Pastor's Desk Archive (March 2009)

Giving Something Up In Lent? (3/1/2009)
Abraham & Isaac: A Test of Faith (3/8/2009)
The Right To Life Is On The Line (3/15/2009)
How Ready Are You To Renew The Promises Of Baptism? (3/22/2009)
Defend The "Conscience Rule" (3/29/2009)

Giving Something Up In Lent? (3/1/2009)

“Giving things up” for or during Lent is a practice that really needs to be re-examined. Lent is about repenting or turning away from our sins so that we can enjoy more fully the benefits of living—now and forever—in the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Now is the time of salvation, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” So, what does giving up coffee or candy or movies or cigarettes or alcohol during Lent have to do with its real meaning and purpose? None of those practices in and of themselves are sinful, are they? Some of them, however, may involve addictive behaviors that will lead to a serious deterioration of our health. To give them up for good beginning in Lent would be very conducive to better spiritual health. For without help from God’s grace, no one is likely to succeed in turning away from such practices.

But turning away from our sinful practices is not an end in itself but a means to an end. When we let go of sin of any kind, we are better able to receive God’s grace and favor. He wants us to be saints and is ready, willing, and able to give us whatever we need to live as truly faithful followers of His Son. So here’s a list of sins we might consider letting go of and virtues to practice in their place. This is not about being perfect, but it is about knowing our destiny and making progress towards realizing it. Think of these as suggestion and things we might choose from.

• Give up pride, lust, greed, anger, envy, gluttony, and sloth (profound laziness)
  Replace them with humility, chastity, liberality, kindness, abstinence, patience, and diligence.
• Give up resentments and grudges.
  Replace them with forgiveness and mercy.
• Give up not singing at Mass.
  Replace it with singing at Mass.
• Give up gossip and detraction.
  Replace them with with speaking well of others or saying nothing unkind.
• Give up seldom (if ever) going to confession.
  Replace it with going to confession at least twice each year.
• Give up not practicing sacrificial giving.
  Replace it with regular use of sacrificial giving envelopes.
• Give up never participating in parish social events.
  Replace it with participating in such events that help us in becoming a loving community of faith.

These things are surely challenging, but think of the payoff. We can count on God to help us every step of the way. Why not go for it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

back to top...

Abraham & Isaac: A Test of Faith (3/8/2009)

Today’s OT lesson from the Book of Genesis related the story of how God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. We can see that God’s unusual request was a test of Abraham’s faith, but it’s a story that can test our own faith as well.

Many readers of this story insist that it reveals a God who is capable of great cruelty. What kind of God would ask a man to slay his own son and offer him as a sacrifice? He is a God who is not intimidated by human suffering and death because He created human beings in his own image and likeness which means we possess an imperishable soul along with a perishable body.

Abraham was willing to slay his son because he reasoned that since God had promised him a great posterity through his only son, He must have the power to restore him to life. Seeing his great faith, God did not in fact allow Isaac to die. This story is a prefiguring of God’s plan to send His only beloved son into the world to suffer and die for us sinners. How wonderful is this plan that brings us redemption from our sin while promising us salvation from everlasting death when Christ comes again in all His glory.

So how goes the growing of your faith and mine as we enter the second week of Lent? Will we love God enough and believe in Him enough to be able to let go of all the things we love to cling to in this world? Since none of us is allowed to take anything or anyone along with us when we leave this world, don’t you think that’s something we ought to prepare for? Lent can help us do just that. We can ask God for the grace to loosen our grip on whatever we are holding on to. As we become willing to let go of the persons, places, things, and situations that make it difficult for us to be truly faithful disciples, the more God can give us the power, strength, determination, and surrender that leads us to everlasting life.

back to top...

The Right To Life Is On The Line (3/15/2009)

In the Declaration of Independence our Founding Fathers stated forthrightly: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The right to life, then, is not something granted by executive, legislative, or judicial authorities but is bestowed by our Creator. Until the 7th decade of the 20th century, this declaration was translated into laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia which protected human life from the moment of conception.

