THE FATHERS LOVE AND MERCY. THE LOVE OF THE FATHER FOR US – FREE, UNCONDITIONAL, FAITHFUL LOVE. HE LOVES US WHEN WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND WHEN WE DO EVERYTHING WRONG. HE LOVES US WITH A LOVE THAT IS BEYOND WORTHINESS AND UNWORTHINESS, BEYOND GRATITUDE AND INGRATITUDE. IT IS A LOVE SO GREAT THAT EVEN IF WE TURN AWAY FROM HIM, HE WILL TRY AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BRING US BACK. GOD WILL NEVER STOP LOVING US. GOD MY FATHER WANTS TO HAVE A PERSON TO PERSON LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH ME. –HOW AWESOME IS THAT!! JESUS TEACHES US TO PRAY OUR FATHER OUR FATHER WANTS TO BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ME AND I WANT TO BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH HIM. IT IS A SACRED LOVE STORY. PLEASE FATHER, HELP ME GROW IN MY AFFECTION AND DEVOTION FOR YOU
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ORIENTATION TO REFLECTION LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE HANDOUT YOU RECEIVED WHEN YOU CAME IN. OFTEN IN THE BIBLE AND THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE RECALLED AND PRAYED OVER THE SACRED STORY OF GOD’S LOVE IN THEIR LIVES. REMEMBERING GOD’S FAVOR IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ISRAELITE AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY. WE DO THIS IN THE CHURCH TOO IN THE LITURGICAL YEAR CENTERED ON JESUS.
OUR STORY IS SACRED TOO -"GOD HAS TRACED A LOVING PATH FOR YOU” I INVITE YOU TO USE OUR HANDOUT FOR YOUR PERSONAL MISSION REFLECTION AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO TAKE SOME TIME, ALONE TIME WITH THE FATHER TO RECALL GODS' PERSONAL LOVE FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR SACRED STORY. IN A MOMENT WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR YOU TO GET STARTED TONIGHT. GO BACK IN YOU LIFE - MAYBE TO THE BEGINNING - RECALL- LOVING PEOPLE-TIMES EVENTS. PARENTS - SPOUSE -BIRTH OF A CHILD. HELP THROUGH A CRISIS - BLESSING OF HEALTH- WHATEVER. JOT DOWN A WORD - NAME - INITIAL - SYMBOL (PERSONAL). DO NOT RUSH - PAUSE - IF YOU LIKE - TO THANK GOD. BE LOVINGLY WITH GOD WHO LOVES YOU NOW AS THEN. DO NOT TRY AND FINISH DURING OUR MISSION DAYS - TAKE IT WITH YOU -FIND SOME QUIET TIME THESE DAYS AND BEYOND TO CONTINUE. RIGHT NOW LET US TAKE A BRIEF TIME OUT QUITE MOMENT FOR YOU TO GET STARTED REFLECTING ON YOUR SACRED STORY. (SILENCE)
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JESUS WHO TAUGHT US TO CALL GOD OUR FATHER. ONE DAY HE SAID THAT IN SOME WAYS OUR FAITH NEEDS TO BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN WITH THEIR FATHER. ST THERESE, THE LITTLE FLOWER WITNESSES CHILDLIKE TRUST (A FAVORITE SAINT OF POPE FRANCIS) THE PSALMS ARE FILLED WITH INSPIRATIONAL POETIC IMAGES. ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS PSALM 131. THE IMAGE OF THE PSALM IS THE SOUL BEING LIKE A CHILD WHO LETS ALL THE REST OF THE OF THE WORLD GO AND CRAWLS UP GOD’S LAP TO BE HELD BY GOD IN STILLNESS. MY SISTERS, I AM NEVER TOO OLD TO BE HELD BY GOD.
PRAYING WITH SACRED MUSIC IS ONE OF THE WAYS OF PRAYER GOD GIVES US IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT HAS PUT THIS PSALM 131 TO MUSIC AND ENTITLED IT “COME TO THE QUIET” FOR A MOMENT, I INVITE YOU TO BE STILL AND LISTEN. IN YOUR IMAGINATION CRAWL UP IN THE LAP OF GOD WHO LOVES YOU- TO BE HELD AS GOD’S BELOVED CHILD. (GOD AS BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER) WHEN THE MUSIC ENDS WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER BRIEF MOMENT FOR QUIET TIME FOR YOU TO DO NOTHING BUT BE HELD BY GOD.
