St. Paul writes in the Letter to the Romans that the love of God poured forth on us by Christ brings a Hope that “Does not disappoint.” God’s promises made to humankind will not fail. It’s a sure thing.

Paul contrasts this one hope with all the other things that have disappointed us in life. He was familiar with constant disappointment and hardship. You and I have also seen our hopes come to nothing. Careers, relationships, health and finances can all go sour. There can develop a cynicism or even despair. “Don’t start hoping it hurts too much”, we tell ourselves.

Look at our children and the young generation called “Millennials”. Their eyes are bright, their hopes and dreams burn in their hearts. Parents smile . . . perhaps a sad smile, as they imagine the disappointments that inevitably come. We want to protect them or warn them of the hurt that awaits. Why? Because it happened to us.

Think of what you’ve hoped for:

• True and lasting spousal love – Good friends for life
• Healthy, happy children – Success and recognition of one’s efforts
• Rewarding work – Some financial security
• Good health – Peace of heart about the life you chose

I’m sure these are on your list in some fashion. What else?

We’re old enough by now to have made our peace with many of life’s disappointments. In fact with age, there’s a certain sweet sadness for what might have been. (Watch the movie “Babette’s Feast” for that beautiful message).

But do we stop hoping? What is this hope that will not disappoint? What can I bet my life on? Christians believe It lies in the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. He tells us he is the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Resurrection and the Life. “I am going to prepare a place for you . . . I will come back and take you with me.”

But how do we know for sure he is all these things? We don’t want to hope in vain. St. Paul goes on to say, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us . . . while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” Romans 5:10.

There is no love like this anywhere else in the world   only in God through Christ. It gets better. “I have told you these things that might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

So what should we hope for? Again Jesus gives us the key . . . “If God so clothes the grass of the field, will he not much more provide for you. Seek first His Kingdom and these other things (life sustaining things) will be given you as well.” Luke 12:31

In other words, our hope lies in the promises of Christ. He promises to dwell in us here on earth and then in the fullness of the Kingdom forever. It will not disappoint.

But we must do our part. Do what Goodness tells you to do. And you will see His plan.

Gaudete!

Fr. Tim

Do you remember some of the things you used to do over and over as a kid? Little, personal and sometimes quirky activities that you’d do when things got boring or you started getting nervous?

Some children would suck their thumb. Some might bite their finger nails. Maybe you had a special blanket you would take everywhere. (Later in life my father and I battled cigarettes (I still struggle!). We call repeated actions habits; we do them without thinking. They relieve tension or anxiety and bring a mild pleasure or calming effect.

Some habits are healthy and benefit people whenever they do them. “That’s a good habit to get into,” we say. (Brush your teeth/eat your vegetables.) Other repeated actions can hurt us or others. These are bad habits. Some are bad (e.g. Lying) because the act itself is bad. We call these “sinful habits”. Others are bad because they go too far (“Too much” of anything is a bad habit) or not far enough (sloth, or carelessness) in doing the right thing.

So . . . what’s the point? It’s simple. Get in the habit of doing good things. How? All habits begin with Repetition. Doing something again and again will bring a certain ease of performance. A good thing, once rather hard to perform (choosing not to gossip) can, with repetition, become easier. Parents, I can’t stress this enough for your children. “Repetition” of good actions is essential to finding a path to true happiness in life.

Our bodies themselves bear witness to this. Sit-ups/push-ups (yuk!) become easier with repetition. It’s really no different for our spiritual lives. Repetition makes for habit. Habit makes for virtue (an abiding strength). Virtue leads to happiness. Want to be happy? Keep on doing good. Simple eh?!

Let’s take matters of sexuality. I don’t think anyone of us is immune to the “sinful habit” that can develop in our thoughts or actions as we confront lustful images or impulses that exist within us and around us.

There is a “good habit” that can defeat this lustful impulse. It’s called “custody of the eyes”. It refers to a mental readiness to turn away from seeing things that we know go beyond “just seeing” to become “lusting”. It’s kind of like being nosy . . . with our eyes.

Here’s how it goes. Our eyes want to see everything. Some things are not ours to see (or show). We need to have a mental readiness to turn away from things we “ought not see”. (Be ready to change the channel, look away, find something else to focus on.) We do this because it carries a respect for that person. Repeated ways of acting in this way we call “modesty” and become a habit leading to the virtue of “purity”.

