There was a beautiful “Prayer at The Foot of The Altar” at the beginning of mass some years ago. Translated from Latin it says, “I will go to the altar of God.” And the response of the altar server was, “To God, who restores the joy of my youth.”

I love that phrase . . . “the joy of my youth.” Some questions arise however: 1. What is that joy like? 2. What hap- pened to it that it has to be restored? And 3, why do I have to go to God to get it back?

1. Think back. What were the times that best captured the unique happiness you had as a kid? I think of Christmas morning (just before the presents were opened). Or some- thing new always got us, right? The first snow, a new ball glove, a doll, new shoes, a bike or a sled (wow!). Maybe it was a trip to a far away place. (The Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls totally amazed me at age ten!)

But what defines “the joy of youth”? How is it different from middle age joy? I think it has something to do with the fact that there is nothing to temper it. A child has no accumulation of disappointing moments or fears of being tricked or laughed at. Happiness (like tears) comes quickly and sharply with no filters.

And one other thing (the best thing actually) . . . joy (in a young person’s head) will last forever. There’s been little experience of life’s eventual hurts and disappointments. There has yet to develop that callus we all acquire to deaden feelings and expectations of happiness. Remember summer as a kid? It’s going to last forever!

2. So what happened to this joy? Well, life happened. Tricks were played, lies told, promises broken, bicycles stolen, plans abandoned. You know, life here on earth. Welcome to the world kids. This is life after that mysterious fall of Adam and Eve.

We cover up, we hide our feelings, sarcasm becomes the adult form of humor. Being “on guard” is how we live now because, as “The Who” sings, “we won’t get fooled again”. And on guard we should be . . . there’s tough things out there.

3. So how does God, and only God, restore the joy of our youth? Quite simply God has provided the remedy for the dashed hopes of the human heart. The remedy does not turn us back into children hoping for a new pony. It points us to the original plan, the one lost so long ago.

God redirects our faulty longing . . . toward Him. All the false joys and counterfeit happiness fade away in the in- tense light of what God has given us in His Son Jesus Christ. Hear what St. Paul (the former cynic known as Saul) says of this new thing that God has done.

“We have peace now with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we boast of our afflictions, knowing that they produce endurance, and endurance proven character, and proven character, hope.”

Paul goes on . . . “And this hope does not disappoint, be- cause the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:5

It is this Hope that restores the joy of our youth. It made Paul say elsewhere, “there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38

So the joy of our youth is restored. That’s right children; we’re going to be with God in His Kingdom . . . forever and ever. Yay!!!

Spread the good news.

Fr. Tim

I recently attended a funeral for an old college professor of mine. Fr. Robert Madden taught English Literature to generations of students and was well known for his knowledge, wit, and kindly way. Perhaps greatest of his gifts, as noted at the funeral, was his ability to be a true friend.

It got me thinking how it might be that same way with Jesus. Why should Christ be any less of a friend? (He calls himself that, by the way. Jn. 15:15). Is it possible to have a personal friendship with Jesus? If so, how does one go about getting it/experiencing it?

Let’s use Fr. Madden as an example. I had heard about this short, round, red faced professor from all the upper class students. I was so envious of those who had had him in class and could call him by name and hear back theirs. Madden was a “figure” about whom I knew much but someone I’d never met.

Isn’t this like Jesus for so many of us? We’ve heard the bible stories, we’ve got a painting of him in beard and sandals. We say the prayer He told us to pray. But we’ve never met Him personally, heard His voice, or felt His presence. Can we really meet Him? The answer is . . . Yes! But it’s different.

How? Our faith teaches He’s “in the Spirit”. We can’t see or hear Him in the normal everyday way we meet others. We need a new way of seeing and hearing. Empowered by faith in the Resurrection and driven forward by a hunger to know Him, there is a gradual growth in the experience of Jesus present in our lives as friend and Savior.

Think of the things you experience with a spouse, a dear friend. (I bet you already have a friendship with Jesus.) It’s not that hard. What do you friends do? They know what pleases each other, what movies they like, what foods a friend prefers. You know what pleases Christ right? Of course you do!

