How are we called to remember life and move forward? How do we reconcile sins and failings, our own and others, in seeking communion with God and others? These questions seem very relevant today when the call to “cancel people and history” seems to be the call of the day.

My History: Each of us has our own history. We have done many things, said many things and participated in many things throughout our lives. We have family and friends, some of whom we are very proud of and others whom we may not feel the same way. We also have many memories of what we did that often are contradicted by others. It is often troubling where I remember something very clearly and my Mom or a friend will correct me with another memory of what I did or didn’t do or say at the time.
My history and history in general can become very unclear, even if it just the recent past, as memory files and places it into boxes and corners which make it easier to deal with or sometimes to ignore. Sometimes these memories can become elephants in the room perpetuating the problem and other times ways of healing a hurtful moments allowing us to deal with it while not destroying the good around it.
In the end we all become a some total of our history, the good and bad, the joyous and the sorrowful. We remember looking forward and looking back at the same time keeping the tension of life and love in a balance of seeking peace, hope and goodness.
It is in these conversation with others that the history continues to be tuned towards truth and the twisting and reimagining it into lies and half-truths are challenged and brought into the light of loving grace and healing relationships.

My Faith: Like my history, my faith is also complicated by memory. It is the balance, the tension of looking forward and looking back in seeking and knowing the presence of God in the good and the bad of my life, in the joy and the sorrows and in my sins and my blessings. I am able to deal with my sins of the past because I trust God is working with me to be the better person. It helps me to see those who have sinned against me and forgive them…seeking the better in each person. It helps me to seek forgiveness of my sins against others, confronting the hurt in the hope they will seek the better in me.
There is in three of the Gospel the Parable of the Rich Young Man three of the Gospels (Matt. 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23). I love this parable not because the young man is unable to give up his riches and follow Jesus but because Jesus sees him at his very best. Jesus knows what he is capable of if he will only let go of what possesses him and follow the path of goodness and truth in the person of Jesus Christ. It is the challenge of how Jesus desires me to see others…as the beloved child created in God’s image.
Like my history I can distort and bend the truth of who God is and who I am called to forgive, show mercy too, who I am called to serve, love and enter into relationship with. This is why the place of the community and Church is indispensable in helping to guide, form and correct my call to serve and believe.

And Truth: As Christians we believe the truth is founded upon the Rock of Jesus Christ…his teaching remind us to seek the best in our brothers and sisters, to not allow sin to cloud our vision of the creative goodness of God found in each one of us. It challenges us to confront the sins of our life and the life of others with grace and mercy, the invitation to a greater good.
Truth is hard…it means continually growing towards God and knowing that each of us are sinners in need of not being cancelled but healed which can only happen in the all encompassing love of God.
It may not be popular…but it is the truth.
St. Junipero Serra….pray for us.

God Bless
Fr. Mark

With all the turmoil in the world the joy and blessing of beginning to celebrate public Mass again seems to be so minor for so many people that we can downplay the awe and wonder of once more joining together in worship and praise of our God. In truth, with the many restrictions, it feels a bit strange and odd on the human level but knowing the Divine mystery we are sharing these feelings of the experienced restrictions quickly disappear and the sacrifice of the Holy Mass breaks open the world to God’s mercy and love.
The strangest moments of the Mass are the looking out to masked faces, the chairs separated, the quietness and the noise…listening to the cars, trucks, motorcycles rumble by on Winchester Blvd make the experience out of the ordinary. And then there is the ordinary, the entrance, the readings, the prayers, the Eucharistic celebration of life, the movement beyond time and space in which we enter the Spirit of God’s presence.
This weekend as we celebrate our Sunday Liturgy in this limited way, we are also celebrating Father’s Day honoring all the Fathers in our community. This Father’s Day also falls on the 35th Anniversary of my own father’s death. I still remember that early Wednesday morning when I received the phone call from my brother Morris that my father had died. I was preparing to go to my work and it seemed like the world had come to a stop. It felt as if my heart was being torn in two as this reality broke into my mind.
There have been many moments since that day when I have missed the presence of my father. When I made the decision to go to college full time, I picked up the phone to call home and tell dad only realizing after one of my little sisters answered it was impossible task. There was the day of my graduation from Holy Names College, choosing to spend time in New Mexico on mission work, my first day of teaching at St. Lawrence the Martyr School, the decision to enter seminary and of course my ordination to the priesthood. And while these are the big moments there were the hundreds of small moments where his living presence was truly missed.
It is thinking back to the life without Dad that helps to put perspective in life in the strangeness of living without the communal celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. It is a missing filled with longing but also with the hopefulness of the memories of love to be fulfilled in the presence of God. It is the knowing we are not re-opening our churches because they have never been closed, rather we are re-entering the buildings because the presence of the Body of Christ never leaves the faithful and never abandons his people.
As we celebrate this day, don’t forget to give thanks to our Heavenly Father as we remember our fathers.
God Bless
Fr. Mark

