tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60966478157446443042024-01-16T07:15:43.577-05:00Under the Broom Tree"Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you. He got up and ate and drank...he walked to the mountain of God." 1Kings, 19.
We all will spend time under the broom tree.Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-47422319508341477042023-05-21T07:06:00.001-04:002023-05-21T07:06:08.986-04:00One of These Days…<p> ,,,I am gong to work up the courage to read old posts, knowing very well that I’ll find myself thinking “did I really write this??? What a…(insert descriptive adjective here.). Because faith is a journey, not a subject, one changes and grows in one’s love of God. Or, falls back and goes another way. Or,all of the above. One step forward, one step backward, two steps sideways. What comes to mind is St. Catherine of Siena’s imagery of Christ as the bridge to the Father. We cross the bridge, but not in a direct route. We go forward, backward, sideways…or even fall off the bridge into the rapid river of sin below. So, we’re all at different places and may see the same journey, live the same journey but have differences about it.</p><p>For example, in my own journey, the closer I have come to Jesus, the more I recognize the depth of my sinfulness. By starting to see the depth of one’s sinfulness, one enters into the struggle of humility vs. pride. On going struggle. A few steps forward, a few steps back, or a “time out on the field” to allow the Holy Spirit to work with you. </p><p>Hope we all meet on the other side of the river.</p><p><br /></p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-43372679618558007532023-05-21T06:48:00.000-04:002023-05-21T06:48:01.017-04:00A Few Thoughts…<p> With the Easter season winding down, a few thoughts. </p><p>Surrender is a key. Jesus has surrendered to the Father, carrying out the mission given to Him by the Father out of love for all of us. Something to look at in our lives. If we call ourselves Christian, are we willing to surrender completely, or do we decide to live by our way. Just saying. Not an easy thing to do, and it does not make life here easier. And it does not mean sacrificing your freedom or sense of self. In my experience, it does just the opposite. </p><p><br /></p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-55871760199482351452022-03-06T07:34:00.000-05:002022-03-06T07:34:00.022-05:00Lent<p> Not going to write much about Lent. Simply this. Lent is like the work of restoring a treasured work of art, working carefully and diligently to bring out the beauty of what was originally created. You and I are the works of art. The restoration is done by the Artist. Since we are not an inanimate object, like works of art are, the Artist works at the request of the work of art. For your homework, Luke 7:36-50.</p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-34295380394416606312022-02-24T06:39:00.000-05:002022-02-24T06:39:00.322-05:00Dealing With Sin and other notes<p> <span> In years past I have talked about one’s own journey with God. I have been away from here for quite some time, but have returned, and will attempt to pick up where I left off. I’m not really into Chruch current events. Doesn’t mean I don’t follow, but I’m not going to participate in a lot of the stuff taking place online. It’s a diversion. It keeps us from really facing God and therefore from facing ourselves.</span></p><p><span>In my own examen before Reconciliation, I saw that Satan was basically distracting me from some big sins that needed to be confessed with much attention on other, perhaps lesser, failings, The old magician trick…distract with the one hand, while working the trick with the other. When prayer took me back to one to one with the Lord, the situation became clearer. I feel freed from an anchor I never fully knew or admitted was there. </span></p><p><span>For a long time I had thought of returning to the blog, but kept putting it off. Looking back, I had my hands full working through life and sometimes felt stuck in place slowly freezing to death (See Dante “Divine Comedy.”) In this past year, there have been subtle, quiet, but powerful breakthroughs. This latest one has been developing over time and led me to return here. For years, I worked in communications…I confess, I was a radio deejay, talk show host, news guy. Later I sold advertising and wrote and produced commercials, before moving into management, (my on-air friends called this a movement to the Dark Side,). In short, I have some sort of talent which it seems the Lord wants me to put to better use. And there have been many “distractions” along the way. So here we go.</span></p><p><span>When I write or talk about one’s personal journey, there is a red flag. It can start to sound like, or be taken as, “Me and Jesus.” That is, it’s all about me and Jesus and the rest of humanity is “out there,” and I am being protected by Jesus from it. Not so. The personal knowing of Christ leads right to Jesus’ telling us to do what the apostles did…go, and make believers of others. To me, this journey of faith in this life leads to living the life that Christ led…including the suffering. My journey goes no where unless I follow this command. By my ordination, I am a servant. Coming back to this blog is just one of the ways I am called to serve.</span></p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-14682351511402473972021-04-20T06:59:00.000-04:002021-04-20T06:59:13.271-04:00Bread of Life<p> John 6:35,37. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst....Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”</p><p>You and I are among the ones who come to the Son because of the Father. If we so choose. And to be in the Father and the Son means to live as they show us. We’re not trying to prove anything to anyone, we are simply alive in love. </p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-38909977432655646862021-04-12T08:25:00.001-04:002021-04-12T08:25:14.860-04:00A Good Day to Die?