NOT JUST ABOUT BEING "GOOD," BUT ALSO BEING "GOOD AT IT"

 

Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,

as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:1-10

Today, we hear that familiar passage where Jesus compares sheep herding to spiritual leadership. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, God is often pictured as a shepherd and the people as his flock. Here Jesus refers to a sheepfold and its door.

At night, Palestinian shepherds co-mingled their flocks of sheep into a walled enclosure for protection. It was called a sheepfold. A sheepfold had only one door for entry in and out. In the mornings, shepherds would take turns calling their sheep and they would separate into different flocks behind their own shepherd. They would follow their own shepherd just by hearing his voice because they had spent so much time with him and he knew them each by name. They would not follow a strange voice.  Jesus compares himself to a “good” shepherd who knows his sheep by name, knows where the grass and water is located, has the skill to keep the flock safe from wandering off and knows how to protect the sheep from wolves and from thieves.

This idea is confirmed in Jesus’ teaching on “the Good Shepherd.” In that Greek text, there are at least two possible words for “good,” agathos and kalos. Agathos means “good” as in “morally good,” while kalos means “good”  as in “good at” or “effective at” something. The “Good Shepherd,” in the gospel” is said to be kalos, “good at shepherding.”

When it comes to spiritual leadership, Jesus implies in this teaching that personal holiness and goodwill alone in a designated spiritual leader are not enough. A designated spiritual leader must also be effective if he or she is to be a real spiritual leader.  In other words, today’s “good shepherds,” must not only be personally holy, they must be personally effective in their leadership roles. They must not only appreciate and value green grass and flowing water, and have their own supply of it, they must be able to seek and find it for others and be able to lead their flocks to it!

Back when I was teaching soon-to-be priests about "spiritual leadership," I realized that there were no Catholic text books readily available to use in class, so I decided to write one. It is called "The Spiritual Leadership of a Parish Priest: On Being Good and Good at It." Using this gospel, the main point of the book is that one's own personal piety is not enough for being a pastor. One needs to be "good at" leading others to holiness. I am still selling a few copies on Amazon Books. 

I was watching TV one night when it dawned on me that there are at least two very different ways to herd sheep - the Palestinian way and the Australian way. The Palestinian way, as we see in today’s gospel, is to walk in front of the sheep, gently calling them with a convincing voice, while the sheep willingly follow the shepherd to where they need to go. The Australian way is to bark and snap from behind like sheep dogs, chasing and intimidating the sheep into going where they need to go. Good shepherds lead their flocks by invitation. Sheepdogs lead their flocks by intimidation. 

It is no surprise to me, that in a time when we are losing more and more credibility as spiritual leaders, the barking and snapping style of leadership seems to be growing louder and louder and gaining more popularity, especially among those newest to spiritual leadership. I heard this from a woman just last week who complained about her young pastor always preaching about sin and damnation! Whenever we cannot influence people, with convincing voices that our people want to follow in the style of the Good Shepherd, we end up becoming barking sheepdogs. Sheepdogs may be able to drive some sheep into the pen, but more and more will, no doubt, run away from us or simply become more irritated by our barking and snapping, as was that woman who complained about her young pastor's spiritual leadership style.

I define “spiritual leadership” as the ability to influence people to move from where they are to where God wants them to be through invitation, persuasion and example.  The focus of “spiritual leadership” is on an internal movement to deeper discipleship. A good pastor must certainly be “good at” that! Along with “spiritual leadership” abilities, a good pastor must be “good at” “pastoral leadership”- the skillful use of the Church’s external rites, rituals and rules, as well as the ability to coordinate the charisms within the community.

Spiritual leadership, the ability to influence people to move where they are to where God wants them to be, is critical today. Surely, there is no doubt that organized religion has lost its ability to impose unquestioned rules of behavior on our people and that one of the most pressing needs facing Catholicism today is the quality of its priestly leadership. No amount of ranting and raving about how we ought to be listened to will change this situation. We simply must get better at our ability to influence and persuade instead of blaming the sheep for their lack of faith and the culture for its secularism and moral relativism. Nor can we merely create good tools (write new editions of the rule books), we must be able to use those tools effectively to influence people to want to follow those rules.