As our nation and world continues to struggle with the COVID 19 pandemic and the racial tensions in the community surfacing in light of the brutal death of George Floyd and all the subsequent chaos and violence that followed we all can be overwhelmed and feeling like maybe hiding under our bed for the next few weeks may be the best solution. I have thought that.

But we also know this isn’t the answer or response to sin in our world, especially the sin of racial hatred and violence. On Tuesday, June 9, this past week all Catholic parishes in California were asked by our Bishops to celebrate a Mass for Peace and Justice in which we observed 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence during the time of the homily to seek true peace in Jesus Christ and true justice in God the Father for or world, country, community and family.
On June 11th we, as the Catholic Church, celebrated the Memorial of the Apostle St. Barnabas and we may want to think about what we today can learn from the life of St. Barnabas. We may ask, what’s in a name and who is this Saint? We know many times the names in Sacred Scripture carry meaning beyond just what we call someone and Barnabas is not an exception. The name Barnabas means, “son of consolation.” Fr. Steve in his homily at Mass that day reminded all of us this name and the meaning of the name informs us who Barnabas is but more importantly how he can point us toward a greater relationship in communion with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
The United States Bishops write in their pastoral letter on racism, “As Christians, we are called to listen and know the stories of our brothers and sisters. We must create opportunities to hear, with open hearts, the tragic stories that are deeply imprinted on the lives of our brothers and sisters, if we are to be moved with empathy to promote justice.” (from “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism”) We are reminded of this simple truth: we cannot fix racism by force or idle desire. We must learn to listen with hearts open to the heart of another. St. Barnabas with St. Paul were sent on mission to the gentiles, the non-Jews, the others of the world. (Acts 13:1-3) We can often forget how difficult and strange it was, and often still is, to step outside the comfortableness of our own culture and encounter another where they are not where we wish them to be. This is the point of the Bishops’ invitation to listen: to go out and encounter with the heart of love modeled after the heart of Jesus Christ.

To become a son and daughter of consolation we seek to hear actively and act with compassionate love to seek the healing of our heart and those we are called to meet. It is knowing the other deeply and fully in their hopes, joys, in their sorrow and pain. The Bishops’ write, “From revelation, we know that the one God who created the human race is Triune, a communion of truth and love, and so by faith we recognize all the more clearly that human beings are, by their very nature, made for communion. Pope Benedict XVI noted, “As a spiritual being, the human creature is defined through interpersonal relations. The more authentically he or she lives these relations, the more his or her own personal identity matures. It is not by isolation that man establishes his worth, but by placing himself in relation with others and with God.” We are meant to love God with our whole being, which then overflows into love for our neighbor. “Whoever loves God must love his brother” (1 Jn 4:21)”
Peace and justice must always be linked because the “and” between them is love. Peace is false without the movement of justice and justice is stagnant without the fragrance of peace. Love then becomes the “and” allowing us to enter the space of the other with mercy, reconciliation and true hope.
It is living the Christian life where, like a quote I saw that goes something like this: I may not be able to walk in their shoes but I can put my own on, lace them up and walk with them and beside them.” It is the first step taken with Jesus who is Love.

God Bless
Fr. Mark

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/open-wide-our-hearts.pdf

A Parent Who Prays, by Katie Warner How do we model work and play?….the labors of life and the leisure of life?

“Holy Scripture boldly proclaims, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are”(1 Jn 3:1). This love “comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a ‘we’ which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is ‘all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28).” By the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church is called to share with all the world this gift of love.” (from: “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love – A Pastoral Letter Against Racism”)

The quote above begins the U. S. Bishop’s letter from 2018 looking at the continued sin of racism in our country. It reminds us that equality, dignity and justice are founded in the Word of God and the Catholic Christian response to any form of discrimination should be the response of Jesus Christ seeking justice, peace and reconciliation. I am challenged to write this letter because of the brutal death of George Floyd, the subsequent protests and the violence that has followed. At his audience on Wednesday June 4th, our Holy Father Pope Francis reminded the Church and the world, ““we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life…At the same time, we have to recognize that the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating…Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”
This week, in the book “A Parent Who Prays” we looked at the spiritual fruit of “Self-Control” I commented on Monday in my short video how God calls us through this gift to self master the passions that seek to control our lives. These passions can bring about both good and evil but by the fruit of the Holy Spirit we can through prayer, hope and works of mercy direct our passions to the glory and praise of God.

