“These things are addictive,” he said as he finished the bag of honey roasted peanuts. We all know what that means in an everyday sort of way. There’s something that tastes so good, and repeats itself with each mouthful that’s it’s hard to resist eating too much of it.

But, in the common mind, it doesn’t qualify as a real addiction until we experience an inability to stop. It becomes a way of acting to which we are driven (even in spite of our better judgment). Where does this strange power over us begin?

St. Thomas Aquinas would tell us, it begins with something quite good: stimulation, comfort, ecstasy, release, approval. Many earthly activities bring about enjoyable psychological states to insure repetition. Food sustains life, the intense pleasure of sex ensures human conception. They are nature’s strong inducements but by them- selves they are not necessarily addictive.

What makes a particular thing addictive is its power to mesmerize, to outgrow the desire for other human experiences. There comes a point where, to NOT be in that state (full, high, aroused) is experienced as a deprivation, a sort of poverty. I’ve begun now to prefer my addiction to all the other states of being. I’m always looking to increase the time I might spend with it.

At this point the addictive power begins to limit human freedom. (The New Testament uses the term “slavery” in describing our attachment to this behavior). It will not quietly take its place amongst other human activities. Like the moon which disappears at sunrise, the other good things of life can’t compete with the blinding desire of addiction.

Moments like, kindness, friendship, generosity, humor, communication, as good and pleasurable as they are, are not addictive because they lack the power to overwhelm. One experiences these moments without others losing their comparable appeal. They are psychological states freely chosen amongst other human offerings. Their appeal does not remove other choices, even some less pleasurable.

Where does the addiction get its power? Science has been hard at work to unwrap the phenomena of addiction. They tell us over time the repeated brain waves of intense pleasurable action wears a pathway in our brain. Along this frequently used brain path travels powerful pleasure inducing hormones (pheromones) producing the increasingly desired effect. In effect the brain has found a shortcut to feeling of “well”. It’s only a matter of time that this easy “wellness” becomes the preferred state from which to engage the world. All addiction is, at least partially, a drug addiction (the pheromone release in my brain.)

Other addictive theories are more behavior based. But they too have a “pain relief” purpose. Psychologists tell us we all have elements of emotional pain in our lives. Some pain is life long and comes from traumatic instances in our youth. Others, less dramatic but chronic (loneliness, depression, fears, boredom etc.), can turn to certain behaviors that self-medicate painful emotional states.

For example, a person tied to a job she hates, without family or friends to enjoy life with, with little or no hope for anything changing for the better can self-medicate at the casino, the bar, the internet, the kitchen etc. . . . . any- thing to change the low emotional wellness level. Something as simple as a cigarette can bring an addictive comforting (I know this one personally.)

Let’s be honest. We all run the risk of finding something to which we are inclined in an unhealthy, addictive way. Feeling his weak human nature St. Paul writes to the Romans, “My inner being delights in the law of God. But, in my body I see a different law. A law that fights against the law of God . . . I don’t understand what I do; for I don’t do what I want to do, but instead I do what I hate. What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death?” Romans 7: 14-25.

The answer of course is God. But we need to understand what we must do so God can do His part. We’ll look at that next week.

In the meantime I beg you . . . please know that God has a healing for our addictions. It starts with the Truth. “And the truth will set you free.” That’s a promise.

Enjoy this summer weather. It’s not addictive!

Fr. Tim

W. B Yeats called it the ever “widening gyre” *. The image was of a falcon and the falconer who calls the bird to its roost. The bird has flown to a distance it can no longer see or hear its master. “The falcon cannot hear the falconer. Things fall apart. The center cannot hold.” The poem refers to the forces of history or culture that take a person and a civilization away from their true self.

Something like this happens in every age of history. Its effects appear in our culture today and our young people are most severely affected. We’re losing a sense of our center, our true selves, and what is most disconcerting – – we don’t sense the loss. The forces that separate falcon from falconer are many and complex. To keep it simple we can point to an imbalance of the “inner world” and the “external world”.

