This Sunday of course is Mother’s Day.

My mother, Rosemary, has been gone now for eight years (?). (I’ve lost track of the time.) She and my father brought three children into the world. Dad wanted more but mom said, “this is enough”.

I’ve mentioned in the past that mom was a bit different in her “mothering” style. She wasn’t known for her time spent in the kitchen (though when the pressure was on she did quite well). She wasn’t a hand holder or a big kisser, but she was quick to apply the band aid or administer the calamine lotion as needed.

What mother was wonderful at was conversation.
It was fun to talk with her. She’d ask the best questions to start you thinking and then she’d listen carefully to your thoughts. She could read people and know what they were trying to say.

Please don’t be shocked by this but I’m seeing now how, later on, I related to mom more like my “sister”. There’s not this “lean” toward her as “life giver” and “nourisher”. Rather she became a “fellow traveler”, an “observer of life”.

She had a fierce loyalty to her husband Phil. I re- member her tapping my hand as I grabbed for the biggest pork chop on the platter. “That one is for your father.”

And your mother?

Isn’t it wonderful that we all have one? And a father too. It unites us all . . . as children! You and I know what it is to know nothing; to be totally de- pendent on the safety and love and direction provided by our parents.

Women. You have this amazing thing in you. I write this as a man, in an age where it’s discouraged to make “general” statements about any group of per- sons. I don’t care. Women. You have this amazing thing in you. What tenderness, compassion, and undying hope exists in this world – – – comes mostly from two sources – – Jesus and women.

Women have civilized this world. Not only did you give us arms and legs and eyes to see . . . you saw to it that we grew strong; and you loved us into real persons. You worried and prayed about us in ways we’ll never know. You just have (it’s hard to find the words) a gravity to you that keeps us in proper or- bit. You are our home.

Yeah that’s it, you are “home”. And it’s quite a wonderful one (not perfect of course!) until we all meet up in Our Eternal Home.

One other thought about Mary, The Blessed Mother. May is the month we remember her is a special way. Remember Jesus on the cross just before he died? “When Jesus saw his mother and his disciple there (John) he said to his mother ‘woman, behold your son ’ To his disciple he said ‘behold your mother’”. John 19: 26, 27.

Jesus gave us a spiritual mother in Mary. She gave birth to us in the waters of baptism. We became a child of God, with the life of her firstborn, Jesus, poured into our souls.

Each of us is left to “find Mary” in our own way guided by God’s grace. For me I talk to Mary as I would with my mother on our screened in porch so many years ago. It’s a little different with Mary however . . . there’s no cigarette and martini.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Fr. Tim

Thought I’d go back for this one. Back to when we were children and life was always serving up moments that we’d never experienced before. We’ve become quite used to them by now; they hold no special power to ponder and wonder about. Not so when they happened for the first time.

Remember when:

• You made your first successful ride on a bike? Wonderful!
• You got sick to your stomach. Where was it? At school? In the car? In the bathroom? “What the heck is happening to me?!”
• Mom told you it was only a “nightmare”? (What’s a nightmare mom?)
• You fell and got the wind knocked out of you? Can’t breathe!
• You bumped your nose and the pain and watery eyes blinded you?
• You ripped your pants in the back and the whole 3rd grade class roared with laughter?
• Your first roller coaster ride? (Most people loved it. It terrified me.)
• You caught the fly ball, sank the basket, got a hit, scored a touchdown? There are many “first times”. Some are very personal and for your memory only. But we all have times that have thrilled us and those that have pained us greatly. (Looking at my list above it seems I mostly remember the pain!)

What did we learn or how did these things shape us in life? May I suggest a couple “life lessons” that these memories can bring?

