Category: Archive

The Mass is this Sunday at noon in Powell, Wyoming.  Even if you have not sent in an RSVP, make plans to attend and celebrate the rural way of life.

How do we stay positive when many things around us seem to be collapsing right before our eyes?  We look to the Bread of Life–Jesus Christ!  Today’s Gospel from the beginning of John chapter 6 reminds us of the abundant love of God.  That should fill us with immense hope.

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes isn’t just a nice story from many generations ago with no significant relevance for us today.  It has the potential to speak to us in a profound way in modern times and is very applicable to our current circumstances.  Put yourself in the story.  Are you one of the thousands following Jesus?   Are you the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish?  Are you one of the disciples?  Imagine yourself as Philip receiving the question directly from Jesus, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  What are the emotions you experience as you role-play each of the parts?

A couple other components of the story also serve as good reminders.  Jesus gave thanks. How faithful are we at being people of gratitude?  Is a prayer of gratitude and blessing before each meal part of our regular routine?  

There was food left over.  Do we trust in the abundance of God’s love or do we only see ourselves as lacking this or that?

What message is there for the Church in regard to caring for those who have needs–food, shelter, clothing?  What is the message for us as individuals in regard to caring for those in need?

What does the Gospel account say to us in regard to approaching our Lord in Holy Communion?  Do we believe in the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?  Do we believe we are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ each time we receive Holy Communion?

I invite you to review your demeanor at church, especially at the time of receiving Holy Communion.  How do you approach the altar?  Are you distracted, nonchalant, unbelieving?  Are you filled with wonder and awe that you have the opportunity to approach the table of the Lord to receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  Based upon what you experience in the depths of your being as you approach the communion minister, how humbly are you receiving our Lord?  Did you truly mean it when you said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.”  Did you even give it any thought when you uttered the words?

We are going to continue to hear from John’s Gospel chapter 6 for the next few weekends at Mass.  I want to encourage you to take out your Bible at home and prayerfully read Chapter 6 in its entirety.  Allow God to speak to you in the depths of your being.  Know of His Presence in the Word and in the Eucharist.  Experience the abundant love of God!

       “I Am The Bread Of Life.  He Who Comes To Me Shall Not Hunger.”

Anyone in the area of northern Wyoming has an opportunity to participate in this unique event with Bishop Etienne.  Please RSVP by July 15 to allow enough time for adequate preparations to be made.

Are we drawn to the light?  Before the start of a wedding rehearsal recently I snapped this photo of the sanctuary.  There is something about the structure and the well-placed lighting that captivated my senses.  I found myself starting at the lower levels of the wall focusing on the tabernacle at first.  The pulsating rays of gold projecting out from the tabernacle signify the power and presence of Christ.

My sight then focused on the crucifix with palms located on both sides.  The triumphant entry of Jesus which we celebrate on Palm Sunday is contrasted with the gibbet of the cross.  Looking at this particular crucifix and the surrounding environment reminded me of those moments in my own life when I celebrate Christ as King but then so easily turn away and pursue my own will instead of God’s will.  Sin enters into my life and I join the crowd with those awful words, “Crucify Him!”

Finally, my sight was drawn upward even further to the stained glass window.  The natural light flowing through the window grabbed my attention more forcefully than the image contained in the window.  There was a significant difference between the artificial lighting and the natural light penetrating through the stained glass.  It made me ponder the reality of heaven.  What will it be like when we stand in the presence of God?  I can only imagine the Light of Christ in the context of the Transfiguration account in the Gospel.  The brightness will surely be immense.

Sacred spaces invite us into prayer and contemplation.  I invite you to take some time to quietly sit in your local church, or visit another church, when there are no scheduled services.  Allow the silence to penetrate the depths of your being.  Let your mind and heart reflect upon the essence of being in the presence of God.  Lord, it is good that we are here.

