FatherRon.com » Ordinary Time

Still Waters 2-5-2012

mike — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:25:32 +0000

Many years ago, there were three friends who wanted to devote themselves to the work of God.
The first devoted himself to the work of making peace among those who were in conflict, helping to reconcile the estranged and alienated.
The second opened a small house to care for the sick and dying.
The third went off to live a life of prayer in the desert. The first friend worked tirelessly to help warring factions settle their differences, but could not resolve them all. Tired and frustrated over the wars he could not prevent, he went to visit his friend who was caring for the sick, but found that he, too, was exhausted and discouraged in the holy work he had taken on. So the two friends decided to go spend time with their friend in the desert.
They told their friend the monk of their difficulties and frustrations and asked if he had dealt with the same discouragement. The monk was silent for a time; then he poured water into a bowl. “Look at the water,” he said. The water was turbulent and moving. A few minutes later he asked them to look at it again. The water had settled down – and they saw their own reflections in the still water as if they were looking in a mirror.
“In the constant motion of our own lives lived among others, we do not see our own journey very well; but if we embrace the tranquility found in the stillness of prayer, we begin to picture where we are and where we are going.”
Throughout his Gospel, Mark portrays Jesus as being uncomfortable with his growing renown as a miracle worker and healer. Despite the many demands made of him and his dedication to his work of preaching and healing, Jesus makes time to let the waters still, to retreat to a quiet place to let his own spirit settle, to find within himself God’s grace and blessing to continue his work. In our own over-scheduled, stress-filled lives, we can drown unless we let the waters still and stop to see ourselves clearly in those waters. To seek out a “desert” place of our own demands a special humility that recognizes God in our midst and understands that we are called to be the means of his compassion in our world wherever we find ourselves.
I pray with you today that we have the courage to let the waters of our lives go still!

The Cloak of Religion, The Heart of Christ 1-22-12

mike — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:16:52 +0000

Everyone likes to be around a success story. Some of these disciples mentioned, Peter, Andrew, James, John: became very successful apostles for Christ’s mission. They were not perfect, but the Lord asked them to do a lot of good to build up the Kingdom of God.
One of the early disciples was not very successful. No one wanted to be around him. Very few books were written about him, “Judas, the Traitor”. I really believe there is something we can learn from Judas.
I’ve wondered at times what kind of man this Judas was. What he looked like, how he acted, who his friends were. I guess I’ve stereotyped him. I’ve always pictured him as a wiry, beady-eyed, sly, wormy fellow, pointed beard and all. I’ve pictured him as estranged from the other apostles. Friendless. Distant. Undoubtedly he was a traitor and a weasel. Probably the result of a broken home. A juvenile delinquent in his youth.
No, I think we’ve got Judas pegged wrong. Perhaps, he was just the opposite. Instead of sly and wiry, maybe he was robust and jovial. Rather than quiet and introverted, he could have been outgoing and well-meaning. I don’t know.
But for all the things we don’t know about Judas, there is one thing we know for sure. He had no relationship with Jesus. He had seen Jesus but did not know Him. He had heard Jesus, but he did not understand Him. He had a religion but no relationship.
As Satan worked his way around the table in the upper room, he needed a special kind of man to betray our Lord. He needed a man who had seen Jesus but who did not know Him. He needed a man who know the actions of Jesus but missed out on the mission of Jesus. Judas was the man.
We learn a timeless lesson from the betrayer. Satan’s best tools of destruction are not from outside the church; they are within the church. A church will never die from immorality in Hollywood or the corruption in Washington. But it will die from corrosion within. From those who bear the name of Jesus but never met Him and from those who have religion but no relationship. Judas bore the cloak of religion, but he never knew the heart of Christ.
I close with this: Calling ourselves a Christian; calling ourselves a Catholic is a Big Waste of Time; unless first we know the Heart of Christ, and unless we have a growing alive relationship with Jesus Christ.
The choice is ours;
1. The Cloak of Religion
2. The Heart of Christ.
I pray we choose wisely.

