tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18874183173128805312024-03-13T17:27:54.028-04:00From St. Anthony's Walnut TreeIn the last year of his life, Saint Anthony of Padua had a tree house built in a walnut tree, to use as a hermitage, a place of prayer and contemplation. These are reflections coming from my contemplating God's world as a Secular Franciscan.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.comBlogger374125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-50463053731065599022015-07-22T13:56:00.000-04:002015-07-22T13:56:30.338-04:00Laudato Si' Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Ecology!<div class="MsoNormal">
On June 18<sup>th</sup>, the Vatican officially released
Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment:
“Laudato Si’.” Truth be told, I
have not actually read the document myself; I am basing my own observations on
the analysis and commentary of others, whose opinions I trust. Chief among them is John Allen, Jr. of Crux
who has done some analysis on the encyclical.</div>
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The theological analysis of the document I have; comes from
Father Dan Horan OFM, of Dating God, who gives a Franciscan perspective on the
encyclical. The other comes from Jay
Michaelson, of Religion News Service. He
brings out some of the theological points in the document that he considers
truly radical. </div>
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As a Franciscan, the theological points that grabbed my
attention were found in Chapter 2: “Human life is grounded in three fundamental
and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbors, and with
the earth itself.” And in Chapter 3:
“Our ‘dominion’ over the universe should be understood more properly in the
sense of responsible stewardship.” To
Western ears these statements may seem very strange, but they are not new. If one was to get beyond the image of St.
Francis of Assisi as a statue holding a birdbath, one can see a Francis who
knew that because of his intimate relationship with God, he had to have an
intimate relationship with all people, and all creation. Joined intimately with Christ, through the
Gospels, through the Eucharist, and prayer, he was fully open to, and accepted
the reality that he shared a kinship with all people, with all creatures, with
everything that exists.</div>
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Francis passed this realization on to his followers, through
his words and his actions. Sadly, some
of his children did not realize the depth of his teaching, but in recent times,
we are finally beginning to get the point.
In our Secular Franciscan Rule, we have Article 18: “Moreover they
should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which bear the imprint of
the Most High, and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting
creation to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship.”</div>
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It is this idea of “universal kinship” that Pope Francis is
calling on the world, on all of us, to realize, and to act on. It is a call to change our way of life, that
is abusing our earth, and live in ways that will enhance our planet. </div>
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I do plan to read this encyclical myself, and hopefully I
will be able share my own insights with you soon. Pace e Bene!</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-27558978601237893052015-05-07T13:12:00.000-04:002015-05-07T13:12:51.598-04:00Pope Francis, a Globetrotter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_UJfsBYK7lE/VUuaXcndMAI/AAAAAAAABWI/hEoqLV5bzx4/s1600/Francis%2Band%2BGlobetrotter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_UJfsBYK7lE/VUuaXcndMAI/AAAAAAAABWI/hEoqLV5bzx4/s200/Francis%2Band%2BGlobetrotter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Various news outlets, including the Boston Globe's <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/life/2015/05/06/photos-pope-francis-meets-the-harlem-globetrotters/">"Crux,"</a> had the story of Pope Francis' encounter with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. The team presented His Holiness with a team T-shirt, with his name and his own number on it! A team member then tried to teach Pope Francis the technique of spinning a basketball on one's finger. Let us just say, that His Holiness needs to practice a little more before he joins the team on the road!Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-40001235940240830162015-04-08T16:20:00.000-04:002015-04-08T16:20:58.915-04:00I Could Fly to Assisi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIxh7i07hDk/VSWMlEFBc-I/AAAAAAAABVg/KMGD_KcIGAA/s1600/Tomb%2Bof%2BSt%2BFrancis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIxh7i07hDk/VSWMlEFBc-I/AAAAAAAABVg/KMGD_KcIGAA/s1600/Tomb%2Bof%2BSt%2BFrancis.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSKFy6l_bZo/VSWMoXk3YxI/AAAAAAAABVo/wraWwcYeD1w/s1600/Basilica%2Bof%2BSt.%2BFrancis%2Bexterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSKFy6l_bZo/VSWMoXk3YxI/AAAAAAAABVo/wraWwcYeD1w/s1600/Basilica%2Bof%2BSt.%2BFrancis%2Bexterior.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><br />
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Where would I go if could be immediately transported
somewhere? I and other bloggers were
challenged to write a post, answering this question.</div>
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I would like to be soaring over the green Umbrian
countryside of Italy, like a brown sparrow, heading towards the small Italian
city of Assisi. It is an ancient city;
most of the buildings were built during the Middle Ages, still being
occupied. I am heading towards a large Catholic
Basilica, the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, the last resting place of Saint
Francis of Assisi.</div>
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Saint Francis was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, the
son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His
father, who made his money selling fine cloth to French merchants, nicknamed
his son Francesco as a tribute to the French.
Francis was the city playboy; it was not a party if Francis was not
invited. He was a social climber, who
longed to belong to the nobility, to become a knight. He was a soldier, a prisoner of war, a
veteran who was broken in body and soul.
And because of his brokenness, Jesus Christ entered into Francis’ heart;
and Francis experienced a conversion, a conversion to the Gospel life. He began to give his money to any poor person
who asked for alms. He went among the
lepers, caring for them, washing their sores, and binding them with
bandages. In the solitude of caves, he
began to develop a deep spiritual, prayer life.
He reflected on the gospels, he entered into an intimate relationship
with God. Francis strived to live the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
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He gave away everything he owned, dressed like a beggar, in
a grey, brownish robe. He went about
serving the poor, preaching in the streets, and marketplaces; proclaiming to
all who would listen to him; that God loved them all. Men, who heard his words, saw his lifestyle,
were drawn to Francis, and soon he had twelve followers. Twelve became a hundred; the hundred became
thousands, all promising to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to the
example of Saint Francis. They became
the Order of Lesser Brothers, Order Friars Minor. Women, like Clare of Assisi, were also drawn
to this Troubadour of Christ. With
Clare, he formed a contemplative community of women, the Poor Ladies of Assisi,
now known as the Poor Clares. There were
other men and women, farmers and tradesmen, wives and seamstresses, who also
wanted to live the Gospel, and sought Francis’ guidance. They became the Brothers and Sisters of
Penance, the Third Order of St. Francis; today known as the Secular Franciscan
Order.</div>
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I became attracted to St. Francis during my third and last
year at the archdiocesan seminary. I had
decided to take years’ leave from the seminary; I spent the year with a
Christian ecumenical organization which provided worship services in the
National Parks. I was sent to
Yellowstone NP, lead services during the weekend, worked in the kitchen the
rest of the time. And in the midst of
all that natural beauty, I read about Francis and the Franciscan life. After two years, I entered formation to
become a Friar. I was to realize that
God had another path for me, so I left the Friars, but the Franciscan spirit
was already embedded in my heart. I
would later join the Secular Franciscan Order; I have been a professed member
for over 25 years. And I am always
wishing I had the means to make a pilgrimage to Assisi, to visit that Basilica.</div>
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Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226, at the age
of 44 years old. He was canonized a
saint in 1228. The friars were already
beginning the construction of the Basilica.