<p> This morning, I read a twitter post by a lady who’s husband just died at age 38. My heart and prayers go out to her. These are the losses that are so difficult! She noted that 38 is not an age to die. Well, neither are 16 and 19, the ages of my children when they died. Both the person who tweeted and me are Catholic, and we believe in eternal life. Therefore, are we selfish because a spouse, child, close friend, loved one in our life dies suddenly? Not at all. When my daughters died, a lady told me not to worry or be upset because they were with God. Well, I said, that’s the point of my grief....they’re with God, but they aren’t with us. We don’t deny them that gift, heck, we longed for them and tried to prepare them to receive that gift! The hard part is that we have to continue the journey without them present. It’s not an easy journey,</p><p>As I wrote above, my heart...and prayers...go to the lady who tweeted, and to all who have recently lost loved ones. Every morning I pray for those who will die today, and for those they love. That really could be any one of us. </p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-10780934403927151092021-03-22T06:13:00.001-04:002021-03-22T06:13:22.354-04:00The Eyes of Mercy<p> In the Gospel of this day, we have the story of the temple leaders who brought the prostitute before Christ, seeking her condemnation. He silently waits for them to settle down after their citing the charges against the woman, and then challenges that the ones “without sin cast the first stone.” The air is deflated from their balloon. One by one they quietly slip away. Jesus is alone with the woman, and forgives her.</p><p>Jesus looked at the leaders, and the woman, through eyes of mercy, not condemnation. If we claim in any way to be followers of Christ, we also need to be looking at life through a Christ-like lens...through the eyes of mercy. Scapegoating brings emotional short term pleasure and self-righteousness. Mercy brings forgiveness and love. This became the focus of my meditation today. Am I, a servant of Christ, looking at the world through the eyes of mercy</p><p><br /></p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-56508073517983643062021-02-17T07:35:00.000-05:002021-02-17T07:35:04.820-05:00Ash Wednesday<p> It’s about 4 degrees with about 10 inches of snow visible through the dining room window. Driveway is clear and later on I will be off to pray, distribute ashes and the Eucharist and then prep a few classes. </p><p>For sometime, I’ve discerned coming back to this. Amidst the winter surge, I think I hear a “do it.” </p><p>This is a place for quiet reflection. It was started with Elijah in mind, and the broom tree where he took his “retreat” and was prepared for the next step in the journey. It was started as a part of my own grief work after the loss of my children in a car crash, followed by the death of my brother in the WTC on 9/11. After all that, I needed a broom tree. Everybody needs a broom tree.</p><p>On this Ash Wednesday, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus instructs us how to live our lives in His love. When it comes to prayer, he urges to go to our “inner room” and pray to the Father “in secret” and the Father will hear us “in secret.” </p><p>In short, go to your broom tree. Stop. Breathe. Rest. Pray. Listen. Be still. Know the Lord. </p><p>This blog is not meant to be your broom tree. It is meant to maybe help you along in coming to know the Father while in that “inner room” or under the broom tree. Elijah would leave the broom tree to go to Mt. Horeb, where he would have his encounter with the Lord. Where are you headed. </p><p>Ash Wednesday is a good broom tree day. Take some time to go to the secret room today. </p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-26726094007326654472020-11-11T06:26:00.001-05:002020-11-11T06:26:44.657-05:00St. Martin of Tours<p> Today is the memorial of St. Martin of Tours, fourth century monk, priest, bishop who worked tirelessly as a servant of God up to the time of his death in the year 397. He is/was the first saint who was not a martyr, so I understand. More so, he was a model pastor. </p><p>St. Martin simply gave his life for Christ. We are called to do so as well, in the way Jesus calls each of us to do. We tend to want to ignore that or forget that, and live a “Catholic life” based on what <i>we </i>decide that will be. St. Martin simply followed Christ completely. He allowed Christ to lead.</p><p>Today, we are called to live the baptismal promise of “priest,” not the sacramental but the evangelical. As disciples sent to all corners of...if not the world, then our neighborhood. Or maybe within our own four walls. It depends. It is not an easy call to follow, especially in our country. </p><p>I’ve found St. Martin to be an example of discipleship. On call 24-7. Go where needed, do what is called for. You really can’t plan this because it is Christ who will send you. It’s a matter of prayer and humility...being open to God’s call in your life and willing to go where sent when you hear it. Not an easy task, but one that brings peace to one’s heart. </p><p>St. Martin of Tours, pray for us.