Who's the Greatest

Mk 9:33-37

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?

But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

 In this story we hear about Jesus’ and his disciples making their way to Capernaum, and the disciples arguing with each other about who was the greatest.  How would you feel, listening to that?   It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t stop them in their tracks and tell them to just be quiet, that he didn’t want to hear their self-centered babbling or, give them a good talking to, to correct them.  Instead, he patiently waited until they got to a house, went inside, didn’t scold them, but taught them.  And he does the same for us.  We spend time with Jesus, to listen to him, and learn something about what it takes to be a disciple of his.

The disciples on the road were in competition with each other to be the greatest.  It seems to be human nature and even an expectation of our society for us to compete with one another.  Competition itself isn’t bad, and sometimes can even help us grow but, it can get out of hand.  If we compete out of jealousy, or a craving for power, seeking our own glory and prestige, it can become an obsession and make us oblivious to what God is really asking us to do, and clueless to what it really takes to be first. This is what Jesus was helping his disciples realize back then in Capernaum and he’s showing us the same thing today, what it really takes to be first.

While society might expect us to aim as much as we can to be first, Jesus requires a different approach. To be first, seek to go as low as you can go. Aspire, not to be the boss or big shot, but to be a servant and serve out of a love that is expressed with concrete actions, especially toward those who are most helpless. 

Jesus picked up a child, wrapped his arms around it and said, “Whoever receives one child, such as this, in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”  Motivated by love, our love for Jesus, and his love for us, we receive, welcome and serve those who are powerless, marginalized, ignored and lowly so that the love Jesus has for them may reach them through us.  The love we give, is the love of Jesus.  Whenever we welcome and then serve someone in this way, Jesus becomes present.    

I see this often when I’m at Catholic Charities in Flint.  Whoever comes is received, welcomed and served to the best of the agency’s ability.  They are given clothing, food, assistance with bills, assistance with housing, and a lot of other things.  There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is present in downtown Flint loving those who have the least.

You can do this.  You already have what it takes.  You are a child of God.  He created you and because he loves what he created, you can trust him.  Today he invites you to set aside your pride, set aside any selfish competition you have going on in your life to allow your heart to be open to receive even more of his love.  He created you with special talents, gifts, and abilities in your own special way, to use to allow this love he has placed in your heart to reach others.  To be first, we allow the love Jesus has placed in our hearts to touch others through serving them.

I invite you to take some time to become aware of those thigs God has given to you, and in prayer, ask how you might use what you were given to welcome and serve those most in need so that through you, Jesus will become present.

Peace,
Deacon Ken

Investing Your Talents

“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey* called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

[Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?  Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.   And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

Today we hear Jesus telling us the parable of the talents.  You’ve probably heard this story before. It gives us a warning and a blessing.  It lets us know that if we invest the talents God has given us, we will enter into the joy of his kingdom.  That’s what we’re after isn’t it, joy with God?  But this teaching raises some questions.  First what talents has God given me?  How do I invest them and, how does this lead to a joyful existence with God in his kingdom?  

The man in the parable gave his servants talents.  So, what talents has God given to me?  When we ponder that question, it’s sometimes easier to come up with a list of talents he didn’t give us.  Other times though, when we think of talents, our minds might focus our natural abilities like playing music, singing, athletics, or we might think of what we do for our job, or the ability we have to manage our time and resources.  While all of these are talents, I’d like to suggest other talents God has given each of us.  Talents that we may or may not have discovered about ourselves.  These talents have to do with the way we most naturally think, behave, and feel.  There are different, practical tools we can use to determine or discover these talents, but one that seems to be a favorite right now and what I’ll use for an example is called Strength Finders.

Some people question or even disregard these types of assessments, but others consider them a very practical way to become aware of the way that God so wonderfully created us with the talents he’s given each of us.  For example, I discovered a talent God has given me is one of a Developer.  I am someone who naturally wants to give help and encouragement to enable others to learn, grow, and improve.  Kind of like a coach.  When I learned this, I felt excited and grateful that God would trust me with that talent. 

The good and faithful servants in the parable invested their talents.  Once we know the talents we have, how do we invest them?  Investing is a two-part process. 

First, we need to develop and practice this talent.  So for my example, I couldn’t just run out and start coaching, I needed to learn more about it, so I participated in a several coaching and mentoring workshops which allowed me to learn and practice techniques and methods of coaching different people in different situations. 

The second step completes our investment.  Investment only truly happens when we use our talents in the service of and for the good of others, as is done here at Catholic Charities.  To use it for our own benefit would be like the servant in the parable who buried the one talent he received.  There is no return because there is no real investment.  We only have what we were given.  To put our talents at the service of others requires something more… grace.

The grace we receive through the Holy Spirit enables us to use our talents to serve others in a way that far exceeds our own natural abilities.  Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the grace we need, when we need it and can then do what we could never do on our own.  It is with this grace that I can fully invest my talent as a developer by helping and encouraging those I am with.  In this case, their growth is the return on my investment.  Their growth is what I give back to God.

Sometimes in life, we can feel like the lazy servant lost, in the darkness, outside.   We can eventually lose even what we think we have, we can lose ourselves.  We feel like we’re in a free fall, we’re afraid, we’re paralyzed, asking ourselves, what happened to the person I thought I was, where did that person go?  Where am I?  What do I do now?  There is no gratitude for who we are because we no longer know who we are or how we are made. Life seems like a pointless, frustrating struggle.  Even there though, we are not lost forever.     