The inner world refers to that realization a person has of himself. His center. His likes and dislikes, personality, characteristics and values. It’s our soul, our center. It’s the “me” that turns when I hear my name called.

The “outer world” of course is that environment outside ourselves; events, persons, circumstances in which we act and are acted upon. Some have called it “the daily grind”.

Between these two poles, my human life happens. I go out of myself to encounter the world and the people it brings. Then I return to the inner world and the conversation begins. “What was that? Why did that happen? Did I do the right thing?”, etc.

These two poles of life, the going out and the returning “home”, need to be in balance. The problem is the world with its unending chatter of social media, news and en- tertainment, overwhelms the “inner person.” There’s no home in ourselves to return to. We are in turmoil. Things fall apart.

In those rare moments when television or internet are turned off, we can grow restless or slightly embarrassed to be “alone with ourselves”. The sudden quiet catches us off guard and in the silence a weird feeling of being a stranger to ourselves comes over us.

To meet ourselves in such a moment can even frighten us. “Who is this person? It’s ME!!” Oh dear. Me. “What am I going to do with me?”

And so we check our email, text someone, see what’s on TV, phone somebody . . . anything to avoid being with myself.

This estrangement from ourselves has sad consequences for our relationship with God. How can we hear the voice of God if we can’t hear the voice of our own conscience- (that inner voice urging us to “do this” or “don’t do that” or “good job!” or “shame on you.”)

Remember Jesus telling us “when you talk to God (pray) go to your room. Close the door. And pray to your Father in secret.” Mt. 6:5,6? Why in secret? Because the way God chooses to speak to you is as a friend. And friends give each other their full attention. A friend speaks per- sonally to you like no other, many times quietly, just between the two of you.

In the quiet, over time, we return to ourselves and begin to hear things in our heart once again. I remember one year on retreat at a monastery walking down a country path. Suddenly it happened . . . I heard the wind blowing through the trees. I mean I HEARD THE WIND. I heard it because I was LISTENING.

Later on, if you continue to listen, you can hear the things your heart has wanted to tell God. “Lord, it’s me. I just want to tell you . . .” Many times it’s just being aware of your feelings and giving them to God “who sees.”

So, how to end this? Get quiet. Put down the iphone. Come home to yourself. Re-aquaint yourself to what you’re feeling, thinking, loving, fearing. Then. . . turn to Him. Speak anything (anything!) you want to get off your chest, be grateful for, need help with.

He is there. “Your Father who hears in secret. . . knows what you need.” Mt. 6:8

That is a promise from Christ.

Trust Him.

Fr. Tim

* W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming

We’ve often mentioned the different states in life that contain their own special vocation: the single life, married life and consecrated religious life (priesthood/sisterhood/brotherhood). Each “state” in life presents different ways of living out the one vocation we all have – – – to bring the love of Christ to the world.

Here at Holy Trinity we’ve kept careful record of the different vocations God has called forth from the people. So let’s see . . . in the last 80 years 19 men and women from our parish have been given the vo- cation to the religious life as a priest (6) or sister (13). (5 men have also been called to the diaconate.)

Guess how many men and women have been called by God to the married life? Over 2100. Why so many more married persons than religious life? God wants more families. God wants more children in His Kingdom! And that means He wants more husbands and wives.

Marriage has to happen before there’s anybody to even think about becoming a priest or a sister!

Marriage is the state in life that suits most people. It is the life that touches the deepest longing of the human heart — where we learn to love and be loved.

Here we receive the wonderful gift of family which gives us that necessary human experience of “belonging”. (I’m so glad my mother and father fol- lowed God’s plan for their life. My life was given to me because of it.)

It is a personal consolation to me to know that my life as a priest was the result of an invitation from God. I hope and pray that our young people here at Holy Trinity will begin to see in their fiancé not just a beautiful, nice, fun person but see in them God’s gift. And to take strength and courage that it is God’s idea that they love each other and live their lives together.

