The great feast of Pentecost is upon us…once again! The celebration of the great pouring forth of the Holy Spirit upon the face of the earth! That same “rush of the wind” that swirled across the face of the waters when the world was created! Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would return…and would remind the disciples of all the He had taught them! The Holy Spirit would embolden them…simple fishermen…to become great missionaries, carrying the “Good News” of the forgiveness of sins and promise of eternal life to the “ends of the earth.”

And that same Holy Spirit is upon us…here…today…so what will happen if we dare to inhale? To take in the fullness of that Spirit…everything would change…we would be transformed…led out of our safe and comfortable surroundings and into the chaos of the world! Called forth into the streets, doing all that we once feared to do and preaching what we never imagined we could preach! Let us breathe deeply…and allow the Divine Fire to burn within us and give us new insight and clarity about what our lives are truly about! But we must be prepared…it will be something “NEW” and unexpected, creative and lifegiving!!!

Or…we can hold our breath and remain just as we are! And the world won’t change and the poor and the marginalized will remain poor and marginalized…and wars will breed other wars…and there will be no “holy revolution”! But what if we “inhale?” Are we willing to risk turning ourselves over to the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to risk it all and be filled with the Holy Spirit? We can choose to “just celebrate” the past…the “birth of the church”…and our parish…and of the Spiritan Congregation…or we can “inhale”…and breathe into the future! And allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and embolden us to be disciples on fire to preach Good News…to go out into the world and to turn it upside down with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! What do I choose?

Pentecost Blessings,
Fr Tim

As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension I cannot help but reflect on the many ideas and concepts that swirl around this feast…some with unintended consequences! The word “ascension” itself conjures up images of Jesus rising up into the clouds to join the Father and the Holy Spirit somewhere “up there”…far, far away. The problem with this is it can lead us to believe that heaven is “up there” and we are “down here” and that God is far off and distant from us and from our lives. This is in stark contrast to the heart and soul of the meaning and significance of the incarnation. The truth of our God having become “incarnate” (in the flesh) in Jesus means that God is with us…not some remote deity watching us from afar. We need to recall Jesus’ promise “I am with you until the end”! These simple words are most profound…there is no need for us to stand gawking skyward with our jaws hanging open. While the physical presence of Jesus Christ as a singular human and divine presence no longer walks the earth…Christ is here, as close to us as our own breath, keeping us alive to be his presence in our world. As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus let us celebrate the presence of the Risen One in our midst!

Before his ascension Jesus gave a clear command and mission to his disciples…to us. We are charged with preaching the “Good News” of Jesus Christ and to be that healing, loving and welcoming presence in a world filled with sickness, hatred and exclusion. Filled with the “real presence we are sent forth to stand up and be the voice of the voiceless, to speak out on behalf of those who are silenced or ignored, to make sure that hatred, racism and bigotry are not left unchecked. Filled with the Spirit we speak the truth of the Gospel to power, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether garnering us friends or marginalizing us, it is our call as disciples of Jesus Christ!

How might I be a “healing, loving and welcoming presence”? How can I “stand up” for the Gospel, in the public arena and in my personal life? How do I experience the real presence of God in my daily life?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

Pretty much everyone has felt lonely, abandoned by friends or loved ones at some point in their lives. Most of us have felt fearful; wondering how we will make it through rough times with our children or parents or siblings. We suffered personal loss or illness and wonder if we will be able to go on. Today’s Gospel tells us that in the very midst of our “lost-ness”…suffering…fear or sense of abandon that we are never truly alone, we are not abandoned, we are not orphans….for the Risen Christ remains with us.

When I was little I used to think that Christ was with me….but only when I’m doing something good….or only in holy or sacred places. Oh…how wrong I was! Jesus proclaims to the disciples that no matter what they “feel”….not matter where they go, he will be with them…and even more….the Holy Spirit will be given to them and find a resting place within them. We are the inheritors of this same promise. We are never alone, never abandoned! Our God is with us always…even when we can’t feel that presence or sense it…God is with us. Even in the midst of our worst moments, our most selfish actions…even in the midst of our greatest sin…God is present and loving us through that dark moment.

