God chose to make a people his own as a part of his plan to save humanity. The people he chose were those of the children of Abraham. Paul has been sharing his frustration over the past few days in our readings about how many of his fellow Jews were not believing in the fulfillment of God’s plan in the coming of Jesus.

Paul confirms in today’s reading, that even those of his children who reject his covenant, turn their back on his invitation of relationship, that he will remain faithful: “For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

God will not turn his back on us either. When we go against the will of our loving God and Father, which goes against our own best interests, he will guide us against it. Yet he also allows us to freely choose. God sees beyond our limited point of view. What may seem good in the moment, may not be in the long-term. God sees the full spectrum, and we do better when we slow down and follow his lead instead of impulsively reacting or choosing apart from his guidance.

God seeks our best interest, encourages us, invites us to walk with him, has sent his Son to lead us back to him, and he will not abandon us. It is important to remember he loves us more than we can ever mess up or can imagine. When we realize that we have walked away, it is as simple as turning back to him, and every time, we will find him right there waiting with open arms and ready to show us how to begin again.

Photo: Sunset Thursday after evening prayer, St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary

Link to the Mass readings for Friday, November 4, 2023

“I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart” (Romans 9:2). Paul is sharing his great pain because his own people are rejecting the gospel of Jesus. Paul can certainly relate because he not only rejected but persecuted anyone who followed Jesus, the person he came to believe is truly the Messiah.

Jesus also experiences the same aguish as he is meeting yet again opposition as he heals a man with dropsy, a condition in which some part of his body was suffering with swelling. Instead of recognizing and rejoicing in the healing just witnessed, the people judge Jesus for healing on the sabbath.

In response, Jesus points out the obvious by asking, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day” (Luke 14:5)? No answer but crickets…

We need to be careful that we don’t fall into the same tunnel vision by limiting Jesus in our own lives because we are choosing our fears, insecurities, or doubts over his guidance. I have done both. I have resisted, chosen not to act, beaten myself up over it (which does not work because we are still focused on ourselves and not Jesus), and prayed to improve the next time. I have followed without hesitation. I have also hesitated and then acted. Each time I was willing to risk and follow Jesus, I have experienced his consolation and our relationship has grown stronger.

I invite you to listen to Jesus today and ponder where he might be leading you and in what way to act regarding yourself or another who may be in need of healing. Grant yourself a quiet moment to examine where you may be resisting his invitation no matter how small, trust him, and take the risk to love.

Photo: Rosary walk one evening last week. Daily times of quiet prayer help us to step away from the hectic pace of the day and we are in a better posture to be able to listen and act on the invitation of Jesus.

Link to the Mass readings for Friday, November 3, 2023

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them (Wisdom 3:1).

Another interpretation is righteous. The just, the righteous, have been purified from all stain of the sin by the loving flame of the Holy Spirit, restored to their original glory, perfected in their participation in the life and death of Jesus, and have been reconciled to the Father for all eternity. They are the saints we honored and venerated yesterday during the Solemnity of All Saints.Today we commemorate, we remember, and we pray for the souls in purgatory. They are still being purified or made righteous. As Jesus said, “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Jesus became one with us in our humanity so that we can become one with him in his divinity. He was sent to do his Father’s will, which Jesus stated is “that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”

During every Mass the priest and those participating in the Mass pray for, as is stated in Eucharistic Prayer I, “all those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace.” Our hope is that in Jesus all will come to know and be saved by Jesus.

The beauty of the liturgical year is that we have special days of solemnities and remembrance to recall the core tenets of our faith. We can review and deepen our commitment to what we believe and who we believe in. Today, and for the month of November, we place a special emphasis of praying for our departed brothers and sisters that they may enter the kingdom of heaven for all eternity.

May we make a special effort this month to pray for those who have died for whom we hold close to our hearts as well as all the souls in purgatory. May we also with intentionality speak words of kindness and encouragement and engage in acts of love on behalf of those we are praying for.

Remember, by our baptism we are priests. That means during Mass, when we hear the ordained priest say one of the four prayers for the dead such as found in Eucharistic Prayer IV: “Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known.” Bring to mind those for whom you would like to pray that they may be granted entrance into heaven.

Photo: As I do each day, but adding a few extra today, I remember and pray for JoAnn, my heart.

