Don’t you find it fascinating that for all the power and infinitude of the universe there is only one being that can say, “What do you want for dinner?”

Human consciousness (or intellect) is what sets man apart from everything else in nature. Think of it. Every creature you see, whether (as we used to say) animal, vegetable, or mineral, is harnessed to a natural order which locks it into what it must be. We call it Mother Nature.

The flowers in spring, the geese flying south in a wing, that stone at the end of your driveway, are all part of a natural order. This “order of nature” requires flower, goose, and stone to be in a particular, predetermined way in order for them to be what they are. (Beware! The goose that stops by your kitchen to have coffee with you is really not a goose!).

Isn’t this fun?!

The human being however is a different creature. We are set in “openness” to becoming. We “become” by the use of the two qualities we’ve been given as part of our human nature – – intellect and will. Through these, all creation reaches an understanding of itself. The human being sharing in the natural world (our bodies), is where silent nature comes to understand itself. We put into words what nature, by itself, could never speak.

Human effort to understand creation, and speak for it, has brought about mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, etc. We are unlocking the mystery of creation! Not only that, something else is born – – history. The story told by the conscious, acting creature (man) over time.

And the meaning of history? It’s still unfolding. The final meaning of human history is the return of Jesus Christ in glory to bring humanity and all creation together in Him and then set it before God the Father. “So that God will be all in all.” 1Cor. 15:28.

Meanwhile God is smiling. He delights in His creature man and woman. The powerful intellect God has given us humans is sharing in the knowledge of God Himself.

But . . . we must remember that it is only in the light of God’s Spirit that we are able to perceive the order that God has placed in creation. Consciousness is God’s gift to us. Our “intellect” and “will” are created and finite. We are not autonomous beings, not the boss determining the meaning of creation all by ourselves. No. We must submit ourselves and our knowledge to the one who chose to share in His “dominion over the world.” (Genesis 2).

Along with our intellect God has given us Freedom. We are free to use our knowledge in any way we like – – good or bad. Here’s where it gets a little testy. You see human history is shaped by our actions toward one another. What story are we telling?

We are summoned by our freedom to action that defines us as we go. We become “truth tellers” or “generous” or “patient” or “forgiving”.

Or, equal in possibility, we can become “liars”, “greedy”, “unforgiving”, etc. It’s up to us. We’re free. This is the wonderful dignity of the human being as created by God. God has made us, in effect, co-creators of ourselves. Our actions put into history who we are. We “become”. And because it was done in freedom . . . we become “responsible for it”.

Some people don’t like this.

“I just wanna be. I’m the boss. I say what I want to do. And, oh by the way, nobody tells me who I am or what I should become.”

Now here’s the kicker . . . Don’t miss this. Our human nature (intellect and will), as created by God, is to share in His nature! God created us to have His love as our meaning. “We are God’s children now. . . and we shall become like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2

So back here on earth – – – what are we to do with our freedom? Love God with all our heart. And love our neighbor as Christ has loved us.

Let’s get to work!

Fr. Tim

Now that we’ve weathered the winter and Covid restrictions are slowly lifting, people are feeling more comfortable in returning to mass at Holy Trinity. Last Sunday we had over 550 people physically present over the 3 masses. Like the spring flowers, you’re starting to bloom in church!

So what’s happening in the parish as we move into the spring and summer? Here’s the short list of things to know; followed by some comments about the “Big Picture”.

