NYC, Day 1 of 3

Took Mary back to NYC to fulfill the graduation promise I made.  This time we did everything she wanted to accomplish.  Day 1 (Saturday) arrived at the hotel right around 11 as planned.  Took the bus into Times Square.  Had lunch at Guy Fieri's restaurant first.  Went to the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller center and then took a guided tour of the area.  Then went to St Patrick Cathedral.  Had a quick snack and went to see James Franco and Chris O'Dowd in "Of Mice and Men" on Broadway.  Met James Franco for photo and autograph after the show.  Finished up day 1 in Times Square around midnight before taking a bus back to the hotel.

We interrupt these photos....

...to post this weekend's Homily on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul:

"You are the Christ, the son of the living God!"

I read this passage from Matthew and it reminded me of when I was in school.  I tend to be a bit timid in a classroom setting.  This was true all through my childhood, even into college years.  When a teacher would ask a question, I would not be the first one to raise my hand, even if I thought I knew the response they were expecting, for fear of being wrong.  I would wait and see what others would respond with for an answer.  Some would answer correctly and if I was wrong, I sure was glad I didn't answer.  If I was correct, it made me wish I had raised my hand.  There were others in class who weren't afraid of being wrong, even if they were way off base.  But I was always the introvert and not willing to throw myself out there and risk being wrong.

In the Gospel today, Jesus asks the disciples an initial question that they are all willing to answer.  Mostly because it doesn't put THEM on the spot.  It's a question I think we frequently are at least curious about for ourselves.  We may even have asked it of our friends.  Who do the people say that I am?  Or in other words, what are people saying about me?  We are curious for our own reasons how we are perceived by others.  We have perceptions of ourselves, but do others see us as we see ourselves? 

Jesus isn't looking for the disciples to feed his ego.  He knows what people are saying about him and what they think of him.  His real motivation is the words that Peter utters.  That divine revelation has shown the disciple's Jesus' true nature.  Jesus asked the easy question first.  He asked what everyone else was saying. And all they had a reply.  John the Baptist.  Elijah.  Jeremiah.  A prophet.  But when Jesus asked them who they thought he was, they could no longer hide behind what everyone else was saying.  Jesus was asking them for their personal insight.  And they are all silent for a moment.  I can picture Peter as one of those confident people in school when the teacher asks a really tough question. 

Peter steps right out in front, boldly proclaiming "You are the Christ, the son of the living God!"  And he was right!  I wonder if any of the other disciples were thinking to themselves "that's what I was about to say!"  But Peter is the one who answered.  And Jesus attributes Peter's knowledge to a revelation by God.  And this revelation among Jesus and the disciples results in Jesus setting Peter apart from the other disciples.  Granting Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

This is the same Peter that wanted to set up tents at the Transfiguration because he didn't know what else to do.  The same Peter who got out of the boat at Jesus command, but whose faith wasn't strong enough and he began to sink into the water.  The same Peter who at Jesus' arrest, takes out his sword and cuts of the ear of the guard.  The same Peter that denied even knowing Jesus three times during his Passion.  And Peter was handed the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

When we hear Peter given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, I think we might view Peter as someone too distant from us to relate to.  But if we reflect on these things that Peter did throughout the gospels, I think we can relate directly to Peter.   He is just as human as the rest of us, especially in dealing with situations he didn't fully understand.  Peter can be a great inspiration for all of us.  Every day, multitudes of people cycle through St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.  And as they pass by the statue of Saint Peter, they touch his foot and ask for his intercessory prayer.  If you have seen the statue or search for photos you will see that so many people have touched the foot of St Peter statue that all the features have worn off over the years. 

I've spent all this time talking about Peter, but what about Paul?  After all, this is his feast day too.  And, like Peter, he is called an Apostle, although he never met Jesus while Jesus was alive. 

St Paul became one of my favorite saints a few years ago, in 2008-2009.  That was the year that Pope Benedict called for the year of St Paul.  During that year, I thought it might be a good idea to learn a bit more about the man that is associated with over half of the New Testament books.  Among other things, I found a short guide called "A 30 day walk with Saint Paul"  That short daily scripture reading of 3-4 sentences started each day for me, and at the end of the 30 days, I began the cycle again, lasting throughout the year. 

I found through those readings, and ultimately through his writings, that St Paul teaches us how to BE followers of Christ.  That year, through three short sentences each day, I found that Paul teaches, trains, provides examples, praises and admonishes Christians of his time period.  And  these lessons are directly applicable to today.  I'll give you just a few examples:

Our Calling through Baptism, Paul writes: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3: 27-28)

Paul writes on Reconciliation: So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Paul on Love: Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated (1 Corinthians 13:4)

And as he nears the end of his life, imprisoned for his faith and for his preaching, he writes to Timothy in the reading we hear today:  "the time of my departure is at hand.  I have kept the faith."  And he gives glory to God for his life, including his suffering.

Paul's best example for us is that even after his profound conversion, from a persecutor of Christians to the most fervent follower of Christ, is that of his human-ness.  Paul writes that he continued to do the things he did not want to do and struggles to do the good things he knew he should.  Don't we experience the same thing?  How many times have we reflected on what we should have said or done and feel discouraged.  But as we heard today, Paul experienced the same thing, yet kept the faith. 

Today is the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul.  Saint Peter, who denied knowing Christ yet was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and Saint Paul, the persecutor of Christians who provides us a New Testament witness to the power of Christ in his life.  Both Peter and Paul are tremendous, real, human examples for each of us. 

