Fr. Ben's Biblical Blog: May 2020

§ So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me…”

· Then imagine all the words without telephones, cell phones, twitter, Facebook, tic-tock? but were hearing different stories that Jesus rose from the dead!

o Wouldn’t we each simply say: no way, conspiracy, they’re nuts!

o Only to realize that you, like St. Thomas the doubter, saw him!

Now we are in the 7^th week in the Season of Easter, and where are the disciples in their story?

· Back to Jesus, praising him for life, understanding a big piece of truth, seeking truth, and chuckling at themselves what he had said, “A little while and you will no longer see me…then you will see me…”

· They, or we, must have finally understood about Jesus

But we STILL did not!

The Ascension = Boom

· “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.:

But we, like the disciples, must once again think “Wait, what?”

· And we continue this story next weekend

Parish Bulletin Article: "Our Church as a Field Hospital": 5-24-20

On September 19, 2013, Pope Francis used a phrase that is very timely today: "I see the church as a field hospital…". Why I remembered that line many years ago, what a prophetic image for us today.

Pope Francis' image of our church during this Covid-19 brought my imagination for our "field hospital." Doing so, I will be offering those in our spiritual journey as a priest.

To start, I think about prioritizing, prioritizing, prioritizing! For instance, is national news needed right now? Nope. How about Facebook beyond a new way of evangelization? Nope. How about small issues in my life? Once again, no! Please, prioritize your life, especially as we are experiencing challenges, staying home for many weeks, new spiritual directions, distance learning for children, and more.

Again, Pope Francis spoke about our church to look first to those with triage situations. For me, I must take the time and place to support those who are close to death. Whether this is in a hospital, nursing home, or someone's home, that is one of my prioritization. I must pray and quickly analyze via the Anointing of the Sick, confession, and their last communion (or viaticum, which means "food for the journey"). As a priest, that was, and still is, a triage, number one.

My next focus is to see who God puts to me for His mission. These may occur in many ways, which keeps each day different. Some have tough times in their lives or seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ or those who need some encouragement and prayers.

Typically, my next level would be the day-to-day opportunities for my vocation: Mass, checking up with our team, discerning ways to seek growth for our parishes and school, communication with you, community members, our diocesan supporters and more.

Finally, we each need to find time to seek God's peace in our lives. For me, this consists with a nap every day since my stroke, time to pray, time to exercise, time to catch up with my family and friends. To all the above, I seek God's mission, and while sometimes this fills my plate, which leads to stress, I need to discern how to stay healthy to succeed what God has asked me to do.

Once again, another weekend to check in via my bulletin, and let's continue to walk minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and hope we may come back together at the best time: Mass!

God Bless!

How do we evangelize today? Find a connection!: Wednesday, May 20th, 2020

Listen to the homily here.

How do we evangelize today? Find a connection!: Wednesday, May 20th, 2020

Listen to the homily here.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Holy Spirit on the way and Paul and Silas being arrested!: Tuesday, May 19th, 2020

Listen to the homily here.

"The Lord takes delight in his people...": Monday, May 18th, 2020

Listen to the homily here.

The beauty of our Hands as Catholics: 6th Sunday in Easter Season

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

6^th Sunday in Easter Season

We have been talking A LOT of our hands!

· Wash our hands

· Wash our hands again, and again, and again

· And not only wash our hands, but make sure we are wearing gloves on our hands

As this has some important information to curve the Covid-19, in this “short time period” (which also feels like forever), could you think about how much we use our hands?

Start with Mass

· The Lord be with you

· Using our thumbs to make the cross on our forehead, lips and chest

· Holding the host going into the Body of Christ and the Chalice as the wine turns into Jesus Blood

· Receiving communion by the Minister, or receiving the Body of Christ (which will be the only way to receiving communion with the hand)

Or how about other sacraments?

