The women’s Cursillo weekend at Holy Trinity Church in Cheyenne is off and running. I had the privilege of presenting the first three meditations during the “retreat phase” of the weekend beginning yesterday evening and ending this morning. I enjoyed participating in the celebration of the Eucharist this morning with the ladies as well.
Cursillo simply means a “short course in Christianity.” I made my Cursillo weekend back in 1994 in Quincy, Illinois and have been blessed by the experience ever since. For those of you who hear me preach or teach on a regular basis know that I frequently refer to being a person of “prayer, study, and action.” I learned the importance of that by being a Cursillista. Please pray for the ladies on the weekend that they may be deeply touched and impacted by God’s grace during these days.
Okay. It is time for me to shift gears and start accelerating my final preparations for the Cathedral Parish Mission. It all swings into motion beginning with the Saturday evening Mass. Zeal for the Lord’s House will consume me in these upcoming days. I hope it consumes you as well!
The Parish Mission in Green River was another fantastic experience. I appreciate the hospitality extended by Fr. Denis and all of the Immaculate Conception parishioners. Your faith community has a special place in my heart as I have been impacted immensely each time I have visited your parish.
“Transfigured By Love” was the title I gave to the Mission since we started out on the weekend when the Gospel account of the Transfiguration was proclaimed. I then focused on the topics of mercy, humility, and service in each of the successive evenings. We concluded the last evening with an opportunity for individual prayer and/or the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The drive home consisted of some snow-packed roads but not too hazardous. I am always grateful when another safe journey has been completed.
This evening is the start of a women’s Cursillo weekend being held at Holy Trinity Parish in Cheyenne. I am scheduled to give a couple of meditations this evening as well as one tomorrow morning. It will then be time to start gearing up for the Cathedral Parish Mission which begins this weekend. Please pray that I am guided by the Holy Spirit during these days so I may speak words which will build up God’s people.
After months of planning the time has arrived. My Lenten calendar is in full swing. Last night I spoke to the “Theology on Tap” group here in Cheyenne. Tonight I will enjoy the inspirational presentation and musical talent of “Tajci” at the Cathedral. Then I head to Green River tomorrow for this year’s Lenten Parish Mission.
The attendance and participation from the parishioners last year was phenomenal, and I am looking forward to spending these days with all of them again this year. It is a powerful experience to witness the movement of the Holy Spirit within our midst, and I certainly anticipate some tremendous blessings in the days ahead.
In addition to preaching at all of the weekend Masses and presenting an hour-long presentation each of the three nights of the mission, I am also eagerly awaiting the opportunity to visit all of the religious education classes as well. It is good to see catechesis in action. Last year I also had the opportunity to join Fr. Denis for Mass at the local nursing home and visit with parishioners there. I hope to have the privilege of doing that again this year.
I pray that your Lent is off to a fantastic start. As you hear the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus this weekend, ask for the grace to allow that transforming love of God to touch every aspect of your life. Be a person who prays fervently, studies diligently, and acts with courage, conviction, and compassion. Be an intentional disciple. Be a faithful witness to Jesus Christ!
Have you ever noticed how “clean” our crosses and even our crucifixes are? We have frequently turned them into pieces of art rather than depict them as the instruments of death for which they were actually used. Is that because we are unable to cope with the gruesome reality of a brutal execution? Mel Gibson’s movie years ago The Passion of Christ certainly provided a vivid depiction of the horrendous sufferings Jesus endured at the time of His death. Today, “YOUTUBE” videos provide the gruesome images. Torture and death are certainly not clean.
Watching the evening news just makes my stomach churn. I want to be an informed individual, and yet, each time I learn of more awful events happening around the world, I want to throw up my hands in despair. It can seem like there is no hope. Life in our world today is not clean. Actually, has it ever been? I guess we can go all the way back to Adam and Eve to watch the trend begin. Cain and Abel certainly gave us a taste of brutality in action.
As more and more Christians are taken hostage in the Middle East, my heart breaks for them and their families. Is there not something we can do to stop these atrocities? Is it my imagination, or is the whole world just sitting by watching these things happen with more and more frequency? There are many Christians carrying some heavy crosses.
Frequently, we don’t have to look across the globe to see people carrying their crosses. There is a lot of pain and suffering close to home as well. It may not be the cross of martyrdom that Middle East Christians are facing, but it can be painful nonetheless. How do we find the strength to carry the crosses in our lives? I don’t simply want to throw out a casual response, but I think we essentially pray and seek God’s grace, strength, and perseverance. That can be easier said than done at times. I am good at the first part of Jesus’ prayer, “Father, let this cup pass from me.” It’s the second part of the prayer that I have difficulty offering. What was it again?
Today, I offer a prayer for all who are carrying the cross of aging and/or failing health. I clearly remember my own struggles through multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and a plethora of tests throughout the last three decades in my two battles with cancer and open heart surgery. That is not to mention the WAITING FOR RESULTS from those tests and the anguish that accompanies that process. It is not easy to cope with the reality of suffering and the loss of one’s independence. I see that clearly in my mom’s own recent experience. Today marks three weeks since her surgery to repair her broken hip. Life has changed immensely for her in literally the blink of an eye.
Yes, my mom still rode with my brother on his motorcycle just a few years ago. (At least I think that is her underneath that helmet.)