This is the strength that comes to us in our “vocation”. It’s not just our personal choice of how to live life — it is God’s invitation to share life with someone hand picked by the Holy Spirit for you. This trust in God’s intention for a married couple can strengthen them when life proves difficult. Despite feelings to the contrary sometimes, “this is exactly where God wants me to be. And so I trust in His help.”

Do you begin to see the strength that our faith brings to a marriage? Girls, look for a young man who goes to mass. Boys, the mother of your children could well be in line for communion ahead of you.

Lastly . . . young people . . . pray for your future spouse . . . that God will keep them safe up to the day you meet them for the first time!

I imagine God asking husbands and wives at the gates of heaven, “Did you love her?” “Did you love him?” “Like I showed you in my Son?”

God loves you more than you know.

Fr. Tim

My sisters are always warning me about pigeon-holing people. You know, things like . . . “Well that’s because he’s Irish (or Italian, or German, etc.). You know how they are.”

Most times I think it’s done with an appreciation for the gifts that certain cultures offer to the world. (Who but Italians could have given us all those amazing operas and the tenor voices that delivered their story?) It’s not pigeon-holing when what is pointed to is clearly “a gift”.

The same observations can be made about the different gifts of men and women. So on this Father’s Day let this be an “ode” to fathers and the gifts they bring to their wives and us children.

(What follows in no way lessens the true love that same sex couples have for their children and the critical role they play in their lives.)

What is it that makes a good husband and father?

First on the list is a requirement of nature. A father needs to be a man. This is for the purpose of children of course. But there’s more than biology happening here.

Children need nurturing, guidance and protection. Is it fair to say women have a particular genius in knowing and feeling along with their children? I think they do. I also think their hearts are more ready to embrace and comfort.

This does not mean that men have none or little of these traits. They have them for sure. But a father would be wise to defer to a mother’s intuition about her child’s emotional well-being.

I’ve asked young brides-to-be what attracted them to their fiancé; among other things, many said they thought “he would make a good father.” This man attracted them in that they were already thinking of their child – – – yet to be conceived!

So what makes a good father? (We’re all free to list our qualities, right?) Here’s mine:

• A father is the guarantor of safety in the home. The children need to know that dad is in the house and all will be well through the night. There’s a noise downstairs? Dad, you check it out.
• A father is a “court of final appeal”. When everyone’s stated their case (mom first of course) and a decision still can’t be reached, dad takes responsibility for the well being of the whole family. Not as a boss but as a loving leader.
• When children become teenagers and are physically mature, there’s a tension in them that needs to “test things out for themselves”. Dad has to be there to match their strength with his own (especially with boys). A father will listen and consider the children always. But he won’t be bullied.
• He puts his wife closest to his heart.
• Dad’s first duty was to be our father; only after that could he be a friend.
• A father’s strength helps us to enter the “world out there”. . finding a job, a career, pointing out dangers, giving us confidence that we can make it in this world.
• Dad is happiest when his wife and children are happy. And if not, he does his best to make things better. He’s a fixer.
• Dad believes in God. He leads us in prayer at the dinner table and at night before bed. He is the muscle that gets us to mass on Sunday. He’s anxious to model Christ’s virtues . . . especially faithfulness, sacrifice, forgiveness, courage and tenderness.

Dear Dad. Please know that we love you and for better or worse . . . we grew up! Thanks for your love and sacrifice throughout these years. We’re better persons because of you.

Fr. Tim

Saturday, June 15 at 10:30 am

One of the most debilitating things about sickness is not the pain, or the fatigue, or the fear (each of these are, of course, part of the cross sickness brings). No. One of the biggest sufferings is how illness separates us from those around us – our families, friends and community at large.

It may mean being confined to home or quarantined from those closest to us. It may mean being unable to participate in everyday activities that bring us together with others. Perhaps most upsetting is the feeling of being “set apart”, different from others. (The thought “I’m sick”; everybody else is ok”.)

Holy Trinity Church has scheduled a Eucharistic Celebration with the Anointing of the Sick. This is the chance to bring some of your health concerns to the Lord in the context of mass and this faith community.