I cannot and will not claim to know the hurt, the constant worry and fear or the doubts about equality and justice the sin of racism plants in the hearts of our brothers and sisters in the African American community or any person who has experienced persistent and constant discrimination but I trust and believe that in and through Jesus Christ, each person, each community, each society and ultimately the world can find a conversion to peace and justice only found in Jesus Christ.
When we are able to sit face to face in front of Jesus and truly expose and examine our hearts in truth in the mercy of our just and merciful Savior are we able to open our souls to be cleansed of the unseen and often unexamined areas we seek to hide and flee from. The Bishops’ remind us, “Racism can often be found in our hearts—in many cases placed there unwillingly or unknowingly by our upbringing and culture. As such, it can lead to thoughts and actions that we do not even see as racist, but nonetheless flow from the same prejudicial root. Consciously or subconsciously, this attitude of superiority can be seen in how certain groups of people are vilified, called criminals, or are perceived as being unable to contribute to society, even unworthy of its benefits. Racism can also be institutional, when practices or traditions are upheld that treat certain groups of people unjustly. The cumulative effects of personal sins of racism have led to social structures of injustice and violence that makes us all accomplices in racism.”
The spiritual fruit of “self-control” reminds us and invites us to examine all areas of our lives where passions run rampant and we allow the sins to remain unexamined. The tragic death of George Floyd demands that each Christian examine their hearts and bring to Jesus those sins that divide, denigrate and demean others who are equally children of the One True God. And above all we must then act in purposely seeking to resolve the sin of racial intolerance and hatred in our world.
As a Catholic priest and as a sinner I would invite you to take time in prayer and letting go of any agenda or “not me” and allow the breath of the Holy Spirit to enter your heart. We must begin today.
Our parish of St. Lucy is a diverse and wonderful community where we will one day soon gather again in prayer seeking the Divine Mercy and when we kneel, we remember we kneel not to the power of this world, but to the glory and praise of God our Father. For it is only possible in and through Him to find true peace, the peace given only in Jesus Christ.
Mary Queen of Peace….pray for us.

God Bless
Fr. Mark

I would invite each of us to take time to read and pray with the Bishop’s pastoral letter in the coming day.

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/open-wide-our-hearts.pdf

A Parent Who Prays: Self-Control by Katie Warner, How do I order my desires and passions to give glory to God? Do I allow my feelings and desires to control my actions, thoughts and relationships? How do we model self-control to our children?

Anticipation: When I drive up to Idaho to visit my mother there is always a great sense of anticipation. The 15 hour drive seems at times to be endless but as the miles tick by the energy in the soul, of coming home to Idaho, begins to strengthen and as your roll down the grade out of the Eastern Oregon desert and see the simple sign, “Welcome to Idaho” there is a jump of joy where life is just a little bit better. It is a moment after this I remember there are still another 4 hours to drive.
Waiting: The joy, the adrenaline, the happiness begins to temper and settle down knowing there is now a wait. You are in Idaho but you are not yet home. A few deep breaths and a refocusing on the journey begins again.
Knowing the journey: I have driven this road dozens of times and knowing the journey helps you mark off the time as you inch ever closer. Driving through Payette and Weiser as I head north and then following the winding road up the mountains through Council and New Meadows. And finally heading back down the other side passing through Riggins to the bottom of the valley. As you head up the Whitebird Grade and peak over the top, the Camas Prairie comes into view with its patchwork of fields of green or gold; home is a smell so near.
Going home to Idaho: And while the journey is almost complete, driving up over the last rise and seeing my childhood home grounds me in a way that nothing else has ever done on this earth. It is home: full of memories, full of new blessings and full of love.
Which is a long and wonderful way to get to the second part of the letter. As we Californians know, our governor issued an order that has allowed houses of worship to gather once more. In a way, this news opened the door too many different feelings of hope, memory and blessings of love.
Coming home to the Eucharist: In the Eucharist we believe we touch heaven in the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It brings forth so many spiritual gifts which nothing else can accomplish. It is the source and some of our faith and lives…it is the memories of the many celebrations, the joys and sorrows, the milestones of life…it is home.
Not knowing the journey: The most difficult part of this journey is not knowing. I don’t have landmarks or signposts to show me the way. It is the strange road where, you hope, every corner will be the final one. Where the next hill will reveal the sought after destination. In many ways it is the not knowing the road which has caused the most pain. It is new and difficult and seemingly without end. We don’t have a map, a gps signal, or even a stranger on the journey to ask directions. We get glimpses of possibilities on the facebook or youtube streaming events but the desire and long to be connected isn’t and cannot be satisfied.
Waiting: While the order by the governor was a wonderful welcoming sign, we all know there is a part of the journey we must still complete. And as we wait our hearts and souls should be preparing, emptying our sorrows and fears into the heart of Jesus and looking out with hope and joy to the inching forward in the hope of blessing.
Anticipation: We all know the destination: Heaven. We also know how the Eucharist helps us to live our lives and be connected to God in a unique and powerful way. The anticipation of the taste of the Divine food is what keeps us on the road forward. Let us all continue to seek our destination in kindness and love.
God Bless
Fr. Mark

