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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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Quite a few years ago, I walked into the restaurant's bar section to pick up a takeout meal. Several guys older than I was were sitting at the bar, and I said hello. I got a lukewarm response, but undaunted, I introduced myself and asked if they went to the nearby church. One of the guys said, “No way, Father.” I asked him why, and he responded, “Well, my brother, who is one of your ushers, is one of the biggest hypocrites I know, and he and I don’t get along.” …Being a new priest at the time, this was a new one. So I simply said, “I’m sorry to hear about your brother, but maybe you could come to a different Mass. Besides, we’re all works in progress.”
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Faith Life | Gospel Reflection | prayer
I came across a photo of me from long ago—very long ago. At that time, I was in great shape; I had what you would call six-pack abs. I worked out and ran three to four miles daily, which showed. Now, not so much. Now I fish. I try to convince myself that fishing is a sport, but I don't look like I used to, so it's difficult to convince people I'm still an athlete! Like any sport or endeavor, you must practice it if you want to advance. You must keep up with whatever is required to sustain your desired results, which, frankly, if you could see me, you would know I have not! This type of diligent workout routine is also vital for maintaining our spiritual health, bringing us to the Readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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Grandpa's Garden | Grandparenting | catholic family life | prayer life
During almost fifty years of marriage, we’ve learned that some home-related tasks require both of us to accomplish. Other chores are best done by just one of us according to individual talent and interest. Sorting out who would specialize in a particular area took negotiation and compromise. When something urgent presented itself, often involving one of the children, whoever was closest responded, regardless of specialty.
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Saint John, one of Jesus's twelve apostles, is known as the Apostle of Love because his writings mainly focus on love. According to a legend from the early church, Saint John was the only one among the twelve apostles who lived to an old age. In his later years, he experienced failing health, including diminishing eyesight and mental faculties. Saint John's mind had deteriorated to the point where he could only speak five words, a single sentence that he would repeat over and over. Legend has it that every Sunday, Saint John would address the congregation that had gathered for worship in the church at Ephesus, where he spent the last years of his life. Even though the congregation already knew what he would say, Saint John would stand and look over the assembly. Then, the elderly apostle would speak five simple words: "My children, love one another."
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The book of the Prophet Ezekiel was written during a time of extreme moral, spiritual, and political decay in the land of Israel. The most famous image in the book of the Prophet Ezekiel is the image of “the valley of dry bones.” The prophet saw a valley full of dead people, and the dead were not the kind whose skeletons were still intact; it was all human bones thrown everywhere! It is one of the most dramatic paintings of extreme hopelessness, yet the Lord in the book of Ezekiel promises to give life to all the dead who the Prophet Ezekiel saw in the vision.
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I have a question for you: Who’s the most generous person you’ve ever met? For me, it’s my parents, and if you asked my Dad, he’d say my Mom. They didn’t have the money of Bill and Melinda Gates, but they gave what they had in a way that brought joy to people who needed to have their spirits raised by someone who remembered and cared about them.
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