The best architects, artisans and artists, the pioneers of the Italian
Renaissance, were brought onto the project.
The Basilica was constructed in two levels, the upper church with
vaulted ceilings, and large stain glass windows. The lower church is more enclosed, but both
levels are covered with beautiful frescoes, painted by Italian master
artists. The Basilica is considered an
international treasure. However, when
the Basilica was finished; the Friars buried Francis in secret; for fear that
rival cities would try to steal the remains.
They did such a good job hiding the burial site, that Francis’ body was
lost until 1819. When the burial site
was rediscovered, a new crypt was constructed under the lower church. The crypt has a small chapel, with an altar. Above the altar is a stone coffin, containing
the bones of St. Francis. It is bound
with iron straps, and an iron grill over the entrance. The walls of the crypt are bare stone, simple,
unadorned. It is there I wish I could
sit, contemplating, in the dim light, the last resting place of a man who
continues to inspire Christians and non-Christians. And in the stillness of that place, maybe I
can hear a whisper, wishing me and all who come there: “Pace e Bene!” “Peace and Good!”</div>
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<br />Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-80118249864087270372015-04-07T15:16:00.001-04:002015-04-07T15:16:04.812-04:00Reflection on the Easter Vigil - 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ynGUzVUt60/VSQqSLm3tKI/AAAAAAAABVM/aOPJsDsnhUU/s1600/Easter%2BCandle%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ynGUzVUt60/VSQqSLm3tKI/AAAAAAAABVM/aOPJsDsnhUU/s1600/Easter%2BCandle%2B2015.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
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Mass. The church was
built in the late 1800’s; it has high vaulted ceilings, large stain glass
windows, dark wood pews. Even with the
all the church lights on, it is very dim inside. I am assisting as a deacon at the Mass; I
have been the responsibility of chanting the great Easter hymn, “the Exsultet,”
which takes about 9 minutes to chant.
And I really do not want to muck it up!
From the sacristy, I stand in the sanctuary of the church, and pray: “My
Risen Lord, be with me this night! All
good I am able to do to because of your grace; may your Spirit be within
me!” At that moment, I experience
something, I cannot describe; I am rooted in that place, and for a few seconds
I am not aware of what is happening around me.
The feeling passes and I go back into the sacristy.</div>
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The church has some fine vestments, for the evening Mass, I
put on a gold and white dalmatic, the deacon’s vestment. It feels stiff to me; I usually wear only an
alb and stole. The priests and the other
deacon, Michael, also vest. We then head
to the back of the church, as the lights begin to go out. By the time we are ready, the entire church
is in darkness. Father Mark lights a
fire in a brazier, by the light of that fire, he blesses the Easter Candle;
from the fire he draws a flame to light the Candle. The fire is extinguished, the only light that
pierces the darkness in the church, is the flame of the Easter Candle. Deacon Michael lifts the Candle, and he and I
walked down the main aisle. Deacon
Michael stops, lifts high the Candle; and I intone: “Lumen Christi!” The choir and the congregation respond: “Deo
Gratias!” Then from that one Candle, the
light is shared with dozens of other candles, points of light begins to spread
throughout the darken church. Twice we
stop, twice I chant “Lumen Christi,” twice the light is shared, until the
entire church is full of points of light.
The Easter Candle in placed in its stand, next to the pulpit. </div>
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I climb into the pulpit, open my binder, take
a deep breath, and sing out: <i><b>“Exult, let them exult, the hosts of
heaven,….Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of
his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices
of the peoples.”</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>“Christ is Risen!” He
is Risen Indeed!”</i></b></span></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-15495201283979696152015-03-30T15:12:00.000-04:002015-03-30T15:12:03.547-04:00Palm Sunday, Beginning of Holy Week - 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGoN9PrghLQ/VRme9wO_5zI/AAAAAAAABU0/iK_kexS2lRs/s1600/Palm%2BSunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGoN9PrghLQ/VRme9wO_5zI/AAAAAAAABU0/iK_kexS2lRs/s1600/Palm%2BSunday.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
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Yesterday, March 29, 2015, Passion (Palm) Sunday, I began my
third Holy Week as an ordained Deacon. I
assisted at Mass at two of the three parishes that make up the Beverly Catholic
Collaborative. At the beginning of each
Mass, there was the blessing of the palms, followed by my proclaiming the
Gospel reading according to Mark; of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into the city
of Jerusalem. Crowds gathered around
Him, shaking palm branches, and yelling out “Hosanna,” and proclaiming that the
Kingdom of David was at hand. Yet, during
that same liturgy, we would hear the Passion of Jesus Christ according to
Matthew; during which the crowds are now yelling out, “Crucify Him!” </div>
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The five weeks of Lent were meant to be a time to prepare
for this Holy Week, for in many ways, this week will be the most challenging of
the Church’s liturgical year. We are to
recall the events that lead to the Crucifixion of Jesus, and to His
Resurrection. We are being challenged to
reflect more deeply and personally on what those events mean to our world, our
Church and for ourselves personally. We
are being summoned to; if just for this week, live a life of intensive prayer
and meditation. We are being challenged
to open our minds, our hearts and our souls to the presence of our Resurrected
Savior, and be willing to be transformed by Him; transformed into bearers of
the Good News. Evangelizers, by word and
deed; to let others know of the love and mercy of our God! </div>
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Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-33726319540885645972015-03-24T15:04:00.000-04:002015-03-24T15:04:53.845-04:00An Old Argument Re-Surfaces, Communion in the Hand!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGlYG7tQpqE/VRG0XRegfmI/AAAAAAAABUc/UH3cpobd8ww/s1600/Communion%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bhand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGlYG7tQpqE/VRG0XRegfmI/AAAAAAAABUc/UH3cpobd8ww/s1600/Communion%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bhand.jpg" height="102" width="200" /></a></div>
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A long time ago, I was reading an issue of “Saint Anthony’s
Messenger,” published by the Franciscan Friars.
I was scanning the comment letters, when I saw a letter in which the
writer was complaining about a previous magazine cover depicting a woman
holding a communion host in her cupped hands.
The writer was outraged that a Catholic magazine who depict a layperson
(cannot remember if he made reference to gender) holding a consecrated
Host. The writer went on to state that
because of this practice, the Eucharist was being demeaned in the eyes of the
faithful. Well, this letter got my
dander up (I still had hair at the time!), and I wrote a reply, which actually
was published. As I recall what I wrote,
I am sure I stressed that receiving on the tongue, or in the hand, were both
valid choices. What upset me, and
continues to upset me, are those who believe that I am desecrating the
Eucharist, when I receive in the hand.
