Articulating Hope

Author: Vernon Dobelmann

  • Mother’s Day Snowstorm

    Mother’s Day Snowstorm

    Yesterday I began mowing for the first time this year.  I just left the mower sit on the porch because I figured I would continue to do more over the next few days.  Yes, I had heard the forecast but chose not to believe.  Maybe I just didn’t want to believe it.  How could it snow on Mother’s Day?  My mower thinks I should have listened because it prefers to be kept dry and snow free.

    I called my mom this morning to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.  It was 28 degrees in Cheyenne at the time and 82 degrees in St. Louis.  We had the same numbers; they were just reversed.  My mom said it was warm enough with the humidity that she had turned on her air conditioner.  If she was looking for sympathy, she was definitely looking in the wrong place.  I would thoroughly enjoy feeling 82 degrees with some humidity to go along with it right about now.  Instead I went out and shoveled snow–a wet and heavy snow I might add.

    Although the weather has challenged some Mother’s Day social gatherings in our part of the country, it can’t erase the sentiments of love and affection expressed on this day.  Motherhood is probably one of the most daunting tasks in the world, and I sincerely hope that we share our gratitude to mom on more days than Mother’s Day, her birthday, and Christmas.  While greeting card companies and florists cherish a day like Mother’s Day, I hope the rest of us truly cherish our mothers every day of the year.

    To all the moms out there striving to faithfully live up to the responsibilities of your calling–I simply say, “THANK YOU!”  You give us a glimpse of God’s love.  The commitment to loving your children, which is evident even after the children have left the nest, is admirable.  The sacrifices you make on a regular basis are a genuine reflection of God’s love for each of us.  The example and model you set makes our world a better place.  

    Happy Mother’s Day!

  • “National Doughnut Week”

    I just found out that there is a “National Doughnut Week.”  Seriously, there is.  Check it out for yourself.  http://www.nationaldoughnutweek.org/ 

    This event takes place May 10—May 17, 2014.  It will be a little inconvenient for Americans to participate because it takes place in the U.K.  However, there is a very serious reason for this indulgence.  If you buy doughnuts between May 10 and May 17, from participating bakeries (in the U.K.) then you will be helping to raise money for a very good cause – The Children’s Trust.  National Doughnut Week has raised over £755,000 in the past 21 years for children’s charities, and it is hoped that at least £30,000 will be raised to make this the best year ever.

    I was going to put a picture of a doughnut with this posting, but of course there wasn’t a donut to be found anywhere in the office today.  Then I thought about waiting until tomorrow to post the blog to see if I could swing by a bakery in the morning to get a donut to photograph (and eat).  Prudence dictated that I post this as soon as possible and not wait to get a picture.  After all, you may want to book your airline ticket quickly to get to the U.K. to celebrate beginning on Saturday.

  • NURSES–Thank You!

    This is National Nurses Week and I am thrilled to give a “shout out” to all of the dedicated nurses caring for the needs of the sick and suffering.  The majority of you exhibit great skill and compassion in your ministry.  Please accept these words as a small token of my gratitude.

    I had the misfortune of being hospitalized for a lengthy period of time many years ago.  (It was 52 days over a four month period, but who was counting?)  During that time frame the nursing community became part of my extended family.  I was blessed to have some of the kindest people I have ever met taking care of me during my hospitalization.  Of the many nurses who entered my room during all those days and nights there were only a couple who were less than stellar.  Most of them demonstrated the characteristics of professionalism, patience, and caring.

    Healthcare has unfortunately become a political football in recent years.  Actually, it has probably been a political football for many decades, but it has become more evident these days with all the squabbles regarding the Affordable Care Act.  The “Brainy History” website states that the American Medical Association (AMA) was formed on May 7, 1847; that was 167 years ago today if my math is correct.  Looking at some other websites exposing a variety of aspects of the nonprofit organization AMA, it is obvious to see that opinions regarding the AMA are not all favorable.  It appears that politics and the pursuit of money have been involved in healthcare for quite some time if the information on these websites is accurate.

    I don’t know what the future of healthcare will bring.  However, I know that I have benefitted from the expertise of numerous medical professionals and for that I am grateful.  Nurses, please know that you are appreciated.  You do not have an easy job, but you have an opportunity to minister to people who are going through some real difficult times.  Your kindness, patience, and skill make a real impact on the lives you touch each and every day.  You do not simply care for a patient’s physical needs.  You are a messenger of hope.  Celebrate this week well.  You deserve it.  