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH CHAT #25

 

CHANGE: A BASIC TRUTH WE WOULD BE WISE TO ACCEPT

Heraclitus (500 BC), the ancient Greek philosopher, once famously proclaimed, "There is nothing permanent except change." This cryptic statement holds profound meaning and immense importance in our lives and the world we inhabit. Simply put, Heraclitus suggests that change is the only constant in existence, alluding to the ever-evolving nature of the universe and every aspect within it. This perspective not only challenges our perception of stability but also encourages us to embrace change rather than resist it.

In our daily lives, we often find ourselves seeking permanence and stability, yearning for certainty and security. Yet, Heraclitus reminds us that such desires may be futile. The world we live in is in a perpetual state of transformation - from the changing of seasons to the growth and decay of life itself. Everything we encounter, from the natural world to our personal experiences, is subject to change.

Understanding the impermanence of things can be both liberating and humbling. It offers a fresh perspective, allowing us to let go of our attachment to material possessions and external circumstances that we often believe define our happiness. Recognizing the transitory nature of life teaches us to find joy and meaning within ourselves, rather than relying on external factors that are subject to change.

However, delving deeper into Heraclitus' quote reveals an unexpected philosophical concept that adds richness and intrigue to the discussion. This concept is the existence of a universal pattern amidst the ever-changing chaos.

The ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang beautifully illustrates this idea. Yin and Yang symbolize the duality of life, representing opposing but interconnected forces that exist in harmony and constant motion. Yin represents the receptive, feminine, and stable aspects, while Yang embodies the active, masculine, and transformative qualities. Together, they create a harmonious balance within the world, emphasizing the cyclical and interconnected nature of existence. When we contemplate the notion of change through the lens of Yin and Yang, we begin to appreciate that there is both permanence and impermanence within the larger context of the whole.

While individual aspects may change, the underlying pattern remains constant. This understanding provides a sense of comfort amidst the chaos and fosters a broader perspective, allowing us to embrace change while finding stability within the broader universal order. By grasping the concept of Yin and Yang, we can better navigate the ups and downs of life.

Understanding that change is an integral part of our existence, and that there is an underlying harmony within the chaos, empowers us to approach change with curiosity and openness. We can learn to adapt, grow, and expand our horizons with the knowledge that change is not something to be feared but embraced as an opportunity for personal and collective evolution.

In conclusion, Heraclitus' quote, "There is nothing permanent except change," serves as a profound reminder that everything in life is subject to constant transformation. While this truth can be unsettling, it also provides an incredible opportunity for growth and transformation.

Furthermore, when paired with the philosophical concept of Yin and Yang, we glimpse the underlying order within the chaos, allowing us to find stability and meaning in the ever-changing landscape of our lives. Embracing change becomes an invitation to explore our infinite potential and to participate fully in the dance of existence. So let us embrace change, with open hearts and minds, and embark on a journey of continual transformation and discovery.

IS OUR MORAL COLLAPSE IN FREE FALL?

OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH

The battle against heart disease, stroke and diabetes — three of the world’s leading causes of death — may be won or lost on your grocery list.

Unhealthy eating habits stand out as a lifestyle factor that increases the risk of death associated with these chronic diseases, researchers say. Numerous studies draw a clear line between what’s on your plate and mortality.

For instance: More than two-thirds of heart disease-related deaths worldwide can be linked to food choices, according to a study published last year. The authors estimated that 6 million deaths could have been avoided through better diets.

Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of stroke by 80%, according to a study published in 2019. Diet was identified as the leading factor, earning a designation as the “worst of the health issues in the United States.”

Poor dietary habits contributed to almost half of the more than 700,000 deaths reviewed as part of a study published in 2017. The deaths were caused by heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Each study illustrates the profound impact that food choices can have on your physical health.

OUR EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH

What worries me even more is the profound impact that most of us now "take in" on a daily basis has on our mental and spiritual health. Our intake of "junk food" may be killing us physically, but I believe that our intake of visual, audible and electronic "junk food" may be killing us emotionally, relationally and spiritually even more so!

I recently started a list of violent movies that are being advertised. I was shocked at how many are available just in the last two or three years: Killer Nannies, Faces of Death, Ready Or Not, Here I Come, Daredevil, They Will Kill You, Psycho Killer, Scream 7, Euphoria, The Mummy, Blink Twice, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Abigail, Deadpool and Wolverine, The Substances, Monkey Man, In a Violent Nature, Kill and Terrifier 3 to name just a few!

