I can’t imagine that Martha was anything but heartbroken and angry with Jesus when he showed up four days late to save her brother, Lazarus. She and her sister, Mary, had sent an urgent message for him to come; “Lord, your dear friend is sick.”

The two sisters were particularly close to Jesus (remember the dinner? Martha fumed away in the kitchen while Mary sat talking with Jesus.) They were themselves . . . no pious holy card figures. “Why weren’t you here, Jesus?! Our brother would never have died!”

And, what was the reason Jesus gave for his delay? “For your (the disciples) sake, I am glad I was not with him so that you will believe” (That Christ has power over sin and death). Jn, 11:15. What follows, of course, totally amazed everybody; Lazarus comes back to life.

So, what’s the point for you and me? Well, unless you are like Jesus and can raise dead people back to life, you’d better be there. What’s the line from the movie, Annie Hall? 80% of life is just showing up. Not being there to win everyone’s attention, not to do anything special, JUST BE THERE.

We don’t believe that about ourselves, do we? That we make a difference. Many times we think, “who am I that people would want me to be there? What will I say? What should I do?” They won’t care if I’m not there.

But, it’s not that way for people who love you. Your presence is a comfort to them. I remember my father’s face buried amongst hundreds of people in the stands as we faced our arch-rivals in basketball. It was such a comfort to know he was there . . . as we lost the game.

You see, you don’t need to say anything. You don’t need to be witty or profound or anything. Just be you and show up. Love will do the rest.

Show up for:

• Dinner with the family
• Dance recitals/games/birthdays
• Bed time/prayer time for the children
• Parish picnics/movie nights/walks with a friend
• Work/work/work/
• Mass/mass/mass!

Why show up? Because we’re less when you aren’t there. And you don’t know how many people are missing you.

See you in church. I hope.

Blessings to you.
Fr. Tim

There are many answers to this question. A couple simple ones come to mind:

–It’s a place that has a church building and a parking lot.
–It’s where I go to mass on Sunday.
–It’s where you belong, so when the time comes, you can get married or buried.

Canon Law (rules for church governance) says a parish is a geographical area in which baptized Catholics reside and are offered spiritual aid (religious education and the sacraments).

But, this description is rather dry and formal. What is your description? . . . not just any parish, but your parish . . . what describes the parish you want to belong to? Here’s mine.

I want my parish to be:

• Where I am reminded that god is with me.
• A place where I can find peace in times of trouble.
• A people who try to do what Christ did.
• A place where I am welcomed just as I am.
• A place where I can learn and grow in my faith.
• A people who are humble and quick to know where we need to do better.
• A people who welcome and learn from the “newcomer”.
• Where I experience God in the liturgy.
• Where I see and hear about opportunities to help others.
• Where I can learn from others how to help people in need.
• Where I can get help in raising my children in the faith.
• Where our children learn about Christ in a formative and compelling way.
• Where my faith finds practical and creative ways to aid the complex problems of the world.
• Where I can grow in my faith and knowledge of God.
• Where my marriage is made stronger.
• Where I can learn how to pray.
• Where I meet fun, happy, kind and gentle people.
• Where hope is renewed.
• Where I am continually invited and connected to effective social ministry.
• Where I learn how to bring Christ to others . . .

I could list about 50 more, but it would only bore you. Anyway these are my hopes for this parish . . . Holy Trinity. We are not perfect by any means . . . but we’re trying.

I hope you find something of interest in the weekly bulletin/web site. Won’t you join us in trying to make a difference in this world for Jesus Christ?

If you are new to the parish and feel as if none of the things I’ve listed above have happened to you – – – call me. Or write to me . . fhoran@dor.org. Tell me how you’ve found things so far at Holy Trinity. I, or someone on the staff, will be in touch with you (if you wish) to further the conversation.

In the meantime . . . God bless your week.

Fr. Tim

The Gospel of Mark has this remarkable sentence about Jesus: “He was not able to perform any mighty deed there (Nazareth) . . . he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mk 6:6.

What’s amazing to me is not Jesus’ “unwillingness” to work his plan because of lack of faith. I can imagine Jesus with hurt feelings saying “Fine, you put no faith in me so I’m not going to lift a finger for you.”

