Fr. George's Blogs

Jesus summoned the Twelve

and began to send them out two by two

and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey

but a walking stick—

no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals

but not a second tunic. 

He said to them,

“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. 

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

leave there and shake the dust off your feet

in testimony against them.” 

So they went off and preached repentance. 

The Twelve drove out many demons,

and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.  Mark 6-7-13

As we enter into the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, it is a wonderful reminder that our Gospels are shared in an intentional, chronological order.  Last week in the beginning of this same chapter, we saw the rejection of Jesus in his native place and now, while still in the surrounding area, he sends out ‘The Twelve’ on their first mission alone and yet not all alone; they are sent two-by-two.

At one of the lowest points of his early ministry, why would Jesus choose this time to commission the others?  Perhaps it was to reinforce in them that the mission they shared did not rely on the acceptance of the people and they should be prepared.  In fact, the Gospel goes on to tell them to brush the dust off from places that will reject them.  They are not to let difficult memories in one place weigh down the lightness of heart with which they are to walk.  As they are called to take little or nothing on their journey, I imagine that psychologically and spiritually, there was a great deal of baggage they were asked to leave behind as well.  They will be called not to ‘rely on the kindness of strangers’ but the ‘generosity of new friends.’

In my early formation and ministry, I was drawn to the notion that Jesus sent the disciples two-by-two and this seemed to affirm the need for companionship on my personal journey.  As I have grown, I also see this is less about those ministering and more for the sake of those to whom we attempt to minister.  Not one person can fulfill the needs or spark the religious imagination of those we encounter.  To walk side by side with another reminds us that we often need to work in a sense of common purpose, each sharing unique and particular gifts and talents.  Surely, we are buoyed by true companionship but it comes not merely by one partner but a true community of disciples who walk together.  Ultimately, we do not journey alone for we always are accompanied by our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Mark’s Gospel is unique in that it is the first time that the disciples are sent on their own mission.  Their activity is similar to the experience of anyone who has had hands-on training such as interns, apprentices and student teachers.  They are sent out not when they are completely ready but when they are ready to begin to learn and grow.  Many of the people the disciples reach will repent, be healed and be saved, but not all will be cured.  There is rejoicing in their early success and humility in that not all can be accomplished to our liking.

Many of us are using the summer months to recuperate and refresh ourselves.  Let this be a time when we prepare as communities for the next step of our journey.  Church communities and parishes will find that by walking side by side we can reach out to more and more.  There are many people who are yearning to have their hopes, dreams and needs addressed.  This is something none of us can do alone but together we can make progress on the journey that is ultimately in God’s hands.

I am increasingly not in need of actual ‘walking sticks’ whether that be a walker or a cane.  All of us know, however, to keep our balance when the path is rough and to keep moving forward, we need to rely on our faith and the faith of others.  May God remind us that as ‘companions on the journey’ our greatest support comes from each other.

Try to reduce the extra baggage we lay on each other and move forward with the lightness of heart that comes from knowing God’s love and that we are never alone. May God bless and keep you!  

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 Jesus,

"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."    Mark 25-34

The Gospel of the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time proclaims, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place” (Mark 6.4a).  In keeping with that sentiment, we will be disrespectfully ignoring this reading and returning to last week’s powerful Gospel, telling the story of the Raising of Jairus’ Daughter and the Hemorrhaging Woman.  The latter has been dealing with her affliction for a lifetime, which is the twelve-year lifetime of the young woman in the other story.  As I mentioned last week, this ‘Markan Sandwich’ looks at seemingly unrelated events that show even greater meaning when brought together.   Last week, we focused on the beginning of the passage which is seemingly interrupted by what we will focus on today.  The original story picks up again after these verses and is resolved.

I am composing this blog less than 24 hours from the last one so the connections for me are still fresh.  These two seemingly dissimilar stories are compelling in the fact that they mirror each other and reveal not only the mind of Jesus Christ but the roles of disciples who follow in the Lord’s footsteps, especially as we share spiritual and pastoral care.

If you remember, Jairus is a synagogue official who is used to being treated with the utmost respect and in Jesus’ culture also carried a great deal of political clout.  The fact that Jesus stops along the way and engages with the woman would have been considered scandalous, especially a woman who is not an emergency like the dying girl.  She has been dealing with her affliction for twelve years already.  Notice the woman understands social cues, she just wants to touch his garment, not interrupt him.  

As disciples we are called not only to bring Christ to others but to allow them to touch us.  If we truly embody or ‘put on Christ’ as we are called to at baptism, some people will need to reach out to us as much as we may be called to extend a hand to them.  It is interesting, however, that while she is freed from her affliction, her true healing is incomplete until Jesus takes the time to be with her and to allow her to tell her own story in her own words.  How often do we realize that people who are struggling, especially survivors of grave situations or trauma, also need to be heard and recognized.

In my mind, the woman who is cured is also given the peace that comes from a deeper level.  Perhaps she can forgive the doctors, or perhaps God, or perhaps Life itself for what she has been going through for the last twelve years.  Perhaps she is free from any lingering doubt or anxiety of her personal worth within her community or even to God. She now has faith which has truly saved her.

I have been praying through my recuperation from hip surgery and the healing process has been at the heart of my meditation.  First, I was still in discomfort and pain, but that subsided. However, I began to feel fatigue at the most basic of tasks, even talking on the phone.  In contrast to our experiences, the woman freed of her condition and the young girl rising from her near-death experience, share something in common.  They are both fully healed.  Jesus has restored them physically, emotionally and spiritually.  The girl is immediately given something to eat, no loss of appetite there! And I can’t imagine the celebratory meal the woman will have with friends and family.  The joy she will experience will remind us of the time when we are all healed, celebrating at the heavenly banquet.

Pastoral care is at the heart of what we do as a community.  I imagine just a few generations ago, the image of the priest was that of the country pastor who made frequent house calls and was always available.  If he were not, there would be two or three associates on call in his place.  It was an image like the country doctor whose role and availability was quite similar.

Now I see priests working as a nurse might in an overcrowded, understaffed emergency room.  Still great things can be accomplished in Jesus’ name if we are surrounded by disciples who, in this analogy, represent health care teams and volunteers who contribute to the work and are available to those who need not only to be treated but to be respected and heard.

Both Corpus Christi and All Saints on the Hudson have rededicated themselves to expanding Pastoral Care in our parishes.  You will hear more about these developments, some of which are a return to pastoral services provided before the pandemic.  I will be working with teams who will share in this ministry and allow me to be pastorally present in a more efficient way.  We want to be there in times of need but also for all those who are dealing with chronic issues that can derail us.

We allow the People of God to reach out to our Loving Savior who brings healing and grace to all those in need in many ways.  Important ministries achieve this through the efforts of the Diocesan Appeal and I am so proud of our two parishes for exceeding their goals this year.  At a time when people are discouraged and disillusioned by aspects of our institutional church, this is a reminder that the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ continues and is more important than ever.  Thank you for your loving support and generosity, especially toward your local church.

I am easing back into full-time ministry and I would like to extend my love and gratitude to all those who have been there for me.  Both parishes are blessed with staffs and parish leaders who respond to your needs with compassion and concern.  The mission of the church continues as we walk in the footsteps of the One who is not afraid to seek us out and provide healing peace in the midst of whatever afflictions come our way.  God bless you!

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat

to the other side,

a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.

Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,

"My daughter is at the point of death.

Please, come lay your hands on her

that she may get well and live."

He went off with him,

and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.  Mark 5.21-24

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,

"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported,

Jesus said to the synagogue official,

"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside

except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,

he caught sight of a commotion,

people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them,

"Why this commotion and weeping?

The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him.

Then he put them all out.

He took along the child's father and mother

and those who were with him

and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"

which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.

At that they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this

and said that she should be given something to eat.  Mark 5.35-42

No offense to the readings next week, but I plan to completely ignore those passages in my subsequent blog.  It actually will be appropriate because that message will be ‘no prophet is respected in his own place’, so I will not give them any attention!  This is because I am going to be sharing a two-week blog looking at the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the shorter option for this week while exploring the implication of the healing of the hemorrhaging women next week which is in the center of the activity in the longer version.  Mark 5.35-42

The Evangelist Mark often presents us with a ‘Markan Sandwich’, a literary technique that begins a story, interrupts it with a seemingly other story and then returns to the original plot.   The sequence is A-B-A.  Imagine ‘A’ as the hearty bread of the sandwich and ‘B’ as the Meat of the Matter, all enhancing a taste that would be different if presented alone.   In the Chapter 5 5:21-24 (A) Jairus pleads with Jesus to save his daughter.   On the way to heal her, the ‘Woman’ who has been suffering twelve years with a hemorrhage interrupts Jesus.   She tries to receive healing by merely touching his garment but he stops to address her concerns and hear her story, bringing her redemption.  5.25-34 (B). By taking his time with her, however, it appears all hope is gone that he might reach the daughter who appears not to survive.  That is then when we return to the first story.  5.35-42 (A)

This Gospel is extremely important to me.   This past Tuesday, June 25the was my 30th Anniversary to the ordained priesthood.  The following day I preached on these readings, which have appeared eleven times since.  Next week I will reflect on the woman’s story that has always reminded me of my mother and everyone who has suffered from chronic illnesses or ongoing afflictions.  I will build on this blog and focus on pastoral care.  This week I will focus on what it means to be Church by concentrating on the ‘bread of the story’.   

Peter, James and John, representing Jesus’ inner circle (adopted family), are selected to be part of the familiar home setting of Jairus’ family.  This honor will return to them at the Transfiguration.   In its own way, this encounter will be as enlightening.  With great respect and intimacy, he invites them into this private moment in which the girl, on the verge of womanhood in her culture, receives Jesus’ loving attention in the presence of her loving parents.  He speaks to her in her own language with words that she would understand.  How often do we address young people in a way that best relates to them?  

Jesus is open to the outsider and continues even as the people have turned on him, thinking he was useless in saving the daughter, perhaps even responsible for it.  He accepts all where they are and invites them forward.  In both the older woman and younger woman’s stories, they return to their ordinary lives, now enriched with a new appreciation of life.  

As I reflect on my priesthood, I want to thank everyone in my current parish families and those who have embraced me on the way.  I have always felt accepted and appreciated and each experience brings me to a deeper understanding of my faith and how blessed I am to live this life.  I also want to thank you all for always being generous with your support and prayers.

I am proud and humbled to be pastor of both All Saints on the Hudson and Corpus Christi.  It may appear I am part of two stories but in fact, they are one, call it the ‘Georgian Sandwich.’  Throughout my priesthood, multiple layers have come together as one scrumptious reality that rival anything Dagwood could have built.  Tremendous women and men of all generations that have touched my life over the generations have marked my life with extra sustenance and spice.  I am truly blessed. 

I will be sharing ‘the rest of the story’ next week.  In the meantime, may God continue to bless all of your families and our parish families.    As far as my recent hip surgery, I am continuing to improve each day and look forward to sharing a meal, our Sacred Meal, with all of you soon.  Again, God bless you!

