Announcements: Ascension of the Lord

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:


Blessing of the Fleet: This coming Sunday, June 5, will be the blessing of the fleet. Please contact Angela Clark if you would like to donate some of your time and talent. The Blessing will be after Mass at 2:00 PM.

Confirmation and First Communion Pics: Please see our website for the pictures or CLICK HERE.

Thank you: Thank you to Archbishop Schwietz and Deacon Harry Moore for a wonder celebration of First Communion and Confirmation. Please hurry back!

Thank you: Thank you Nora Johnson for putting out the flowers on the church steps again this year.

Gospel: The Ascension will be celebrated in place of the 7th Sunday of Easter. Please see the homily and readings below.

Around the Mission: I flew to Clarks Point on Friday and the archbishop, Deacon and Harry, and I flew to Saint Theresa on Saturday. I flew to Anchorage on Monday, round trip, six and one half hours. I was going to spend the night in Anchorage but a storm was coming in so I got back the same day. I had time to pick up my new Tacoma and park it in our hanger at Merrill Field.


Thank you: Pat Durbin and Deacon Harry fixed a drain in our Rectory. I had tried several times but the pipe was clogged somewhere beyond my ability to fix it.

Have a fantastic week...Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings:

Ascension, Year A, DLG 2011, Hearts Ascend, Acts 1: 1-11; Eph 1: 17 23; Mat 28: 16-20

Ask children to come up front and hold each card. Ask for volunteers to put these cards in order:

1. Walk on Water
2. Assumption
3. Crucifixion
4. Resurrection
5. Last Supper
6. Presentation
7. Incarnation
8. Annunciation
9. 10 Commandments
10. Ascension

The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is divine. Jesus is glorified. Although his physical body is not present with us, he is still present in us. We experience that presence in our daily lives.

Saint Augustine helped me to understand the Ascension. He said that Christ ascended into heaven. As humans living on earth our bodies do not ascend, but our hearts ascend to Jesus. We naturally seek Jesus above. Saint Augustine says we can be with Jesus right now through love.

Saint Augustine said that since Jesus is God, it is easy for him to be with us right now. Since Christ Ascended, he said, and he is the head of us and we are the body, we can NEVER be separated.

Acts tells us, “Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit. Although his physical body is not visibly present…Jesus is certainly present in each one of us right now. Our role in the Ascension is to make that presence visible to everyone that we meet (223 Words).

Acts 1: 1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days 2 and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father 3 about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going 4 to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

Ephesians 1: 17-23
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, 11 the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Mat 28: 16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Announcements: 6th Sunday of Easter Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: The two L's and the two S's are important to our spiritual development. Please see homily and readings below.

Town Hall Meeting: Thank you for the great turn-out for our meeting and for making Fr. Scott the greater fee. welcome. After the meeting, and after talking with Fr. Scott the greater further, I walked away with a very good feeling about the care and love the Archdiocese has for Bristol Bay. We came up with some great ideas to propose to the Archbishop and I am confident that all of you were listened to and understood.

Potluck and Reception: After Mass this week there will be a potluck for those to be confirmed and those receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish.

Archbishop and Deacon to visit: Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore from Saint Michael in Palmer, will be celebrating with us this week-end. They will be arriving on Penair on the first morning flight, Friday, May 27. If you can, let's welcome them at the airport, especially those being confirmed.

Around the Mission: Lance, a Catholic who works for the FAA in our Dillingham Flight Service Station, flew with me to Saint Theresa in King Salmon on Saturday. We all had Mass together (Saturday May 21). I shared with the King Salmon/Naknek parishioners some of the things we talked about at our town hall meeting the evening of May 26th.

Have a wonderful week and please pray for those being confirmed Johanna, Brian, Josh, Anthony, Walter, Daniel, and those receiving First Communion (Katelynn, Alethia, Lotus, Aurora). Also check out my beach landing video by CLICKING HERE. Fr. Scott

Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings:

6th Easter Sun A 2011, Law of Love; Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21

Today I am going to talk about the two L’s and the two S’s: The Law of Love and Sacrificed and Self-Control.