Because everything we are is from God, and he loves what he has made, it’s  never too late for us to start again.  We can cry out to him for help, to come find us, to stop the free fall, to remove the fear, to show us of who we are and how beautifully and wonderfully we’re made, with the talents we’ve been given.  With this renewed awareness comes gratitude and love.  We accept and love ourselves as we are, and are grateful to God for making us who we are, allowing him to move us in new ways, using the talents he’s given us to serve others.  There is investment, there is return, our lives have purpose, and that purpose is to work with God to build his kingdom right here, right now, amongst us, there is the joy.     

Blessings,
Deacon Ken

Are You Listening?

Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

 And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name. 

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

In this familiar story we hear Mary, her trip to visit Elizabeth and her Magnificat, praising God for all he has done, all because she did her part and answered yes to what God asked her to do.  The message Jesus has for us as his disciples is to “Be like My Mom,” to pay attention, listen, hear what God is asking of us, and then do your part. 

God can speak to us through our conscience, scripture, in prayer, through other people and circumstances in our life, and even our dreams.  As a disciple, it’s our job is to pay attention and listen, and of all the voices we hear, discern which one is God’s so we can know what he’s asking us to do and then do our part.  We listen in order to do.

While it can be frustrating to filter through all the voices we hear to know if it’s God asking us to do something, there are a couple of questions we can ask ourselves to help us know.  First, is what you think God is asking you to do good?  God would never ask you to do something sinful or contrary to his teachings. 

Next, can you do it?  Is it something that you’re physically or mentally capable of doing?  Sometimes our pride can trick us and bring to our consciousness something we wish we could do, maybe out of a need to be noticed or feel important and significant.

If you’ve made it this far, the next question, is it wise for you to do this?  This is where self-awareness is important.  Knowing the gifts God has given you and understanding who God made you to be, can help determine if it is a wise choice to do what you think God may be asking.

The last question to ask, is this something I want?  If what you think God is asking you to do is good, you’re able to do it, it’s a wise thing for you, it matches up with who God made you to be, and it’s something you want because it gives you a sense of life and energy, there is a good chance it’s God’s voice you’re hearing.  The next step is to be like Mary and do your part.  The final test will be the fruit that results from what you do.  If it is good, then like Mary did in her Magnificat, we praise God, thanking him for looking upon us, guiding our life, and blessing us.

We don’t need to do everything. The only part we need to do is our part.  If all of us pay attention, listen and do just our part it leads to a harmonious, united family, church, and community.  We are united by the fact that we are all doing something different.  There is unity in our diversity.

If you can, imagine a symphony.  Each person has received their part, prepared by practicing their part, and arrived ready to perform their part.  Paying attention to the conductor, they watch for the cue and begin.  The result of each person doing their part is beautiful harmony.   

So if it is unity we seek, then let’s be like Mary. As we go through life, pay attention, listen for God’s words to us, and then do our part, knowing that one day as our life comes to its fulfillment, we will join Jesus in heaven, he will run to us, embrace us, and welcome us to our true home.

Blessings,
Deacon Ken

Resting With Jesus

Mk 6:30-34
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.

Jesus sent his apostles out two by two.  He told them how to travel and what to do.  In this passage they return and tell Jesus all they had done.  After their work, Jesus knew they would need to recharge for what was coming next so, he responded to them by inviting them to come away to a deserted place to rest a while.  Jesus is reminding all of us, that even when we are doing his work, it’s important for the health of our soul to rest.

Our souls and our actions are so intertwined, without resting as Jesus invites us to, things can get pretty difficult. We risk becoming unsure of why we’re doing what we’re doing but, we just keep doing it. Instead of life giving, activities become mechanical and draining.  Our energy is spent and we are tired.  If we continue, we risk becoming discouraged, withdrawing from activities and other people, feeling disconnected from God, and worse, becoming doubtful, depressed, and even hopeless.  We check-out mentally.  We quit.  The devil will use our busyness, even busyness doing good works, to drive us to this point.  Attending to our soul, by resting protects us from Satan’s plans. 

Resting with Jesus re-invigorates us to do his work with joy and authenticity.  We find we can do things we couldn’t possibly do on our own. In some cases, we can do even more with less labor.  We are energized, able to patiently and courageously take on things that might seem impossible. 

Resting gives us a sense of purpose and direction.  It helps us stay in touch with what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.  We realize the work we’re doing is Jesus’ work.  Only when we take time to quiet ourselves and be still can we hear the inspiration he sends us.  We can then serve him, not out of fear of failure or a need for self-gratification, we do things because of love, the love Jesus has for us, the love we have for him, and a desire to share that love with others.  Our purpose for what we do is to love like Jesus does. 

Resting helps to remind us how much we are loved by Jesus, that nothing will change the love he has for us.  This keeps us from becoming discouraged in times we feel overwhelmed, overlooked, or rejected. Rather than quitting, resting gives us the ability to shake the dust off our feet and keep moving forward.

Resting is not just stopping what we’re doing to take a nap. It’s receiving an increase in God’s grace that re-charges us and refreshes our soul. Resting begins with accepting Jesus’ invitation to come away and rest a while.  One way to do this that you may want to try, it to set aside about 20-30 minutes, every day to put yourself in the presence of Jesus.  I like to do this is by using lectio divina  (https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/lectio-divina-beginners-guide)

with a gospel passage.  For me, meditating on a scene from the Gospel puts a picture in my mind that helps me stay focused and not get distracted. 

When you are there with Jesus, share with him your gratitude, your wants and desires, and whatever is weighing on your heart and mind, and then listen to what he has to say through scripture, your conscience or an inspiration.  Then let the time you spent with Jesus guide how you deal with the day to come.

 So, if life seems a little messy right now, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, like no one really cares, if the things you do seem burdensome and meaningless, if your energy is spent, please don’t check out.  Don’t quit.  Instead, come away with Jesus, be in his presence and rest awhile.