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CONCLUSION AS I CONCLUDE THIS TALK I WANT TO PASS ON TO YOU AND YOUR HEART WISDOM THAT IS IN IS IN OUR BIBLE READINGS AND IN MY HEART. WISDOM SO PROFOUND, YET SO SIMPLE A BOY CAN UNDERSTAND. THIS IS WISDOM IN MY HEART CAME ALSO FROM MY FATHERS HEART. THAT CAME TO HIM FROM THE HEART OF MY DYING GRANDMOTHER THAT CAME TO HER HEART FROM THE HEART OF GOD. MY GOD AND MY MY GRANDMA KATHERINE SAY TO ME AND TO YOU. REMEMBER ALWAYS -GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH. “BE A GOOD BOY OR GIRL, FOLLOW GOD'S WAYS. TREAT OTHER PEOPLE RIGHT, REMEMBER TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS DIED HE SAID TO US. LIVE ON IN MY LOVE. WHATEVER IS HAPPENING ON OUR LIVES, IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH WE WANT TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING.
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I INVITE YOU TO COME BACK TOMORROW EVENING. OUR THEME WILL BE “HOLDING ON TIGHT TO JESUS.” SOME OF THE STORIES WILL INCLUDE: MORE STORIES ABOUT MSGR. MILLER, A STORY ABOUT A BRIDAL SHOWER FOR A BRIDE TO BE, A STORY ABOUT A DOOR THAT SWINGS BOTH WAYS, RELATING THE STORY OF THE RESCUE OF THE BOYS SOCCER TEAM FROM THE CAVE IN THAILAND AND THE STORY OF OUR RESCUE BY JESUS, A STORY ABOUT BEING FACE TO FACE IN A FIRE, A STORY ABOUT PARKING LOT CROSSES - AND MORE
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(CLOSING PRAYER AND BLESSING) AS WE GO FORTH TO GLORIFY THE LORD WITH OUR LIVES LET US PRAY TOGETHER THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US. “OUR FATHER” BLESSING
Monday night
MISSION NATIVITY Monday evening JESUS
WELCOME. SONG “COME HOLY GHOST” PRAYER -SIGN OF CROSS - COME HOLY SPIRIT- MARY OUR MOTHER, PRAY FOR US
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE STORY ABOUT MSGR. MILLER. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS PASTOR OF A CLUSTER OF RURAL PARISHES. ONE SMALL PARISH CHURCH IN URGENT NEED OF REPAIR. PLASTER WAS BEGINNING TO FALL FROM CEILING – TO EMPHASIZE THE URGENT NEED FR. MILLER DECIDED TO TAKE UP THE SPECIAL COLLECTION PERSONALLY. AS HE WENT DOWN THE AISLE WITH THE BASKET, HE CAME TO ONE RICH MAN WHO HAD LOTS OF NICE THINGS BUT DID NOT SHARE MUCH.
FR . MILLER PUT THE BASKET IN FRONT OF HIM, HE OPENED HIS WALLET AND PUT IN A $20 BILL, JUST AT THAT MOMENT A CHUNK OF PLASTER FELL FROM THE CEILING AND HIT THE MAN ON THE HEAD. HE REACHED BACK INTO HIS WALLET AND PULLED OUT 2 $100 BILLS. FR. MILLER LOOKED UP AND PRAYED, “HIT HIM AGAIN LORD.”
OUR MISSION THEME AS SELECTED BY OUR PARISH MISSION TEAM IS, “BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS WHO WANT TO TALK AND WALK WITH GOD.” TONIGHT OUR FOCUS WILL BE HOLDING ON TIGHT TO JESUS. LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY OF MARY JANE AT THE BRIDAL SHOWER. MARY JANE HAD BEEN MARRIED TO LAWRENCE FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THEY ASKED HER WHAT ADVICE SHE WOULD GIVE TO THE BRIDE TO BE. SHE SAID HOLD ON TIGHT TO ONE ANOTHER AND HOLD ON TIGHT TO JESUS. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH HOLD ON TIGHTER TO ONE ANOTHER AND HOLD ON TIGHTER TO JESUS. MARY JANE'S ADVICE IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US. JESUS IS OUR HOPE. WE REMEMBER THE GOSPEL STORY WHEN JESUS ASKED THE DISCIPLES, “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” ST PETER SAID, “YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” WE BELIEVE AND SAY THE SAME. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR, OUR, TEACHER, LORD, FRIEND, HEALER, HIGH PRIEST, GOOD SHEPHERD, OUR HOPE. JESUS IS OUR WAY OUR TRUTH AND OUR LIFE. WE WANT TO GROW IN JESUS – IMITATE JESUS – PUT ON CHRIST – WE ARE HIS FOLLOWERS- HIS DISCIPLES -WHO -DAY BY DAY–DESIRE TO *SEE HIM MORE CLEARLY, *LOVE HIM MORE DEARLY AND *FOLLOW HIM MORE NEARLY. WE WANT TO BE MORE - PERSON-TO-PERSON -MORE- HEART TO HEART. PRAY TOGETHER. PRAYING WITH SACRED ART IS A SPECIAL FORM OF PRAYER GOD HAS GIVEN TO US. FOR ME THIS PICTURE MY NOT AN ACCLAIMED WORK OF ART BUT IT SPEAKS TO MY SOUL. SCRIPTURE – LET US PRAY TOGETHER Rev. 3:20 & 21. OF THE MYSTERY OF THE IMAGE OF the door that OPENS both ways.