You are not alone! The Lord and Holy Trinity hold you dear to our hearts in prayer. There will be special seating for those who wish to be anointed that morning.

WHO SHOULD BE ANOINTED? The guidelines for the sacrament say “any persistent and serious concern for one’s health…” is reason for someone to request the anointing. Health concerns such as depression, anxiety, addiction, spiritual doubt and chronic pain are all suffi- cient to receive the anointing. There will be no questions asked. Simply indicate your wish to be anointed.

Come by yourself or better … bring a friend. Experience the healing and comforting Hand of God working through the Sacrament of the Sick and the care of this parish.

God bless you.

Fr. Tim

Senior Ministry at Holy Trinity

Are you looking to connect with fellow parishioners and or receive some spiritual encouragement outside of Sunday Mass? How about a chance to share your God-given gifts with others in your community? Holy Trinity is ex- cited to announce the beginning of our Senior Ministry.

The ministry mission statement declares that we will tend to the social and spiritual needs of our senior parishioners but, our hope is that senior events will provide something much broader. The future of this ministry will be shaped by YOUR wants and needs. The possibilities are endless; how exciting!

To get to know those among you that would like to participate in such a ministry, our first event will be a Potluck Luncheon on Thursday, June 20th from 12-2 pm in the Gathering Space. Please call the Parish Office at 265-1616 to reserve your spot.

So, the big question is this: As an “over-55” adult, what do you like, want and need to do? A survey has been assembled to answer just that and will be available at the luncheon.

If you are unable to attend the Potluck Luncheon on the 20th, surveys will be available for you at the Welcome Desk.

We look forward to exploring this new adventure with our senior parishioners!

For more information, please contact the Parish Office at 265-1616.

It will be a ton of fun!!!

I’m thinking of a spiritual lesson I’ve had to learn over and over in my life. It’s the simple fact that God wants all of me.

What do we mean when we say “all of me” (all of you)? Think of our many parts . . . our mind and its reasoning, our memory, our desires, our freedom, our work, talents, relationships etc. God wants to be in charge of all these things.

The problem is I want to be in charge of them. After all . . . It’s MY life!!

So throughout my life, I’ve tried to strike a deal with God. “I’ll give you most of me Lord. You can have my work and those work relationships. You get back what gifts you’ve given me (my big mouth). I’ll even throw in what kind of TV I watch (nothing smutty, you wouldn’t like that). All this is Yours.”

“But . . . don’t ask me to give you my habits or my preferences. I’ve spent a lifetime developing them: my bedtime, my cocktail, my personal time, a particular hobby, etc., all these are mine. I’ll do what I want with them.”

So God is patient. He lets us have our way. Habits and preferences (even the good ones) start to protect themselves. To the point where they can start to run the show. We start living in a way that expects these habits to have no interference. (“What do you mean the plane is delayed? This just can’t be. I have to be in Rochester this evening!!” OR “No coffee!!? That’s ridiculous!”)

Once again God lets us have our way. And I don’t know about you, but every time I take free reign of my life, with no concern for God’s will (I’m a good guy – – I don’t need God’s will to tell me what to do) . . . things get muddy.

It’s weird. I start out wanting a little “life for myself”. God won’t mind. And now I discover there’s a growing part of me that doesn’t want God interfering with my habits at all.

Now look what’s happened to God. God becomes “the Law”, the cop in my rearview mirror. A kill joy, someone to fear or at least avoid. This friends is the effect of original sin in us. God is someone to flee.

Poor God. How we twist things about Him. How we make Him out to be some grumpy boss who loves to order people around. Our vision of life slowly changes. Happiness is something to be grasped by ourselves. God is someone to flee. Adam and Eve hid themselves.

So what went wrong? We did. We failed to give God everything. Call it what you want . . . mistrust, selfishness, pride, arrogance . . . it’s all the same. It’s a voice that says, “NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO.” Quietly God calls to us but we’re not in the mood to listen.

Ever have that feeling? Ever hear yourself saying that? Welcome to this fallen world.

