Father Bill says...for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The past week was dominated by a funeral on Friday – a funeral of a twenty-eight year old man – husband – father of three children – the particular situation was all the more complicated by the fact that this man turned up missing for several weeks. Such a trying situation for his young wife and her parents – as well as his parents. As I planned the funeral Mass – I realized very quickly that the last thing anyone needed at this funeral was a long drawn out homily. I also came to understand that our Catholic liturgical prayers for a funeral said everything that had to be said – and at the same time, they were deeply personal – they made clear God’s love for all – God’s compassionate love for the man’s family – and for him.

This week was filled with graduations around here. We had the eighth grade graduation from our school, St. Mary’s School, on Tuesday – another group of young people ready to go off to high school – and this weekend there will be high school graduations from the two high school in our parish – I time of prayer for this batch of young men and women that they may make a difference in this world – however, for me, the most fun was the Kindergarten graduation on Monday night – such a joy – to see how much these little ones have grown up during this year – and also to experience their enthusiasm and joy. So thank you, God, for all of these graduates – give them your spirit and love that they may move along in life with success and enthusiasm.

Now – this Sunday’s Gospel – the Gospel of Mark for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – the story of two healings of Jesus – a woman who has suffered for twelve years with a problem that doctors cannot solve – but now with faith in Jesus – she pushes forward – touches the hem of his cloak – and is healed. And then the lovely story of Jairus’ daughter – the Synagogue official who seeks help from Jesus – many of the religious leaders of that day rejected Jesus – Jairus did not – he seeks Jesus’ help for his daughter who is dying (curiously, she is twelve years old) – Jesus willingly goes off with him to his home – on the way some from Jairus’ household comes to tell him she has died – Jesus tells him not to fear – to have faith – they continue to the home – and Jesus raises up the girl.

These Gospel stories are about faith – and health – I discovered some interesting ideas about our attitude toward illness as Christians and followers of Jesus – who healed so many. Our Gospel encourages us to have the same strength of faith as Jairus and the woman in the Gospel story. I have told you before about the psychological story that contends that those who have people praying for them do better during surgery – certainly, it gives a person support and hope to know so many are praying for them – and for those of us with faith we do believe in God help. A patient with no faith has a real disadvantage – real sufferings – the suffering of the disease, the suffering that this sickness seems so meaningless – the suffering that life seems to have been suspended. The illness becomes something to be endured rather than lived – they are living in the future rather than the present.

A patient with faith – continues to live as intensely as before and even more so. Sickness can be a valuable experience – a time to discover more about ourselves and about God also. The example I immediately think of is St. Ignatius Loyola – who was converted to a deeper spirituality, who discovered his vocation to the priesthood – and developed his decision to form a religious order – the Jesuit order – the Society of Jesus – all of this while he was recovering in a hospital from wounds suffered in battle.

The sick must be helped to realize how their illness fits in the larger context of their lives – it is not an unfortunate episode in life – but an intrinsic part of it – that this moment has the potential to enrich life. Patients must be helped to tap into their spiritual resources at the time of crisis – spirituality can thrive in a hospital – patients are vulnerable – and yet this can be a time when their spirituality grows and enriches their lives.

God’s love can be experienced – even in suffering – God’s presence does not necessarily take away suffering – but gives the power to transform it. We need God to help us – so that our souls are not reduces to just passively suffering. From our illnesses we can discover a new understanding of who we are.

A painful experience causes us to reflect on our lives – and teaches us to be compassionate towards other sufferings – compassion is not learned without suffering.

The compassion of Jesus – not bending down towards the underprivileged – not a gesture of sympathy or pity – a compassion learned through his own misery, anxiety, loneliness, pain and suffering – God’s unconditional love becomes a compassionate love.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – turn to me with your love and healing grace – show me the way to bring your compassionate love to those who are suffering – may we all see in our sufferings a way to your love and life. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we join together in saying the Lord’s Prayer.

Be sure to check out our parish website – http://www.smsh.org/

Father Bill says...for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

for: the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time


This morning I am preparing for a wedding this afternoon – an old fashioned June wedding – these are two young people that I knew when they were in high school – they are both doing very well – the whole scene has been so enjoyable – because they were not local they did their marriage preparation on the internet – a program from Colorado – and they were very faithful to the whole process – and last night the rehearsal was excellent also. Sometimes weddings can be such a pain – speaking as the priest – but this looks to be a very comfortable and enjoyable time – this is especially true because the bride and groom are such great people – their approach to marriage is mature and comfortable – however, join me in praying for them – that this may continue to be true of their lives together.