· Anointing of the Sick—both hands over a persons head

o The oil placed on their forehead and palms of their hands

· Confession

o The forgiveness in the Sign of the Cross—that’s right…another way with our hands

· Baptism

o Hands pouring water on a baby or adult over their foreheads

· Confirmation

o Hands with Chrism Mass on the confirmand’s forehead

· Marriage, not with my hands, but their hands with rings

Or others

· Blessings, sprinkling with water, etc.

Remember today and the days come forward, that our hands are not just used for this virus, but our spiritual journey, as St. Peter and St. John told us today:

· “…they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Parish Bulletin Article: "Happy Spring!": 5-10-20

Happy Spring!

As we continue to experience some tough times in many levels around the world—the pandemic, a tough economy, and our communities with new obstacles for spirituality—I praise God that it is spring. Why? Not only for enjoying the season of nature, but also another way to give gratitude back to God. Here are some ways in which I am so grateful for this spring, in which you can do something similar:

· Thank you, Lord, as I can now run with shorts and a t-shirt;

· Thank you, Lord, for seeing the first robin that I have seen;

· Thank you, Lord, as the new flowers are beginning to sprout;

· Thank you, Lord, as my mini-allergies shows that it is no longer winter;

· Thank you, Lord, for hearing the birds singing in the morning;

· Thank you, Lord, with more light both in the morning and in the evening;

· Thank you, Lord, for these few weeks in God’s Country with no ticks, mosquitos or sunscreen;

· Thank you, Lord, for seeing my nephew and nieces playing in puddles, mud, and grass, even though it is on FaceTime;

· Thank you, Lord, for another year to shift from ice-fishing to boat-fishing;

· Thank you, Lord, for another chance for a 30” walleye, or a 60” sturgeon, or both;

· Thank you, Lord, for remembering that it is Happy Mother’s Day;

· Thank you, Lord, for feeling like a mole to be blinded by the sun;

· Thank you, Lord, for a soon BBQ;

· Thank you, Lord, for a spring cleaning around the house (haha, just kidding!);

· Thank you, Lord, for your creation, and how you have given us four seasons, (though a more balance may be fantastic);

· Thank you, Lord, for the month of Mother Mary;

If you have some time, with your kids, family, or personally, take a few moments to bring your gratitude back to God in this gorgeous new season in nature. And yes, I typically smile and chuckle with some humor, as each season does that as well!

God Bless!

How much time for this virus vs. eternity with God?: 5th Sunday in Easter Season

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

5^th Sunday in Easter

Happy Mothers’ Day

Fascinating story of time

· There was a bird that lived in a nest on the bottom of the Mount Everest

· He flew up to the top of Mount Everest and chiseled a rock on the summit for 30 seconds

· The bird flew back to the nest and stayed there for 10,000 years

· It then went back up to that rock again, thirty seconds to chisel it again, for another 10,000 years again

· If this bird had enough time, Mount Everest would be flattened

· Think about that one, which, at least, fascinates my brain

Now, let’s bring this story back into the Scriptures

· Remember where St. Peter was called “the Rock”? (No, not the nickname “the Rock” by Dwayne Johnson!)

· Matthew 16:18

o “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…”

· And then St. Peter, who was called the Rock, that Jesus built his Church wrote in our 2^nd reading:

o “Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

§ “Therefore, its value is for you who have faith…”

o “…but for those without faith

o “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.”

Finally, that analogy with that bird…

· That story was certainly not perfect, especially that one bird simply could not be alive for billions of years and decimate Mount Everest

· But let’s move that, not from that story, but the reality, of the Rock that Jesus Christ built his Church…and not just in our time and space, but for eternity

Parish Bulletin Article: "God's Providence": 5-3-20

God is good, and God offers his dominion.

Last week I occurred one of those beautiful experiences with not only God's gifts, but also the ministry of a married couple, an individual facing difficult situations in his challenging life, and two priests.

And what an image of God's fruitfulness when our brothers and sister need help, ASAP.

As I will keep the names of the couple and the individual will be anonymous, so let us imagine Jill and John, who in their lives have served many people who have been homeless, hungry, addicted to drugs, spending time in jail. As giving the gift of missionary services (who I do know them and listened to many of their fantastic services), they were facing a tricky spot.

