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

I keep thinking of that little seed in the Gospel this Sunday. “Unless the seed falls to the ground . . . and dies. It remains just a grain of wheat.” Jesus is telling us the seed only has value for “what it becomes”. John 12:21

The kernel of corn becomes a corn stalk with ears of corn. An acorn becomes an oak tree. The grain of wheat, the apple, pumpkin, tomato, wild flower seeds . . . all of them must die if we are to ever have the wonderful gift they bring. (Seeds in a bag? What good is that? Spread ’em around and be amazed!!)

Jesus tells us in this short brilliant image that we humans must “die to ourselves” and begin “living for others”, and it’s when we do this that we discover who God made us to be. And this world shines a bit brighter.

So go be a good seed this week.

• Stay a bit longer with “that person” you’d rather avoid.
• Think ahead as to what might please your spouse. Do it.
• Smile when you’re not feeling happy.
• Say a prayer for someone who hurt you.
• Find a way to encourage a young person to use their gifts.
• Give some money away.
• Someone disappoints you for the 100 time. Smile and find a kind word for them.
• Sit with someone who needs some company.
• Think of a reason why someone might be so annoying. Forgive them.
• Presume you’ve been that annoying too. Ask for pardon where appropriate.
• Go out of your way to be kind to people who wait on you. A smile and a kind word can really help someone.

Have a good week you little seed you.

Fr. Tim

Ok get rid of all your pictures of “praying”. The bowed head, the folded hands, the gaze heaven ward . . . forget ’em. That’s for holy cards. Your prayer must be YOURS.

Below you will find some important things to “know about” prayer and then some hints about “how” to pray (what to do).

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1. Prayer. God starts it. Any thought like “Gee, I should pray for that”, OR “I need to go to God with this problem”, that’s God! He’s giving you a grace! (an invitation to pray).
2. Which child gets the most attention from a parent? The one who struggles with things right? Don’t worry about your prayer looking pretty. Trust God to know what you mean. The Holy Spirit is working in you.
3. Prayer is “wanting”. Wanting goodness, wanting peace, wanting happiness and then turning to God who is the source of all this.
4. Quiet is really important to prayer. Get quiet. (I like to close my eyes).
5. It takes a minute or two for the “noise of the world” to flow away (this too is prayer).
6. Speak what you want to bring to God briefly and honestly.
7. Having an “image” of God can help but is not necessary. God is in your brain seeing and hearing every- thing you are!
8. Was my prayer a good one or a bad one? Bad question. Any prayer is a good prayer.

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How to pray for three minutes each day.

1. Make the Sign of The Cross. Take 30 seconds to be quiet (No words. Nothing.) Let the world settle around you. Trust that God is watching with you.
2. Now say His name in your mind, “Lord”, or “Jesus”, “Holy Spirit” or “Dear God”. Let His name echo in you for another 30 seconds (say His name 2 or 3 times).
3. Next tell God how things are. (One minute). Are you carrying a heavy burden? Worried about something? Has there been a blessing in your life to be thankful for? Speak these to God as you would to your best friend. Remember, tell God your feelings (“how you are”) not what you need (solutions).
4. You’re there now . . . praying! One minute to go . . . after you’ve told God how it is for you, be quiet again. Relax and know God heard every word you just gave Him. The Lord will many times send a feeling of “peace” at this time. (30 seconds).
5. Finish with a request for the day. Something like, “Help me today Lord, I need . . . “. Close with an Our Father and/or a Hail Mary.

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This is just the start. God will teach you more each time you come to Him in prayer. We learn how to pray—by praying!!

Keep up your hope. God is working in you.

Fr. Tim

I’ve wrestled with prayer for quite awhile. I need to say at the outset it’s never been one of my favorite activities. I have similar feelings toward brushing my teeth or doing the dishes! I know of course that pray- er is a good thing. It honors God, it asks for help, it puts life in the right perspective. I feel better when it’s over. I know all this.

My childish problem with prayer is that most times it’s not fun. It is a mental routine that requires effort; sort of like push-ups or sit-ups. There’s a certain fa- tigue that happens. My adult self of course tells me life isn’t always “fun.” We do some things because they are good in themselves (“Eat your vegetables Tim. They’re good for you.”) Why do I still prefer pizza?

Added to the wrestling is the thought that God al- ready knows everything . . . so what’s the point in me telling Him stuff or asking for what He already knows I need. “God, why do we have to talk about it? You know it all already.” Left with these thoughts I struggle to be faithful to prayer. It’s tiring, lonely, and boring.

So what am I missing?

Well, consider life without prayer. When you think about it, it’s like life without God. To stop praying is to stop seeing ourselves in relationship with Him. I become the only meaning of the universe.

It doesn’t happen right away, but after some time (months, years) I’m blind to any sign or thought of God. I’m still a good person but it just happens . . . God has become pretty irrelevant at this point. “I have enough to handle in life without dealing with a God I can’t see or hear.”

This is the feeling that happens when someone has been away from Mass on Sunday for some time. The roof hasn’t fallen in so . . . I’m cool. Maybe you’ve been there.

