Pentecost. Text. Teaching. Translate (2023-05-28)

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2023-05-28 –  Pentecost     ●●   Acts 2: 1-11  ●●  Psalm 104 ●●  1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13  ●●    ●●  John 20:19-23 ●● 

TITLE:  Pentecost. Text. Teaching. Translate

[_00-a__]     This weekend is also Memorial Day, which began in 1866, shortly after the Civil War, in late May, a civil observance of the Spring,  because flowers would be in bloom at this time.

The flowers would be a decoration upon the tombs at the cemeteries of soldiers fallen  / who had died in battle.  The original day for name for Memorial Day was Decoration Day -- to decorate with the flowers -- the tombs of fallen soldiers.

This is a time for us to pray for the eternal rest of all of our military servicemen, and servicewomen to pray for our country.

There are parallels between 1866 and today in that 1866 was a time of great division in our country. Today is also time of deep division.

But we can pray that that inscription that is on every dollar bill, every coin will come true, that out of many we may become one (E Pluribus Unum). This is our calling. It's not just a text message but also a teaching for us to follow.

[_00-b__]      I'd like to touch on this idea of a TEXT,  a TEACHING, and TRANSLATION.

In the Gospel, there's a text from Jesus: “Peace be with you”. That's the text message. There's a TEACHING = i.e., he shows them his hands and his side. The teaching is that “I gave up my life for you.”  The translation is that he is sending them out as his disciples also to show mercy and His disciples are meant to TRANSLATE God’s mercy into their own words and actions.

[_00-c__]       There are many parallels between the earlier episode at Mount Sinai and the receiving of the 10 commandments (Exodus),  and the later Pentecost.

In the case of the journey to Mount Sinai, the Hebrew people were first freed from slavery in Egypt. Then, the started their Exodus journey. 50 days later, they are at Mount Sinai, and they receive the text of the law, the Tablets of the Law, the 10 commandments.

In the New Testament, Jesus rises from the dead – freed from the tomb and the “slavery” of his passion and death –on Easter Sunday and 50 days later, the Holy Spirit comes with the new law.

In the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as the new Moses, bringing a new law that is now meant to be translated into the lives of you and me.

It's not easy to do the translations sometimes to translate from, from God's mercy to me and then from me to you, or from you to me.

This is the progression.

There's, there's the text of the law, there's the teaching of the law, and then there's the translation of the law into our lives.

[_00-d__]         Have you ever received a text message that you did not comprehend?

          I once received a message, a text message with the following letters, “I D K”   No idea ! So I turned to Google as search engine / teacher.  IDK = “I don’t know” The teaching and the translation were given all at once.

Translation is a wonderful thing. There are many ways to obtain translations. One way is to learn the language for yourself. I reading that the Rosetta Stone software program provides such a way, with this “offer”. If you pay $179 for a lifetime subscription, you can learn an unlimited number of languages.

Then it says you can learn 25 languages. I guess there's a limit to the unlimited plan.  There are way more than 25 languages in the whole world!  But it is a lifetime subscription. And that's what we are signing up for. In the in the Holy Spirit. We are signing up for a lifetime subscription of the text of God's mercy, the teaching of God's mercy and the translation of God's mercy.

Sometimes it takes a while to get the text, grasp the teaching and finish the translation.

[_00-e__]     Today is also to be ordination day for priests in the Archdiocese of Newark at the Cathedral Basilica, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and many other places.

          On my own day of ordination, I became a priest. Right  after that people started calling me “Father”, “Padre”.  5 months after my ordination – October -- I went for a dental checkup.

I had been seeing this dentist and his staff for many years prior. for dental checkups and other work.

 I got to know them. They came to know me. Some of them were interested in my in me becoming a priest. They even came to my first Mass which was around the corner from the dental office. That was nice.

          And, there I was for my first checkup after I became a priest. At the reception desk, they called me – right out loud – “Father James Ferry”. I was stunned by this.

There was a text, there was a teaching, but I hadn't done they translation yet into my life, I was still getting used to the idea.

