Last night, I went to a monthly gathering of a Franciscan community named Brother Jacoba. I am a member of the third order of St. Francis, now called the Secular Franciscan Order, and we gather to pray and support one another in our desire to follow the path of Francis. This great Saint from Assisi draws people from all walks of life and religions to embrace the gospel call to a life of poverty and simplicity. It is a daily struggle to face the many inconsistencies of trying to live the gospel and follow jesus. Part of following St. Francis is to see the world through the eyes of the poor and the stranger.
When I try and walk in the shoes of the homeless, the lonely , the undocumented , the abused…I am compelled to see the world through their eyes. And the world looks very different from their vantage point.
Francis teaches that the ultimate joy is to live through suffering and rejection without becoming bitter or resentful. Joy is that deep , wonderful virtue that refuses to let us become immobilized when life doesn’t go as planned. Joy gently pushes us out of our brokenness and forward into new life. The poor have much to teach us about Joy…and how this Joy can be a bridge that unites people of different beliefs and breaks down barriers.

Brother Jacoba is actually a woman Francis admired and loved. She was the only woman welcomed into Francis ‘ inner circle, so he referred to her as “brother.” Jacoba used to bring him his favorite treat : a dessert best described as almond cake, perhaps similar to marzipan. She was there at his death and she was buried very near to Francis in the lower level of the basilica in Assisi.
This is quite remarkable given the strict cultural codes that defined how men and women should interact. Having the presence of a woman in Francis’ living quarters certainly defied the norm. Francis was able to see beyond these codes of conduct to a new vision. And he didn’t stop there.

He traveled to Damietta to meet with the Sultan during the Fifth Crusade. He did not see the Muslim as the enemy and blatantly taught his followers (and us) to see christ in those who believe differently. The Sultan deeply admired and even loved Francis for his ability to love and accept the non Christian while still remaining loyal to his catholic faith.
For this, Francis is the patron saint of inter-religious dialogue. Given the turmoil and violence in the Middle East and other countries, we need to open
our minds and hearts to listen to those of other political and religious persuasions. In the West, we are largely ignorant of the teachings of Islam and reduce the beauty and truth of this religion to the fear of terrorism.

After the meeting I went over to the Christlindle Market to immerse myself in the throng of shoppers and tourists. Standing tall and magnificent was the tree, which during the day looks sparse and rather lifeless, but in the dark of night it becomes a beacon of Light…multi colored lights. Near this tree stands a Nativity scene, a Menorah and the Star and Crescent, three symbols of three different religions, together in a harmony of light…and peace.
Peace and Joy. Fr. Frank

Today begins the Advent Tradition of the “O Antiphons,” sung at evening prayer and at Mass. From
December 17 through the 23 there are seven Antiphons that name an attribute of the Messiah.

December 17
“Oh Wisdom who comes from the mouth of the Most High…teach us the way of prudence. ” The spirit of Wisdom filled jesus in his mission to spread the gospel.

Recently, I had the opportunity of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation with young children. Their confessions were were both moving and eye opening. These were children around nine to eleven years old and they were struggling with realities I never much thought about until I was late in high school. Our children today are growing up much quicker than we did due to changes in families, use of technology as early as pre-school, the media and changing values.
Religion is certainly losing its influence in dramatic fashion, with churches, temples and other places of worship becoming emptier. The only faith communities growing are evangelical and fundamentalist in nature. Hearing these children’s confessions gave me strong hope that healthy religion is necessary for our culture. While so many adults have unfortunately given up on Confession and Reconciliation to the point of totally dismissing this Sacrament as “pre-Vatican II,” many of the children I listened to spoke about struggling with life and belief. They were given an outlet to try and work through feeling bad about some of the things they are forced to experience in their worlds.

We need to open eyes to all the realities that make life difficult and confusing for them. We have to remember that they are still children and need a childhood. Jesus says in today’s gospel , “Come to me all you who find life weary and burdensome and I will refresh you,” a verse I normally associate with giving comfort to adults not children. I truly believe that our Church and religion is helping children to make sense of their worlds through beautiful rituals like Reconciliation. I was deeply humbled by the faith and sincerity of these children who opened their hearts to feel accepted and loved by God. What a privilege I was given to be an instrument for Jesus to embrace them and fill them with joy and love. Several children thanked me for the experience…yes, they thanked me for the Confession!!!!!
Jesus says somewhere else in the gospel words that speak Advent on the threshold of Christmas , “Unless you become like a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.” These children gave me a Christmas gift I will never forget. While walking to my car, my burdens were lifted…I was refreshed…all because of children. I came into the service feeling tired and burdened but I left the service with a bounce in my step and in my spirit. The rest of the day I was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm.
Buen camino. Padre

All over the country, people are gathering in protest under the rallying cry, “I can’t breath,” a reference to the plea by Eric Garner as police tried to detain him. The idea of putting someone in a “chokehold” for any reason whatsoever is a violent response that is excessive and unwarranted. The past couple of months have seen a number of incidents involving young , black males being killed by officers. The reasons for the large number of African American young black men involved in violence leading to the prison has many complexities making easy responses difficult. The court system works well for those with money and connections , a reality the poor do not participate in.

