I am writing this the on day before Halloween as we approach the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls. The celebration of the Saints is the Church’s way of recognizing certain individuals who led such exemplary lives, rooted in the Beatitudes and the Paschal Mystery of Christ, that the Church firmly believes and declares that these individuals are living in Heaven. They are “canonized” by the Church, encouraging the faithful to pray to these living Saints, imitating their virtuous lives.

From the time I was a child, my parents instilled in me a deep love for Mary by going to services called “novenas” every Tuesday evening and lighting a candle near her statue. Ever since then, Mary has. been an essential part of my spirituality and prayer life. My mom enrolled my sister and I in the St. Jude Auto League and we were taught to pray to this Saint of those who are in a desperate and impossible situation. My mom had great intuition.

I love Mary, the Mother of us all, and also Jude, Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Oscar Romero. They have been guides and mentors to me and my priesthood in many ways. They are walking with me in the Camino. I rarely get lonely thanks to their presence.

My devotion to St. Oscar Romero is an enigma: I don’t speak Spanish, my life has never been threatened, my preaching and voice can’t begin to compare. And yet I flew to Rome to witness his canonization as the pope declared him a martyr Saint. I love him and am inspired by his homilies and perseverance.

As I visit the many churches, I see countless statues of the Saints, as they “stand” in niches, motionless in their marble or wooden elements. But the Saints are living, they are alive, they are our constant companions on the journey that is our life. These individuals were human beings with flaws and idiosyncrasies and they sinned, all except Mary, of course. Let’s keep their humanity in tact and assessable, never “adoring” them but only honoring their witness to Christ.

In my own life I have personally canonized my parents who gave me life, my grandparents, especially my grandmother on my mom’s side, who inspired my priesthood in her tremendous suffering. These deeply personal people in our lives comprise the All Souls we remember and celebrate.

Who are the Saints you gravitate toward and pray to? If you don’t have a devotion to any Saint, I encourage you to search for that one Saint who speaks to you in a deeply personal way. Even more, keep alive the memory of those significant individuals in your life who have passed through the gateway of death and are living but in a different manner. Grieving hopefully surrenders to a joy rooted in faith that these beautiful people continue to be with us and communicate with us. Watch for the signs.

Today’s gospel has Jesus using two images for the Kingdom: the more famous one of the tiny mustard seed snd the other of the leaven or yeast woman adds to flour to make bread. I prefer the image of the yeast.

The yeast is added to the flour and its effect is hidden: the dough Rises when enough time has lapsed; but you are unaware of the process as it’s happening.

As I am walking and getting physically fatigued, an unseen and unfelt “energy” is allowing my courage, patience, endurance and fortitude to RISE within me. That’s how the Kingdom that Jesus preaches becomes manifested, expressed and made visible. The “hidden” action of the Spirit is just waiting for us to let it do what it’s supposed to do.

But when the kingdom comes alive, something within our heart is going to change or be transformed. This Kingdom is WITHIN you, hidden, waiting to be activated. And your spirit will RISE. But only if you surrender to its hidden powers

I love today’s gospel about the woman physically bent over for 18 years!!! Can you even begin to imagine what her life was like for those 18 years: in pain, discomfort, unable to look up. Jesus freed her and healed her, so she could stand straight up!! A miracle indeed.

But Jesus healed her on a sabbath, infuriating the leader of the synagogue. Thus same religious leader will “untie his ox” on a sabbath but Jesus can’t heal a woman suffering for 18 years? Why should she have to wait until the day after the sabbath? If an ox can be taken care of on a sabbath, an animal, why be upset about healing this daughter of Abraham???

HYPOCRISY!!!

Most of us have an inner reality of the heart that “bends” us in spirit. Perhaps it is loneliness, fear of rejection, being unable to find a life partner, seeing a loved one suffer, or dealing with the daily pain of arthritis or a debilitating condition. We may be “bent over” in spirit due to a bitter or jealous spirit, envy, the need to control, a divided relationship, or addiction.

Jesus wants you freed on any day of the week.

The gospel in this Sunday reflects the heart and soul of the gospel. Jesus is asked by one of the Pharisees, “Out of all the many laws written in the Torah, which is the greatest?” Jesus answers succinctly, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. This is the greatest and the first. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” EVERYTHING depends on these two laws.

I am walking with so many people from many different cultures and religions. I walked with a man named Alejandro a person who lives in the village I was approaching: Navarrete. He asked me if he could walk with me while trying to speak English ( which he knew quite a lot of) only if I would speak Spanish( which I know very little). I agreed and we started to communicate in the other’s language.

We spoke back and forth for an hour which was very exhausting. When he discovered I was a priest, he simply said in beautiful English that he believed in the God of Nature. He was Catholic but left religion and religious faith. He doesn’t believe in God except in nature. I guess he sees nature as divine.

I responded by acknowledging the beauty of Nature and creation and respected his belief. But my belief is rooted in Christ and the God He revealed. Alejandro said, “ Of course you do , you who are a priest.” I responded, “But I am a disciple first.” He said again “Of course.”