We’ve forgotten that God loves us. We’ve forgotten that, in His knowing love, He knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us! And it’s from this love we receive His will. And, get this. God’s will is our true happiness! St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, prayed this prayer (The Suscipe) for God to have all of him. See what you think.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

~ St. Ignatius of Loyola

Next Week Pentecost!!

Fr. Tim

So there’s a lull in a conversation with friends and someone you know, but not all that well, asks you, “Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” Everything stops, doesn’t it?

Catholics especially find it hard to answer this question. “I THINK I have,” might be our answer. Pressed further as to when you accepted Jesus someone might say, “Well, I go to mass on Sunday”, “I don’t cheat anybody.” “I give to the United Way.” “Oh I don’t know!”

It’s not through any lack of faith that one is left in confusion. It’s just that most Catholics show our faith in a different way. Taking Holy Communion at mass is probably the premiere moment for Jesus and me in the week. Yes, THERE HE IS, my Lord and Savior! (Chances are, our inquiring friend would not understand this answer) . . And just before that we turn to each other and say, “The Peace of Christ be with you!” and we smile at each other and somehow we feel Jesus is with us.

That’s it. That’s Jesus and me. And is He my Lord and Savior? Of course He is!

However . . . that’s not enough. Faith is a gift that is meant to be shared. Christianity is not just about “Jesus and me”, it’s about Jesus, you and me, all of us together. (Why else would Jesus leave the 99 safe in the meadow to search out the lost sheep?)

So how do we uptight Catholics begin to share our faith? It starts with an attitude of affection. We have to like our neighbor, to genuinely care how they are, to be happy when they are happy and sad when they are sad. Not that everyone is our best friend, but everyone can count on us to be in their corner. We want goodness to find everyone.

Once we have our neighbor fixed in our hearts as “brother” or “sister”, we can speak to them as to a friend — because that’s what they are.

Next we need to check our memory bank for the times God has popped up in my life. These are moments when I cried out to God and He heard me, or a joy beyond all expectation filled my heart. These are my life’s faith stories, my “God history.” These things I know, not because I read about them, but because they happened to me personally. These are the things that Christ asks me to share with my neighbor when the Holy Spirit moves.

So how do I find my “God history”? It really is up to each person to search and find. But here are a few classic moments that many people have found to contain “something from God”.

• Strangely, God’s grace comes many times in moments of distress. “Powerlessness” is a particular favorite for God to work with. The times, with nowhere else to turn, we finally call out to God . . . “Help me.” And guess what? Something happens.

• “Things that overwhelm” is another favorite tool God uses to open our eyes. Moments of great beauty in a thou- sand different places (the face of a child, a walk with a friend, something said in church, the memory of a loving person, sickness that brings a new vision of life, someone’s word to us that goes deep, etc.)

• Where there is love there is God (1 Jn. 4:7). Any moment of love whether small or large is a golden thread that leads directly to the heart of God. God IS love. (A love beyond all measure. Think “giving” without counting the cost – – Christ on the cross). Have you witnessed this kind of love? Then God has come to you!

God will give you a time to share your confidence in His grace. Because you’ve experienced it.

Be kind this week.

Fr. Tim

Something happened a few years back at a conference I was attending. The subject was “vocation” and how we find God’s way and plan for our life. A young priest presented an image that surprised and delighted all of us. He gave us a picture of how life gets pieced together in partnership with God.

He used this image. See what you think.

Picture you’re weaving a cloth with various shuttles and yarns attached to them. The cloth is suspended over your head much like an umbrella. The garment you’re weaving is of course “your life”.

You view your cloth from the bottom and see several openings which could receive your shuttle. So seeing the pattern you’ve already begun, you choose an opening that seems to best add to your cloth. You push the shuttle through and wait for its return.

Meanwhile God is there above to receive your choice. He takes his time in returning the shuttle. He’s partnering with you as co-weaver! Finally He drops the shuttle back down to you but not exactly where you thought He would. It’s “over there”.

“Oh,” we think, “that changes things. Now what? Where do I send my shuttle back to Him?”