First of all, law is not the enemy of love. Freedom and Joy do not always equal love. Believe it or not, obedience to Jesus’ commands equates to love.

Obedience comes from the Latin Word oboedire, meaning to “listen carefully.” In other words, obedience means to listen to the Holy Spirit’s call in our lives.

The law that we have to listen to is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That is the law. We are obedient when we follow this law.

Saint Paul says this about the Law of Love, “The law of love is not primarily revealed in what we say, or how we feel, but in what we do.”

This is how we are obedient to the law of love: When we are patient, kind, and gentle with each other. When we forgive each other, tell the truth, and remain faithful.

Saint Paul also tells us what the fruits of the law of love is: The two S’s, sacrifice and Self control. Believe it or not, if it feels good do it, or it healthy to always express your feelings, is not always the ideal thing to do.

For example, if we are angry with our friends or family, abusing them verbally or physically won’t help. If we are sexually attracted to our best friend’s spouse, having an affair will end in tears.

Sacrifice is a way to be obedient to the Law of Love. For example, be alert to the poverty and make a sacrifice some of your time and wealth to help. That is sacrificing for the Law of Love. Ask a married couple what sacrifice is…it is not that easy. A husband and wife sacrifice for the good of the family. That is the Law of Love.

Self-control is an ally of love. It helps us sort out the appropriate time to undertake the appropriate action. The path to happiness is not being free, doing what we want, and always having money to buy things. The path to happiness is being self-controlled.

Self-control is not easy. Ask any professional athlete what it is like to practice everyday. Self-control is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.

The main benefit of self-control is being able to be in charge of one’s emotional life rather that it being in charge of us.

Here is an example of self-control: Judy set five easily obtained goals for herself. She promised to say one Hail Mary and one Our Father daily. She vowed, no matter what, to exercise four times a week for one hour. She made certain she ate fruit and vegetables everyday. She made Sunday Mass a priority, not a choice. She decided to start each morning by reading a passage from one of the gospels.

After accomplishing these goals week after week, she felt fantastic. She took control of her emotions. She was content with herself and felt very good about herself. Her self-esteem soared. She was being obedient to the law of love.

This week, may all of us embrace sacrifice and self-control as the doors to an even greater practical experience of the Risen Christ’s Law of Love (570 Words).

Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17
Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.

1 Peter 3: 15-18
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.

John 14: 15-21
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

Announcements: 5th Sunday of Easter Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are some important announcements:

Town Hall Meeting: Fr. Scot Medlock, Vicar of Clergy, will be visiting us from Anchorage, Thursday, May 19, 2011. He wants to assess our needs as a parish mission in order to better evaluate who will be replacing me as pastor. The plan is to gather at Holy Rosary Parish at 5:30 PM (unless otherwise announced). Please bring you favorite dish for a potluck afterward. All are invited to this important informative meeting!

Confirmation: Confirmation will be May 28 at noon at Saint Theresa and May 29 at 12:30 at Holy Rosary. Please bring your favorite dish for a Potluck afterward.

First Communion: Our first communion celebration will be May 28 at Saint Theresa and May 29 at Holy Rosary. Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore will be present to celebrate with us.

My Mistake Gospel: I published the readings and homily for week 5 of Easter last week for week 4. I have made the correction. So you may see the same homily and readings this week as you saw last week.

Around the Mission: I made my first Beach Landing at Protection Point this last week. It took me two flights out there. I finally got a low tide and was able to watch John Bouker land first. I then did a touch and go on the beach. I also flew to Clarks Point and King Salmon as well as Levelock and Koligonek for some practice GPS approaches.

Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings

5th Easter Sun A DLG 2011, Spiritual House, Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

There have been many times in my life where I felt out of place. While employed for one airline I felt that my moral standards and ethics where being eroded. I found myself falling into the things that those around me were doing, such as stretching the truth a bit, swearing, thinking bad things about others, running out of patience, laughing at dirty jokes…those kinds of things. I would struggle with the fact that I was a Christian. But in fact, I was a Christian being formed by non-Christians.

Being formed was something that I thought much about. Believe it…society forms us. We may think being formed is like brain washing, well, in a way it is. We grow up with outside influences that help make us the people we are.

When I went into the seminary, they said they were going to reform me. I basically said, “What are you talking about? You are going to brain wash me?” It was then I realized that they were talking about something very different. The seminary told me that everyone is formed by society. Not everybody is formed by Jesus.

We go to church; we believe in God, but sometimes the society around us tends to form us more than our spiritual family. The readings are about being formed by Jesus.

At first, those first Christians in 1 Peter were displaced socially as well as spiritually. But they found a spiritual home. The author of the second reading tries to give them a sense of belonging. They are not lost or wondering or misplaced…they belong to a single spiritual house with Jesus at the center, as the cornerstone.

A spiritual house helped to form those early Christians. They learned to act and live like Jesus. Like those early Christians, we too have a spiritual house where we belong and where Jesus forms us.

Our Church is spiritual household? The reading from Acts tells us what can happen in a spiritual household. For awhile, the widows in the village started getting less food than everyone else.

The spiritual household remedied this situation. They put their heads together. They came up with a just plan. They let the Holy Spirit Guide them. They fixed the situation.

In the gospel, Jesus tells that if we take our formation seriously, if we take our spiritual house sincerely, it will last forever.

How do we, as Christians, fit in when people in our work environments lead us astray by swearing, talking about others negatively, stealing, lying, and cheating? The same with school; How do you who are students integrate your faith, handle being around those who don’t act and think like Jesus.

The readings are about some leaders in our world who are for abortion, who are promiscuous, and who set poor examples for our children. These readings are about our lives. They tell us that if we want to be Christian, we may feel out of place in everyday life.

But we can always feel at home in our spiritual house…where we belong…where Jesus is our teacher and leader.

These reading tell us that there is something better out there. They tell us there is something much stronger. They tell us that you and I belong to a Spiritual house that is greater than anything on this earth. It is a house where Jesus leads us, forms us, and provides for our needs (560 Words).

Acts 6:1-7
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

1 Peter 2:4-9
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

John 14:1-12
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.

Announcements: 4th Sunday of Easter Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter are about belonging to a spiritual house that forms us. Please see the homily and readings below.

Archbishop May 28 and 29: The Archbishop of Anchorage will be celebrating Mass Saturday the 28th of May at noon at Saint Theresa and Sunday the 29th of May at Holy Rosary. He will be confirming one young adult at Saint Theresa and four young adults and one adult at Holy Rosary. Additionally, several children will be receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish for the potluck/reception afterward.

Thank you: Thanx to Diana Swaim for preparing the children for First Communion. Looks like we will have four, Aurora at Saint Theresa and Alethia, Katelyn, and Lotus at Holy Rosary. First Communion will take place during the confirmation Mass when the Archbishop is here.

Blessing of the Fleet: Once again Angela Clark has graciously offered to organize the blessing of the Dillingham fishing fleet. The blessing is set for Sunday, June 5, at 2:00 PM. Please contact her if you would like to help out: 842-5331.

Around the Mission: After returning from Great Falls, Montana I finally picked up our Cherokee in King Salmon. Unfortunately the battery was dead and I had to call Clarks Point and cancel my service there. I rounded up a couple people on the East Ramp in King Salmon to re-charge my Battery, and was in the air by 2:00 PM of Friday, May 6. Saturday I flew back to King Salmon for Mass at Noon (Saint Theresa).