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea

Take a look at yourself, and you can look at others differently

Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.   Ocean 1971

When I first glanced at this week’s readings, the 1971 song released by Ocean, immediately came to mind.  Researching the song that still rings in my head so effortlessly, I found that it spent many weeks at Number 2, blocked by Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World”.  Two of the most popular songs with biblical references were back-to-back, side by side.  It makes you think about what was going on in our consciousness, especially as we recall the societal storms of 1971.  

The song was based on Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus walks toward the disciples during a violent storm which he calms and then invites Peter to come out of the boat.  Peter is able to walk on water but then he loses his grip, so to speak, and is saved by the Lord who stretches out his hand and pulls Peter close as Peter, in turn, places his hand in Jesus’.   (Matt 14,22-31)

The parallel telling of Jesus calming the sea is different in Mark’s Gospel that will be proclaimed this weekend.   (Perhaps I thought of Matthew’s account highlighting Peter because I am living in St. Peter’s Rectory and in a village that fully appreciates still water.)  Today we will share a passage in which Jesus is already in the boat, calmly sleeping, while a violent storm frightens the disciples who call upon him for help.  

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?” Mark4.37-41

It is an important theological revelation that Jesus has control over the natural world but in terms of our experience, it is also important to realize that even when we feel Jesus is asleep and unresponsive to our needs, he is very much present.  Peter is not singled out in Mark, yet he is part of the same community that struggles to find its footing in this world filled with turmoil and uncertain waters.

I can strongly relate to these gospels. One of the last prayers shared with me before my surgery was ‘to place myself in the hands of the doctor.’  I reflect now that it is as if he was Peter but working alongside other disciples, the many health care and pastoral care professionals that were with me, calming my fears and leading me through the storm.  As I went under and into a drug-induced sleep, I felt a calm that came with the faith that was gifted to me by so many people lifting me up in prayer at the time.  My last memory was the chaplain who has been a friend for thirty-five years praying for me on your behalf.  I would later be prayed for just before surgery and while I have no memory of it, I was told that a smile was on my face and my hand was lifted in a thumbs up sign.

God is always present to us.  In our first reading, the Lord “addressed Job out of the storm” with the reminder that ever since his birth, God has led him through the passages of life.  To fully realize this, means that we are called to look at ourselves differently and as the song reminds us, this calls upon us to look at others differently.  St. Paul drives this home in his second letter to the Corinthians, which begins with the argument that the love of Christ should impel us to have the faith that transforms us.  We become a new creation so that we can see God at work in all aspects of our lives.

I was thinking about what I was doing when I first heard the song, Put Your Hand in the Hand, and at first thought that life was simpler.  I was not aware of all the storms facing our country, our society and our world in 1971.  In my own way, however, I remember that I was transitioning from fourth to fifth grade and was becoming increasingly self-conscious. It was an awkward time and I remember feeling very much alone.  I wish I could, 53 years later, reassure that awkward kid and let him know that he was not alone.  I would have looked at myself differently and perhaps I would have seen others differently and appreciated their love and support, especially among my family.

Whatever your age and whatever you are going through, don’t forget to place your hands in the Hand of the Great Physician.  May you feel the presence of God bringing you love, understanding and a hand bringing you out of the storm.  God bless you!  

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”   Mark 4.26-29

One of the most important revelations given to me by a respected older priest was that if you listen to a homily carefully, you will learn less about Scripture and more about the preacher. We are at times guilty, but perhaps not so shamefully so, of self-revelation when we share our hearts and under the pretense of trying to connect the congregation with the Scripture message, we actually connect the passage with our own situation.

For the next couple of weeks while I recover from my hip surgery, I will most likely be ‘sleeping and rising night and day’ while our parishes continue to grow and prosper under the leadership of amazingly capable women and men. I would like to think as with all the pastors before me that we have had a role in planting the seed of faith. It is actually the congregations that provide the nourishment and cultivation that allows our communities to grow.

I would like to thank all of our parishioners for they have nurtured me over the years. I feel like I am still maturing in my ministry and it is due to a large part by the fact that you help me meet the challenges that we face today. Sometimes it appears that progress is not happening fast enough but just as it takes time for plants to grow, sometimes it is important to have patience and let things take their natural course.

The Gospel continues with the well-known parable comparing the mustard seed to the Kingdom of God. It “is the smallest of all seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants…”  (Mark 4.31b, 32a).  The first reading from Ezekiel blesses us with a similar metaphor of a great cedar tree which brings shade and comfort to many but began as a simple seedling.  All this reminds us that the magnificent work of God is born from simple, vulnerable beginnings.

I am looking forward to a bit of recuperation, rest and relaxation while praying for our parish communities. There are many people behind the scenes that have cultivated new interest in how we can nurture parish leadership and spread our wings (or branches) by reaching out in pastoral care, social concerns, youth and inter-generational based ministries. There are also upcoming projects and special events across our parishes that are bringing me much hope for the future. 

As I approach my 30th anniversary of priestly service on June 25th, I want to thank you all for your prayers, support and well-wishes. I never could have imagined what my life would be like three decades after being first ordained.  I couldn’t be happier or more fulfilled and it is because of all of you. I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers and know in my heart I am in yours. God bless you!

His mother and his brothers arrived.

Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

A crowd seated around him told him,

"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters

are outside asking for you."

But he said to them in reply,

"Who are my mother and my brothers?"

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

"Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother."   Mark 3.31-34

I remember when my mentor in the seminary, a Capuchin professor named Fr. Gary McAuley, was asked how to deliver a homily when the Gospel was like this one.   The Evangelist Mark seems to imply that Jesus was not afraid to offend or disrespect his mother and may have had brothers and sisters.  I will never forget his reply:  “If I were you boys, I’d concentrate on the first reading!”

For this blog, I am going to avoid the first reading which tells of the first time a man (Adam) blamed a woman (Eve) for something he did.  I decided not to take a bite of that apple and instead focus on what was going on in our Gospel this week.   This passage reinforces what it means to be a true community and, if anything, draws us into a greater respect of our Blessed Mother.

As we end the third chapter of Mark, it is remarkable that this is the first mention of Jesus’ mother who is not yet given a name.  The Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist and introduces Jesus as an adult.  If you did not have the background and understanding of the other three canonical Gospels, you would not have been affected by the passage I shared.  The message ultimately reveals Jesus’ understanding of family.  

The culture of Jesus’ time is displayed across the Christian Scripture landscape and an example of brother and sister relationships might be seen in Luke’s portrayal of Mary and Elizabeth.  We have traditionally seen them as sisters and in that culture they were.  That does not mean, however, they shared one or either biological parent.  Biblical scholars tell us they were considered sisters because they were of the same extended family, clan or tribe.  Familiarity among your closest relatives united you all as brothers and sisters despite by how many degrees you were cousins or how many times ‘you were removed’.  A bond was formed that kept you together and you saw each other as one family unit.  I would describe Elizabeth and Mary as true sisters, soul sisters.

Some have suggested that Jesus had brothers and sisters through his earthly foster father, Joseph, who was older than Mary and could have been a widower with children.  The truth is we don’t know and it does not matter.  What we do know is that Jesus was forming a new family of brothers and sisters that were becoming more transcendent than the typical clan or tribe.  All of us have become brothers and sisters when we relate ourselves to Jesus Christ and recognize that we are all children of God.  It should and must affect how we feel about and act toward each other.

When Jesus says whoever does the will of God is…his mother, he obviously can point to our Blessed Mother as the one who fulfilled God’s will in the most majestic, spiritual way possible.  Mary is someone not only to emulate but to embrace because she will show us the way as she has a vested interest in us becoming true brothers and sisters worthy of her son.  

God bless you all and may Mary intercede for us and our brothers and sisters throughout the world!

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,

to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them,

"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."  Matthew 28.16-20

This weekend we celebrate The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and are blessed by Matthew’s account of the Great Commissioning.  It occurs as the final verses of his Gospel which is quite unique in comparison to the accounts of Mark, Luke and John.  With one exception which I will later address, this is the only Resurrection Appearance for the Eleven and anyone else who may have followed them.

They had been instructed to go to Galilee by Mary of Magdala and the other Mary who had received a message from an angel guarding the empty tomb.

As I write these words just days after the ordination of our own Deacon Eric Ramirez and five men to the priesthood, I marvel at the timing of the commissioning in our weekend readings as fundamental to all six being given the ability to preach the Good News and baptize others in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The Triune God whom we celebrate today is made more explicit in these words than anywhere else in our Bible.

These last few weeks have seen a commissioning of sorts for several groups of young disciples who are answering their baptismal call in special ways.  Our recent First Communion and Confirmation celebrations were a direct response to the original great commissioning which has been passed on from generation to generation.  It reminds me that now more than ever all of us are called to live out what God has commanded, ultimately to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.  To truly love means to accept the responsibility of reconciling other’s in God’s name.  That often begins by accepting and forgiving ourselves.

Within months of beginning his pontificate, Pope Francis would begin planning an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy that would begin on December 8, 2015.  As his first priority, the Pope thought that evangelization, outreach and healing were all connected.  It’s interesting that he felt the divine mystery of Holy Trinity was best revealed in the word “Mercy” itself.  “With our eyes fixed on Jesus and his merciful gaze,” the Pope went on to say, “we experience the love of the Most Holy Trinity. The mission Jesus received from the Father was that of revealing the mystery of divine love in its fullness.”

How comforting our Gospel is if we truly imagine the merciful gaze of Jesus who approaches the Eleven despite their doubt.  Perhaps his first gesture is to comfort and reassure them as he also expresses that the weight of his authority is at one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  He has the power to empower them to go forth and make disciples, knowing that they will never be left to toil alone.  Jesus will always be with them accompanying them on the sacred quest.  They are called not just to recruit new members; they are sent forth to bring healing and love to a world that often is broken and causing many to feel alone.

I mentioned that there was another appearance of the Risen Lord in Matthew’s Gospel.  As the two Marys are following the instruction of the angel and seeking out the Eleven, Jesus joins them on their journey much like he did in the Emmaus account of John’s Gospel.  It is a tender moment that reassured them and allowed them to proclaim the Risen Lord with not just conviction but also with their hearts full of love.  Let us never forget that Jesus is truly with us at all times and when we forget, he blesses us with people who are there to lovingly and mercifully point us in the right direction.

God bless you!  Happy Most Holy Trinity Sunday and Godspeed as you continue your journeys.

This weekend we are blessed with the Solemn Feast of Pentecost which is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday, commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and marking the origin of our Church.  I will reflect on this next weekend in light of our recent Confirmations, but was encouraged to share as my blog a reflection that I wrote a week ago in the afterglow of our Mother's Day liturgies.

When I celebrated my first Mother’s Day as a priest in May 1995, I remember how amazed I was that the church appeared to be as full as Christmas.  Mothers were joined by teens and young adults (and sometimes by husbands) who often did not appear with them on a regular basis.  I smiled to see so many people that attended our faith formation and felt the excitement in the room as younger moms, often with their children on their first Mother’s Day, absolutely beaming with pride.  Many of the women even wore hats!