• Mass attendance is increasing. We’re still at 6 feet separation which limits our numbers but hopefully closer gatherings will be allowed soon. (The real issue is how comfortable people feel sitting in the pew. As more people are fully vaccinated, our numbers should increase.)
• What about masks? That of course will depend on the CDC’s recommendations moving forward. Some speculate another 6 months of wearing them. Holy Trinity will follow whatever those recommendations encourage.
• Parish Staff. There have been some changes here. Kasey Baker, our Office Manager, has moved on to new and exciting ventures. So we welcome Tim Reetz as our part time business manager. Tim is splitting his time with St. Kateri Parish in Irondequoit. He’ll be here Monday and Thursdays.
• Helen Sleeman will be adding some office managing tasks to her responsibilities. Also, we welcome Mary Kramer to manage our Case Training of volunteers and co-ordinate our RCIA program. Welcome to both of you!
• Building maintenance. We are currently looking at replacing two boilers – church and school. They have been in place since the Civil War. They are leaking water and the efficiency factor make them terribly obsolete. I’ll let you know what the cost estimate will be. It won’t be pretty.
• Also…and this is still at the “dream” stage…I think we ought to paint the church interior. The 1970 whitewash of the walls and ceiling are getting dingy and tired. Let’s do a new paint scheme with new color and liturgical design. We’ve begun conversation with Swietek, Inc., a liturgical design company in Buffalo. They will give us an artist rendering of some proposed changes. We’ll show you when we get them.
• What about: CYO basketball, parish picnic, senior ministry, youth activities, coffee hour, concerts, lectures, Star program . . . we want all of these to come roaring back! Whenever possible we will re-start these activities in as full and safe a way as we can.

So please don’t think Holy Trinity is going away! This is your parish. I am convinced we have the right people on staff; our volunteers remain vigorous in keeping the work of the parish up and running. Fr. John and I are feeling fit and frisky and ready to respond to the resurgence of parish activities.

And you? Are you staying in touch with us through mass attendance or by Livestream? Are you finding ways to “Keep Holy the Lord’s Day”? (I encourage you to set aside part of your Sunday to gather your family to pray with us during mass time and to do something that will mark the day as a “day of rest” and rejuvenation for the Lord.)

God knows the challenges these days present for us in keeping and practicing the Faith. Special graces will come to those who pray daily for the Lord’s help. Straight ahead! He is with us.

Fr. Tim

One of the unfortunate things that happens to wonderful human events is the commercialization that, over time, tends to blot out the original meaning of what happened.

Look what we’ve done to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, and in these days . . . Easter. In each case we’re told there’s things we need to buy to properly celebrate the happy occasion.

Please don’t take me for the Grinch. Dying Easter eggs, bunnies, Easter bonnets (I love hats!), and marshmallow peeps are all fine ways to get the kids excited on that day. But . . . the fun this creates can dull our understanding of what Jesus’s resurrection means for humanity. We can lose the power of this event under a gauze of purple and pastel colors.

What can help us here? First of all the Resurrection is a fact. Facts create an environment in which we live. One plus one is two. That means two plus two is four and suddenly we have a world so predictable that we can send someone to the moon and back.

Now the Resurrection is not the kind of fact that you can prove with a mathematical counting. It’s a fact that can only be known by believing in the testimony brought forward by eye-witnesses. We do this all the time . . . believe what someone tells us. (e.g., the picture on your digital TV comes to you because of a series of 0’s and 1’s. Uh…okay. Or, I have a rock in my office I took from the Chemung River. Do you believe me? Come to my office, I’ll show you!!)

Most things we hold to be true are based on what someone tells us.

Now the testimony we have about the fact of the Resurrection comes to us from the Apostles. “We have seen the Lord! He is truly risen!!”

For about twenty reasons which I’ll not go into right here – – – I believe that what they say is true. Jesus is risen from the dead. Basically, it comes down to a gift we’ve been given. Faith. The persuasion Faith comes from the credibility of those who testify.

And who gives the testimony? Jesus has. He tells us, I am the Resurrection and the Life. “Whoever believes in me will have eternal life.” John 11: 25. This acceptance in Faith gives me knowledge of a FACT. It’s a fact and now I base my life on it. I live now in a particular way.

Because Jesus is raised from the dead, we see things in a different way:

• Human tragedies, unfairness, violence, and innocent suffering, are seen now in the same suffering of Christ and will be vindicated in the Resurrection.
• Acts of kindness and gentleness (however small and ignored) belong now within God’s love revealed in Christ’s Resurrection. All true love comes from God.
• Moments of disappointment, failure, betrayal, or even danger, have all been redeemed when Jesus accepted those very things in His own death and now He is risen.
• Parents can bring children into this troubled world knowing that human life is good and pleasing to God and will share one day in the Resurrection.
• We need not fear when our own personal end is near for Christ has prepared a place for us.

Dear Friends

Take heart. He is with you.