By the way – did I tell you – during the week – I went with the 8th grade group – kids, teachers, parents – on a whale watch to Gloucester – it was a good time – a comfortable trip for me – I was only a spectator – the kids were great – and it was a great time to spend some time with the adults on the trip – and the whales cooperated – and we did see a few of them. And the other plus – some great seafood –

This Sunday will be unique – in that at one of the Churches – Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Crown Point – I will extend the Feast of the Sacred Heart – that feast day was on Friday – however, since the parish is dedicated to the Sacred Heart – I will use that Mass this weekend – and celebrate our patronal feast. At St. Mary’s – I will use the Mass for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – but in both Churches we will honor the fathers of the parish on Father’s Day. So, lots of stuff for one Sunday.

I consider Father’s Day an important opportunity – first of all because fathers deserve a great deal of respect – and at the same time, I find it important to renew the challenge to all fathers – the challenge to truly be a good, even profound influence on their children. I have seen many wonderful fathers – fathers who are first of all magnificent husbands – and then truly fathers to their children – giving them an example that is and there is no better word than to say – powerful – I know fathers who have dedicated themselves to making their families the best – the most loving and peaceful families possible – I know fathers that are close to their children – but more than friends – they are truly fathers –

So – all of you fathers out there – I respect you – I recognize the immense challenge you have accepted by being fathers – I pray for you – we need you – our world needs you – to be the best – the best fathers on the face of the earth. What a special calling – what a vocation – to be a father – never forget how important – how sacred is your calling. I tell you often of the evening I spent with my niece and nephew at the birth of their second child – and the time I spent after with my nephew as we stopped for a little breakfast afterwards – I was truly awestruck – it was an evening I will never forget – but I will also remember – recognizing for both of these parents – the readiness for the challenge of raising this child – the huge responsibilities that they accepted but realized were immense.

Now – a moment on the Sacred Heart of Jesus – once a more popular devotion in our Church – but still important – the vision to St. Margaret Mary – when she saw Jesus with His heart visible and above it a flame – the flame of love – the wonderful image of the love of God – and God’s longing that we become as loving and as caring as the Savior, himself. I encourage you to remember and turn often to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

One last comment on the Sunday Gospel for this Sunday – Jesus calms the storm – he is with the apostles in a boat (they were good sized boats) – and a storm comes up – like the storms on Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario – and the apostles are frightened – but Jesus is asleep – they wake him up in anxiety – and he calms the storm. There is a spiritual root to the story – we are all on that boat that is our Church – and the storms that this Church of ours has faced over the years have been numerous – and immense – each time the Church (that is all of the People of God) have had to wake up Jesus – and the miracles have been numerous – and the ship that is this Church of ours has not only stayed afloat but has continued on its journey of bringing us all closer to the Lord.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you this day – bless all the fathers – support them – help them to be great fathers – as a priest, I am often called Father – so help me that I may be a good priest and carry out my responsibilities and duties as a good father – we all need you, Lord – with you we will not fail. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.

Have you had the opportunity of checking out the parish website – http://www.smsh.org/

Father Bill says...for the Feast of Corpus Christi

for the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ



This weekend the Church celebrates a wonderful feast day in honor of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The traditional name for this feast day is Corpus Christi – the Latin name – meaning the Body of Christ – these days we extend this name and call the feast day – the commemoration of the Body and Blood of Christ.

This morning I am preparing for a funeral – a young man – something like 62 years old – a husband and father and grandfather – actually, I don’t know this family well – they have visited Ticonderoga often as summer visitors – but decided to have the funeral Mass here at St. Mary’s – I was rather impressed at the Wake last night with the large number of friends and family who have come up from the New York City area to be part of this man’s funeral services – he must have been well liked and respected.

On the other side of the coin – yesterday – I had a funeral for a woman who had been part of my other parish for most of her life – she was always at Church – Sundays and weekdays – right up in the front pew – a wonderful woman – deeply involved in her parish – deeply faithful to her God. She also was surrounded by so many folks – family and friends.

I mention these funerals in connection with Corpus Christi – because each time we celebrate someone’s death, our funeral liturgy is a Mass – the celebration of the Holy Eucharist – this is our way of remembering – remembering the person who died – and also uniting that memory with the Memorial to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is rather unique – this is not some sort of reenactment of the Last Supper – rather it is our moment – to unite ourselves with the Lord and with each other. In this most wonderful sacrament we become one with the Lord – we accept the Blessed Eucharist – the consecrated Body and Blood of Jesus – and allow it to become one with us – just as we would any food. This sacrament becomes our food of life – our strength to live well – truly our sustenance.

It is interesting that in our day so much is written and broadcast about eating well – about knowing the ingredients of what we eat – about eating or not eating certain stuff – carrying this over to our spiritual life – we must never underestimate the importance of receiving the Holy Eucharist – of knowing that this is truly the Body and Blood of Our Savior – and that this Eucharist must be a regular part of our spiritual diet. We need to often come to the altar of the Lord – and bring the strength and goodness of Our Savior into our lives.