• Life is a mystery. The wonder or shock that certain times can bring remind us that we’re not in charge. Life is bigger than us and we must learn to “keep our feet” and “deal with it”.
• Happy or sad, in the end, most things turn out okay. (I mean look at you . . . you’re here and still standing!)
• These moments give us tools for dealing with life. Happy events let us know that life is good. Really good. We can hope. Sad or hurtful times can soften our hearts and give us a compassion for others who suffer. “I know how it is brother. I’m here if you need me.”
• These moments can turn us toward God. Unfortunately, it’s mostly the hard times that bring us to our knees. The happy times . . . well, they’re . . . fun! Remember the 10 lepers Jesus healed? Nine went skipping off home – – – only one returned to give thanks.
• No really, suffering life’s moments can bring amazing things. It can increase love Jesus told us this, “So now you are in anguish, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from you.” John 16:22 Think for a moment. Haven’t the most joyful moments been proceeded by suffering? Mom? After the birth labor? Dad? When you came home to us from Afghanistan?

So here we are with a First Time for all of us . . . Pandemic 2020. What will it bring to the world? How will it change us? “Do not waste this time.” Pope Francis urges us. He points to this moment as a time to renew our turning to God, our resolve to be better people, to realize we are all connected as brothers and sisters.

It’s time to grow. It can be a new day for all of us. But first we need to wear these silly masks.

Don’t be afraid.

Fr. Tim

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. All these are gifts from God to be used in a loving “dominion” over this world. But he wants us to do it in partnership with him.

The problem is I don’t want a senior partner, I want to be in charge. After all . . . these habits are mine. I’ve spent a lifetime developing my routine: bedtime, cocktail, personal time, a hobby, etc., all these are mine. I’ll do what I want with them. Again . . . it’s the “I’m the Boss” thing.

So God is patient. He lets us have our way. However it has profound effects in our relationship with Him. I don’t know about you, but every time I take free reign of my life, with no concern for God’s will . . . things get muddy. (Look at the frustration people are beginning to ex- press as we Shelter in Place. We forget the common good and start to see our private lives threatened . . . “What no haircuts?!!” . . . “I gotta wear a mask?!!”, “This is not Freedom!”)

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

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

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

So what went wrong? We did. We failed to give God everything. Call it what you want . . . mistrust, selfishness, pride, arrogance . . . it’s all the same. Quietly God calls to us but we’re not in the mood to listen. We’ve forgotten something very important.

We’ve forgotten that God loves us. We’ve forgotten, that in creating us out of nothing, He knows us better than we know ourselves. And it’s from the love that thought us up, we receive His will. And, get this, God’s will is our true happiness! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve begged God for a particular outcome to a problem only to discover God’s eventual answer was even better, smarter, cleaner, kinder!

St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, prayed this prayer (The Suscipe) for God to have all of him. Praying this is like closing your eyes and falling into the arms of God. See what you think.

O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess, Thou hast given me: I surrender it all to Thee to be disposed of according to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. Amen.

Still working on that “smile” thing. How about you?

Fr. Tim

Some weeks ago in this space I mentioned a few “misconceptions” we have about God. The first, and probably most misleading, is the subtle way we manipulate God into being what we want him to be.

There’s a good reason why we have this tendency. After all scripture tells us we were “made in the image and likeness of God.” Genesis 2. The apostle John tells us “we are God’s children”. Jesus tells us to call God our “Father”. All these lead us to faith in God who is a “person”.

Yes, we are made in GOD’S image, we’re “like” God. The gifts of intellect, freedom, and will make us into “persons”. He created us “like” him because he wanted to have a relationship with his creation that was personal and capable of love.

Perhaps the most powerful affirmation of God being “like us” is in the very words of Jesus. When asked by Philip, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus said, “Philip, when you see me you see the Father. For the Father is in me and I in the Father.” John 14:8 No wonder we start thinking “God is like us”

But, here’s where we make our mistake. God is not made in OUR image. He’s God! But that’s what we so often do… we think of God acting as we would act. And when it doesn’t happen the way we want (when something seems “too late”, or “not enough”, or “my wishful prayers go unanswered”) . . . we start to think God just doesn’t care. God is silent.