For me, it is the greatest honor, the greatest joy, to be able to
receive my Eucharistic Lord, in my hands.
To realize that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved me; loved all of us
so much, that He humbles Himself each day to be with us, to feed and strengthen
us. He is willing be present in simple
bread and wine, so He can be one with us.
This realization for me is awesome!</div>
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All this came to mind when I saw an <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/03/19/communion-in-the-hand-vs-communion-on-the-tongue/">article</a> by Mathew N
Schmalz, a contributor to the website Crux.
He also was commenting on how divisive how one receives Communion has
become. It is becoming a litmus test, a
way to determine if you are for Vatican II reforms or against them. Are you a “traditionalist,” or a “liberal”
Catholic? Do you believe in the sacredness
of the Eucharist or not? What should be
the highest experience of Christ’s Presence among, has become just another
theological or liturgical argument!</div>
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Since I was ordained as a deacon in 2012, I have distributed
Communion at many, many Masses. The vast
majority of those who come forward to receive Communion come with their right
hand cradled in their left hand. Many
approach me with a look of anticipation, a look of reverence in their eyes, as
they receive the Body of Christ in their hands.
There are some who do come up to me and receive the Host on their tongues. I see the same sense of reverence, in their eyes
and in their voices, as they say “Amen,” and I place the Host on their tongue. Whatever way we chose to receive the
Eucharist, it is vitally important that we remember who it is we are receiving,
and be open to His Eucharistic Presence.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-74692022265971027922015-03-16T23:36:00.000-04:002015-03-16T23:36:05.315-04:00A House Divided<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqQedOc2xQk/VQefwvJbsUI/AAAAAAAABTg/b4LdgW_0OuM/s1600/pope-francis-630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqQedOc2xQk/VQefwvJbsUI/AAAAAAAABTg/b4LdgW_0OuM/s1600/pope-francis-630.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a></div>
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March 13, 2015, was the third anniversary of the election of
Pope Francis, as the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. As he enters the third year of his pontificate,
he appears to enjoy a great deal of support from the vast majority of the world’s
Catholics. However, on the opposite
sides of the theological, ecclesiastical spectrum, there is a divided opinion.</div>
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When conservatives heard that the cardinals had elected a
South American Pope, and a Jesuit no less; there were some who started getting
a little nervous. When he came out in
just the white papal cassock, throwing
election night protocol to the winds, conservatives became increasingly concerned. When traditionalists heard that he was not
occupying the papal quarters; saw him adopting simpler vestments, compared to
the liturgical finery of his predecessor; they were up in arms!</div>
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Then there were Pope Francis’ homilies, off the cuff
remarks, and his actions towards reforming the Curia, the papal bureaucracy. Not taking an extreme hard line approach
against those who disagreed with the Church teachings on sexual matters,
abortion, and homosexuality; while at the same time, denouncing the negative
effects of a freewheeling capitalist system; caused some conservative
commentators to question the legitimacy of his election. Career bureaucrats in the Curia are upset
over Pope Francis charges of clericalism, and cronyism in the Vatican. They see his efforts to reform the way financial
affairs are handled, as a threat to their way of patronage. His intentions to introduce more laity,
especially women, into the Vatican offices, are equally seen as threatening the
curial lifestyle.</div>
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Now on the left, many saw Pope Francis as one of them, and
expected a wholesale change of Church’s teachings on women’s ordination, sexual
morals, homosexuality, and on divorce and remarriage. And they were extremely disappointed when
none of that happened, and with the Pope’s indications that such radical
changes was unlikely to happen under his watch.
There are survivors of sexual abuse by clergy who feel that this Pope
has not moved fast enough to implement worldwide protections for children, or to
hold any bishops accountable for covering up the clergy abuse scandal. Many are disheartened at the slow pace of the
reform of the Curia. There is a feeling among
left wing Catholic reformists, that Pope Francis is all fluff and no substance.</div>
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Now I think the conventional wisdom is that when both
extremes of a social spectrum are against you, you must be doing something
right. There are many commentators in
the middle, one of them being John Allen of the Boston Globe’s website <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/">Crux</a>,
who feel that Pope Francis has already achieved much. His reform of the Vatican’s financial system
is in place, despite one curalist attempt to weaken it. His council of cardinals, who are advising
him on how to reform the Curia, has presented suggestions that have been
discussed with all of Church’s cardinals.
The Synod of Bishops will convene again to discuss the status of the
family in the Church and the world. And
Pope Francis continues to encourage open discussion on these and other topics
among the Church’s bishops. Where this
will lead, no one is sure. This will be
a test of whether the Pope will continue to be a collegial shepherd, or be the
Supreme Pontiff, enforcing his will on the bishops. John Allen has written an interesting <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/03/13/a-francis-forecast-for-ano-tres/">column</a>
on what we could see on what the third year of this pontificate might
bring. Strap in folks, this could be
quite a ride!</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-80579493610141600072015-02-28T13:06:00.000-05:002015-02-28T13:15:04.140-05:00Walking the Way of the Cross<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byXSkBh9pq0/VPIFVRhfXGI/AAAAAAAABSk/mOlxusbI1QU/s1600/Way%2Bof%2Bthe%2BCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byXSkBh9pq0/VPIFVRhfXGI/AAAAAAAABSk/mOlxusbI1QU/s1600/Way%2Bof%2Bthe%2BCross.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
This past Friday, I was given the opportunity to lead people
in the Stations of the Cross. The
devotion was held at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, in downtown Beverly,
MA. The church is old, big, the interior
cavernous. Even with the lights on, it
seemed dark inside. The old furnace has
a hard time heating the church, so there was a bit of a chill in the air. We had about 30 individuals attending the
service. I came out into the sanctuary,
dressed in my alb and purple deacon stole.
And for the first time, a wireless microphone; the interior of St. Mary’s
soaks up sound, even my loud voice. I
invited those in the pews to join me in walking the Way the Cross; after a
short prayer, we began.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This devotion has a long history. Most scholars credit the Franciscan Friars
with establishing the Way of the Cross in its present form. The Franciscans had already been given
responsibility for the Holy Places in the Holy Land, by the Pope. In Jerusalem, the friars would lead pilgrims
through the streets, along the route Jesus would have walked to Calvary. During the 15<sup>th</sup> and 16<sup>th</sup>
centuries, Franciscans in other countries began to set up outdoor shrines,
imitating the places (or stations) where Jesus would have stopped on His way to
His crucifixion. Later, they requested,
and received papal permission to set up Stations of the Cross in their churches. It was not long afterward, that Rome extended
that permission to bishops who wished to also set up Stations in their own
churches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Way of the Cross is a devotion that helps us Christians to
remember that Jesus, though the Son of God, was also human; that for Him, the
Way of the Cross was a journey into suffering and death. Realizing this, as I walked and prayed each
of the Stations, I found myself entering into a different spiritual space, a
solemn space, a sorrowful space.