Catholic Presence in Bristol Bay: Rest assured that when I leave that the Catholic Church will have a presence in Bristol Bay. The Archdiocese has three plans to replace me. Plan A is to have a full time priest stay in the rectory in Dillingham. Plan B is to have Bristol Bay on the circuit of priests. A priest would fly out every other week for Mass. Plan C would be to have an Anchorage based parish sponsor a priest or deacon to fly out every other week.

Have a wonderful week…Fr. Scott

4th Easter A DLG 2011, Good Shepherd, Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10 1-10.

Like sheep, we follow a shepherd. Jesus is our shepherd. Likewise, Archbishop Roger Schwietz is a shepherd to the archdiocese of Anchorage. Shepherds are responsible for showing us and nudging us through the narrow gate.

In Iceland all the sheep freely roam the island. There are no fences. At the end of the year, all the shepherds get together on their horses and round up the sheep. They then drive the sheep through this narrow gate to shave them of their wool. Many of them don’t want to go through it.

That is why we need a shepherd, to get us to take a better look at that narrow Gate.

A shepherd is not out in front of the flock, but in the back nudging and prodding, the crook is like a bishops crosier? The sheep have some freedom to browse for green grass. If one strays to far, it is nudged back so the rest don’t follow and stray with it. Icelandic sheep ran free for nearly a year. Not a lot of predators to kill them.

Sometime we stray from the flock. Sometime we get weak and the wolf sinks its teeth in us. The wolf can get us to do things like buy a new car when we can’t afford it or charge money on credit cards when we can not pay it back. Wolves can convince teenagers to take drugs and smoke.

Jesus is our Shepherd. When we stray from the flock, call on Jesus, our shepherd. Jesus points us back to the narrow gate. He does not say it is easy to go through the gate. He says it takes sacrifice, prayer, and some suffering. But the rewards are incredible. The wise sheep always hear and follow the voice of the shepherd.

Sheep dogs are like our Deacons. They help to heard the sheep toward that narrow gate. In fact, in one famous painting of the crucifix, there was a dog at the foot of the cross. The deacons took that as there mascot. Dogs for Christ became the slogan for the Dominican order.

When sheep wander off from the flock, they become easy food for a wolf. Sheep dogs will attack a wolf. They are willing to die fighting a wolf to protect a sheep. They keep the flock together in one strong group. Wolves are less likely to attack a strong group.

Let us give thanks for the Deacons who chase away the wolves; Also, lets not forget the Bishops who shepherd us and keep us together as a strong and healthy community; The priests who teach us and lead us in prayer; The sisters and brothers of the religious orders who give their lives to building up our Catholic Church. And all of us who generously support our church with time, talent, and money (472 Words).

Acts 2:14, 36-41

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

1 Peter 2:20-25
But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 10 1-10.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

Announcements: 3rd Sunday Easter Year A 2011

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: On the road to Emmaus Jesus listens first. Please see the Homily and readings below.

Thank you: Thank you Aileen for the Communion Service on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. I am currently in Great Falls Montana for a Canon Law convention.

Confirmation and First Communion: The Archbishop will be here in three weeks, May 28 (Saint Theresa) and May 29 (Holy Rosary). All those to be confirmed will meet this Sunday after Mass and those to receive First Communion will meet after mass on the 4th Sunday of Easter. Five will be confirmed in Dillingham and one in King Salmon/Naknek.

Potluck: Our next potluck will be when the Archbishop is here May 29th. Please plan to bring your favorite dish. All are welcome to join us. Don’t feel it is mandatory to bring food in order to join us and eat. There is always enough food to go around.

Around the Mission: Our Cherokee has finally been repaired. I just need to pick it up in King Salmon. A part behind the propeller was cracked and the part took over a month to get here.