Friends trust each other with secrets. To share a secret is to share your innermost heart. It invites them into your head, where it’s just the two of you. (With Jesus it’s called prayer.)

Friends can be free with each other . . . to say what you feel, to know they will understand, to be less than perfect and still loved, etc. All these things we have with Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit brings the friendship of Jesus to us.

Lastly friendship takes time. You and your friend didn’t just “pop up”. It took years to learn to anticipate each other, to forgive, to trust. Same with Jesus, when he asks us to step out in faith, into the uncomfortable . . . it takes years sometimes to let ourselves trust His presence with us. So what? The best things take time.

Where to look to find your friend Jesus. (Meanwhile He’s looking for you!)

Look closely at the movements of your heart. Moments of love, compassion, sorrow, joy (sometimes accompanied by tears), these are signs that Jesus is near. Speak to him at such times. “I am sent to heal the broken hearted”. Lk. 4:18

1. Pray! “Lord Jesus, let me see you in my life.” And then remember what you’ve prayed for! God will answer your prayers in some way through the course of the day or week. Generally it happens through events around you.
2. Watch for “a double grace”. The grace of the Moment … and … the grace to know “It is the Lord!”
3. Watch God’s “little ones”. Those especially close to Christ: children, the lost, the poor, the mournful and suffering. They have the spiritual presence of Christ all around them.
4. Pray just one thing for awhile … Let me see you Lord, or show me you are with me.
5. The Eucharist of course brings special graces to know Jesus in the “breaking of the bread.”

It’s called asking. And Jesus says, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find.” Mt. 7:7

Good hunting! The Holy Spirit will be your field dog.

Fr. Tim

St. Paul tells us we are “Ambassadors of Christ. It is as if God were appealing through us.” 2 Cor. 5:20. On this Mother’s Day Weekend I’d like to give you an example of someone who was an Ambassador of Christ for me. My mom.

As always, the story is meant to get you thinking about your own life. Have you had an experience where some- one said or did something that caused you to know that God was working through this person? Here’s a time it happened to me.

I was in my third year of seminary studies (with two more to go) and I had gotten to the point of wondering if I’d made a mistake thinking I could do the things a priest must do. Studies were getting quite demanding and my formation board was pushing me to manifest a more “generous spirit in the community”. I was getting pretty grumpy.

On a short visit home, with dad taking a nap upstairs, my mother and I had a little visit in the living room . . . just the two of us. I asked how things were with dad and her alone in the house. How was she feeling? Then she asked about me; how seminary was going.

Most times I would put the best version forward (“Great Mom. Everything’s just fine.”). But this time was different. I told her how hard it had been and how I wondered if I could ever do all the things they expected of me. It all came pouring out . . . the long days, the difficult professors, the high expectations. “Mom, I just don’t know if I’m the guy they want. I don’t seem to fit the mold.”

Now you’d have to know my mother Rosemary to understand how unexpected was her response. You see my mother is not what you’d call the nurturing type. She was a brilliant conversationalist with a charming personality (Lauren Bacall would play her well). She preferred the company of adults to children. A martini and a good story was where my mother thrived.

So you can imagine my surprise when this elegant woman, with brow furrowed, said, “Well you might not be right for THEM . . . but JESUS wants you Tim. You’re going to make a fine priest.”

The words at the moment were touching. Mom doesn’t often talk like that. Here was a mother loving her son. I felt better. Cocktail hour followed immediately!

But the “God part” followed the next day as I drove back to Rochester. Somewhere along that boring drive I began to replay my visit and the conversation with mom was soon recalled.

I felt again the warmth of her words, her unquestioning confidence in me, and her faith that Christ would use her son to be a good priest if that was His will.

At this point . . . and I can’t explain how . . . my mother’s words, “you’re going to make a fine priest”, were heard as if Jesus were speaking them. It was my mother’s voice I was recalling but it was Christ who was speaking to me there in the car.

Jesus used my mother’s words to give me the confidence that God wanted me to continue. My heart was light and happy as I drove back to the seminary that day.