How do I respond to being loved so deeply and passionately by God? How do I share God’s love with others? When was the last time I heard the Holy Spirit calling me to something…or away from something? What was or will my response be?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

One of problems with apocalyptic literature is that some people think it is a crystal ball, a door we can open to see the future. But in reality the function of apocalyptic literature, like First John, that we hear today, is that it is not meant to scare us but rather to reassure us! To reassure us that in the end no matter how scary the world gets, no matter how many monsters roam the lands, no matter how many awful tragedies befall us….God’ love will prevail and ultimately we will all be cared for, nourished and loved in the Reign of God.

​Last week’s second reading was about “the great gathering”. It was a vision of every person from every race, nation, language and tribe all streaming into the Reign of God…everyone! Today’s second reading tells us that God dwells with humanity, loves humanity, cares for humanity and is making all things new. We are, ourselves living “a journey”…a journey with God and in God. It is a journey of love and Jesus became one of us to try and show us how to love one another as Jesus loves us. Love is the basis of our very existence…we exist because we have been loved into being by the One who above all else “is” Love.

We find ourselves living in the midst of almost apocalyptic like horrors…local and international terrorists, wars and threats of wars, great storms and natural disasters and we can find ourselves feeling over-whelmed and fearful. And yet scripture tells us that even in the midst of such travails love continues to exists, in us, around us and through us! Perhaps one of Jesus’ most difficult commandments was to love one another, even our enemies! In the midst of our current national political debate or should I say “conflict”….where is the care and concern for the poor and the immigrant that Jesus has commanded us to show them?

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to be that presence of love…even in the midst of conflict….or perhaps precisely in the midst of war we are even more called to be that presence of love and work to end the conflict to build peace and to love one another as Jesus has loved us…even our enemies. How do I live out Jesus’ commandment of love in my daily life? How do I work to build peace and social justice nationally, internationally, in my workplace, in my community and in my family?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

In the second reading today we hear about John’s vision of “the great gathering”…a great multitude, so vast that it is beyond numbers, greater than all the grains of sand on all the sea shores! And we are part of that great multitude in John’s vision! It is made up of every nation, race, people and tongue ….no one is left out! God’s deep and passionate love embraces all peoples from all places, from all walks of life, from all of time, past, present and future. From all of our differences we will be gathered into one by the love of God and no one is left out.

But in the mean time we find ourselves here and now struggling with many of the same realities that Paul and Barnabas did in the early church: human indifference, greed, jealousy, resentment, fear, doubt and division. We find ourselves living in a time that is politically and religiously hyper-divisive, where the quality of mercy seems to be greatly strained. A time where one’s own needs seem to easily take precedence over the needs of others. We live in a time where religion is routinely used to shame and marginalize those who are different or who disagree with us! And yet, Jesus tells us that there are other sheep not of “this fold” who belong to him as well …and he will bring us all together (Jn 10:16).

John’s vision shows that ultimately, through God’s love, all will be one and we will find unity in the midst of our diversity. In the middle of all of this divisiveness that we find in our country and world today, what is Jesus calling me to do? How can my voice be the voice of mercy to those most in need of hearing of God’s great mercy and love for all peoples? How will I live out my discipleship of Jesus Christ this week?

Easter Blessings,
Fr Tim

“Let’s go fishing”….the disciples, dazed and confused, return to that which they know best…fishing! However, even the one thing that they thought they knew how to do, doesn’t work anymore! Every-thing has changed…and then there are these appearances of Jesus, raised from the dead! He appeared to them and breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit and sent them out just as he had been send by God….but they go fishing!

And so Jesus follows them and tries again to help them understand to what it is that he has sent them…to guide them on their way. Jesus tells Peter explicitly that he is to shepherd Jesus’ flock…and for each time he denied he knew Jesus, Jesus asks him if he loves him. And Peter accepts this new role but with the knowledge that it will ultimately take him to a similar death as Jesus, who is asking Peter to take up “his” cross and follow him.

The disciples are often presented as not fully understanding Jesus’ message and to what it is that Christ is calling them…but Jesus is patient and calls them again and again…just as Christ calls us. Over and over again, no matter how many times we find our nets empty and think all the fish are gone, Jesus comes to us and tells us to “try the other side”. Regardless of how many times we deny Jesus or refuse to throw our nets on the other side, Jesus is patient and will lovingly ask us again….with God there is always another chance! Where and for what is God calling me to cast my nets?