This brings us to a very important fork in the road. We can submit to the fact that, as creatures, we are given the privilege of knowing and loving God OR we can declare ourselves The Boss and be our own reason for existence.

Back to Adam and Eve . . . what was their temptation? “You will become like God.” said the serpent. They wanted a God “their way”, not as He truly is.

So what’s the solution to this tension (my way or God’s way)? It’s Jesus Christ. In him, God’s way becomes understandable and fully human. “I am the way, the truth and the life”, Jesus tells us.

My way or Christ’s way? Many walk away at this point. There was a critical moment in Jesus’s ministry when this very thing happened. He had just told the crowds that he is “the bread come down from heaven . . . the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. . . . as a result of this many of his disciples would no longer accompany him.” John Ch. 6 (read it all).

Jesus turns to the apostles and asks, “Do you also want to leave?” What a moment! It’s either go back to fishing and forget this Jesus OR SUBMIT to this man as holding the key to human life. Peter, bless him, answers, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In other words . . . Lord there’s no words of eternal life.” In other words . . . Lord there’s no one else. YOU are God’s visitation to us.

The stakes are pretty high. This is God’s way for me OR not. This is the one I will follow OR I’ll find my own way. This is the moment of Faith. It’s a moment of surrender to the mystery of God . . . as he is . . . not as I make him to be.

But remember, in the end, this is a surrender to love. Jesus is the love of God. God’s love took on human existence to be our brother, our shepherd, our door to eternal life.

Dear God give us the grace to surrender to you just as you are. Just as we see you revealed in your Son Jesus Christ.

Don’t be afraid.
Fr Tim

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Has there ever been an Easter Sunday like this in your life? Remember your ashes on Ash Wednesday? Who would have thought this?

But today, amidst the chaos and worry, our faith tells us Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

I’ve seen Him . . . no really, He’s there . . . in the men and women who put their lives at risk to save others . . . In the good people exhausting themselves to find solutions to the virus chaos. . . . in the hope we hold in our hearts, that by His death and Resurrection, Christ has secured an eternal home for the human race.

Dare we say it? Of course!

Happy Easter!!!
Fr. Tim

Well, it finally happened. I have a friend who is seriously ill with the Coronavirus.

Till now it has been a distant menace that I hoped my friends and family could avoid. The pandemic was a map on TV of “virus hot spots” and growing numbers. “Glad I’m not THERE”, I thought as I looked at the big red circle over New York City.

That was yesterday. Today it’s personal. Ted, I’m praying for you.

So dear friend . . . I’m sure you have your own story developing during these tense days. One of the questions many people are asking is “Where is God?”. And “Why would God let this happen?”.

In fact, it brings up a whole big question about the world and suffering and the “Goodness” of God. Or more simply put . . . “What are you doing God?”

Do you find your faith tested in this way? Perhaps it’s time for us to look a bit deeper into some misconceptions we’ve been living with for years.

Some misconceptions:

1. God should behave the way I think he should. After all, I’m a good guy. I know right from wrong, good from bad. Why doesn’t God do what I would do – – take away the bad things in this world (like this virus)? He certainly has the power. Why won’t he use it now to take this away?
2. God made us to be “happy”. Everybody wants that in their life. Well, guess what? . . . this is not making me happy. I feel cheated.
3. Suffering is bad. There should be no suffering. Fix it God.
4. It seems we’ve been left alone to figure this out all by ourselves. Why doesn’t God give us the antidote? Now!

I think we’ve all encouraged these thoughts about how God should act. Our prayers frequently tell him what he should do. (He NEVER listened to my insisting he let the Cleveland Indians win the World Series.)

So what does real Catholic Faith say about these questions and feelings?

Response to misconceptions 1-4 above:

1. This is a big mistake and sends us in a totally wrong direction. WE are not the measure of how things should go. We are “creatures” called into existence by God. Everything we have (our very existence) comes from Him. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways.” Isaiah 55:8,9. We exist because of his loving will. That will we pray “be done. On Earth, as it is in heaven.” Did God send the virus? No. But God’s “fix” for it is not necessarily what ours would be.