Blessings,
Deacon Ken

A Mother's Love

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children* and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. Matthew 15: 21-28

Over the years, living in a house with my wife and two daughters, I’ve been blessed to see how mothers and daughters relate to one another and how their relationships change.  When our girls were young I saw much fun and love, even though everything wasn’t always smooth and easy.  Time passed and adolescence set in.  There was shopping, clothes, emotions, conflict, even tears sometimes, and still much love.   As they make their own way in the world, their relationship with their mom is becoming a beautiful, loving friendship. 

Psychiatrists say that not all, but for the most part, the mother-daughter relationship is very strong, in fact, some say the most powerful bond in the world.  It affects health, self-esteem, and even other relationships.

I think this understanding of the bond between a mother and her daughter helps to partly explain the actions of the woman in the gospel story.  She was a Canaanite, a Gentile.  She was not a child of the house of Israel, not a follower of Jesus and had no claim on his healing, as he made clear to her.  They were from different places, had different religious beliefs and on the surface, nothing in common.  There was a divide between them.  She really had no business going to him to ask for help, but something drew her. 

I imagine this woman heard others talking about Jesus and how he healed.  What would a mother not do for her daughter? She let hope creep into her heart that Jesus could heal her.  It was a mother’s love that motivated her to be brave, (for it is difficult to ask for help from those who do not share our beliefs or understanding of ourselves) and take advantage of the opportunity to go to Jesus as he passed by.  The strong bond of love this woman had for her daughter drew her to him despite the obstacles.  I think we can learn a lot from this story,  about our relationship with Jesus and with one another by what didn’t happen. 

First, Jesus didn’t send her away.  Even though they were very different, she still approached him and Jesus allowed her to remain in his presence.  We can go to Jesus no matter who we think we are, we can go to him just as we are.  We don’t have to worry that we’re not good enough or worthy.  We can trust that he will never send us away and will always receive us, that our life matters to him, that our suffering will be met with his mercy. 

Everything Jesus does is a lesson in how we should behave. If Jesus does it for us, we should do it for one another.  Even in our differences, to receive one another, to know that everyone’s life matters, and to meet suffering with mercy.  I witness this in my ministry at Catholic Charities where they provide help to everyone who comes to their door, regardless of race, faith, politics or any other ideology that can divide us.   

The woman didn’t stop her pleading.  Even though she was annoying to his followers, who were telling him to send her away, she didn’t listen and kept her focus on Jesus.  In our lives, there are things that distract us from Jesus and separate us from one another.  Sometimes it’s our own doubt, pride, anger, and fear.  Sometimes it’s the voices of friends, family members, and the media. Like this woman, we need to look beyond these things, not let them distract us, and focus on what brings us closer to Jesus and closer to one another. 

Jesus didn’t answer the woman as she expected.  At first, there was no answer, and when he did answer, told her it wasn’t right to take the food from the children and throw it to the dogs. I bet this wasn’t the answer she expected to hear.  Sometimes we wonder if God is listening to us or even intentionally ignoring us, when we don’t get the answer we want- when we want it.   

In our relationships with one another we may not always agree.  We may not get the answers we want when we want them either, because we think differently.  It does not mean that they do not contribute something valuable to our lives.

This woman didn’t leave Jesus.  Driven by the love for her daughter, and the knowledge that he was her only remaining hope to end their suffering, she continued to follow him.  Even after he implied she wasn’t worthy of his attention, she didn’t give up.  She kept the conversation open.  She didn’t become offended but remained humble and determined and stayed with Jesus, she clung to him. 

Even though they were different; even though people were trying to send her away and separate them; even though she wasn’t getting the answers she expected; through it all, motivated by love and knowing he was able to heal her daughter, she wasn’t going to leave him.  That is her great faith. 

That is the faith we are called to.  To know Jesus is able and can do what we ask, and through it all, through whatever we go through, to cling to him in our humility, even if he doesn’t answer how and when we expect. 

We are called to a faith that is motivated by love, acknowledging our differences, ignoring the voices of distraction, and seeing past things that try to separate us. We are asked not to become offended,  but to remain humble and determined to keep conversations open. To stay with one another.  To have faith in one another. To be a source of hope.

Healing Begins with Faith

Mk 5:25-34

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.  She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

This reading of the woman with the hemorrhage is one of my favorites.  Now that may sound gross, and I don’t like blood.  In fact the sight of it can make me queasy.  This woman spent a lot of time and all of her money on doctors who tried to cure her, but they only made things worse.  She suffered even more.  Somebody told her about Jesus.  And they must have done a pretty good job because she believed that, if she could just touch his cloak, she would be healed. 

When I listen to this reading, I imagine the mob of people around Jesus, I see this woman on the edge of the crowd, looking for him, locking her eyes on him and making her way toward him. I feel her struggle, bumping into and pressing others out of her way, crawling if she needed to, whatever it took to get to him.  Until finally, she finds herself right next to him.  In my imagination I can feel the peace that comes over her as she reaches out and touches his cloak and is healed instantly, and she knew it. I can relate to how the struggles in my own life often feel like I’m grasping, and struggling to find healing, peace or direction.

I like the thought that no matter how messed up we might think our lives have become, we can put ourselves in this woman’s place, and if we can just make our way to Jesus, reach out and touch him, really touch him, we will be ok.  We can overcome. He WILL change our lives. 

 After she touched him, Jesus knew it and he asked everyone, “Who touched my clothes?”  They replied with, what, are you kidding?  Do you see all these people around you?  Everybody’s shoving and bumping into you.  What do you mean, who touched you?