As I said during my homily last week, there is a narrative underneath places like Ferguson that goes back centuries. African families were ripped apart due to slavery and the power structures at the time saw the African slave as sub human, a piece of property. The Law changed as a result of the Civil War and was solidified in the Civil Rights Act that President Johnson signed into law in 1964. The laws in the books were changed but human hearts were not changed by the enactment of this legislation. As it took centuries for the racism of slavery to take hold, it will
take centuries to repair what was destroyed through systemic racism. We focus too much on our own individual sinfulness without taking into account the structural or communal sin perpetuated by governments and communities, including the church.

There were churches for white people and churches for black people. Segregation is a form of racism. Today, we may not knowingly participate in segregation and attitudes of exclusion, but we participate in ways very subtle.
Attitudes like: judging who is helped by government programs and who comes to food pantries and soup kitchens; believing that problems in Black communities can be solved if they just worked harder and devoted more time to education; slavery ended over one hundred years ago…stop being a victim; these attitudes attest to an ignorance of the root causes of racism and that we have all played a part …and continue to do so.

We must develop not only an individual conscience but a social conscience as well. We are all affected by the sins and injustices of the past. Our country and church have to uncover the realities that cause pain and scandal , not to incite guilt, but to free us so that we can become part of the solution.
Advent is a soul searching season for the community of the believers, the Church, to allow the Light to shine in many uncomfortable places, in our heart, in our history , and in our current culture.

Buen camino. Padre

After he was elected, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday in a youth detention center. During the Liturgy, he washed the feet of men and women, Christian and non Christian, an action that provoked much discussion and even controversy. I was in Rome at the time and felt the joy of the people in Rome: in stores, restaurants, and on the streets. The words and actions of a Pope came together in a beautiful harmony that spoke to the hearts of people around the world. This is religion at its best.

The great enemy of religion ischypocrisy, when words are not supported with actions. We can say all the right words and pray the rituals with all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted; but if our actions and behavior do not reflect the values of gospel discipleship, not only people, but God , are turned away. In the gospel jesus speaks with blunt clarity : “Not everyone who says ‘ Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom…only those who DO the will of my Father. ”

Jesus will recognize us by our actions more so than our words. In the parable that follows, the wise man builds his house on rock, which will not crumble in storm and wind. When our actions and words come together, we are on a solid foundation and can survive all the storms that life brings out way.

When we are all talk and no action, our lives fall a part , like a house built on sand. As soon as the winds keep blowing, sand castles on the beach collapse and dissolve into nothingness. Our lives are like these collapsing castes when we consistently fail to act on our beliefs. But when we live out our convictions and make the sacrifices needed to be a person of integrity , we develop strong characters. Our lives have substance and meaning… they are held together through love in action.

Ironically , the people must threatened by the Pope’s action of washing feet were fellow priests. The liturgical rubrics are quite clear, I guess: twelve MEN are to wash feet, for they symbolize the twelve Apostles. Literalism run amuck!! It seems the Pope knows when rules and traditions need to be transcended, allowing the words of the Liturgy to be strengthened by ritual action that speaks to the human heart. It is sad that people, especially we priests, can be so threatened by a powerful, but simple, ritual of washing the feet of people representing the diversity in the human family.

The greatest tool of spreading the faith and drawing people to the Church is the way we live our lives. Our witness in action is the most compelling teacher there is. We “wash feet” by reaching out, visiting , writing letters of gratitude, volunteering, being kind to people, especially the vulnerable , befriending the lonely , and just being present to those around us.
These simple actions make the foundation of our lives strong and secure. Entrance into the kingdom is not grounded in words but actions.
Buen Camino. Padre

Last weekend, a number of people gave me what they termed were “leftovers” from their Thanksgiving tables. All the turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pecan and pumpkin pie were delicious. “Leftovers” has a bit of a negative connotation, hinting that they are eaten just to avoid being wasteful. I love these “leftovers” as much, if not more, than when the food is eaten right after cooked or baked. The flavor is usually more intense and I am not filled up with all the eating that goes on before sitting down for the main event.

