WHO MOVED?

There are some events that present themselves and can't go without comment.  This is one of them.  It marks the fact that my brother, Denis, (Note the French orthography) has written a book and more than that, it is on the bookshelves.  It is a deeply spiritual invitation to one and all to assess the moment in the life of the reader and, following the assessment, resolve to follow the inspiration that resulted.

I present you with the introduction that is on the website, 

"When a person drops out of the protective hands of God and begins to feel distant from Him, that person might ask, "Who moved?" It certainly isn't God.

'One night, as the author thought about that, he was kept awake as the Holy Spirit kept showing him one scripture passage after another about individuals, even entire generations, who fell out of God's grace, repented, and eventually returned to His loving embrace. The author shares his own personal experience with the intent of inspiring others to depend on and trust in God's grace as this process repeats itself throughout a lifetime.

'Dion hopes this little book will fill you with hope and trust in the Lord's abundant grace. Even when deep in despair, he believes we can always turn to God, for He never moves away and never abandons us!"

May God bless us all.  

These are difficult times, times when it is not safe to mover away from God.  These are times when it is so much better to take off whatever mask we wear before God and show Him our soul just as He made it and maintains it.  It's true that he knows us anyway.  Let it be true that we don't think that we are fooling Him behind a mask.

No matter what, don't cry at this guy's funeral.

MASS ON THE GRASS

This the Sunday when the Gospel is the story of the farmer who sows good seed and gets attacked by his enemy who comes along and sows fennel tares on top of the good stuff.  Today, God fought back.  We, in San Diego had Mass on the Grass.

One consoling part was that not a soul was carrying a bag of tares.

Next consoling part was that the two babies in attendance made their opinions known, but without an echo chamber, all anyone did was  to smile.

Next consoling part was that the "early morning cloud" phenomenon of San Diego was a comfort assuring element for the hour (9:00 - 10:00) and the post Mass fraternal exchange of peaceful support. 

Next consoling part was that the two young people who participated in the complete Eucharist for the first time have something to retell for the rest of their lives.

Finally, Belle and I want to assure you that these are trying times.

Remember that the 400 years in Egypt were trying times too.

Remember that the Roman occupation was a time of misery.

Remember that Leprosy was a mark of opprobrium for centuries.

Remember the times when Polio claimed lives

Remember that HIV/AIDS remains a mark of approbrium.

Remember the times when our country had "Bozos" in charge.

Remember the times when the USA was respected around the world.

Let me suggest that we all must stay close to God...How?

Patience is the answer:

The servants of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His servants said to him,
‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Patience is the virtue that brings us to the point of solution.
Hey, maybe "Mass on the Grass" is the direction that will bring us to the harvest.

I forgot to implore you all not to cry at my funeral.  Given that, I must say that some of the feedback that I have from you shows me that there was no need for the reminder.

MY FIRST CHRISTMASES

How many "first Christmases" have you had?  Count them and you'll be surprised how many of these occasions qualify as your first time.  I was thinking about it over this past week.  Don't ask me why.  After all, It's only July.  I don't have an explanation, just descriptions.  Even some of the dates may be erroneous, but they will all be in the ballpark - like 315' down the left field line in Fenway. See, I remember that.  Do you remember how high the wall is?  (If you don't remember, look it up😊)

1. First Christmas at Midnight Mass.- 1945.  Some of you will remember that it was only the French and the Polish communities who had permission to celebrate Mass at midnight for Christmas.  At the Immaculate Conception church children were not allowed at Midnight Mass because they would take seats way from adults. This was not a foolish policy.  There were only three churches in the entire city with Midnight Mass.  It required a paid ticket to be admitted. OK, tell me that my being there was not a big deal.  OK, I confess:  a) I had a connection; b) I had to stand in line to buy the tickets; c) My connection gave me my dollar needed to get the extra ticket; I was already 12 years old.

It was such a big deal because it was Midnight Mass I even got to wear regular cut trousers and a quasi adult shirt for the occasion.  It was such a big deal because I wasn't sent to bed at the regular bedtime and allowed to stay up all night.  All I had to do was to help prepare the post-Mass Christmas party that always took place at our house. 

I think that this is the occasion of my social puberty line because that same week my parents trusted me to go help my maternal grandmother and her coterie of elders to prepare the all-day New Years Day event at her apartment.  That too turned into a "tradition" in my life until the #2 first Christmas intruded on me.

2.First Christmas away from home. (1958)

3.First Christmas in a foreign country (Rome, Italy, 1961)

4.First Christmas in a foreign mission (San Mateo, Isabela, Philippines - (1967)

5.First Christmas with a wife and not much else (San Diego, CA - 1977)

6. First Christmas with a wife, a son at the breast, another in the womb and a secular job (1978)

7. First "Early Christmas" in Bethlehem (Yes, that Bethlehem!) (12/8/2009)