Jesus looked through the crowd and replied, no, really, who touched me?  He looked around for who he felt touched him, and the woman came forward afraid and trembling.  She was afraid of what Jesus might say to her because what she had done was against the law.  Since she was chronically bleeding, she was considered unclean.  Being unclean, she was not allowed to touch anyone, or they would become unclean too.  Well, she touched Jesus.  Would he be upset that she had done so?  She was trembling.  Trembling because she knew whose presence, she was in. She knew who she had come in contact with.  She had touched the Son of God, was healed, and was trembling with awe in his presence.

And what did Jesus do?  Did he scold or criticize her?  No, the first word he said was daughter.  This part of the story touches me.  He called her daughter.  Being a father of two girls myself, this word has a special meaning to me.  I know the deep love I have for both of them.  How much more love did Jesus have for this woman, his daughter?  How much more love does he have for you?

Healing begins with faith, like the woman in the gospel.  Faith to make your way to Jesus to touch him, and more importantly to let him touch you with his love.  Faith to know that he infinitely loves you right where you are.  Faith to know he can and will bring peace to your life, if you trust in him.  If you as him for guidance, protection and direction he will listen.

Calming the Storms

Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Towards the end of my time at GM, there was a saying I had and became quite well known for.  The saying was, “Who Cares.”  It was so well known that for a retirement present, people I worked with got me a t-shirt with “Who Cares” stamped across the front of it.  This came about because, during a complicated construction project, whenever a problem was brought to my attention, my initial response was, “Who cares?”  People could be turned off by hearing that, so a person I worked with would translate,  “It’s not really that he doesn’t care, it’s just that he’s not worried.” 

That was the case, I wasn’t worried, because I had faith, faith in Jesus.  Even what I did at work, he was in control of, not me, and if I did things his way, everything always worked out.  I had faith in the team of people I worked with because of the time we had spent together and things we had done in the past. No matter the problem, it could be overcome.

In this Gospel story, even Jesus can seem like he doesn’t care.  Sleeping in the back of the boat while a storm raged around them, the disciples had to wake him up and ask, “Teacher, don’t you care…?” Jesus replied with peace, stillness, and calm. 

Jesus offers a hope for that way of life.  A life where we can be calm, peaceful, and joyful in our struggles, tensions, and stresses.  It’s a fearless life.  A life free from fear of things that could threaten us and keep us from doing what God is asking us to do.  A life that makes the devil tremble and causes others to take notice. This life begins with faith.

Wealth, status, power, and control are not the secret to living this type of life.  It is only our faith, our trust in Jesus that enables us to live this life that he offers.  Reflecting on this gospel story is a chance for us to awaken and strengthen our faith and increase our trust in him.  A chance to remind ourselves that Jesus has authority over anything that could threaten us.  A chance for us to decide to go to the back of the boat, not out of fear, although sometimes that’s what it takes to get us to go to him, but to go to him out of faith, knowing that by trusting him, whatever we’re going through, while it may not be easy, we’ll get through it and somehow things will work out and we’ll be ok.

Going to the back of the boat begins with our deciding to do so.  We decide to take time to quiet ourselves and reflect on what’s going on in and around us, paying attention to our thoughts and feelings. Noticing things that feel heavy on our minds and hearts, and becoming aware of what we’re worried about. Then we decide to go to Jesus in prayer and tell him about them. 

When we reflect and pray this way, a couple things can happen:

Sometimes in prayer we can receive a message from Jesus, a simple thing we could do that would relieve our worry.  It’s up to us to do it.  No one else, just us.  Sometimes we resist because it seems silly, or that it wouldn’t make a difference, or we’re just too lazy.  Until we do this simple thing, the worry will persist.  So if Jesus gives you something to do, just do it.

Sometimes things aren’t so simple.  In more complicated circumstances, going to the back of the boat includes humility.  We set aside our pride, give up trying to control the situation, and surrender our worry to Jesus.  But, that doesn’t mean that we can just sit back and do nothing. 

While we’re in the back of the boat, we’re not only humble, but willing - willing to receive help, willing to let someone else take the lead, and willing to do our part.  We pay attention to who Jesus sends to help us and we openly receive this help because we know it comes from him.   Although it might not be easy, in God’s time, by doing our part and with the help of others, we get through what we’re going through. Things work out and we’re ok.

Our faith in Jesus, knowing he’s in our boat, knowing we can go to him and trust that he helps us to get through whatever we’re going through, is the key to living the fearless, calm, and peaceful life he offers us.  So take some time in the coming week to silence yourself, reflect, pray, do your part, and let Jesus remove worry from your life.

Proclaiming the Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Just before Jesus went to heaven to be with his father, he told his disciples what to do next and tells us what it is we are to do. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”  If we are to do that, we need to know what this gospel is, how to proclaim it, and the power it contains.

The gospel is for you to know that God created you and everything about you and that he loves you.  There is nothing you could ever do to make him love you more, and there is nothing you could do that would make him love you any less.  Nothing will stop him from totally loving you. 

Jesus loves you so much that he wants always to be with you, and for you to be where he is.  He died for you, so that your sins could be forgiven and no longer separate you from him.  He rose from the dead, he is alive and will be with you and you can be with him forever.  The Gospel is the love of Jesus.  We provide hope to others when we proclaim it. 

So, how do we to proclaim it? 

Pope Francis in his exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, says that if we are to proclaim this Gospel as Jesus tells us, we need to constantly be ready to bring the love of Jesus to others.  For most of us “proclaiming” will happen in a conversation with someone we meet, and it begins with “listening.” 

When we put aside all distractions and make ourselves totally present to someone; and listen to them tell us their joys, hopes, sorrows, and concerns, we show them how much we care. When they know we care, they will listen to us.  Then and only then, can we proclaim the Gospel, and speak the love of Jesus, into their lives and their circumstances. Never judging, criticizing, advising, or even correcting their thought process, but humbly and gently helping them realize how much they are loved.  If the situation is right, praying with them for their concerns.  Then they know that they’ve been heard and understood, their concerns are given to God, and that he cares about them and their life. They have hope.  In this exchange though, we’re not alone, Jesus works with us.