You are an Ambassador of Christ. God appealing through you. Be ready.

And bless you mothers . . . you gave us life. And then you show us Christ. You are wonderful.

Fr. Tim

One of the most common and sharpest pains priests hear about is the sorrow parents and grandparents feel about their children not practicing their Faith, not going to mass.

They look back over the years spent getting children to religious education, making all their sacraments, fighting and arguing on the way to church, and throwing hands up as they exclaim, “How did I fail them? What did I do wrong?”

It’s a big issue, not something to solve in this little article. But here are a few thoughts that might ease the pain and point to hope for the future.

First off, you are not the perfect parent. (Mary and Joseph came the closest to that and even they lost Jesus for three days in the temple!). You yourself were imper- fectly formed by your parents and they too, by theirs, and on it goes back in time. GOD KNOWS THIS ABOUT YOU. God judges your heart and your intentions for your children, not the imperfect answers you gave them about what we believe.

If you happen to know how you yourself came up short in faith, you may want to share that with your children, how you yourself wandered from your Catholic Faith. Yes, an acknowledgement from mom or dad about your own shortcomings can go a long way to heal old wounds and angry accusations.

Secondly, it’s not too late to share your faith. No longer in grade school, your children still look to you for love and guidance. But this time around it has to be different. They need to see how your faith and religious practices make a difference in your life. They need adult answers.

“So mom/dad, you believe in Jesus, right? Does that make you better than others? Am I going to hell because I don’t go to mass? Does God only love church goers? How does faith help you live your life?” Think long and hard about your answer. People need to see that following Christ really brings a peace “that the world cannot take away.” Jn. 14:27. Don’t let their honest questions upset you.

Are you . . . more Patient? Generous? Hopeful? Selfless? Forgiving? Less judgmental? Do you try to think the best of people? Are you happy? How does Faith help you with these things?

If we don’t exhibit these, why would someone want to practice our religion?

Third. This may sound strange, but the Catholic Church is not God. We don’t worship the church. She is God’s bride, the faithful witness to the Risen Lord. The church, like a mother, gives birth to her children in baptism. She nourishes us with the graces flowing from the sacraments given to her by Christ. She shepherds and guides us through life to follow Him.

God’s dealings with your children ARE NOT LIMITED to what happens at mass on Sunday. The Holy Spirit reaches out to people in thousands of ways. God uses the events of life to bring us to moments of faith (encounters with love and mercy, generosity, beauty, patient endurance, etc.)

Lastly, God knows your child better than you do. God knows why they do what they do to keep Him away. God also knows the secret goodness your son or daughter already has for God.

Remember the “Good Thief” who was crucified next to Jesus? He missed church his whole life, yet in his last moment he came to Jesus. “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Lk 23:43

So? Trust God to find moments of love to lure your child into heaven. And . . . be ready to be an instrument of gentle, patient witness to God in YOUR LIFE. And then? Pray. Pray. . . . invite, invite!

Love wins. All will be well.

Why? Simple. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Fr. Tim

There was a catechism lesson we had when we were children. It was about the “Attributes of God”? God is all-knowing, all-loving, all-wise, and all-powerful. God can do all things. He can make a galaxy or an atom, an ocean or a raindrop, an elephant or a humming bird. Nothing exists outside God’s power to command.

But on second thought, there really is something God can’t do (or won’t do) . . . He won’t make us obey His commands. God can appeal to us with right reasons. He makes certain things speak clearly that they are true and good; all for the purpose of winning us over to His Divine Will.

But God cannot violate our own free will. He Him- self gave it to us to use in cooperation with His Will. God wants us to experience this participation as a joy and thereby discover our unique dignity and happiness. Our freewill is what makes us human beings. To take that away would destroy our humanity. Unlike how we can treat God . . . God will not go against our will.

We see this in the gospel (Mk. 6:6) where Jesus is teaching in his home town of Nazareth. The neighbors come out to see their “home town hero”. Suddenly the crowd became aware that Jesus was just one of them – – – no better, no worse. “Hey, we know you Jesus. You grew up here. You played in our streets. Don’t go thinking you are anything special. You’re not. You’re just like us.”