“Here I stand knocking at the door. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne as I myself won the victory and took my seat beside my Father on his throne.” THIS IMAGE SPEAKS TO THE GREAT MYSTERY OF SHARING LIFE WITH GOD. NOW AND FOREVER. GRACE IS THE WORD WE USE FOR SHARING IN GOD'S LIFE. GRACE IS A GIFT OF INDWELLING COMMUNION – INTIMACY- YIELDING – AND JOY. WHAT IS JESUS SAYING TO MY HEART? WHAT IS MY HEART SAYING TO JESUS. WHAT IS MY LIFE SAYING TO MY JESUS? WHAT IS JESUS SAYING TO MY LIFE?
(THE RESCUE) IN HOLDING ON TIGHT TO JESUS WE REMEMBER HE SAID. “I HAVE COME NOT TO CONDEMN SINNERS BUT TO SAVE THEM.” TO RESCUE THEM. THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE ALL NEED HIS LOVING MERCY. ONE OF THE PRAYERS WE SAY AT MASS IS ”SAVE US SAVIOR OF THE WORLD FOR BY YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION YOU HAVE SET US FREE.” WE WANT TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS HAS COME FROM HEAVEN TO RESCUE US FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN AND DEATH. TO HELP US GET IN TOUCH WITH THIS GREATEST OF ALL RESCUES. INVITE US TO SPEND TIME THINKING AND FEELING ABOUT THE RESCUE OF THE BOYS SOCCER TEAM IN THAILAND LAST SPRING AND THEN OUR RESCUE BY JESUS. THE BOYS WERE TRAPPED IN A CAVE DEEP UNDERGROUND. THE EXIT WAS BLOCKED BY WATER FROM THE MONSOON RAINS. THEY SAT IN DARKNESS AND IN DANGER OF CERTAIN DEATH. THE WHOLE WORLD WAS GRIPPED WITH FEELINGS FOR THEM. WITHOUT FOOD AND ONLY THE WATER DIPPING FROM THE CAVE THEY SAT IN DARKNESS, POWERLESS TO SAVE THEMSELVES. THEIR ONLY HOPE WAS THAT SOMEONE WOULD FIND THEM AND COME FOR THEM. IMAGINE THEIR FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS SINNERS OUR ONLY HOPE IS TO BE RESCUED FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN AND CERTAIN DEATH. “SAVE US SAVIOR OF THE WORLD FOR BY YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION YOU HAVE SET US FREE.” ONCE THE BOYS WERE DISCOVERED A PLAN WAS NEEDED TO RESCUE THEM. TIME PASSED IT WAS DECIDED THAT NAVY SEAL DIVERS WOULD BE NEED TO VOLUNTEER. WHAT DID THE SEALS THINK? HOW DID THEY FEEL? WHY DID THEY VOLUNTEER? THEY WOULD NEED TO RISK THEIR OWN LIVES AND THEY COULD DIE TRYING. ONE DID. JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE TO RESCUE US. WHY DID HE VOLUNTEER? THE RESCUERS SAID I WILL COME FOR YOU AND BRING WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE RESCUE. OXYGEN TANKS, WET SUITS, FACE MASKS ETC. THE RESCUERS SAID TO THE BOYS YOU WILL NEED TO USE WHAT I BRING FOR YOU. JESUS SAYS TO US YOU WILL NEED MY WORD, THE SACRAMENTS, HOLY COMMUNION MY PEOPLE. THE SEALS SAID TO THE BOYS, IN ORDER TO BE RESCUED. WE WILL NEED TO JOURNEY TOGETHER, MAKE A PASSAGE, IN ORDER TO PASSOVER FROM DARKNESS AND DEATH TO LIFE. YOU WILL NEED TO TRUST ME. DO NOT LET FEAR OVERCOME YOU. HOPE IN ME. FOLLOW ME. I KNOW THE WAY FROM DEATH TO LIFE. WE WILL NEED TO HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER ON THE WAY. SAVE US SAVIOR OF THE WORLD FOR BY YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION YOU HAVE SET US FREE. MY FRIENDS WE ARE STILL ON OUR JOURNEY WITH OUR RESCUER JESUS.
