Superior Priest

22MAY22 (22cE6). We do not profess a blind faith that rejects reason. We believe that this world is reasonable and that God wants to reveal His truth. He does that in a perfect way with Jesus Christ and continues to guide it through the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church is more than just a collection of people, but the Bride of Christ who is guided and animated (soul) of the Church.

15MAY22 (22cE5). We must love as Jesus loved us. We can not give what we have not first received. When we offer peace in Mass at the kiss/sign of peace we do not offer our solution or good will, but the peace that has been extended to us from Jesus Christ. Two great articles to speak more about the sign of peace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_(liturgical_object)

https://adoremus.org/2020/06/q-ought-the-sign-of-peace-be-reinstated-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR1yvH0p2BsmIcVA3s9al6gi5IqIegxvAaKUlSwYYTFeI12e_k2ecNF8-ME

https://aleteia.org/2017/08/17/the-sign-of-peace-the-ancient-roots-of-the-greeting-we-make-at-mass/

https://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2014-07-and-08.pdf

8MAY22 (22cE4). Jesus tells us that that his sheep listen to his voice. What does his voice sound like? Not like mine. Little more like the voice that Elijah heard on Mt. Carmel. We need to give space for God’s voice to be heard and learn his voice.

3MAY22 (w/Fr. David Miloscia). May is the month of Mary. There are often May crownings of Mary and more of a focus on her throughout the month. Mary is AWESOME!...enough said? No, because Fr. Miloscia, who is attached to the USS Ronald Reagan CVN, and I can talk about her all day. I am grateful that Fr. Miloscia was able to join me to talk about May before he heads out on deployment. We talk about some of the scriptural basis for Marian devotion and how awesome Mary is. As a bonus you also get to learn about why I think Mary is a Green Bay Packers fan.

1MAY22 (22cE3). Angels are perfect intellect and do not learn and grow and so their actions are always the same. Humans, through our 5 senses continue to take in information, learn, grow, repent, and change. Our actions manifest our beliefs. If our actions to not line up with our beliefs then we need to acknowledge that our beliefs are different, repent and change our actions to properly align with our beliefs so we may not be like the fallen angels, demons, who know they are wrong, but can not change.

17APR22 (22Easter). If the resurrection didn’t happen our faith is in vain. Would our life be any different if we found that Jesus was not raised from the dead? Would we just go on like normal or would we be the greatest of fools?

16APR22 (22EasterVigil). The world is dark, but that is not the end of the story. It is not a balanced war of good versus evil but a God who has conquered. Darkness cannot overcome light unless it goes out. However if it spreads and shares, it becomes even stronger and brighter. We are called to be disciples and radiate Christ. Become light in the darkness.

10APR22 (22Passion). The practice of the faith at times is difficult. We need to help unite all sacrifices to love of Jesus. It is always a temptation to run away like the disciples, but we are given grace to stand at the foot of the Cross. We face East looking at Jesus and Jerusalem. Red is for martyrdom/blood and Holy Spirit (correction, it is worn on 2 Sundays in the year Palm Sunday and Pentecost). INRI- Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM).

03AR22 (22cL4). Do we come as Pharisees, in Pride, or like the woman caught in adultery, in total humiliation and humility? If we come in total humility and showing God our misery then we get to encounter Jesus like the woman did with Misery meeting Mercy. “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 1). If we bring our misery to Mass then we can leave in peace knowing that God sees us and loves us.

27MAR22 (22cL4). There is a phrase that goes “familiarity breeds contempt”. When we become close to something we can take it for granted. With the Mass and the Eucharist, it may not be contempt, but I do see a lot of indifference at times. The Church has certain rules around the Eucharist to try and help us not take it for granted. Here is a good reminder of some of the things we are supposed to do. Be in the state of Grace (go to confession if we are aware of any Mortal Sins), fast an hour before receiving the Eucharist, bow at the waist when coming up to receive, make a throne with your hands (one hand on top of the other), and say “Amen” after the priest (or EMHC) says “The Body of Christ”.