To movies, I would add the popularity of vicious cage fighting, online gambling, road rage, running redlights, defacing public buildings, vandalism in general, internet gossiping, presidential revenge through the DOJ and the general meanness and reputation ruining even from congressional members toward their counterparts that we hear about every hour, all day, every day on the news!

Taking in this much violence, revenge and law-breaking has a terrible corrosive effect even on good people. We call this corrosive effect on people, "normalization." The normalization of violence easily leads to more violence. The normalization of infidelity easily leads to more infidelity. The normalization of petty-theft easily leads to scamming, embezzlement and even robbery. The normalization of revenge easily leads to more revenge. The normalization of verbal abuse easily leads to physical abuse. The normalization of lawlessness easily leads to more lawlessness.

Unchecked, these behaviors lead to the collapse of culture and a pathetic "dog-eat-dog" world. The expression "dog eat dog" does not refer to canine cannibalism, but to an intensely competitive situation: one in which people are willing to hurt each other in order to gain an advantage or win an argument. In such a world, what took hundreds of years to build can unwind in a very short time. What was unwound (one person at a time deciding to give into what everyone else is doing) can only be rewound by one person at a time deciding to resist this popular trend.

When our country is in a moral free-fall collapse, there is no "quick fix." The only way out is back - one person at a time saying "Hell no! Not me! I will deliberately choose not be part of this trend! I will speak out against it every chance I get! I will resist it with all my might! I will vote against it in every election! I will act differently, even if I am the last person on earth to do so!" We got in this mess "one person at a time" and we can only get out of this mess "one person at a time!"

CHOOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THE CROWD

CHOOSE TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY

CHOOSE TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

NO MATTER WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING

EVEN IF YOU ARE THE LAST ONE STANDING

FROM DASHED HOPES TO EYES OPENED!

That very day, two disciples of Jesus were walking to a village called Emmaus. Looking downcast, they said, “We were hoping that Jesus would be the one  to redeem Israel, but he was handed over to death and was crucified.

Luke 24

This gospel story, by the way, is the gospel story that was read at my "First Mass." Fifty-six years later, it still speaks to me in a very powerful way. It still reminds me that things are not always as bad as they may appear on the surface. In fact, today's gospel is yet another version of the "empty tomb" story we read on Easter Sunday - another example of a great big breakdown preceding a great big breakthrough. 

In this story, it is Sunday evening and two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem. With eyes cast down, they are dragging their feet in a depression toward a small town called Emmaus. Some commentators believe they may have been a married couple – the disciples Cleophas and his unnamed wife.  Jesus had died a humiliating death just three days ago. Earlier that very morning, some women had returned from the tomb, claiming that the tomb was empty and that they had seen some angels who had told them that Jesus was alive! Obviously, these two either had not heard the "good news" about Jesus' resurrection or had dismissed such reports as just the wishful thinking of his distraught women friends.

“We had hoped,” they told the mysterious stranger. “We had hoped that Jesus was going to be the Messiah, but obviously we were duped. It did not pan out as we were expecting. We were hoping and now we have no hope. We just had to get away from the whole scene. We are disappointed. We were badly misled. We are angry. We don’t have any idea what to do next, but we certainly not going to be taken in again by this latest bit of crazy news. “Hurt me once, shame on you. Hurt me twice, shame on me.”

This story symbolizes all people who have had their hopes blown away. Just as our church has been doing for the last several years, these two demoralized disciples pour out their despair, their anger, their sadness and their resentment. This mysterious stranger listens and then begins to review the scriptures, reminding them that God has always intervened to save his people when they hit bottom.

As they walk along, Jesus goes over story after story from the scriptures and shows them how God had always come to their rescue and could even overcome the death of their master. As these two demoralized disciples listened, Jesus made his case. The fire in their hearts that had all but died out, was fanned into flame again. Little by little, their eyes were opened by the explanation of Scripture and in the breaking of the bread. They came to understand that this stranger was indeed Jesus himself! Having left the gathered disciples back in Jerusalem a few hours earlier, they rushed back to rejoin the faith community who had their own stories of restored hope to share.