</p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-79080217916412338352020-09-06T06:01:00.001-04:002020-09-06T06:01:32.030-04:00Changes<p> Yesterday, I noticed the changing of the seasons slipping into our lives. The sun begins it’s descent and the shadows are a bit longer, the sunlight a bit softer. The trees are in late summer green. Green, looking tired, not as fresh as May or June. Daylight is noticeably shorter. The last moments of a pandemic summer. Thought it would be a good time to jump back in here again. Have been avoiding it. When I left radio for the last time, I reached a point where I wanted nothing to do with media. Instead, I wanted to get away and follow the call of a parish deacon. Which is just what I have been doing. Except this blog kept popping up in prayer. And I kept trying to avoid it, until this morning. Over a very early breakfast (I have a full slate of Masses this morning,) I returned for the first time in ages to Sister Anne Flanagan’s “Nunblog” to see that the “media nun” is still at it. Still at it, because that’s her call. Well, I’ve been a “media whatever” most of my life. So here I am again. And I think this is the medium where I belong right now. So we go forward. Prayers, please. Always needed.</p>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-17922651442156938052018-10-08T09:03:00.000-04:002018-10-08T09:03:42.969-04:00The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in Luke's Gospel passage today. It stays with me as I begin to move through the day.<br />
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Who is the Good Samaritan? Jesus Christ. Who is the robbery victim lying along the road? Those who have been deeply wounded by their sins and by the tragedies of life. This road between Jerusalem and Jericho goes through rugged desert country. It is not an easy trek. <br />
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The Good Samaritan comes to heal all, no exceptions. The victim is all of us.<br />
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But is that all? No. Just as we can be the priest and Levine, too concerned with their own issues, we can also be the Samaritan when we live in Christ. When we live in Christ, we become his icon, his tool. Our love of Christ leads us to act in loving mercy of...all. All. To be a disciple, you cannot pick and choose. All. <br />
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In the Office of Readings today, Ambrose writes that when we pray we should be praying for others first and foremost. Do you not think that Christ will know and serve the needs of the disciples who follow him by giving of themselves first? To those who give, much will be given.<br />
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Walking with this today. May you all find true peace in your lives.<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-35668606023397945482018-04-16T10:13:00.003-04:002018-04-16T10:13:54.218-04:00Off In Your Boats...The daily Gospel tells of those who were moved by Jesus' miracle of the loaves and fishes, and took up to find him afterwards. They took to their boats, and from both the location of the miracle and from Tiberias they set out to find him. They did eventually find him in Capaernum. <br />
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These people remind me of our daily Mass regulars. Instead of getting into their boats, they get up at half-past dark and drive to our parish church for the early Mass. After awhile you get to know them by sight, if not by name. <br />
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What these two groups of people have in common is a thirst for God. Why else would they do what they don't have to do in order to find Jesus? The difference between the two groups is that those in Capernaum had yet to experience the full revelation of God's plan of salvation. The band of early Mass goers has. <br />
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Both however, have experienced being able to be closer to Christ. In their own ways they move closer and closer to Him. When I talk about this with them, I urge them not to try to understand God, because it just won't happen. Instead, I suggest they simply be still and listen. <br />
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In both cases, they experience the Eucharist. The people who were fed with the loaves and fishes got a preview. The early morning Mass crew experience the whole gift. In both cases, when the heart is open the urge is for more.<br />
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This blog is called "Under the Broom Tree" because of the story of Elijah under the broom tree in Kings 1:19. My initial trip to the broom tree occured after the death of my children. Since then, I visit frequently. It seemed like now is a good time to return to the blog and its original purpose. In the midst of suffering and sorrow we can find ourselves falling in love...for the first time, or once again...with God. In the midst of what modern life offers us, sometimes we do need time at a place where all that stuff is checked at the door. If this can be one of those places for you, fine. Grab a seat. The Broom Tree is big enough for many.Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-9646565974727765602017-12-28T06:50:00.000-05:002017-12-28T06:50:18.865-05:00Holy InnocentsDecember 28 is the day in the Church calendar when we remember in prayer the children killed due to the insane jealousy of Herod. Deathly afraid of the potential of the new born Messiaiah, he figure that if he simply kill every two year old or younger male child, his future would be secured. Thus, the first martyrs...all helpless, all under two. <br />
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On this day, as a parent who has lost children, I think of the parents of those children and the parents of all children who have lost their lives due to the violent, selfish, prideful, envy rigged actioctions of others. Those murdered. Those persecuted. Those who took their lives because of the actions of others. Those killed in war or acts of terrorism. There is no pain like the pain of loosing a your child. <br />