A Parent Who Prays, By Katie Warner

Learning to listen to the feelings of others and walk with them, side by side, through the moments of life. How do I listen to my children’s feelings?

“Make your abode in Jesus’ adorable heart. Bring to him your troubles and disappointments, and your heart will be calmed. In his Divine Heart you will find healing for your ills, strength in time of weakness, and a safe haven in all your needs.” (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)

It is all about where you choose to live. This is a reality we all must face. Something we must ask ourselves. Are we “happy” where we live? Most people would first and foremost think of the physical location, perhaps their house, the city, town or ranch they live on, or maybe even state or country to answer this simple question. Being content or happy with where we may be living physically is a transitory question but as St. Margaret Mary points out in the above quote, as Christians, we are called to make our “abode in Jesus’ adorable heart.”
When I was teaching at St. Lawrence many years ago I remember a family of a student were moving out of state. In the days before the move in conversation with the husband and wife they noted there was this great Catholic parish very close to their new house and this was one of the reasons they chose this particular house. It struck me as a little odd at the time but the more I have thought about it and the more this point has been brought up in many subsequent conversations the more the reality of the decreasing of the physical house is replaced by the increasing of the abiding in the heart of Jesus.
“One thing I have asked of the LORD, this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.” (Ps 27:4)
The psalmist gives us this wonderful image of longing. It is a desire to make our homes, wherever they may be into a dwelling place of peace, joy and charity. Looking again at St. Margaret Mary’s words above we recognize how healing and forgiveness must be in the heart of our homes. It is one of those little hints given to newly married couples, “don’t let the little hurts accumulate” or as St. Paul reminds us, “If you are angry, let it be without sin. the sun must not go down on your wrath; do not give the devil a chance to work on you.” (Eph 4:26-27) Where we choose to live is founded in how we then choose to live. The home, as the domestic church becomes the place where faith is practiced and passed on to the next generation, to visitors and to the stranger. Our home begins to reach outward in looking toward the greater home God has prepared for us in heaven.
During this terrible and crazy time, the home has been placed under tremendous stress and pressure. Even my own home, the rectory at St. Lucy, is not immune to the temptations of sin, hurt and isolation even as we are forced to live more closely together. Where there are blessings the devil will seek to “work on you” to twist these graces into the needles of sin that irritate the good will of the family.
St. John Paul II reminds us we are not alone but rather the unity of the family, even when it is difficulty, is the remedy and hope in these times of stress, anxiety and hurt. He writes, “All members of the family, each according to his or her own gift, have the grace and responsibility of building, day by day, the communion of persons, making the family “a school of deeper humanity”: this happens where there is care and love for the little ones, the sick, the aged; where there is mutual service every day; when there is a sharing of goods, of joys and of sorrows.” (#21, Familiaris Consortio)
Where do you live? Each of us has the choice of where we live. Do we choose to make our “abode in the adorable heart of Jesus?” Or do we choose a less desirable and more destructive place? These are questions we must ask and answer daily because while sin can tempt us out of the heart of Jesus, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness will carry us back when we choose to embrace one another in care for the blessing of life.
“Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”” (Lk 9:58)
It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we choose to be with Jesus.
God bless
Fr. Mark

Spiritual friends don’t necessarily face each other. Instead, they look outward at the same goal, side-by-side. What goals are you and your spiritual friends facing together? What can you do to work towards those goals in partnership? (p 46)