Sacred Heart Wasilla Visit: While in Anchorage I drove to Wasilla and met with Father Bill Fournier, Deacon Dave Schutt, Secretary Sheila English, and the person in charge of Faith Formation Julie Dekreon. I toured the Church, Office, out buildings, and school. I got a chance to talk with a few teachers including Kathy Bishop (acting Principal), at the school. I walked away with a good idea of what I am getting into. It is a very organized and thriving parish and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. They have about 800 families.

Have a wonder day and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings for 3rd Sunday of Easter

3rd Easter Sun A 2011 Listen First, Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1: 17-21; Luke 24:13-35, Listen First.

What happened on the Road to Emmaus is similar to what happens when we celebrate the Eucharist. Even though we are prevented from seeing Jesus, we can still have a life-changing experience.

When people come to me and want to enter the church, have their children baptized, or be married, I try to meet them where they are. I try not to expect them to be perfect Catholics like you and me (yes, that's a joke!). I know we all start our faith journeys at different places. I know that none of us are at the same level of faith.

The road to Emmaus is about faith journeys. The disciples are on a journey of faith. Jesus meets them where they are…as they are. Jesus listens to the disciples’ expectations. Jesus listens to their hopes and disappointments. After listening, Jesus teaches them by reading scripture. This leads to hope.

When we come to mass we are on a road to Emmaus. God sees our heart and mind while we are here in Mass. There is no reason to pretend how we feel. God wants to meet us in the midst of our lives, wherever that may be. Wherever you are on your faith journey, Jesus first wants to listen to you, then he wants you to listen to Him.

Although cultures are different all around the world, several elements of the Mass always stay the same. The risen Christ accompanies us on our faith journey. Jesus always listens to us, opens our minds to the scriptures, and hosts us at His table. Finally, and most important of all, Jesus sends us out to tell the world that he has been raised from the dead.

We share with thousands of generations the same fire of God’s faithful love burning in our hearts as we are welcomed here each week, are listened to, taught, nourished, and sent out to do our bit for the coming of Christ’s kingdom (317 Words).

Acts 2:14, 22-33
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: 'I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear.

1 Peter 1: 17-21
Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Luke 24:13-35
Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Announcements: 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements.

Thank you: Thank you to Rick Tennyson who framed and hung our stained glass windows. Matteo Guarino created these windows during the last several years.


Thank you: Thank you to Spruce Lynch and Brain Venua for the music during Easter Sunday.

Thank you: Thank you to Bernina Venua for organizing the Easter Egg hunt for the children. There were many happy campers after the Easter Mass!!

Gospel: Have you ever had a sign from God? Please see homily and readings below.

Potluck: Next Potluck will be May 29th after the Confirmation and First Communion celebration.

Confirmation: All those to be confirmed will need to meet after mass, Sunday, May 8th. The Archbishop will be here for confirmation, Sunday, May 29th, at 12:30 PM.

First Communion: Those to receive First Communion will meet with me Sunday, May 15th, after Mass. First Communion will be May 29th.

Canon Law Convention: I will be in Great Falls Montana for a canon law convention next week.

Have a wonderful Easter Season…Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings

2nd Easter Sun A STAER Sings
Have you ever asked for a sign from God? I have. When I became distressed about being in the seminary I prayed for a sign. “God, are you positive this is what you want me to do. If so, give me a sign. One time I said, “God, just show me one negative thing about this seminary and I am out of here.” Well, as you can see, that is one sign I never received.

I think we have all needed a sign from God at one time or another? Some of us probably have strong enough faith that we don’t need to pray for signs. I need them once in awhile…and so did Thomas. Thomas needed something more convincing than just words. He needed a concrete experience with the risen Lord to give his faith a little boost.

Thomas doubted his faith. He struggled with believing that Christ had risen and had come back to life. That struggle led him to a profound experience with the risen Lord.

I think it is OK to ask for signs. It is also OK to doubt our faith. I believe the two go hand in hand. When we doubt our faith, we sometimes need a sign of God’s presence to get us back on track.

