Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Puting Mary in Your Living Room...
The following are some thoughts from my homily on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as given at our St. Joseph Mission in Lancaster, PA this past Sunday, August 19.
"Do as I say, not as I do." Was something my father often said to me growing up. Yes, I know that is contorted. I guess my father was a humble man aware of his own limitations. In fairness, he had a lot to imitate in his behavior as well. We have all heard this saying at some point in our lives, often as children.
Today we have a mother, and model who can say both, "Do as I do and as a say!" That woman is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God. So, let us see what Mary said and do as she says.
1. Mary said, YES! More specifically, she said to the angel Gabriel, I am the servant of the Lord, let is be done unto me as you say." Mary's fiat to the angel expressed her deep faith and trust in God's promise that she grew up learning about and in which she professed her faith.
2. Mary said, all her greatness was due to God's promises and goodness. Always mindful of God's deep love for her she was able to do great things. and so can we.
3. God has a special place for those who are poor, outcast, and marginalized. Mary says that God needs to be the center of our lives and those free of the world's clutter more easily know this and live this.
4. Mary said at the wedding in Cana, "Do whatever he tells you." Mary again the servant of the Lord, knows that all of life's plans are in God's providence so we can let go and trust in following God's plans, no matter what the cost. Not that life will be easy, but that life will not be lonely without God's walking with us.
That is what Mary said, but what did Marry do?
1. Mary raised Jesus in the Jewish faith as a devoted mother and wife, and later widow and single mother. Yes, how do you like that...Mary was a single mother!
2. Mary placed her faith and trust in Jesus at Cana and sent him on his mission to do the will of the Father.
3. Mary stood by Jesus at the cross, with mostly other women, solid in her loving devotion and belief in his goodness and love.
4. Mary stood with and supported the early Church and apostles and was devoutly protected and watched over by them.
Mary is the preeminent model of Christian discipleship that ever lived. What did her complete devotion and trust in God's promise win her: that no corruption of sin and death befall her, she was taken body and soul to heaven in the pattern of the resurrection of her Son. She is the first to go where all the faithful will follow. She is the new Eve.
This feast is for all of us, because Mary was and is one of us. What God has done for Mary, he will do for all of us in the fullness of time. So we should really rejoice this feast. We should take Mary off the ledge, off the pedestal and place her right in our living rooms, and kitchens, and work offices. Her model of discipleship is real, her trust is real, her love for us is real, and her destiny is real for us as well.
As Elizabeth said..."Blessed are you among women!" (and men!)
"Do as I say, not as I do." Was something my father often said to me growing up. Yes, I know that is contorted. I guess my father was a humble man aware of his own limitations. In fairness, he had a lot to imitate in his behavior as well. We have all heard this saying at some point in our lives, often as children.
Today we have a mother, and model who can say both, "Do as I do and as a say!" That woman is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God. So, let us see what Mary said and do as she says.
1. Mary said, YES! More specifically, she said to the angel Gabriel, I am the servant of the Lord, let is be done unto me as you say." Mary's fiat to the angel expressed her deep faith and trust in God's promise that she grew up learning about and in which she professed her faith.
2. Mary said, all her greatness was due to God's promises and goodness. Always mindful of God's deep love for her she was able to do great things. and so can we.
3. God has a special place for those who are poor, outcast, and marginalized. Mary says that God needs to be the center of our lives and those free of the world's clutter more easily know this and live this.
4. Mary said at the wedding in Cana, "Do whatever he tells you." Mary again the servant of the Lord, knows that all of life's plans are in God's providence so we can let go and trust in following God's plans, no matter what the cost. Not that life will be easy, but that life will not be lonely without God's walking with us.
That is what Mary said, but what did Marry do?
1. Mary raised Jesus in the Jewish faith as a devoted mother and wife, and later widow and single mother. Yes, how do you like that...Mary was a single mother!