“So (Jesus) was not able to perform any mighty deed there . . . he was amazed at their lack of faith.”

Our unwillingness to believe in Christ makes it impossible for him to do his will for us. “I want to help you but I can’t…because you won’t let me do my will for you.”

We tie God’s hands when we refuse to welcome Christ into our lives. God is always polite. Most times He won’t enter where He is not welcomed or is ignored. Christ knocks on the door but only we can open it.

So why doesn’t God shout to us or make a special show of His power? He can and sometimes does. Oddly enough God reveals his power through us, his human creature.

The brilliance of the human mind is really our sharing in what God knows about his creation. Splitting the atom and the universal rejection of human slavery are both moments where God moved us to discover his loving will. (I personally think God will, in time, show our scientists a clean and renewable source of energy to advance human civilization). What will we do with that knowledge? God will leave us free to decide.

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So have you done anything to celebrate Easter? Perhaps a road trip with family? A theatre presentation? Thrown a party or cooked a special meal? Visited a friend? What? God wants us to celebrate His Son you know.

Any event can be “A Special Easter Celebration”. Just call it that! I think I’ll have a “Special Easter Beer” tonight with Fr. John!!

Spring in your heart.

Fr. Tim

Take a big nose full of air today. A long breath into your nostrils. Notice anything? The air is still dead. It’s fresh and clear but it’s dead. The hard winter has kept the spring from coming to Western New York. The snow is still melting in our south parking lot. The only sure signs of spring have been the geese returning overhead and a few crocuses in their crazy purple and yellow. There is no life in the air.

But that is all about to change. An absolute revolution is about to happen. The earth is about to come to life. Green returns to the dormant grasses and covers the ground. Trees will bud, flowers of all kinds will gush forth everywhere. And filling the air will be this brand new smell (I’ve forgotten just how it smells – – – it’s been almost five months). Life.

Imagine if we had to pay our town government for Spring 2018. “Let’s see now; it’ll be $5 mill for the air conditioning, $19 mill for the flowers, and $27 mill for the grass, trees, and apple blossoms.” It’s all free!! God has designed it that way . . . so you could have a garden and greet your neighbor and just let your mind wonder at the beauty of it all. New life.

Is there a tree or bush anywhere that says “no” to this new life? “No. Leave me alone. It’s too hard here. Waking up again to all that happens . . . drought, wind storms, in- sects, losing leaves, winter, ice storms. . . I just don’t want anymore.” It’s hard coming to life again. It’s easier to stay dead sometimes.

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Friends, the Easter Season we celebrate speaks of a new life beyond that of nature . . . what we call Eternal Life. It is a life that Mother Earth cannot produce and for which this springtime is only a glimmer. Eternal Life can come only from He who is eternal. And so God, like a good farmer, has sent His Son into nature. And like a seed, Jesus entered the earth to die (“Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains just a grain of wheat”).

Having died and been buried in the earth, Jesus is raised from the dead by God who has the power to begin “a new heaven and a new earth.” Rev. 21:1.

Now the question remains, do you want this new springtime? Do you want to undertake the heartaches, disappointment or failure in this life (they are sure to come) for the sake of the prize. . .Life on high with Jesus Christ?

I do.

Fr. Tim

One of the things that happens as you begin your journey into “the Senior Years” is the perspective of “looking back”.

Think of it . . . most of your life has been spent looking forward to events that are yet to happen. What did you look forward to in your younger years?

• Finding a girl/boyfriend. Falling in love.
• Getting into the right school.
• Finding a job.
• Getting a promotion.
• Marriage. Children.
• Fun times with family and friends.

These are all part of the hopes and dreams we have through most of our lives. They are what makes life on earth a happiness. Sure there are setbacks along the way … failures, disappointments, tragic happenings … but most often we deal with them and we keep on hoping and dreaming. “Someday I’ll get there and then it will be happy ever after.”

