For sometime now, whenever I needed a little chuckle, I gone over to the National Catholic Reporter website. Yes, I go to NCR for some laughs. Pat Marrin, who is an editor’s for NCR’s sister publication, “Celebration,” and a contributor to NCR, has been drawing a comic strip. The main character is Pope Francis, and strip is about his adventures and misadventures in Rome, along with his companion, and personal secretary, Brother Leo. Mr. Marrin has been able to blend in his strip, a bit of comedy, and a bit of commentary on life in the Vatican. I really encourage everyone to check it out.
The Shock of a Layoff
On the day of my distress I seek the Lord
By night my hands are raised unceasingly,
I refuse to be consoled.
When I think of God, I groan;
As I ponder, my spirit grows faint.
My eyes cannot close in sleep;
I am troubled and cannot speak.
I consider the days of old;
The years long past, I remember.
In the night I meditate in my heart;
I ponder and my spirit broods.
(Psalm 77: 3-6)
On the afternoon of January 7, 2015, I was led into a small conference room, outside of my work floor, and was told that I was being laid off. My boss and our company Human Resource person were there, and neither was happy about the situation. I was not too thrilled either, and it took me some time to get my composure back. The HR person went over the details of my severance package; and how to file for unemployment benefits. I shook hands with the boss, and said “It has been a pleasure (and meant it)!” I was given my coat, and my carry bag; and shown to the elevator. Nineteen years with the company ended in under an hour.
Fortunately, my former place of business was near St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, and I was able to talk with my spiritual director for a bit. It helped me for a while, but I am still facing an uncertain future. I am over sixty, and was pulling in two figure annual salary, which does not make a prime candidate for a position in many companies. There are days (and nights) I can relate to the person who composed Psalm 77. When life throws you a curve, it can take a while to recover. It is one thing to say I trust in God, it is another thing to actually do it.
What helps is to maintain one’s rhythm of prayer, even when you do not feel like it. I strive to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, to open my heart to God’s Presence; through the psalms, the readings, and the moments of meditative silence. As a Deacon, I have assisted at several weekend Masses, immersing myself in the beauty and power of the Eucharistic Liturgy. I open myself to the Presence of my Savior, in Word and Sacrament, rejoicing in the experience of my Lord Jesus Christ.
I still do not know what the future will hold, but like the prophet Habakkuk, I will “exult in my saving God.”
“For though the fig tree blossom, nor fruit be on the vines. Though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment. Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls. Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and exult in my saving God. God, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)
Loring Crossman – Rest In Peace Brother
Loring Crossman, OFS
Last week I lost a friend, Loring Crossman, a fellow Secular Franciscan. I was asked the day before his funeral, to give a brief eulogy for him. I had no notes when I gave it, but to the best of my memory, here is what I said.
“Loring Crossman was my brother. Through Baptism, we were brothers in Christ. We were also brothers in Saint Francis of Assisi. Loring was a person committed to ’ living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi’ He succeeded me as Minister of our fraternity, and he lead the fraternity as we strived to adapt our lives to the new Rule of Life, that came out of Vatican II. Like St. Francis, he led us with gentleness and compassion. I only saw him lose his temper once, and that was at me over something I had failed to do. Like St. Francis, he was generous with his time, talents, and treasure. And like St. Francis, he had fraternity members who would provide comic relief. I remember that once at the anniversary of our new Rule, St Bonaventure University, in New York, was sponsoring a seminar on the SFO Rule. I drove there myself; Loring, Edwina and two other members were traveling together. They had to pick up one member in Connecticut, because she was spending some time at the casinos!
Like St. Francis, Loring suffered from many illnesses. In Francis’ final months, he spent some time with St. Clare and the Poor Ladies of Assisi, at San Daminao monastery. Francis stayed in a small hut on the monastery grounds. He was suffering from blindness, stomach problems and other illnesses. And his hut was being overrun by mice and other critters, which allowed him no rest. Yet, in all that suffering, Francis was able to compose a most beautiful hymn, the first poem in the Italian language, “The Canticle to Brother Sun.” It was Francis way of praising God, despite all his suffering. And I am sure that Loring, despite everything he was going through, was able to continue praising God, to trust in His love. Loring was able to say, with all his heart, ‘Welcome Sister Death, I am going home to the Father.’’
HUMP DAY IS HERE!!!
Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, Joseph – 2014
Genesis 15: 1-6; 21: 1-3
Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Luke 2: 22-40
Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, which comes on the Sunday after Christmas. This year, this Feast and Christmas are only a few days apart. How many of us are still recovering from the Christmas celebrations; the preparations, the clean up; the stresses and the joys of that day. And how many of us are just hoping for a quiet weekend. Can we suppose that Mary and Joseph may have felt the same way, after what had happened on the evening of the birth of their son? First there was the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then finding shelter in a manger, a barn! Then that appearance of a group of scruffy shepherds, who have this story of angels flying in the night sky, proclaiming that this child, their child, is the long for Messiah. I am sure that what Mary and Joseph longed for was some normalcy, to just perform the rituals required by Law of Moses and then get back to Nazareth and their lives as quickly as possible.
So they go up to Jerusalem, to the Temple to make the required sacrifices. Now keep in mind that they were not the only ones going to the Temple that day. There would have been hundreds, if not thousands of worshipers going to the there. If you have ever seen a picture of the crowds assembled in front of St. Peter’s in Rome, you would have some idea of the crowds going in and out of the Temple courtyards. And yet, and yet; out of that massive crowd of humanity, Simeon, is able to find Jesus, Mary and Joseph. How? He was guided by the Holy Spirit, for God was fulfilling His promise, that Simeon would not see death, before seeing the Messiah. Simeon had such faith in that promise, that for so many years he kept going to the Temple. And despite so many disappointing encounters, he still had faith. Then comes the day his path crosses with Mary, Joseph and their infant son. He praises God that his faith has been rewarded, he has seen the Messiah. Then he tells Mary and Joseph what the destiny of their child would be, and what it would cost them. Now, after hearing this, who could blame Mary and Joseph, if they were to flee south to Egypt; or north to Syria, or east to Babylon? This was not what they signed up for. But they do not flee, they returned to Nazareth, Despite their fears of what the future may hold, they raised the child Jesus up into a strong young man, who was “filled with wisdom” and with the favor of God. They were able to do so because they had faith, faith that whatever trials and tribulations may come their way, God would not abandon them, that God would be there for them. It is that same faith that their ancestor Abraham had when he first listened to God, to a Presence he did not know, yet he believed, and left the safety of the Ur, for an unknown land. He had faith that, despite his old age, he believed that God would keep His promise of making from him a mighty nation.
And it is faith in God’s promise that through His Son, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, “God is with us.,” we believe that we will never be alone, that indeed, God will be with us always, He will be with us in times of trial, and times of challenge:. He will be with us in the joyful times, and the sad times. It is faith in Him, that draws us here today, as a community of believers, that through Word and Sacrament, that faith will be continually renewed and strengthened. It is by faith in God’s love, which causes us to reach out to others, to share that love. And it is by faith that we look forward to the fulfillment of the promise that Jesus Christ will come again, and a new heaven and a new earth will be born.
Christmas Day at St. John the Evangelist Church – Beverly MA
I assisted at the Christmas Eve And Day Masses.
First Sunday of Advent – 2014; A Reflection
Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7
1 Corinthians 1: 3-9
Mark 13: 33-37
We are entering the Advent season, in preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Of course, the department stores, electronics stores, the online shopping sites, have declared that now is the Christmas season. “So buy now, now, NOW; while prices are low, low, LOW!” And even those who do understand the meaning of this Advent season, they focus more on the preparation to remember the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a human child. We tend to forget that Advent is a time to also reflect on the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of time. Many of us, I think, have the attitude that the Second Coming will not happen in our lifetimes. This is fueled by scientific speculation that the Universe has billions of years left in it’s life, that Earth itself, has millions, if not billions years of life left in it. So we become complacent, we are like the college student who slacks off most of the academic year, figuring he can cram in his studies and be ready for his final examination.
Then today’s Gospel can be an alarm for us. For Jesus is grabbing us by the shoulders; shaking us and saying: “Watch!” He is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that we do not know the day or the hour of his coming again, his coming in glory and power. So we need to live every day, every hour, and every second, in expectation of Christ’s Second Coming! And our hearts and souls must to ready, every day, every hour, and every second, to greet Him when He comes. We must strive daily, to read, reflect on, and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must live in expectation of encountering Christ daily, through God’s Creation, through His Word, in each other, and especially thorugh the Eucharist. We must work to make our hearts open to the Presence of our Living God..
This requires work, this requires preparation; it will mean a lifetime of work. God is with us, ready to form us in a beautiful creation; as long as we do not harden our hearts against Him. This is what the season Advent is to help us understand, to help us begin anew the work of conversion, to prepare and watch for the coming of the Lord.
Musings From St. Anthony's Walnut Tree 