Sorrowful, because I was sensing the pain and suffering that Jesus went
through for us. For us, He was willing
to totally empty Himself, give all that He had on the Cross, so that we would
be freed from the power of sin and death.
How often do we forget that? The
Way of the Cross helps us to remember. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The devotion also reminds us that if we decide to follow
Christ, we follow Him everywhere, even to Calvary. If we follow Him, it means that we are
willing to empty ourselves in service to Him, and our brothers and sisters in
Christ. First to empty ourselves of our
selfishness, our pride, our self-centeredness, anything that gets in our way of
loving God and others. Then we empty ourselves
of our talents, our skills for the sake of Christ, and the world. It is not easy; it can be very hard and
painful. Still, Jesus Christ calls us to
follow; but if we answer that call, we can be assured that we will not be alone
on this journey. Christ assures us that though
the journey may be full of suffering, Easter dawn awaits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the Station where Jesus in laid in the tomb, I walked
to a large bas relief in the church. It portrays
the Resurrection, and standing before it, I read a passage from the Gospel of
Luke (24: 1-8), where the women find the empty tomb. And two men appear before them and announce: “He is not here; he has arisen!” On that note of hope, I stood before altar,
and blessed those who are in the church, turned and bowed before the
Eucharistic Presence in the tabernacle, and left the sanctuary. </div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-10219256490026667852015-02-23T17:34:00.000-05:002015-02-23T17:34:03.885-05:00Reflection on the Readings for the First Sunday of Lent - 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPSH4C1KGs4/VOupwGMe4cI/AAAAAAAABSQ/BPwC0NOYWPY/s1600/Noah%2Band%2Bthe%2Brainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPSH4C1KGs4/VOupwGMe4cI/AAAAAAAABSQ/BPwC0NOYWPY/s1600/Noah%2Band%2Bthe%2Brainbow.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Genesis 9:8-15</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (10)</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 Peter 3: 18-22</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 1: 12-15</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story of Noah and the Ark has in many ways has become a child’s fairy
tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most depictions of the story look like a cartoon, showing friendly animals, lining up two by two, to enter
the Ark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see Noah and his family, smiling as they
welcome the creatures coming towards them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, like most of our modern fairy tales, the origin of the story of the
Ark; the
deeper meaning of the story, can be grim and frightening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We see God, looking out at the humanity that inhabits His world
and seeing only evil and corruption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a potter, unhappy with the pottery he has made, God intends to
destroy His creation, wipe the slate clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, God is a creator, not a destroyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While He intends to wipe out the evil, He sees the good that still
exists, exists in Noah and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So God saves a remnant of humanity, and insures their survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Noah and his family, humanity is reborn, life begins again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
Creator promises never to destroy all humanity again, and the rainbow is the
sign of that promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will seek
another way to save His people from the power of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that way is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who,
through His death and resurrection, freed all humanity, past, present, and
those yet to come from, from the power, and consequences of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with that freedom, with the fulfillment
of the promise the Father made to His creation, the “kingdom of God
is at hand.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the Good News that Jesus is calling us to accept and
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To believe that God <u>does</u>
love this world, loves us; loves us so much He gave us His Son to save us, to
heal us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That kind of love calls for a
response from us, and that response is to change our lives, to follow the
teachings of Jesus Christ, to <u>live</u> the Gospel!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The season of Lent is meant to be a time of
preparation, a time of reflection, a time of conversion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reflection on what our lives have been, and
to see, in light of the Gospel, what needs to be changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we prepare our hearts to be open to
experience the joy, and wonder of Easter morning, to celebrate the love of God</span>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-2742279063331409762015-02-18T14:23:00.000-05:002015-02-18T14:23:52.149-05:00Reflection on Ash Wednesday - 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cvD7Cpx2Ys/VOTmTcEUynI/AAAAAAAABSA/zoKR4JmvHxY/s1600/Ash%2BWednesday%2B2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cvD7Cpx2Ys/VOTmTcEUynI/AAAAAAAABSA/zoKR4JmvHxY/s1600/Ash%2BWednesday%2B2012.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joel 2: 12-18</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 Corinthians5: 20-6:2</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole
heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your
garments, and return to the Lord, your God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Joel 2: 2-13)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the frozen, snowbound Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
the celebration of Ash Wednesday goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have been assisting at two Masses, and one service, distributing the
ashes; marking each person’s forehead with the sign of the cross (or at least,
I am trying to!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time, I tell the
person: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am encouraging them to hear, and accept, the Good News, and to change
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ashes on the forehead are an ancient symbol of
repentance, from the time of ancient Israel, and further back in
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is only a symbol, it has no
power, it has no meaning, if the recipient does not commit himself or herself
to living the teachings of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now this requires change; a change in the way we live our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a call to enter into a closer,
more loving, and a deeper relationship with our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a call to let go of our selfishness, our
self-centeredness, and reach out the Father; and to reach out to each other,
friend and stranger alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a call
to let go of the bad self image we can have of ourselves; and realize that God
love us for who and what we are, no matter how bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are called to reach out to the other
wounded persons we meet, and share this Good News, whether by word, and by
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lent then, is the season wherein we can enter into a more
disciplined way of life, with the aim of growing closer to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are encouraged to make even more time for
prayer, where we open our hearts, to let God in, so that we can experience that
Love that surpasses all other types of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And as our experience of that Love grows and grows, we are impelled to
make more and more room in ourselves for God’s Presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to discover what is our internal
clutter, that personal junk, which is getting in our way of loving God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the discipline of fasting comes
in, where we can discover what we really need to live, and what we can do
without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where we can discover how it
feels to be empty, and ready for Christ to come, and knock at the door of our
hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, receiving such a great
gift from the Father, we feel the need to share that gift of love with others,
others who maybe alone, feel unloved, who believe they are alone in a cruel
dark world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By practicing almsgiving, we
learn to reach beyond ourselves, and touch those around us, whether they are
family, friends or strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we
learned that we are not just called to share from our “surplus,” but to share
ourselves totally with others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="tab-stops: right 495.0pt;">
The season of Lent has been,
is, and always will be an opportunity to deepen our commitment to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An opportunity and it will
be a challenge for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
challenge to grow in our faith and to no matter often we might fail, we pick
ourselves up and begin again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will
not be alone on this Lenten journey, Jesus will be us, inspiring us by His
Word, and He strengthens us with His Body and Blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on Easter morn, He will be there to
welcome us, into a much more wonderful life.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-13775293829163960282015-02-10T13:44:00.001-05:002015-02-12T20:25:21.748-05:00Snow, Snow, Go Away!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We are digging out of our third snowstorm in Massachusetts! If I hear someone singing "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"; I am going to lose it!</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fIU1pLV-u3o/VNpRn2GcAwI/AAAAAAAABRs/oToGkg3ZTsA/s640/blogger-image-882458841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fIU1pLV-u3o/VNpRn2GcAwI/AAAAAAAABRs/oToGkg3ZTsA/s320/blogger-image-882458841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-90725800088151587282015-01-31T13:00:00.000-05:002015-01-31T13:00:06.892-05:00Thomas Merton, 100th Birthday of a Trappist Monk...And a Secular Franciscan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFaa_7vz-tA/VM0Vri-_y5I/AAAAAAAABRU/Gxxjp1W75hc/s1600/Merton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFaa_7vz-tA/VM0Vri-_y5I/AAAAAAAABRU/Gxxjp1W75hc/s1600/Merton.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></div>
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Today, January 31, 2015, would have been the 100<sup>th</sup>
birthday of Father Louis Merton, OSCO; better known to the world as Thomas
Merton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Catholic, Christian
blogosphere is abuzz with reports, stories, and reflections on the life of this
Trappist monk, one I read on Crux, by <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/01/29/father-merton-at-100-still-inspiring-people-to-get-closer-to-god/">Dennis Sadowski</a>, of the Catholic News
Service; another by <a href="http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/01/07/catholic-writer-thomas-merton-holy-and-oh-so-human/">Margery Eagan</a>, On Spirituality columnist for Crux, and
finally a very moving post by <a href="http://datinggod.org/2015/01/31/happy-100th-birthday-to-thomas-merton/">Father Dan Horan, OFM</a> on his blog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not know how many will share this opinion, but I think
of Thomas Merton, as the one person who brought Christian spirituality,
especially contemplative spirituality to the modern American Catholic
population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After him, I think we see an
increase in the number of books on spirituality, and prayer, geared for the
Catholic laity, and new authors, like Thomas Keating, M. Basil Pennington,
Richard Rohr, and Emilie Griffin. I know for myself, my spiritual life became
much deeper, more enriched by reading his writings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed me a path to walk, and encouraged
me to seek out other spiritual fathers and mothers, for inspiration and
guidance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am still discovering new things about Merton, especially
as heretofore unpublished journals, books, and essays are becoming public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has given a much more rounded view of
Merton, his life, his struggles, and his achievements. Now there are some facts
that I was not aware of until I recently read Father Dan Horan, OFM <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Franciscan-Heart-Thomas-Merton/dp/1594714223">book on Merton</a>, was that Thomas Merton had some deep Franciscan roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After his conversion to Catholicism, he felt
a call to the Order of Friars Minor, and had applied to the Order, and was
initially approved to enter into formation as a friar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he was to enter, something happened;
scholars are not completely sure what, that caused Merton to withdraw his application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still attracted to Franciscanism, he found
himself at the Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure’s, in western New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, he joined the faculty as an instructor
in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during his time
there, that he became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, now known as
the Secular Franciscan Order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bit
of information floored me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I knew
that Merton had a Franciscan connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I was once a Franciscan novice myself, and attended some summer
classes at St. Bonaventure’s, I daily would look up at a hillside clearing,
known as “Merton’s Heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to learn
that Merton had been a Secular Franciscan, “Wow!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, this brings a whole bunch of questions: what
fraternity did he belong to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the
fraternity still in existence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the
fraternity’s register, with his name listed in it, still available?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he attend monthly fraternity meetings, or
was he an isolated tertiary, attached to a fraternity, but unable to make the
meetings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe someday, some scholar,
maybe even a Secular Franciscan, will be able to find answer to these
questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I owe a debt of thanks to Father Louis, for prodding me to
go ever deeper into my relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May he rest in peace! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-8495804972195533452015-01-29T16:53:00.001-05:002015-01-29T16:53:44.608-05:00A New Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Thomas of Celano Discovered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rw0tPBETuu4/VMqp3w9ZCXI/AAAAAAAABRE/zTjpKFHnTkg/s1600/Thomas%2Bof%2BCelano%2BMissing%2BText.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rw0tPBETuu4/VMqp3w9ZCXI/AAAAAAAABRE/zTjpKFHnTkg/s1600/Thomas%2Bof%2BCelano%2BMissing%2BText.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The Franciscan world is abuzz with the word that another
biography of St. Francis of Assisi,
written by Thomas of Celano has been found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A posting, dated January 27, 2015, on the <a href="http://www.escofm.org/news/early-celano-umbrian-legend-discovered">English Speaking Conference ofthe Order Friars Minor</a> (OFM) reported the details of how it was
discovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scholars believe that Thomas
of Celano wrote it shortly after writing the First Life of St. Francis and way
before he wrote the Second Life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is being
reported that it contains information about Francis, which is missing from the
other biographies; or had been changed in later issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is know that multiple biographies were written about the
Saint, one only has to look at the three volume collection: “Francis of Assisi,
The Early Documents,” compiled and translated by Regis Armstrong, OFM CAP, J.A.
Wayne Hellmann, OFM CONV, and William Short, OFM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That fact that we even have early versions
for Francis’ biographies can be considered somewhat of a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When St.