    Have a great NATIONAL NURSES WEEK!

  • The “Miracle Mile”

    Sixty years ago today on May 6, 1954 Roger Bannister became known as the man who ran the “miracle mile.”  He was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes.  Although his record time was broken the following month by Australian athlete John Landy, Roger Bannister is the name recognized in history for having first achieved this momentous feat.

    We may sometimes admire the drive and determination of successful athletes and the resulting accomplishments they have achieved.  There may also be a hint of jealousy and/or resentment towards them as well.  Having the discipline to work hard and consistently for a prolonged period of time to achieve profound results can be irritating to those who have not developed such discipline in their lives.

    Successful people frequently have personal characteristics that are evident in their day-to-day lives which are vital to their achievements.  Diligence, perseverance, a positive attitude, and many more attributes could be listed as some of those characteristics.  This is true for people who are successful in all walks of life.  These personal traits could be evident in the area of sports, entertainment, medical, legal or any field of business or other endeavor in which a person strives for excellence.  What does it take to be successful?

    Sitting on the sidelines and watching other people be successful can be okay in some venues.  However, do we have the urge to accomplish something amazing in our own lives as well?  I am not talking solely in a material sense.  Have you ever dreamed of being a faithful servant of God in such a way that lives are changed because of your faithful witness to Jesus Christ?  After all, that is our baptismal calling.

    I leave you with this one question.  If you knew you could not fail, what one thing would you pursue for God?

  • Do You Complain About The Weather?

    Do You Complain About The Weather?

    It has seemed like a long and cold winter in Wyoming.  Although the last four days haven’t brought a significant accumulation of snow in the southeast corner of the state, it has snowed each day and the winds have been extreme.  The highways were very slick this morning going to work, especially on the overpasses.  It is the last day of April.  Please tell me that when we turn the page of the calendar tomorrow to the month of May the season of Spring will also step forward.

    Listening to the wind all night long in the midst of my broken-up sleep pattern tends to make me a little less than excited to get up in the morning.  However, as I was pondering the areas of the country receiving massive storms and destructive tornadoes, I realized that a little snow and ice along with a lot of wind may not be as bad as I thought.  It could be a lot worse.  A look back in history reveals that it could be much, much worse.  During the last week of April in 1991, a cyclone ripped through Bangladesh killing 130,000 to 140,000 people and it also left 9 to 10 million people homeless.  I can’t even imagine that kind of devastation.

    Instead of just complaining about the weather today, I am going to spend some time in prayer for all those who lost their lives in the recent storms as well as their family and friends who are left behind in their grief.  I will also pray for the survivors of the storms who are digging through the rubble searching for their belongings, and in some cases, still searching for their loved ones. These are not easy days for any who were in the pathways of these storms.

    I am curious.  How frequently do you complain about the weather?

  • You’re On The Air

    You’re On The Air

    There are those unsuspecting moments when God places us in a situation or unique position that gives us an opportunity to be a witness to the faith.  Sometimes these opportunities move us out of our comfort zone.  My recent experience began last week when I was contacted by Gary Freeman of KGAB Radio (AM 650) in Cheyenne.  Gary is the host of the morning show on talk radio KGAB and he invited me to join him as a guest to discuss pro-life issues and events in the Cheyenne community.  We arranged for a time that was suitable to both of our schedules and that time was this morning.

    Preaching and teaching on pro-life issues is not always received well even in church circles.  Taking it to the public airwaves on a secular radio station outside the confines of the community of believers was certain to raise the ire of some of the listeners.  I will admit that I was somewhat grateful that the segment was only 30 minutes long—much less when you figure in news and breaks.  Only two phone calls were taken during the interview, but the first one was right on cue.  “Why are you grey-haired men talking about what a woman can do with her body?”

    Although my hair isn’t turning grey, it is falling out.  Thus, I will accept the caller’s insinuation that I am old and also a male.  It still amazes me that according to the thinking of this caller and others with similar mindsets, I am not allowed to have any input on this issue because I can’t possibly understand the complexity and nuances of the matter due to my gender and/or age.  If one plays that logic out with all issues across the board the result would be quite interesting indeed.

