Ash Wednesday Homily

 

February 25, 2009 – Ash Wednesday Homily

Spiritual Stimulus

Sadly, we were not included in the federal stimulus package. How much we were all looking forward to that 50 million dollar grant. There goes the parking deck. Fear not! Every year we Catholics do get a Spiritual stimulus called LENT which begins this Wednesday. For the 6+ week season, we will have ample opportunity to renew and deepen our relationship with Christ and with one another.

I encourage each of you to think about a Lenten practice that challenges you as well as lifts the Spirit. Think outside of the proverbial box. At a priest conference last week, the speaker suggested that we fast from negative thinking. How can we do this? Consider taking a walk with Jesus at lunchtime, beholding him in the faces of all the people you pass; saying a decade of the Rosary or two for someone when you get stuck in bad traffic or get cut off; affirm someone at school or office daily; consciously say “I love you” to your beloved and children everyday; intentionally pray for the grace of reconciliation with someone you don’t think you could ever forgive. You get the picture. They say it takes 40 days to develop new patterns of behavior… so consider using this time creatively so at Easter you truly experience resurrection.

Need more help? Not too worry, we have plenty of resources here… from key tags and Lenten reflection books to Friday reflections on the Seven Last Words and Penance services. We have daily Mass on Friday during Lent. So, I urge you to take some time and reflection this week. Ask yourself, what is keeping me from having a fulfilling relationship with God? What am I lacking? What do I need to let go of? The good news is that none of this requires money, merely a willingness and discipline on our part to hang in there when the road seems endless…that’s when conversion and renewal is close at hand and we need to push through our resistance to positive spiritual change.

Gratefully, we all do this together. So let us support each other with good cheer, reminding each other that we are on a journey to deepen our experience of God’s Love. That’s the type of stimulus that can move mountains!

Newman Book Discussion Group

Many books about our faith are published every year, and there are “classics” that have left a lasting impression. We will begin to discuss a few of these books, recent and historical, theoretical analyses as well as novels, in order to gain an appreciation of the breadth of Catholicism and Catholic thought.

The first discussion, which will take place on Saturday, February 21st from 11:30 am-1:00 pm (bring your lunch!), will consider John T. Noonan’s “The Church That Can and Cannot Change” [University of Notre Dame Press, ‘05; lots of cheap copies available on Amazon.com]. For more information about this exciting new discussion group, email Fr. Eric at ericcsp@aol.com.

Being Charitable, Part 2

Last we I reviewed how we as a parish share our resources with important charities locally and beyond. You all impress me so much by how you respond to genuine need in our midst. Many times when there has been an appeal for money from a parishioner, student, or Paulist you always step up with time, talent, and treasure. The good news is that giving inspires others to get involved in service projects and naturally folks want to share that with the parish. The challenge is balancing all these wonderful requests with the good will of the community and with the limited resources available.

Beginning this spring, parishioners who would like to share their outreach activities with the parish are welcome to contact the new Service and Outreach Program Committee at J23. The purpose of this program is to assist the funding of innovative service and outreach ministries which respond to Christ’s call to ease human suffering, and advance the mission of the Church consistent with the interests of John XXIII parishioners. This committee will work with individuals or groups to evaluate requests and hopefully facilitate a financial grant from the parish’s charity fund or schedule “pulpit time” for individuals to ask parishioners directly for assistance.

As your pastor, I am grateful for this new approach. This money comes from your generosity and it is important that parishioners have a voice in how it is to be disbursed. Above all else, we must always remember that our purpose as a parish is to help bring about the Kingdom of God in our midst. I pray that this new outreach of the parish will assist in that progress.

This weekend, members of the committee will be available after each mass to answer your questions. Information fliers will be available in the lobby. You can also email the grant committee at grants@john23rd.org.

Being Charitable, Part 1

It’s been a while since I wrote for the column! Thanks to Fr. Paul, Shirley Moore, and Dr. Ruth Queen Smith for their thoughtful contributions. Their insights enhance our thinking as a community of faith. Since I always struggle to come up with new content for this space, I am always desirous for your suggestions and/or feedback. Anything you want to hear about?

Next week, members of our new John XXIII Mission and Service Committee will be addressing the parish. We have had significant discussions in the Finance Committee and the Parish Council about how we as a faith community tithe. As a parish, it is very important to witness to our faith by sharing our resources with those in need within our parish and beyond. For a long time, we have sent regular contributions to local charities in the name of the parish including Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, The Ladies of Charity, The Interfaith Health Clinic, and The Volunteer Ministry Center. As a parish, we have adopted the Children’s Nutrition Project of Haiti, The Interfaith Hospitality Network, and The Elf Project which involve time and talent as well as treasure. We also stand ready to assist parishioners who find themselves in financial distress

I am pleased by all this outreach and they will continue. Yet, I realize parishioners are involved in a variety of service projects that they want to share with the parish. As pastor, I get numerous requests for funding or “pulpit time” for many worthy projects. Balancing these requests with your good will (which has limits, I understand) has always been a concern. The Mission and Service Committee was established to make recommendations to the pastor on how to support outreach projects in which our members are actively involved. While money is tight, we have set aside funds from previous budget years to fund mission and service initiatives.

Next week, I will explain more about how this process will work. In the meantime, I want to thank you for your generosity and the many ways you seek to share your faith through service.