Bonaventure wrote his “Life of Saint Francis (Legenda Maior)” and presented it
to a General Chapter of the Friars, the Chapter accepted it as the official biography,
and for reasons that still remain unclear, ordered all copies of earlier
biographies destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I consider
it a miracle that, according to Ewert Cousins, translator and editor of a
collection of Bonaventure’s’ works; twenty copies of Celano’s first Life have
survived, and only two copies of the second Life still exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now another work by Celano has come to
surface!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What new insights and
revelations will come to light?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Franciscan world waits in anticipation! </div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-20436105874939620392015-01-27T23:28:00.000-05:002015-01-27T23:28:23.149-05:0070th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Prisoners of Auschwitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHrJJ4PrJ94/VMhjhqoYWYI/AAAAAAAABQ0/3-tgPqjbcGs/s1600/auschwitz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHrJJ4PrJ94/VMhjhqoYWYI/AAAAAAAABQ0/3-tgPqjbcGs/s1600/auschwitz.jpg" height="103" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, January 27, 2015, is the 70<sup>th</sup> Anniversary
of the liberation of the Auschwitz
concentration camp by Soviet troops during World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is reported that 1.1 million prisoners
died at Auschwitz, 90% of them were Jewish, and the remainder were prisoners
from the rest of occupied Europe and the Soviet Union.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30996555">BBC</a> had a very moving report on the
anniversary memorial at the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New England has been hit by a record breaking blizzard,
so the local news channels have been covering that story non-stop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not been able to see any national news,
so I do not know if this anniversary has been mentioned in American media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really hope it was, but I would not be
surprised if it was not. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After learning about the atrocities the Nazis did to the
Jews, and other peoples, the nations of the world cried out; “Never again!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet we know that it has happened again, and
again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my times, it has happened to
the Cambodians, victims of the Khmer Rouge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has happened again among the ethnic peoples of the former Yugoslavia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is happening in Africa,
whether among the ethnic tribes, from terrorist groups, or corrupt governments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Genocide continues to happen, and all the
world seems to do is wring its hands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up, I was never aware of the Holocaust, until one
day a teacher in my high school, I cannot remember which class, showed us a black
and white documentary film on the Holocaust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the most powerful film I had ever seen, and I think it still
shapes my thinking to this day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Boston, near Quincy
Market, is a memorial to the Holocaust victims, glass columns shaped like the
smokestacks of the concentration camps crematoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On each pane of glass are engraved the
identification number tattooed on each prisoner of the camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I worked in Boston, I would occasionally walk through the
monument, touch the glass, and pray for the victims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that I will not forget, and I will not
be silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Exalted and hallowed be God's great name</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>in the world which God created, according to plan.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>May God's majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>and the life of all Israel -- speedily, imminently, to
which we say Amen.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Blessed be God's great name to all eternity.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified,
adored, and lauded</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly
words and songs of blessing,</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>praise, and comfort. To which we say Amen.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and all Israel,</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>to which we say Amen.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us
and to all Israel.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>To which we say Amen.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Kaddish</i></span></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-45291388127406988912015-01-20T16:06:00.000-05:002015-01-20T16:32:12.679-05:00The Shock of a Layoff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKr7uL_q0AQ/VL7CovNin-I/AAAAAAAABQg/m0Q51L2UtE0/s1600/layoff%2Bnotice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKr7uL_q0AQ/VL7CovNin-I/AAAAAAAABQg/m0Q51L2UtE0/s1600/layoff%2Bnotice.jpg" height="187" width="200"></a></div>
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<br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>On the day of my distress I seek the Lord</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>By night my hands are raised unceasingly, </i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I refuse to be consoled.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When I think of God, I groan;</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>As I ponder, my spirit grows faint.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>My eyes cannot close in sleep;</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I am troubled and cannot speak.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I consider the days of old; </i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The years long past, I remember.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>In the night I meditate in my heart;</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I ponder and my spirit broods.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">(Psalm 77: 3-6)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the afternoon of January 7, 2015, I was led into a small
conference room, outside of my work floor, and was told that I was being laid
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My boss and our company Human
Resource person were there, and neither was happy about the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not too thrilled either, and it took me
some time to get my composure back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
HR person went over the details of my severance package; and how to file for unemployment
benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shook hands with the boss, and
said “It has been a pleasure (and meant it)!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was given my coat, and my carry bag; and shown to the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nineteen years with the company ended in
under an hour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately, my former place of business was near St.
Anthony Shrine, Boston,
and I was able to talk with my spiritual director for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helped me for a while, but I am still
facing an uncertain future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am over
sixty, and was pulling in 2 figure annual salary, which does not make a
prime candidate for a position in many companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are days (and nights) I can relate to
the person who composed Psalm 77.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
life throws you a curve, it can take a while to recover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one thing to say I trust in God, it is
another thing to actually do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What helps is to maintain one’s rhythm of prayer, even when
you do not feel like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I strive to
pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, to open my heart to God’s Presence;
through the psalms, the readings, and the moments of meditative silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Deacon, I have assisted at several
weekend Masses, immersing myself in the beauty and power of the Eucharistic
Liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I open myself to the Presence
of my Savior, in Word and Sacrament, rejoicing in the experience of my Lord
Jesus Christ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still do not know what the future will hold, but like the
prophet Habakkuk, I will “exult in my saving God.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“For though the fig tree blossom, nor fruit be on the
vines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the yield of the olive
fail and the terraces produce no nourishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the
stalls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet will I rejoice in the Lord,
and exult in my saving God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, my
Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me
to go upon the heights.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(Habakkuk 3: 17-19)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-51049388529260905362015-01-18T11:12:00.001-05:002015-01-18T11:12:15.722-05:00Loring Crossman - Rest in Peace Brother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXtc8a0tOKM/VLvayu8fUzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/pzdUEFru258/s1600/Crossman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXtc8a0tOKM/VLvayu8fUzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/pzdUEFru258/s1600/Crossman.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week I lost a friend, <a href="http://gatelyfh.tributes.com/obituary/show/Loring-K.-Crossman-OFS-102068016">Loring Crossman</a>, a fellow Secular
Franciscan. I was asked the day before
his funeral, to give a brief eulogy for him.
I had no notes when I gave it, but to the best of my memory, here is
what I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Loring Crossman was my brother. Through Baptism, we were brothers in
Christ. We were also brothers in Saint
Francis of Assisi. Loring was a person committed
to ’ living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi’ He succeeded me as Minister of our
fraternity, and he lead the fraternity as we strived to adapt our lives to the
new Rule of Life, that came out of Vatican II.
Like St. Francis, he led us with gentleness and compassion. I only saw him lose his temper once, and that
was at me over something I had failed to do.
Like St. Francis, he was generous with his time, talents, and
treasure. And like St. Francis, he had
fraternity members who would provide comic relief. I remember that once at the anniversary of
our new Rule, St Bonaventure University, in New York, was sponsoring a seminar
on the SFO Rule. I drove there myself; Loring,
Edwina and two other members were traveling together. They had to pick up one member in Connecticut,
because she was spending some time at the casinos! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like St. Francis, Loring suffered from many illnesses. In Francis’ final months, he spent some time with
St. Clare and the Poor Ladies of Assisi, at San Damiano monastery. Francis stayed in a small hut on the
monastery grounds. He was suffering from
blindness, stomach problems and other illnesses. And his hut was being overrun by mice and
other critters, which allowed him no rest.
