Monthly Archives: April 2024

When God Calls

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Dear Folks,

I saw the movie “Irena’s Vow.” It is beyond amazing. It is about Irena Gut Opdyke who sheltered a group of Jews during World War II, and one would never have believed how she did it. The movie showed the terrible evil of the Nazis who were seeking to make Germany “free of Jews.” We remember how the Nazis accused the Jews of all sorts of crimes in an attempt to justify their actions.

This Sunday the Gospel is about Jesus the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18). The Good Shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep.” This is the essence of the Gospel: the Lord, with nothing to gain for Himself, paid the ultimate price for our salvation, and calls us to

receive His gift and give ourselves in love. This is not only the greatest story ever told, but the greatest story that could ever be told. It will never be repeated but has echoed in the lives of many Christians who suffered, sacrificed, and put their lives on the line for the love of God and neighbor.

There are many true stories about people who make heroic, selfless sacrifice to help others. Irena Gut Opdyke is one. Irena Sendler is another (see the movie “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.”) I’m also fond of the story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, whose

work is detailed in the movie “The Scarlet and the Black” and was subject of the book “Hugh O’Flaherty: The Irish Priest Who Resisted the Nazis” by Fiorella De Maria.

We remember the terror attack in Israel on October 7 and the horrible cruelty that was committed. We see how Hamas is still holding hostages while trying to maximize civilian casualties. We see people accusing Israel of crimes while dismissing the crimes of the terrorists. There have been rallies in the United States, including Michigan, in which people have shouted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” At a time when hate crimes against Jews is on the rise, at a time when people are getting more and more casual about destroying human lives, we would do well to pay attention.

I notice that at the worst times in history, God raises up great heroes. True stories of heroes remind us what one person can do, and that often these people are the ones you would least expect. We don’t know what God will call us to before we are done. Not all Christians are called to die for the faith, but all Christians are called to be ready to die for the faith, and all are called to service. What would we be willing to do to answer God’s call?

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

Telling the Story

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Dear Folks,

Story telling is one of the most basic human activities. We take tidbits of experience and weave it into a narrative. We don’t see directly into people’s minds, but we see their actions and hear their words, and put them together like puzzle pieces to get a picture of what they are like. We decide some people are our friends and others are not. Sometimes we can be mistaken, and someone who had acted friendly had been trying to take advantage of us.

In detective movies we see events, details and conversations, and in the end, the detective typically calls everyone together, weaves those tidbits into a narrative describing what happened, and reveals the killer. If the movie is well done, we say to ourselves that we remember those things, why didn’t we put them together?

In the Easter readings, we see people’s experience of the risen Jesus. Jesus explained how the Old Testament led up to the Gospel (Luke 24:27, 45-47). Earlier, Jesus suggested to scholars that the Old Testament pointed to His story, but they didn’t get it (John 5:39).

All creation was made through Jesus and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16), so all stories lead to Jesus. It is a matter of putting together the puzzle pieces. We have to start where people are at. We remember that St. Paul told the Gospel story one way to Greek philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:22-34) and another way to the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 22).

If we want to tell the Gospel story, or a part of it, to someone, it really helps to hear their story first. It would be useful to know what experiences they’ve had with religion in general and Christianity specifically. Were they taught anything? Were they taught so poorly that they couldn’t recognize any goodness, beauty, or truth in it? Did they find it silly or trivial? Were they hurt or disillusioned? What do they believe strongly? What is important to them?

Sharing our knowledge of the Faith and our personal experience in a way that might be meaningful to others is more art than science. Most of us are not practiced in it, but we can learn, and that will be helpful to fulfill Jesus’ mandate to be his witnesses (Luke 24:48; Matthew 28:19-20). We can start by asking ourselves: Why is the faith precious to us? What strikes our hearts most powerfully? How are our lives different because of it? What have been our good experiences? What have been our bad experiences? What

have they taught us?

We are an Easter people. Let us rejoice!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

Being an Easter People

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Dear Folks,

As we celebrate the second Sunday of Easter, we continue to consider what it is to be an Easter people. We see in our Scriptures today Christian generosity (Acts 4:32-35), forgiveness of sins

(John 20:19-23), and the power of wounds (John 20:24-49).

Generosity is not just giving, but giving from the heart, and finding joy in the giving. It includes not just giving stuff, but also time, patience, empathy, and understanding. We all have responsibilities and limited resources, so there is only so much we can do, but we look for opportunities to be good to others as we would hunt for treasure. Faith includes believing that giving of ourselves for the love of Jesus is a greater source of happiness than the world can give.

Jesus breathed on the apostles and gave them the Holy Spirit for the power to forgive sins. The Catholic Church understands this as the origin of the sacrament of reconciliation, but forgiveness is a key part of being Christian. We remember it is a form of healing, healing our hearts, and, if possible, healing the relationship. Some relationships can’t be healed, and then we have to settle for healing within ourselves. I recommend Desmond Tutu’s book “No Future

Without Forgiveness” and the sequel that he wrote with his daughter Mpho, “The Book of Forgiving.”

Jesus showed Thomas his wounds, and even invited him to touch them. His wounds were now marks of glory and showed that it was really Him and really raised. It moved Thomas to a powerful expression of faith. We remember how early Christians went to their deaths in the arena singing hymns of praise, and this moved people to want to know more about Christianity. Being able to endure suffering, hardship, even mistreatment without becoming mean and bitter makes a statement. In Mark 16:18 when Jesus is talking about believers handling serpents and drinking deadly things without harm, He’s not encouraging us to play with reptiles or drink

poison. He is saying His followers can face the evil in this world without being defeated, without becoming evil. Victor Frankl, in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” spoke about how he had seen many people who had suffered terribly and became kinder and more generous, while others who suffered relatively less became hard and mean. He suggested the difference had to do with the meaning people found in there suffering. The ultimate meaning of our suffering can be found in taking up our cross and walking with Jesus for the sake of the Kingdom.

“Now I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church (Colossians 1:24).” Dawn Eden’s book “Remembering God’s Mercy” talks about healing the wounds of our hearts from a Catholic perspective.

For all of this to happen, of course, the first step is to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. It is His work in our lives that transforms our minds, our hearts, and our lives. If people notice that

difference in us, that may lead them to the Gospel.

Alleluia!

Blessings,

Fr. Jim