2. Yes, God made us to “know, love and serve Him in this life; and be happy with Him in the next.” Baltimore Catechism. But, this “happiness” (the bible uses “joy” or “glory”) comes in being united with God’s holy will. And what is His holy will? That we image Christ. That’s the happiness the world cannot take away.

3. Yes suffering is bad . . . by itself. Jesus spent his life healing and relieving suffering. But it changes when it is endured for reasons of love. Christ crucified is God’s highest example of this kind of love. “No greater love than this has one that they lay down their life . . .” John 15:13. Share my suffering says Jesus, and you will share my joy.

2. All alone? No we’re not! We have each other. That’s the second part of this creature we are. We belong to each other. God made us that way. That’s why we laugh and cry at the same things. That’s where the miracle of compassion comes from. (Ever choke up seeing a child lost and crying for their mother?) We cry together! We’re all together in this.

Lastly, God made us free. What a wonderful gift. We are free to love (or not), to give (or not), to give thanks (or not). God did not make us puppets. He offers us the joy of working freely with him to bring about His Kingdom.

I hope we can use this time of suffering to open ourselves to the mystery of God’s love for us and His plan for bringing light out of this darkness.

Don’t be afraid.
Fr. Tim

I look back at my calendar; two weeks ago I watched a little of the CYO basketball tournament in Murphy Hall, I spoke with 40 Confirmation Candidates, I went to dinner with some good friends, and was looking forward to March Madness on TV.

It seems like a year ago now. How about you?

So what to say? It would be silly to think that any one attempt could explain what this moment presents to us. We’re still a bit wobbly on our feet, trying to comprehend all that has happened (and what is yet to come). It’s way too early to say “What The Coronavirus Means To Me”. I mean this thing is still just rolling out.

That said, isn’t there something we can hold onto that can help us keep our feet? Something to steady the ship? How about “Best Practices During a Pandemic”?!

Try these:

• Keep the hygiene and social gathering rules. They’re meant to protect everyone. My sisters are safer if you keep the rules. Thank you.
• Make a little game out of being homebound. I don’t know . . . pretend you’re in a spaceship, or you’re on a long flight to a country you’ve never visited. What do we do? Sleep, think, wonder, smile.
• Time management changes. Two weeks ago we didn’t have enough time to tie our shoes. Now it feels like we’re drowning in time.
• Your daily schedule is necessarily changed. Embrace it. You have a new job now – – find a way to use your time well. Maybe make a list; what I want to do by noon. What needs to happen before dinner? Etc.
• Avoid easy escape habits. You know, IPhone, TV, Netflix, internet, Snapchat. These are all legitimate uses of our time, but over the last few years they have come to rule much of our lives.
• See in this crisis time an opportunity to create new habits. Do outrageous things like . . . read a book! Talk to your spouse (No, REALLY TALK to your spouse. And REALLY LISTEN to them. (Children too of course.)
• Feed your soul. Let’s face it we let a lot of junk into our brains. Instead of “binging” on what? “Housewives of New York”? OR, “Greatest Golf Rounds Ever Played”? Why not LEARN something?
• These days contain God’s will. What is God inviting you to do? Is there something pulling at your heart? A relationship that needs mending? A promise you made that you haven’t kept so well? Someone who’s not doing so well in these days? . . So what are you waiting for?
• Maybe with all this new time on your hands you can give some to the Lord. How about taking Jesus seriously when he says “When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Your Father will see you in secret.”

Really. Go to your room and close the door! Tell God, “I’m here Lord”. Give him a couple things you’re feeling about life. Something like: “It’s been too long Lord. But, here I am. I want to be what you want me to be.” “Lord help me.” The Holy Spirit will, over time, show you the conversation God invites you into.

Okay. So let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot more we’ll be learning in the weeks ahead. Please know that the Lord has promised to be with us through it all.