When we proclaim the Gospel the power of Jesus accompanies us and makes things happen.  Through our proclamation, it’s the power of Jesus that heals.  It’s the power of Jesus that comforts and consoles in times of sorrow, stress, and anxiety.  It’s the power of Jesus that overcomes division, unites us, and helps us to love one another.  It’s the power of Jesus that discredits the devil’s accusations and offers us forgiveness and mercy.  It’s the power of Jesus that undoes the lies we believe about ourselves and reveals to us who we really are.  It’s the power of Jesus that frees us from death and gives us life. Our proclaiming the Gospel, accompanied with the power of Jesus, transforms life and gives hope.

 “Go into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” There is nothing to be afraid of.  You have everything you need.  He will place in your life those longing to hear the Gospel.  As you proclaim, they will hear what he needs them to hear, know how much they are loved, and experience the power of Jesus to make things happen.

Peace Be With You

Luke 24:35-48

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

“Peace be with you,” he said. 

The peace Jesus extends to us is something that we all desire.  We want feel content in the moment, able to go about our lives without doubts, anxieties, worries or fears.  Poverbs 5:3-8 tells us to trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, reminding us that there is a bigger picture, and to have faith that God will provide what we need to find peace.  We can live in a state of peace. Jesus wants us to live there! 

But living there doesn’t mean we live on easy street, that we don’t care about anything, that our lives will be fee from all stress, struggle, or even conflict.   Indeed, Matthew 6:34 tells us, Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. What it  means is that we know we can face whatever happens. We can work through whatever life brings our way, with a sense of calmness and reassurance because we have faith that the Holy Spirit is with us and in the end everything will be ok. 

So how do we get that peace?

When Jesus came into the room and said, “Peace be with you,” the disciples were anything but peaceful.  They were frightened and terrified. Jesus saw how troubled they were.  He had to convince them that it really was him.  After they realized they were in the presence of Jesus, the terror and fear were replaced with joy and amazement. Somehow everything was going to be ok.  They were at peace.  

Like those disciples, many of us are going about life feeling troubled.  We just can’t find that sense of peace - we need to be convinced or reminded of the presence of Jesus in our lives. When we know we are in his presence, we can receive his peace, be filled with it, and be transformed by it.

Have you ever spent time alone in an adoration chapel or in a quiet church in front of the tabernacle? Did you feel like there was somebody else there with you?  There was, it’s Jesus!  In that moment you can receive and sometimes physically feel his peace come over you.  Your mind becomes clear, your concerns fade, your body becomes still, relaxed, and comfortable, you don’t even want to leave.  His peace is with you.  But what about outside the church or chapel?  Can we be in his presence when we are out in the world? 

The short answer is YES. Jesus’ presence continues in the world through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit makes his works alive today. There is evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit working all around us all the time! 

If you go to the YouTube channel for Holy Redeemer in Burton, (www.youtube.com/c/HolyRedeemerChurch/playlists) you can watch the testimonies of some of their parishioners.  You’ll see how their lives were healed and transformed, which created the desire in their hearts to know Jesus more.  He’s there.  

Sometime as we go through our day, if we pay attention, we can notice many acts of kindness, done out of love.  Several weeks ago, a woman came to Catholic Charities’ Center for Hope downtown.  She was lost, confused, and needed medical attention, but refused to go to the hospital to get help.  The Flint police were called, and after they arrived one of the officers immediately struck up a conversation with her.  The officer listened to this woman for about 20 minutes.  He made her feel like she mattered.  She matted to him.  It was a kind, sincere and tender conversation.  The woman realized that this officer really cared about her and agreed to go to the hospital to receive the help she needed.  He was there. The Holy Spirit present and working through a Flint police officer. 

We can even know his presence in the more ordinary events of our life.  Before you go to sleep tonight, remember the places, people, and events of the day and look for the times you were treated with love and kindness.  Those times someone greeted you with a smile; when they dropped what they were doing to focus their attention on you; when they helped you with something, cared for you when you were struggling; or consoled you when you were sad.  In all these ordinary acts of love and kindness, the Holy Spirit was present, caring for you. 

When we take the time to know and be in the presence of the Holy Spirit we feel different, we feel safe, grateful, and blessed.  The Holy Spirit is all around us and when it comes into us, we act out of love instead of worry and need for control.  We choose to do the more loving thing, and not the more selfish thing. With the Holy Spirit, we can be content, we can live with calmness and reassurance, we can live at peace. 

You Are Mine

MT 22:15-21

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

 The other day a woman came to the Catholic Charities Center for Hope in downtown Flint.  Eve (not her real name) was probably in her mid-60’s and had recently become homeless.  She said she hadn’t slept in the 3 days it took her to find her way there.  During the couple of hours she spent there, Eve was provided, with food to eat, more clothes to wear, personal items to use, a bible to feed her spirit, and finally driven to a place to stay.  She was looking forward to a warm bath and a bed to sleep on.  Eve’s basic human and spiritual needs were provided for.

It got me thinking about what we really need in life. Just like food, clothing and shelter, there is another basic human need we all have, a need to be part of something larger than ourselves.  A need to belong.  This is something we will search for until we are satisfied.

So, what does it mean to truly belong?  Maybe you have found yourself in a situation where you felt that no one knew you, and worse, didn’t seem to care enough to want to get to know you.  You may have felt invisible, ignored, and rejected.  You surely didn’t belong there…

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a place where it felt like you belonged because people seemed to want to get to know you, but the more they found out, instead of loving, they judged and rejected you.  Do you think you truly belonged there?