We, as a church, in many ways are still in a depression, especially after a sexual abuse scandal, a shortage of priests and now more parish closings. We are still sharing our anger, resentment and sadness at all that has happened to us in the last few years. This Easter, in the midst of all these dashed hopes, we 21st century disciples gather again to share the scriptures and break the bread, hoping that we will recognize the presence of Jesus and have our faith renewed and our hope restored. Renewed by this Easter faith, maybe some of those who have left our faith community will, like these two disciples, someday soon get up and come back to rejoin our faith community again. When they do, they may be surprised to find out that more than 150,000 new members a year have joined us each Easter across the country through baptism and profession of faith.

One of my favorite ways to explain the message of Easter is an image I discovered many years ago.  In that image, the church is pictured as a gigantic egg. We woke up a few years ago to realize that this egg was covered with fine cracks. Each year the cracks have seemed to get bigger and bigger. Some people have simply walked away from it as they would a hopeless case. Others have been hysterically running around with ropes and tape and ladders trying to glue it all back together.

Having raised chickens as a child, I know that there is a response that we need to make! We can stand back and let it hatch! The cracking egg shell is not a sign of death, but a sign of new a chick being born!  I know from experience that the dumbest thing you can do is to tape it shut!  Easter reminds us that the church is not falling apart, but giving birth. The church is not dying, it is being reborn and renewed. Breakdown is a sign of an imminent breakthrough. There is no rebirth and renewal without pain. 

The Easter message is both simple and profound: in the long run, no matter what you are facing (cancer, addiction, divorce or even the loss of a loved one), there is absolutely no reason to lose hope when one puts one's trust in the man who conquered even death to rise again! He promised us, in the process, that good will ultimately triumph over evil when all is said and done!  

I will end by quoting the words of one of those old gospel songs I heard a few years ago, entitled “Joy Comes in the Morning”

If you’ve knelt beside the rubble of an aching broken heart,

When the things you gave your life to fell apart,

You’re not the first to be acquainted with sorrow, grief or pain,

But the Master promised sunshine after rain.

Hold on my child! Hold on my child!

Weeping only lasts for the night.

Hold on my child! Hold on my child!

The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight!

Yes, it is true, it is darkest right before the dawn, the old eggshell has to crack and fall apart before new life can come out, there is always a great breakdown before a great breakthrough and there is no resurrection without a death!  That's why real Christians never give up! No matter what happens! They never give up....and neither should you!         

 

                          

                                 

 

CHURCH CHAT #24

 

MOTHER GOOSE: EPITOME OF PATIENCE NO MATTER THE WEATHER

 

Right below my downstairs deck on my condo, a mother goose has built a nest. When I first noticed her and her nest, he had three eggs. She now has seven eggs. I can only count them when she stands up to turn around. She sits on her nest day and night, rain or shine, keeping her eggs warm in hopes of seeing them hatch someday soon. She never seems to leave her nest, even to eat, but only to turn around and peck at her own chest. I read up on that peculiar habit only to find out that she does that to help "feather her nest."

The other day, I threw a piece of bread out on the water to see if she would get up and go eat it. She didn't move from her nest. A day or two later, my compassion for her was reaching a breaking point. I took another piece of stale bread, softened it in the microwave, and let it cool. I threw it toward her. It landed, a little out of reach for her, so she didn't leave her nest. I walked toward her and picked up the piece of bread. This caused her to stand and hiss at me as a warning to stay away. This time, I threw the bread to her and it landed within her reach from the nest. That did the trick! She started to peck at it, and because it was soft, she was able to break off and swallow small bits of the bread slice without leaving her eggs to the mercy of a predator. Since her nest is so near to the water, I hope she can take a break to ger a drink!

Compassion will cause you to do things that may not be for your own good! With a pond overrun with geese already, the last thing we need is seven more geese...and there may be more nests! Stay tuned to this blog. I may have a bunch of goslings swimming around with her in a few days! They are so cute when they are babies, but not so cute when they grow up and leave their poop all over the grass!   

THE PRESENT ATTEMPT TO HIGHJACK CHRISTIANITY

JESUS SAID THIS

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 Luke 6:27-36

PETE HEGSETH SAID THIS

March 25, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have “every round find its mark” (meaning 'every bullet will kill its victim)." He read a prayer that he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Maduro of Venezuela. “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.” Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might. “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed,” he read from the Psalms on Wednesday. During the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, Hegseth's Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny including his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars that pitted Christians against Muslims. 

I SAY THIS

As William Shakespeare said, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose." In this case, I want nothing to do with their twisted ideology of "Christian Nationalism." There is no way they will ever rob me of my Christian identity and inspire me to adopt that version of it! 