[_00-f__]      I still get texts that I'm not used to. I got a text right before Mass started. I was not ready for this text, the text was saying the A/C air conditioning in church is not working.

I was upset by this. But, there was a teaching and translation in this. I had to translate something about this into my life. I was upset about the air conditioning apparently , but then became unsure about the true status.

So, what is the teaching here? First of all, Father James Ferry, figure out if it's really not working or not. Assuming that it's not working, that's the first thing I need to figure out. That's the teaching.

But, I also need to translate this into my life. Because even if it's not working, the message to you, James Ferry is don't make it the end of the world as you know it. You can still feel fine. (homage: REM, Michael Stipe)

[_00-f__]       

There is a message about God's mercy on Pentecost for us. Jesus is talking about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and going to confession. There is here  TEX, TEACHING, TRANSLATION.

[1^st. TEXT] We are called to confess our sins and faults to God through the priest.  Furhtermore, the TEXT is that priest cannot and will not ever to mention what you say to him to anybody, including you ever again.

And you might respond / say to me, “Padre, I am never going to confession. No way, Jose, I'm not going I don't care. You can talk to me till you are blue in the face. I'm not going to confess my sins.”

Well, I'm telling you, it's going to be good for you to go to confession. That's the text.

[2^nd. TEACHING]  By going to confession, you and I learn in a 1-on-1 conversation with God through the priest about God's mercy, and also about the value of sorrow and the value of contrition.

Have you ever gone to somebody to apologize – and in the middle of the apology -- you realized, you know, it's a good thing I apologized.

In other words, you became more more committed to your contrition once you started the process.

There's a teaching like that in confession that we realize in the moment the value because confession is not to make you feel worse, like bad. Or to feel your vices, that confession is there to make you feel your worth W-O-R-T-H and your value and that you are good.

[3^rd . TRANSLATION] 

          By going to confession, you become a translator of God’s mercy. You and I can live the words of the Lord’s prayer: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

You go to confession I go to confession, not because we're bad but because we're good.

Priests go to confession to I try to go to Confession at one every 1-2 weeks because I need to know God's mercy in my life so that I can correct I can be corrected when I go astray.

Therefore, I can translate that into my life. I noticed that Rosetta Stone isn't that popular these days. Babel is much more popular. Babel is only 8.95 / month   But whether you use Babel or Rosetta Stone, I'm indifferent to that. I'm just suggesting that the Holy Spirit is also a lifetime subscription. Please sign up.

[_END__]   

Ascension. (2023-05-21)

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 Ascension   ●● Acts 1:1-11 ●●  Psalm 47 ●●  Ephesians 1:17-23  ●●  Matthew 28:16-20    ●●    TITLE:  Servant Leadership. Ascension

[_00-a__]    There was a real-life hero this past week, in Michigan, a 13-year-old boy who interrupted his video game-playing when he heard his younger sister screaming outside. Jumping into action, though scared himself, he saw his sister being abducted by a real bad-guy. And, he targeted and made perfect projectile “throw“ with his slingshot the assailant who was injured/hurt and gave up …and the sister was able to escape. Do not try this at home.

          Nevertheless, it is an example of biblical level heroism, reminding you perhaps of the young King David also w/ a slingshot against the much taller Goliath doing something in an act of courage/kindness that no one else wanted to do

 [_00-b__]     I hope and pray our worship and works of service might also manifest God’s protection to those in need and also to those whom we meet at Lourdes here at church for the first time or the only time, to help to keep you away from harm, to know God’s love for you at Our Lady of Lourdes.

          Today you are here with us. I hope you will return.

[_00-c_]  A few years  ago, I went to a discussion / educational event priests / clergy at S-Hall-U on “servant leadership”, what does it mean to be a servant and leader for clergy/priests. Everyone was asked for a definition or example. I don’t remember what I said, but I do recall what the last priest said, “servant leadership means doing the things that no one else wants to do.”