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a place where those around you love you, or say they do, but they don’t really know you.  The feeling of belonging you have isn’t worth the risk of rejection by becoming vulnerable and allowing others to know the real you. You speak carefully, avoid certain conversations and situations, act like you have it all together, hide parts of you, hide the real you, afraid of what might happen if someone found out. But here’s the thing, do you truly belong here, or do you act like someone you’re not just to fit in? 

We truly belong when we are both known and loved.  Sometimes we can find this true sense of belonging with a close friend, our family, or spouse. Sometimes we find it in our church, school, or workplace. But, we can always find it with God. 

In this Gospel we see the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus by asking him a loaded question.  To avoid their trap, Jesus took the coin and asked “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” …  Then repay to Cesar what belongs to Cesar and to God what belongs to God.” 

What is it that belongs to God?  What has God’s image on it and God’s inscription?  You do.  You were created by God in the image of God, his love for you is inscribed on your heart. 

In the book of The Prophet Isaiah God tells us, “Do not fear.  I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name.  You are mine.”  And St Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that there is nothing that can separate you from this love that God has for you.  God totally knows the real you, chooses the real you, loves the real you, and will love you into eternity.  You will always truly belong to God. You are his.

With God there is no fear of being ignored, no fear of being rejected because of some baggage we carry, no need to fake it or hide parts of us to earn his love.  Belonging to God sets us free,  allowing us to be just who we are. 

In the Gospel Jesus says to give to God what belongs to God.  That’s you.  I invite you to give yourself to God.  Lay yourself at his feet. Let him look on you and love you, right now, sitting here just the way you are with all your joys, your struggles, your anxieties, your doubts, those things you are thankful for and those times you felt lost.  Hear him tell you, “You are mine and with me you will always belong.”

Until next time, may God be with you,

Deacon Ken

Our Blessed Mother

Mother’s Day will be here soon.  We all have earthly mothers, someone who gave birth to us.  Some of our moms are still with us here on earth.  Some of our moms have left this life and moved on to the next.  My earthly mom passed away six years ago after struggling with mental illness for 20 years.  Just before she passed away though, God gave me hope in a clear vision in a dream that she would be okay.  And I often still pray for her that she is there in heaven with her mom, dad, and sisters. 

Each of our relationships with our mother is different and personal.  For some of us, our relationships are loving, and tender and our mother cares for, teaches, and nurtures us.  But for some, the relationship, for one reason or another, is not so healthy.  Our mother may seem mean, indifferent, or even absent, and thinking about the relationship can be upsetting.  How then, can we celebrate Mother’s Day in a healthy, uplifting way?

While we all have earthly mothers, we also have a spiritual mother.  Mary, Jesus’ mother is our mother too.  God chose Mary to be his earthly mother.  Mary gave birth to Jesus, cared for and protected him.  If Mary is the mother of God, and we are all God’s children, then it makes sense that Mary is our mother too.    We see in John’s Gospel (Jn 19:26-27) that when Jesus was dying on the cross, he gave his mother, not just to John, but to all of us, for all time, “Behold your mother.”

Mary is a central figure in the Catholic Faith and her life illustrates how our Almighty Father works in our lives. Mary came from a simple background and yet she was called by God to fulfill a very extraordinary role; that of becoming the mother of Jesus Christ.

This role was no easy feat. when Jesus was born, King Herod ordered infants everywhere to be slaughtered so Mary had to flee to Egypt to escape the massacre and save her child. Despite the hardships she had to go through, Mary became an instrument of faith and stayed committed in her role of bringing to life God’s promised son.
In our Catholic Faith, we are taught the three core values of Mary. These were embodied by the Holy Mother in the way she lived her life. As her children, we, too, should aspire to embrace these values in our own lives and in the way we treat others.

1. The Value of Humility

Humility is one of the most fundamental values we should have as Christians. Mary teaches us that pride and selfishness is something that we must avoid. She had an extraordinary role as the Mother of God and yet she remained humble in her ways and continued to serve the Lord with devotion. Being humble is not always easy. The Marian value of humility teaches us to put others first. When we are humble, we let go of our selfish, human ways and become in tune with the ways and will of God.

2. The Value of Simplicity

Mary lived her life in the simplest way. Despite having found favor in the Lord, she accepted what was given to her with grace and humility. Our world puts a premium on material wealth. We become blinded by material pursuits, the latest gadgets, fancy cars and expensive vacations. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying these gifts per se, it is important to remember that being obsessed with these things can distract us from God. It makes us believe that true happiness can be found in the physical world rather than in the spiritual.
We are reminded that this world is not our permanent abode and that eternity is waiting for us at the end of our earthly journey. Finally, when we live simply, we become closer to the people who are needy because we understand their plight. We learn to have God’s heart for those people in need.Click to Tweet

3. The Value of Charity

Charity is at the heart of everything that Mary did. Being a mother involves being charitable and deeply generous in one’s actions. It is an act of sacrifice. Charity literally means love in action. Charity is a theological virtue that lets us love God above all things.

Practicing all other Catholic virtues is animated and inspired by charity and it is the value that binds everything together in perfect harmony. By being charitable, we exhibit other fruits of the spirit like joy, peace and mercy.

So, no matter the condition of our relationship with our earthly mother, we have hope in a spiritual mother who is forever kind, caring, and attentive to us.  From her place in heaven, Mary looks upon us, her spiritual children, with love and tenderness.  When we encounter this love, we are moved and filled with hope.  We know we can always turn to Mary for help, asking her to pray to her son Jesus on our behalf, especially in times of our greatest need.

