memory lane

I cannot believe it has almost been a year since I have been ordained to the presbyterate of Milwaukee. Tomorrow morning I go to the Seminary and celebrate Mass for the first time since last May. When I return, I will see the faces of four deacons awaiting their own ordination and ready to go to their new assignments. I will see the faces of four new deacons ordained to the diaconate last Saturday at St Mathias. It is the last day of school tomorrow for all the students (barring a few exams next week) and excitement is high. Ordination season at Seminary was and always is a time of great hope for the Church.

We are moving through the Acts of the Apostles in our daily lectionary this Easter Season and the reading for this Thursday was Paul's first major sermon on his first missionary journey. When Paul evangelized, he gave a recounting of the salvation history of the Jewish people and then introduced Jesus as the fulfillment of this history. If you remember Peter's Pentecost sermon, it was much the same. The Apostles recounted history to show the people that God was always at work, and is still at work. We see the lives of the saints throughout Church history and see God working in them in their time also.

When we are in time though, it is harder to recognize God's presence. I doubt Francis of Assisi believed he would have had a large Basilica nor a following that converts souls to this day when he walked the earth. John Paul II or Mother Teresa probably did not think that they would have an effect 200 years from now on Christians. It is easier to look back in time and see God's work, than to look in our own time and see it. We can be assured though, that God is at work and does not skip generations, and works in ours despite the turbulence of scandal in our Church or any other problems that plague humanity. We continue to rely on God to feed us with fresh vocations who crave to make an impact on a wounded Church and bring hope to the people of God.

Calling all disciples

This weeks readings in the lectionary have really focused on the post Pentecost Church in Jerusalem and a marvelous transition has taken place with the disciple's. The weak and often unstable men have grown into bold and courageous witnesses of Christ. Most Gospel passages would certainly focus their attention to all the admirers that Jesus had, including the disciple's for that matter. Even when the disciple's learned of the cost of discipleship, which is the cross, they scattered into the wind. The true followers at the cross were Mary, John, and a few more of the women.

As the Church grew in the early days in Jerusalem, the Apostle's grew in grace by the Spirit and begin to proclaim the resurrected Christ at the risk of persecution, flogging, arrest and potentially death. What a transformation we see when God works in them. They are ready to be at the cross on a moments notice and willingly accept this mission. Their mission is our mission and the same question is asked of us. Are we willing to answer the door when the cross comes knocking or will we politely tell God that I think I'll sit over here and watch what happens. Are we willing to be speak on touchy issues or defend the vulnerable or will it cause waves that will be a hard cross to carry? Even the disciple's could not measure up to that responsibility when Jesus was here on earth. Now that Jesus indwells them and us, God invites us always to pick up our cross and follow Jesus...just like He asked in the Gospel.

I am on retreat next week and will be back the week of April 26th. God bless you this Easter Season.

A Resurrection for all

As our Easter season continues, I cannot help but think of a witness testimony I heard from a gentleman who is a team member for a Catholics Coming Home evangelization effort at a local cluster of parishes. I was blessed to hear this witness story a few nights ago and it is just one more story of so many where one can see God continuing to bless this world with resurrection.

This was a young man who was expecting twins with his wife. One of the babies died at childbirth. At the age of one, the surviving twin was in a fight for life with cancer and soon lost the battle. This young man began a battle with God that lasted three intense years. He hated God and the thought of God. He remarked to me that had he seen a collar on the street, he would have let me know his displeasure with God also. His wife somehow got him into a Church one Sunday and he had an intimate encounter with Christ...so much so that he had to leave in uncontrollable tears. He repented as God asks us all to do, and is now a leader in bringing people back to God.

The Easter season is a reminder of the resurrections in our lives...they are not just for the end time but for the here and now. We can witness and experience the resurrection so many times in our lives. God is at work calling many new people everyday to new life where they were once dead. God does this saving work despite the daily reminders we see in the media about the sin of the clergy and hierarchy. Jesus always said we would face persecution and negativity...even from those close to us who do not share a need for God. Through this all, we continue to seek new life for ourselves and others in this season of the resurrection.