[_00-d_]  That may sound negative, but I suggest that this experience of doing what is undesirable is also part of our discipleship, our salvation, and – I daresay – our true happiness. It is what it means to be both “spiritual” and – to use a popular term – truly “social”.

          St. Benedict – in his rule for monasteries – would have endorsed prayer and silence, but also would have applied the “rules” to the leaders. The priest in charge of the monastery is the servant of all. Even a title for Pope Francis “servant of the servants of God.”

          This is also Christ’s model for all Christians and there is a “priestly” aspect of life for all of us as part of our baptism, we are called to serve and make sacrifices.

          In Catholic worship, in Holy Week, Holy Thursday (night before Good Friday), whether at a monastery or in St. Peter’s Basilica Rome, you see the priest in charge washing feet as menial task imitating Jesus at the Last Supper.

          If you transferred this type of leadership to government, then the Speaker of the House would wash the feet of congressional representatives – both parties !  And, the President would was the feet of White House cabinet members and employees.

          I wonder why that has not happened yet.

“Servant leadership means doing the things that no one else wants to do.”

 [_02_]   A few years ago, a friend told me of a young person whom he wrote a recommendation for a college application. The young person was strong in academics and for several years also a sports/basketball star.

          However, by his senior year in high school, he was no longer playing in the games. He was not injured, but he just was not as good as the younger newer players and was now a “benchwarmer” during games.

          But, he recognized he still had a place on team, as both a servant and leader. The coach asked him to teach the younger players, those who had taken over for him. Being a servant leader means doing the things no one else wants to do.  I do not know the young man, but do know that he got into Harvard.

          It reminded me that we will all be called into service to do something we do not want to do or would not choose, to hand on to others what we know, whether we like it or not.

          In the high school senior’s case, there was an immediate payback for his “leadership.” Ours may came later. We store up treasure in heaven.

[_03_]   This Sunday is the Feast of the Ascension. We recall that Jesus – our leader and Lord – was raised up to sit at God’s right hand in heaven. Why did this ASCENSION or ELEVATION happen?

          Now, we might be inclined to think that Jesus was raised up to heaven in order to get away from his problems on Earth, right?

          Or, as they say on Star Trek: “Beam me up, Scotty” …. As Captain Kirk might have exercised leadership by demanding his servants to get him out of a jam with Kling-ons or some other malevolent force that might abduct him.

          There are some things that even Captain James T. Kirk does not want to do. He is good, but not really the perfect servant-leader.

[_04_]   Jesus, as the perfect servant-leader, will rise up to heaven and also leave himself behind in the person of the Holy Spirit and in Holy Communion.

          So, the Ascension feast is also an anticipation of Pentecost which happens 9 days later. The prayer interval of Ascension-to-Pentecost is the original biblical “novena”, a devotion of 9 days.

[_05.01_]    Church  fathers / theologians have taught that the reason for the Ascension was not for Jesus to be more comfortable in heaven or to get away from us. Nor is Jesus in heaven to get a better view from up there of what is going on down here.

          Rather, Jesus ascends to heaven so that we will focus more in his presence within us and also within each other, rather than on what we can see and touch.

          As St. Paul wrote about this in terms of faith being more than what we experience with our 5 senses of see-hear-taste-touch-smell. Of our spiritual perception, Paul wrote: “eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

          We are called to become the Body of Christ, by …

·       In works of mercy…

·       from feeding the hungry TO:

·       to bearing wrongs patiently

Do you find it difficult to bear a wrong patiently? To forgive a trespass against you?

Do you sometimes keep your resentment inside only to boil over later?

          Just because we come to church – or even for the priest – we not have our priorities in order.

          WE need each other in community and solidarity and prayer and we are called to turn to God in prayer for guidance to do things no one else wants to do or what we would not choose on our own.