(Purity has gotten a bad wrap in our culture. It’s seen as prudishness or a “holier-than-thou” attitude, or even a certain fearfulness of sex. Not so! Purity is a veneration of the person as a vessel of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in each of us and therefore we are each worthy of love . . . not lust.)

The point here is to make clear these virtuous states don’t “just happen”. In fact, when left to nature, the opposite happens. Lust grows, not purity. Rumor, not truth. Selfishness, not generosity. It’s part of our fallen human nature that this tendency exists.

Let’s develop “habits of love”, actions of reverence for others and ourselves motivated by the knowledge of who we are . . . God’s beloved children. This friends is the way to JOY.

Everyone of us, God’s Children – no exceptions.

Bless your heart.

Fr. Tim

PS. A great habit? Morning prayer.

Welcome Home

Pope Francis has invited Catholic people around the world to participate in the 2021-2023 Synod with the theme of “Journeying Together”. Here at Holy Trinity, we will explore the themes of Listening and Dialogue in Church and Society.

II. Listening

Listening is the first step, but it requires having an open mind and heart, without prejudices.

To whom does our Church “need to listen to”? How are the Laity, especially young peo- ple and women, listened to? How do we integrate the contribution of Consecrated Men and Women? What space is there for the voice of minorities, the discarded, and the excluded? Do we identify prejudices and stereotypes that hinder our listening? How do we listen to the social and cultural context in which we live?

VI. Dialogue in Church and Society

Dialogue requires perseverance that includes silence and sometimes discomfort.

In the end it proves capable of gathering and understanding the experience of peoples.

Where do you find dialogue happening in the local and in the worldwide Catholic Church? How are differences of vision and their resulting conflicts addressed? Do we collaborate with neighboring dioceses or the religious orders in the area? Are there experiences of dialogue and shared commitment with believers in other religions? With nonbelievers? How can the Catholic Church dialogue with and learn from: the world of politics, economics, culture, civil society, the poor? How does the Church respond to social trends that challenge and conflict with the Faith of Jesus Christ?

All are welcome to join us on Tuesday, March 1, 7:00-8:00 PM or Saturday, March 5, 10:00-11:00 AM. Both sessions will be held in the Gathering Space.

Source: Welcome Back to Mass at HT

I Found this article by Seth Adam Smith and wanted to share his words on marriage.

Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided we no longer wanted to be just friends. I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. Was I ready? Was I making the right choice? Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each of us have moments in our lives when it feels like time slows down or the air becomes still and everything around us seems to draw in marking that moment as one we will never forget.

My dad giving his response to my concerns was such a moment for me. With a knowing smile he said, “Seth, you’re being totally selfish. So I’m going to make this really simple: marriage isn’t for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy; you marry to make someone else happy.

More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself; you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you.

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person to marry. I realized that I wanted to make her happy – to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. And thinking back on all the times I had seen her play with my nieces, I knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to build our own family.

My father’s advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today’s “Walmart philosophy”, which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one.

No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love-their wants, their needs, their hopes and their dreams. Selfishness demands, “What’s in it for me?” While Love asks, “What can I give?”

Some time ago my wife showed me what it means to love selflessly. For many months my heart had been hardening with a mixture of fear and resentment. Then, after the pressure had built up to where neither of us could stand it, emotions erupted. I was callous, I was selfish.

But, instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did some-thing beyond wonderful–she showed an outpouring of love. Laying aside all of the pain and anguish I had caused her, she lovingly took me in her arms and soothed my soul. I realized that I had forgotten my Dad’s advice. While Kim’s side of the marriage had been to love me, my side of the marriage had become all about me. This awful realization brought me to tears, and I promised my wife that I would try to be better.

To all who are reading this article-married, almost married, single or even the sworn bachelor or bachelorette-I want you to know that marriage isn’t for you. No true relationship of love is for you. Love is about the person you love.

And, paradoxically, the more you truly love that person, the more love you receive. And not just from your significant other, but from their friends and their family and thousands of others you never would have met had your love remained self-centered.

Truly, love and marriage isn’t for you. It’s for others.

Blessings, Fr. Tim