Spring began last Thursday. Yay!!
Fr. Tim

It’s a new phrase – – sea change. It describes a situation where, suddenly, everything looks different. Ever been out fishing on a warm summer day? The water is smooth like a mirror, but with a sudden breeze the whole lake changes to whitecaps. Sea change.

So the Corona virus is a sea change. Just a few weeks ago we were looking forward to March Madness, class reunions, dinners out, concerts, graduations, etc. Suddenly it all changes.

I suppose we each have our own way of responding to this profound altering of life. For some, there is a little panic I suppose . . . toilet paper is temporarily in short supply. (Why toilet paper? Someone explain this to me please.)

Others like myself are SLOWLY beginning to realize the vast difference in everyday life. “What do you mean there’s no priest dinner this Saturday?” On a more serious note, some are staring at the loss of their job. How will they pay the bills? Oh dear.

There’s a sea change in the gospels. Jesus is crossing a lake (Mark 4:35) with the apostles. Suddenly what had been a smooth passage was fraught with wind and waves. And where was Jesus? “in the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow.” (!)

“Save us Lord!” they cried. (We get that, don’t we?) “Jesus wake up. Do you not care that we are about to drown?” Mark (4:38) The story ends with Jesus calming the wind and the waves but not before rebuking the apostles for their lack of faith in him. Did they not know they were safe so long as he is with them?

So what does Christian faith mean at a time like this? Is Jesus asleep in the boat? Is he even with us in this pandemic?

Some things our faith tells us:

• These things happen. There are cracks in nature that occasionally bring about viruses, cancers, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Why? Because nature itself is somehow disordered. It shares in the rebellion of Adam. “Through one man, sin entered the world. And through sin . . . death.” Romans 5:12. Okay? It’s a mystery.
• This is not the end. How do we know? The signs of Jesus’s return have not appeared: the conversion of Judaism to Christ, the sun and moon doing weird things, the Anti-Christ appearing.
• Don’t even trouble yourself with those “end” thoughts. Do your duty toward family and neighbor. God will take care of those big things.
• Where is Christ in these nervous times? He’s with the parent who struggles to pay the bills. He’s with the senior who is weak and vulnerable. He’s with young people who wonder if it’s worth trying your best when it all seems uphill. He’s there because YOU ARE THERE as his ambassador. You bring Christ’s light in the darkness. Hope to those who fear. You bring Christ to others – – – YOU bring him! (How are you doing?)
• Lastly . . . this too shall pass. When that day comes will we look back on how we have lived our lives with pride or embarrassment? Was there generosity, patience, good humor, kindness, OR did I spread fear, complaining, hoarding, selfishness?

So call your neighbor. Make sure they’re alright. Take some time (we seem to have quite a bit on our hands, don’t we) to pray . . . to read . . . to really talk with your loved ones. Above all, “Do not be afraid little ones. I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

– Fr. Tim

There’s this scene in Homer’s Odyssey where the boat of our adventurer Ulysses comes near to the island of the Sirens. He tells his men to tie him fast to the mast of the ship so that hearing the Sirens’ seductive song he will be unable to fling himself into the sea toward them.

Dangerous rocks lay all about the island and to come too near meant certain shipwreck. It’s a great story (written 3000 yrs. ago). We call it “Greek Mythology”. Did it happen in actual history? No. It’s a myth.

But is it true? Of course it’s true. Is there a “song” that if you listen to it you’ll be tempted to abandon your ship? You bet. Just ask the alcoholic whose friends invite him to a bar for “a couple of cold ones”. Ask the teenager (hormones raging) who knows of a website where “you can see it all”. Imagine the hoarder who hears about “buy one, get one free”.

We all hear the Sirens’ call. They know just the song to sing to each of us to have us sail toward that rocky shore.

So what do we do? (We’re talking about temptation of course.)

The first thing to do is be aware of the power of temptation. It has the uncanny ability to get under or around our desire to do the right thing. It needs to be respected for what it can talk us into. Be smart. Know how strong temptation can be.