No, it’s not Jesus “refusing” to help; it’s Jesus “unable” to help. His hands are tied! The citizens of Nazareth, his home town, have made it impossible for Jesus to do as he had planned. What a powerful force the lack of faith is – – it binds even the hands of God.

Picture going to your friend’s house as a kid to ask his mom if Billy can come out to play. “Leave me alone. Go away”, Billy says from inside. Suddenly everything is changed. You’ve just lost your playmate.

You can’t “make” Billy play. That goes against the nature of playing. You have to want to play for it to be “play”! So, Jesus had to walk away. The home game was cancelled. From then on Jesus played away games. (The big one being in Jerusalem.)

So, what is the lesson for us? It’s simple. The power of God’s grace working in our lives can only come about if we want it to. God will never force his will on ours. That’s not how love behaves. Remember how God approached Mary through the Angel Gabriel? God wanted to have a child with Mary but, like any honorable suitor, he had to seek her permission. “Let it be done.” Mary said.

Remember that terrible moment in the Garden of Gethsemani? Jesus feared what God’s will might be (“Let this cup pass me by,” he said). After wrestling throughout the night with the deepest fears of the human heart, Jesus said “Let Thy will be done”.

So, it’s a letting go of our own will while trusting the wisdom of God’s. Or perhaps, better stated, it is “submitting” our will to that of God’s. As if we were saying to God, “Lord, here’s what I think I should do.” Or “Lord, here’s what I hope you would do for such and such.” “But Lord, you know better than I, so, whatever you decide that’s what I want too.”

That’s when God’s hands are untied. Finally, we bring to him a heart that is willing to receive his grace, his wisdom, his peace.
Can you think of a time when you gave over your will to God, letting him have a free hand in moving you to a particular action?

Some time ago it was my intention to remove my name from candidates to serve on a priestly committee until a wise friend of mine said, “Horan, if God wants to ignore you he’ll ignore you. They’ll pick somebody else. But, don’t you go tying God’s hands if he wants you to play.” So I left my name in . . . and God let that cup pass!

Did you see God this week?

Fr. Tim

There is a program on cable television called “Dirty Jobs”. It portrays a typical day at some of the dirtiest jobs in the country. The nastier elements of garbage disposal, food preparation, sanitation work, cleaning and refurbishing are there to be seen in all their ickyness.

As tough as these can be, they can’t compare with what I think is the hardest job of all . . . raising children to be healthy, happy, self disciplined and kind.

It is a messy job, but not for the dirt and grime of the workplace. It’s messy because we try and fail . . . and try again. It’s messy because sometimes parents just don’t know the best way to handle things. It’s messy be-cause we can’t be certain of the outcome until some 25 or 30 years have shown what this child has grown to be. It’s messy because your efforts so often go unappreciated.

We hear of the heartbroken father in the gospel this Sunday, his daughter is sick unto death, “someone please help us!! Jesus come and help my daughter.” A parents worst nightmare- – – their endangered child. A more profound heartbreak- there is none.

And then . . . if by some chance you do everything right and your child grows straight and true . . . they find someone to love and leave you.

And you wouldn’t have it any other way, but it hurts.

So, why would anyone want this messy job, parenting? Because it makes you into the best person you can be. Children and spouse are the one force in life stronger than our selfishness. It is in raising children that you give your all (doesn’t it take everything?). You lay down your life for them. And as Jesus says, “No greater love hath someone that they lay down their life” for those God gives them. Jn 15:13

Monks have their chapel and their fields. Nuns have their convent and their work. Priests have their parish and their bishop. Parents have their family. Each lived situation works by God’s plan to help us forget ourselves and live for others.

Thank you Mother and Father for loving us more than you loved yourself.

Are you doing summer things?!

Fr. Tim

Pictures, as the saying goes, are worth a thousand words. Whether it’s about “a feeling” or “an idea” or “something we believe in”, it helps to get a picture in our mind that captures the essence of what we’re thinking about.