WITH THE RESCUER THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT. FOR THE BOYS IN THE CAVE THERE WAS A SEAL ON FRONT AND A SEAL BEHIND. A DOCTOR CAME TO THE CAVE, MANY SUPPORT PEOPLE WERE ON THE OUTSIDE PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES. IN OUR SALVATION JESUS FOUNDED A PEOPLE TO SHARE IN HIS SAVING RESCUE MISSION. HE WANTS US HIS COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES TO DO WHAT WE CAN FOR EACH OTHER. WITH LOVING EMOTION THE PARENTS OF THE BOYS WERE LONGING FOR THEIR RESCUE. THEY EAGERLY WANT TO WELCOME THEM HOME TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO SENT HIS ONLY SON TO RESCUE US EAGERLY LONGS TO WELCOME US HOME TO HEAVEN. NOW THAT THE RESCUE IS COMPLETE- CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THE BOYS FEEL? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING RESCUED BY JESUS.
THE WORLD WAS OVERJOYED AT THE RESCUE OF THE BOYS. TRULY A CELEBRATION WAS ORDER WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK AND PRAISE THE RESCUERS AND ALL IN THE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT.
THE BOYS WILL WANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR RESCUE AND RESCUERS.
JESUS HAS GIVEN US THE EUCHARIST TO REMEMBER. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. WE WANT TO REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE FOR OUR RESCUE. AT EVERY MASS AS GOD'S FAMILY WE WANT TO HOLD ON TIGHT TO JESUS. WE WANT TO SAY TO JESUS- THANK YOU FOR COMING TO RESCUE US. ”SAVE US SAVIOR OF THE WORLD FOR BY YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION YOU HAVE SET US FREE. WE KNOW THE STORY OF HOW JESUS SAVED US ON THE CROSS. WE KNOW THE PASSION IS MORE THAN WHIPS & THORNS & NAILS & WOOD.THESE HELP US TO SEE AND APPRECIATE THE FIRE OF LOVE FOR US IN THE HEART OF THE TRINITY AND THE HEART OF JESUS. THE VISIBLE PASSION OF JESUS IS ABOUT THE FIRE OF LOVE. AS JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS HE SPOKE LAST WORDS TO US. ONE WAS, “FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” TONIGHT ON OUR CRUCIFIX WE LOOK AGAIN JESUS OUR SUFFERING SERVANT SAVIOR. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE TO SAVE ALL SINNERS. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR. FOR ALL PEOPLE TO BE A COMMUNION OF SAINTS. WE ALSO BELIEVE AND HE DIED AND ROSE FOR EACH SINNER PERSONALLY. YES, JESUS IS MY SAVIOR, YOUR SAVIOR. FOR JESUS - IT IS VERY PERSONAL. HE CAME FROM HEAVEN IN PERSON FOR ME, HE SPOKE THE WORD PERSONALLY FOR ME. WHEN HE WAS BEATEN, IT WAS PERSONAL. WHEN BLOOD FLOWED DOWN FROM THE CROWN OF THORNS, IT WAS PERSONAL. WHEN HE FELL CARRYING THE CROSS, IT WAS PERSONAL. WHEN HE HUNG ON THE CROSS SUFFERING IN PAIN, IT WAS PERSONAL. HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE PERSONALLY FOR ME. JESUS WANTS A PERSONAL RESPONSE FROM ME – TO BE PERSONAL WITH HIM. ON THE CROSS JESUS SAYS “FATHER FORGIVE THEM.” TRULY FORGIVENESS IS THE WORD OF LOVE - FACE OF LOVE, YES FORGIVENESS IS WHY HE EMPTIED HIMSELF AND CAME FROM THE FATHER. HIS BLOODIED FACE ON THE CROSS IS THE FACE OF THE FATHER'S DIVINE MERCY. IN FORGIVENESS, NOTHING IS CLAIMED FOR SELF. ONLY THE OTHER'S GOOD. HIS