Jesus gives us a model to follow not simply to be “beamed up” at the end of life, but right now, in real time, in penances and prayers – especially for those we are challenged or stretched by – to die and rise with him: TODAY. [_end_]  

Navigation (2023-05-14, Easter - 6th Sunday)

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2023-05-14 – Easter 6^th Sunday - 

Acts 8:5-18, 14-17   1^st Peter 3:15-18    John 14:15-21     

TITLE: Navigation

[_01_] This sounds like something that would only happen on television in fictional situation comedy – a person driving a car and using “navigation / GPS” so carefully and conscientiously listening to every voice command and taking every turn to find the shortest possible route. While doing so, the person drives his car directly into a body of water, into a lake.

          It actually did happen on TV.

          If you are a fan of the TV show, The Office, perhaps you remember the disoriented “regional manager  Michael Scott”  and the other character Dwight doing exactly that and driving into a lake due to confusion over GPS navigation directions.

[_02_]   Your brain – and my brain contain a navigation system much like satellite navigation with maps and charts.

          One scientist noted that over the centuries, "[we have] have invented and utilised many different navigation tools such as maps, compasses and latitude and longitude … Nature is far ahead of us and seems to have developed these tools inside our heads for our survival."  (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080911103906.htm)

          In other words, even before there was “navigation GPS” there was something inside of you to find your way.

          On the other hand, if you have never been to a place before, have not needed assistance, directions? I certainly did.

[_03_]   Recently, I was surprised– to realize that my GPS navigation on my phone and my phone signal had completely stopped working.

          I was traveling to a location where I had never ever been, going to stay at an AirBNB house that was rented by my brother and we were in the suburbs of Atlanta Georgia for a family funeral. I was relying on the GPS navigation.

          The GPS on my phone was doing fine on the “main roads” …. Not so much off the main roads.

          Fortunately, for me – 2 things made a difference – the rental car that I was in had a GPS that still worked…and my brother also stood out in the dark at an intersection to flag me down.

          The next day, in daylight, I drove the same roads and with my brother’s assistance. It was a totally different story. At one point, the road went pretty close to the lakeshore. I thought of the TV / The Office incident with Michael Scott. Fortunately, the GPS did not lead me there.

 

Nevertheless, is there not something greater than all of our technology ? Personal touch and contact matters.  “Solitude” is a good thing and Jesus leads us to solitude with him through the Holy Spirit.

We actually need solitude in order to be with other people.

          But, there is also a danger – and even a toxic nature – if we are acutely or chronically lonely.

          The US Surgeon General on a public health level reports that loneliness can cause even physical illness. The Surgeon General compares the danger of loneliness to toxic nature of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

          And, we need more than technology and entertainment – or a navigation system to get us out of the darkness.  We need a personal touch – even coming to church by yourself, know that you are not alone here nor when you leave here.

[_04_]   While I was in Atlanta, I was reminded of a real-life navigation episode.

          The reason I was in Atlanta was for a family funeral and I have cousins and my aunt and uncle who live there. My uncle recently died and while sad, we gave thanks for his life and love and hospitality over the years.

Together with relatives both “northerner” and “southerner”, we recalled times we had been together and my aunt and uncle’s desire to stay connected across time and distance.

If my aunt/uncle could not have you over, they might track you down in a neighboring state in North Carolina or FLA if you were there.

But if you were in the neighborhood, you had to stop in.

[_06__] I received their hospitality years ago when I was in their area for 2 days, and was absolutely expected to show up in the evening for a home cooked meal. That evening, my aunt and uncle – in tandem – shared a story about a visitor.   This was my 13 year old cousin who had flown by plane from Newark to Atlanta for the summer.

My aunt was concerned that she would connect safely and pick up my young cousin at the ATL airport.  This was long before cell phones, tracking apps, navigation. They had a meeting place agreed upon, but there was a mix-up before they found each other.

My cousin did not know there was any airport mix-up, but my aunt worried, searching 1, 2 or 3 baggage carousels (claim) until finally finding her, “I didn't know where she was I didn't know what was going on. I looked all over the place.”

And my uncle, recalling the same episode, chimed in and a humorous, sarcastic response: “She was probably trying to get away from you.” We laughed.

But, there was some truth that resonated in my heart about this.