As someone who had lost his own mother after a health battle in January 1991, I felt like an observer watching a congregation full of happiness and hope for the future.  I felt out of place as memories stirred in me that yearned to be melancholy but were domesticated by my outward smile.  I told myself that I was ministering to them, not me, women and men of multiple generations that were filled with joy and I must mirror that.  I felt completely selfless yet out of touch and somewhat insincere.

Truth be told, I was grateful to share in their happiness.  My brother would call later, feeling down, and I couldn’t relate to that either because their spirit was infectious.  I was filled with a sense of how wonderful it must be to have a family, especially at the beginning of their life together.

As time went on over three decades, assignments came and went, similar congregations came together on Mother’s Day but something changed.  Families dwindled and often if the mother came alone on a regular basis she would appear alone on this particular Sunday as well.  Sometimes the mothers were missing themselves, allowing themselves to sleep in a bit on their special day or perhaps enjoy a leisurely breakfast and time with children and grandchildren who were more inclined to give them that attention on Mother’s Day.  I didn’t and don’t blame them, I’m just aware that something is changed.

What truly has changed is me as a celebrant.  I am no longer detached but fully engaged with the powerful dynamics of a liturgy on Mother’s Day.  I thought decades earlier that I was alone in my grief but now I am fully conscious of the melancholy that sometimes enters into the sacred space.  My responsibility is to acknowledge it, embrace those feelings even, but send them on their way, hopefully renewed by the Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  For those who have suffered loss, Mother’s Day is bittersweet but it also can be poignantly beautiful, especially when we keep our loved ones in our hearts and in our prayers.

When I look about the congregation, I see the families who have lost a mother or dear one.  I find myself focused on the women of the assembly, rather than the men, even though I know all of us are affected in our own way.  I see the women my age who have lost a mother recently or perhaps well into the past.  I see aging women reminiscing of how things were and how they wish life would still become.  I see the empty spaces in pews  that will not be sat in by any of the ‘regulars’ because they know that is ‘their seat’ and they wouldn’t want an intruder, even if they passed on years ago.  I see how sensitive this day is for stepmothers and the awkwardness of those wished “Happy Mother’s Day!” even when they have no children.  I see mothers of every generation who have lost children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren and feel the weight of their child’s absence.  I see the quiet strength of a mother who miscarried and perhaps grieving in private.  I see mothers who have made mistakes or difficult, painful decisions and now are separated from those they love.  I see the pain of mothers and children that are estranged from each other.  I see those who fear for the health and the welfare of themselves and their children.  I see women angry that the church isn’t preaching against things that they feel bring their children harm and I see women angry that the church is not more compassionate and embracing toward them.

As I see the complicated, entangled lives that come together for each of our celebrations, I also see the mothers beaming with pride and the children sharing in that warmth.  In the sea of people trying to make sense of a complicated world, I see the simplicity and innocence of a toddler not yet able to walk attempting to scurry down the aisle from his parents sitting in the vestibule.  They delight in the older sister, a young child who herself was an infant not long ago, race to stop her brother and bring them back into the arms of a waiting dad, or next time, a waiting mother.  As I see this repeated, joy fills my heart and I feel full of happiness and hope for the future.

Not so much has changed these last thirty years, except for me and what I see.  I also don’t see so many hats. 

Brothers and sisters:

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation

resulting in knowledge of him.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,

that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call…

Ephesians 1.17-18a

This weekend, I am actually citing the beginning of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians which was one of the choices proclaimed at our Ascension Thursday liturgy a couple of days ago.  Not to confuse things but some dioceses have moved this feast to this Sunday while the dioceses of New York State have chosen to keep the original placement as the fortieth day after Easter, ten days before Pentecost.

The passage I chose strikes me as the sentiment many of us are thinking in light of our recent First Communions and upcoming Confirmation celebrations.   How we yearn for God’s blessing upon our young people reassuring them with wisdom and understanding that God loves them wholeheartedly.  We never want them to forget what it means to be embraced so that they will never lose hope or the desire to live out their own call as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The faith journeys of our children and young adults unite not just those close to them but they draw us closer together as we recall that we are all on a spiritual adventure.  Just as people of all ages renew their baptismal promises at a baptism, these celebrations help us to recall what it meant and felt like when we were first enlightened by the Sacraments and the blessings of a community.

As my heart is filled with gratitude and joy, I am also humbled by the bounty of so much effort and concern which has helped lead our children and young adults to these important milestones of their faith.  Parents and grandparents, godparents, friends and family have all played a part in enlightening their hearts and minds to the grace that is before them.   This is a moment of true love that truly calls us to share the gifts of faith and hope as well.

I join all of us in appreciation of all our faith formation coordinators who have worked side-by-side with catechists and volunteers to teach, guide and inspire our children of all ages.  I am always touched by stories about how their own faith journey has been enhanced as they are inspired by those they teach and mentor.  The Spirit of wisdom and revelation is never a one-way street! I certainly can relate to that fact because I, too, am inspired by people of all ages.

I would like to reflect on what I witnessed at First Communion and anticipate what will similarly come to light at our Confirmations.  As in the past, I thank our entire parish family for supporting our youth and one another.  Our liturgical ministries, in particular, truly allow each celebration to call forth the gifts and talents of our entire community, bringing us together as one.   The wonderful music ministries instill in us a sense of wonder, awe and beauty which is also mirrored in the physical environments that are carefully prepared.   People are immediately greeted with warmth and hospitality and encouraged to feel at home.  The Word of God is proclaimed by Lectors who have rehearsed and prayed over the readings.   Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist share Holy Communion with a sense of joy and reverence with a balance that enhances the encounter of Christ Jesus.  Even when we don’t have a collection, ushers are joined by others to complement our greeters as they watch for any way they can be of assistance.  As it has been said, ‘it takes a village’, it takes all of us to participate in a spirit of unity, service and prayer.

What separates us from the village analogy is not a sense of community but a sense of purpose.  We exist for the glory of God!  As Saint Paul prays, “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory”, give us all the gifts of the Spirit to make a difference in this world and unite us in the next.  God bless you!

Jesus said to his disciples:

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father's commandments

and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  Jn 15.9-12

I remember a wake service of a dear friend who always made me feel like a part of his family.  Off the cuff, I mentioned how he loved his children, who I also knew well, and that he loved them unconditionally.  They all looked at each other and one of the sons burst in to laughter.  I was forced to repeat myself but with a clarification.   “His unconditional love did happen to come with a few conditions!”

The love the family had for each other was strong and real.  Memories of tough love were amusing them not distressing them because they knew the father’s heart was in the right place.  Still, when he was directing them, especially when they took their turns at the family business, there were times when they did not receive his commandments with anything resembling joy.  How is the love of Jesus different or is it in some ways the same?

At the time of First Reconciliation, I love to engage the children with a pair of questions that usually evokes quick response, “What do your parents make you do that you don’t want to do?”  and “What don’t your parents let you do even though you want to?   I enjoy the various responses which include what you would suspect, “Stop hitting your brother!  “Brush your teeth!”  “Make your bed!”  “Clean your room!  “Wake up and go to school!”, etc., etc., you get the idea.

When I explain all these rules are meant to keep them healthy, safe and strong I always get back to how these ‘commands’ are all made out of love.  I think about today’s Gospel passages, especially when I talk about the reasons parents want their children to get along:  Ultimately, they want them to love each other.  Obviously, for children without siblings, there is an equal desire for them to love friends and family.  Ultimately, we will also be commanded to love our neighbor as our self.

The love that is given to us from the Father through Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit, is the kind of love that should transform us.  This great love is meant to change how we see the world and our place in it in connection with all our brothers and sisters.   Love challenges us to love without conditions, without counting the cost.  Ultimately Jesus demonstrates the great love of laying down his life for his friends.  Ultimately we are called to rise up with the Risen Lord.  Our lives will be completed when that joy becomes complete.

We are called to perform our lives in such a way that we adhere to God’s commands even when sometimes it feels like we are acting or going through the motions.  I was struck by the term ‘command performance’ which often is used in reference to something someone doesn’t want to do.  For instance, “I have to attend the boss’ workshop because it is a command performance.”  I was thinking however that the original reference wasn’t something sarcastic.  Command Performance is defined by Merriam Webster as: “a special performance of a concert, play, etc., that is done at the request of an important person (such as a king).

Who is more important than our Loving God?  The fact that God is Love and invites us to enter into, and remain in, that relationship reminds us that even if we feel like we are going through the motions, eventually love will overtake us.  We will no longer be performers but transformers.  God bless you!

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."   John 15:1,7-8

This week’s quote from Scripture includes both the first and last verses of the Gospel of John.  I have edited the words in-between because while they challenge us to live better lives, they do not directly connect with this week’s blog which is taking a different approach to the vine, in fact I am going to address the grapevine that is sharing concern over my hip and potential surgery in the near future.

First, I would like to thank the many people whose support and nurturing has truly spread along the vine and brought forth renewed disciples, especially those who are approaching the Sacraments.  This weekend, our young people at All Saints on the Hudson are receiving their First Communion and I am so excited to anticipate spending this sacred time with them.  I will include more expressions of gratitude next weekend for both our parishes.

Today, I also want to address the concerns people have had for me and let you know how much your loving support means to me.  I also know that some people are worried that I’m putting off doing what I need to do in order to get better. Although I do not necessarily like talking about myself, there is nothing secret about what has been affecting me, and I want to assure you that your worries are unfounded.

For over a year now I have been receiving care for my hip and arthritis in my knees and toes. You’ll notice that I do not traditionally genuflect but bow at those reverent times in order to keep the moment sacred and not distract others with involuntary expressions.

Through my doctor and a spiritual director who takes a holistic approach, I set about on an exercise and diet program to see if that would help, and it did.  I was able to lose over thirty pounds this past year! (I’ve slipped after Lent and have got to get back on track!)  I was feeling better overall, but I noticed the tension in my hip in the late fall, and I know people started to see it appeared difficult for me to get around at the altar.

There is an adage, “walk it off”, and it holds true for me.  I have to say that it’s difficult when I first stand or take the first couple of steps, especially up or down the stairs and then it gets much better.  Unfortunately, the circumstances at the liturgy make me look more in distress than I am overall.  Still, I knew I had to address this.

I have been concerned that so many people worry that I have been putting off or ignoring my health.  Let me reassure you that this is not the case. I have been seeing my physician and been receiving physical therapy in preparation for surgery which will most likely be scheduled in late May or in June.

I will keep you all posted.  I want to apologize if I ever appeared annoyed at all the questions I’ve been getting as well as the concern some of you express that I’m not taking care of myself. I know these things are said out of love.  I think I have been defensive and embarrassed with all the attention in light of the frailty and serious health concerns of several people close to me.  I know I will be better soon but my heart breaks for others who are not as fortunate. There are those who come to Mass faithfully even when it is very difficult for them or others who are homebound, unable to come due to health issues. I know our hearts go out to all of them.

Thank you again for all your support.  Please know that my parish families are in my thoughts and prayers as well.  I will keep you posted.  Remember, no news is good news; but when I know more, I’ll be sure to get it on the vine.  God bless you!