BEATEN, BRUISED FACE ON THE CROSS REVEAL FORGIVING LOVE FOR ALL, AND FOR YOU AND FOR ME. PERSONALLY. IN LET US TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OF TIME OUT QUIET TIME PERSONAL PRAYER. IN OUR IMAGINATION WE STAND AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH MARY AND JOHN AND LOOK ON THE FACE OF FORGIVING LOVE. AS YOU LOOK UPON THE BEATEN, BLOODIED FACE OF JESUS YOU SEE HIS EYES LOOK AT YOU. HE SAYS, TO YOU “FATHER FORGIVE HER.” “FORGIVE HIM” AND YOU SAY TO JESUS........(SILENCE) AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS HE HAS CALLED US TO CARRY OUR CROSS WITH HIM. WE ARE TO SHARE IN HIS MYSTERY OF BEING SUFFERING SERVANTS FOR OTHERS. AS ST. PAUL SAYS: “WE ARE TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.” THIS IS AN AMAZING MYSTERY. WE KNOW THAT ONLY JESUS SAVES US FROM OUR SINS- IT IS PURE GIFT - THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO DESERVE IT. YET - JESUS INVITES US TO BE A PART OF EACH OTHERS SALVATION WE DO THIS BY CARRYING OUR CROSS-WITH HIM. (CATHY DYING OF CANCER HOLDING CLINGING CROSS). WE OFFER IN A SPECIAL WAY AT HOLY EUCHARIST. LIKE THE DROP OF WATER IN THE WINE- OUR CROSS IS COMMINGLED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST. GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSION –VENERATION OF THE CROSS-PEOPLE KISSING THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND THEIR OWN (IMAGINE) PARKING LOT CROSSES (COMING TO MASS –GOING FROM MASS)
OUR MISSION CALLS US AGAIN TO CARRY OUR CROSS WITH CHRIST AND OFFER IT WITH HIS IN THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
HOLDING ON TIGHT TO JESUS MEANS SAYING YES TO HIM AGAIN AND AGAIN.
SAYING “YES” TO A COMMITMENT IS NOT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT. PEOPLE IN LOVE SAY YES TO EACH OTHER OVER AND OVER AGAIN. MARRIED MAN - SAYING “YES DEAR” ON YOUR WEDDING DAY MEANS YOU GET TO SAY “YES DEAR” FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.” IN SAYING YES AGAIN AND AGAIN WE GROW MORE AND MORE IN LOVE.
OUR “YES” TO JESUS CAN BECOME DEEPER AND MORE INTENSE.
ON THIS MISSION JESUS TURNS TO YOU AGAIN TO CLOSER FRIENDSHIP JUST AS YOU ARE. SAY, “YES” TO HIM AGAIN. SOMETIMES WE DO THIS IN PERSON TO PERSON PRAYER IN OUR OWN WORDS. MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORY OF THE YOUNG MAN WHO WANTED TO TELL HIS GIRLFRIEND HOW HE LOVED HER. HE READ HER A WONDERFUL POEM WRITTEN BY FAMOUS POET. SHE LOVED IT AND TOLD HIM SO - THEN SHE SAID. “NOW TELL ME IN YOUR OWN WORDS HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME.” WE KNOW ABOUT CONVERSATIONAL PRAYER OF MIND AND HEART. HE TALKS – I LISTEN. I TALK – HE LISTENS. WE TALK – WE LISTEN. NEITHER TALK – STILLNESS – PRESENCE - INTIMACY. WE LOVE – SILENT MUSIC OF THE HEART. SEEING OURSELVES AS GOD SEES US IS PART OF OUR PARISH MISSION. WE ARE INVITED TO TAKE A GOOD HONEST LOOK AT OUR SPIRITUAL SITUATION BEFORE GOD. WE WANT TO SEE OURSELVES AS GOD SEES. NOT BAD, NOT GOOD, NOT YET. (REPEAT)
FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE- IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, WE ARE NOT BAD. WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD– GOD MADE US GOOD-NOT BAD.
