Author: Gerry Palermo

Roman Catholic Deacon.

Shrewd and Simple

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
A flock of sheep gathered in a pasture during sunset, with mountains in the background and a person tending to them.
Innocent (as a decision) and being Self Aware (as confession) make you sendable.

Greetings on this the Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14, 17; Matthew 10:16-23

Summary

Sincere Conversion and New Life is the topic of our first reading today from the Prophet Hosea. Then selected for us, between the Old Testament reading and the gospel portion, sits King David’s lament/prayer for deliverance from Sin – not an abstraction of other’s mistakes or from the actions of oppressors — no, from our own errors – that where we own the act or attitude.

Before the gospel reading comes the Alleluia verse which pivots us to remember the words and actions of Jesus: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth and remind you of all I told you. Which the gospel portion expands to: Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

Reflection

Shrewd and Simple – means a spiritually mature mind and at the same time nurturing within a pure, innocent heart.

A spiritually mature mind is acutely aware of our own weaknesses and propensity to sin bringing about a certain sympathetic and supportive balm for those who suffer.

Personal Reflection

Continuing from yesterday’s theme, we are known to reject holiness from the ordinary and flawed people – even when the aid is extraordinary! Related and equally true we are in need of sincere conversion and a new way of life. Maturity in spiritual awareness and the determined effort to be pure and innocent of our own hands which makes us the ‘Sendable’.

Be sendable.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071026.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Day of Visitation

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
A weathered red double door set in a brick wall, adorned with an archway and the inscription 'ORA PRO NOBIS' above it.
what is behind every door?

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9; Psalm 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16; Matthew 10:7-15

Summary

I drew them with human cords, with bands of love.

Reflection

In our readings today we are given the contrast of the divine gentle care (human cords, bands of love) and the regrettable rejection of this care and finally the appropriate response to the rejection of God’s loving care.

Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words– go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.

Judgement comes not from us.

Personal Reflection

How do we respond to the gentle care of the Lord given through others who may not meet our definition of good or holy? Would you recognize the day of visitation?

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070926.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

At Hand

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Justice
An open book laying on grass, with the pages showing text and a leaf placed on top, displaying the title 'CHAPTER SIX'.
Watch or read

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Matthew 10:1-7

Summary

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Making a comment on modern culture is always risky. But here goes.

Two fairly recent movies that illustrate that moral sense is far from dead but rather rises up from the ashes of our social nightmare. Writers and artists can bring the illumination we all seek even we are distracted by ordinary burdens.

Project Hail Mary – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hail_Mary_(film)
Passengers – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passengers_(2016_film)

One combined summary is the triumph by living beings over mistakes, differences, challenges and the common good. Ordinary people/beings each with unique gifts subordinate to the needs of the Others even unto self sacrifice. I wonder if so many can see this why do religious people struggle with the ame question?

Reflection

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

It’s time to take the message of Jesus from words to action, its proper end.

It is at hand,

Personal Reflection

Enjoy your summer. Dream big dreams,

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Olga Says Goodbye – We are Sinful.

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Justice
A distribution area featuring a white bus labeled 'The Guatemalan Maya Center, Inc.' parked next to several individuals loading boxes. There are orange cones in the area and a building with stairs in the background.
GMC – Olga assisted immigrants from every nation. She was an asset to the Palm Beach Sheriff Office for translations of victim testimony (multiple lnguages0. She helped many young women find themselves and their destiny.
Fwd_ Olga Says Goodbye to Her Children and HomeDownload

CCC 1869 Thus sin makes men accomplices of one another and causes concupiscence, violence, and injustice to reign among them. Sins give rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness. “Structures of sin” are the expression and effect of personal sins. They lead their victims to do evil in their turn. In an analogous sense, they constitute a “social sin.”144

See: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_one/article_8/v_the_proliferation_of_sin.html

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Celebrating All Homelands

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Interreligious, Justice
We do not possess God.
We invite Him to possess us.

THIS IS MY SONG


This is my song,
O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar
and mine.
This is my home, the country
where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams,
my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands
are beating
With hopes and dreams as true
and high as mine.


My country’s skies are bluer than
the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover-
leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too
and clover,
And skies are everywhere as
blue as mine.


Oh, hear my song, O God of all
the nations,
A song of peace for their land
and for mine.


*To the melody of Finlandia
*Lyrics by Lloyd Stone

Peace Pope Leo XIV

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Justice, War
Pope Leo XIV renews call to peace.