Have a Blessed and Happy Mothers’ Day

Letting Go

Only when a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, will it produce fruit.  This is how life renews itself.  For us this is an ongoing process.  We are constantly letting things go, letting things die, as we move through life.  Last year prior to the pandemic, we were used to how thing were unfolding. We thought the way things were done was the way.  We were so full of life.  Then the sickness came and the way we were doing things had to die.  But, we didn’t die.  We created, new opportunities and new ways to stay in community with one another were opened to us.  Out of the death of one life, a new way of doing things, a new life was formed. 

Even the need to wear masks caused how we physically looked at each other to die, but we didn’t stop seeing.  We wore masks that reflected our personality, we learned to smile with our eyes. For me, it gave me permission to look you in the eye.  What did I see?  A great beauty that I might have missed had this death not happened. 

Letting things or people in our life go, fall to the ground, and die so a new and better life can come about can be troubling.  We even heard Jesus just say that he was troubled by it.  Transition can feel like everything is falling apart, but in reality, everything is coming together for your highest good. So, how do we go about doing this without totally falling to pieces?  By hating our life. 

Jesus says whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.  Let’s face it, no spiritual journey ever started from a place of happiness. They begin from a deep-seated sense that something is missing.  Hating our life provides a map for transformation. We should hate our life.

 According to St Ignatius, this doesn’t mean to not care about our lives or throw them away,  it introduces the concept of detachment from things.  The things we pursue or avoid at all costs.  They might even seem to us to be good things.  But, if we aren’t careful, these things can take over our mind, take over our consciousness.  They become all we think about, and eventually trap us.  They can cause us to make decisions that go against our fundamental beliefs and even lead us away from Jesus.  Jesus tells us to hate and lose that life. 

The life that results when we practice detachment, is a life we live in balance with all that happens to us.  A life where the successes and losses we experience don’t get us off track.  A life where hopes of getting more or fear of losing what we have doesn’t control our decisions.  A reflection I was reading refers to this way of living as sitting lightly to things and circumstances around us.  When we sit lightly, we can enjoy and be grateful for the gifts we are given and not fall to pieces if we lose them, need to let them go, or need to let them die.

It is only our trust in Jesus that brings us peace in this life.  Our faith in him allows us to let things in our life die at the right time and know that everything will be okay, and that new growth will happen.  We trust him because we know him.  We know what he did for us.  He let something beautiful, himself, die so that new life would result.  His death and resurrection made eternal life with the God who created us and loves us available to everyone.

If you don’t know Jesus, get to know him.  Find a bible and prayerfully read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and listen to him speak to you.  He already knows and loves you.  Our faith in Jesus allows us to live balanced, detached lives.  This is how your life can renew itself. 

What Are You Looking For?

As we begin Holy Week, I am reminded of the gospel of John 1:35-42 when we hear Jesus ask the two who were following him, “What are you looking for?”   It’s a question he is asking each and every one of us right now.

Sometimes our answer is a practical one.  What are you looking for?    I can’t find my cell phone anywhere and I’m lost without it.  If you pray to him, Jesus may indeed, help you find your phone.  But if we only pray for convenient solutions to life’s trials, we may realize at some point that this is probably not the answer Jesus has in mind.  So at some point he will ask again, “Really, what are you looking for?”

Other times our answer might be more serious and complex.  I recall speaking with a young woman downtown who, asked for my name and wrote it on a piece of paper she had in her hand.  She said she wanted it so she could pray for me that evening.  Then she began to tremble, broke down in tears and said she was just trying to get her life back together. Maybe times are a little tough right now.  Maybe something catastrophic has happened and left you feeling as if your life is falling apart around you, and you’re holding on by a thread, trying to get your life back together. You can trust that Jesus will help, but even then, we will hear Jesus ask again.  “Now, what are you looking for?”

Sometimes our answer to Jesus question is an honest, “I don’t know.  I don’t know what I am looking for in life, and I really don’t care. I’ve got time.  I’m just going to enjoy myself and I’ll worry about that later.”  The longer we stay in this place, the more uncomfortable we get.  We’re just wandering, going through the motions of life with no real direction or purpose.  We will hear again, “What are you looking for?” This time we can’t brush it off.  We really want to be able to answer the question. 

What we are really looking for in life can’t be found “out there.”  External things are important, even critical to our survival, but they won’t leave us feeling fulfilled and happy.  There is still something more. 

Recently a friend of mine told me that, “Just to know somebody cares means everything.”   This is a clue to what we’re looking for and it’s deep inside us.  As human beings, we want to be noticed, to know that someone thinks we are important and significant, to be loved just as we are, as God made us.

          Where can we find this?  We find what we’re looking for when, continuing in this Gospel passage, we accept Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.”  By accepting that invitation and following him with him, He shows us what we are really looking for.  It may be different for each of us but fundamentally, we are all looking for the deepest happiness, meaning, and peace that this life can offer. 

When our spirits have been awakened through our relationship with Jesus, is when we realize our greatest purpose in life. Once we have found that purpose, it’s our turn to invite those we know and love to “Come and See.” It’s our turn to journey with them to deep happiness, meaning, and peace.  To accompany them into a loving relationship with Jesus.    

When Jesus laid on that cross, he thought about you.  He allowed that first nail to pierce his hand because of how important you are to him.  The second because of how much he cares about you.  The third because you matter to him.  And then he hung there so you will always be reminded of how much you are loved. 

Jesus gave his life for you.  Today he comes to us, alive, for that relationship.  To give you what you are looking for.  To show you how much you are loved. 

Until next time, many blessings,

Deacon Ken

40 Days of Getting Closer to Jesus

Back in the day, there used to be a thing called P90X.  It was an intense workout routine guaranteed to give you a totally ripped body in 90 days.  Well, what if there was a more intense exercise in spiritual perseverance that, if you stick with it, will bring you closer to Jesus and transform you in let’s say 40 days.  How would that work?

We all have things in our life that if used in excess can strain our relationship with others and Jesus by taking time away from them.  Maybe it’s our phone, social media, pod casts, videos, or video games. Being to busy and over scheduling, even if they’re good things, can rob us of investing valuable time in our faith and with those most important to us.

The first step of our exercise then is to determine what things in our lives take time away from being with Jesus.  Then figure, if over the next 40 days, you can either reduce the time spent in that activity or eliminate it all together.  This important first step will make more time available to you. But this time can’t remain empty, it needs to be immediately filled with something -  something spiritual, something prayerful. Time is fluid and if you don’t fill it with intension, something else is going to fill that space and you are no further forward.

The next step of our exercise is to fill the time you freed up with an activity that will allow you to focus on Jesus and your relationship with him.  There are many things you can do, but here’s the thing, I would encourage you to choose the one thing you think will most draw you closer to Jesus and stick with it.  By choosing just one thing, you will feel a lot less overwhelmed and distracted and be more focused.  Your purpose will be clear, I’m doing this because I love Jesus and I want to better know the one I love. 

Once you know the thing you are going to limit or eliminate and have chosen how you are going to fill the time, it’s time to act.  Jesus was driven into the desert for 40 days to do battle (that’s where the 40 day exercise comes from by the way), to be with wild beasts and Satan who tempted and tested Jesus’ resolve to live out his mission.  With the aid of the angels Jesus was able to resist Satan and survive this time of trial. This should be a clue to us that our 40 days of spiritual perseverance will not be easy and that we can’t do it alone.

We do this exercise with God’s help, one day at a time.  In the evening, before bed, reflect on your day.  Pay attention to the times you avoided the thing you chose to limit or eliminate.  Pay attention to how faithful you were to your prayer time and the activity you chose.  If the day went well, give thanks to God for it.  If it didn’t, look forward to tomorrow and ask God to help you, and repeat for the next 40 days.  With God’s help, each day your perseverance will draw you one step closer to Jesus and each day, transform you to be more like him.  Transformation doesn’t happen all at once, but one day at a time.

I am reminded of a line from a movie that says, “The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love and be loved in return.”  Some of us know what it feels like to love and to be loved.  Some of us know what its like to love and not be loved in return.  Its heartbreaking.  But often, in the midst of the hurt, we find ourselves doing something the world might tell us is foolish, we choose to continue to love anyway.  This is a sacrificial love.  Jesus knows sacrificial love.

Jesus gave his life to love us and desires our love in return.   Our persevering for these 40 days is a special time for us to do just that, draw even closer to our true love, and love him who loved us first, letting this love between us transform us each day, and over these 40 days lead us to new life. 

I wish you success and many blessings in your spiritual journey. Until next time, journey well.

Deacon Ken

Let Faith be Your Guide

We would like to introduce Deacon Ken Preiss. We are so excited to have him with us here at Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee Counties to provide counsel and healing to those seeking change in their lives. That his words provide you guidance and comfort.

Deacon Ken Preiss is just a normal guy. He lives in Fenton with his of wife of 31 years, Karen. His daughter Madeline is a Neonatal Nurse living in Texas and his youngest, Kate is a senior at Kettering University studying chemical engineering. Before becoming a deacon, he worked as a Project Manager at General Motors for 33 years.

What is a Deacon?

Pope Francis says “Deacons were created for service. The deacon is not a second-class priest. No, no, no, he is something else. The deacon is charged with service in the church.” While a deacon shares many of the responsibilities of a priest, he is not able to perform all sacramental duties. With a shortage of priests, the roll of a deacon is to reach out to people in need. Their lives are filled with performing the Works of Mercy, like visiting people in the hospital or in jail. Most importantly a deacon must have an open heart and listen.

When asked what made him decide to become a deacon, he answers frankly, “I didn’t. I was a youth minister at St. Pius X and Catechist. I wanted to be better at it so I called Lansing to see if there were any courses I could take.”

He began his journey getting a degree in Theology with a focus in Religious Education. “The class was a big commitment, so I made a deal with God that I would try it and if I didn’t like it I would quit. I went to the first class and was totally hooked”, he said. Everyone else in the class was doing their Deacon Formation studies and assumed he was as well, but he had no intention of getting ordained, it was just not on his radar.

After finishing his degree in Theology, he applied for a position as the full time Youth Minister at St. Pius X. Pastor, Fr. Robert Copeland, wouldn’t give him the job, claiming that Ken would soon become a deacon. He managed to dodge the calling until one day Fr. Copeland and Deacon Gary Gallagher cornered him after mass insisting that Ken call the director of the deacons in Lansing and just get started with the process of becoming a deacon. He found himself making the same deal with God. “I’ll try it but if I don’t like it I’m quitting.”

“I just went with the flow. If I’m supposed to be here I will and if I’m not I’m ok with that. I didn’t struggle, everything just all fell into place, which is of course how you know when you are doing the right thing,” he says. A few years later Ken retired from General Motors and planned to spend his time enjoying retirement, when he wasn’t tending to his duties as a deacon. But of course fate was not done with his journey.

Bishop Boyea was visiting for Confirmation at Holy Redeemer and told him someone from his office would be calling; the diocese was looking for a new Director for the Permanent Diaconate.

Ken has been a deacon at Holy Redeemer in Burton for 7 years, and worked for the Bishop for over three years. He truly has a servants heart and is looking forward to seeing where his new role at Catholic Charities leads.

Deacon Ken can be found at the Center for Hope in Flint, on Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-3pm. He is the first chaplain to be assigned to any Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Lansing. The hope is that eventually all Catholic Charities in the Diocese will have a chaplain of their own. “I’m here to listen, not to judge. It starts with faith and meeting people where they are at,” he said, “ I want to help people see that God is in their lives, even in hard times.”