Next thing. Be prepared. Know where you want to go. Know where you don’t want to go. Before the Sirens start “your song” be like Ulysses, take measures that will help you resist. You don’t have to tie yourself to a mast (!) but do something to help you resist.

• Let your friends know in advance that “you can’t go there”.
• Use your computer in the living room where others gather.
• Let a trusted friend know what your temptation is and ask their help (if only to listen to you and encourage you to keep up the good fight.) Ulysses asked his crew to tie him up!
• Pray daily for help to resist the Sirens’ song. God will come to your aid. St. Paul says if all else fails, your resolve is gone. “God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength: but with the trial he will also provide a way out.” 1 Cor. 10:13 (the Spirit gives you a good idea to do in that moment).
• Lastly . . . . RUN AWAY!!! Fleeing is a great way to defeat the Siren’s song. It’s not weakness to run. It’s wisdom. Someone yells “Fire!!” It’s not cowardice to flee!

Actually Ulysses was pretty lucky. He could have messed up big time. You see he had his men put wax in their ears so they wouldn’t even hear the Sirens.

He however had heard how entrancing their song was and he wanted to hear it for himself. So no wax for him! “I want to hear them sing.” (It’s called the “near occasion of sin”. Don’t go there.)

Lucky the mast held him back and he returned to tell his amazing story.

Homer (not Simpson!) and the Sirens We humans…..how patient God is with us.

Springtime blessings.
Fr. Tim

(This article appeared on June 11, 2017’s bulletin)

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind here at Holy Trinity. Special masses (funerals and Teen mass), Confirmation meeting and interviews, the Snow Ball Gala of course, etc. etc.

I am usually aware of all the people who help this parish through its paces. But this morning I’d like to tell the rest of us just a little of what goes on be- hind the scenes at Holy Trinity.

What follows is a shout out to all who make it happen. (No names. You know who you are.)

Thank you for:

• Whoever puts the morning paper outside the rectory door!
• For sacristans setting up the wine and water, chalice and candles for mass. Lectors, cantors, altar servers.
• For our choirs and choir directors who help us pray at mass.
• For our ushers who help us find seats (and take our money every week!)
• For the Greeters who smile and welcome us to mass.
• For all who sit on the committees that do such critical advising and stepping up. (Parish Council, Finance, Facilities, Liturgy, Cemetery Committees, Youth Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board, Legion of Mary, Camillus, Dove, and the Maplewood ministries, Men’s Spirituality group, the Shawl and Knitting Ministries.
• For the meals that parishioners drop off each week to keep Fr.’s John and Tim alive.
• For our catechists teaching the children, our Pre- Cana Team for soon to be marrieds, + The RCIA and RCIC journeys of faith.
• For the Parish Staff that does such a fine job ensuring the day to day care of the parish: the religious education of children, parent baptismal preparation, the office management, ministry co- ordination, the Parish Office that processes hundreds of calls each week, our Maintenance Coordinator and Assistant who keep our campus beautiful, for our regional and diocesan finance connection.
• For Hope House that feeds and comforts hundreds and hundreds.

Had enough? Wait, there’s more.

• Sanctuary care (linens and flowers), Office Volunteers.
• Videographers, money counters, Bereavement Ministers, Martha Committee, Corpus Christi Ministry, Cursillo, Women’s Faith, Coffee Hours, CYO Coaches, Parish Picnic.
• Vacation Bible School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Caregiver Support, our Website and Facebook Masters.

Whew!!! Thank you all. You make this place hum. (I’ve tried to include everyone but I bet I missed someone. Sorry.) And you know the best part of all of this? It’s a joy. “My yoke is easy. My burden is light.”

Want to help out? Call me or the parish office. If anyone tells you, “Thanks for wanting to help but we don’t need any, we’ve got this covered”, you call me. That’s not what we do here.

A blessed Lent to you.
Fr. Tim