We often speak of someone putting love into their preparation of meals – I associate it usually with my Aunt Kate – whose cookies are an important childhood memory – not so much because they were the best cookies I ever tasted – but because I knew that they were prepared for me – and the rest of the family – filled with her love for each one of us. So we believe very firmly that Holy Eucharist – that Holy Communion – brings us the love of Jesus in a very special and important way. We must never approach the altar of the Lord for Holy Communion without a total awareness that this consecrated Body and Blood of Jesus will bring us the love of Our Savior in a most unique and wonderful way.

I may have told you this story before – but I remember ages ago – at a conference for priests on the liturgy of the Church – that the priest who was presenting this – spent a great deal of time on the way that Holy Communion was given to the people of the congregation. I remember one of the priests – I guess he was tired – but he did sound rather facetious – suggested that we must put the paten with the consecrated hosts out on a table in the middle aisle and everyone could just take their own – and the presenter calmly said – but this is their moment – this is a most important moment as each person comes to the priest or Eucharistic Minister to receive the sacrament. I know it would be a little too long – but I wish we had time for each person to express their prayer at the moment they were about to receive the Sacrament – “I believe – thank you, Lord, for coming to me this moment in this Holy Sacrament – I have so many cares and worries, I need you – I want to be strong this day to do all that I can to help my family and those I meet – stay with me and guide me.”

So this will be my prayer for today – I do hope that you will discover the beauty and importance of the Holy Eucharist – I do hope that you often allow the Lord into your life in this Sacrament.

Please join me now as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
Again, I invite you to our parish website - http://www.smsh.org/

Father Bill says...for Trinity Sunday

for Trinity Sunday


Another fifty years anniversary – this time it is for St. Mary’s School – all sorts of school kinds of activities – a banquet on Friday night – on Saturday – this morning – I am preparing myself for a Nun Run – I think it is just an ordinary mile long race – St. Mary’s School has always had Sisters of St. Joseph – this first faculty – fifty years ago – it was all Sisters – now, only one – our principal, Sister Sharon – I am not certain if the retired Sisters who have come back for the celebration will be leading the Run – but you never can tell – I’ll let you know later. The celebration will also have a special Mass on Sunday – and the students will be taking care of all of the ministries.

Trinity Sunday is a difficult Sunday to preach – the danger is that you could spend most of the homily, trying to teach about the mystery of the Trinity – there is some teaching demanded, I know – but what can you say definitively about the Trinity – so I am still trying to decide what I will say this weekend.

As Christians, we believe in one God – one God that is triune – there in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Trinity is about Community – Trinity is about Family – our God comes to us as community – and our God comes to us as love – love that can be felt at every level. When we experience love it changes us as persons – and it changes how we see reality. Trinity is about love – we are loved people – our God loves us unconditionally.

The Old Testament reading for Trinity Sunday sees things from the point of view of Moses – it gives evidence of the uniqueness of God’s relationship to his people, one that no other God can ever have. Moses discovers God in the burning bush – Moses brings this God – this personal, loving God – to bring the Hebrew people out of slavery – through the Exodus. The Christian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is the same one God who chose the Israelite people to be his own, cared for them (and us) even before creation – and preserved them from the Egyptians.

In the Gospel for Trinity Sunday, Jesus instructs the apostles before the Ascension – “All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit – teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Then Jesus ends his instructions with this, “And behold I am with you always, until the end of the age.” I think that I will focus my homily on this statement – Jesus tells the apostles and us that he will be with us always – until the end of time.

I remember well a high school student who asked my advice – she was going to a wake for the mother of her friend – and she asked what should I say – the answer, of course, was nothing – the important thing was to be there, with her friend – we care for someone who is suffering, just by being present – this provides that person with a steady companionship – to know that there is someone there who cares, makes a world of difference – it saves that person from the feeling of being abandoned.

Remember – Jesus says, “Trust in me. I’ll be with you always.” Jesus didn’t guarantee a trouble free life – or – even success – the apostles knew that as long as Jesus was with them – they would have the courage and strength to face whatever difficulties lay ahead – God’s closeness shields us against a sense of abandonment and despair.

God is always with us – but we are not always with God – our busy lives cause us to get disconnected from God. So we must deliberately cultivate a sense of the presence of God and nourish it through prayer.

Finally, when we are with God – we are with one another.

Each time we begin prayer with the Sign of the Cross – we are remembering God – we are asking God to be with us – we are calling to mind the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – to transform my life – fill me with your love – touch me with your peace – guide me in your love. May I never forget that you have promised to always be with me – and so I am not afraid – I will never be abandoned – you are my God. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer

I invite you to look in on our parish website at http://www.smsh.org/