I said this on the 5th Sunday of Lent 2026. "One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a priest is to convince people of God’s unconditional love for them. Why is it that so many of us have been trained by people who have dismissed these intimate stories of God’s love and have combed through the Scriptures, piecing together condemning, judging, and damning messages that they turn into a religion? Why did they, and why do some of us, find those negative messages more believable? I have received more letters questioning my “too lenient notions of God’s love” than any other critical letters since I became a priest. I am proud of my position on this! Jesus revealed the “true God,” not this “false mean god” that some people have created since Adam and Eve. Even in that story, God says to Adam and Eve, “Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11). In other words, “Who told you that you were bad, separated from me, and defective? I certainly didn’t!” Jesus came to talk us out of that mean vindictive God some keep creating in their own minds. I can’t imagine trying to live my religion without being in love with God! I can’t imagine practicing a religion based on fear, dread and the validation of the use of hatred and violence!"

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES THIS

in the Documents of Vatican Council II

JEWS

As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock.

Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.

The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: "theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.

Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.

True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ; still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.

Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.

PROTESTANTS

Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly condemned. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. The differences that exist in varying degrees between them and the Catholic Church - whether in doctrine and sometimes in discipline, or concerning the structure of the Church - do indeed create many obstacles, sometimes serious ones, to full ecclesiastical communion. The ecumenical movement is striving to overcome these obstacles. But even in spite of them it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.

All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials. But let all, according to the gifts they have received enjoy a proper freedom, in their various forms of spiritual life and discipline, in their different liturgical rites, and even in their theological elaborations of revealed truth. In all things let charity prevail. If they are true to this course of action, they will be giving ever better expression to the authentic catholicity and apostolicity of the Church.

On the other hand, Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments from our common heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise.

Nor should we forget that anything wrought by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our separated brethren can be a help to our own edification. Whatever is truly Christian is never contrary to what genuinely belongs to the faith; indeed, it can always bring a deeper realization of the mystery of Christ and the Church.

      

OTHER RELIGIONS

From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense.

In Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust. Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination.

Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites.

The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.

The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.

The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CHURCH? NO NEED, INDEED!

 

The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

Acts 2:42-47

Hardly an Easter goes by that I don’t remember family “picture taking” from childhood, especially on Easter Sunday morning when we were all decked out in our finest new “Easter clothes.” Back then we got new clothes twice a year – when school started and Easter – so it was a big deal.

In those days, people would never think of going to church without being all dressed up. Most women wore hats and gloves and carried purses. Most men wore coats and ties. Boys wore ironed shirts, shiny shoes and even ties sometime. Girls wore dresses and hats and carried purses.

On Easter, however, we went all out. There are innumerable photos in our family album to prove it. I especially remember my brother and I all lined up, with and without our Easter baskets, looking very frozen in uncomfortable shoes, bow ties and slickly combed hair. It seemed that we took turns taking pictures of each other – often Mom and the girls in one picture and Dad and the boys in another. We were always smiling, even if it looked forced sometimes. Our clothes were always pressed with an iron. Our hair was always combed. We always stood there smiling into a blazing sun and trying to look our very best.

It is what the pictures didn’t show that is worth mentioning today. We have no shots of the screaming, yelling and name-calling that went into getting ready. We have no shots of my Dad in one of his rages. We had no shots of my mother, looking haggard and worn, late at night, ironing all those clothes by hand for six kids, herself and my Dad, who never did learn how to take care of his own clothes. We have no shots of any of the pain and struggles that we went through as a family back then. If you just look at our Easter snapshots, you would think we were the Walton’s on “crack!” Snapshots never tell the whole story! They are only “snapshots” – moments in time!

The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

Such in the case today with today's first reading! It is one snapshot of the church during its infancy. If you read only that passage, by itself, you would have to conclude that the church has "gone to hell in a hand basket" since then! In reality, it is like the “Easter pictures” of my childhood. It only tells part of the truth.

In the beginning, the church did have some days when its members seemed to be “of one heart and one mind,” some days when “many signs and wonders were done,” and some days when “they enjoyed the favor of all the people.” If we just read this one reading and looked around the church today, we would have to conclude that the church’s original luster and beauty has indeed faded. However, if you continued to read on in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, you would start reading what Paul Harvey called “the rest of the story” and the “rest of the story” would sound very much like the church today.