We talked about how we were brothers to each other and he thanked me. A beautiful conversation, initiated by him, not me, that brought us together in love as neighbor. Love unites in difference; love sees the other as created in the image of God; love reminds us to treat those who are “aliens” with respect; love reminds us we were all aliens at one time; ( I might add, immigrants, including the undocumented,we callously refer to as “alien); love accepts people for their own journey, as different as it is from our own; love refuses to judge another person’s heart.

I have met a number of people who have no faith and say they are atheist. I never mention I am a priest unless asked. I will never hide my priesthood nor shout it about. But I can sense when it makes someone uncomfortable and it has. As a pilgrim from France said to me yesterday, “Just keep planting seeds. God will make them take root and grow if He so wishes.” So many on this Camino are searching for something. I simply pray they keep their hearts open and I pray with equal fervor that I keep my heart open also. Christ is revealing Himself to me through these people.

I want to plant seeds here on the Camino, in Chicago, walking around my neighborhood, visiting parishes and visiting the sick. At the heart of seed planting, is to see Christ in every person you meet, especially those pushed to the side, not only by government, but by communities that call themselves Christian. May we love the Lord our God with all our heart and strength and may we love EVERY neighbor, no conditions.

I so want to learn more Spanish!!!

The words you can’t quite see are “I LOVE”

I was walking alone for a number of hours, making my way towards Los Arcos when I came upon a man building a large fire. It was beautiful and reminded me of the Easter fire that begins the great Feast of Easter at the Vigil, the most important Liturgy in the entire year.

As I get older, Easter is becoming much more significant in my spirituality, appropriate as one “matures.” The Easter fire ignites not only the wood pilings but the human heart. The center of our beings, where Christ dwells, is set ablaze with the Light, the Fire, of His love. The light of the paschal candle leads us into a darkened church where the darkness is gradually dispelled by the lighted candles. Christ the Light shines in the darkest crevices of humanity.

May the Light of Christ lead you on you life’s journey

May the Light of Christ shine on your children

May the Light of Christ chine on your grandchildren

May the Light of Christ free you from fear

May the Light of Christ fill you with gratitude

May the Light of Christ lead you to help the poor

May the Light of Christ fill your heart with gratitude

May the Light of Christ free you from a sin that haunts you

May the Light of Christ shine in your daily life, in your hobbies, in your care for the home

May the light of Christ shine on your calling, your vocation, as a married person or a single person.

As a famous put once wrote: May Christ Easter in us. Yes, make Easter a verb. See what happens.

Blessed Sacrament

I’m sitting in front of a beautiful tabernacle in an ancient 12th-century church in Estella, Spain: St Michael the Archangel. The quiet is amazing with no tourists or pilgrims. Except me and an elderly couple marveling beauty of the space, “ever ancient, ever new,” to quote St. Augustine.

According to a pamphlet explaining the various expressions of art, sculpture and architecture within the church building, different periods in the development of the arts are represented. The very structure, the “physicality” of the building, developed past the 12th century embracing Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque characteristics.

The Church must conserve the beauty of the past but must also remain open to CURRENT developments. New expressions of art and architecture can be just as beautiful. The Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle is not contained or limited but ignites His very Presence WITHIN our own hearts. We become living, human “tabernacles” of Christ’s Presence, expressing our Catholic faith in ways the people of our 21st century can relate.

Like this building, we treasure the beauty of the past but must be free to give breath to new ways of praying, singing, doing theology, building churches, reaching young people and understanding human sexuality. But all new developments need to be tested with the very Truths of our Faith, so that past and present come together in a synthesis of love.

The Church must develop while remaining true to its essential truths. The Church must never become a museum.

How many of us resort to renting storage space to fill what doesn’t fit in a new space/home/apartment, or our current home has no more space. And so we rent space in one of those countless storage facilities we see in our cities and towns. When I moved last Summer I almost did just that: rent space in one of those very facilities.

This is much like the man in the parable in today’s gospel who decided to build larger barns to hold more of his harvest. This gave him a false sense of security that with all his acquired possessions, stored in a larger barn, he could relax and not worry about the future. He forgot about death, his death, at which moment all the stored possessions would be left to others or simply to rot.

Right after I finish this reflection (you are going to laugh) I’m going to the local correos, post office, and try to send my too large backpack to Santiago from Pamplona. And then, off to Decathlon, their version of REÍ, to find a much smaller pack that will hold only what I absolutely need.

I’m leaving behind the sleeping bag, extra clothes, toiletries I don’t need and that huge 50 L pack that weighs 6 pounds. If I can’t send the pack (too expensive) I am not sure what I will do since the day pack I’m currently using to hold the essentials is causing a huge strain on my neck. I’m sending my pack ahead for 7 or 8 euros through a transfer service but my essentials are too heavy; I need a small, sturdy pack WITH the waist belt so weight is on hips not neck. Also, ALL the transfer services end November 1st.