Are there not people in my life that I am trying to love, to care for…and it seems that they are resistant or not responding to what I want for them? Are they trying to NAVIGATE away from me? And, am I really trying to do God’s will or is it my own?

Is there anyone whom you care about, love, nurture…. Who seems to be trying to get away from you or NAVIGATE away?

Some people are hard to love, to connect with. In our reading from 1^st Peter that we are called to work for the good of others with “gentleness, with reverence” (1 Peter 3:16) especially if we are in an argument or conflict. Doing so we truly “love our enemies” because sometimes the enemy or adversary in our lives is someone who is simply difficult to love. We also read in 1^st Peter: “it is better to suffer for doing good if that be the will of God than for doing evil.”  (1^st Peter 3: __)

Love is not just a one-time feeling but an ongoing decision and commitment.  There is not only an internal “navigation” in your brain, but also the Holy Spirit poured into your soul.

By the way, both during and after the Last Supper, there were disciples of our Savior who were trying to get away from him! But, Jesus still searches for them as a mother or father searches for a child. Mothers – living and deceased – never stop looking for you or out for you! Jesus says about his navigation:

“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”  (John 14:21)  

“in a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me  because I live and you will live”  (John 14:19)   [_end_]  

Mass Not Really Ended (2023-05-07, Easter 5th Sunday)

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May 7, 2023 _ 5^th Sunday Easter (Year A)    ● Acts 6:1-7 ● Psalm 33 ● 1 Peter 2:4-9 ● John 14:1-12 ●   Title:  Mass Not Really Ended.

 [_01__]    When I was 18 years old, I had my first experience of going to church, to Sunday Mass, on my own initiative without my parents taking me or watching over me.

            This was when I was away from home on a college campus.

There was a Catholic Mass there on my campus in Pennsylvania near Lancaster almost every Saturday afternoon. It was “almost” every Saturday afternoon because this was not a Catholic college. We relied on the goodwill of the Catholic priests around there to visit and say Mass. There was also churches off campus where I went once in a while, but the college chapel on campus – that I walked by hundreds of times -- was my usual place.

I also saw friends and classmates there.  One of my friends always had a lot of homework to do, equations, science. He was pre-med and would go later to medical school. He's a physician today. But he was so absorbed in his books that he didn't watch the clock/time. He asked me to come by and remind him about Mass in the afternoon.

This was my 1^st experience of someone telling me that my faith or practice of faith had some influence or effect. In other words, where I was going or what I was doing might affect another person.

[_02__]  This Sunday, we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2 of our young adults --- Gina and Angel --- at the Sacrament of Confirmation at 11:30 am Mass Sunday. 

Angel and Gina will renew their baptismal promises. In the sacrament baptism, they – and nearly all of us were infants and carried to church and someone else made those baptismal promises for us.

Those were our godfathers and godfathers. And now, [G, A] make these promises affirmatively publicly themselves.

And in many cases, young people, young adults are making those before the bishop that there has their willingness to follow Jesus and walk and talk what the Church teaches.

[_03__]    We read in John’s Gospel today, Jesus’ direction that “I am the way, the truth and the life”.

And, we could also translate “way” not just as an abstract method, but as a concrete path.

          Jesus is both our Savior and our Street, he is our Redeemer and Road.

          He is the Christ and the “camino”

 

  [_04__]        But, do the apostles get this ? Do you and I get this?

          Jesus sounds a bit frustrated with Philip’s sense of (spiritual) navigation and direction and days when Philip pleaded to see “God the Father”, Jesus responded:

          “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me. Philip?”

          What is the “long time“ duration to which Jesus refers. This is the 14^th chapter of the Gospel of John and in this conversation, Jesus is still “alive and well”. It is a conversation at the Last Supper and Jesus is telling them that he is going away. And, they want directions, GPS, LAT/LONG, etc in order to follow him.

          They want specifics.

 [_05__]        What is the direction, the road, the destination to Jesus our Lord and Savior? Is he in churches and cathedrals and chapels built by bulldozers and cranes and bricklayers and electricians?