2. Mary placed her faith and trust in Jesus at Cana and sent him on his mission to do the will of the Father.
3. Mary stood by Jesus at the cross, with mostly other women, solid in her loving devotion and belief in his goodness and love.
4. Mary stood with and supported the early Church and apostles and was devoutly protected and watched over by them.
Mary is the preeminent model of Christian discipleship that ever lived. What did her complete devotion and trust in God's promise win her: that no corruption of sin and death befall her, she was taken body and soul to heaven in the pattern of the resurrection of her Son. She is the first to go where all the faithful will follow. She is the new Eve.
This feast is for all of us, because Mary was and is one of us. What God has done for Mary, he will do for all of us in the fullness of time. So we should really rejoice this feast. We should take Mary off the ledge, off the pedestal and place her right in our living rooms, and kitchens, and work offices. Her model of discipleship is real, her trust is real, her love for us is real, and her destiny is real for us as well.
As Elizabeth said..."Blessed are you among women!" (and men!)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Mourning with the Sekh Community: Editorial
Below is an expanded version of my previous post which I sent as an editorial to the Delaware County Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Dear Editors,
Once again a tragedy, no an amoral act of hateful terror and cowardice, grips our nation. As I read more today about the shooting at the Sekh Temple in Wisconsin I grew very sad and angry. A deliberate act of hateful bigotry, ignorance, and murder was perpetrated by a person filled with hate against a peaceful religious group who seemed different. Our "founding fathers" must be turning in their graves, and certainly Our God is weeping for his children, yet again.
It seems tragically ironic that one of the founding impetuses that drove the founding of this land was the search for religious and political freedom by those who were different and in the minority. Now those today who seem religiously or ethically different are too increasingly often the victims of hate filled bigotry and violence.
To those in the political realm who use words and policy proposals of division and fear to plant these seeds of hatred for their own political gain and power, I say,"Stop, remember, think! We are Americans, all of us. Americans are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Sekh, Buddhists, Pagans, and Atheists alike. We are Democrats, Republicans, Socialsts, Greens, Independents. We have settled this land with ancestors from all the inhabited continents. That is the unique greatness, glory, and ministry of this great country to the world community. This is what has always made us a shining light to the world."
We, as citizens responsible for the continuing struggle and this great experiment of freedom, democracy, and human rights, must hold our leaders and our communities responsible for living up to and fostering this ideal, and confront those who distort it and abuse it for power, fear, or control. We are the very seeds of the future, and we can do this. We can meet this challenge of our time in the same greatness that gave birth to this nation of liberty and people-power.
To any religious leaders who distort and abuse the tremendous power of people's faith entrusted to them by using this faith and their religion to oppress others beliefs, or place their own religion as superior to another, I say, "Shame on you. Would the God in whom you believe countenance such words or behavior? NO! We may understand the Divine differently, but it is the same Spirit that draws us to seek out that which is beyond our human imperfections to the light of the perfect love, and that which can bring us together."
Whether committed citizen, or devoted faithful believer, we should mourn together, make the tears of the Wisconsin Sekh community our own, draw strength from them, and vow to commit ourselves to fighting and resisting these subtle and overt acts of hatred and division. That which binds us is far greater than that which divides us!
Fr. Joseph Augustine Menna, AIHM
Pastor
St. Mary of Grace Independent Catholic Church
Media, PA
www.inclusivecatholics.org
Dear Editors,
Once again a tragedy, no an amoral act of hateful terror and cowardice, grips our nation. As I read more today about the shooting at the Sekh Temple in Wisconsin I grew very sad and angry. A deliberate act of hateful bigotry, ignorance, and murder was perpetrated by a person filled with hate against a peaceful religious group who seemed different. Our "founding fathers" must be turning in their graves, and certainly Our God is weeping for his children, yet again.
It seems tragically ironic that one of the founding impetuses that drove the founding of this land was the search for religious and political freedom by those who were different and in the minority. Now those today who seem religiously or ethically different are too increasingly often the victims of hate filled bigotry and violence.
