Media Change

My PC is over 12 years old and still running Windows Vista. The problem is Trend Micro stopped supporting the OS. So until I can buy a replacement, I will post via Android phone only.

My posts will be brief. Maybe helping me write more clearly. Let us hope.

Greetings on this the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Readings: EZ 37:12-14; PS 130:1-8; ROM 8:8-11; JN 11:1-45

The seventh and final sign of Jesus in the place called Bethany. Bethany- House of Affliction. Bethany – House of Figs.

Bethany as place and in persons is the climatic pre-arrest confrontation. Lazarus, Mary, Martha are beloved by all of Judea. Everyone even the worst among us respected the holiness within them.

In the dramatic raising of Lazarus, Jesus gives sign of his power over death and in the Resurrection promise.

After this event both Jesus and Lazarus (in some ways especially Lazarus) are under the death sentence of the leadership as recorded in the Session of the Sanhedrin.

Let Us Die with Him

Thomas gives word to the interior thoughts of the Apostles. Faced with certain death, they go to tend to the dead. Even though their understanding is limited, their faith propels them forward to accompany Jesus (See book of Tobit for interesting parallels).

Instead of burying, raising.

During the Lazarus event Jesus ‘snorted in spirit’. See In 11:33-34 and In 11:37-38. The first snort is the effect weak faith has on the Lord. The second is the effect dead faith has on the Lord.

Snorting and Weeping

In-between the weak faith and dead faith, the opposite poles, Jesus wept. For all of them. He wept because we flip between the opposite ends. He weeps for us too.

The promise is made real in the person. By the sign of Lazarus and later in his own Resurrection.

If we must die and we do, then I want to heed the words of Didymus. Let us go to die with him.

For me I have decided to follow Jesus, also a favorite spiritual song. Let us love the living, the dying and the dead.

Blessings,

Deacon Gerry

Today’s Gospel contains the words of a father desperate for his possessed child. “If you can, help”. Jesus replies, “Faith”.

Then the marvelous confession shared by so many of us, ‘I believe…. But… Help my unbelief’

How many have a vague sense of faith. A dimly lit candle of faith. I tell you ask Jesus to help you in your unbelief’.

I sit here among the dead knowing they will rise in the resurrection. I reach out to the living telling them same.

Woodside, NY. Preaching the resurrected Jesus.

Preached the 7:30 AM Mass today. The basic notes found here this site You have heard that it was said .

Now at PBI awaiting my flight to LGA. Bringing Mom to her final resting place. Monday 11:00 AM.

This will be the conclusion of the funeral rites. A final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member.

We commit her to her resting place as one among all those marked with the sign of faith where she too will await the glory of the resurrection.

The Church on Earth and the Church in Heaven share Mother now. We with our farewell prayers and they welcome her into the company of those who see God face to face.

May the Angels accompany you.

I’ll send photos throughout. May my devotion to her be give also to all those you love for we journey as a human family and love has no boundaries.

Blessings,

Deacon Gerry

In the hours leading up to the Epiphany or the Manifestation, I thought to list a manifest of preparation that will help us actually experience the Epiphany.

Manifest

Four Basics

1. Tear down walls of separation – from within and around me root out the prejudice which erodes the depth of our humanity.

2. See the Presence of God – teach us to recognize the many forms of God’s presence in one another.

3. Assent to be holy as God is holy – with integrity of word and deed, faith and action.

4. Let God transform me and all of creation – may every heart, voice, deed, action throughout the universe be transformed.

Happy Epiphany!

Wednesday night Benediction was the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph visited by an Angel in a dream story.

It is also the Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Advent. Perhaps we can use this story for our current situation.

Joseph thought in terms of righteousness. He wanted to do the right thing – at least what he thought were the available options.

He considered his options under the law: 1. Subject her to the moralists, 2. Divorce her quietly.

While he considered he had a visitation. Here is where I want to expand our understanding of Divine angelic visitation.

This invitation is to think in and through love. The third option, the one he couldn’t imagine under the law: Marry Her. Thinking in and through love he became the Protector of the incarnate one and his mother.

Yesterday the House of Representatives impeached Donald J Trump. This is the situation. This is the state of affairs. This is our predicament.

Where do we go from here? I am not suggesting The Donald is anything close to a innocent! I am not suggesting The Donald is anything close to a righteousness man!

There is no question that President Donald John Trump should be convicted and removed from office.

I’m worried about us, the People of these United States. I AM worried we are stuck between the false choice of the moralists and the quiet divorce options.

We need the same Angel to speak to us. Help us find the option of love. Which in this case is removal and full disclosure of the evil among us.

We need the contours of options knowable but only through revelation.

May God bless these United States of America.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

After a day bedside, I went to pharmacy to get my own medication.

A man looked at me and said,

You are hiding the cross!

He was upset.

I replied,

Rather, I am hidden in the Cross.

He replied,

I don’t hide anything.

Indeed. More Bible time needed. See Eph 1:7.

Religious intolerance not only is rude but closes one off to new expressions of the Divine.

Don’t be rude.

Blessings,

Deacon Gerry

Following on from homily.

Tibelon, Haiti school.

SVdP local food pantry.