As they knew for many years (as I will call him Jim), he was almost "adopted" in Jill and John's family. In some ways, they put him under their wings to protect and provide him as Jim has lived through a tough life.

Over the last few weeks, Jill has asked me to offer prayers for Jim as he was stuck in Oklahoma, hungry, with no money, and no place to stay overnight safely. We did pray. Some doors were opened for him with some food and a hotel for a few days.

Last week, Jim was not out of the woods, continuing to live day-to-day, hour-to-hour, as so many people face these lives around our community, our country, and our world. And how were we to support this man?

Well, shouldn't people ask help for our Catholic Churches? In fact, YES. We are the most prominent organization around the world that serves most people who are homeless, hungry, thirsty, naked, lonely, in jail, in hospitals, and must be buried.

Thus, Jill asked me one question: "Do you know anyone in Oklahoma?" and my response was quick: "I know one man in Oklahoma that I knew in the seminary many years ago, and I haven't chatted with him from many years. But I do know he is a priest in Oklahoma. His name is Fr. Michael Pratt. Check out his name on Google."

Do you know where Fr. Pratt served as his parishioners? Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the same suburb that Jim was seeking support. I mean, I only knew one priest that I knew in the whole state of Oklahoma, and there is one of my brothers in the priesthood.

It was touching to speak with Fr. Pratt after many years, and it was great to check up with each other as we both serve God's will in different places. And one of his classic lines by the end of our conversation: "We'll take care of Jim."

As this was so powerful, it shows how we disciples serve God's Kingdom. May we support other people? Of course! Can we serve better? Yes! But at the end of the day, I praise God, because that is what God does. We must listen for our missions from God, and we must believe in faith, hope, and love. As God IS love, He is also in control even when we do not understand it.

Finally, I believe in faith. I do not want to be proud, but I did know in my heart that God will take care of the situation with Jill, John, and Jim. So why don't we believe in God's providence no matter what we face in our lives?

God Bless!

The Wolf vs. the Shepherd: Monday, May 5th, 2020

Listen to the homily here.

The Sheep and the Shepherd: 4th Sunday in Easter Season

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

4^th Sunday in Easter

The sheep and the Shepherd

· This analogy is us as the sheep, and Jesus Christ as the Shepherd

· And we have some essential places in the OT, the NT, the Gospel according to John and the 1^st Peter and more

· But I do want to begin with a caveat with us the sheep

o Pope Francis spoke to his priests and bishops to “smell their sheep”

o But I think it is quite clear, as this coronavirus began, we were seeking, yes, as God’s servants, but to TRULY know THE Shephard: Jesus Christ

St. Peter wrote in his first letter he taught, like Jesus, to those who became scared after Jesus Christ died on the cross

· What did his disciples do?

o “For you had gone astray like sheep…”

§ His disciples were locked in an upper room, terrified to be killed, like their leader

§ Imagine their fear for three days having no clue what was going on, especially as they gave up their jobs, their families, their houses

§ And what quickly occur?

o “…but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”

§ Jesus was back!

· Now let’s look at what we are facing today with our society, similar in the chaos of Jesus death

o Fear, scared, nervous, polarization, gossip, news that was false, 24/7 news—some of the not good smell of our flock

o And here is where our true Shepherd always protects us, feeds us, and laid down his life for us

o Therefore, we really have only two options

o The first is what we heard in John 10: “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy…”

§ How are we not focusing to our Shepherd, or the thief: evilness, sin, the world, vices, or sins?

o Or, honing into Jesus own words? “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

· Psalm 23, which I have chosen to use this both in Baptisms and Funerals, and once again, bring these words to the bank, and be nourished today and this week no matter how you are experiencing:

o The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

We must follow THE Shepherd

· Please pray for our Shepherds servants: our Bishops, our Pastors, Priests, Deacons, Sisters, Brothers, our Laity

· That we may not seek the thief, but our Shepherd

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

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