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Did you ever meet someone whose only interest was in getting what was in it for them? Little children have a phase in growing up where they have to learn that they are not the center of all existence. A parent’s gentle “no” is the beginning of this lesson. Not a very pleasant experience at first. It leads how- ever to the happy experience of others — to “mom”, “dad”, “sister”, etc. And this is the point; the human being is the one creature God created “to be WITH”. We need the ‘other’ to become ourselves.

Prayer is the way God gives us to be in relationship with Him. God doesn’t need our prayers, like some beauty Queen who needs to be told how beautiful she is. We need prayer to discover the fact that we were made for “relationship.” And that relationship is best described as a child to their parent.

So why should I pray? Because that’s who we are, God’s Children. It fixes us in this crazy world. Pray- er helps us understand we are not alone and points us to what is our ultimate meaning – – to see God. It gives us a way to express the deepest longing of our heart. It connects me to God.

Lent. Week Three. Let’s keep moving forward. Have a good week.

Fr. Tim

P.S. Next week we’ll talk about a little “prayer drill” that can get you started praying again.

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 time, my personal time, particular relationships; all these are mine. I’ll do what I want with them.

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So God is patient. He lets us have our way. Habits and preferences (even the good ones) start to protect them- selves. To the point where they can start to run the show. We start living in service (slavery?) to our “wants”. (“What do you mean the plane is delayed? This just can’t be. I have to be in Rochester this evening!!” OR, “No cof- fee!!? That’s ridiculous!”

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 messed up.

It’s weird. Here 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 and wants at all.

And 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.

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Poor God. How we twist things about Him. How we make Him out to be some grumpy boss who loves to order people around. This friends is the effect of original sin in us. 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. NOT EVEN GOD.”

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

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We’ve forgotten that God loves us. We’ve forgotten that, in His love, He knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us!

And it’s from this love we receive His will. God loves us and His will directs us in such a way that when we follow it we discover our purpose and our dignity as Children of God. This is the joy that comes from life “in Christ”.

Soooooo . . . . what should we do? I’m going to ask God for the grace to let go of my “must have, must do” and to entrust myself to God’s will for me each day. (I’m going to need help with this. So pray for me. And I will pray for what you need to give to God).

God wants all of you because God made all of you.

Fr. Tim

Back in high school, trying out for one of the varsity sports there was this thing called “two a days”. Generally it consisted of four hours of grueling practice, two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. It was meant to see who really wanted to play. Faint- er hearts would soon find other interests. We hated “two a days.”

That can be how we look at Lent – – – six weeks of getting in spiritual shape. The same feelings get stirred. “No chocolate! No whiskey! No TV! No whining! Oh dear. “This is a good thing,” we tell ourselves.

This is not a very helpful way to begin! It puts us at the center of things. It makes MY effort, MY sacrifice to be the meaning of MY Lent. Rather, we need to see this as a time of God’s Grace given to us.

What is Grace? Simply put, it is God’s love acting in our lives. It reminds us of who we are (His child); it opens our eyes to see His presence in the world. God’s grace moves us to “get beyond ourselves”, to see others (God and my neighbor) as gifts to be loved and cherished.

So the key to the season of Lent is to ask for the grace to let go of what may keep us locked on ourselves. We’ve all developed habits in life that keep ourselves comfortable and self-contained (MY time, MY space, My schedule, etc.)

This Lent, is there one thing (not 2 or 3), that we might surrender to God in love that would make us “available” to be lifted out of ourselves? This surrender frees us up to be for others. MY time, once so precious TO ME, becomes a gift we can give to our children, our spouse, to God (prayer). Jesus nailed this when he said, “Whoever loses their life for my sake, will find it.” MT. 10:39.

Even this little “giving up” will hurt a bit at first. The bond of selfishness and habit is strong! This too requires God’s grace. To fail and to start again. To not become discouraged. Every day is a new day of grace which brings a new invitation from Christ to “Follow me”.

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Now the good news is it eventually becomes a joyful discipline. We rediscover some wonderful things we had forgotten, things like: a clean conscience, a clearer sense of purpose to our work and why we do it, a renewed appreciation for the people in our lives we are given to live and work with, a better under- standing of how to use the things of this world properly, without excess or hoarding.

So what is this joyful thing that happens? Freedom! Freedom from always having to satisfy your own wants and a clear space to feel what God intended you to be. . . Christ in your skin, with your voice. How wonderful you are when you get out of your own way!

So let’s start slow. Say goodbye to one small thing that you know needs to go (at least for a while). Make a conscious offering of it to God in prayer. (eg. “Lord help me to smile more even when I don’t feel it.” Or “Lord, I’m really good at finding fault. Help me to see the good and be thankful.” Or “Lord, this money was going to get me some new shoes. I don’t need them. Someone else does.” Or “Lord, I want to really love you more. Here’s my time spent watching TV; show me how to pray.”

“But Lord, I’m gonna need your Grace.” Lent. Let’s roll!!

Fr. Tim