In March of 2014 my mom wanted to visit the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters in St. Louis. They are known as the “Pink Sisters.” Years ago when my mom and dad were first married they made novenas at the chapel with the sisters praying for a variety of intentions. Our visit less than a year ago was very nice.
In October of 2014, just four months ago, mom and I made a trip to EWTN in Irondale, Alabama. On the way we stopped at a few other places such as the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
Stopping at Steak-N-Shake is necessary too. Recovering from a broken hip is no small task for an elderly individual. However, I am going to hold out hope that we will eventually be sitting at Steak-N-Shake where mom can enjoy her strawberry shake while I enjoy my chocolate one.
As we approach the Second Sunday of Lent, my prayer is that we will each experience the love of God as we hear the Gospel account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. May each of us experience grace as we carry our individual crosses and be able to echo the words of Peter, “Master, it is good that we are here.”
I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Cheyenne Catholic Vocations Club. This group is dedicated to promoting priestly and religious vocations, but today was an opportunity to focus on lay ministry. How are each of us called? How do we respond to that call?
All of us are called to be saints. We are called to be witnesses of Christ out in the world. How effectively are we living up to that call? Although we look to bishops, priests, deacons, and religious for leadership, each one of us is called to sanctity in our particular state in life. Furthermore, the laity have tremendous opportunities to be witnesses out in the secular world in ways in which the clergy frequently do not.
Lay ministry is much more than performing a particular function at a liturgical service. This is certainly a component of lay ministry, but it is not the only aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. Being a faithful witness of Jesus Christ out in the world can take many forms and dimensions depending upon our particular state in life. Do people look to you for guidance? Has anyone ever asked you to pray for them? Are you approachable? Lay people have tremendous opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in a variety of settings and circumstances. Are you grasping these opportunities to build up the Kingdom of God?
We need faithful bishops, priests, deacons, and religious brothers and sisters. We also need faithful lay people. Each one of us has an opportunity to impact the world by living a life of faith. How will you proclaim the Kingdom of God today?
It has been two days since we received ashes on our foreheads and were reminded that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. What has changed in our lives during these two days? Are we committed to turning away from sin and uniting our hearts and minds to the will of Almighty God?An old riddle asks the question: Five frogs were sitting on a log. Four decided to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log? The quick answer would be a simple mathematical calculation of five minus four equals one. However, the answer is actually five. Deciding to do something and actually doing it are two different things. What have you decided to do for Lent? Are you actually doing it?
The Season of Lent will help us focus our attention on repentance and baptism. Are we turning away from sin in our lives? Are we turning toward Christ? Do we have a sincere desire to unite our will to the will of Christ? These days are designed to assist us in our journey of conversion. Will we embrace God’s grace in the process?
Whether an individual is preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil, or if one was baptized many years ago, do we understand our call to holiness? God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in His sight. We are called to be saints. Let us live out our calling well each and every day of our lives!
Lent starts tomorrow. Please grasp this opportunity to encounter the living God. Don’t let these days pass by without growing in holiness. 1. Pray 2. Study 3. Act
There is a serious ruggedness to the true cowboys and cowgirls of the west. The work is hard even today; I can only imagine what it must have been like years ago. We can learn something from watching these folks who make their living by the sweat of their brow. Hard work and discipline are key characteristics of the cowboy spirit.
Lent is a time for Christians to “Cowboy Up!” Complacency and apathy need to go. We can’t be soft. The murder of Christians in the Middle East should tell us that having faith in Jesus Christ may come at a price. Are we willing to stand and be counted among the faithful?
Make some serious sacrifices during these Days of Lent. Grow in your faith. Pray! Study! Act! Spiritual exercises will help you become a stronger follower of Christ. Celebrate Easter on April 5, 2015 knowing that you have grown closer to God.
In the course of my years of ministry as a deacon I have had many people ask me to pray for them, especially when they were in a time of crisis. Frequently, this has included prayers for physical healing when someone has been diagnosed with a serious illness. To be open and honest, I have sought this type pf healing in my own life when I have been facing serious illness. As I look back now and reflect through my spiritual journey which has included cancer twice and open heart surgery as well, I have come to distinguish the difference between a desire for a physical cure and a desire for true healing.
Jesus cured people of physical illness during his ministry on earth; the accounts of these episodes are laid out for us in the Sacred Scriptures. As I have studied the Scriptures lately I seem to be more drawn to the healing component of a variety of these encounters depicted for us. The healing touch of Jesus goes much deeper than the physical cure of a particular malady. God wants to bring us the fullness of healing; we are blessed indeed.
As we prepare for the season of Lent, let us reflect upon our baptismal call to holiness. Are we responding to God’s call with zeal and enthusiasm? Do we seriously yearn for the light of Christ to shine in our lives? My concern is that we can easily grow complacent if we are not diligent in making our relationship with Christ a priority in our lives. There are plenty of other things that scream for our attention. If we are not watchful, the devil will not only prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls, he will pounce upon the opportunity when we are not alert. Turning away from sin and remaining faithful to the Gospel requires diligence on part so that we walk in God’s grace.
The picture above was taken on Valentine’s Day in front of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. It almost appears that the clouds opened up at the right time for the picture to be taken. In reality, the love of God dispels the darkness each and every day of our lives. We are children of light. Let us live faithfully in that light!
