Reimagine. Rediscover. Recreate.

HOW DO WE “CARPE DIEM”?

I imagine that many people believe that they can make an impact on the world, but secretly in the back of our minds – we believe that there is a little more that we need before we can do it.

There is a movie that I love entitled “Pay It Forward” about a teacher who gives an assignment to his 6th grade social studies class:  “Think of an idea to change our world and put it into action”  Of course, the students react that it is so weird, hard, etc.  But he believes that the realm of possibility exists in your mind.  And if that is the case – then the ability of change the world lies in each one of us.

The question is what do we do to carpe diem – to seize the day?

1.  We must know what needs seizing; 2.  We must feed our imagination; 3.  Eliminate Obstacles; 4.  Be prepared for setbacks.

At the end of the day, when we find we can no longer change our situation, we must change ourselves, but that is a whole other conversation.

BEYOND THE PHYSICAL

Many people find the Eucharist hard to understand or believe.  How does bread become body?  In the simplest of terms, terms are precisely the problem.  We do not have the metaphysical language that society used to understand and so we are confused.

At the heart of the Eucharist is a question of what is real?

We must see beyond the physicality of our world and each other if we are to understand who and what we really are.

This Sunday is an invitation for us to see the story in each other, beyond our physical attributes.  It is also an invitation to better understand our own body and its connect to our soul.

Join us as we break open the Eucharist this Sunday so that we may understand it as more than just bread.

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Corpus Christi Sunday: (Genesis 14.18-20; Ps 110; 1 Corinthians 11.23-26; Luke 9.11-17)

IN THE NAME OF RELATIONSHIP

Trinity Sunday helps us to understand God a little more, since it is a feast that celebrates God’s very self.  The Trinity is the mystery of God, but it is not completely outside of our comprehension.

We know that God speaks to us progressively so that we might have a relationship with God.

God’s desire for relationship with us is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions.  God is the initiator.  God loved us first – but we were kind of slow on the up-take.

Throughout history, God has revealed Godself to us in stages and under different names so that we might learn as much as we could learn at the time.

And so what is it that we are supposed to learn?  Well, for that, you will have to tune in.
CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Trinity Sunday: (Proverbs 8.22-31; Ps 8; Romans 5.1-5; John 16.12-15)

WE ARE SENT

At the very heart of the great feast of Pentecost is the fact that we are sent to proclaim the Good News to the world.   Thus, Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church.

What we have been given is a vision, but it is up to us to create a mission that guides us as to how each one of us will contribute to the overall mission.

However, we do not have to figure this out all by ourselves; for this, we have the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has always been hard to define, but it is best described as the wind and a flame.  Notice how unpredictable these both are.  The same is also true for us – we we give our lives over the Holy Spirit, we lose control.

What happens then?  Well, you will just have to tune in.

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Pentecost: (Acts 2.1-11; Ps. 104; 1 Corinthians 12.3-7, 12-13 or Romans 8.8-17; John 20.19-23 and John 14.15-16, 23-26)

DIVINE EMPOWERMENT

When I was entering the Basilians, one of my parents’ concerns was that they would have to “give me up” to the order; that once I joined, they would rarely see me or talk to me.

During this season of graduation and weddings, the notion is familiar to many families.  Divorce, death, job transfers and relocation all conjure up similar emotions of loss.  So, while we are happy for the change and goodness that our loved ones are experiencing, we are sad because it means our relationship will not quite be the same with them.

But Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven challenges us to look at such change a different way.

Had Jesus not left his own circle of friends to be with His Father, the world would have never known about Jesus – not because of what Jesus did, but because of what his friends did in his absence.

Today is not about divine abandonment; rather, it is about divine empowerment.  But to learn how, you will need to tune in to the message!

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Ascension: (Acts 1.1-11; Ps.47; Ephesians 1.17-23 or Hebrews 9.24-28, 10.19-23; Luke 24.46-53)

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR OUR SALVATION?

The reading from Acts of the Apostles depicts one of the biggest controversies of the Early Church – one that nearly torn the Church apart – that is the tension between the Law of Moses and the Commands of Jesus.

Fundamentally, the question in dispute was:  What is required for admittance to the Church?  What is necessary for me to be saved?

The lesson is important for us today:  We read that it was not the authority of men, but that of the Holy Spirit working through the apostles that this change came to be.

It is important that we respect the tradition and feelings of our elders.  We must recognize that there are certain essentials to hold on to, but there is also a time to let go so that there may be peace among us.

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: (Acts 15.1-2, 22-29; Ps 67; Revelation 21.10-14, 22-23; John 14.23-29)

THE END OF THE STORY

Imagine yourself on a couch reading your favorite book.  You spend hours immersing yourself in the story, but then, with only a few chapters left, you put the book down and walk away.

Such an idea seems ludicrous, but it is the approach many of us take with The Bible.  How many of us have spent time reading and studying Revelations?  I imagine not many.

Today we hear how the story ends.  God promises no more tears, no more pain and no more mourning.

And for as much as we have accepted this, these words are actually quite challenging to our mentalities.  Often, we think the old will pass away, die, be left; but God promises indicate a renewal of what is.

What does this mean for us?  Well, you will just have to listen in to find out!

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: (Acts 13.14, 43-52; Ps 100; Revelation 7.9, 14-17; John 10.27-30)

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

The Gospel looks at Jesus as the true shepherd; one that has three characteristics:  knowing, leading, and life-giving.

It is hard to really know someone because it requires real patience.

Leading is equally as challenging because real leaders must know the difference between power and authority.

Giving your life is an obvious challenge, and centers around love as a choice.

In the end, we wonder why some of us hear God’s call so clearly, but others struggle so much.

So join us as we reflect on Jesus as the shepherd of our own lives.

CLICK HERE for the Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: (Acts 13:14,43-52; Ps 100; Revelation 7:9,14b-17; John 10-27-30)

THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT

CLICK HERE for the Readings for Easter Sunday: (Acts 5.12-16; Ps 118; Revelation 1.9-11, 12-13, 17-19; John 20.19-31)