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For our children today, we pray for the intercession of those first martyrs.Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-66026203170227778522017-05-06T20:45:00.002-04:002017-05-06T20:45:49.091-04:00Listen...It is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Last week, we heard the story of Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. There was a key passage in there for us. It was when the two invited Jesus to stay with them. This is how we are to respond to Jesus' love in our life...invite him to stay with us. If we don't, we will sit in the pew each Sunday, wondering why we don't get anything out of Mass. We become passive and hope for the magic tricks of the sacraments, which will not come because that's not what will happen. We have to actively invite Jesus into our hearts.<br />
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This week, we are faced with another call to action. This time it is to listen. We are the sheep, and as the Good Shepherd explains to us, the sheep know his voice and follow him while rejecting the voice of the stranger. <br />
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If you ask me, listening is not easy for most Americans. We live in a culture that is designed to fill every minute with some sort of activity. We cannot be quiet. We cannot be still. This will make listening, well, impossible. If we don't listen, how can we respond as the two disciples responded in last week's gospel? How can we actively welcome Christ into our hearts if we cannot listen and hear his call.<br />
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Being still is a challenge. It is also an action. It takes conscious effort to be still, to learn how to listen. To quiet our restless hearts while we pray. To be still and know the Lord. How can we hear the Shepher's call if we can't dial out the rest of the cacophony? Do you think the two disciples who broke bread with Christ would have recognized him if their minds were elsewhere? Do you think we will recognize Him if our minds are elsewhere.<br />
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A discipline of prayer will lead us to silencing of the mind and heart. Silence leads to stillness and in the stillness of our heart we invite Jesus to be with us and are able to hear and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-40952356816453013342017-03-14T09:05:00.001-04:002017-03-14T09:45:12.538-04:00Tuesday March 14th reflectionThe Gospel from Matthew today finds Jesus using certain Pharisees as an example for his disciples once again. Note that he tells his disciples to listen to them when they speak of the law, but don't always imitate the way they act. In short, Jesus is telling us that these Pharisees are good people who have some parts of their lives that they are getting wrong. Just like the rest of us.<br />
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It's easy to blow through Gospel readings like this, automatically dividing the disciples and Pharisees into "us and them" categories. Don't be like them. Them's bad! But that's not the point. Jesus is warning us that it will be easy for us to be like "them" and we have to be continually aware and on guard against that happening.<br />
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As I reflected on this passage of Matthew, I thought about all of us...clerics and lay folk...involved in the work of the Church, which has been my "day job" now for about eight years. It is very easy for us to fall into the Pharisee trap if we are not careful. I know it can be for me, and I have seen it in others as well. All good meaning people, all with their hearts in the right places, but sometimes it can creep in. A subtle version of "Hey, look at me, I'm holy!" <br />
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It's not my objective to be judgmental here. This is a great case of not being able to cast the stone because I'm as guilty as the next party.<br />
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It's just an observation that Jesus may actually be reminding those of us....in ministry and service or not... who strive to move closer to him each day to keep our heads up and be aware that each of us can be as susceptible to this temptation as the next person. The antidote? Humility. Jesus calls us to live humbly. A confessor once put this in easy-to-understand perspective for me. "Make an effort to put acts of charity in your day." What a great Lenten practice! <br />
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Mt. 23:1-12<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-3882445441633673172016-09-01T06:58:00.002-04:002016-09-01T06:58:50.904-04:00A. Thursday RambleThursday of the 22nd week of Ordinary time and the gospel is from Luke, chapter five, verses 1-10.<br />
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Jesus teaches from Simon's boat and then instructs Simon to go out and cast the nets. What I love about this reading is Simon's response. We've fished all night and caught nothing, he tells Jesus, but<br />
"If you say so, I will." So off they go and catch two boat loads of fish.<br />
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Simon gives us a single sentence definition of faith. His professional experience says that he doubts any catch will happen, but his answer expresses just enough faith to give it a try. He has been reached in that undefinable way that God can touch us, a touch personal between God and ourself.<br />
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When I think of those filled nets, I think of God's love toward us. How he can fill our hearts if we say so and follow. How his love expresses itself in ways we can't imagine because our human imagination lacks the scope to do so. How is love is both mysterious and personal. I can't define exactly what it can be for you. I know how it works for me...but even then, I often don't recognize it until after it has come. <br />
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I'm not talking emotional Jesus highs here. That's not who I am and that's not how he comes to me.<br />