    It truly breaks my heart that our society frequently perceives pregnancy as a disease to be cured rather than the miracle of life that it is.  The radio host mentioned the Declaration of Independence and the words, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  Let’s be honest.  If one is not given the right to life, the other rights bestowed are meaningless.  Ultra-sound technology has provided a clearer and clearer picture of fetal development.  This window into the womb definitively shows that we are not just talking about the body of the woman; we are talking also about the body of the baby growing and developing in what should be the security of the mother’s womb.  Unfortunately, we know that the womb is not always safe for the child.

    Our culture continues to do its best in many ways to promote lifestyles and behaviors which are detrimental to the good of society.  Any nation that refuses to protect the most innocent among us is taking a path of destruction and grief.  It is my hope that at some point in time our nation will truly recognize the dignity and sacred value of each human being.  Eventually, I pray that we will give more than lip service to the words, “one nation under God”!

  • Can You See the Good?

    Can You See the Good?

    How many of you actually saw Pope John Paul II at some point in your life?  That was the question raised in the church I was visiting this weekend.  It was remarkable to see a significant number of hands go up.  There were quite a number of us who could say we had seen a living saint.  I saw Pope John Paul II in St. Louis in 1999 with a hundred thousand or so others attending Mass at the stadium where the Rams football team calls home.  Although it wasn’t an intimate encounter by any stretch of the imagination, I am still glad I had the opportunity for the experience.

    This weekend was a magnificent weekend for the universal Church.  The festivities surrounding the canonizations of two popes truly created a buzz of excitement throughout the world.  We also concluded the Octave of Easter and celebrated God’s Divine Mercy in a pronounced manner.  The refrain of the Responsorial Psalm summed it up well.  “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love is everlasting.”  That should bring us much comfort and peace to realize just how deeply we are loved by God.

    The weekend was a blessing to me personally as well.  I was invited to preach at St. Patrick’s Church in Casper to share some information about the life and mission of Jesus Christ and His Church throughout the Diocese of Cheyenne.  It is always a privilege to highlight how the Church is bringing the transforming love of God to others through our various ministries.  As I expounded upon some of the ways we are building up the Kingdom of God in our diocese, it was a tremendous pleasure to see the smiles and the nodding of heads when parishioners realized how their generosity and support of “Living and Giving in Christ” is making a difference in the lives of others.  People of faith are truly making an impact in the world.  This is difficult to see sometimes when our secular media tends to focus on what is wrong.  However, if we look for the good, it can be readily visible as well.  As I prepared my homily I was pleasantly reminded of all the positive things happening in the life of the Church.

    This is the season of celebrating First Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation.  In all of these events I encourage you to look for the profound encounter with the living Christ.  “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

  • Is The Candle Still Burning?

    Is The Candle Still Burning?

    We have reached Tuesday Within the Octave of Easter.  Is the Light of Christ still burning brightly within you?

    Each year I am amazed at the transformation that takes place within a church at the Easter Vigil. We begin in darkness, but with the flame of a single candle light pierces the darkness.  The flame is shared from this one candle and soon the entire church is aglow. That is how we share our faith experience as well.  The love of Christ is whispered heart to heart and the transforming power of God’s love brightens our world.

    What is one specific way you will share the Light of Christ this week?

  • It May Not Be Incense You Smell In Denver!

    I am taking a little time to recuperate and relax today after a wonderful few days celebrating the Paschal Triduum.  The Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne was filled at most of the services on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  On Easter Sunday people were spilling out into the aisles.  It was truly a beautiful sight to behold, and the prayer and worship of these days was powerful indeed!

    I couldn’t help but be astounded this morning when I took the time to watch the news for the first time in several days. They were showing the state capitol in Denver, Colorado with tens of thousands of people celebrating the “Cannabis Cup.”  The haze from pot smoke was evident, and an interview with Mr. Chong from “Cheech and Chong” pretty much said it all.  It is now legal to do what they were encouraging 40 years ago.  It is sad that their celebration of 4/20 coincided with the date of Easter this year.  (For those of you unfamiliar with the term, 4:20 P.M. is apparently the prime time to smoke pot.  Thus, the date, 4/20 has become a significant date in the calendar.)