We seniors need to recognize this wonderful impulse in young people. We need to support them and their dreams. God puts these hopes in us so we might shape the earth. Walk around our city, Rochester; see the dreams of men and women who have made this a better world.

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But for some of us . . . we’ve had our time or at least we’re finishing things up. What now?

May I suggest it’s time for GRATITUDE. Webster defines it as “an appreciation of benefits received”. This appreciation happens when we “look back” on times of unexpected kindness, generosity received, truth spoken when needed most.

This “looking back” can open our eyes to things we were too busy to see at the time. (I think of the stinging correction I received from my parents in times of teenage moodiness. Oh how I rebelled against these old people who just didn’t understand my life!!).

Now I see. They were right. They saved me against my will. It’s taken years to recognize, but looking back . . . I’m grateful they cared enough to set me straight.

Life is full of these “blessings” if we just look for them. For example: did anyone teach you how to “finish the job”? To do it right? Thank that person.

Has anyone shown you what it means to be generous or forgiving or helpful? Has there been anyone who, for all your goofiness, never gave up on you? Someone who, when you felt like quitting, gave you the courage to go on? Did you thank them?

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So what’s this got to do with Easter? Well now that I’m older (I didn’t say old!) I’m beginning to connect the dots. Each time, with darkness all around and the world saying “What’s the point? Just give up,” God would send some- one or some “coincidence” to show the way to life.

That was Christ and the Holy Spirit. Now I see.

That you may have the eyes to see.

Happy Easter still.
Fr. Tim

Risen from the dead? What does this mean? First of all it’s 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 that kind of fact. It’s a fact that can only be known by believing in the testimony brought forward to witness to it. (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; or Fr. John has a Grizzly bear paw print in his room . . . these are facts. Really!)

Now the testimony we have about the Resurrection comes to us from the Apostles. “We have seen the Lord! He is truly risen!!” I believe that what they say is true. It becomes for me a fact and I can base my life on it. I live now in a particular way.

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But you might ask yourself, “How can I believe this miraculous happening to Jesus?” After all there are no guarantees. We can’t prove he is risen. We can’t see him walking around Webster! And besides . . . there’s so much trouble in the world, if Jesus were alive wouldn’t he take all that away?” In other words, it’s hard to believe in a Christ who doesn’t live up to my expectations!

I think we all have moments when our faith feels weak and Christ is silent or far away. Like the apostles returning to their fishing boats, we slink back to our former lives where “Jesus Risen” seems like a fairy tale, bigger even than the Santa story.

Sooner or later you have to decide to trust the news about Jesus. Surrender your “expectations”. There comes a point when you gotta jump! Life is a matter of trusting the person you love. Remember a time you “jumped”?

• A young wedding couple can’t foresee all that life will bring to them but they trust that their love and respect for each other will see them through.
• Having a baby is a huge moment of trust for a husband and wife. “Here we go!”
• Putting yourself in the hands of a doctor requires you to surrender to her/his medical skill.
• Flying to Boston puts you at the mercy of your pilot.
• Facing the end of life requires that I surrender myself into the hands of God.

Sooner or later . . . you gotta trust somebody. Here’s some good reasons to trust in the Resurrection.

• The teachings of Christ the man are compellingly true. Who can argue with, “It’s in giving that we receive”, etc.?
• Jesus proved his love by not turning back. He died as a final witness to how serious he was about “drinking his cup of suffering to the last drop.” You’ve got to take someone’s word pretty seriously when they are willing to die for it.
• The Apostles were not men of great courage or brilliance by nature, yet each became masters at teaching Christ’s good news and like their master, they paid the last price for their faith (martyrdom).
• Tens of thousands (children included) have followed to this day to pay the ultimate price for their faith.
• The flowers of Christianity are all around . . . hospitals, universities, scientific method, sublime music, modern art, orphanages and outreach to the poor all got their start within a Christian culture.
• What else is there to entrust your life to? Kodak? Social Security? Your 401K? The Buffalo Bills?