Beloved:

See what love the Father has bestowed on us

that we may be called the children of God.

Yet so we are.

The reason the world does not know us

is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God's children now;

what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,

for we shall see him as he is.   1st Letter of John 3:1-2

Each 4th Sunday of Easter, we are treated to a different Gospel from the 10th Chapter of the Gospel of John.  Not surprisingly, since we are in the second year of a three-year cycle, this week we are treated to the centerpiece of the chapter.  Our Gospel begins immediately as we left off last year:  “Jesus said:  “I AM the Good Shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  (John 10:11)

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, I want to thank you all for not only allowing me to serve as your shepherd but also for the many ways you, too, tend to the flock.  In our day, the needs of so many are shared by amazing parish leaders who go out of their way, and make personal sacrifices, to serve others.  This act of love is shared while ‘tending’ to so many things that are important to a flock that seems to scatter in different directions.  The sound of your voices brings us all back into the one fold.

I decided to share as my Scripture quote the second reading in its entirety.  While it seems I have ‘scattered’ from the Gospel message, I was struck that this beautiful passage from the Third Chapter of the First Letter of John describes not what the Good Shepherd ‘does’ but what motivates the Beloved.  It speaks to the flock and what draws us into the flock – the very sound of His voice.

April and May are a time of preparation for those approaching First Communion as well as Confirmation.  For most of our families the Sacraments enter into the lives of our loved ones around the ages of eight and sixteen, respectively.  How different are our youth in their middle teens from where they were half a life ago.  One thing has remained and stood the test of time and struggle, joy and pain:  The love of their parents and closest caregivers.  I invite you to read the New Testament passage again and reflect with me what this means, not just for the children and young adults, but all of us.

We are loved by a God we traditionally call Father: Who by bestowing on us divine love has transformed who we are.  As Children of the Light we are call to be beacons of love and compassion, enlightening others by brightening their lives.  Some who live in the shadows don’t know us and sometimes we live in our own shadows that keep us from realizing who we truly are.  What we will become may not be fully realized at the moment, but we do know there will be a time when we are truly at one with the One.  The Good Shepherd gently calls our name.  We respond because in our hearts we know the sound of the Beloved’s voice.  

The Total Eclipse that would have petrified people throughout the centuries now inspires us. Anticipation and contemplation reached communal levels that may not be seen again in our lifetimes.  Those who were prepared and knew what to expect were not frightened.  They knew that while the Sun seemed to disappear, it was still very much present.  With the proper eyewear we were able to experience the event that otherwise could have harmed us.

Our faith provides the extra care we need to see God in our world.  God may not yet seem to be fully revealed. However, with the proper preparation, knowledge, hope and grace, we know what to anticipate.  We will then contemplate upon the warmth that comes when we realize we are children of God.  Let us continually support each other as a flock that follows the way of the Shepherd.

God bless you all and let’s not stray but stay together!  Let your Light Shine!

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,

and how Jesus was made known to them

in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,

he stood in their midst and said to them,

"Peace be with you."

But they were startled and terrified

and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled?

And why do questions arise in your hearts?

Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.

Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones

as you can see I have."

And as he said this,

he showed them his hands and his feet.

While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,

he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

They gave him a piece of baked fish;

he took it and ate it in front of them.     Luke 24.36-43

Our full Gospel this week begins with the two disciples who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus recounting how he opened the Scriptures for them and that they recognized him in the Breaking of the Bread.  They have returned to Jerusalem and are acting as true witnesses in the presence of Jesus’ closest followers. Jesus then appears to them all.

Luke’s Gospel is distinctive and differs in part to the similar account in the Gospel of John we proclaimed last week.  Thomas is no longer singled out but the human quality of Jesus’ appearance is highlighted, even to the point of them witnessing Jesus eating a piece of fish.  They not only look at his hands and feet but they are invited to touch his glorious wounds, all to demonstrate that He is indeed not a ghost.  Jesus is fully alive and engaged with them.

We would be startled and terrified if someone we loved came back to us from the dead.  How often have we awoken in the middle of the night with memories of dreams in which we may have encountered someone special.  We are disappointed yet often relieved to know we are alone.  Then, perhaps, the loneliness of the night creeps in and we are just a little sadder.

Most of us would give everything we have to sit at a table and share a meal with a loved one that has passed on from our world.  It is quite remarkable that Jesus calms his troubled and frightened friends by first fully revealing himself and then breaking bread with them as a sign of togetherness and familiar ties.  It is when he has soothed their souls and calmed their fears that he will open their hearts and minds to the meaning of the Scriptures and help them put all of this into perspective.

Again, imagine experiencing a family meal once more with those who have gone before us.  As Jesus connected all things with Moses, representing the law and all the prophets, our stories would be transformed by the perspective of our past matriarchs and patriarchs.  The secret of knowing the true meaning of the Resurrection is that they are still breaking bread with us, perhaps at another table and in an ‘other’ place they are celebrating a heavenly banquet, but they are still present for us.  Let us be as aware of them as they are of us.

As communities we come together at the Eucharist to break the Bread and share in a sacred meal.  First we open up the Scriptures.  This is meant to not only be a personal spiritual encounter but a communal one as well.  We come together as a family and this leads to other meals filled with grace and hospitality, drawing us closer together as a true family.  May we stand beside women and men who will remember us when we are gone. 

My hope and prayer is that our parish families will continue to come together in God’s name, welcoming those who may have come to us from a distance like the disciples from Emmaus. May we be witnesses of God’s love through our hospitality, the sharing of the Word and the partaking of the Sacraments.   God bless you!

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."

But he said to them,

"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  John 20.24,25     

I am writing my first words after the exhilarating experiences of Holy Week and Easter.  Have no doubt that I will get back to Thomas but I want to begin by expressing my sincere and overwhelming gratitude to so many people who came forth with their gifts and talents for the benefit of our community.  It was an honor to participate in two Ecumenical Celebrations:  Outdoor Stations of the Cross in which we walked through the streets of Mechanicville and the Easter Sunrise Service overlooking the hills of the Saratoga Battlefield.  I truly felt like part of an extended community.

I felt most at home participating at our beautiful churches which underwent transformations for each service by several dedicated groups of women and men who gave so much of their time and attention to every detail.  People spent hours preparing for the celebrations. On behalf of Father Marty and Father Bob, I cannot thank enough the many lay ministers, volunteers, and staff who came forward.  The incredible hard work and loving dedication of so many, particularly in the realm of music ministry, brought beauty to our senses and touched us in mind, body and soul.

I could have highlighted different verses from this week’s readings but I cannot help myself.  I love Thomas!  The disciple referred to as ‘twin’ three times in John actually mirrors not our lack of faith but those times when all of us find ourselves doubting.  It is important to realize, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday, that Jesus warmly offers Thomas peace and allows him to pour over the markings of the crucifixion, just as he had done, incidentally for the other Apostles.  When Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20.29b), the message is not just for the one but also for the entire twelve, in fact, all of us.

In a commentary focusing on the insights of Pope Francis’ past homilies, the Holy Father stressed that Thomas found himself doubting when he was outside of the community.  He stresses that it illustrates the need for us to come together often, in prayer, worship and service.  Our Lenten and Easter celebrations and activities were certainly occasions when many of our family and friends came together, sharing and reinforcing our faith.

My favorite theory as to why Thomas was called twin, however, is that it was a nickname given him because he bore a striking physical resemblance to Jesus.  This makes the case that Thomas would not recognize him in the flesh interesting on many levels.  Perhaps we do not recognize ourselves in times of doubt.  Most striking to me is the awareness that we truly do not know each other or love others until we share their pain and suffering.

This Lenten season graced me for the opportunity to get to know many of our parishioners on a deeper level.  In some cases, this was because they shared parts of themselves and in others they showed loving support and concern for me.  In addition to my family of origin I share with my twin, I feel blessed to be a part of two families, All Saints on the Hudson and Corpus Christi.  May this Easter season renew us in light of God’s love and mercy for all of us.  Let us share and spread those blessings in the context of our community.  God bless you!  Happy Easter!

Fr. George Fleming

On the first day of the week,

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,

“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,

and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter

and arrived at the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him,

he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,

and the cloth that had covered his head,

not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in,

the one who had arrived at the tomb first,

and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture

that he had to rise from the dead.    John 20.1-9

We hope and pray you have a very Blessed Easter!

Of the different readings we might hear proclaimed at the Easter Vigil or one of our Sunday liturgies, I am sharing one of my favorite scenes in all of Scripture.  Of all the Resurrection stories, this one we will share Easter morning strikes me as completely relatable to our own experiences.  Jesus has yet to make an appearance and there are no Angels announcing, “He Is Risen!”  Three close disciples are grappling with what the Empty Tomb means to them and the ‘fate’ of their beloved Savior.

I smile as I quote ‘fate’ because this has nothing to do with fate and everything to do with faith.  Mary of Magdala is the first to go to the tomb and in John’s account she is alone; alone but not for long.  We should never suspect that Mary rushes to Peter or the beloved disciple for help, per se.  What I mean is she is not helpless nor is she searching for men to save the day.  Indeed, she is reaching out to fellow disciples, common followers of Jesus and people she very well could have considered friends and confidantes.  In fact, this traveling group of missioners probably began to think of themselves as family.

In comparison to Mary walking slowly, perhaps more intently and reflectively to the tomb, Peter and the beloved disciple rush in haste; they run to the tomb.  The latter arrives first but is dumbstruck. Peter, in contrast, moves in as if he was a detective on a case.  He observes the evidence and begins to come to some conclusions but none really come into focus until he consults with his partners.

While we usually associate ‘the beloved disciple’ as John, Scripture scholars and commentators remind us that when the Gospel leaves a figure unnamed, it serves as an invitation to enter into the sacred story, to see ourselves, in fact, as that very person, in this case, indeed as beloved.  How I wish I always felt as strongly loved as my faith tells me I am, and how much I wish you would feel the power of God’s love to bring healing into your life when you need it most.

As I am writing this, the British princess, Kate Middleton, has just announced details of her recent scare and ended poignantly by connecting with women (and men) undergoing similar challenges, reminding them that ‘no one is alone.’  Essential to our faith is that God never leaves us alone, even if at times we feel we can handle things on our own.

Last weekend, the Confirmation Candidates and teens of Corpus Christi led the community in a special Stations of the Cross which they presented as a true witness that as we share Christ’s Passion so does Jesus share our own pain and suffering.  Again, that same love will carry us into the amazement of true healing in the appearance of the Risen Lord.  The Confirmation candidates of All Saints on the Hudson had a retreat at which older teens and young adults shared their own stories about those times that they truly felt like a beloved disciple.

The story of the three disciples searching out Jesus helps us be aware of how our faith revives and deepens when we call upon our own sojourners.  Our communities support and sustain us in our faith.  Whether we reflect and go forth purposefully like Mary or rush into things like Peter and his companion, by going at our own pace eventually we will arrive together.

Thank you for joining us in person, online or in spirit this Easter.  Let us continue to walk together, perhaps occasionally run, as one body, one community, one family of disciples.  We need each other and each other’s gifts and talents.  Most importantly, we need to remind ourselves of the journey we are on, and like Mary, who was the first to see Jesus, recognize him when we hear him call us by name.  