Easter blessings,

Fr. Tim

They looked in and saw. He was gone. The tomb was empty. The white burial cloth was folded up and laying on a stone. Scripture says they “did not yet understand that he had to rise from the dead.”

So “where is he? Where did he go?” Jesus, we want to know where you are.

I remember when my father died in 1988. He had been declining for some months and the night he passed my sister and I sat with him as he breathed his last. (Many of you have had that scary but holy moment.)

It was so weird. I remember thinking about the large personality he was. How he loved birds, gardening, Italian spaghetti, his country, and his Catholic Faith. How dad hated military parades, foreign cars, squirrels, and the New York Yankees.

I looked at his hands that night, hands that fired a gun in Patton’s 3rd Army, cut my hair as a kid, played catch in the yard, and took my hands in his, the day I became a priest. His deep baritone voice called your name like no one else “Dad, where are you?” I kept wondering. “Where did that voice go?” Don’t we all ask that when someone we love is gone? We feel the space they lived in, the chair, the porch, the work bench. The disciples must have felt a similar loss as they peered into the empty tomb.

Our Christian faith proclaims something quite extraordinary. Something that science (physics, biology, astronomy, and chemistry) cannot verify or prove (or disprove) . . . Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Each of us must look inside ourselves for this one. Why do I believe? Is it because the Pope says so? OR because that’s just what I was taught? OR It makes for something nice to teach the children? I hope that’s not your answer.

May I suggest an answer? Because we have seen a love that surpasses all reason, a love so strong and pure that it could only come from a source beyond the human heart. (It’s not the love in romance, not the love of hobby or pastimes, not the love of beauty or art.)

This past week we have watched a human being love like God. It’s a love never seen or imagined before him. Jesus died giving witness to a God who loves us in a totally selfless way. He endured scourges and spitting, he forgave his murderers from the cross, he emptied himself totally at the will of God his Father . . . so that the invisible love of God might become visible to us by the obedience of his Son.

And there’s more . . . we believe that Jesus is alive because countless men, women, and children have experienced the love of Christ in their own lives and have in turn given that love to their neighbor. We’ve seen the love that is Christ.

Have you seen it? Have you seen or felt His love working in this world? Of course you have!!

• The mother who risks her own health for the health of her baby
• A soldier who’s mission puts his life at risk so that “no one is left behind”
• The friend who visits you in the hospital, the psych ward, the county jail
• A sister who forgives your unkind words
• The priest or nun who acts like Christ and makes you want to go to heaven
• The poor person who gives more to the needy than you do
• Foster parents who save the lives of young people
• Your spouse who really loves you despite all your faults
• The quiet hope that comes to you when you sit in an empty church
• The first responder who runs toward danger when all others flee
• The little child who laughs and plays with friends in a refugee camp far from her home

“We have seen the Lord!”, John 20:18, cried Mary Magdalene. So have we.

Easter graces to you.

Fr. Tim

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we are experiencing two miracles of life.

1. Nature is returning to give us another season of life on this good earth. And
2. The Holy Spirit comes again to assure us of God’s love.

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

We’ve experienced a spiritual poverty this past year. Haven’t we? What have we learned? Let it be the fact that God will never abandon us for He walked this same earth.

Now He lives to intercede for us.

“Do not be afraid”, He says. “I am with you.”

A Blessed Easter to you all!!

Fr. Tim

Something quite wonderful has happened in the world of theology these past fifty years. Just prior to Vatican II (1958-1965) some German theologians were working on a new way of explaining who Jesus is and how he achieved the salvation of the human race. It keeps the traditional doctrine of Christ, of course, but adds a new dimension – – – from below.

Most notable in this regard was a theologian named Karl Rahner who, in his Foundations of Christian Faith, proposed an “Ascending Christology” which would compliment the traditional “Descending Christology” of the Catholic Church.

The traditional way of viewing Jesus is as the Eternal Word. From all eternity he has existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit. “True God from True God. Consubstantial with the Father”, we recite in the Creed. Full of divinity and power he “comes down from heaven” and is born among us.

The problem with a “Descending Christology” is that it tends to overshadow Christ’s real humanity. The danger is to see Jesus as basically “God in human clothing”.