Yet, in all that suffering, Francis was able to compose a most beautiful
hymn, the first poem in the Italian language, “The Canticle to Brother Sun.” It was Francis way of praising God, despite
all his suffering. And I am sure that
Loring, despite everything he was going through, was able to continue praising
God, to trust in His love. Loring was
able to say, with all his heart, ‘Welcome Sister Death, I am going home to the
Father.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-86112919182590691362015-01-07T04:03:00.001-05:002015-01-07T04:48:36.902-05:00HUMP DAY IS HERE!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gpHYqHJIF0g/VKz2c3-DjlI/AAAAAAAABQA/7nzQ5OHJbRg/s640/blogger-image--71042210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gpHYqHJIF0g/VKz2c3-DjlI/AAAAAAAABQA/7nzQ5OHJbRg/s320/blogger-image--71042210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-1500512507099610272014-12-28T01:00:00.000-05:002014-12-28T06:44:16.984-05:00Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aw7izdAr4u8/VJ7Jlhey_jI/AAAAAAAABPw/_wElsakC8ys/s1600/The%2BHoly%2BFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aw7izdAr4u8/VJ7Jlhey_jI/AAAAAAAABPw/_wElsakC8ys/s1600/The%2BHoly%2BFamily.jpg" height="200" width="139" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Genesis 15: 1-6; 21: 1-3</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hebrews 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke 2:22-40</span></i><br />
<br />
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Today we celebrate the Holy Family
of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, which comes on the Sunday after Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, this Feast and Christmas are only
a few days apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us are
still recovering from the Christmas celebrations; the preparations, the clean
up; the stresses and the joys of that day. And how many of us are just hoping
for a quiet weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we suppose that
Mary and Joseph may have felt the same way, after what had happened on the
evening of the birth of their son?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
there was the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then finding
shelter in a manger, a barn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then that
appearance of a group of scruffy shepherds, who have this story of angels
flying in the night sky, proclaiming that this child, their child, is the long
for Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that what Mary
and Joseph longed for was some normalcy, to just perform the rituals required
by Law of Moses and then get back to Nazareth
and their lives as quickly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
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So they go up to Jerusalem,
to the Temple
to make the required sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
keep in mind that they were not the only ones going to the Temple that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would have been hundreds, if not
thousands of worshipers going to the there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have ever seen a picture of the crowds assembled in front of St.
Peter’s in Rome, you would have some idea of the
crowds going in and out of the Temple
courtyards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, and yet; out of
that massive crowd of humanity, Simeon, is able to find Jesus, Mary and
Joseph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was guided by the Holy Spirit, for God was
fulfilling His promise, that Simeon would not see death, before seeing the
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simeon had such faith in that
promise, that for so many years he kept going to the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And despite so many disappointing encounters, he still had faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes the day his path crosses with
Mary, Joseph and their infant son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
praises God that his faith has been rewarded, he has seen the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he tells Mary and Joseph what the
destiny of their child would be, and what it would cost them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, after hearing this, who could blame Mary
and Joseph, if they were to flee south to Egypt;
or north to Syria, or east
to Babylon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not what they signed up for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they do not flee, they returned to Nazareth,
Despite their fears of what the future may hold, they raised the child<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus up into a strong young man, who was
“filled with wisdom” and with the favor of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were able to do so because they had faith, faith that whatever trials
and tribulations may come their way, God would not abandon them, that God would
be there for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is that same faith
that their ancestor Abraham had when he first listened to God, to a Presence he
did not know, yet he believed, and left the safety of the Ur, for an unknown land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had faith that, despite his old age, he
believed that God would keep His promise of making from him a mighty nation.</div>
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And it is faith in God’s promise
that through His Son, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, “God is with us.,” we believe
that we will never be alone, that indeed, God will be with us always, He will be
with us in times of trial, and times of challenge:.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be with us in the joyful times, and
the sad times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is faith in Him, that
draws us here today, as a community of believers, that through Word and
Sacrament, that faith will be continually renewed and strengthened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is by faith in God’s love, which causes us
to reach out to others, to share that love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it is by faith that we look forward to the fulfillment of the
promise that Jesus Christ will come again, and a new heaven and a new earth
will be born.</div>
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<![endif]-->Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-55631538614696963822014-12-22T07:28:00.001-05:002014-12-22T07:28:34.750-05:00Boston Boy Coming Home to New EnglandI just read a tweet from Bishop Christopher Coyne, auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis, IN, announcing that Pope Francis has named him as the new Bishop of Burlington, VT.<div><br></div><div>Bishop Coyne was originally ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. Besides serving in the parishes, he was a press liaison for the Archdiocese. He is one of the few bishops in the US who maintains an active blog.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-35046625077198862372014-11-30T22:21:00.000-05:002014-11-30T22:21:04.961-05:00First Sunday of Advent - 2014; A Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7X20VEhq8LE/VHvdOx2yEAI/AAAAAAAABPg/l5UYWuxk6Xw/s1600/1st%2BAdvent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7X20VEhq8LE/VHvdOx2yEAI/AAAAAAAABPg/l5UYWuxk6Xw/s1600/1st%2BAdvent.jpg" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 Corinthians 1: 3-9</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 13: 33-37</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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We are entering the Advent season, in preparation for the
celebration of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the
department stores, electronics stores, the online shopping sites, have declared
that <u>now</u> is the Christmas season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So
buy now, now, <b>NOW</b>; while prices are low, low, <b>LOW</b>!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even those who do understand the meaning
of this Advent season, they focus more on the preparation to remember the first
coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a human child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tend to forget that Advent is a time to
also reflect on the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us, I think, have the attitude that
the Second Coming will not happen in our lifetimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is fueled by scientific speculation that
the Universe has billions of years left in it’s life, that Earth itself, has
millions, if not billions years of life left in it. So we become complacent, we
are like the college student who slacks off most of the academic year, figuring
he can cram in his studies and be ready for his final examination.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Then today’s Gospel can be an alarm for us. For Jesus is
grabbing us by the shoulders; shaking us and saying: “Watch!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that
we do not know the day or the hour of his coming again, his coming in glory and
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we need to live every day,
every hour, and every second, in expectation of Christ’s Second Coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our hearts and souls must to ready, every
day, every hour, and every second, to greet Him when He comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must strive daily, to read, reflect on,
and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must live in expectation of encountering Christ daily, through God’s Creation,
through His Word, in each other, and especially through the Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must work to make our hearts open to the
Presence of our Living God..</div>
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<br /></div>
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This requires work, this requires preparation; it will mean
a lifetime of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is with us,
ready to form us in a beautiful creation; as long as we do not harden our
hearts against Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what the
season Advent is to help us understand, to help us begin anew the work of