When the great crowd that had come to the feast heard 

that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 

they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out:

    “Hosanna!

    “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,

        the king of Israel.”      John 12.12-13

We begin Holy Week as we do every year with not one but two Sunday liturgies back-to-back.  The tone and mood of the Palm Sunday commemoration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem is in stark contrast to the account of Jesus’ Passion, which will be the centerpiece of the second liturgy.  Through this journey, we enter, as Jesus did, not into a particular city, but a common human experience.  We can personally imagine the ‘thrill of victory’ and the agony of what appears at first to be defeat.  In fact, both Gospels invite us into a roller coaster of emotions, but we know in our hearts that we will safely land in the renewing splendor of Easter.

ABC Sports touted its tagline decades ago, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” to emotionally involve the viewer when they watched Wide World of Sports.  Our experience of Holy Week is fundamentally different because we are not watching what transpires at a distance and recorded in the past.  We are experiencing, once more, what Jesus did for us as we journey with Him.  We are not an admirer from afar; we are disciples following closely.

In preparation of my blog, I came across Pope Francis’ homily on Palm/Passion from 2021 that was written in the context of the pandemic as well as multiple natural disasters and violent altercations of all kinds.  He proclaimed, “To admire Jesus is not enough”, the Pope declares. “We have to follow in his footsteps, to let ourselves be challenged by him; to pass from admiration to amazement.” This, he says, enables us to really “know that we are not alone: God is at our side in every affliction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will ever have the final word.”  “And with the grace of amazement”, the Pope adds, “we come to realize that in welcoming the dismissed and discarded, in drawing close to those ill-treated by life, we are loving Jesus.”

The beauty of the Passion as well as all the experiences of Holy Week is that as we truly realize that we can fully identify with Jesus, even in the midst of pain.  What is truly amazing is that God can relate even more so with us.  The challenge comes for us to see Jesus in all our brothers and sisters, not just those with whom we relate.  That said, sometimes our feeling of separation is deeply felt by those with whom we once related.  Like the apostles who fell asleep, we have often been let down by people on whom we have counted.  Thankfully, when people let us down, Jesus lifts us up.

People often share with me their disappointments and feelings of betrayal, including at the hands of people representing the church.  As I read the Passion, I am struck by the figure of Peter in Mark’s Gospel, who could not stay awake when Jesus needed him most and eventually would deny Him three times before the cock crowed twice.  I am incredibly moved by the last moment we see him alone, weeping, full of sorrow and regret.  In that moment, I find myself forgiving him and yearning for him not to lose heart.  Jesus will return and reconcile Peter just as he will do for us.  How blessed are we!

May this Holy Week truly be an experience that brings us a sense of God’s compassion, love, and forgiveness.  We are not alone in our journey; may we experience the peace that comes with communal healing and reconciliation.  God bless you and all your loved ones, close by, distant, or close to you in spirit.

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, 

the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil 

and dried his feet with her hair; 

it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.

So the sisters sent word to him saying, 

“Master, the one you love is ill.”

When Jesus heard this he said,

“This illness is not to end in death, 

but is for the glory of God, 

that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus….”  John 11.1-5a

For the third week in a row, we face some difficult choices as to which readings to proclaim, one coming from the Cycle B selections whose year we are currently in, or Cycle A readings which are always an option when we have people coming forward to be fully initiated in the church.  In the cycle B Gospel, ‘some Greeks’ come to Philip with the desire to see Jesus.  Philip, in turn, seeks out Andrew and together they draw others closer and closer to the inner circle where they will encounter Jesus.  This transition reminds us of what we also will encounter in the Raising of Lazarus in the Gospel of Cycle A.

I was struck by how the relationship described in both Gospels bring us closer to Jesus.  In John, Chapter 11, ‘there was a man’ who is given the name Lazarus.  He is then mentioned in terms of his relationships, first his sister Mary and then his sister Martha.  The sisters describe Lazarus as the one Jesus loves. A short time later we find that Jesus loved them all.  We need to recognize ourselves as being worthy to be loved in our relationship to Jesus.  Only then can we fully appreciate how much we all are loved as brothers in sisters, now and forever.

One commentator describes the readings of Cycle B as being in relationship with the past, present and future.  Jeremiah proclaims, “The days are coming.”  Paul begins, “In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh,” and the Gospel shares Jesus’ words ‘the hour has come!’ We begin by looking toward the future, then reflecting on the past, and then by recognizing the here and now.  Through it all Jesus remains in relationship with us, whatever direction our perspective may lead.

This weekend, whether or not I celebrate publicly, I will be cherishing memories of St. Patrick’s Days in the past.  My family was proud to be Irish, and I remember my childhood as going to the parade, wearing green and seeing my home fill with friends and neighbors as my mother always hosted a party.  Her enthusiasm was in contrast to that of my grandparents on both sides who were all born in America but held the  bittersweet memories shared by their ancestors who had difficulties in Ireland.  They had fled here for their lives and freedom, and despite leaving close family and friends, they chose not to look back.  My mom’s enthusiasm for her heritage both amused and somewhat irritated them.

Lent is a time for looking back, as well as forward.  Importantly, it is also a wonderful time to be truly present to the present moment.  It is an appropriate time to reflect on our past decisions, knowing in some ways that rather than be distant, God may be closer than ever and perhaps amused at our folly and ourselves.  We are invited to move closer and nurture our relationship with God.  We do so by examining the context of how and where we lead our lives.  Only then can we see where we are going.  If we follow Jesus, we will be led home and our hearts will be filled.

St. Joseph’s Day is also observed this week. It is another opportunity for us to draw closer together.  I have strong past and current memories of Italian friends who observed the day not unlike my relatives celebrated the Irish feast.  St. Joseph is the patron saint of many countries and peoples, as well as all fathers and all workers.  It is a day to unite us as we follow his example.

We see in Scripture and our spiritual reflections St. Joseph truly being one with us.  As someone who led by example, he drew others into relationship with Jesus and Mary, taking the lead in their lives when he was needed. His support, like that of Philip and Andrew, Mary and Martha, is an example of drawing Jesus closer into our lives here in the present as we acknowledge the past and look toward the future.  God bless you.

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, 

so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 

so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 

so that everyone who believes in him might not perish 

but might have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but that the world might be saved through him.   John 4.13-17

In keeping with the Scrutinies being shared at Corpus Christi this weekend, some of our liturgies will be proclaiming the Man Born Blind, Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John.  For those maintaining the Cycle B readings, we will be sharing an encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish leader and Pharisee who secretly met with Jesus in the darkness of night.  I have chosen to reflect on this passage for a number of reasons.

I have never heard such a poignantly personal message capturing Nicodemus than from Fr. Charles Onyeneke who blessed me at his Mass of Thanksgiving following his priestly ordination and again when he returned to the United States and celebrated another liturgy at Corpus Christi.  He mentioned that he thought of the two of us, he and I, as people who have had a similar connection to Jesus and Nicodemus.  Although we were not close friends during his formation, we had a series of meaningful conversations at shared events and had formed a bond of mutual respect and admiration.  I believe they had an impact in our personal growth in both stages of our continuing formation.

Since this time, I have identified more with Nicodemus, in part because I am sure Fr. Charles saw himself in the role of Jesus!  Still, I began to see how their mutual respect and admiration mirrored two spiritual seekers who were on different paths that nevertheless met several times during the journey.  If we are open to the notion, many of us have had such encounters, especially with people of faith and perhaps even with others where we have taken the lead.

Lent is a time to experience those sacred moments, maybe even alone in the quietness and darkness of the night.  Whatever cycle of readings you will hear this weekend, they all speak in part to the amazing love of a God who bestows mercy and peace for a people in need of salvation and grace.  The full scope of God’s love is seen in the Light of Christ that breaks through the darkness and restores us with the gift of eternal life.  This does not just affect us in the next life; it reshapes how we see each other in the here and now.

As brothers and sisters who are called to be true Children of the Light, we are called to love as Jesus loves by rising to the occasion and offering a renewed sense of compassion for a broken world.  May our faith break through the darkness and remind people that they are truly valued and appreciated.   The healing power of our love may be just the encouragement someone is looking for, especially if they have lost their way.  When we are at our best, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.  At the very least, let us keep our hearts and mind open like Nicodemus so that our encounters will truly be blessed.  Let us journey together on the spiritual path that always brings us back home.  God bless you!

As we enter into the Third Week of Lent, we are given different opportunities within our liturgies this weekend.  In solidarity with those entering the church this Easter, some of us will be focusing on Cycle A readings which focus on the Samaritan Woman at the Well while others will share the much-debated Cleansing of the Temple in which Jesus is seemingly seen as he rarely is, angry and frustrated at the money-changers at the Temple.  As I want to concentrate this week on the gifts of healing though the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, I have chosen to address Jesus’ actions in the temple and what that means for us.

Unlike the Gospel from John which shows Jesus’s compassion and patience with the woman at the well, the overturning of the tables in Mark’s account this weekend reminded me of what I thought when I heard this Gospel as a child, “He’s generally nice but don’t get Him angry!”  It’s a simplistic interpretation of this scene as the commentators would tell us.  There was a role for the money-changers and the animals used for Sabbath meals and temple sacrifices.  The reason why we don’t relate to this is that they are no longer part of our rituals and worship.  This is the point.  Jesus is inaugurating a new era, a new way of living and serving God.

Often when we find ourselves in need of reconciliation, we desire pardoning of our past offenses and a new beginning where we might find peace again in our lives.  If our pain has been self-inflicted, it is natural to harbor feelings of depression or perhaps anger and frustration at ourselves and others.  We desire to wipe the slate clean, not unlike the dramatic cleansing of the temple visited by Jesus.

Lent is a time to return to God, to let down our defenses and have the courage and strength to begin anew.  We are called to recover a sense of compassion and grace that Jesus offers us as he does for the Woman at the Well.  Depression and Anger might be motivating but they are not healthy if we do not move forward as Jesus Christ encourages us.  Our Lord has truly inaugurated a new era and we are sharers in this legacy of love and forgiveness.

Our network of churches including All Saints on the Hudson, Corpus Christi, St. Edward the Confessor and St. Mary’s in Crescent will be hosting two Communal Reconciliation Services with multiple Confessors:  This Monday, March 4th 6:30 pm at Corpus Christi and Tuesday, March 19th at 10:30 am  at St. Mary’s in Crescent.  St. Edward’s is also providing a full day of priests available for the Sacrament on Saturday, March 16th from 9:00 am through 3:30 pm.

The Stations of the Cross are held each Friday during Lent at Corpus Christi; in addition, I will lead the Stations on two Wednesday evenings at our All Saints on the Hudson sites.  They will be held at 6:30 pm at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Mechanicville on March 13th and at St. Peter’s in Stillwater on March 20th.  I will be available for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and/or the Anointing of the Sick from 5:30 pm until the start of the Stations those nights and after they finish until 7:30 pm.  