It is no secret that television has impacted our lives in some dramatic ways.  It may not have tempted us to drive fast cars and run from the police on a repeated basis as it did the Duke boys.  On the other hand, it may have prompted some of us to take an occasional risk or two that we had not previously considered.  I am guessing that the show pictured here may have caused more than one young man to look at short shorts in a less than pure manner as well. Let’s face it; the images that go into our minds impact us either in a positive or negative way. 

There is much good to be derived from all of the means of communication which the world possesses today, but there is also a huge danger as well.  The immorality that is frequently depicted does nothing to build us up as individuals or as a society.  The question becomes more and more prevalent all the time: Why do we allow images into our mind that lead us into sin and degradation?  Why do we fill our minds with things that don’t matter?  How do we keep our heart and mind focused on God if we WILLINGLY invite images to enter our psyche that are filled with lust, hatred, violence, and blasphemy?  Do we not care about our eternal well-being?

Our relationship with God is of the utmost importance.  Why would we dare to be careless or lackadaisical in our approach to responding to God’s call in our life?  What will be the repercussions of such an attitude?  If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, what happens when we don’t even have good intentions?  If we are making choices and decisions which corrupt our moral life, it is time for us to revisit our intentions.  What do our baptismal promises really mean to us?  What are we saying when we profess the Creed? Do we believe any of it?

My dear people, it matters how we live.  God’s grace is there to guide us.  If we choose to ignore God’s love and walk in darkness, what profit will it be to gain the whole world?  Please don’t allow the television, the movie theaters, the computer, pornographic magazines, or any other device or evil enticement lure you away from God’s redeeming love.  Be steadfast in your commitment to Christ.  Remember, God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight.   We are called to be great saints!

The flag on top of the General Lee has now suddenly become an issue as well.

The beauty of the snow-capped mountains can capture the imagination. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to Estes Park, Colorado to simply get away for a few hours.  I found this setting near the golf course looking up toward the Stanley Hotel with the peak of the mountain situated perfectly in the background.  It was a mixture of lush green grass in the foreground, a fascinating hotel that some say is haunted in the middle, and a reminder that it is still cold up in the furthest peaks of the mountains off in the distance.

The beauty of nature has been drawing my heart to God recently.  I don’t know exactly why this sentiment has been so strong and prevalent, but I suspect that life circumstances have played a role.  Being ill for a couple of months earlier this year certainly reminded me of the value and precious gift of good health.  The difficult times in life have a way of reminding us not to take for granted the good times.  My awareness level has most likely been heightened from this experience as well as my mom’s struggle to recover from her broken hip.  Pain and suffering bring a different perspective  into our lives.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” ~James 5:16

I want to invite and encourage you today to pray for someone in need of healing.  This can include physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual healing.  It can also be the healing of broken relationships.  I sincerely believe that our prayers are powerful and effective just as the Scriptures tell us.  Thus, we have a duty and a responsibility to lift others up in prayer.  This is also a tremendous privilege.  Allowing God’s grace to work in us and through us for the building up of the Kingdom is a blessing we don’t want to miss.  Take some time today to call to mind any people in your life who could benefit from your intercessory prayer.  Lift them up to God and watch the blessings flow.

Living out on the prairie has some drawbacks during the cold and windy winter months.  There are times when the snow drifts prompt me to look at housing closer into the city.  Then there are times like today.  As I drove up the road and into the driveway I was enamored at the beautiful color of the entire landscape.  God’s handiwork was evident and plentiful.

Although my day at work was quite full with numerous appointments and meetings,  a brief visit to the great outdoors was refreshing and relaxing. There is also a chance of viewing the “Northern Lights” in the nights ahead. That would be a phenomenon I would love to see.  Typically, this is something that doesn’t get this far south.  However, it is apparent that some atmospheric elements have lined up in such a way as to make it possible.  I am hopeful that the clouds decrease and give us a glimpse at this beauty as well.

I want to invite you to read and reflect upon a couple of Bible readings.  The first is from the Gospel of Matthew 6: 25–34.  The second is from the Gospel of Luke 12: 22–34.

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  ~Luke 12:34