By the way, instead of renting space I gave away over half my books, decorations, kitchen stuff like pots, pans, gadgets, machines to froth the cream, half the dishes, glasses, and many clothes. I made many trips to the Goodwill and just gave the stuff away. Other people will hopefully enjoy some of these possessions.

And if I die TONIGHT, I will only leave behind a small backpack. Maybe someone could use this small pack.

Much of my walk to Pamplona was solitary, except for a nice conversation with a man named Mike from Nashville. He is on the Camino as a tribute to his pastor who was killed in a car crash with his daughter. The pastor had expressed his deep desire to walk the Camino but life intervened in a most horrible way. I will keep Mike, his pastor and daughter in prayer.

In my walk I noticed the strident messages spray-painted over walls, viaducts, on storefronts and on the pavement. I refused to take any photos due to the horrific language, expressing hateful and bigoted attitudes. Why do people feel that they have the freedom to express themselves in such vile and violent terms on public structures?

Jesús says in today’s gospel, He makes it clear that civil authority and Divine authority need not be at odds. We can, and must, pay taxes to support ordinary, everyday life and its realities: education, transportation, health care, fortification of infrastructure, just to name a few.

The coin has on it Cesar’s image, engraved and etched; it belongs to civic authority. But it’s what follows: “but give to God what is God’s. Since God created the world, and the pinnacle of that creation is Humanity, the only creation made in God’s image and likeness, EVERYTHING belongs to God. The Incarnation of Christ is the the absolute climax, pinnacle of millions of years of human evolution; Christ is the Cornerstone connecting all expressions of humanity…ALl. We are all ONE, we are connected!! EVERYONE is a sister or brother.

Yes, social injustice, racism, bigotry of all forms, and economic disparity divide us but the solution is never violent destruction. Graffiti is just one example of how creation can be marred. The degradation of the earth, water, and air are only outer expressions of inner pollution, a pollution of spirit and heart. Think of what is happening in Paris at this moment. Protesting is a right that must be protected; but looting stores and engaging in physical violence is simply criminal.

Christ is calling us to not be hypocrites who claim to be his disciples while harboring within the heart hateful attitudes that are given expression in thought, word and deed. The world is changed when we undergo a complete conversion of the heart heart by living the eight beatitudes, being the “Good Samaritan” , caring for the enemy in need , and becoming a neighbor to all people.

Each one of us, without exception, had God’s IMAGE “etched, engraved” on our hearts. The challenge is to reflect God’s LIKENESS by becoming another Christ.

I the gospel Jesus reminds us how deeply loved we are. We have nothing to be afraid of. Fear makes us immobile, and paralyzes us in spirit, hardening the heart. We fear the unknown, the future, our loss of any control we think we have; we fear the advance of age and the reality of illness; we fear death. Yes, the list goes on and is very personal.

What is it YOU fear? Name it and give it to God. God will free you in time. He will!!! Trust in God, fear is absolutely useless.

I fear much on this journey: my physical limitations, my age and memories that haunt me. The past can be very cruel if the memories of all that went wrong become the focus of your memory. I fear where I’ll end up and how. I surrender my fears to God so I will be free to give Him the glory that is His due.

To “fear God,” a vastly misunderstood verse from scripture, means to surrender to the beauty and glory of God. We must Give God the Glory, not to ourselves or any other person.

The top part is missing. It says; To God Be the Glory. Photo taken when I saw this barn off highway 20 on my way to Galena.

Started at 7:30 in darkness and a crisp feeling in the air. But it’s supposed to get into the mid 80’s!! Very warm. Tomorrow the prediction is calling for big changes in weather. Storms!!!

Arrived in Orisson Refuge after three hours of walking. Met some very interesting people. Mike from Atlanta, who is retired, 73 years old , a wife at home and grandchildren. He brought up the reality of politics and how he learned during a previous Camino not to talk politics. One discussion became very divisive and even strident. I just agreed.

Then I met Pepe, an American from Cuba living in Miami. He brought up politics and felt very comfortable talking about how we need to be more civil and open when discussing politics. And then the unexpected: Pepe came “out” telling me he was gay and lost his partner of 20 years who passed away suddenly. I gently probed his feelings and he started to cry. A beautiful, but painful, moment for him as he talked about his struggles with the death of the one he loved so much. I promised to pray for him and his beloved partner. As it turns out, he is an atheist but was still appreciative of my faith. We talked the contentiousness of politics and the power of religion for those who believe.

My first gift from Pepe: an open , poignant and personal conversation about faith, politics, sexuality, and religion with no name calling. I hope to keep in touch with him on the way.

Insight; maybe God wants me to try and create these encounters with people of different viewpoints and perspectives; Conversations with people of faith and no faith; people who are religious and spiritual and those who have no need for religion. I tend to thrive around those people who are different or share a different way of living.

It is strange that I seem to be drawn to people who are atheists and those who are not religious at all but see its value. My conversation with Pepe is one I will never forget. He became an instrument in drawing me closer to Christ and my priesthood.