For those who would like to receive these Sacraments near when they are regularly scheduled I will expand the times I will be available at Corpus Christi, 2:15 pm until 3:45 pm on Saturday afternoons March 9th and 23rd as well as on St. Paul’s in Mechanicville on March 16th, also between 2:15 pm and 3:45 pm.  Feel free to use these times, even if you even feel the desire for a simple blessing.

Pope Francis commented on the cleansing of the Temple and saw it in terms of renewal and reconciliation.  He stressed, “Jesus is not throwing a tantrum!”   Instead, he was prophetically demonstrating a radical change and conversion for which we are all called to enter.  It is a reminder that we are not buyers and sellers at a marketplace, but brothers and sisters called to serve one another.  Reconciliation brings us back into the circle of the human family and draws us closer to our Lord Jesus who is at the center of it all.  God bless you.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John

and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became dazzling white,

such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,

and they were conversing with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,

"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!

Let us make three tents:

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;

from the cloud came a voice,

"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone

but Jesus alone with them.  Mark 9.2-8

When I reflect on this passage, I can only imagine what the conversation between Elijah, Moses and Jesus might have been, but I am certain that Peter’s apparent interruption was not fully appreciated.  Before a response to Peter was given, the heavens break open and a voice mirroring what was said privately at Jesus’ baptism is now revealed to three of the Apostles.  This moment of transfiguration is important because it transformed how the Apostles viewed Jesus and prepared them for further revelations, which will change and transform not only their world, but ours as well.

Jesus is seen vibrantly and brilliantly as the Christ, in the company of Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah representing the prophets.   Moses died before they passed into the Promised Land and Elijah was last seen riding off in a chariot of fire.   As tradition told, Elijah would return to announce the Messiah.  Their stories are actually fulfilled in the presence of our Lord just as the fulfillment of God’s promise to all of us radiates in brilliant light.

Most Christian Churches other than ours celebrate Transfiguration Sunday the weekend before Ash Wednesday as a way of tying the feasts of Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord to the Lenten season which carries us through the paschal mystery to the manifestation of the Risen Lord.  The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Transfiguration the second weekend of Lent each year, following the accounts of the Temptation the week before, as a way of giving hope by revealing the true essence of who Jesus is and the role He plays in salvation history.  

In a troubled, sometimes horrific world, we are yearning for the Light of Christ to break through the darkness of our times.  May the Transfiguration inspire us to embrace those sacred moments, large and small, which serve to transform and re-figure our lives and ways of being.  Like Peter, James and John, may we continue to journey united even when the path does not appear clear.  And may we walk as Children of the Light and be beacons of Christ’s love and mercy to a world that craves healing and restoration.  

God bless you all and may you continue to behold the wonder and majesty of God’s amazing grace.  If that seems easier said than done and life is discouraging, don’t forget today’s passage.  When the cloud appears and casts a shadow, it is not bringing gloom but a divine message.  The voice of God reveals who Jesus is and encourages us to listen.  May our ears, minds and hearts always remain open to that call.  God bless you!

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,

and he remained in the desert for forty days,

tempted by Satan.

He was among wild beasts,

and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

"This is the time of fulfillment.

The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the gospel."  Mk 1.12-15

This past week, we began Lent on Ash Wednesday, humbling ourselves as we went forward and received ashes on our forehead.  One of the formulas prayed over us was the words with which we conclude our short Gospel this week, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  As Jesus proclaims the time of fulfillment, we also encounter the fruits of his experience in the desert, a time of temptation but also spiritual renewal.

Unlike the other Synoptic Gospels which spend eleven or thirteen verses chronicling in detail the temptations in the desert, Mark affords only two which is actually more than the passing reference of Jesus passing through the desert by John.  Mark has chosen brevity, allowing all of us to ponder what those temptations might be.  I would suggest that this invites us to imagine our own struggles and how Lent is a time of strengthening us.  It is a time of reconciliation and a process leading us not only to peace but anticipation of new life in the Risen Lord.

All of the readings this this week also invite us to face the conflicts and chaos in this world with a renewed hope in the grace of God who journeys with us.  If you ever had a faithful guide who helped you navigate unknown streets in a foreign country, you realize how much you are indebted to the one who makes you feel safe and strong, even in the face of the unfamiliar.

Just over a year ago, many of us from both parishes were privileged to make a pilgrimage in the Holy Land and were close to many of the areas now under siege and in an environment that is quite vulnerable and fragile.  One of my more poignant memories was the view of the Mount of Temptation and realizing for the first time that Jesus, though separated from all in his desert experience, also had within his view, Jericho, an oasis of plush lands and much human activity.  

When we feel apart from others, I wonder how much our lives are affected not only by our sense of isolation, but the fact that we can imagine others at a distance, having fuller lives.  Perhaps Lent is a time to own our own experience and view others without envy but true compassion and understanding.  Perhaps they are dealing with their own struggles while at the same time having similar hopes and dreams.  They are not alone and neither are we.  The desert experience strips us of barriers that keep us from trusting the promise that God will never abandon us.

Paul’s letter references our first reading from Genesis which reveals the Covenant between God and Noah but not just with Noah, "This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9.12,13)

As Jesus experienced his oneness with God on the desert mountainside, let us remember that we do not look down on others, but stand in union with everyone, looking outward and upward, beyond the rainbow, to our God who yearns to renew and restore us during our Lenten journey. Let us, in turn, assist in this great endeavor by opening our hearts and minds to the fullness of God’s grace.  May this truly be a time of fulfillment, not just for some, but all.  God bless you.

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, 

touched him, and said to him, 

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest 

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”      Mark 1.40-45

Today’s Gospel places us still in the first chapter of Mark and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry which has expanded from Capernaum to all of Galilee.  In my view, our Lord not only heals the person afflicted with his leprosy but affirms him as well.  An outcast who was untouchable is now touched in a profound way by our Savior who has pity on him.  I think a better English translation would be empathy and compassion rather than pity because Jesus is extending himself literally, figuratively and spiritually toward him.  

Like the previous healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the healing takes place immediately, cleansing the man of all that ails him.  Notice how often the words cleansing or clean are repeated.  How often do we want our troubles, fears, faults and sins washed away?  Ash Wednesday is marked by Ashes on our forehead; Lent will be a time of washing ourselves of our guilt.

The theme of Jesus telling him not to reveal what was done (only to have that instruction ignored, as usual) was modified by the direction to tell someone, but not just anyone.  Jesus instructs him to show himself to the priest which we know was the only one in their society who could officially declare his leprosy was gone and permit him to return to his community.  Our first reading from Leviticus illustrates how this was prescribed to Moses, the official leader of the community, and Aaron the priest.

In some ways Jesus’s actions heal not just the leper in one particular society, but the countless people over the many centuries from Moses’ time until Jesus’s time, people who were isolated from their communities because of fear, distrust, prejudice and scorn.  As Moses and Aaron were directed, this is often for the better good of the greater community.  We certainly saw isolation during the pandemic which was an attempt to keep as many as possible safe.  When taken to the degree where judgement and degradation come into play, we realize why the intervention of our God is so important.

So many people are begging for healing in their lives as well as searching for a way to return home.  There are instances when we all feel isolated from our families or our communities and this can often affect us differently depending on if our isolation was due to our own doing or a traumatic experience that drove us away.   For Catholic Christians, in particular, healing often begins when we are at our most vulnerable and take that first step toward recovery.  We cry out to God that we want to be freed from the pain and suffering.  God hears us, even if it doesn’t appear immediate or complete.  Perhaps it never will in this world. Nevertheless, we continue to pray for one another with the compassion of our Lord who offers hope and healing in a special way.  

This weekend, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Father Matthew Duclos, Deacon Gary Riggi and representatives of the Diocesan Hope and Healing Committee will be at Corpus Christi’s Vigil Liturgy to offer us the compassion and respect of the One who continues to reach out to love.  Along with the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Bishop Scharfenberger and the clergy will stretch out their hands and share Holy Communion.  In our hearts, we know the Eucharist, that Jesus prescribed at the Last Supper, is the proof that there is hope and healing for us. God wills it so that we may be transformed and made clean.

God bless you all!

Fr. George Fleming

On leaving the synagogue

Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.

They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

Then the fever left her and she waited on them.   Mark 1.29-31

Our Gospel this week begins with the verses shared above and concludes that Jesus would move forward, ‘preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.’  (Mark 1.39b)  I smile to myself remembering my mother’s reaction after Mass to this Scripture passage. She would remark several times during the day, including our Sunday dinner, that it wasn’t fair that “that poor woman wasn’t given a chance to recuperate properly, those men should have been waiting on her!”  This same sentiment was echoed among our family members, at least the women of our group!

The Diocese of Albany has recently announced that Fr. Brian Kelly has been named Vicar for Vocations.   I have been blessed to celebrate several meals with his family over the years, and quickly became a part of the family since the time I was assigned to their parish shortly after my ordination nearly 30 years ago.  I know that as a child growing up, young Brian witnessed many lively family discussions concerning the Church and what had occurred over the weekend, especially when his godfather, Fr Arthur Becker, was joining them.  I can’t help but think that our vocations were influenced primarily by our families, despite never having pressured us to even consider the priesthood.  

Vocations come to mind readily as we are coming to the close of National Catholic Schools Week while also celebrating the World Day for Consecrated Life which is placed on the weekend following the Presentation on February 2nd.  As Christ is seen as the Light of the World, consecrated women and men are true lights of service and prayer.   This is a day to not only pray for more vocations but to pray for those who have already given their lives unselfishly as special disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is in this special state that religious women and men probably exemplify the virtues of St. Paul that he describes in our second reading. 

All of us are called to live out our vocations and encourage each other on that path. When I was in the seminary, I remembered my mother’s reaction on behalf of the mother-in-law of Peter and wished I could have called her.  She had passed away just weeks before one of my professors, a religious sister, addressed this very issue in Scripture Class. I couldn’t help but smile when she taught about the true meaning of the woman’s immediate service to her guests.  The woman didn’t have to recuperate fully because she was already fully healed!   The mother-In-law was now actively living out her vocation which, at the moment, was to provide hospitality to her guests.  Her ability to do this marked only the second miracle as shared by the Gospel of Mark and the first one which did not involve the dispelling of demons.  Boy, did I want to call my mom, but I didn’t have to; I felt (in fact I knew) she was listening.

The miracle account which begins this week’s Gospel is remarkable because it reflects the activities of many of our homes.  I am not referring to domestic chores, I am highlighting the Domestic Church.  Miracles can happen among family and friends gathered together in prayer and healthy, lively discussion.  They can even foster our vocations!

God bless you and may God bless our families.

Then they came to Capernaum,

and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching,

for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

                                                                          Mark 1.21,22

I was blessed a year ago to visit the Holy Land with Fr. Rick Lesser and the pilgrims representing our parishes as well as his.  Our first day began with a boat trip across the sea of Galilee followed by our first historical site, the archeological remains of Capernaum which would prove to be one of the highlights of the trip.  I’m struck this weekend imagining Jesus entering the temple and performing his first miracles after the introduction I have highlighted.  He commands the unclean spirit to leave the man afflicted and news of this event will spread.