In addition , I am eating food that was put on a table that brought together many family and friends. Through these “leftovers” I was a part of a number of wonderful celebrations, even though I was not physically present. And the food was made with such love and care.
In the gospel today, jesus is surrounded by hundreds of hungry people and wants to satisfy their hunger…spiritual and physical. When the people had eaten their fill, the “leftovers” filled SEVEN baskets, the number of days it took God to create the days , which included the day of rest. Seven is also a number that signifies completion. Jesus did not discard the leftovers but saved them in baskets.
Perhaps to “complete ” the meal, these “leftovers ” we’re given to the poor, and in the feeding of the poor, the deepest hungers of the people were truly satisfied. Eating leftover food connects the one eating with those who have prepared and already eaten.
The ” Leftovers” become a bridge, spiritually connecting people who could not be present as the meal was first served, with those who ate the meal. This “bridge” of food heals loneliness and warms hearts, as much as it satisfies physical hunger.
When I think of what kind of Thanksgiving I had, I remember not only the meal I shared with my family on the day itself, but several other meals surrounded by loving people. All the leftovers made this possible. My feast was truly complete in the eating of these leftovers, which filled “seven baskets” to the brim and beyond. The deepest hungers of the heart are fed with simple “leftovers.” My day was “complete.”
Buen camino. Padre

I sat in my dark chapel this morning watching the eastern sky slowing coming to light, in reds and pink horizon. Beautiful. God enters our lives in ways not readily perceptible to the senses, but nonetheless, God is dawning in our lives like the first rays of sun. It takes time and patience to let this Divine Light surround us in a blanket of love.

In today’s gospel, jesus heals the servant of the Centurion, a man who is the “outsider” but who sees in jesus One who transforms and heals. This Centurion doesn’t want jesus to come into his home to heal the servant because, “I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.” For those who are Catholic, you will recognize these words of the Centurion as the prayer we say before receiving Holy Communion: “Oh Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. ” Yes, this prayer at Mass is the prayer of the Centurion.
Jesus commends this simple outsider as a man of great faith. For the Centurion, God entered his life slowly and quietly through the way that Jesus responded to people. A “new day” dawned for this Centurion as the Light surrounded his heart, freeing him to see God in new and surprising ways. The beautiful hues of God’s presence colored his life in hope and joy as Jesus most assuredly entered “under his roof ,” transforming him into someone deeply “worthy.”

God dawns in our lives like the early sun, slowly, often catching us off guard. God enters….
In patient waiting in line for our coffee;
Noticing the smile of a co-worker;
In reaching out to a lonely neighbor;
When we let go of annoyances;
By refusing to gossip;
In small doses of wordless prayer;
When we are grateful;

The list goes on for it is endless… the small ways God dawns in our lives. But it takes practice and patience and a touch of gentle discipline to slowly to rise out of the darkness of self centeredness and into the light of selfless love.
Buen camino. Padre

Thanksgiving, a holiday of family gatherings, eating around tables filled with sumptuous food, giving thanks. Like all holidays, we expect the day to resemble a Norman Rockwell scene of happiness and family unity, and our expectations usually fail to deliver. My experiences of many holidays over the years have been wonderful and joyful, but never Norman Rockwell !!!

Traditions, like life, need to change, allowing new people and new experiences to to reshape the celebration. Nothing, if it is to be life giving, can remain static and frozen in time.

My Thanksgiving has changed significantly since my mom and many others have passed away. So many of the people I spent Thanksgiving with for so many years are now gone but continue to celebrate in spirit. When I got home from the dinner , which took place in a nursing home, I could have been sad or depressed, but I chose NOT to react in a negative way. I simply ACCEPTED that things are different now and new ways of living the holidays are emerging. How much life is easier and happier when we accept change and allow new life to find expression.

As old worlds die…new worlds want to be born. As we prepare to begin Advent, we are reminded that the world as we know it, is slowly passing away and a new world is already taking shape. This “new world” is the one jesus preached about in his parables , but more importantly, lived on his day to day life. This new world is the Kingdom, the foundation of which is the Love of Christ, whose arms embraced all of humanity on the Cross, in every time and place…past, present and future. The old world of brokenness and alienation died on the Cross and a New World was born.

I got a glimpse of this New World in a very unlikely and untraditional place: a nursing home!! Yes, as so many of the people are preparing to leave the earthly tables of turkey delights, those of us who are the visitors must accompany them and then let go when the time comes. And then we must carry on, creating new expressions of beautiful holidays. The feast I celebrated with my very small family was indeed a feast that was peaceful and happy. Different….yes, but perhaps more meaningful. I was experiencing the birth of this New World imbued with Advent hope.
The patient waiting that characterizes Advent always leads to a Birth…

Burn camino. Padre.