BY HIS GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN IN BAPTISM, ACQUITTED OF SIN AND ADOPTED AS A CHILD OF GOD A– NOT WORTHY AND NOT BAD. YOU ARE SO VALUABLE JESUS DIED FOR YOU – NOT BAD. TRUTHFULLY SEEING OURSELVES AS GOD SEES US MEANS SEEING OUR WORTH, VALUE AND GIFTEDNESS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD – NOT BAD. FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE WE ARE NOT YET. NOT YET IS NOT THE SAME AS NOT BAD OR NOT GOOD – IT IS JUST NOT YET. WE ARE GROWING AND BECOMING AND DEVELOPING AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS. WE WANT TO PUT ON CHRIST – HIS MIND – HIS HEART – HIS LOVING WAYS. WE ARE GROWING AND BECOMING TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST. IN PUTTING ON CHRIST IN SO MANY WAYS WE ARE - NOT YET – IN GOD’S SIGHT - NOT YET IS NOT BAD – IT IS JUST NOT YET. FROM A THIRD PERSPECTIVE WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GOOD. WE ARE SINNERS IN GOD’S SIGHT–WE WANT TO SEE OURSELVES AS GOD SEES US. AS FOOLISH, WEAK, WOUNDED SINNERS. WE WANT TO SEE THE NOT GOOD IN NEED HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION. WE WANT TO DEAL WITH ATTACHMENTS TO SIN – WE WANT CONVERSION OF HEART -REPENTANCE OF WILL- REFORM OF LIFE. WE WANT -MERCY- AND FORGIVENESS- FOR THE NOT GOOD IN OUR LIFE. WE WANT TO HEAR JESUS SPEAK TO US, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN” IN OUR WEAKNESS, - JESUS IS OUR HOPE AND STRENGTH. WE DO NOT GIVE INTO DISCOURAGEMENT OR DESPAIR. WE KNOW WE ARE FLAWED WITH SIN THAT FOCUSES ON SELF CENTERED LOVE. THIS INCLINATION DRAWS US TO SAY - “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME – I WANT IT MY WAY” I RECENTLY I VISITED THE FAMILY HOME OF A YOUNG COUPLE. AS I ENTERED- LOUD CRIES CAME FROM A NEARBY ROOM. THE MOTHER, ANN MARIE, WELCOMED ME AND TOLD ME NOT TO BE ALARMED. LITTLE 2 YEAR OLD WILL HAD BEEN PUT IN ANOTHER ROOM FOR A TIME OUT. WILL STOPPED CRYING AND SHOUTED IN A LOUD VOICE, “I WANT TO BE BOSS” - I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE BOSS.” THE SELF CENTERED LIFE IS FLAWED - IT WAS THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE. WE BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL THAT. GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE AND DIVINE MERCY ARE STRONGER THAN SIN AND DEATH. WE THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HIS DIVINE MERCY IN JESUS OUR SAVIOR. RECOGNIZING MY BROKENNESS AS A SINNER-IS PART OF GOD’S PLAN FOR FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION FOR ME? I AM A SINNER IN A SINFUL WORLD AND I AM POWERLESS TO FIX IT. SIN MAKES A MESS AND I AM HUMPTY DUMPTY – ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN CAN’T PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN. BUT JESUS CAN. JESUS IS OUR HOPE – WE WANT TO HOLD ON TIGHT TO JESUS. OUR LIFE IN CHRIST IS A MIXTURE OF THE NOT BAD, THE NOT GOOD, AND THE NOT YET NOT YET IN GOD’S SIGHT - HOW AM I: NOT BAD - WHAT DOES GOD LIKE ABOUT ME – HOW DO I DELIGHT GOD? *NOT GOOD - WHAT SINFUL ATTACHMENT DOES GOD WANT ME TO LET GO OF? NOT YET. - HOW IS GOD CALLING ME TO GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST? AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OUR MISSION LET US SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD IN QUIET PRAYER. LET US LISTEN AGAIN TO THE MUSIC INVITE US TO “COME TO THE QUIET” AND THEN SPEND A MOMENT IN QUIET PERSONAL PRAYER.
CONCLUSION AS WE CONCLUDE OUR PARISH MISSION. WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO FR. MILLER AND THE PARISH MISSION TEAM. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND INVITING ME TO SHARE THIS MISSION WITH YOU. IN YOU I HAVE SEEN AGAIN THE FAITH AND FIRE OF THE LOVE OF GOD HERE IN YOUR NATIVITY PARISH COMMUNITY. TRULY THIS IS HOLY GROUND WHERE PEOPLE WALK AND TALK WITH GOD. AS WE GO FORTH TO GLORIFY THE LORD WITH OUR LIVES. LET US THE PRAY TOGETHER THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US. “OUR FATHER”