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Dear Friends,
You have been given Faith (“A certain knowledge of what has yet to be revealed.” Heb. 11:1). Thank God for such a gift and let’s get to work bringing Him to the world that will not know Him without your kindness. Take heart. He is with you.

Easter blessings,

Fr. Tim

Dear Friends,

Today is the day God shows us the final plan for all creation. It is simply this: Love wins. God’s love be- came visible in Jesus, “the human heart of God.” His heart (like a sacrificial lamb) let in the sin of the world.

Jesus took the things of human sinfulness with him to the cross. And embracing them as if they were his own darkness (“He became sin for us.” 2 Cor. 5:21. He felt the abandonment of the human condition, “My God why have you abandoned me?” Mk 15:34), he carried them to the tomb with him and together they died.

Today Jesus is resurrected. In a sense, God the Father, starts all over again. He reaches down and breathes on the dead Jesus (like he did for Adam). The breath of God is love. Sin and death stay dead, Jesus is raised up to the Resurrection.

Lastly, God wants you to have this life. It comes through faith (also God’s gift!). You have this gift or you wouldn’t be here today.

May God bless you and your loved ones this day. May we begin to live lives of gratitude for the gift of life both here on earth and in the Kingdom yet to come.

Pray for peace. A blessed Easter.

Fr. Tim

(This article was taken from the 3/24/13 bulletin)

The recent events in Rome surrounding the election of a new Pope had the whole world watching in excitement. Did you see any of the coverage? It was quite moving.

The news reporters, many of them hardened journalists, seemed almost exultant in reporting the event. One after another happily confessed to the cameras that, “I myself am a Catholic and I have never seen such joy, etc . . .” Or, “I was raised Catholic and this moment is very important to us.” They were almost anxious to have you know that, . . . THEY WERE CATHOLIC!

Maybe it was the same feeling that “everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day”. But I don’t think so. Something deep was stirred that day. This is the church Christ has given us, a church that is for every race and culture and country. This church is the hope of humankind in times of darkness and trial.

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So you’re reading this bulletin . . . you came to mass today. What does that mean? Are you looking for God in your life? Has the Catholic Faith called out to you? What is a Catholic anyway? . . . Here’s a partial list of things that are Catholic. There’s a whole lot more to mention, like joy, peace, forgiveness, etc. But here are some basics. See if you hold to these:

• Catholics are Christians.
• We believe Jesus is the Son of God.
• Baptism begins a life of union with Him.
• Catholics believe most everything other Christians believe, but sometimes more.
• Catholics believe Jesus is the head of the Church and we are the Body (So there is only one Church).
• Catholics believe Jesus wanted someone to “steer the ship” through human history, so He gave us Peter and the apostles (and their successors, the Pope and the bishops).
• Catholics believe Jesus gave us seven sacraments to experience God’s grace (love) when we receive them.
• Catholics are sinners and need God’s mercy.
• Catholics go to Confession when they have sinned and Jesus forgives them right then and there.
• Catholics have to go to mass on Sunday. Keep holy the Lord’s Day.
• Catholics believe the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at mass. Jesus feeds us with Himself. (This part is really Catholic!!)
• Catholics are generally no better than anyone else, and sometimes we’re worse! But God holds us responsible for more.
• Our hope for life here on earth is that Jesus is raised from the dead.

So what if I’m not there? What if I don’t believe all that stuff? I was baptized, but nothing much ever came after that . . . am I Catholic?

The answer is YES. The grace of Baptism will never go away for you. You are forever a Child of God with Christ as your light. But the question back to you is, DO YOU WANT TO BE CATHOLIC? Do you want to start again the Catholic walk?

May I suggest something to you? Just come. Just walk right in and sit down. There is no test to pass, no money to pay. This church is just as much yours as anyone’s. Call this place your spiritual home and COME!

God will do the rest. God will come to you with His grace to show you the way. Give God a chance, ok! Listen to the music. Hear the gospel and say the prayers (ask the person next to you to help you with the book). Welcome!! You’re home. Watch now what God can do!

Have a blessed Holy Week. What a great time to be Catholic!

Fr. Tim