Easter Blessings,
Fr. Tim

On that first day of the week, while it was still dark…Mary went to the tomb only to discover it empty….then she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple.” She was in a hurry to share what she had found; and by her sharing, a small community took up the search for Jesus…only to eventually discover “The Christ”…”The Risen One”.

Though we know well the Easter story, do we ever fully grasp its meaning? The stone has been rolled away…the tomb is empty for resurrected life cannot be contained! Like the first believers, we so often must continue to live even with our dashed hopes, our suffering and our misunderstanding of God’s mysterious power. Like the first believers, we come to the tomb and expect to find death, but instead we find signs of a new life that we cannot even begin to comprehend. Like the first believers, we do not realize that all of history has been broken open and is now filled with the resurrected presence of the Risen One! Even in the midst of war and famine, even in the midst of suffering and loss, the presence of the Risen One is with us, and never leaves us. It is this presence that gives us the strength to carry on and speak truth to power, to stand up for poor and the marginalized and fight against evil in all its ugly forms, that we know so well.

Christ has Risen…this is the day the Lord has made…let us rejoice and be glad!!! Like Mary Magdalene and the other disciples let us actively seek the risen One in our midst…in the ordinary of our daily lives…for as surely as Christ appeared to the disciples, Christ now appears to us in our lives! Let us keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to the presence of the Risen One. Let us, like Mary, run forth to share the good new of Jesus Christ with all the world! I pray you all, God’s Most abundant Easter Blessings,

Fr. Tim

Today’s readings carry the sorrows and the weight of the world. The false accusations, denials, betrayals, injustice and beatings Jesus faced are heartbreaking. Today’s Eucharist begins with great joy with palm branches in hand, we sing victorious hymns to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Like the crowds, we too welcome and rejoice in his reign. Similar to the disciples, we are also excited and filled with wonderful expectations.

However when we listen to the passion of Jesus Christ, the mood of the crowds as well as that of the disciples changes swiftly. The crowds are fickle, cheering for Jesus one day and shouting “crucify him” the next day. Even many of his closest friends and followers sheepishly denied their knowledge of and association with him, and in cowardly fashion, abandoned him out of fear for their own safety.

Jesus, on the other hand is resolved to faithfully carry out his mission; the proclamation  of the advent of the Reign of God and of God’s lavish love and forgiveness poured out for each one of us, and for the earth itself…” for God so loved the world”. Through the suffering and death of Jesus we have been saved, forgiven -- our sins and guilt put as far from us “as the East is from the West”! We may wonder at times if God really loves us…and just how much…today we are reminded how much…as Christ spread his arms wide upon the cross…this is how much we are loved by God!

How do I live out my identity as the “beloved of God”? How can I share this message of God’s love and forgiveness with others? To whom am I being called to open wide my arms to embrace them in the midst of their need? Who are being crucified today…the millions of refugees, people because of the color of their skin, people crucified for their immigration status, for who they love, for what language they speak, for what part of the world or country they were born in, for their age, their gender, their intellectual or physical abilities? As I enter this Holy Week, whose burdens will I help to shoulder to the foot of cross as I journey with Jesus this week, and meditate upon the gift of love and forgiveness which he has so lavishly poured upon me, and upon all of humanity?

Lenten Blessings,
Fr Tim

I find it interesting that six years ago on the fifth Sunday of Lent was the first Sunday of Pope Francis’ pontificate and in the first reading that Sunday, as today, the prophet Isaiah told us that God said “see I am doing something new!” And on this Sunday, amid all of the disgrace and scandal within the church the Gospel tells us of a woman caught in the midst of adultery (my question is, where is the man?) dragged through the streets, demeaned and “disgraced”…screamed at and taunted, knowing all the time that she was about to be stoned to death! Undoubtedly she could feel the intense violent energy of the crowd that was gathering around her…how desperate she must have felt knowing there was nothing she could do to stop it. And yet Jesus stopped it…drawing in the sand…pointing out the sins of the very people who had condemned her and were about to stone her, supposedly all “in the name of God.” Jesus told the religious leaders they had it wrong…ultimately challenging “their laws” that demanded such violence.