To those in the political realm who use words and policy proposals of division and fear to plant these seeds of hatred for their own political gain and power, I say,"Stop, remember, think! We are Americans, all of us. Americans are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Sekh, Buddhists, Pagans, and Atheists alike. We are Democrats, Republicans, Socialsts, Greens, Independents. We have settled this land with ancestors from all the inhabited continents. That is the unique greatness, glory, and ministry of this great country to the world community. This is what has always made us a shining light to the world."
We, as citizens responsible for the continuing struggle and this great experiment of freedom, democracy, and human rights, must hold our leaders and our communities responsible for living up to and fostering this ideal, and confront those who distort it and abuse it for power, fear, or control. We are the very seeds of the future, and we can do this. We can meet this challenge of our time in the same greatness that gave birth to this nation of liberty and people-power.
To any religious leaders who distort and abuse the tremendous power of people's faith entrusted to them by using this faith and their religion to oppress others beliefs, or place their own religion as superior to another, I say, "Shame on you. Would the God in whom you believe countenance such words or behavior? NO! We may understand the Divine differently, but it is the same Spirit that draws us to seek out that which is beyond our human imperfections to the light of the perfect love, and that which can bring us together."
Whether committed citizen, or devoted faithful believer, we should mourn together, make the tears of the Wisconsin Sekh community our own, draw strength from them, and vow to commit ourselves to fighting and resisting these subtle and overt acts of hatred and division. That which binds us is far greater than that which divides us!
Fr. Joseph Augustine Menna, AIHM
Pastor
St. Mary of Grace Independent Catholic Church
Media, PA
www.inclusivecatholics.org
Monday, August 6, 2012
Mourning with the Sekh Victims and Families
Brothers and sisters,
Once again a tragedy, no, an amoral act of terror and cowardice grips our nation. As I read more today about the shooting at the Sekh Temple in Wisconsin I grew very sad and angry. A deliberate act of hateful bigotry, ignorance, and murder by a person filled with hate against a peaceful religious group who seemed different. Our "founding fathers" must be turning in their graves, and certainly Our God is weeping for his children, yet again.
Let us together, again, make a show of unity for religious freedom, human love, and respect for innocent martyrs. Please make Wednesday a day of special prayer, offering the Office of the Dead for the victims and commending their families and friends, and the Sekh community to the comfort of Our Mother of Consolation. We may understand the Divine differently, but it is the same Spirit that draws us to seek out that which is beyond our human imperfections to the light of the perfect love, and that which can bring us together.
In the midst of this sad, evil, and frightening event, let us draw strength from our faith in Christ who takes this division, hate, and bigotry to the cross and CONQUERS it with LOVE! This is our strength, this is our comfort, this is our hope, this is our life in the passion, death and RESURRECTION of Our Lord!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Joseph Augustine+
Once again a tragedy, no, an amoral act of terror and cowardice grips our nation. As I read more today about the shooting at the Sekh Temple in Wisconsin I grew very sad and angry. A deliberate act of hateful bigotry, ignorance, and murder by a person filled with hate against a peaceful religious group who seemed different. Our "founding fathers" must be turning in their graves, and certainly Our God is weeping for his children, yet again.
Let us together, again, make a show of unity for religious freedom, human love, and respect for innocent martyrs. Please make Wednesday a day of special prayer, offering the Office of the Dead for the victims and commending their families and friends, and the Sekh community to the comfort of Our Mother of Consolation. We may understand the Divine differently, but it is the same Spirit that draws us to seek out that which is beyond our human imperfections to the light of the perfect love, and that which can bring us together.
In the midst of this sad, evil, and frightening event, let us draw strength from our faith in Christ who takes this division, hate, and bigotry to the cross and CONQUERS it with LOVE! This is our strength, this is our comfort, this is our hope, this is our life in the passion, death and RESURRECTION of Our Lord!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Joseph Augustine+
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