Happy Easter!

During this time of COVID-19 I’ve heard people say both how unfortunate and difficult of a time this is, and how many blessings are hidden within it.  While I agree with both (and I most certainly see God’s hand at work in my life, in our Church, and in our world in the midst of the difficulties) there is an easy mistake to fall into while trying to make sense of it all.  The mistake is to look at the blessings and the good coming out of it and say, “God did this so that…(list your blessing or good thing).”  The problem is that if we say that God did this in order to bring about good things, then we also have to say that it’s His fault that bad things and struggles are happening in so many lives – we inadvertently, but very quickly, turn God into a monster.

The appalling message of Easter, of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, is that God can bring good out of ANY situation.  Not that He wants bad things to happen, not that He wanted His son to be rejected, tortured, and murdered, but out of anything – whether good, neutral, bad, or downright horrific – God is able to bring good.  God’s goodness is unstoppable!  Not even death can slow Him down!  Christ is Risen!  Alleluia, alleluia!

I will be Live Streaming Easter Mass this morning at 9:00am, go to the St. Joseph website (www.stjoseph-hayward.org) or our Facebook Page (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hayward WI) to watch the Live Stream.  The video will then be available as a recording on both platforms afterwards.  May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you all on this Easter Day!

Palm Sunday

“Holy” literally means “different.”  As we enter into this year’s Holy Week we are certainly experiencing a very “different” time in our country and world.  I would propose, however, that this time of COVID-19 can actually assist us in entering more deeply into this Holy Week, more deeply into the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, than we ever have before!

Note: I will be live streaming Easter morning Mass from St. Joseph at 9:00am on Sunday, April 12!  Please visit the parish website www.stjoseph-hayward.org to view live or watch the recording.

Epiphany

Today three wise men/three kings/three magi arrive at the place where Jesus was born after following the sign of a star.  The presence of these three non-Jewish kings shows that God is calling not only the Jewish people but ALL people of the world to believe in and follow His Son Jesus.  God’s sign was a star; everyone can see the stars.  So why is it only these three wise men who followed that star?  Was everyone else just too busy?  Were they so caught up in life that they didn’t even notice the sign?  We encounter three different kinds of people in the Gospel today: those who don’t notice the sign, those who notice the sign but don’t follow it, and those who notice the sign AND follow it.  This week: What are the signs God is placing in your life (what are the stars)? And when you see a sign, do you follow it?

Merry Christmas!

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

3rd Sunday of Advent

This weekend we encounter a powerful New Testament figure, John the Baptist, in a difficult and dark time – literally and figuratively.  John has been imprisoned, he probably knows he is not getting out anytime soon, and he (who proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God and prepared for Jesus’ coming by his preaching and teaching) is now questioning whether or not Jesus is the promised one of God.  We can all take two important lessons away from John’s experience, lessons useful for our everyday life of prayer, but especially in our own times of darkness: 1) John is honest with his doubts 2) John lays his doubts at the feet of Jesus.  When we are raw with our thoughts and emotions, when we lay them at the feet of our Lord without any filter, then we finally give God permission to enter into the most important areas of our life.  Try it (I dare you) and God will bring great things out of it!

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The most encouraging, effective and result producing words kids can hear from their parents are: “I love you; I’m proud of you.”  In our Gospel today Jesus shares three parables, all portraying the illogical, unreasonable, over-the-top love that the Father has for each one of us.  No matter what we’ve done, no matter how far we’ve wandered away, the Father never stops seeking us out.  And when we finally let ourselves be found, He says to us, “I love you; I’m proud of you!”  Jesus heard His Father say those words to Him; can we hear our Father say those words to us?

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

It’s proven that generosity makes for a happier person; generosity springs from gratitude – to the degree that we’re thankful for the gifts we’ve been given in life, we have a desire to share these gifts with others.  Thankfulness and generosity, though, are two virtues that you will not be challenged to grow in by popular culture, but they are two virtues at the heart of what it means to be Christian – the more thankful and generous we are, the more we become like our Maker!

This weekend is the kickoff for our annual diocesan Catholic Services Appeal (CSA).  The CSA provides so many incredible opportunities to spread the faith of Jesus Christ in northwestern Wisconsin – for our seminarians, for our youth, for our schools, for our parishes – opportunities that I witness and see the fruits of firsthand!  I’m challenging you this year to stretch yourself in thankfulness and generosity (in all senses of those words) and I challenge you particularly this week to think what you might be able to sacrifice monetarily to support the CSA for your parish this coming year.

Palm Sunday

This week we are invited to walk with Jesus through the last days of His life on this earth – through his celebration of the Last Supper, his suffering and death, and finally his Resurrection!  “Holy” means “different” and “set apart”.  How will you make this week “different” and “set apart” from every other week of your life?  How will you make this, for you, a truly “Holy” Week?

Ash Wednesday

The day you’re a little more self-conscious (if you went to Church in the morning).  The day people look at you funny, wondering why your forehead is dirty but probably not willing to say anything to you about it.  The day you find out which of your co-workers are Catholic.  The ashes placed on the foreheads of millions of Christians throughout the world this day proclaim three things: we belong to God, we are totally dependent on God, and we have decided today to take concrete steps during these next 40 days to turn back to the Lord!

This weekend I will be taking a prospective seminarian down to
St Francis Seminary in Milwaukee on a weekend visit (so I will not have a homily to post).  Please say a prayer for our safe travels and that this young man might hear God’s voice clearly this weekend, know what step to take next in life, and have the courage to take it-wherever that step might lead.