Doubting our faith can lead us to struggle with our faith like Thomas did. As we struggle with our faith we ask questions. We try to understand. Our hearts are more open to the Holy Spirit.

That is when the signs we have prayed for may become clear…and those signs enable us to have a personal encounter with the risen Lord.

Experiencing the risen Lord is a sign of God’s presence and love for us. For example, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are known to feel a profound joy and love when serving at mass. When we help others, we feel wonderful inside, we experience the risen Lord. When we refuse to gossip and when we are honest, we experience the risen Christ. Ever walked out of Confession and felt like you were totally at peace with God?

All of us here today are benefactors of Thomas experience with the risen Lord. As Thomas believed because he saw the risen Jesus, “So too,” Acts tells us, “were many brought to faith through the various signs and wonders wrought by the apostles.”

Those signs and wonders are all around us. To see them, doubting Thomas reminds us to struggle with our faith…open our hearts to the spirit. It is then that we will see those signs and experience the risen Lord.

When we experience the risen Lord, we grow in faith. Growing in faith should set us on fire with the love of God.

Thomas’ experience with the risen Lord set him on fire. “My Lord and My God,” he exclaimed when he saw the nail marks in Jesus’ arms.

Whether we pray for a sign or not, we can all experience the risen Lord. Be open to the Holy Spirit…Struggle with your faith if you have questions and problems. Get involved with ministry. And when you experience the risen Lord again, let that flame within you spread like wildfire. Pass that torch of love on to everyone you meet (540 Words).

Acts 2: 42-47
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

1 Pt 1: 3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls.

Jn 20: 19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name

Announcements: Holy Week Year A 2011

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Holy Week Celebrations at Holy Rosary in Dillingham:
Holy Thursday, 5:30 PM
Good Friday, 5:30 PM
Easter Sunday, 10:00 AM
Easter Egg Hunt to Follow the Easter Sunday Mass

Easter at Saint Theresa in King Salmon/Naknek will be celebrated at 4:00 PM Saturday, April 23rd.

Easter at Saint Peter the Fisherman will be celebrated on Good Friday at 11:30 AM.

Rectory Committee: I have selected a committee to decide what will happen to our rectory once I leave July 31, 2011. There will not be a priest living in the rectory. A priest or deacon will come out every other weekend and return the same week-end back to Anchorage. The members of the committee have until May 29, 2011, to make a decision. The committee members are: Aileen Walsh, Angie Venua, Angela Clark, Bernie Venua, Kyle Belleque, Pat Durbin, and Joanne Armstrong.

Potluck: The next potluck will be after Mass May 29th. The Archbishop will be here to celebrate confirmation and first communion. Please bring your favorite dish.

My Next Assignment: The Archbishop is sending me to Sacred Heart in Wasilla, Alaska. I start the first weekend in August.

Gospel: Homilies and Readings for the Holy Week are below.

Have a wonderful Holy Week. Fr. Scott


Holy Thursday Homily and Readings:

April 21, 2011 Ex 12: 1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11: 23-26; John 13: 1-15

Today is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We will formally receive the oils from the Chrism Mass, which was celebrated on Tuesday at the Cathedral. We will participate in a foot washing ceremony.

Getting our feet washed is about contact with Jesus. It is to remind us that Jesus is constantly making attempts to contact us.

Allowing Jesus to contact us means knowing we will never be abandoned.

Faith enables us to let Jesus contact us. We let Jesus contact us if we are open to the Holy Spirit.

We let Jesus contact us in Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, confirmation, anointing of the sick, Holy Orders, and at the Eucharist.

The woman at the well let Jesus contact her. That contact transformed her life.

Jesus contacted Peter. Peter became our first Pope.

Remember the story of the Man born blind. By letting Jesus contact him, he was both spiritually and physically cured. It can cure us too!

When we let Jesus contact us this is what happens:
We can pass from unrest to a profound feeling of peace. We can shift from despair to hope. We can pass from darkness into light. We can move from death to life.

This foot washing is about contact with Jesus…letting Jesus contact us. He is helping us to understand the Eucharist. He is saying this: We do not really understand what it means to celebrate the Eucharist unless we are prepared…unless we are prepared to perform the lowliest and least exciting of tasks for one another.

During the rest of Holy Week, I challenge all of you to be aware of contact with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said in the Gospel, “Wash each other’s feet.” Not literally, but let Jesus love you and in turn, pass that love on to others.

When the prayer after communion is complete, I will process with the blessed sacrament around the congregation and then place it in the confessional. When this is complete, I will genuflect and all leave in silence. That blessed sacrament will be used tomorrow during the Good Friday celebration.

Now I need some volunteers for the foot washing (358 Words).

Holy Thursday: Reception of the Holy Oils:

Oils are brought up with the gifts. The presenter holds the oil and says, oil of the sick, and then brings it forward. The priest describes the oil.

Presenter 1: The Oil of the Sick.

Priest: May the sick who are anointed with this oil experience the compassion of Christ and his saving love, in body and soul.
R: Blessed be God forever.

Presenter 2: The Oil of Catechumens.

Priest: Through anointing with this oil may our catechumens who are preparing to receive the savings waters of baptism be strengthened by Christ to resist the power of Satan and reject evil in all its forms.
R: Blessed be God forever.

Presenter 3: The Holy Chrism.

Priest: Through anointing with this perfumed Chrism may children and adults, who are baptized and confirmed, and presbyters, who are ordained, experience the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit.
R: Blessed be God forever.

Exo 12:1] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, [Exo 12:2] "This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year. [Exo 12:3] Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household.
[Exo 12:4] If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in proportion to the number of persons who partake of it. [Exo 12:5] The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. [Exo 12:6] You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. [Exo 12:7] They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. [Exo 12:8] That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. [Exo 12:11] "This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD. [Exo 12:12] For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first--born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt-I, the LORD! [Exo 12:13] But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. [Exo 12:14] "This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.

[1 Cor 11:23] For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, [1 Cor 11:24] and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." [1 Cor 11:25] In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." [1 Cor 11:26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

[John 13:1] Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. [John 13:2] The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, [John 13:3] fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, [John 13:4] he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. [John 13:5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. [John 13:6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" [John 13:7] Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." [John 13:8] Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." [John 13:9] Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." [John 13:10] Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." [John 13:11] For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." [John 13:12] So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? [John 13:13] You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. [John 13:14] If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. [John 13:15] I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.


Good Friday Homily and Readings:

April 22, 2011, Herby, Is52:13—53:12;Heb4:14-16&5:7-9;Jn18:1—19:42

A group of production managers calculated the time it would take experienced hikers to trek 50 miles. Next they chose 9 accomplished hikers, and Herby. If the hikers made it back TOGETHER in the allotted time, each would receive $10,000.

Herby, sweating and tired after the first few miles, fell behind. Time was wasted waiting for him. The hikers tried moving Herby to the middle of the line and divided up his backpack among them. They made better time, but it was not enough. Finally, they put Herby right up front and took turns encouraging him. They showed him compassion when his feet were hurting. They were patient with him when he needed to rest. Not surprisingly, they collected the money.

The story about Herby is similar to the story in the Gospel. Both are about sacrificing, dying and rising, and living out God’s Will.

The story of Herby is about sacrificing. The hikers start out with their own agendas. They are self sufficient and not willing to reach out to others. In the infant stages of the hike, I can envision physically elite hikers waiting for Herby to catch up, pacing, yelling at him, and swearing under their breath. Halfway through the adventure, they realize they need to make some sacrifices.

The story of Herby is also about dying and rising, but not in the LITERAL sense. One hiker, comparable to taking a knife and stabbing himself in the heart, grudgingly walks over to Herby, takes off his pack, and divides up his belongings. Herby makes better time for a few hours. One hiker bandages Herby’s blistered feet (compassion) Spirits are lifted and they are back on schedule.