May God give you peace.

Next up...George Thorogood, Friday, June 20 at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

After this, photos and timeline of our three day trip to NYC...

Diocese photo

Here's a short post/photo of the posting from the Diocese of Manchester.  Tomorrow, photos from Friday night's concert.

Lots going on

Many activities over the last few days, so many photos to post.  First up, last Thursday went to see The English Beat at Tupelo in Londonderry, NH.  Only knew a few songs but they were good enough that I bought a ticket for a return visit in September.  By then I will know many more tunes.  Click on the photos to enlarge!

 

 

 

Homily for The Most Holy Trinity

Since it is my last weekend here, I'd like to begin with a few thank you's.  First, I want to thank Fr John for agreeing to have me join Blessed Sacrament during my intern year.  Taking on a rookie like me was a risk!  Ten years ago, I began to explore my faith beyond simply attending Mass on Sunday and for me it began with Franciscan priests.  So it was only fitting that in my final year of study, I was able to complete the process with a Franciscan priest.  I have been tremendously blessed to be able to serve at Blessed Sacrament with Fr John.  He has been a wonderful  and valuable guide and mentor to me during my year here and has provided me great support, feedback and the opportunity to grow in service and experience while serving with him.

Next I want to thank Sr Marjorie, Sr Anne, Sr Joan, Lisa and the Pastoral and Finance Councils.  I was so fortunate to work closely with each of them throughout the year.  They are a wonderful blessing for the Parish.

Most of all, I want to thank all of you, the parishioners.  You are what makes a Parish family.  I truly have never encountered a more welcoming parish than Blessed Sacrament.  My family and I felt like we belonged here from the moment we arrived and we thoroughly enjoyed serving you throughout the year.  It is always difficult to embrace change, and leaving Blessed Sacrament Parish is more difficult because of all of you.  So thank you for being such a welcoming, faith filled parish. 

If you happen to be visiting Blessed Sacrament today, I trust you will find the parish as welcoming as I have.

Today is the Feast of The Most Holy Trinity.  It is also Father's Day.  So Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there. 

I've spoken before of God putting things in our life that make Him evident to us, but we need to be looking to see it.  Today is another of those examples.  The Most Holy Trinity.  When I was a child in grammar school, I remember the nuns teaching us about the Trinity.  Whenever the kids asked too many questions, we were told "it's a Mystery!"  When I looked at the readings today and thought about preaching on the Most Holy Trinity, I was tempted to follow their lead and say "It's a Mystery!"  which it is.  But that would be taking the easy way out.  God wants us to try to reach Him, to try to understand Him.  And Jesus provided us the relationship that allows us to attempt to understand God a bit more and deepen our relationship with Him

Jesus spoke often of God, and when He did, he called Him Father.  With today being Father's Day, it reminds us even more of the relationship that Jesus was talking about.  In the first reading today, God describes Himself to Moses when he cried out "a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity" 

Even before Jesus taught us to pray the "Our Father," the book of Exodus gives us a glimpse of God as a Father figure.  Jesus deepens this relationship referring to himself as the Son.  Jesus is the Son who walked among us.  As the beginning of John's Gospel says "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."  Jesus, our mediator, one in being with God, dwelt among us.  Lived with us.  Lived like us in all things but sin.  And after rising from the dead, before returning to the Father, as we heard in the Gospel a few weeks ago, He knew He had to leave something with us, connecting us forever with Him.  Last weekend we celebrated that something - Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

I still struggle to wrap my head around all this.  Just as the early Church fathers did.  It's easy to fall back on "It's a mystery!" but God doesn't want that.  He wants us to reach out to him, to try to understand this.  It's similar to just trying to explain God to someone who has no concept of God. 

We can't fully understand something that is beyond us.  In science I liken it to attempting to understand the vastness of the universe.  We can see it when we look at the stars at night, yet it's just too big to completely understand.  But scientists still try to understand it, study it, observe it.  God is asking us to do the same.  To understand Him, study Him, observe Him in each other.

Why does he want this from us?  Because he loves us.  In today's Gospel reading, John tries to tell us this.  In John's attempt to describe why Jesus came among us, the only word he could use was love.  But even that wasn't sufficient.  So John underscored and emphasized that love by saying "God so loved the world."  And how much did he love the world?  So much he gave His only Son for our sake.  One writer summed it up differently.  He reworded it to say God so loved the world that God gave God's self.  Our closest comparison is marriage.  Giving one's self to the other out of love.

Now I'm not sure I completely cleared up the Trinity for you.  And one thing I have found about Homilies after being ordained is that they get longer!  But I will leave you with something that I think will stay with you.  My brother and I like to attend rock concerts. 

We go to several throughout the year, both large and small.  My brother enjoys making signs to hold up to the performers during the show.  Many performers have singled him out for his creativity in his signage.  When I read today's gospel I knew immediately that I had to use his talent for sign making as a reminder for all of us. 

Being in New England, with the success of the Patriots, I'm sure there are some football fans out there.  Anyone who has watched football for years would have seen this sign in the end zone during a field goal or point after attempt.  If you haven't, I expect if you are watching football this year, you may see one and you will think back to this day, the Most Holy Trinity, if you see this sign.  I'm sure it's shown in the crowd in other sports, but I have seen it most in the end zones at football games.

For anyone who hasn't made the connection, this sign references the beginning of today's gospel reading.  "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."

May God give you peace.