And up and down the shuttle of life goes. Each time we make the best judgment we can about life’s choices . . . Is this the person I should marry? Do I work or stay home with the children? Do I apply for the new opening at work? Where do we send the children to school? How do I handle this new problem? Etc.

So you think about things; maybe talk things over with family or friend. Hopefully you’ll say a prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you. But then comes the moment of decision (“Mom, dad, I’ve decided to go into the military.”) and with that you’ve sent the shuttle up through the cloth of your life. What will God send back? We’ll see . . .

Get the picture? It’s really a nice meditation on the partnership God has with us in guiding us through our lives.

Two points seem critical to me in this process.

1. When we ponder where to send up our choices (the shuttle) there needs to be some sort of prayer. “Oh Lord, please guide me, enlighten me. Show me where to send this choice in life. I give it to you. Help me.” Then act with the confidence that God will indeed help your choices. He loves you!

2. When God drops the shuttle back down to you, no matter how unexpected its placement— trust that it is God’s answer to your prayer. The events of our life that follow our prayerful action is what we call God’s Providence (His loving grace given to us His children). Trust that He has heard you and has answered your prayers.

Case in point: Two years ago we prayed that God would guide the selection of our president and government officials in the recent election. When I went to the poll that day I pushed the shuttle through (to continue the analogy) for a different candidate. What came back to me (and to you!) was Donald Trump as our next president.

Following the points mentioned above, we now regard President Trump as God’s will for America at this present time. My responsibility as a citizen is to support him wherever I can and speak up when government policies violate matters of social justice.

God in his providence has something to teach us in allowing the election process to give us this president. I continue to search for what that lesson may be.

God is waiting for your next prayer as together you weave the pattern of your life.

Bless you. Happy Easter.

Fr. Tim

PS. Partner with God. Make your garment breathtaking!

1. A persistent fascination with the idea of becoming a priest. (It just won’t go away. Girls are wonderful too but why do I keep thinking about life as a priest?)
2. An appreciation for the Catholic Faith. It really does have the deepest and truest answers to life’s mysteries. (I think I could explain it to help people.)
3. A vague desire to do something dangerous for Christ. (This is weird. Guys just like something that tests them. Something risky and different, like rock climbing, but this time . . . something for the Lord!)
4. You find yourself watching priests at your parish. (Hearing his homily you might think . . . “I could do that, maybe even better!” Or thinking about counseling a worried person, you might think “Here is what I would say to someone with that problem.”)
5. If not me . . . then who? (If you see and feel that something needs to be done, why would you tell someone else to do it? Picture someone needing help climbing stairs . . . you don’t wait for someone else to help, do you? The very fact that YOU SEE what’s needed is a sign that YOU are called to step up. This sometimes feels almost like a burden. A sweet burden!)
6. People, out of the blue, tell you they think you’d make a good priest. Ever tell that to a young man? It could change his life. It changed mine.

6 Tricks of the Enemy to confuse and frustrate God’s call. (Comment)

1. “Who do you think you are?! You’re not holy enough.” (You’re right. You’re a sinner. Just like the rest of us. God doesn’t call “perfect” people and THEN make them priests. No, he calls simple everyday people like the fishermen/apostles. It’s a lifetime journey that makes you holy.)
2. “It’s a lifelong commitment. I can’t do that.” (Gee, that’s too bad. So I guess you’ll never get married or have children or be a true friend to anyone. They all call for lifelong commitments. So you’ll re-invent yourself every seven or eight years?)
3. “I’ll be lonely.” (So? Nobody talks about this because it’s kinda personal and a little embarrassing . . . . Jesus was lonely. EVERYBODY IS LONELY SOMETIMES. God lets us all have this feeling to get us looking forward to the joy of heaven.
4. “I can’t do the things I like doing.” (Says who? Talk to priests. They have an amazing interest in all kinds of activities. Some have their pilot’s license, some priests have traveled all over the world, some play an instrument in a band or orchestra . . . golf, wine making, cooking – priests do all kinds of things.)
5. “But I love women. I want to marry.” (Of course you do!! God put that feeling in you. But sometimes God puts another feeling right along side of it. It’s the feeling that Jesus wants you to be his special friend – – – you and him. He whispers “follow me.”)
6. “Priests are busy on Sunday, and then they don’t do anything all week. (That’s not true. Priests have staff meetings, finance meetings, buildings and grounds meetings, Parish Council meetings, counseling appointments, interviews with engaged couples, students for sacraments, parents for baptisms, confessions, teaching classes, going to the hospital, funerals, time for prayer, time to plan homilies, people “stopping by” . . . what else? . . . oh yeah, Maplewood Nursing Home, on call at Rochester General, morning masses, email correspondence. There’s more but that’s enough.)