          Yes, Jesus is present in these places and we have an obligation to connect with him at Sunday Mass, at church in these locations.

          But he is not limited to these locations.

          In our reading from 1^st Peter today, we are invited to be “living stones … being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.  (1 Peter 2:___)

          This is a reminder that your own home, your apartment, your room is a place of sacrifice and prayer.

          And, is not your home also “alive” because of the sacrifices you made for your home, for your children?

          It is true that you do not have a marble altar in your home, but your dinner table, your kitchen counter is also a place where you offer sacrifices.

          You may not have a microphone and pulpit of stone in your home, but the home is also a place where parents – especially- are called to preach and teach their children.

          Why do we preach and teach to our children? For the same reason that Jesus preaches to his own sisters and brothers, the disciples and to you  and to me, so that we will grow up.

          One thing that all these verses about “God as Father” does NOT mean..is that God is a father who is trying to subdue you or keep you in some childish state. God is the Father who rejoices in your growth and ability to follow him freely.

 [_06.01__]    Through Gospel today, you and I are guided toward doing what is right, but not necessarily what is easy or comfortable.

          There may errors, faults, sins along the way. We read in Proverbs: “He who conceals his sins prospers not, but he who confesses and forsakes them obtains mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13-14)

          In the Gospel, Philip the Apostle showed some reluctance to get started, perhaps fearing an error. Do you sometimes avoid doing something or doing what is right due to uncertainty, or not having all the blanks “filled in”?

          Mentally and emotionally, I’m the kind of person who likes to have all my I’s dotted, T’s crossed, and sentences spellchecked before proceeding.

          But, is this always realistic or even necessary?

          Isn’t Philip behaving this way, saying, to Jesus – just give us a little more information, data, messaging and then I will proceed, or in Gospel terms:

          “Show us this God the Father you are talking about”

[_06.02__]    Isn’t it true that we can sometimes learn a lot by meeting or learning who someone’s father is or mother is?

          Some years ago, I was with some some co-workers and we were talking about the efficiency, dedication and discipline and sometimes the formality of someone in our group. 

          When we found out that his father was a police officer – NYPD – one person said, ”well, that explains everything!”

          Jesus is telling Philip and you and me that we do not have to wait for some secret profile of God the Father to be revealed.  Rather, Jesus says, “the Father and I are one” (John 10:30)

[_06.03__]     [E*] In some sections of the Gospel,   Philip as the very eager messenger and courier who brings others to Jesus Christ. E.g., Philip introduces Nathaniel to Jesus “under the fig tree”.  (cf. John 1:46-50)

Philip is with Peter and Andrew when a young boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes is introduced to Jesus at the multiplication of the loaves.

          Philip is good at introducing others to Jesus.  Perhaps, Philip could have reminded my classmate to go to Mass.

          This is important, but is not Philip – are not you and I also responsible for introducing ourselves to Jesus? For working on our own repentance, receiving of God’s grace and mercy that we can venture out into the world.

[_06.04__] And this also relates how we were called to respond when Jesus is calling you and me to be his disciple, to be a wife or husband, to be a mother or father, to be a son or daughter to be a brother or sister.

It's not just about rendering service for others and doing good to them. One of my mentors in the seminary pointed this out that for example, one does not choose the religious life or the priesthood simply as a way to find an occupation to do stuff for other people.

Yes, this is what religious life, priesthood and many vocations involve. Marriage. Parenthood also.

But, we are “called” not to find just an ideal profession or career. (N.b., discovery need for grace, mercy to survive – amid sins and faults – signifies that we are “really getting somewhere” on Jesus’ Road, not that we are falling behind).

This is also about saving my own soul. Remember that I also have to listen to Jesus, the Good Shepherd whom we heard about last week. It's a continuous journey and one that includes not just being in church, but also what am I going to do each day outside of church that to recognize that living the sacrifice and going in peace means that the mass is not really ended.  [_END__]