Finally, the Herby story is about living out God’s will. By loving Herby, instead of chastising him, the hikers made more progress as a unit. Doing God’s will means loving one another. It means reaching out to the outcasts in our society and actually feeling and experiencing their pain.

The Good Friday Gospel is about sacrifice. It’s about Jesus making the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the Cross for us. It’s about dying and rising.

It’s about Jesus, stumbling, falling with the weight of his Cross…being helped up by others, then stumbling, and falling, again and again. And all along he knew he was trudging toward his death.

Good Friday is about doing God’s will by loving others. Jesus embraced God’s will and died on the cross because he loved us so much. We to will be saved if we embrace God’s will.

The message of the Good Friday Gospel is this: Jesus not only shows us how to die, but he shows us how to live as well (448 Words).

Isaiah 52:13—53
See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him-- so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals--So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.

Heb4:14-16&5:7-9
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

John 18:1—19:42 (Passion)


Easter Sunday Homily

DLG 2011, Let Go.

Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, is a swashbuckling archeologist. His missions involve finding valuable religious articles and getting chased by tribes of Indians. Here is a riddle:

Indiana Jones was running from a tribe of hostile natives. He had just found and taken three diamonds. Each diamond weighed one pound. He weighed 200 pounds. Indiana Jones approached an old rope bridge. The sign on the bridge said, “Max Weight 202 pounds. His total weight with the diamonds was 203 pounds. How did he cross the bridge? He juggled the diamonds. He let go of one diamond. By letting go, it made him lighter. It lessoned his burden. It saved his life.

Here is the message of Easter…We cannot have new life without letting go…without dieing first. LEARN TO JUGGLE. In the spiritual life, juggling represents letting go or dieing and then rising to new life.

While juggling I hold onto one ball while the other two are in the air. When I finally toss the one ball back into the air:

It frees me
It makes me lighter
It lessons my burden

Juggling teaches us to let go. As humans, we like to hold on to things that may not be so good for us. We grow attached to things. When we give them up, it makes us free…it makes our loads manageable. It gives us a new lease on life.

I “let go” of chewing tobacco eight years ago. I was at risk for mouth and stomach cancer. I had high blood pressure. I was suffering. I let it go. My blood pressure went down. It struggled for a couple of years but I feel so much better.

Drinking is another one of those bad habits I let go. When I drank I suffered, and so did the people around me. This is no exaggeration. After being sober my relationships were strengthened, my health improved, I was never depressed, and my life has never been better.

Letting go of material possessions frees us to do more of God’s work. When we simplify our lives we are more open to God’s call.

During college I stored my belongings in a storage unit. Storage spaces cost lots of money. I soon realized I did not need the stuff and got rid of all of it. I juggled…I let it go. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders…it was New life.

Let go of those intangible things that hurt us, hurt others, and lead us farther from God.

Gossiping, impatience, self-centeredness, lying, cheating, stress, and worrying are things we can let go of.

Catholic Christians let go of these things by calling on the Holy Spirit and praying Jesus. Jesus tells us this, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” That is an invitation to you to “let go” and share that burden with God.

It is when we let go that we experience new life. Letting go reduces suffering. Clinging to bad habits and practices creates suffering.

Now just what does it mean to die to self? Learn to do things YOU dislike to do but BENEFIT another person. No-one likes standing in a long line (dieing). Let a person go in front of you at the check-out stand (new life).

There is a belief that nothing that comes to us is negative. All things that come to us give us a chance to grow in holiness and grow closer to God. Everything that is given to us is a gift to help us grow…even suffering and illness.

Things in life that are good for us always come through dieing…through letting go. Take it from Jesus, have faith, trust in God, let go and die, experience new life…in short…learn to juggle with it