Link for the Mass readings for All Soul’s Day

Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us (Romans 8:18).

This side of heaven, we are going to suffer in this life and sometimes intensely. So many suffer from the atrocities of violence and war, poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, slavery, and the list continues. We have our own struggles, trials, and tribulations.

Paul recognized that in his time as well and is reminding the churches in Rome and us today that this life is not it. There is a glory beyond this world that is promised to those of us who accept the invitation to participate in the life of Jesus. It is in this reality, our oneness and unity with God will be fully experienced. This is where we place our ultimate hope.

Yet, we do not have to wait for heaven to experience a foretaste of heaven now, to experience the wonder and glory now. A gentle, light shines in the darkness. Do we see it? In today’s gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed or yeast. Meaning that God is present in this fallen world. He has not given up on us, he has not abandoned us. He calls us to himself to receive, rest, and abide in his love.

Our struggles will become a blessing when we consistently seek Jesus when all is calm as well as when the storm rages. Each time we choose to put God first we experience him more. In gentle ways, he touches our minds and our hearts, he grants us hope, a little light in the darkness to follow. We just need to remain steadfast, trust, and continue forward, one moment at a time, one choice at a time.

Just like the Mustard seed will grow into a bush and the yeast will help the dough to rise to make a nice, warm loaf of bread, so we in our participation in the life of Christ will grow and mature as his disciples and his Father’s beloved children. God will bring about a greater good from our trials and tribulations.

Photo: Evening Rosary walk, St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach.

Link for the Mass readings for Tuesday, October 31, 2023

About ten to fifteen years ago, I woke up one morning and realized that I could not stand up straight. Each time I tried, I felt pain in my abdominal area. I hadn’t made any lesson plans for class the day before because I felt fine. I decided to go into the shower and see if I felt any better but didn’t. I did not want to disturb JoAnn and continued my morning routine hoping and praying that whatever was going on would release.

When it didn’t, I figured I would see if I could walk to the car and sit to drive. I was able to do so as long as I did not sit all the way back. I drove to school figuring that I would get everything set up, put together some lesson plans, then ask for a substitute, and get to the doctor. As I arrived, pulled into my parking spot, and then got out of the car, I attempted to stand and still could not. It was hard to walk because I was leaning so far forward to keep the pain in check. As I was getting things set up in my classroom, all of a sudden it released.

I don’t know what caused the issue, the experience did not return, nor has it ever happened again. I was grateful and thanked God that it passed, and I was able to teach that day.

What I experienced was only a few hours. The woman in today’s gospel account suffered with her condition of not being able to stand up straight for eighteen years until the day Jesus called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God (Luke 13:12-13).

 Jesus comes to us this morning and wants to heal us as well; to free us from any and all that keeps us bound, whether it be physically, emotionally, psychologically, and/or spiritually. Let us open our minds to receive his love, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. I pray that you may experience the consolation, freedom, healing, joy, and love of Jesus today!

Photo: Experiencing the consolation and joy of the Lord during a night Rosary walk. St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Monday, October 30, 2023

The light of the moon glistened like tiny crystals across the frost covered ground. Then the sound of a Christmas carol in German danced in the air. As the last notes settled on the ground among the frost crystals another carol took flight in French. This dance continued until all joined together singing “O Come, All ye Faithful” in Latin.

This chorus took place on Christmas Eve, 2014 on the Western Front during World War I. For a brief span in time, there was a cease fire. Most of the German, Belgian, British, and French soldiers laid down their arms and let down their guard to touch that deepest part of our humanity that seeks peace.

When we are willing to see each other as brothers and sisters, as neighbors, as human beings created in the image and likeness of God, we do better. There can be healing, transformation, and reconciliation. Unfortunately, this cease fire at best lasted but a week and would rage on for another seven years.

Over a hundred years later we are still a world at war. Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas, Southern Sudan and Nigeria in Africa to name just a few. Another mass shooting in Maine. Our country is deeply divided, and we even feel this division growing in our Church.

We just might want to join the scholar of the law today and ask Jesus a few questions of our own.

Jesus why so much violence? Why so much division? Why can’t we get along? Do you care? You may have some of your own personal questions to add. Take a moment and call a few to mind. Imagine yourself standing in this scene and ask Jesus your question.