Thank God that "the rest of the story" stories are included in the Scriptures. It helps us not to idealize the church in its beginnings and be discouraged by its weaknesses today.

In today's gospel, we read about the doubt of Thomas who refused to believe until he saw and touched Jesus' wounds personally. We read about a bunch of people walking away from Jesus because they could not believe his teaching on being the "bread of life." We read about some of Jesus' family who showed up while he was preaching to take him home because they thought he was "out of his mind." We read about James and John, the "climbers," who made a move behind the other apostles' back to get the best positions in Jesus' new kingdom. Then there is the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter and the total abandonment by all the apostles at the crucifixion except John and some women.

                             The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

If we kept reading on past the Acts of the Apostles reading today, we would quickly read about Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, who made a pledge to give the proceeds of the sale of some of their property to the church. Later, with his wife knowledge, they held back part of the pledge and even lied about it. Caught in the lie, they both dropped dead. If we kept reading, we would read about the future Saint Paul hunting down Christians and having them killed and even holding the coats of those who stoned St. Stephen to death. If we kept reading, we would read about Paul and Barnabas having such a falling out that they could not work together and having to go their separate ways. If we kept reading, we would read about Peter acting one way around Jewish believers and another way around Gentile believers, resulting in his being called “two-faced” by Paul. If we kept reading, we would hear about Greek and Jewish widows arguing over their fair share and apostles with “too much to do.”

The community of believers was of one heart and mind.

There are many beautiful snapshots of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles, but they are balanced by some snapshots of the ugly side of the early church as well. Just as Jesus was fully human and fully divine at the same time, his body, the church, may be of divine origin, but it is also full of real human beings and human weaknesses! In spite of this, Jesus has promised to be with the church till the end of time and has promised that even the power of hell shall not prevail against it. Therefore, hang in there and hang on! If the church was supposed to be perfect, we would never have been invited to join - and, with us in it, it would no longer be perfect!

CHURCH CHAT #23

I'M NOT MUCH OF A DRINKER, BUT WHEN I DO DRINK...

....WE ENGLISH AGREE 

SETTLING THE UNSETTLED & UNSETTLING THE SETTLED

 

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free” is from the Gospel of John 8:32. “The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable” is often credited to U.S. President John A. Garfield (1831-1881), but he never said it. Others credit  Mark Twain (1835-1910). Still others credit Gestalt therapist Barry Stevens (1902-1985) in 1977.

Prophets are sometimes presented to us as people able to predict the future. In fact, they are more known for telling the truth to people who do not want to hear it, which is why they are often killed. Truth demands change, so it is often assiduously avoided by people who are quite satisfied with the status quo.

The Truth Will Set You Free - The Truth Can Settle the Unsettled

This part of the quote highlights the power of truth to liberate us. When we face the truth—whether about ourselves, others or situations—we are no longer trapped by lies, denial, or confusion. Truth can free us from self-deception, guilt, fear, or even toxic situations. It allows for personal growth and healing, which ultimately leads to freedom. Think of it as the freedom that comes from no longer hiding from reality. It’s empowering and brings clarity.

But First It Will Make You Miserable - The Truth Can Unsettle the Settled

The second part of the quote acknowledges that facing the truth can be incredibly painful at first. Because it demands change, it is not gentle and and thereby destabilizes the establishment and its institutions. It may force us to confront uncomfortable realities about ourselves or the world around us. For example, we may have to face mistakes we’ve made, the consequences of our actions, or difficult situations that we’ve been avoiding. The “misery” comes from the emotional discomfort of confronting these hard truths. It may involve feelings of regret, guilt, sadness, or disappointment.

However, this initial discomfort is seen as a necessary part of the process. In order to move forward and be truly free, we must go through the difficult experience of acknowledging what is true, no matter how painful it may be.

In essence, The quote speaks to the paradox of truth. While the truth is ultimately a source of liberation, it often requires us to go through discomfort, challenge, or hardship before we can fully embrace it. The “miserable” phase is temporary, and once we have processed the truth, we can experience emotional freedom and growth. It’s an empowering reminder that facing difficult truths is essential for long-term healing and freedom, even though the journey may be tough at first.

 

A BREAKDOWN BEFORE A BREAKTHROUGH

 

They have taken the Lord from the tomb and

we don’t know where they put him.

