THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

     This is my reflection on WAOB for the gospel of this past Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Easter.

     Our image of Christ in this 15th chapter of Saint John's gospel is found in this saying of Jesus: "I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

     This Spring a tree outside our residence was filled with blossoms and was truly magnificent.  One of our men cut a few branches to place in his room.  They were beautiful and their fragrance filled the room.  But he told me that it wasn't long before the smell faded and the pedals began to fall off.  He eventually found that the branches had died and had to be discarded.

     I have over the years had an indoor plant called a philodendron.  I have taken cuttings and placed them in water, where they usually began to develop roots.  When enough roots were present, though, the plant required planting in soil in order to grow.  Before that, it was not strong and unlikely to survive.

    "Apart from me", Jesus says, "you can do nothing."  We weaken, we wither, we die.

     Jesus tells us in John 15 that "I am the vine and my Father is the vine dresser.  Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he prunes, that it bear more fruit."

     Years ago I visited the vineyards of Napa Valley in California, noted for the excellent wines that come from those vineyards.  Here there are vines that are very old, going back generations, that produce grapes in their various flavors.  These vines are not large, in fact it is surprising how small and compact they are.

     This is because the vine growers do as Jesus says the Father does.  They cut away the dead or dying branches, even those that seem strong but bear no fruit.  And they cut back even the productive branches in order to bring forth a greater, fresher yield.  This takes work, but the results are worth it.

     Even though united to Christ, the vine that gives us life, there is the need for pruning in order to bear more fruit.  Pruning can be good.

     We hear in John 15: "You are already made clean [the old cut away and the new pruned] by the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

     We pride ourselves in our freedom and individuality.  We are taught to be self-sufficient and stand on our own.  We long to be first among others and consider being like everyone else as being less than desirous.

     Yet we need each other .. and most especially we need our union with Christ and his Church ... in order to find our real potential and to truly bear fruit.

     We cannot be "independent agents" who stand alone.  We glorify the Father by our unity with his Son and his body and bearing much fruit in love and joy.  Be a great branch!  Bear tremendous fruit!

THE "STYLE" OF THE PRIESTHOOD

      Yesterday we had an evening of reflection here at our retired priests' residence which was led by Benedictine Father Tom Acklin from Saint Vincent Archabbey.  He spoke to us of the challenge of a priesthood that, in retirement or other special circumstances, is unlike the priesthood that most of us were used to.  His was a good and comforting message to hear.

     Tuesday I recorded for WAOB the homily of Pope Francis of the previous Sunday at Saint Peter's were he ordained nine young men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rome.  In his homily the Holy Father told these new priests that priesthood is not a "career" but a sharing in the service of God to his people.  He pointed out that there are certain "marks" that could be described as a style of priesthhood.  There is the style of closeness, compassion, and tenderness.

     He points out that there are four kinds of closeness: first is closeness to God in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the Mass, just as the Lord has remained close to us in our lives.  He says that "A priest who does not pray slowly extinguishes the fire of the Spirit within."  Next there is closeness to the Bishop because he is to be the source of unity between his collaborators, the priests of his diocese.  Then he tells them to be close to each other, never resorting to disunity or gossip.  And fourth he says: "For me, after God, the most important closeness is to the holy faithful people of God."  He points out that priests are chosen from among the people of God to serve them, and they are to be "priests of the people."

     In addition to this style and the mark of closeness there must be compassion and tenderness.  When confronting your problems or those others share with you, share compassion, which leads to forgiveness and to mercy.  Never tire of forgiving, even if you are tired of asking for forgiveness.  Closeness and tenderness and compassion.

     He told these nine young new priests to be "Shepherds close to God, to the Bishop, to each other, and to the people of God.  Shepherds: servants as shepherds."

     Great advice for those embarking on their life of service in ministry and great advice for those of us retired from that same active ministry.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

     I want to share my reflection of the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John for this Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, which I gave on my radio program yesterday "Drawing Life Giving Water From Jacob's Well" on WAOB fm.

     In the 10th chapter of the gospel of John we hear that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He says many things about sheep and sheepfolds and gates and shepherds.

     Then he says: "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

     The story of Israel is filled with accounts of shepherds finding a role of prominence in a vocation that was far from glamorous or noteworthy.  We have many who tended their flocks and took them on their journeys, like Abraham ... we have Moses taking the role of humble and isolated shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro, after being a leader in Egypt and before becoming a messianic figure leading his people from slavery to freedom ... we have David who would become one of the greatest kings beginning as a shepherd ... oh, there are so many examples.  Now Jesus tells us that he too is a shepherd ... a good shepherd ... "the" good shepherd.

     What makes him a "good" shepherd?  He says: "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep."