To Our Young Men

You’re not alone in trying to find your path in life. Talk to your parish priest. He can tell you what it feels like to be a priest. He can help you find whatever God’s plan may be for you.

Fr. Tim

I’ve been playing with the outrageous announcement the Church proclaims everyday but especially at this time of Easter. “Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.”

The science we rely on to help us understand the physical world tells us that such an event cannot happen given the laws of nature. Surprisingly science has no objection to “resuscitation” (the return to bodily life of a corpse that was once thought dead. Lazarus, friend of Jesus, was resuscitated. Unfortunately, Lazarus would have to die again.) Science allows for that possibility.

That is not what the Church proclaims. The Church boldly announces that the whole Jesus is alive, body, mind and soul, never to die again. She declares it to be a true historical event. The resurrection is a “fact”.
So why should we believe what our senses can never verify? Actually we do it all the time . . . do you believe your spouse when she says she loves you? Is it a “fact” when your friend says, “I was there. You must not have seen me.” When the state trooper stops your car to tell you the bridge is out up ahead, is it then a fact for you?

Why do we believe something is for real when we’ve never witnessed it? Isn’t it because we know the person who’s giving us the information . . . and we trust them? When you think about it isn’t that how we come to know most things? We trust they’re telling the truth. (So Fr. John tells me he’s used all the hot water – – okay, I’ll shower later!)

Sunday after Sunday in the Easter Season the gospel tells a story of Jesus appearing to his disciples. Why should I believe them? I mean he died on the cross two thousand years ago, they buried his body like any other corpse. How can I reasonably know that Jesus is truly alive and with me?

Here’s what helps me believe:

• Most importantly, Jesus said it would happen. (Mark 9:31, Matthew 17:22, 23)
• The apostles were totally surprised by the resurrection and gained nothing but persecution by spreading the news.
• The God that is revealed by the death and resurrection of Jesus is so contrary to anything humans could ever think to cook up. (“Your God let himself be crucified?!”)
• The Church (for all its human failings) has never wavered in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead even in times of great suffering.
• The gift of Faith creates a willingness in me to submit to a truth that guides my life in a hope filled way. (Before that I had nowhere to steer my ship!)
• Over time, this Faith has provided the experience of a deeper love for God and neighbor that never would have happened otherwise.
• Faith in the resurrection has brought me into contact with people who have shown me a love and goodness that can only be compared to the love of Jesus Christ.

With these thoughts in mind . . . . I take the leap of Faith. And even this leap is caused by God’s grace. He helps us jump!

Now dear friends be ready, because once we say “yes” to the Easter message of eternal life with Christ, we “bind” ourselves to living according to his teachings.

(“Religion”: from the Latin, religare . . . to bind).

That means: loving enemies, living chastely, caring for the poor, faithful spousal love, seeking social justice, forgiveness to all who harm us, trusting God to watch over us, being there for those in need, etc.

Being just small human beings, inclined to selfishness, how will we ever live as Jesus taught? All I can say is “something happens”. Over time we get drawn out of ourselves and begin to live for God and others. And there’s a happiness unlike anything the world can deliver.

Please know that God loves you right now. Right where you are this moment. All he asks is that we surrender to that love. Let it conquer you, wash over you, free you.

Easter joy to you.

Fr. Tim