There has been much written about this Gospel story, about it being a story of second chances…a story of new beginnings. Some scholars argue about the final line of this Gospel, as most translations have Jesus saying “neither do I condemn you, be on your way and sin no more.” However scholars point out that some ancient Greek texts do not actually contain the Greek words “sin no more” but rather the ancient texts use an archery term referring to “taking better aim”. It would seem then that Jesus encouraged the woman to be on her way and take better aim with her life.

Perhaps this is a moment in the church for “her” to “take better aim” as she moves forward into the future. Perhaps it is no coincidence that on the first Sunday of Pope Francis’ pontificate, the Gospel story was about a “woman”, demeaned and disgraced, about to be violently murdered…a Gospel story about the place and treatment of women in Jesus’ culture and society and Jesus’ refusal to participate in the systematic oppression and violent treatment of women. I cannot but help wonder if this Gospel story does not in fact call us to question the place and status of women in the church and in the world? Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us, especially men and in particular the clergy and religious leaders!

In today’s Gospel…just as Jesus challenged the “law” and the religious leaders…so too we are called to do the same! We live, still, in a world where women are bought and sold…where they are seen but not listened to…where true lasting and substantive justice and equality remain denied to women. It is quite clear that the men who drag her before Jesus include local religious leaders…and it is Jesus who takes a stand and ends the violence that was about to be done to her. And while the official church has been vocal on civil and human rights abuses of women around the world she remains far too silent on the just and meaningful place and role of women within the church!

How do I treat women in my life? What do I really think about the role of women in church and society? Do my views on women and their role and place in church and society truly reflect Gospel values? What would Jesus think about my views?

Lenten Blessings,
Fr Tim

Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them!!! What an accusation leveled against Jesus …tax collectors…they worked for the “oppressors”…they worked for Caesar and as if it wasn't enough that they worked for “the Empire”….on top of that, they cheated their own people, collecting more tax than was required by Caesar who was squeezing the very life blood out of their own people. Let’s be clear, the accusation was not wrong…the people Jesus was in fact welcoming and eating with were sinners…that was not a misrepresentation or a twisting of the facts. This is the context of the story of the “Prodigal Son” or perhaps better name the story of the “Lavish Parent”...it is about the magnanimous and unrestrained nature of God’s forgiveness!

And to be honest, it’s all a bit absurd! Who could seriously be convinced to forgive those who have abused them, cheated them and caused them more misery than anyone else could imagine? But there it is! That is precisely what Jesus is suggesting! Jesus is claiming that no matter how great our sin…no matter how far we have strayed from goodness and kindness we are all redeemable, all forgivable and all loved by God. But, make no mistake about it, it is in no way giving us “a pass” on reprehensible and sinful behavior! It is really speaking of the possibility of transformation and redemption through the power of forgiveness!

We've seen it in South Africa… we've seen it in Kosovo…and we've seen it in the lives of thousands of nameless victims who have chosen to forgive their perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities and crimes! How is it possible to forgive those who have raped, murdered and destroyed the lives of innocent people? Forgiveness does not in any way imply a lack of guilt…but rather it is about refusing to allow the perpetrator to continue to inflict pain and suffering upon those they have abused. As long as our anger and rage control our emotions we are not free of our bondage to them! The violent need to be brought to “justice” and to pay for their sins, but true justice is not revenge! Forgiveness ultimately frees the victim from the clutches of the perpetrator…it in no way says “it didn't happen”…it in no way says “it didn't matter”…it in no ways says “they are not guilty”.

So what does this all mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus was so kind and forgiving…but how are we to forgive those who are guilty of unspeakable sin? How do we forgive those who wound us and hurt us and the ones we love? Jesus clearly states that it is “Godly” to forgive. But that in no way means that we do not stand up against violence! It does not mean that we fall silent in the face of violence nor turn our back on seeking justice in the wake of violence…not vengeance but justice. How do we forgive those who are guilty of violence, especially when it impacts us personally…when it is done in our name or in the name of our church, or in the name of our country?

As you can see, it is not so easy…do we really believe in the transformative reality of forgiveness? Who am I called to forgive? How do I deal with forgiveness for those guilty of truly atrocious crimes? What do I personally, and we as a nation, need to be forgiven for? How do we forgive and demand “justice” at the same time?

Lenten Blessings,
Fr Tim