My Happy Place

 It seems that one of the best parts of summer is visiting what I like to call "my happy place." This morning I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite beaches. It was a beautiful, clear day and because it was early the beach was not crowded. I walked down to the water and stood there just staring at the water. Before long I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of the water. The waves were gently breaking on the shoreline and I was struck by the reality that no two waves were alike. I was struck when a family -- mother, father, and two small children. The younger of the two, a toddler, kept trying to walk into the water. Her mother and father took turns trying to guide her ever so gently away from the water. Eventually the father reached down and picked up his wayward child.

Being by the water gave me the opportunity to reflect on the magnitude of God's abundant love and care for each one of us. I found myself relishing the beauty and peacefulness of the ocean. Everything I had been thinking about and stressing over was now out of my mind and heart. It was time for peace and serenity. Perhaps this week we can take some time to relish in God's infinite love for each one of us. May the God of love and peacefulness guide our hearts and minds.

250th Anniversary

 

This weekend we celebrated the 250^th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The celebration of 250 years was marked with tributes, firework displays, tall ships in the Hudson River, speeches, reenactments and great joy. During the celebration, we were also experiencing a major heat wave where temperatures were well over 100 degrees. There were shark sightings and at least one person received a shark bite, dangerous riptides, and storms that knocked down power lines. People were warned to hydrate and stay indoors as much as possible.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the celebration was the special on the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty ("Liberty Enlightening the World") is a universal symbol of freedom, democracy, and the United States' immigrant heritage, gifted by France in 1886 to honor American independence and friendship. It represents Enlightenment, opportunity, and the abolition of slavery, welcoming millions to America as a beacon of hope. On the base of the Statue is the poem written by Emma Lazarus entitled The New Colossus welcoming those who came to America’s shores seeking freedom.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Even though Ellis Island no longer welcomes immigrants Lady Liberty remains a symbol of welcome and hope. May we continue to welcome those who seek liberty and freedom from oppression. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, may we seek peace and justice in all we do. May God bless the United States of America.

Pray for Venezuela

On Wednesday our brothers and sisters in Venezuela suffered two devastating earthquakes resulting in tremendous damage and loss of life. Aid has begun to arrive, and many nations have begun to send support and rescue teams. There have been many rescues and stories of those who sacrificed their lives protecting others. Catholic Relief Services share the prayer below for Venezuela. Let us continue to pray for the victims and those who are serving as rescue workers.

Father's Day

Today we celebrate Father's Day. It is a day when we honor all fathers, and father figures. As we celebrate this day let us pray for all father's that they may continnue to be blessed and respected for all they do. Happy Father's Day to all.

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it ... Dad

Make a Difference

Today we celebrate the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel today we hear the story of the sending out of the disciples. Jesus was moved with pity at the sight of the crowds for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Gathering the disciples he told them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." Jesus sent the twelve out with authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. He further instructed them to give without cost and preach to all people.

This probably felt like a tremendous burden for the disciples. They were to go where they would potentially be rejected. These were fishermen not scholars. Humble men who were doing as they were told. Jesus called his disciples to make a difference. He sent them out to cure illnesses and preach the good news. Today we are called to do the same. We are called to make a difference in our world. Our world is very troubled right now and we are called to rise above that trouble and reach out in compassion and mercy.

There is a wonderful story of a young child on the seashore. The child is standing amid thousands of starfish who are on the shore out of the live giving water they needed. The child was standing there picking them up and tossing them back into the ocean. An older man came upon the sight and stood laughing at the child. He told the child, "You can't possibly save them all." As the child pitched another starfish back he said to the man,"Made a difference to that one." I love this story as it shows what we are called to do. We are called to simply make a difference in the way we can. Our loving God calls us to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God. Let us strive to make a difference in the way we can.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is Latin for the “Body of Christ.” In the Catholic Church in the West, Corpus Christi is celebrated as a solemnity on the Sunday following the Most Holy Trinity Sunday since the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. At its core the solemnity is a celebration of the Tradition and belief in the Eucharist as the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In the Eucharistic prayer we hear proclaimed, “the bread of life, the cup of salvation.”

Bernadette Farrel has a song, “Bread for the World” which spoke deeply to me today.

Bread for the world A world of hunger Wine for all people People who thirst May we who eat Be bread for others May we who drink Pour out our love

Lord Jesus Christ You are the bread of life Broken to reach and heal the wounds Of human pain Where we divide Your people You are waiting there On bended knee To wash our feet with endless care

Lord Jesus Christ You are the wine of peace Poured into hearts once broken And where dryness sleeps Where we are tired and weary You are waiting there To be the way which beckons us Beyond despair

May we take time this day to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. Whether you participate in a Eucharistic procession or simply spend time in prayer this day may we continue to see Jesus as the bread of life and the cup of salvation.

Trinity Sunday

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity has been something that theologians have defined for a very long time.  Does God love me? It is a question that we most often ask. In our Gospel today we hear the familiar story from John’s gospel that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” God’s love is always there for us.

In our world today there is so much pain and suffering. Watching the news can be painful at times. There are arrests, protests, hunger strikes, and violence. Our political situation continues to be contentious. I often find myself asking the question, why do we treat one another so badly? It is a question that is totally opposite of the quote from John’s Gospel.

As we are called this day to be people of faith, hope and love, let us take to heart the call in our scriptures today. The call is to be a people of peace, hope, and love. May we take time this day to look into our hearts and see what God is truly calling us to. We are called to act with justice, we are called to love one another, we are called to walk humbly with our loving God. Our loving God invites us to act with compassion, to have hearts full of gratitude. Let us live in the hope of God’s promise for each of us.