God uses the humanity of Jesus like a cloak or instrument to work out the divine plan. Jesus’ solidarity with humanity in its real struggles and sufferings can be lost and obscure the critical role of his real humanity.

In “Ascending Christology”, God unites to himself a real humanity in Jesus Christ. Scripture and our Catholic Faith tell us Jesus is human in every way but sin.

What does this mean “like us in all things”? Some guidelines for thinking about the nature of Jesus were hammered out at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

The Council said Jesus has two natures: the nature of God and the nature of man. These two natures are hypostatically (inseparably) united in one divine person (the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity). Two natures, one divine person. This means our human nature is forever united to God in the Blessed Trinity!

“Ascending Christology” attempts to see Jesus from below in his humanity. (It is meant to compliment, not replace the former.) If Jesus truly has a human nature then he must have a human consciousness; he thinks as humans do. He must reason, ponder . . . figure things out. Jesus could not have known the world as we know it today through science. When asked when the “end would come?” Jesus said, “I don’t know. That has not been given to me.” If his consciousness is truly human, then it is finite, limited. He was tempted (Luke 4).

What I find so inspiring is Jesus smells like us. He really suffers, rejoices, grows angry, and fearful. And yet . . . . he accomplishes the mission he knows he has been chosen to do, namely, in his death and resurrection. Surely Jesus is absolutely exceptional in his humanity. He knew himself to be more than a prophet. He embraced his role as Savior of humanity. But he did all these things as a human being. (How touching that he needed someone to help him carry his cross.) We are saved by one like us!

And so I can turn to Jesus who knows my limited human heart because he had one of them as well.

Dear Jesus. Truly you know the human heart. Give me courage when my heart grows faint. Give me Faith when all seems dark. Give me Love when my heart is empty. Give me Hope that, in the end, “all will be well.

Because you did it Jesus! You died for us and now you live!

Let Him come to you this week.

Fr. Tim

Some time ago, in a previous parish, I lived and worked with an old retired pastor. He was revered as a priest who knew his parishioners and had that “golden touch” with people who were troubled or lost. People flocked to him to receive his gentle wisdom.

He had one particular habit however that bugged me. At the end of every mass he celebrated on Sunday he’d tell the congregation, “Be sure to share your smile”. It was his sign off. People waited for these last words from him.

As for me I thought how “corny” it was. It was just too simple. I mean for all the problems we face, for all the worries we have for the coming week, for all the problems of the world . . . all you can say is “share your smile”?!

Over the years I have come to realize the old priest was right. A smile has a hidden spiritual power. It speaks a universal language. Everyone knows what a smile means. Webster defines it as “a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance; characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth.”

And what does this “upward curving of the mouth” say? It says “you’re worth it. You are not invisible. You’re a fellow human being and I’m sending you my good wishes.”

It can literally change a person’s day. Suddenly someone has seen me and cares enough to offer me a tiny “be well”. A smile disarms us of our fears, touches us briefly with kindness, and becomes a light in the midst of gray and shadow.

Some people have that gift in spades. They have a wonderful smile.

I remember a seminarian who sometimes worried whether he had the pastoral skills needed but who had something the rest of the class lacked – – – he had a magical smile that brightened any room he walked into.

You just feel better when someone smiles at you, don’t you? So why don’t we do that more often? I think it’s because:

1. We’re afraid. We’re afraid of being “misinterpreted” or frowned upon or ignored.
2. We’re self- absorbed. “I’ve got too many things on my mind right now. Too much to do. You stay in your lane; I’ll stay in mine.” And
3. We think we have an ugly smile. Forget it. A real smile is never ugly.

So how do we get over our fear and self-absorption in order to give the gift of a smile? Some thoughts:

• Your smile is a tiny gift, which any person is worthy to receive.
• Someone giving you a smile lifts your spirit, right? So do that for someone else.
• Giving a smile is an act of kindness and makes you a better person. (And it often lifts the mood of the smiler!)
• It costs nothing.
• You’re prettier when you smile.
• Don’t care or expect it to be returned.
• The best dogs can do is wag their tail – – – only people can smile (so what’s holding us back?)
• A smile softens everything. It takes the edge off clumsy words or awkward moments.

So I’m going to work on my smile this new year. I’m not going to expect people to return it. After all it’s a gift. And should I forget maybe your smile will remind me.

So I’ll end this column like that old pastor . . . “be sure to share your smile.”

God’s smile upon you.

Fr. Tim

Part of our training to become priests was to experience real life trauma in people’s lives. The thought is to get the man out of the pulpit and sanctuary and put him in a situation that is seriously out of control. See how this fellow handles tears and tragedy . . . can he still be a positive agent for the Faith? Can he help people whose life has just been crushed with tragic circumstances?

So off we went for a summer. We were chaplains for hospitals, jails, psych wards, others to first responder chaplaincy’s (police, fire, EMT).

I traveled to Dallas, Texas, to Parkland Memorial Hospital, an excellent 800 bed county hospital. One of the duties of the new chaplain was to be on-call over the week- ends. (Basically, you were called in on any human upset the head nurse thought necessary). All kinds of stuff happened, especially with a full moon.

One memorable night brought the death of an elderly, long suffering Grandmother. Though quite poor, she had raised a large family and they in turn were busy raising families of their own. They’d all been keeping vigil as the grand lady weakened daily.

About 3 in the morning I was called to the waiting room to help the family deal with Grammie’s death. Children and grandchildren were all there. The room was jammed – thirty people I’m guessing.

Just as I’d feared, they were going nuts. Screaming and crying, “Oh Grammie, how could you leave us?” The men were the worst. I remember one fellow in cowboy hat and boots on his hands and knees banging his head on the wall. Others were pulling at their hair (I’d never seen that before).

So what do you do? Fear and panic filled the room. One person’s cries caused others to howl. They were freaking out. This ship was sinking fast. I really can’t say I said a prayer – – I just went with my gut.

“Be quiet!!!!!!!” I yelled as loud as I could. Two or three times . . . “Be quiet!” Finally, the howling stopped and these big tough cowboys were all looking at me. (I had no idea what should come next). “God help me.” I thought.

Then came His grace. Somehow I thought . . . “give them something to do.” But what? “Men, comfort the women.” (As I said, the women were doing pretty much ok. But it got the cowboys out of themselves for that moment.) In a flash, everybody was hugging someone. Sanity came slowly back.

And that friends was a moment of grace far away from the pulpit and the altar. It was God in the Here and Now. God in the mess.

Have you experienced Him there? In a difficult moment with your spouse? Your child’s meltdown? Some unexpected incident? Bad news about a friend or loved one?

How does God help? Generally, I think God gives us something “to do”. Something really simple; like . . . say something. (Don’t say “Be quiet!”). How about . . . “I’m so sorry”, “You must feel terrible”, “Do you mind if I sit with you?” OR, perhaps just to listen, to touch (when appropriate).

Just something to break the awful tension of the moment – – your gentle voice can heal in the simplest of ways. Be that safe place for someone.

So what’s your situation? Married? Children? Student? Single? Sad? Feeling blessed? Need money? Worried?

Whatever and wherever you find yourself – – – There is God’s Spirit – this present moment.

We can wish we were somewhere else. Perhaps it was our thoughtlessness or selfishness that got us where we are. In the end it doesn’t matter. What matters is “right now”. God is with you.

Don’t be afraid.

Fr. Tim

A wise and holy priest once told me that there were times when his only felt connection to God came in listening to his conscience. Prayer is dry and without feeling, the mass becomes “routine” with no inspiration, the Church seems terribly slow and out of touch with real life . . . . God seems so distant.

At such moments the only light that shown in his darkness was the light of his conscience. Sometimes God lets this happen. So let’s look at “Conscience” to see how we might meet God.

First off conscience is “a judgement of reason” which moves a person to do good and avoid evil. “It recognizes the authority of truth” pointing to God the Supreme Good. “When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking.” (Catechism of The Catholic Church. P 438).

Think of a lantern you carry into a dark room. The light makes visible what is real and present. “Reason” is that light humans have in their very nature. It is our ability to swim in an ocean of truth.

Reason must be accompanied by freedom and will. Without these two an act has no responsibility (morality) attached to it. Without freedom an act is coerced. With- out our will we haven’t chosen or “owned” the act; it is merely accidental or unintentional.

So how does all this connect me to God? Well . . . following my conscience is to experience the “messenger of Him, who, speaks to us behind a veil.” (John Henry Cardinal Newman 1885).

The problem today is we lack the training to become sufficiently “present to ourselves”. There is a certain “interiority” required to hear and follow the voice of our conscience. It comes from prayer, quiet time with our- selves, good reading, virtuous friendships.

Kids especially, need help putting down their iPhones to listen to their own thoughts and feelings – – their own personhood. This quiet opens the door for the Holy Spirit with his gifts to present the knowledge and practice of the interior law.

Parents. You have the best seat in the house when it comes to teaching conscience. You are there to help your child “listen to that voice in your heart.” You are there to celebrate and praise the times your child “does the right thing” (thus adding to the voice of conscience that they just heard and followed).

You are also there when the voice of conscience went unheeded and dishonesty or meanness came forth. Parents you need to sit and lovingly help your child “see and hear” that inner voice. Not every instance require this teaching moment but sometimes God just puts it on a platter for you. Use it! Share a suitable moment from your life when you listened (or didn’t) to your conscience. A true life story from mom and dad!

In the end you are giving your child a compass, a tool that will guide them in moments of temptation and confusion. You give them a connection to their true selves and to God. “For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God . . . it is his most secret core and sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose vice echoes in his depths.” (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes #16).

God’s got you . . . quit squirming!

Fr. Tim

My mother loved the Italian crooner, Perry Como (I’ve just lost half of you!). His theme song went something like, “Dream along with me. We’re on the way to the stars.” Mom would swoon. Dad would roll his eyes.

So what shall we dream? Let’s dream about what life may look like by the end of this year. (Remember now, these are hopes and dreams . . . we’ll see what happens!)

What would life be like? (I’ve almost forgot how it used to be). After Covid, with no masks and no social distancing, you could . . .

• Let little children run into your arms to hold them tight.
• Whisper private thoughts close to a friend’s ear. No masks of course.
• Dinner together with friends at a restaurant. We order a plate of cheese cake with 4 forks and all dig in!
• Come to mass at Holy Trinity. Better go early to get a seat. Real hand shakes at the Greeting of Peace.
• Weddings, baptisms, funerals – – – everybody is there to love and support!
• Coffee Hour after mass. Big donuts and getting news from friends.
• Travel to see friends and family. “Daddy, can we swim in the pool?” “Of course you can.”
• Seniors at Holy Trinity travel by bus to Skaneateles for a boat ride and dinner.
• Teenagers have an overnight at Camp Stella Maris to get their spirits renewed.
• Trips to Frontier Field, Bills Stadium, Regal Cinema . . . share popcorn? Sure!
• The huge parish picnic on the North Field. Your deviled eggs (yum!). Big bowl of Dorito’s, . . . dig in!
• Holy Trinity Snow-Ball III. Music, food, dancing (imagine that!)
• Baby-sitting is back.
• Consoling people . . . with your arm around them.
• Slumber Parties for kids.
• Altar Servers, choirs, parish greeters are all back. Okay. Enough with the dreaming. Here we are, early March, still cold, still masked. So what do we do? We smile. We pray. We reach out. As for the pan- demic, this too shall pass.

Let’s be better people . . . a humble, gentle people when we can finally shake hands (not bump elbows).

In the meantime see below . . . . Fr. Tim

Lenten Speaker Series: Survival Guide.

Sunday evenings at 7 pm. in church and Livestream.

March 7: Getting Vaccinated

Everything you need to know. Mark Malahosky, pharmacist at Trillium Pharmaceuticals, will show us the way to get your shots and answer any questions you may have.

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March 14: Mental Health for Youth.

A panel discussion with a Crisis Hot line Counselor, Webster middle school teacher, and a Family Counselor and psychologist. Discussion will focus on the unique emotional pressures our young people experience in these days of remote learning and social distancing. Help for troubled teens.

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March 21: What’s Happening to my Faith?

Fr. Tim and Fr. John will discuss what steps we can take to actually deepen our faith in these days of Livestream masses.

Sundays. 7 pm. Livestream and in Church