John 20:9

Obviously, none of Jesus’ friends expected him to rise from the dead. In fact, they all assumed the grave had been robbed and the body had been snatched. Once the news gets out that the body was missing, everybody in today’s gospel runs around like chickens with their heads cut off! The word “ran” is used three times in this one story. It sounds like a typical Easter Sunday morning at our small house when I was growing up in a family of eight - chaos as far as the eye could see! If you are here with a bunch of kids you got ready for church today, you know what I mean! 

Mary Magdalen got there first, not because she expected Jesus to rise and wanted to be there when it happened, but because she wanted to do what was traditional to do after the burial of a loved one. It was customary to visit the tomb of loved ones for three days after the body had been laid to rest. It was believed that for three days the spirit of the dead person hovered around the tomb, but then it departed because the body had become unrecognizable through decay in that hot climate. 

Jesus had died on Friday. By religious law, Mary Magdalen would not have been allowed to travel on Saturday, the Sabbath. That meant she had to wait till Sunday morning before she could make her first visit. She couldn’t wait till the sun came up so she got there before dawn. When she arrived at the tomb, she was shocked to find that the stone had been rolled back and the body was missing! She concluded that the grave had been robbed so she ran back to town and got Peter and John out of bed. All three ran back to the tomb together. John, being younger, outran Peter and got there first, with Peter soon following out of breath.  Before Mary Magdalen could catch up with them on her way back to the empty tomb, Peter and John ran past her on their way back to town to tell the others.

One by one, his disciples began to believe that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead, beginning with John and ending with Thomas. From their mouths to others’ ears, from their mouths to others’ ears, from their mouths to others’ ears, this story has been passed down to us some 2,000 years later and here we are gathered today to celebrate what we have just heard in St. John's account of the resurrection!

Yes, this is the Easter story, but what does it mean and what does it have to do with us?

The point of Easter is not simply that life is sometimes troubling and difficult but that, by its very design, it needs to be troubling and difficult. This is because it is not ease but affliction that enables us to develop our very best. Those who grow the most are simply the ones who have weathered the most, endured the most, and struggled the most. Because such trials have been borne in the right spirit, they have been strengthened, enriched, and deepened the most by it. Think about any of the heroes and heroines of the faith, and one will always identify persons for whom hardship, sacrifice, and pain are no strangers. All breakthroughs are usually proceeded by a big breakdown. No pain, no gain! No cross, no crown! 

In short, we must view this death and resurrection not merely as just another historical event from the distant past, but as a life-giving way of living today. We are not here today to celebrate this death and resurrection as an event that just happened once in history, but death and resurrection as a way of living our lives today.

People in recovery programs understand death and resurrection as a way of life. People who have unilaterally forgiven their enemies understand death and resurrection as a way of life. Parents who have had to let go of their children and see them thrive, understand death and resurrection as a way of life. Anybody who has lost a job, only to find a better one understands death and resurrection as a way of life. Anyone who has lost a spouse, only to find another chance at love, understands death and resurrection as a way of life.

This Easter is special to me personally. Several times in the last 56 years of priesthood, I have gone from one of the worst years of priesthood to one of the best. The year I retired, I was in the pits. I knew I was in the pits, but I also knew in my guts that, if I would just hang in there, things would get better – and they did, in spades! It has happened at least three times just since I retired. For me, my breakdowns have always preceded the beginning of yet another amazing breakthrough! I am not that special! Whatever breakdown you are going through right now, with an Easter faith, could be a breakthrough for you as well! You can bet on it!

I always remember that engineer in Switzerland who designed a great tunnel between Switzerland and Austria. I have told the story often because it is so appropriate for today. He proposed they dig from both ends and meet in the middle, a risky method. When the day came when diggers were supposed to meet but didn’t, he killed himself thinking that he had made a great mistake. On the very day of his funeral, the workers broke through and the connection was perfect! He gave up one day too soon! An “Easter faith” means that you don’t give up, no matter how hopeless things seem to be at the moment.

In a nutshell, we are here to celebrate a way-of-living, not just an historic event! By embracing difficulty, we can overcome it. After a lifetime of embracing difficulties and overcoming them, we can finally embrace our own deaths knowing that there is eternal life on the other side of that!  Just as Jesus was raised, we who believe in him will also be raised - to live with him and each other forever!