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Think of it this way. He told Peter to cast his nets. Made sense for Peter who was a fisherman. Compare that with how he reaches Philip. Would he say "get a boat and cast some nets?' Doubt it.<br />
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Listen for what he says to you. Be aware and awake as Peter was. Then cast the nets. You gotta cast the nets, whatever they are.<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-55069026965873321412015-09-07T06:54:00.001-04:002015-09-07T06:54:05.975-04:00Good and Evil on Labor Day (talk about work!)Good morning from Northeast Indiana...where summer is playing the grand finale with sun and 90 degree temperatures.<br />
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So today Jesus takes up the secret challenge of the Pharisees (Luke 6:6-11) and asks them the killer question. "Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life, or to destroy it."<br />
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It's a killer question because it causes all of us to stop and reflect. The truth is that even some of our "holy" actions can be evil actions because they are rationalizations that keep us from truly turning to the good and giving ourselves to God. Evil actions can take on camoflauge...they can appear to be good, but are they truly in line with being in a loving relationship with God. That is what Jesus was creating when he opened eyes, cleared ears and straightened withered hands...loving relationships.<br />
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Anyway, it's worth a little spiritual look-see. Are my actions, are my thoughts, is my reasoning turning to the good? Not the perceived good, but the Good. Or are they turning away from the Good, which would be the definition of evil.<br />
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Hey, enjoy the brats today. Happy Labor Day.<br />
<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-52816744826930435492015-05-31T06:04:00.002-04:002015-05-31T06:04:58.508-04:00Trinity Sunday<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m not really going to attempt to get into some deep explanation of the Holy Trinity here. I would leave that to those with greater theological knowledge and wisdom than I have. Besides, the one thing I have learned in my own faith journey is that understanding him is not as important or as necessary as just living in his love. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Paul goes on to say, “You did not recieeve a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through whom we cry “Abba, FAther." We are close to Him as Sons and daughters.. We call him "Abba," a term of praise and glory...and of intimate love.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul continues by saying “the Spirit bears witness with our spirit. that we are Children of God...joint heirs with Christ, if only suffer with hime so that we may be glorified.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul is telling us that the essence of the Trinity is our loving Father who gives us life out of that love, </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus Christ, the Son, who suffered and died for us and by joining ourselves to his suffering and death, we are also joined to his resurrection and like Christ become sons and daughters of God and can share in the inheritance of the Father...the love of the Father. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Finally the Holy Spirit is the presence of God with us, in us, that guides us and leads us as children of God. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I once heard this descirbed as the Father who loves, the Son who is loved and the Spirit who is the love. The Father sends the Son out of Love, the Son sacrifices himself for us to the Father out of love, and the Spirit is the love that is ours through baptism.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"God is love" is more than just some feel good sounding phrase on a banner. God’s love allows us to find joy in the darkest hours, peace in the most difficult times, purpose in a world devoid of purpose and hope for a future that we have yet to arrive at. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God's love allows us be in him, to live in him, to have him with us always, not some distant God who's favor we seek and controls us like puppets, but the loving parent who guides us, gifts us and cherishes us.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s love comes to us in the graces of the sacraments, starting with baptism and especially in the eucharist. Grace is that gift of God to his children that enables us to share in this life of love. It is grace that leads us to humility, to charity, to hope. It is grace that leads us to act in love to those around us. Grace is the life of the Church, the presence of Christ here and now. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Matthew's Gospel, we read his account of the ascension. The Son, Jesus Christ, continues his work of freeing us from sin, now with the Church as his body on earth. As members of that Body, the apostles are commissioned to baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are baptized in that way and we are sent as the apostles were sent. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus final words are "I am with you always." This is what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit give us...the love that comes from being with God always.</span></div>
Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-24100416574756613562015-05-18T11:20:00.000-04:002015-05-18T11:20:12.076-04:00HortocultureThe Broom Tree is still here. I just haven't been watering it much lately. Quite frankly, I've been thinking about:<br />
<br />
a.) resume watering it<br />
b.) transplant it<br />
c.) chop it down altogether.<br />