Greetings on this the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30

Summary

In our first reading today our sacred scripture describes the ways of peace.

True Kingship is not of self-engrandizement.

Rather, See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass…and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.

True Stewardship is not the amassing of wealth, power and land.

Rather, peaceful pursuits.  He shall banish the chariot… instruments of economic domanance…. [banish] the horse… symbol of power, and [banish] the warrior’s bow… instruments of war to acquire lands.

In our second reading,  the most forgotten strategy! Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit.

Our problems internally and internationally are not solvable by programs and projects. Nor are they solved by projections of power, but by the Spirit comes the divine illumination of pathway forward.

It is in the Spirit of God that we discover pathways and solutions not even imagined by even our best trained politicians, diplomats, military, and alliances.

Reflection

Can not we then understand Jesus’ promise now?

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.

In the life of our families, community, nations… put down the burdens – take off the yoke –  the chariots, horse, and warrior’s bow.

We spend enormous effort polishing our chariots, strengthening our horses, and crafting better bows. Christ asks us first to lay them down.

Instead, put on the yoke of friendship,  humility and share what you have.

This way of life, this yoke is easy, and my burden becomes light.

Keeping in mind not our solutions but those of the Spirit.

Personal Reflection

Life in the Spirit opens us to paths of reconciliation and wisdom that we could not discover by ourselves. Today, celebrating 250 years, requires new thinking. The Way of Christ.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Tramily 2026

by Gerry Palermo, posted in AT, ATNOBO26, creation, Uncategorized
Keep Going!

Dear Tramily

I’m officially off trail. For those just catching up, I literally Somersaulted down the side of a mountain.

When i landed, three birds held up little signs, 10, 10, 10.

The silver dollar sized hole in my elbow and arm weakness makes attempting to continue unwise. Should I attach an elbow photo?

The Whites are amazing!! I got to complete a chunk, so we’ll call it a win

  • Mt. Moosilauke
  • Smarts Mtn & Fire Tower
  • Mt Wolf
  • Mt Cube N/S
  • Mt Kinsman N/S (fell after here)
  • Franconia Ridge includes:
    • Mt Liberty
    • Mt Lincoln
    • Mt Lafayette
  • Ended at Greenleaf Hut

Total Appalachian Trail miles 1,831 or 83% of total trail.

The Whites will always be there for another attempt. Next year my friend David will come to do 100 miles wilderness and summit Katahdin with me!

I’ll change up the approach to the Whites.

Thank you so much for your kindness and prayers. Best wishes in your own journey. I’ll post some stories in the near

Taking a week with relations in TN. I’ll be hiking (no pack) just because it’s addictive.

Keep going!

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Party Line

by Gerry Palermo, posted in AT, ATNOBO26, creation

A post from the trail. Trail names changed to respect privacy. Plus, I lost my glasses. It’s a good story but no fairytale ending. Only real trail life.

I met TreeLine on the trail. Older guy, by 10 years, but experienced hiker. Another asked that I  watch over him for a day. TreeLine has a very deliberate rhythm of effort and rest. We had a great time together. So we repeated it a second day, but I kept a pace more in line with my natural gate.

We developed a communication system.

The photo is of a party favor left over from a priest retirement party. So I took it with me. At a hut one night, I showed my bear whistle to a seasoned trail hiker. I blew it for him. His face got dark and somberly said, “That is the sound of a dying rabbit.”

Never to let facts trouble me, as TreeLine hiked behind me, I would call out with the party favor. If he heard it, he’d grunt back.

On the third day together, the distance became too long. So if another NOBO came past, I would ask if he saw him and how he was doing. If a SOBO came through, I would ask they to relay my encouragement when they meet him.

The best were the day hikers. They could relay in both directions. And with heart. Some even spent time with him, sharing stories and the vista.

TreeLine caught on and started sending messages ahead. Everyone was a good sport. He no doubt enjoyed the Party Line.

Two olden, solo hikers, making community out of thin air.

Well, on the 3rd day, problems. He slipped and fell doing a river crossing. Got to a trailhead, to urgent care, then a flight home.

At the same time (poetic timing), I took a major fall (somersault) down the side of the mountain.  On my third visit to urgent care today. I’m not sure if this is a trail ending.

It was amazing the kindness people offer. Eric and Evelyn drove me to urgent care. David, PA, was most helpful.

Each of them, a lot of people,  just need a reason and purpose to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to lend a helping hand. And always remember gratitude.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry