Loring Crossman - Rest in Peace Brother

Last week I lost a friend, Loring Crossman, 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.

“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! 

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.’’

HUMP DAY IS HERE!!!

Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - 2014

Genesis 15: 1-6; 21: 1-3
Hebrews 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19
Luke 2:22-40

Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, which comes on the Sunday after Christmas.  This year, this Feast and Christmas are only a few days apart.  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.  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?  First there was the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then finding shelter in a manger, a barn!  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.  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. 

So they go up to Jerusalem, to the Temple to make the required sacrifices.  Now keep in mind that they were not the only ones going to the Temple that day.  There would have been hundreds, if not thousands of worshipers going to the there.  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.  And yet, and yet; out of that massive crowd of humanity, Simeon, is able to find Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  How?  He was guided by the Holy Spirit, for God was fulfilling His promise, that Simeon would not see death, before seeing the Messiah.  Simeon had such faith in that promise, that for so many years he kept going to the Temple.  And despite so many disappointing encounters, he still had faith.   Then comes the day his path crosses with Mary, Joseph and their infant son.  He praises God that his faith has been rewarded, he has seen the Messiah.  Then he tells Mary and Joseph what the destiny of their child would be, and what it would cost them.  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?  This was not what they signed up for.  But they do not flee, they returned to Nazareth, Despite their fears of what the future may hold, they raised the child  Jesus up into a strong young man, who was “filled with wisdom” and with the favor of God.  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.  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.  He had faith that, despite his old age, he believed that God would keep His promise of making from him a mighty nation.

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:.  He will be with us in the joyful times, and the sad times.  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.  It is by faith in God’s love, which causes us to reach out to others, to share that love.  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.

Boston Boy Coming Home to New England

I 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.

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.

First Sunday of Advent - 2014; A Reflection

Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7

1 Corinthians 1: 3-9

Mark 13: 33-37

We are entering the Advent season, in preparation for the celebration of Christmas.  Of course, the department stores, electronics stores, the online shopping sites, have declared that now is the Christmas season.  “So buy now, now, NOW; while prices are low, low, LOW!”  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.  We tend to forget that Advent is a time to also reflect on the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of time.  Many of us, I think, have the attitude that the Second Coming will not happen in our lifetimes.  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.

Then today’s Gospel can be an alarm for us. For Jesus is grabbing us by the shoulders; shaking us and saying: “Watch!”  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.  So we need to live every day, every hour, and every second, in expectation of Christ’s Second Coming!  And our hearts and souls must to ready, every day, every hour, and every second, to greet Him when He comes.  We must strive daily, to read, reflect on, and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We must live in expectation of encountering Christ daily, through God’s Creation, through His Word, in each other, and especially through the Eucharist.  We must work to make our hearts open to the Presence of our Living God..

This requires work, this requires preparation; it will mean a lifetime of work.  God is with us, ready to form us in a beautiful creation; as long as we do not harden our hearts against Him.  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.

Massachusetts 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. 

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.

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.

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.

Deacons and the New Evangelization

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. 

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.

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.