No matter the question. Jesus faces you, holds you with his penetrating eyes, and listens more intently than you have ever experienced before. If you are willing to hold his gaze, you will see that he is with you, is listening, and hears you. He not only understands, he loves you. In the quiet of your heart, listen for his answer.

The answer Jesus gives to the scholar regarding what is the greatest commandment is that “you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

This law is foundational to our lives as human beings. When we make the relationship with God our foundation, no matter how crazy life gets, he will be our anchor. In the fox hole of the first World War, someone felt God close and sang a simple Christmas carol. And for a moment in time, some humanity and dignity replaced the atrocities of war.

Still the fighting and wars and violence continue. There may appear to be no end in sight for the particular problem you brought to Jesus. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and ask, “Where can we begin?” We begin by staying true to who and whose we are. We pray every day. We continue to trust no matter what that God has not abandoned us.

God is with us. He is not seeking some abstract, universal peace. As Pope Francis said, wars will not end by human means alone. God works with us one person at a time. We need to be willing to be transformed, to be humble enough to recognize where we need to change. What are the thoughts, words, and actions we entertain that are not kind or loving? In what ways do we see some people as other instead of our brothers and sisters? What factions are at war within ourselves as St. Paul experienced when he realized that we do the evil we don’t want to do instead of the good we want to do?

Are we willing to be still to receive and savor the love of God? Are we willing to allow his love to shine in our darkness so as to reveal that which needs to pass away in the grace of his perfection? Are we willing to be healed of our hurts and pain, and willing to forgive? If yes, we begin to grow in our love for God and each other, we will grow closer in relationship with one another and remain steadfast in seeing each other as brothers and sisters.

Jesus has come close in his incarnation, life, and Passion, to help us to experience the love of his Father. He comes closer still to us in the Eucharist. We are most transformed and experience the depth of his love when we receive his Body and Blood at each Mass. Do we fully realize who we are receiving the moment we receive Jesus in our hand or on our tongue? Do we realize the Son of God is organically becoming one with us in our humanity so that we are transformed and become one with him in his divinity? Do we realize that peace is not just an absence of war but a transformation of our hearts and minds by the love of God?

When we are willing to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, we will be transformed by his love and better love our neighbors that we have kept at arm’s length or considered an enemy when we truly remember who and whose we are. We are the beloved daughters and sons of God the Father. Then, like a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripples of God’s love will radiate out from us to transform our worn and weary world.

Photo: Rosary walk last night. St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Sunday, October 29, 2023

Life isn’t perfect, it does not go the way would like or plan sometimes. Life can also be hard. Sometimes this is so because of decisions we have made, mistakes or misjudgments, and sometimes because of circumstances beyond our control. Life can also be a joy and a wonder. What really becomes a blessing is when we can experience that joy and wonder during our challenges, trials, and/or tribulations.

How can we do that? The repeated verse from today’s responsorial psalm gives us a clue: “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”

Hope does not mean we have achieved our goal, overcame our challenge, or have been healed. We don’t hope for what we have or see because the outcome is still undetermined. We can feel secure in placing our hope in Jesus, even when we do not always see or experience him, he is always with us. We are not alone. We have someone who is not only willing to accompany us but has the battle scars to understand and empathize what we are going through.

The hardest thing I have experienced in my life was JoAnn’s death. I remember sitting in the doctor’s office when we got the diagnosis and saying, “Here we are again God.” I was referring to turning to God for help when I overheard my parents deciding to get a divorce and that didn’t work out so well.

The difference was that back then I did not place my hope in the Lord. I walked away from him. I now know, even when I turned my back on God, he, nor Jesus or Mary turned their back on me. This time I placed my trust in him. We hoped for a cure early on and we did not get one. But what I received was an incredible blessing: time. Uninterrupted, devoted time for JoAnn and me to spend together.

I took a leave of absence from the first week of June and until the morning of September 2, 2019, when JoAnn passed from this life to the next, we were together. And for the last month I barely slept, more blessed time together. As hard as those days were, I can honestly say there was more joy because the grace of Jesus was with us. We both placed our hope in him, and he gave us precious time together.

We are blessed when we don’t take the time we have or each other for granted.

Photo: Precious time together in LA.

