Summer Solstice Time

I hope that this message finds you well and enjoying these days of the summer solstice.

Today, I will embark on seven days of much needed rest and relaxation. In the scriptures, Christ implores us all through his message to his disciples, "Come away to a place by yourselves." Further, we are reminded ever so gently by Christ our Hope: "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light." We are all beckoned, especially during this summertime to spend ample time re-fueling ourselves for the tasks of life. We are to refresh ourselves physically, emotionally, intellectually and perhaps, most importantly, spiritually. "For what would a man gain if he were to win over the whole world and destroy himself in the process?"As I prepare to minister to the spiritual and ministerial needs of Saint Patrick High School, I am keenly aware of the reality of my own limitations. Begiining my sixth year in your midst this coming August, I want to be able to pledge myself to do all that I can in order to make the Spirit of God come alive in this corner of God's vineyard, that is; Austin and Belmont. I leave you with the words which became a song. They are written by Saint Richard of Chichester, England:"Dearest Lord Jesus, Savior and Friend; three things I pray: To love you more dearly, to see you more clearly, to follow you more nearly, day by day."Please pray for me, as will for you and your familes!

The Pressure of Economics

The cost of living rises steadily. The stark reminder is ever before us as we stop to fill up our tank, drop by our friendly grocer, or open the mail and check out our monthly utility bills for the house. The pressures on one’s budget can lead to stresses in the areas of our lives that seem unrelated. These can create tensions in relationships, making many of us susceptible to temper outbursts, moments of misunderstanding, irritable lives. What can be done? While few of us are economists, all of us are people in need of peace of mind. A remedy or two is to realize that we need to call on our strengths in times of turbulence. In his remarkable book Forgotten among the Lilies, Ronald Rolheiser writes that we sometimes fail to realize the depth of our strengths. We do not have to be “reeds shaken by the wind” but more often than not are capable of being rocks of courage and determination. In the face of challenge, we can not allow to lay dormant the rich potential of our courage. We must will to overcome that which are the obstacles to our legitimate goals. Consider Jesus stating to his disciples, “Courage, brothers and sisters!” However, we must also realize that when our strength is spent, when we seem to be overwhelmed by life’s twists and turns, that there is Someone who beckons us to Him for consolation, refreshment and renewed strength. Prayer helps channel the powerful force of God’s love to worthy and necessary needs. “Come to me all ye who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you” and “Ask and you shall receive”, says Jesus. A further thought is that many of us have become used to living with excess. We have set a fairly high bar for our wants. Perhaps the present state of affairs is a wakeup call for us to decipher what are our wants from what our real needs might be. Consider Jesus’ constant reminder to establish our priorities, and the need to live unencumbered by possessions that subtly begin to possess us.

That Time of Year...again

At this time of year, we honor those who are graduating from our schools, colleges and universities. An illustration of this was seen this past Tuesday at the awesome ceremony of graduation at Old Saint Patrick's Church dowtown. Please pray for the class of 2008 as they accept the diploma of graduation which not only advances them beyond high school but ushers them into a new world of even higher expectations and greater responsibilities. The challenges for them will be great, but the opportunities will be exciting and rewarding if they open their futures to the Truth of Jesus Christ and take their place as full members of the Body of Christ, the Church. If every day for the rest of their lives they would begin their day with praise and gratitude to God along with this simple prayer, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” then life will surely have meaning, direction and purpose — that is, a life well lived.

To the graduates and to others, I offer some of my favorite scripture passages which I have adopted as my favorite prayers:

+ “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

+ “Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief.”+ “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

+ “Lord, help me, I am drowning.”

+ “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

+ “Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of everlasting life.”

+ “I would like to see Jesus.”

+ “Lord, that I might see.”

+ “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

+ “Lord, wash not only my feet, but my hands and heart.”

+ “Lord, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”