conversion, to prepare and watch for the coming of the Lord.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-36961467672390976672014-11-11T16:47:00.001-05:002014-11-11T16:47:26.996-05:00Massachusetts Boy Makes Good - Again!National Catholic Reporter's website has reported on the election results for various positions within the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The NCCB is meeting in Baltimore MD. <div><br></div><div>Among those elected was a local fella, Bishop Christopher Coyne, auxiliary Bishop of Indianapolis. He has been elected to head the Communications committee. He is one of the few bishops who maintains a blog, and regularly uses other social media platforms.</div><div><br></div><div>Prior to being named a bishop, Bishop Coyne was a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. He became Cardinal Bernard Law's press spokesman, in the midst of the clergy child abuse scandal in Boston. He handled that assignment well. I was impressed that he was willing to be available to the media. Especially being interviewed by Emily Rooney, on Boston's public tv news program.</div><div><br></div><div>Part of the New Evangelization is to use all of the new media to reach out to young adults, and youth. I think that with his experinces, Bishop Coyne should be very effective in this new position.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-79703174931487891862014-11-09T11:03:00.001-05:002014-11-09T11:03:07.172-05:00Deacons and the New Evangelization<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t2OIXqN4tmk/VF-QNikjZ6I/AAAAAAAABPQ/ctoR7VIez1g/s640/blogger-image--319040030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t2OIXqN4tmk/VF-QNikjZ6I/AAAAAAAABPQ/ctoR7VIez1g/s640/blogger-image--319040030.jpg"></a></div>On November 8th, I attended the annual regional gathering of Permanent Deacons, held by the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD). This year's hosts were the deacons of the Archdiocese of Boston. Our theme was the deacon's role in implementing the program of the New Evangelization, in our local parishes, and in our wider society. <div><br></div><div>Just a couple of thoughts, while I am between Masses this Sunday. Every practicing Catholic is called to be an evangelizer. Called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, by word and action. Called to invite those who have fallen away from the Church, by loving them.</div><div><br></div><div>Deacons are well positioned for this, because we live our vocation to serve, to proclaim the Good News, not just in Church; but also in our homes, offices, the marketplace, and on the streets. A nun, Mother Olga, said that when we wake up for the day, we are deacons, open to serving others, at every moment. Open to speaking the Good News, by word and action, to everyone we come in contact with. And thus, we can become examples to others on what it truly means to be Evangelizers.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-72976358449411476882014-10-27T05:44:00.000-04:002014-10-27T05:44:10.637-04:00Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-NqBTBcYeg/VE4S0refoJI/AAAAAAAABPA/p3nt9UtvNWQ/s1600/jesus%2Band%2Bthe%2Bscholar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-NqBTBcYeg/VE4S0refoJI/AAAAAAAABPA/p3nt9UtvNWQ/s1600/jesus%2Band%2Bthe%2Bscholar.jpg" height="143" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Exodus 22: 20-26</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>1 Thessalonians 1: 5c-10</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 22: 34-40</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In today’s Gospel, we have
one of those rare encounters with the Pharisees, where they were not trying to
trap Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see a scholar of the
Jewish Law asking Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a traditional rabbinic practice, to
ask a question about the Torah, and then debate over the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you go into a school that trains Jewish
rabbis, you may see a room of students, one on one, debating about the meaning
of some passage of Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes,
the debate is quite vigorous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now keep
in mind, the rabbis of Jesus’ time counted 613 commandments in the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of all those commandments, Jesus picks
one as the greatest, and also describes the second greatest commandment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“You shall love the Lord, your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us squirm just a little when we
hear Jesus say to us what it means to be in a relationship with the Lord Our
God, the depth of the commitment that is being demanded of us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of
our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not enough just to come
here to church every week, to take a few minutes every day to say a prayer, or
read some Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As good and
important those actions are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, we are
to strive to be present to God every second of every day of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to live lives that give praise
to the goodness of God, that offer thanks for God’s gifts to us. We are called
to be in an intimate, personal relationship with the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, we all have to
acknowledge that for many of us, this may not be easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know from our own personal relationships
with others, that we can fall short of the mark, that at times we will stumble,
make mistakes, and not be fully present to the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the Father offers us the grace to
overcome our faults and weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Especially here, right now, He seeks to inspire us through His Word, and
to strengthen us through the Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need only to open our hearts, our souls totally to the transformative
power of the Father’s love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can then,
in turn, be able to return that love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And this is where the second greatest
commandment that Jesus declared comes into play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, let me repeat that, “You
shall love your neighbor as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">yourself</b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to love others, we need to first be
able to love ourselves..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words,
we need to be able to accept ourselves, with all our strengths, our gifts, our
talents, and our weaknesses, our faults, and our failings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for some of us, maybe all of us, that may
not be such an easy thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we
accept the fact that God loves us, no matter how good or how bad we are, if we
have experienced that wonderful love, then we can learn to love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if the God, who loves us, also created
and loves all the people around us; how can we not care for them also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am not just talking about loving our
family members, our friends, and acquaintances; we are called to love everyone,
the strangers, people that do not fit in our communities, the social outcasts,
the “aliens” in our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called
to love those who are not nice to us, to those who have done us harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we
cannot make distinctions; everyone is a brother and sister, everyone deserves
our care and concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“You shall love the Lord,
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus describes these as the greatest of the commandments; that must be
the foundation of all those other rules, laws, commandments, and as we have
seen, the most challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How well we
strive to live these commandments to love can be an example to the rest of society
around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That from us, the Good News
of Lord will sound forth, and can, and will be a beacon of light to the world.</span></div>
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Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-56174966369201548922014-09-20T14:22:00.001-04:002014-09-20T14:22:51.676-04:00Reading the Good News, Living the Good News"Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel". (Art. 4, OFS Rule)<div><br></div><div>In a recent talk, Pope Francis encourage everyone to carry a small book of the Gospels with them. And more than that, to reflect daily on a passage from the Gospels. It is through the Gospels, that we can encounter Christ, be guided by him, be inspired by him.</div><div><br></div><div>I have my copy; do you have yours?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aKghVeQVsqE/VB3F-LCjFkI/AAAAAAAABOw/qNwjzreXnok/s640/blogger-image-1376922049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aKghVeQVsqE/VB3F-LCjFkI/AAAAAAAABOw/qNwjzreXnok/s640/blogger-image-1376922049.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>(PS: This is my first selfie!)</div><div><br></div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887418317312880531.post-9639211517894122892014-09-16T00:22:00.000-04:002014-09-16T00:22:52.764-04:00"Cry Havoc!"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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On September 11, 2014, President Barack Obama stood before
the nation, and declared that the war on terror has entered a new phase, with a
more dangerous adversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant, is proving to be the most vicious, and powerful terrorists
group in the Middle East.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been able to defeat a regular army,
and seize huge swaths of Iraqi territory; determined to restore the Islamic
empire of ancient times; and impose their version of Islam on everyone, by the
point of the sword or by the barrel of a gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have slaughtered prisoners of war, non-Moslem Iraqi citizens,
brutally executed two Americans and a British citizen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The President is now finalizing a strategy to fight ISIL,
hoping to use American airpower, and Middle Eastern soldiers; and not have to
send US troops back on Iraqi soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, we are hearing a US
President, calling the nation to action, but promising that our involvement
will be limited and quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot help
but recall these lines from William Shakespeare, in his play, Julius Caesar; “Cry
‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A president may wish to control the situation, but once the “dogs of war,”
are set free, often circumstances beyond a leaders’ control takes over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I have no idea what is the right course of action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pacifist in me mourns the amount of blood
that will be spilled; both from foe and innocent alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realist in me, knows that some action,
some military action is needed to curtail the advance of this group, and
protect the innocent who are in ISIL’s way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I fear we are entering a new dark and violent period, where brave men
and women must once again go into harm’s way. </div>
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All that many of us can do, is pray; pray for the suffering
innocents, pray for those who are going into combat, and pray that the Holy
Spirit break through hard hearts, shine a new light on our violent world, and
guide us to peace.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com1