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant! – Deacon Patrick Conway and Claire Conway 11-13-2011

mike — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:34:42 +0000

(Deacon Patrick)
You may recall that last spring a couple in our parish, who wish to remain anonymous, were inspired by this parable we heard today to give each of our 21 first-year confirmation candidates $50, and challenge them to “pay it forward” – to use the money to do something good for someone else. At a 10:15 mass they were presented with the $50. One of the candidates is here today to tell us what she did. Claire, what did you do with your $50?
(Claire)
At first I had no idea what to do, but then I decided to open my eyes and really try to see a need in my community that I could help with. Walking down the hallways at school, I passed by the same people every day. I knew their names and they knew mine, but we had never said one word to each other. So I decided to just start saying hi to people. I noticed a dramatic difference! I made so many new friends. I felt happier and I think the people around me felt acknowledged and loved. And it was such an easy and simple thing to do! I wanted that not only for my community but for the whole world, one hello at a time. I got the idea to use the $50 to have some wristbands made to remind people to say hello to one another. And I decided to call it Project Hello. It was also around the time of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and I wanted my project to also benefit the people who had lost everything. So I decided to ask for a dollar donation for each wristband, and to give half of the donation to Catholic Relief Services tsunami relief and to use the other half to buy more wristbands so that I could continue to spread the message of Project Hello.
(Deacon Patrick)
So, how did it turn out?
(Claire)
I started selling them here at church and at my high school, St. Francis. Last April at our Seder meal with Temple Beth El I got the chance to talk about Project Hello, and I raised over $100 that night. When my godmother was visiting from Italy, she bought some to take back with her to sell there. Last summer I attended Vision youth conference at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, and I was asked by the leaders to talk about Project Hello in front of the 500 high school students from all over the country who were attending. Many of them bought wristbands. St. Francis High School bought 100 wristbands to give to out at Freshman orientation this year. And last Thursday I gave a wristband to two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Volleyball Player Kerri Walsh when she came to St. Francis. Nearly 600 wristbands have been sold so far and people have taken them to Texas, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Hawaii, New York, Chicago, Florida, Italy and France.
(Deacon Patrick)
How much money have you raised so far?
(Claire)
$700. Half of that has been donated to Catholic Relief Services and the other half has been used to buy 600 wristbands.

(Deacon Patrick)
Besides raising $350 for CRS, what good do you think has been done – what have you seen, and what do you hope will come of all of this?
(Claire)
At my school I’ve seen people being friendlier to one another and taking time to talk with one another. I’ve also seen the classes being more welcoming to one another. It’s also inspired other students to start their own projects, like one student at my school who wants to start a sports camp to help younger kids. My hope is that more people will realize that everyone is of value and worth talking to, and that people will realize their worth and use it to build a stronger community rooted in kindness.
(Deacon Patrick)
Claire, that’s amazing! You’ve taken that $50 and multiplied it 14-fold in money alone! But the spiritual and human benefits of what you’ve done are immeasurable. I believe that one day God will show you what you’ve accomplished in goodness – and you’ll be amazed!
Claire, you’ve also been given the gift of Catholic education – eight years at our parish school, Good Shepherd, and a year and a half at our diocesan catholic high school, St. Francis. Can you tell us what that gift has meant to you and what you’ve done with it so far?
(Claire)
Being a student at St. Francis means hard work, but a lot of fun, too! The classes are challenging, but nothing is expected that you can’t accomplish. One of my favorite parts of St. Francis is the teachers. They actually care if you understand a concept and they want you to succeed and they are willing to spend extra time outside of class to help you. We have rallies, which are crazy and the class competition gets intense! Our sports program is a big part of our school too. The campus is beautiful, right on Kelly Lake with a perfect view of the hills in the background. The people, I love the people! They become your extended family. St. Francis is my home away from home!
(Deacon Patrick)
What has St. Francis High School done for you as a person?
(Claire)
It has challenged me to take on responsibilities and actively participate in my community, and it has helped me to see that life truly is what I make it. It has given me the confidence that I can succeed in anything with hard work and faith in God. Spiritually, learning in the community of faith has enabled me to see how God is always present in my life and having that family supporting me is amazing.
(Deacon Patrick)
Why should people consider going to St. Francis?
(Claire)
St. Francis is a school where students are fostered in all the ways necessary to succeed in life and college. I love how St. Francis is a perfect balance of hard work, love for God and His people, and play! It’s an investment in your entire self: body, mind and soul.
I’d also like to invite everyone to come to an open house next Sunday, from 1-4 pm. I’ll be in the back after mass in case anyone wants to more about St. Francis.
(Deacon Patrick)
Thanks, Claire, for your inspiring words and example!