So, I was thinking the other day of what the faith teaches about “the effects of Original Sin”. You re-member Original Sin, right? In the mythic story, Ad-am and Eve disobeyed God’s command to refrain from eating the fruit of that tree. It’s the God inspired picture of an event no one was there to record. It is a great mystery.

The catechism tells us that one of the effects of Original Sin has been the wounding of our human nature. That means the creature man, made in God’s image, has forfeited his original holiness and justice and “is wounded in the natural powers proper to it.” (reason and will) #405. In short, we suffer ignorance about who we are, and in this ignorance we are inclined to sin. This leaning toward sin is called “concupiscence”.

So, here’s MY picture. See if this makes any sense. . . . I had an old VW “bug” way back in college. Great little vehicle – started up every time. One problem, it was out of alignment. Driving down the road, if you let go of the wheel, before long it would pull left and take you into the oncoming lane.

It wouldn’t happen all at once, but you could feel a leaning. Like the car had a mind of its own, it pulled you into the other lane. To counteract this you had to drive with the wheel pegged to the right. This would keep the car in the proper lane heading straight.

It is the same with us humans. If we let go of the wheel, if we don’t take control over the direction of our lives, we eventually “pull into the wrong lane”. Each of us experience this pull in our own way. (The classic “pulls” are called the Capital Sins – pride, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, jealousy and sloth). What’s yours?!!

The church’s teaching about the effects of Original Sin makes great sense. It’s a pull, an inclination. Going our own way, without God’s will to guide us, sooner or later we fall. Everyone sins.

Don’t be shocked that you have this tendency to sin – – – everybody has it (except Jesus and Mary – but that’s another story!) We’re in a battle. Be ready to fight. Some battles we win; some we lose. But, we don’t give up the fight.

The good news is that we’ve got the power to over-come this misalignment. Be aware of the pull “and keep our hands on the wheel”!!
Pray and recognize your tendency, and ask God to help correct your alignment. Ask for the strength and avoid the places and things that approach you with the familiar enticements that sin brings with it.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to keep in the proper lane. A priest might be able to help you here. Certainly the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation (Confession) is a great source of strength and re-alignment.

Lastly, do really fun things. The devil hates it when people can laugh at themselves and share friendship with others who are keeping their hands on the wheel.

Please enjoy this summer. God will be pleased if we celebrate this wonderful gift.

Fr. Tim

Permit me to echo the first words of Genesis because it strikes me as very similar to what happens over the course of (what?) six years in the heart of a young man called to the priesthood. Something brand new is created, not only in his heart but in the heart of a diocese . . . a priest.

Genesis makes it very clear that in the beginning it was pretty messy. The earth was a wasteland, a raging wind blew over the swirling waters, and darkness was everywhere. God’s simple words “let there be . . .” brought about the beginning of the divine plan of creation.

So why is this like ordaining a priest? Because by itself chaos doesn’t make priests. It takes an act of God. Similar to the moment you were conceived in your mother’s womb – only deeper – God wills a new human life to be conformed to the person of Jesus Christ so that the mediation of God and human kind might continue as Christ instructed the apostles. “Do this.”

When you think of all the ways the plan of God can go unheeded by those who are called, it’s a wonder and a grace that any man be ordained to the priest-hood. But that’s not what’s happening in the Diocese of Rochester.

Next Saturday, June 20, four men, Daniel Ruiz, Matt Jones, Mike Fowler, and Carlos Sanchez will be ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

This is the largest ordination in 30 years in our diocese. (I hope you will join us at the cathedral for this wonderful moment in our church.) Not only this year, but looking out over these next seven years we have much to be grateful for. By God’s grace, if the men currently in priestly formation persevere there will be 18 new priests ordained by 2022.

That was the good news. Now here’s the challenge. (There’s always a challenge.) In that same seven years there will be 37 priests eligible to retire. That’s twice as many as will be ordained. Hmmmm.

Knowing the generosity of our priests, I’m sure many will choose to stay in active ministry. Nevertheless it seems clear we will never have more priests than we need, and for a while perhaps, we may go wanting.