Our own Church, in fact our entire world, struggles with our own demons.  As a people afflicted by faults and failings, sins and divisions, we are all in need of God’s healing presence.  Together we can drive away what hampers us from being the true brothers and sisters we are called to be.  Ultimately, it is our Lord Jesus Christ who calls us to be a people of healing and hope.

On Saturday, February 10th at our regularly scheduled 4 pm Vigil Mass, Corpus Christi will host a special liturgy on behalf of our network of parishes and the Twin Rivers Vicariate composed of Southern Saratoga and Schenectady counties. We will be praying for all those who are suffering, with a special emphasis for survivors of trauma and abuse.  Bishop Edward Scharfenberger will be presiding along with Fr. Matt Duclos and myself as concelebrants. Also present will be representatives from the Diocese of Albany’s “Hope and Healing Committee” who will be available before and after the liturgy to address any concerns and listen to what you may want to share.

The Hope and Healing Committee was created as part of the same initiative that sent Fr. Matt Duclos to the Pontifical Gregorian University to earn his two-year Licentiate degree which focused on the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults.  Liturgies are held regularly throughout the Diocese as part of the awareness that we need to open our hearts and minds to those who face the effects of abuse. While not shying away from the horror of abuse by clergy and others inside the church, we are also sensitive to how tragically widespread this is in our society. The liturgy reminds us that we cannot remove the crosses that people bear but, in prayer, we can help carry them with compassion and understanding. I am heartened by the response of our Diocese and the efforts of so many people to truly bring hope and healing to a world too often filled with pain.  

I am also struck by the countless ways the Church has to fulfill the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is always most startling when I look at what is going on in our parishes. So many different ministries are engaged in events and activities which reach out to a variety of individuals and families within and outside of our parishes. Many of these activities often take place at the same time. For example, along with the Hope and Healing Vigil Mass on February 10th, the youth of All Saints and their parents are hosting a Valentine’s Day Dinner in their parish center after the All Saints 4:00 pm Vigil Mass. It’s free of charge to all members of All Saints and Corpus Christi. The dinner was organized to promote its Catholic Youth Organization and to give thanks to the community for all their support. Confirmation candidates will be joining them in this endeavor.  New families from both parishes are also invited to learn more about the expanding basketball program at All Saints.  For information about this or the dinner, email allsaintsbasketballny@gmail.com. 

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who dedicate much of their lives to positively impacting the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of our youth.  As we continue to pray for one another, let us do what we can not to lose hope and be willing to offer comfort and healing to all those in need. God bless you all.

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

"This is the time of fulfillment.

The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;

they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them,

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them.

So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him.    Mark 1.14-20

“Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  If these words remind you of the words you might hear when being blessed with ashes on your forehead, they should.  This is one of the formulas shared on Ash Wednesday along with the reminder that we are called to remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return.  While we are still very much in the beginning of ordinary time, we will revisit the themes of this weekend’s readings in less than a month when we start our observance of Lent.  

Paul’s words to the Corinthians called for a change of heart and challenged people to act as if the end was near, focusing their attention to what truly matters.  This sentiment isn’t as cloaked in self-denial as the short passage suggests.  It ultimately echoes the Tim McGraw song, “Live like you were dying.”  In fact, Jesus’s call to repentance picks up from John the Baptist’s message and connects it to what it means to live in a time of fulfillment.  We are truly called to live lives that we hope one day can allow us to say we, “loved deeper, And I spoke sweeter, And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."

I am blessed to have special people in my life who counsel others to renew their lives by giving up former ways of behaving and developing healthier, more fruitful habits.  They preach by word and example that we should treat ourselves better and change our lifestyles accordingly.  They invite others to follow new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving much as Jesus does when he calls forth the first apostles in this account from Mark’s Gospel.

Sometimes our lives can be as tangled as the nets in today’s Gospel.  James and John were doing their best to mend their nets but that could also be a metaphor for brooding over their injuries.  Jonah is certainly guilty of this as we will see in the verses that follow this week’s first reading.  He will respond negatively to the conversion of the Ninevites because while they have reformed, he cannot let go of his hatred for them, seeing ‘those people’ as an enemy to his own.  For him to move forward, he needs to change his ways and move towards the direction of deeper love and forgiveness.

The Apostles in the gospel this week leave all behind and follow Jesus.  This radical change of the way they lived their lives will also ultimately change how they see themselves in relation to the One that they follow. We are invited to follow Jesus as well and in the process we too are changed for the better. The closing song of the musical Wicked is shared by two adversaries that now have found forgiveness and fulfillment: “Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

I do believe I have been changed for the better!  And because I knew you…Because I knew you:

I have been changed for good.”

Let us follow after Jesus, know him and love him more deeply. In doing so we will surely change for the better.  May our conversion allow us to truly spread the good in a world that is so entangled.   God bless you.

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi..., where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see."   (John 1:35-37)

If you were like me when I first started preparing for this weekend’s liturgy, I was surprised that we were not celebrating the Baptism of the Lord on a Sunday this year.  Traditionally, this feast was held on January 13th, exactly a week after the Epiphany which fell on the Twelfth Day of Christmas, January 6th.  Since we now celebrate Epiphany on the first Sunday after the 6th, there are occasions like this year when both celebrations would have fallen on Sunday, January 7th, so the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on Monday, the day after.  Are you still confused?  So am I!

This Sunday marks the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. We are comforted that God puts an end to confusions, everything that might be seen as chaotic is now back in order.  The call of the first disciples is complimented by the Call of Samuel in our first reading where confusion as to who is calling him is made right.  Samuel responds to God with the beautiful words that have been adapted for one of our favorite hymns, “Here I am, Lord.”

The first disciples of first John and then Jesus, wanted to be with Jesus, to be able to say like Samuel: “Here I am, with You.”  It is a simple yet powerful expression of yearning to be present to the God who is always present to us even if we are blinded by doubt or fear.  Some of the calls we receive are still cloaked in confusion which is why we come together as a community to discern alongside trusted seekers and disciples who are yearning to discover what invitation is in store for them.  We do not look for our purpose or vocation alone.

Three years ago this week, on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, I announced to my friends and parish family at my last assignment that I felt called to move in a new direction and join the people of Corpus Christi.  As I reflect on how painful that was I also marvel at the events that swirled around my announcement, including the January 6th Capitol attack and the upswing in corona cases that closed the churches again after being opened the summer before.  I felt like my world was falling apart.  Only after I found a safe, new harbor in the next assignment did I feel that the storm had subsided and I may have made the right decision.  

Following the call to a new adventure and the discernment that is required in order to properly respond, the next step is to encounter a peace that only arrives if we place our trust in God.  We are never truly alone when we walk with Jesus, when we allow him to stay with us until that time we can truly stay with Him.  Only then can we come closer to God, our neighbor and our true selves and truly see.

These last three years have blessed me tremendously.  Ironically, I don’t think I would have left if not for the fact that I felt overwhelmed by trying to serve multiple communities in the midst of the pandemic.  The idea of being to pastor for one community appeared to be an opportunity to focus and recharge.  Little did I know that in a year’s time, I would be serving multiple communities again!

If I had known better, I never would have moved. But do you know what?  I now know better and I am delighted to be exactly where I am.  I have been blessed to feel a call and have the opportunity to journey with wonderful disciples of Jesus who are all following a similar spiritual path with Jesus.  I feel immensely proud to be part of your lives and know you are very much a part of my life.  I am also graced to still feel close to everyone I have served for thirty years.  They are, as are you, close to my heart.

Now we can ask each other what we are looking for but perhaps the best thing we can do is stay, stay together.  We are on a common mission and the mission is the Lord’s.  As one, we can come further and truly see, not just the future but the present in all its fullness.  God bless you!

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 

until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 

and on entering the house

they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures 

and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 

they departed for their country by another way.   Luke 2.9b-12

Much like we have distorted the true meaning of Christmas, especially what signifies the Twelve Days, many of us have lost sight of the importance of the Epiphany as a moment in time when we realized that our Lord Jesus Christ was not only the Messiah for whom the Jewish people yearned but the Light to All Peoples in All Nations.  This revelation was an ‘Ah-Ha’ moment in the most dramatic, earth-shattering sense.  The star that the Magi have seen since its rising is now coming into view for them and they will embrace what is before them even if this isn’t the type of encounter they anticipated.

I have shared the concluding verses of this week’s Gospel because something dawned on me that I have never given much thought to in the past.  The Magi first went to Jerusalem to actually ask for directions, something quite remarkable in itself.  The star guided them but they needed to focus with the help of others on which way to proceed.  Herod hears their inquiries and invites them in while at the same time consulting the chief priests and the scribes of the people for what was prophesied in Hebrew Scripture as to where the Messiah would come forth.  It is Herod who directs the Magi on the final jaunt of their journey and they fully intend to return to him with news of their discovery.

There is no indication that the Magi were shocked at the humble abode in which they would enter.  They prostrate and do homage immediately and freely open their treasures, presenting their gifts.  It is a beautiful moment which is described simply and rather briefly.  Still, their example reminds us to be open to God in the smallest of details, accepting readily what comes our way even if we receive the unexpected.  I wonder if I am as generous with my own gifts and talents when I am caught by surprise.

Epiphany moments in Scripture are important, just as those times in our own lives when we have received personal epiphany moments such as when we understand a great truth or realize that we are truly loved by someone.  These are moments that change our lives - as well they should.

After sharing a common dream for perhaps the first time, the Magi departed for their country ‘by another way’.  At first glance, this is to avoid Herod but so much is happening in these short words following the presentation of the gifts.  Now they believe in dreams and return home forever changed.  They do not only travel by a different way; they live their lives in another way.  Do we have the courage to break unhealthy patterns and let the Light of Christ beacon a way for us to live differently, perhaps more fully?  In this Light do we see things differently, especially our brothers and sisters representing all peoples of all nations?

My heart goes out to all those who are struggling as this New Year begins.  May the world proceed with more caution and compassion for the sake of all those vulnerable to attack, like the Christ Child was threatened by Herod.  May our prayer open us up to the profound ‘Ah-Ha’ moments that change us first and perhaps help change the world.

I want to end by thanking our communities for the gifts they have shared all year, especially during the Advent and Christmas seasons.  The generosity of time, talent and treasure was truly remarkable to behold.  In my heart, you give of yourselves as freely as the Magi and expect so little in return but perhaps the smile of God.  This humbles me while at the same time makes me proud to serve you as your pastor.

God bless you and Happy New Year!

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! 

Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”

Isaiah 60.1

The Christmas season is one in which we naturally live simultaneously in the past, the present and the future.  As warm memories fill our hearts, pains of loss, loneliness, or unhealed wounds stay close by. This is a time of pure reflection unlike any other time of year. My hope and prayer is that in the midst of so many evoked emotions you have found the gift of peace.

I am grateful for how our families came together and how so many contributed to making our Christmas celebrations a beautiful and inspiring event that fed our spiritual and social needs.   Most of all, I am so touched by the outpouring of prayers, well-wishes, patience and appreciation that I am sure equaled those I have witnessed in both our parishes.  This is truly a time that is blessed for me, especially as my heart swells with pride that I have been given the privilege of being your pastor.