     A true shepherd sees his sheep as his family, a part of himself, and he will do anything and everything to care for them.  He will defend and protect them with his life, for he and the sheep are one.  This sounds strange ... but it establishes what the relationship is.  Pope Francis very famously told priests that they need to not only minister to the sheep of their fold but be so one with them that they take on the smell of the sheep.

     Jesus takes on our human nature, embraces our frailty, knows our need, and shepherds us.

     In verse 14 Jesus says: "I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep ... For this reason the Father loves me."

     Listen closely to what Jesus just said.  He knows us ... not just the number of sheep in the flock, not just the peculiar ones that stand out among the others, not with a "generic" knowledge.   He knows us uniquely, calls us by name, knows our strengths and weaknesses, loves us despite what we make of ourselves, and cares for us with all he has.

     He says that he knows us in the same way that he and the Father know each other.  What greater knowledge can there be?

     It is with that understanding of the place of Jesus in our lives and of our importance to him in God's plan that we stand sure and confident in the victory over sin and death that he has won for us, and acknowledge him as our Lord and Savior ... but most especially as our friend and brother.  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

SAINT JOSEPH - A VOCATION MODEL

     With Sunday, April 25th being the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis issued a message on the Feast of Saint Joseph, March 19th, that is entitled "Saint Joseph: The Dream of Vocation".

     He says: "God looks upon the heart (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7), and in Saint Joseph he recognized the heart of a father, able to give and generate life in the midst of daily routines.  Vocations have the same goal: to beget and renew lives every day."

     He then suggests three words that are found in the life of Joseph that speak of each individual vocation.  The first is dream.  Everyone dreams of finding fulfillment in life.  "We rightly nurture great hopes, lofty aspirations that ephemeral goals - like success, money and entertainment - cannot satisfy."  Joseph received four dreams recorded in the gospels.  They were calls from God that required Joseph to change his plans and take a risk. He did so with complete trust, because of his deep faith.

    Pope Francis mentions a second word marking Joseph's vocation: service.  He lived entirely for others and never for himself.  Not only Mary and Jesus, his family, but the whole Church which is the family of his family.   His service and sacrifices were possible because "they were sustained by a greater love".  They became for him "a rule for daily life".

    And thirdly Joseph was and is a "protector" - of Jesus and of his Church, and a protector of vocations.  His willingness to serve leads to his desire to protect.  Speaking of priestly vocations, Pope Francis says: "What a beautiful example of Christian life we give when we refuse to pursue our ambitions or indulge in our illusions, but instead care for what the Lord has entrusted to us through the Church!  God then pours out his Spirit and creativity upon us; he works wonders in us, as did in  Joseph."

     These three words and their development in the words of Pope Francis speak to my heart.  May Saint Joseph, protector of vocations, accompany us with his fatherly heart.  Pray for vocations ... and pray to Saint Joseph.   

PRAY for VOCATIONS

      This coming Sunday, April 25, 2021, the Fourth of Easter, is known as Good Shepherd Sunday (because of the Gospel reading).  It has also been designated by the Vatican as World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

     The purpose of World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Lk. 10:2).  It affirms the major trust in faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  All vocations are important, but we focus on ordained ministries (priests and deacons), consecrated life in all forms for women and men, and secular institutes of service to the Church.  This year marks the 58th year of this Day of Prayer for Vocations.  

     Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, issued a statement for this day thoughts on which I will share in my next post.

     Vocations to roles of dedicated service in the Church are much fewer than they once were.  There are countless reasons for this trend, enough to require study and response, much more than we can meet here.

     Just in terms of priesthood vocations in this Diocese (Greensburg, PA):  we presently have less than ten seminarians in our formation program leading to ordination, despite the prayers of the Church and the hard work of our vocations office ...  when I entered the program (high school level) some 60 years ago this year, we had 21 in our freshman class alone [note: of that number there were two ordained as priests, one of whom has left active ministry, and years later two of the class were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate] ... my first pastor as a priest was Msgr. Augustine C. Marzhauser at Immaculate Conception in Irwin, who when he was ordained for the Pittsburgh Diocese had the experience, along with many in those days, of being sent home after ordination until a place could be found for them, sometimes years later  and requiring him to find a job until called to service.  How times have changed.

     And yet the need of the People of Faith continues to develop in numerous ways, and shepherds are needed.  It is imperative that we continue to pray for, promote, encourage and support our priests and those who are listening for the Call.

A NEW BEGINNING

      Have you ever had second thoughts regarding a decision that you made?  I have, and thus this post.

     At the end of December I posted that it was time to bring the "Journey Thoughts" experience to a close and move on in my retirement.  It had been nearly ten years of posting.  In the three and a half months since then I have time and time again thought about things that I had read or things that I have said that I wanted to share with you.  The other day I said to myself that it was time to "bite the bullet" and admit that I made a mistake.  So ... here we are.  I am "revisiting" the "Journey Thoughts" mission, and as of today am embarking on year eleven of the journey.  I hope that my musings will be of benefit to at least some of you.

     One thing that I hope to do is to share reflections on the Sunday scriptures, borrowing from another ministry that I am involved in on our local Catholic radio station WAOB (We Are One Body), 106.7 fm.  I share a weekly "lectio divina" program of scripture reflections.  They may be of benefit to you.

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     In chapter 2 of the first Letter of Saint John from the Third Sunday of Easter of this past week, the author speaks words that apply to us as appropriately as they did for those for whom they were written.

     In verse 1 we read: "My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin."

     With all the lessons that we have learned ... with all of the admonishments that have come to us over the centuries ... and from the painful experiences of the effects of our sinful failures ... you would think that we would lead a good life and not sin.  But the devastating reality is that we still sin.  Dealing with the results of our sins and the punishments that afflict us does not keep us on the "straight and narrow".

     So we are patiently reminded again and again, by the Lord and his Church, that our God is merciful and open to give us another chance.

     1st John continues: "But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world."

     Once again into the breech the Lord sends not an Abraham nor a Moses nor a prophet or teacher ... but an Advocate with the Father who paid the price for our sins and stands as the victor over sin and death.

     What does this mean for those of us slow to believe (as we hear in Luke 24:25) ... stubborn in responding to the gift of new life ... and foolish in repeating our failures?  It mean that the Lord is a kind and merciful God and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in our life of faith, we can gaze upon the "face of divine mercy" and come back to life.

     We hear "Whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him."  This is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.

     If we are slow to respond, this serves not as an excuse (for there can be no excuse from responding to this kind of life-giving blessing) but as a reminder that Jesus will never abandon us, but rather patiently help us understand and follow the message of the scriptures.  He wants us to have joy and hope; and to trust in God's intention and desire for us.

     Follow the commandments of love and live in the truth of God's heart.

"It is Time"

      Greetings!

    I have just rewatched the three films of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by Peter Jackson.  They are based on the epic adventure of that title by the author J.R.R.Tolkien.  Watching them in their extended versions was an epic adventure in itself, for each film runs over three and a half hours.  But as a Tolkien fan, well worth it.

    The outstanding tale is the task of destroying the One Ring of Power forged by the dark lord, Sauron, which seeks to give Sauron dominion over all of the realms of Middle earth.  A fellowship is established to accomplish this, the Ring is entrusted to the hobbit Frodo Baggins, who because of his innocence resists its destructive power.  Frodo succeeds, the Ring is destroyed, the rightful king is restored, and life continues - very short version.

    The story is told as the hobbits Bilbo & Frodo record their adventures.  Frodo finishes his part of "The Hobbits Tale" by Bilbo Baggins and "The Lord of the Rings" by Frodo Baggins and tells his friend and loyal companion, Sam, that there are a few pages left ... for him to tell the continued tale.

    When a time of departure takes place and Gandolf and the elves and Bilbo are about to set off into the sunset, Gandolf says to Frodo: "It is time, Frodo".  The other companions are distressed that Frodo is leaving, but he tells them it is time for him to move on, with deep sadness but real peace in his heart.  And life for the others continues.

    

    I began "Journey Thoughts" on March 11, 2011, the beginning of Lent.  My purpose was to share my journey through the gift of priesthood.  It has been nearly ten years, with 1,169 posts and recording over 169,507 pageviews.   In 2011 I posted 264 times, but this year there were only 24.  There are reasons and even some valid excuses for the change in activity, but as I have been reflecting of late, the phrase of Gandolf echoes in my mind - "It is time."  My journey has not ended, but in retirement (over three years now) it has taken a different momentum.  This year of the pandemic has changed many things about our lives and we are seeing things we have counted on coming to an end.  It is time for me to close the book on this endeavor ... with reluctance, deep regret, and sorrow.

    I have truly been blessed in these nine plus years and in my reflections shared on these pages.  Some of my High School classmates who have kept in touch have commented that one of our English profs, Father Bryant Halloran, O.S.B., would be very proud of this accomplishment.

    I am very grateful for all of those who have made my priesthood so far a wonderful experience of grace and favor  from the Lord.  For those responsible for the 169,000+ pageviews, thank you for your interest and patience.  May the Lord continue to watch over us, bring us safely out of this pandemic, and enrich our lives with his peace and joy.

    All endings should pave the way for new beginnings.  As Christmas and 2020 come to a close, may the New Year bring blessings in abundance.

One final note:

    As my recoding of my journey is coming to an end, the work of this Diocese of Greensburg continues with the announcement on the Friday before Christmas of Pope Francis' Christmas gift to us of a new bishop.  One of our own, Monsignor Larry Kulick, will be ordained in February and serve as our shepherd.  My prayers are with him ... and I ask you to remember him and this local Church in your prayers.  We have challenging, but prayerfully better days, ahead.

    God bless you all!