When we think of a “mite” we usually think of those tiny , little bugs or ticks that are a nuisance and aggravate allergies. In the gospel , a “mite” is the smallest exchange of money , perhaps a half of a cent. Like the insect we usually think of, a mite is tiny and imperceptible to the senses.

Jesus is in the Temple and he notices a woman identified as a widow dropping two copper coins – mite- into the offering. The others had much larger coins ,worth much more , that most certainly caused a large clanking sound when thrown into the receptacle for the donation. Everyone would have heard and noticed the donor and donation. The widow’s two tiny coins would never be heard, at least in any obvious manner, amidst the noise of the other coins worth so much more. She and her few cents would never cause anyone to take notice…except one Person.

Jesus points out this unnamed widow as one who gave from her want and need:, she gave it all. Jesus teaches us that we need to emulate this poor woman who was very vulnerable and absolutely powerless in her culture. Material comforts and security were clearly not something she worried about, for she put the needs of others ahead of her own.

Our God is one who wants it all or at least he wants all of us. This God wants us to trust in his love and care for us, a trust that runs so deep that we can live a life of selfless giving. Being a follower of Jesus means just that: living so that others can have life. In living this way, life is given back to us a hundred fold.

The question that haunts me: am I doing EVERYTHING I possibly can to materially help those in need? The answer is “no” and that gospel widow gently nudges my conscience.

As Thanksgiving approaches , I am reminded how my family is shrinking as time moves on. I have very little left of the traditional family structure, given the reality that so many have “passed on” into a new life AND a new family. In the Kingdom, Jesus has created or IS creating a new family not bound by biology. Yes, in this life , marriage and family are the essential building blocks of the human family. We must have strong marriages and families as a foundation to entering a much larger family, one that will come into its own in the next life : the life of Resurrection.

Jesus is asked a simple question by the Sadduccees, those who did not believe in the Resurrection : if a woman marries a man with six other brothers and he dies, one of the brothers will take her into marriage, then he will die and another brother will marry her and he will die. This succession of marriages to the one woman continues until ALL seven have married her then she , herself, dies. In the Resurrection, in the next life, whose wife will she be?

In the Resurrection of the dead, in the next life , that problem is moot…has no basis whatsoever because in the life to come, relationships will NOT be defined as they are in this life. In the Resurrection, human beings will relate in a completely new and different way, since we will form ONE Family living together with God as our “spouse.” All the questions of who can marry and what happens after divorce will be null and void. Alleluia!!!!

While walking on the camino, I got a brief taste of this new “family.” People of all walks of life: married and single; religious or not; young , middle and seasoned in age; multiple languages and cultures; varieties of lifestyles. And something happened to all these different ways of living and different expressions of loving: the differences didn’t matter!!! We were on this pilgrimage TOGETHER and the love we had for each other transcended our differences. It felt like a family, if only for five weeks.

In this life, within our committed relationships and families, we have to begin to make the reality that WILL occur at the end of time and in the Resurrection a reality that finds expression right NOW in THIS life.
A friend of mine belongs to a parish in which Thanksgiving dinner occurs in the parish center with countless “families”. All are involved and invited. This is not a dinner focused on the homeless but on all who want to come together to become a much larger family. I know that something may be lost in giving up an intimate dinner with the usual family and friends and in the comfort of a home. But think what will be gained… think about those who are not homeless but have nowhere to go…think about how the homeless will feel when traditional families choose to be with them.

It is a change in the traditional way of celebrating Thanksgiving. What a welcome change!!! That parish is creating a living parable of Jesus and making “family” a much more beautiful word.
I’ve got work to do….

Buen camino. Padre

I had lunch with a wonderful friend I hadn’t seen in quite awhile. Catching up with old friends is a delight. As she talked about all that’s been happening in her life and as I listened to her respond to my stories, “I was hanging in her words. ” The People in the gospel were “hanging” on the words of Jesus. Like my friend, his words were comforting, challenging and life giving.

In the book of Revelation, john “eats” the scroll that contains words of prophecy and these words tasted as sweet as “honey.” Yes, the words we use may not always be comforting and soothing ; sometimes the message might be difficult to swallow at first. Sometimes the words might be sweet when we first hear them but after giving them some thought , a bitterness may develop in our stomachs.
This is exactly what happened to john after eating the scroll : at first, the words tasted sweet but eventually turned sour in his stomach. He realized the words were a call to reform and change, never easy , and often give indigestion!!!
We need to tell people what they need to hear not necessarily what they want to hear. The indigestion always goes away and all that we remember is the sweetness of eating Words of life.

Many wonderful and transforming things can happen over a bowl of oatmeal meal and some coffee. Buen camino. Padre.