Link for the Mass readings for Thursday, October 26, 2023

(Originally shared this past Tuesday, October 24.)

Today we celebrate the 29^th anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese of Palm Beach. Since the beginning, we have taken Mary, Queen of the Apostles as the patron saint of our diocese. Who better to oversee, model for, and guide us than the mother of God. Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but we are blessed to have her as our mother as well.

Mary does not appear often in the Bible but when she does, she is a powerful witness to the faithfulness and trust in God that we can all aspire to. At the annunciation, Mary trusted Gabriel’s message and she was willing, though she did not fully comprehend, the gravity of her yes. In that moment, she showed us the gift of humility. She placed her whole trust in God.

In today’s gospel, Mary is present again, this time not at the birth of Jesus, but at his agonizing death which she experiences with him. In the midst of such pain and suffering, Jesus offers these words of hope. “Woman, behold, your son,” and then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.”

I invite you to hear those words again. “Behold your mother.”

Mary is our mother as well. She cares for us, watches over and intercedes for us. Each night after supper, I experience a great sense of peace and rest as I pray the Rosary and walk around the lake on our seminary campus. I begin and end the reciting of the Rosary at a beautiful statue of Our Lady.

I will also reach out with my thoughts and prayers in thanksgiving as well as when I need some extra strength as I have needed this past weekend in preparing for two midterm exams and a presentation which I finished last night. (One of the reasons this and other postings have been a bit off schedule!) Jesus and Mary are the last ones I say goodnight to before I go to bed each night.

Mary is not just a person from the past. She is very much in our present.

May each of you turn to Mary and Jesus as well this week in the Rosary or speaking from your heart. Know she has been and will continue to be with you to guide you, to pray with you as she did with the apostles when the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, and she will accompany you through your days and evenings, through your sorrows and your joys, and your challenges and overcoming of them all the while leading you to experience the love of her Son.

Continue to trust in Mary, trust in Jesus, and may we follow Mary’s invitation to do whatever Jesus tells us!

Photo: Beginning of Rosary walk this week. St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

“Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

I know, not exactly the cheeriest topic for a Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Also, a topic if someone is listening to the readings at Mass will pull at their ears. I have heard more than once people ask, “How come we must suffer because of the sin of Adam?”

That is how God made us. He made us not only for communion and unity, but we are also interconnected. He created us out of the outpouring of his love. For love to be authentic there needs to be available the freedom to reject the love that is offered. What one person does for good or for ill affects us all.

Sin is a free and conscious choice to go against the will of God, to reject God and his love for us, to put ourselves, anyone, or anything before God. Instead of seeking God’s invitation of an expansive unity, sin is the caving in upon oneself. We all sin and fall short of the glory that God seeks for us.

The good news is that the opening verse of today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans does not have the final say. Paul continues: “For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Jesus is the one who through his obedience to the Father, will help us to make us righteous, will set all things right, will heal what has been wounded, and restore what has been lost. Let us continue to trust in Jesus and the greater good that he is bringing about through any of the struggles or challenges that we may be facing. Continue to resist reacting in kind or being dragged into the mud when there are those who do not respect or challenge us, and instead ask Jesus for the clarity to discern, the strength to endure, and the will to continue to persevere in prayer.

Photo: Jesus shines in our darkness and reveals to us our sin. Central courtyard, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Tuesday, October 24, 2023

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Jesus, with these words, is reminding us to be aware of what is truly important in our lives. There is a false premise, reality, or promise that pervades our culture that says if we are comfortable, attain pleasure, power, fame, and/or wealth, we will be happy and fulfilled.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of the above, but if we seek to have any or all as first and foremost, front and center in our lives then we are setting ourselves up for a fall. With God first in our lives, each of these can then be properly ordered, because we are not attached to them or seek to grasp or cling at them, and we can better enjoy their benefits and promote them for God’s glory.

The greater blessing is that even when we have none of the above but instead have developed a deep and intimate relationship with God, we will find fulfillment, joy, and meaning in our lives no matter what the external circumstances and our internal responses will be more at peace.

It is good to assess what is truly important in our lives. What grounds us and helps us to be whole and stable. When our first answer is our willingness to receive the love of God and love him and each other in return, then we are off to a good start to this day and this week.

Photo: View from Sunday night, priceless gift from God. St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Monday, October 23, 2023