Then came the infamous Supreme Court decision in which seven justices swept aside all laws that protected nascent human life in favor of what they termed “a woman’s right to choose”. They made the absurd claim that science does not know when life begins (my life began at conception, doesn’t everybody’s?), and denied to life developing in the womb the status of “personhood”.

Since the development of “in vitro” fertilization (the creation of embryos in medical labs), the plot against life at its very inception thickened. “Extra” embryos were created to make sure that at least one would survive transplantation into a mother’s womb. New ethical standards evolved which protected these embryos since they were human lives waiting for a mother to provide them with the means to development.

Inside every embryo lie “stem cells” that have the potential to be building blocks for every part of the human body. There are scientists who specialize in the study of these cells who believe they hold the key to wondrous new treatments and therapies which hold the promise of repairing every conceivable human malady. These people contend that the promise of their embryonic stem cell research justifies the destruction of these tiny living beings. They don’t want anyone to regard as important that inside every embryo is the DNA instruction set which mysteriously and wondrously provides the architecture of each unique being. They want us to completely disregard the fact that there is no living human being who did not begin as an embryo so that we can rescue people like Michael J. Fox from the ravages of Parkinson’s disease.

This past week, our new president weighed in on this critically important issue. With the stroke of his pen, he declared that taxpayer money may be used for embryonic stem cell research suggesting that the results of this cannot be held “hostage” to individual “religious and moral” beliefs. Shame on him.

The truth is that stem cells can be derived from umbilical cord blood and even from the skins cells of adults. Adult stem cell research has already resulted in successful therapies and repairs. On the other hand, the attempt to use embryonic stem cells has so far resulted in complete failure, including the deaths of a number of individuals. Stand up for defenseless, innocent human life. If the tiniest among us is unsafe, perhaps old people will be next. I’m not joking.

back to top...

How Ready Are You To Renew The Promises Of Baptism? (3/22/2009)

Lest anyone be caught off guard, here are the familiar questions that will be put to us at Easter Mass.

1. The evil one has deceived the world into thinking that freedom means being able to choose anything we want even if it is full of sin. Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of the children of God? Will you reject pride, envy, lust, laziness, gluttony, anger, and greed?
2. The evil one makes sin appear to be attractive and good for us. Do you reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be taken in by sin? If sin didn’t feel or seem good to us, we would be far less likely to be drawn to it. Are you ready to reject things you’ve grown fond of? Not easy.
3. The evil one goes about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Do you reject the Evil one, the father of sin and prince of darkness? He’s also the father of lies. Are you ready to seek the grace to be rigorously honest with yourself?
4. Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? Do you love God with all your mind, soul, and strength?
5. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Jesus is also our friend, but He’s not a “pal”. He is also our teacher and has no need to learn from us. The test of our love for Him is found in our following his teachings.
6. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting? This is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. He is the fire of God’s Love; the one who lives within us; and who unites us to the Father and the Son.

back to top...

Defend The "Conscience Rule" (3/29/2009)

On February 27, 2009, the Obama Administration announced that it intends to remove a conscience protection rule (“Conscience Rule”) for the Department of Health and Human Services.  That Conscience Rule is one part of the range of legal protections for health care workers—for doctors, nurses and others—who have objections in conscience to being involved in abortion and other killing procedures that are against how they live their faith in God.

From a Catholic perspective this is an egregious effort to force health professionals to engage in actions, while lawful, clearly violate the moral law. There is something that we can do about this. We can email or write to the Office of Public Health and Science ath the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and voice our opposition to any changes in the Conscience Rule.  THE COMMENT PERIOD ENDS APRIL 9, 2009!

You can even go to the US Bishop’s website and click on “Express Your Concern for Conscience Protection” for a pre-formatted response!  HHS will make available for public viewing any comment and the information contained therein.

Additional ways to voice your concerns are as follows:

1. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Web site www.Regulations.gov (by entering 0991-AB49 in the search box) or via e-mail to proposedrescission@hhs.gov. Attachments may be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or Excel, but Microsoft Word is preferred.
2. By mail, one original and two copies of written comments may be sent to:

   Office of Public Health and Science
   Department of Health and Human Services
   Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments
   Hubert H. Humphrey Building
   200 Independence Ave. SW, Room 716G
   Washington, DC 20201.

back to top...