    As I watched the news clip a flood of thoughts engulfed my mind.  I just kept pondering the difference between our Easter celebrations in churches all across the land filled with incense smoke as compared to the smoke filled air around the capitol of Colorado.  It certainly gives a richer meaning to “Rocky Mountain High.”

    Seeing the news reports on several different stations and reading some articles on the internet was enlightening. I will admit that I don’t understand the culture surrounding this type of behavior, but after examining some of the details of this event it is clear that we, as people of faith, have work to do. If we have celebrated Easter and now return to life as a mundane routine without bringing the “Good News” of salvation to others, we have missed a vital component to what we just celebrated.  There are many people outside of our church walls that need to experience the love of Christ.  That is the role of each one of us.  If nearly 30,000 people forego the celebration of Easter to celebrate the “Cannabis Cup,” it is clear that we have much to do in our evangelistic efforts.

    Happy Easter!  (Remember, we celebrate for 50 days.)

  • Celebrating Mystery (The Paschal Triduum)

    Celebrating Mystery (The Paschal Triduum)

    We are preparing to enter into the Easter Triduum (also known as the Paschal Triduum).  “The Paschal Triduum of the passion and Resurrection of the Lord begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, has its center in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Vespers (Evening Prayer) on the Sunday of the Resurrection.” (Universal norms 18-19)  The Easter Triduum invites us to enter into the sacred mystery of God’s redeeming love.  Triduum simply means three days of prayer.  We are invited to engage in three days of serious prayer marking the most significant celebrations of Holy week.

    Holy Thursday is known as the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.  It is a beautiful celebration of the precious gift of the Holy Eucharist.  The Holy Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Catholic faith.  Everything flows from the Eucharist and everything flows back to the Eucharist.  That is why we are encouraged to enter into each celebration of the Holy Eucharist with “full, conscious, and active participation.”  Do you need your batteries recharged in regard to your zeal for receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist?  I invite you to prayerfully read chapter 6 of John’s Gospel.  John’s message puts the Eucharist in proper perspective for us.

    The other profound aspect of Holy Thursday is the reminder that we are called to live a life of service as is made evident in the washing of the feet.  Christ has given us the mandate to love one another as He has loved us.  Although that love will be expressed in different ways in contemporary society as compared to the time of Jesus, the essence of love for our neighbor remains the same.  The washing of the feet during the Mass on Holy Thursday is not a mere reenactment of what Jesus did with his disciples.  It is an invitation to allow Jesus to take possession of our hearts at the deepest core so that we can go forth into the world to be that kind of love to others.

    Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) is the only day of the year in which we do not celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy.  The paschal fast is observed everywhere on Good Friday to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare ourselves to share more deeply in his resurrection.  If possible, this paschal fast should continue to be observed on Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil.  Unfortunately, I believe this component is frequently missed in our contemporary culture.  Instead of maintaining a heart focused on prayer and fasting on Holy Saturday in preparation of the Great Easter Vigil, individuals and organizations begin their Easter celebrations with Easter egg hunts, big meals, and other “noisy” events on Saturday.  This premature celebration of Easter has the potential to deprive us of entering more fully into the Celebration of Light at the Great Easter Vigil.  Spending sufficient time reflecting upon Christ crucified and lying in the tomb is essential for us to grasp the sacred mysteries which Holy Saturday recalls.

    The Great Easter Vigil in the Holy Night is made up of four distinct parts: Lucernarium, Liturgies of Word, Baptism, and Eucharist.  This liturgy is profoundly beautiful, and it is my hope that our churches are overflowing with people to join the celebration.  The fire, the paschal candle, the singing of the Easter Proclamation, the story of salvation history through the Scripture Readings, the blessing of the Easter water, baptisms, and the Holy Eucharist all comprise a night of worship unlike any other.  The joy experienced by those coming into the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism is an awesome reminder to all of us the glory of God. 

    Finally, we reach Easter Sunday and the Triduum officially ends with Vespers.  The first eight days of the Easter season make up the octave of Easter and are celebrated as Solemnities of the Lord.  We recognize these solemnities with the double alleluia being added to the dismissal and response at each Mass.

    May each of you experience abundant blessings during these holy days of the Paschal Triduum!