So what should we humans do if vocations ultimately come from God? Jesus answers this clearly. Pray. God wants us to want priests. God wants us to want teachers, pastoral leaders, missionaries, any man or woman who will help with the harvest. The fields are so rich for God’s harvest but the gatherers are few. “Pray the master of the harvest send out laborers for his harvest.” LK. 10:2

So back to Genesis . . . let’s not be afraid of the wind and the waves and sometimes the darkness . . . let’s sow the seeds to our young people, “come, follow me.” Trust God to make their hearts burn.

Tim

Family Picnic Lunch

At noon today/tomorrow all are invited to bring picnic lunches, and, weather permitting, enjoy time together on the north lawn. Families with young children are especially invited to come and meet other families in our parish. Ice cream will be provided. Please spread the word!

Last week we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This week we also visit a most important doctrine of the faith, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi Sunday).

Did you ever wonder where these mysteries came from? Did they get invented so popes and bishops could put on those fancy vestments? It might be well to look at their origins and how they developed. (These doctrines have a history that gradually took shape over several centuries.)

It may surprise you to hear that the titles of “Most Holy Trinity” and “The Body and Blood of Christ” were not spoken in this catechetical manner for the first few centuries of the Church. St. Peter, if asked to give a definition of the Trinity, might have answered, “the what?” The celebration of the Body and Blood (the mass), was earlier referred to as “The Breaking of the Bread”. Sometimes we can do things or believe things that only later do we discover the words to express “why.”

Of course, the reality of both of these teachings was present from the beginning. But, the titles and their precise explanations developed over the early centuries. The church was in search of a vocabulary to accurately talk about what she already “knew in her heart”.

This searching for the right words (which correctly state what faith believes) is called Theology. You might ask, what comes first, faith or theology? The answer is they come together. St. Paul describes the partnership of faith and theology (words). Speaking of our ability to believe in Christ he says, “But, how can they believe in him (Christ) if they have not heard? And, how can they hear without someone to preach? . . . Thus, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans 10: 14-18.

The purpose of words is to make known what already IS. So, faith in what is comes first . . . then the words to ex-press it. Words are the delivery system for faith. Faith enters our minds through speech. Without words we are locked in a room of unknowing. Remember in sixth grade when our teacher made us prove we understood a new word? She would insist, “now put that word into a sentence!” THEN we knew we understood.

But how can we be sure our sentences about faith (theology) are correct? There is a little drill that keeps us on course.

1. What did Jesus say? The words of Christ and the New Testament (and the Old Testament as well) contain the Word of God. It is on this word that faith begins. We believe on the authority of these words spoken by God in sacred scripture. Theology calls this the source of “Revelation”.

2. The words of Sacred Scripture can be turned in many directions. Some interpretations are very insightful and full of great spiritual benefit. This is the job of theology; to think and pray (and believe!) over what God intends to “reveal” there. And then it articulates it in words that bring an ever deeper understanding.

3. But, what happens if some theology gets it wrong? Or what if two theologies contradict each other? Great theological disputes have taken place about the simplest of bible quotations. (For example, Jesus’ words to Peter, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” Mt. 16:18 has caused great debate amongst theologians.)

There is a safety net. Revealed in sacred scripture (and taught by theologians!) is the promise to the church that the Holy Spirit will “lead you to all truth.” Scripture points to the gift of inerrancy about matters of faith and morality. “I will not leave you orphans,” Jesus said. “I will send you the Spirit of Truth.” Jn. 16:13

So, here’s the net. Scripture (God’s Word) and Tradition (the constant teaching of the church, about the contents of Scripture) . . .

together . . . express the content of faith. Then theology takes that content and sort of creates lesson plans to help us understand it.
These two rivers of truth (Scripture/Tradition) flow into the one river called Revelation. Revelation is the content of what we believe about God and Jesus Christ. Theology is the words to help us understand what we believe.

Thus, the whole Body of Christ, the Church, can be assured of the true faith in Jesus Christ.

Sorry for the lecture!

Hope you enjoyed your time with Bishop Clark.
Fr. Tim

Do you remember when you experienced something for the first time as a child? A roller coaster ride, hiccups, bouncing on the bed (yay!), measles, the mysterious taste of beer . . . What a strange world this is, we thought.

One of those “moments” came to me in about third or fourth grade. There was a catechism lesson about God. I was amazed to hear that God never was made. “He always was,” Sister said. I was left to wrestle with a new word – “infinite.” No beginning, no end . . . always was, always will be. My tiny brain went spinning. How can that be?

But, the next lesson (these are gauzy memories after almost 60 years!) was just as surprising. Not only is God forever, in both directions, past, present and future, but God is three persons. Each of them was God, (full and complete) but united to each other as one God.

“The Trinity is a mystery we will never fully understand.” Sister told us. Boy that’s for sure, I thought. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, hmmm! The only picture of the Trinity that made sense to me was “God the Pitcher, God the Catcher, and God the Batter”, kind of an eternal ball game going on. After that my thoughts turned to more pressing matters – – girls.

Today we often hear “Oh, don’t worry about that Trinity stuff. Just love God and love your neighbor and you’re covered.” This is true. God is not requiring you to become a theologian to be saved. But, if we just leave it because it’s a mystery, we miss out on some really big truth for our lives.

The Trinity is good news for you and me. You see, God the Father sent God the Son into creation as a human being. By the power of God the Holy Spirit and the “Okay” from Mary, God the Son “became man”. He became one of us.

Our relationship with God is forever changed. God shares in our humanity forever. He will never undo what happened to him when he became a human being. He can’t turn his back on the human race, because he walked the same earth we walk. In fact, God the Trinity is so in love with the human race that he has “adopted” us as his children.

St. John writes, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called ‘Children of God’. Yet that is what we are.” 1 Jn 3:1,2. St. Paul proclaims the same thing when he says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . he chose us in him before the foundation of the world . . . he (God) destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his (Trinitarian) will.” Ephesians 1: 3-6.

Do you begin to see how you and I are involved in the life of the Trinity? We are part of God’s inner life. It’s almost scary how close God wants us to be to him. Scripture goes on to say, “We are God’s Children now. What we shall later become has not yet been revealed. When Christ is revealed, we shall become like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 Jn. 3:2

So, what are we to make of the Trinity? It is our home. It is our communion, our participation in the very life of God. We are adopted into God because we belong to Jesus Christ who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

This awesome vision — humanity united with God the Trinity for all eternity is a cause of hope as we live our lives here on earth. It can help us when this world hurts or disappoints. It can move us to spend our lives loving others because we are about to inherit a great treasure, life with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

May you meet Christ this week.
Fr. Tim

“Let’s Talk Again”

Please join us Saturday night, May 30, at 6 pm. in the Gathering Space for “Let’s Talk Again“.

There will be a dish to pass. Friendly conversation will follow about the Catholic Faith.

Fr. John will talk about changes in the Church over his 50 years as a priest. Fr. Tim will point us to the Synod of Bishops on the Family to be held this October in Rome. Come with your questions and observations. It’s going to be informative and fun!

All are warmly invited. Register online or call the Parish Office to register by May 28th. Bring a dish to pass!!!
Thank You!

One of my favorite lines from sacred scripture comes to us in the Acts of the Apostles (17:28). “For in Him, we live and move and have our being.” St. Paul is quoting from one of the ancient Greek poets about the God from whom we come but cannot see. He uses the words, “grope for”, in describing man’s efforts to know the “Unknown God”.

What Paul is struggling to describe is the subtle way God reveals Himself to us. The image is almost like a fish in water. Like that water, God is all around us. He holds us up. Wherever we go, he is there. We breathe him in. We live in him and he lives in us.

But, how do we see God or feel him if he is all around us like water or air? This is where we need help. We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes of faith. We need the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the quickening of love (“Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7)

St. John in his first letter tells us, “No one has ever seen God.” So, then how will we come to know him by the Holy Spirit? Lacking physical evidence we turn to “Signs of the presence of God”. Scripture again points us in the right direction by giving us signs to look for. They are called the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit.

The Gifts are generally intellectual and spiritual abilities helping us apply the teachings of Christ to everyday life. The Fruits are generally observable states of goodness that have as their source the presence of God.

They are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faith, gentleness and chastity.

To each of these I’ll highlight some human moment that gives us a sign of the Holy Spirit.

Love. Any act that places the well being of the loved one before oneself. “Love does not seek its own”. 1 Cor. 13.

Joy. That deep happiness that comes, when in spite of hardships, you’ve “done the right thing”.

Peace. When someone has devoted themselves to reconciling with someone who is estranged. Conversely, to be won over by the loving concern of a “Peacemaker”.

Patience. Your child/spouse/friend disappoints you for the hundredth time. You smile and assure them things will be right someday.

Kindness. So simple; pure goodness for its own sake. Speaks for itself.

Generosity. Giving more than is necessary . . . because you want their happiness.
Faith. Knowing God loves all of us, and as a result, “All will be well.”

Gentleness. A largeness of spirit that can afford a kind word in the face of harshness. Large like God is large.

Chastity. Honoring another person in their body. Requiring sexual desire to serve its Godly purpose (the gift of children and the bond of love) because that is what true love demands.

Here’s hoping you’ve caught a glimpse of the Holy Spirit in your life!!

A blessed Pentecost. Fr. Tim

“Let’s Talk Again”

Please join us Saturday night, May 30, at 6 pm. in the Gathering Space for “Let’s Talk Again“.

There will be a dish to pass. Friendly conversation will follow about the Catholic Faith.

Fr. John will talk about changes in the Church over his 50 years as a priest. Fr. Tim will point us to the Synod of Bishops on the Family to be held this October in Rome. Come with your questions and observations. It’s going to be informative and fun!

All are warmly invited. Register online or call the Parish Office to register by May 28th. Bring a dish to pass!!!
Thank You!

Parents, you have the toughest job in the world. Challenges in the priesthood are small by comparison.

First of all, you and your spouse had the courage to have a family. You took the plunge and brought your babies into the world. You knew your life would be forever changed.

Then you washed them and fed them and held them close to your heart. You protected them with your own life in the balance sometimes. You taught them right from wrong as best you could. You wondered, painfully at times, if they had any idea just how much you loved them.

And then . . . they went away. They took that first step out of your arms. They got on the school bus for the first time. Later they were embarrassed to be seen with you by their friends. They met someone whom they loved as much as you (maybe more). They married; they started a new home (away from yours); and now, you see that was the plan from the beginning.

And, to all this you parents said, “Yes!” Because you knew they had to go away in order to become more than your child. They had to become what God wanted them to be . . . an adult. It isn’t easy, but it’s the way it’s supposed to be. Fr. John and I think you are heroes.

Well, guess what? It’s the same with Jesus but in reverse. Your child had to leave you to become a full person. Jesus has to leave us so we can become “fully mature in Christ . . . no longer infants.” Ephesians 4: 13.

Think, if Jesus had stuck around here for over 2000 years; generation after generation would have been born, lived and died while Jesus, (who had already died and then raised to new life) would not have aged a day.

Every day social media would follow him to see if he had done any miracles. Politicians would stand in line to get his blessing or maybe even his endorsement. The United Nations would be calling him 24/7 to settle this or that dispute. Court rooms would be empty as everyone stood in line for Jesus to render judgements about what is just.

The worst part is we would most likely be standing around waiting for Jesus to do it all. Want justice? Want an end to war? Want food for the hungry? Want someone to care? “That’s not my job. You’ll have to see Jesus about that one. He’s the Son of God.”

But, that’s not how Jesus wanted us to be. Rather, he calls us his friends (because, unlike slaves, we know what our Master is about. He’s shared with us everything he received from his Father, John 15:15) and now as he goes away he sends us into the world with his message and the power of God – – – the Holy Spirit.

He instructs us to do as he has done to us: to wash the feet of the poor, to forgive our enemies, to turn the other cheek, “to love one another as I have loved you.”

We are no longer children tied to mom’s apron. We are the grown children of God. St. Paul calls us “Ambassadors for Christ – God as it were, appealing through us.” 2 Cor. 5:20.

Jesus wants you and me to partner with him. We’re called to share in his sufferings and experience his joy. But, in order for that to happen, Jesus has to go away.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

Yours in Christ, Fr. Tim