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<br />
Option C, would just be calling an end to the whole thing. Thought about it, prayed about it, and even though I don't know what the future of the Tree holds, chopping it down really never was much of an option. Even so, not considering it's demise was not an option I could ignore.<br />
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Option B got more consideration. But transplants are a lot of extra work that I really don't want to do. Besides I've done transplants already and have left dead brush behind as a result.<br />
<br />
So, that leaves Option A.<br />
<br />
I will resume watering it.<br />
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Here's where I am and what I do the rest of my days. A little over a year ago I returned to radio, my first love, my long love, and the home of the few talents I have. However, I returned to the only place I would go, which was Catholic radio. Redeemer Radio in Fort Wayne gave me the opportunity to put together a morning show, and to once again experience the joy of getting up at half-past dark five days a week to, as the late great Larry Lujack so aptly put it, slave over a hot microphone. Now nearly a year old, Redeemer Mornings does interviews, has news, and my co-host and I yak about anything Catholic...almost. Got to admit, its kinda fun. The work involved in show prep is something else.<br />
<br />
But wait, there's more...<br />
<br />
I'm finishing getting (finally) my MA (theology) from Notre Dame. Comps this summer. Prayers needed, thank you. More work. <br />
<br />
But then....<br />
<br />
I have agreed to take over my parish's RCIA program. <br />
<br />
And...<br />
<br />
I do homilies, and the assorted other duties of a parish deacon, And I get asked to give talks and things like that around the diocese.<br />
<br />
So, you can see where the challenge of getting under the Tree came from. Plus, I wondered about the direction and purpose of the Tree.<br />
<br />
I have the watering can and the hose. More to come. Or is it stay tuned...<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-68278047071514686632015-05-09T07:54:00.002-04:002015-05-09T07:54:32.226-04:00Be Still...There are days when you are empty and simply feel motivated to do nothing more then sit. Not sleep, because you are not exhausted. Simply sit. No thoughts arise to distract you. Worries and concerns cannot reach you. You are simply still. You look out the window, and everything looks the same but different at the same time. You do not need, nor care for, any outside stimulation to fill the time. <br />
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You just get to be still.<br />
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An Easter gift for sure. I am thankful.Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-41558522194456168852015-02-20T05:54:00.003-05:002015-02-20T05:54:58.517-05:00The Third DayImaginative title..<br />
<br />
Had been hoping to do a short daily piece each day during Lent, but you can see that that got off to a great start!<br />
<br />
But it's still early, so a a few thoughts for today on Lenten practices.<br />
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Whatever you choose to work on, whatever you choose to abstain from, whatever fasting you undertake, may it come from a prayerful choice. <br />
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Better just one or two things than an impossible list. Don't phone it in, do something that really needs work in your life, which to me means your entire life in order with God. (I no longer use the term "spiritual life." That sounds too much like a hobby you undertake on a quiet Sunday afternoon.)<br />
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As for me, I have decided to abstain from one particular habitual act. By abstaining with prayer and with the complete work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it could mean great strides for me being the loving human God so desires of me. Just one thing. <br />
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Continue to pray and discern your choices. It will weed out the uneeded.<br />
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Don't worry about perfection. Think more about growth. <br />
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Pray always.<br />
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<br />Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-51390260648683522062015-01-31T09:46:00.000-05:002015-01-31T09:46:51.841-05:00Thomas Merton at 100Thomas Merton at 100. There are many who are telling us how Merton opened the doors of faith for them. Add me to that list. You know the story...reading "Seven Storey Mountain" when I was still in high school and how it opened my eyes. Honestly could not make much of it at that point. Except one thing, which cracked the door for me. <br />
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Thomas Merton showed me that holy people are imperfect.<br />
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Game changer.<br />
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Thanks, Fr.Louis.<br />
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P.S. St. John Bosco, next year you get your feast back!Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-30915801230366738112015-01-25T14:17:00.001-05:002015-01-25T14:17:30.923-05:00Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will post my homily for today. All faith requires a response. Oh, yeah, and mine can be different from yours!</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ve heard us say the Ordinary time is a time for teaching. We listen to the word of the Lord and from that we not only learn about our faith...what we believe, but also how we are to act on those beliefs.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-03930ad1-2283-4c99-b6d0-f55be567735a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s a good example, because the theme here is discipleship.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A disciple is a follower. We’re not talking about being a blind follower. Discipleship requires faith. The disciple must believe in what he is following. Catholic teaching will also throw in reason as well. Many Catholics who have come from different faith traditions have told us how there explortation..there use of reason...helped them reach the conclusion that Catholicisim fit their faith to a tee. But the key requirement is faith.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is because discipleship is a response of faith in the love of God. Discipleship, as a faithful person will attest, demands a response. The disciple knows God’s love so personally that he wants to respond to it, and he does respond to it in a way that God asks him to.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story line of Mark’s gospel is very simple. Jesus has come to Galilee proclaiming the gospel. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” And people responded.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sounds simple. Also sounds like Jonah’s message to Nineveh as well. And people responded. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear things and see things from time to time in our lives that spark our faith. Someone says something and the light comes on. Someone does something and the spark of faith turns into a flame. These are the same responses of the people of Nineveh and Galillee.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Nineveh, the Assyrians become disciples by the act of donning sack cloth and ashes. Their repentance is an act of faith, turning their backs on their old lifestyle to embrace a life of faith in Yahweh.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonah is a disciple, too, because despite his fear, cynicism, and generally negative outlook, he responds to the Lord by doing as the Lord asks. A response of faith.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Jesus preaches the good news in Gallilee, he calls Simon and Andrew, and James and John from their fishing businesses to become fisher of men. His messsage sparked them. They responded in faith. They certainly werent responding to any pay and benefit package!(As fishermen, they were equivalent to successful people running small businesses in our time,) </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In all these men...Jonah, Andrew, James, John, Simon...the Lord’s presence in some way set their hearts on fire and they responded in faith. the love of God overcame whatever issues they had...as we see in Jonah, especially...and they responded in the love of doing his will.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the promise of our baptism, we are called to be disciples as well. We are called to be like Jonah, Andrew, James, John and Simon and respond to God’s love with love. We are to go and share and to show others the Gospel of the Lord. This is discipleship. This is our response to God’s love. Our faith is nourished and grows if we choose it to be, and as it does we too will have the courage to abandon our nets and be fishers of men.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">POST HOMILY NOTE: I think Jonah is cynical, fearful, critical, and faithful. Sounds like someone I know. </span>Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-56487329165354233072015-01-04T05:42:00.002-05:002015-01-04T05:42:51.136-05:00Epiphany Epiphany is, to me, the second half of Christmas. Part one is that the Word is made Flesh and becomes a reality in our life, not an abstract God looking down, but one who now lives as we live, breathes as we breathes, and is present with us, seeking us to recognize and respond to that. Epiphany is when we say "yes," and find Him and love Him and welcome Him into the life we live each day. Even when we are the lousiest of hosts. We do become like children, don't we, because we always wish to be in the presence of the loving Father who will take care of us forever. The Epiphany for us is when we see that as the Magi saw it. Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096647815744644304.post-10362295916300651362014-12-25T07:32:00.001-05:002014-12-25T07:32:16.596-05:00Christmas Morning 2014"No one has ever seen God.<div>
The Only Son, God, who is at the Father's side</div>
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has revealed Him" John 1:18.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In morning prayer today, and all this week, we will say the canticle of Daniel 3;57-88, the magnificent song of praise to God for all He has done for us. Even after reciting this prayer time after time in morning prayer throughout the year, the words burst with joy on this morning, as if they are screaming the words "thank you!" with great joy and excitement because the Son has revealed the Father to us. He has been revealed to us and we dance with thankful joy as we welcome into our hearts and work to stay with him each and every day. This is life. This is "grace upon grace," this is what we celebrate today. We need not moan and wander, lost in the darkness of an empty existence. Life is ours, the gift has been given. Jesus Christ, the Word, came to us in the human flesh and lived among us, and he will come again when all this ends. In between, he comes to us frequently, always looking to be invited into our hearts, the "dawn from on high...to shine on those who dwell in dakness and the shadow of deah and to guide our feet into the way of peace." </div>
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Have a blessed Christmas. Welcome him now into your heart.</div>
Deacon Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122365395121818240noreply@blogger.com0