Even in the darkest times of the pandemic and the effects of its aftermath, we have been a people of hope, peace, joy and love.  You have been a light to the entire community and I cannot thank you enough for all that has been done on behalf of Corpus Christi and All Saints.   Christ’s light truly burns brightly among us.   I am grateful to the volunteers, parish leaders, lay ministers, priest partners, and staff for their hard work, prayerful support and continuing dedication on behalf of us all.   

Speaking of dark times, I am actually composing this blog on December 21, 2023, which is the beginning of the Winter Solstice, the moment in our part of the world that has the longest night and the shortest day of the year.  Scholars have indicated that the Church purposefully designated this time of year to commemorate and relive the Birth of Jesus because it is a time when the world was visibly becoming brighter.  We are now literally moving toward a new and stronger light.  

In the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas (that sacred time between Christmas itself and the Celebration of Epiphany on January 6th which celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family), we come together this weekend for two important celebrations, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on December 31st and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which appropriately begins the new year.  This is a time for us to reflect as parish families what we can do to make a fresh start.  May our resolutions bring us closer to each other and the Light of the World which will be commemorated next weekend when we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation that Jesus will be the Light to All Nations and His Mission will reach the world so that all peoples who have lived in darkness will now see a great light that will transform their lives. How blessed are we to commemorate these moments at a time when we crave the very inspiration they manifest.   

Again, I would like to thank everyone for all that you do but especially all that you are!  We are members of the human family inspired by Christ our Light to nurture and protect each other just as Mary and Joseph did for the Child in their care. God bless you and may you continue to have a joyful Christmas season and a blessed New Year.  Be assured of my appreciation, prayers and love.

PS:  This blog was published 12/31/23.  1,2,3,1,2,3  Just writing that makes me feel like dancing. 

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! 

Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”

Isaiah 60.1

The Christmas season is one in which we naturally live simultaneously in the past, the present and the future.  As warm memories fill our hearts, pains of loss, loneliness, or unhealed wounds stay close by. This is a time of pure reflection unlike any other time of year. My hope and prayer is that in the midst of so many evoked emotions you have found the gift of peace.

I am grateful for how our families came together and how so many contributed to making our Christmas celebrations a beautiful and inspiring event that fed our spiritual and social needs.   Most of all, I am so touched by the outpouring of prayers, well-wishes, patience and appreciation that I am sure equaled those I have witnessed in both our parishes.  This is truly a time that is blessed for me, especially as my heart swells with pride that I have been given the privilege of being your pastor.

Even in the darkest times of the pandemic and the effects of its aftermath, we have been a people of hope, peace, joy and love.  You have been a light to the entire community and I cannot thank you enough for all that has been done on behalf of Corpus Christi and All Saints.   Christ’s light truly burns brightly among us.   I am grateful to the volunteers, parish leaders, lay ministers, priest partners, and staff for their hard work, prayerful support and continuing dedication on behalf of us all.   

Speaking of dark times, I am actually composing this blog on December 21, 2023, which is the beginning of the Winter Solstice, the moment in our part of the world that has the longest night and the shortest day of the year.  Scholars have indicated that the Church purposefully designated this time of year to commemorate and relive the Birth of Jesus because it is a time when the world was visibly becoming brighter.  We are now literally moving toward a new and stronger light.  

In the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas (that sacred time between Christmas itself and the Celebration of Epiphany on January 6th which celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family), we come together this weekend for two important celebrations, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on December 31st and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which appropriately begins the new year.  This is a time for us to reflect as parish families what we can do to make a fresh start.  May our resolutions bring us closer to each other and the Light of the World which will be commemorated next weekend when we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation that Jesus will be the Light to All Nations and His Mission will reach the world so that all peoples who have lived in darkness will now see a great light that will transform their lives. How blessed are we to commemorate these moments at a time when we crave the very inspiration they manifest.   

Again, I would like to thank everyone for all that you do but especially all that you are!  We are members of the human family inspired by Christ our Light to nurture and protect each other just as Mary and Joseph did for the Child in their care. God bless you and may you continue to have a joyful Christmas season and a blessed New Year.  Be assured of my appreciation, prayers and love.

PS:  This blog was published 12/31/23.  1,2,3,1,2,3  Just writing that makes me feel like dancing. 

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.   Luke 1.26-30

I am writing this blog over a week before the Fourth Sunday of Advent and am conscious that most people will most likely read this (if they read this!) on Christmas or after.  My brain is doing some timeline calisthenics as I think of the beautiful Gospel which introduces us to the Blessed Mother through her interaction with the angel Gabriel.  We recently shared these words at the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which offers this as a choice to reflect and mirror the feast of the Annunciation which we celebrated nine months ago.  It is offered every three years in Cycle B of the Lectionary and I think it is perfect as a preparation for this amazing weekend in which we close the Advent season and enter into the Christmas season rather abruptly but poignantly.

Our Sunday readings take on a different tone in the here and now period of transition.  If you are like me. this last grasp of preparation fills me with anxiety and worry that I will not fully be at my best in time.  I am touched that it is the Blessed Mother whom we turn to and to the prayer that begins with Gabriel’s words.  Mary not only serves as our intercessory but she remains for us an understanding and compassionate mother.  As we worry, fear and ponder on what all the things mean or how they will turn out, we turn to the woman who has experienced it in abundance.

Mary’s acceptance and trust did not take away from the amazing, heroic action that will result in our salvation.  She reminds us not to be afraid because we too are sons and daughters of a God who loves us.  Each of us has found favor with God despite those times we have resisted our own heroic journey.  May our Mother remind us how special we are and how blessed we are among women and men.

I want to give thanks for all of you for joining us here at Corpus Christi where we strive to live up to our name and bring people forward as members of the Body of Christ.  As a family that comes together to share a meal, may the Eucharist nourish us – a community of disciples sharing in the blessings and favor of God.  I will be expressing more of my appreciation for everyone who has given so much of themselves next week.

I want to welcome everyone home for Christmas, whether you are with us in person or praying with us in spirit.  The song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was recorded eighty years ago and dedicated to those serving our country.  It includes the haunting phrase, “…if only in my dreams.”  Perhaps this Christmas, let us not be afraid to dream.  Let us dream of a better world in this life and the best in the next, not just to some but for everyone.

God bless you and let us celebrate Christmas by making our Mother proud!  May you have a blessed conclusion to your Advent, a Christmas filled with love, and a new year full of dreams fulfilled.   God bless you! 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice.

Indeed, the Lord is near!   Philemon 4:4-5

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.

In all circumstances give thanks,

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit.    1 Thessalonians 5.16-18

  Gaudete in Domino Semper!  Rejoice in the Lord Always!

Every Third Sunday of Advent, whether or not we share Paul’s Letter to Philemon as our second reading like we will do in Cycle C next year, we open our hearts with the Entrance Antiphon that reminds us to Rejoice (In Latin, Gaudete!).  Paul is calling on us to “Rejoice” which is defined as capturing joy again in much the same way renew means becoming new again.  This salutation wonderfully admits that we might have lost some of the joy of days past.   

Now is the time to have “no anxiety” because the reason for peace and joy is returning.  First, however, we are called to be kind, which speaks of our natural tendencies to be less so when we are filled with distress or fear.  Anxiety can so often quench the Spirit alive in our communities as well as in our world.  Sometimes we need to adjust our attitudes and actions before we can truly find the peace and the joy we all seek.

Paul talks of a joy that is not necessarily what we think of as happiness.  It is a deeper joy that is grounded in faith and rooted in the knowledge that we are loved and cared for by a God who is not distant. The peace of God is imaged as the guardian of our hearts and minds, the one calling us into a spirit of thanksgiving resulting from our uniting our prayers and petitions.

The focus of our Gospel is on John the Baptist who is being questioned as to whom he claims he is.  His answer is powerful for us even to this day as he claims, with all the imagery of Isaiah’s prophetic words mirrored in the second reading that he is not the ‘Light’ but the one preparing the way of the Light.  It is a wonderful inspiration to know that we too are called to prepare the way of the Lord in order for God to truly shine in an often dark world.

It’s amazing that the three year cycle of readings find all of us in different places after nearly 1000 days of life.  In 2020, we were facing an upsurge in the pandemic and struggled on how to bring the people together.  While some of the world has found healing, so much of our world is in the depth of despair.  Now more than ever, we need to continue to pray for one another and with one another and do what we can to restore hope, the blessed hope that allows us to feel joy even in the midst of sorrow and strife.

Paul’s letter to Philemon is an intimate one in which he is encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation.  His first Letter to the Thessalonians is for an entire community with multiple issues and concerns.  As we look at this complicated world, may we find common ground, a resting place where God’s love truly will shine.  Let us point the way and make the way smoother and more inviting for people to come together, to lament when necessary, to rejoice, always.

God bless you!

I give thanks to my God always on your account

for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,

that in him you were enriched in every way,

with all discourse and all knowledge….   

1 Corinthians 1:4,5.

Today’s second reading which is being proclaimed throughout the world was actually one of the choices for the readings commemorating the American holiday, Thanksgiving.  The other Scripture passages from this Sunday and the choices for last week are very different.  On Thursday, the 23rd, the theme was very much in keeping with gratefulness for the blessings we have received.  The other readings for the First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, are ones that in the spirit of appreciation for what God has done, proclaim that we need to be prepared and on the watch for the end time.

This spring marks my 45th anniversary of my high school graduation from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany.  I had the distinct and poignant honor of celebrating my alma mater’s Thanksgiving Liturgy in the days following the celebration of Brother Bernard Hanson OFM’s funeral.  I was struck by clear memories of what it was like to attend the school even though the original facility was long sold for a larger space. The spirit of the institution is still very much intact and I felt proud to be among the students, faculty and staff. 

There are growing pains in every stage of our lives and I look back with affections for those experiences I cherish and at the same time recognize that I survived the hardships and became better for them.  The place that first enriched me with ‘discourse and knowledge’ was kind to allow me to return some of the favor in the context of my presence and homily.  Most remarkably, I was able to fulfill my vocation nurtured there by sharing with the community the Holy Eucharist.

As I look at some of this weekend’s readings, I resonate in a different way.  I am conscious of the classmates and contemporaries lost along the way and realize the latter part of my life will be considerably shorter than the former.  Still, I’ve got so much more to learn and in so many ways to grow, that I realize the next chapter will be filled with more blessings than challenges.  That realization is in itself a blessing.

Our Gospel alludes to the Second Coming with a command to be on guard like watchers in the night.  It also, however, reminds us that we are all awaiting the day of reconciliation and peace and we should do so in joyful hope.  Life will bring things into perspective; just as I now certainly view my early life with a different lens than I did when I was watching things up-close.  Advent is the time to find a new perspective and a new attitude as we await the coming of Jesus Christ more than before.

For those of us who feel alienated or disappointed, our first reading acknowledges what biblical scholars refer to as ‘a communal lament.’  The people feel abandoned by God and their own ancestry.  Still it ends on a wonderful note:  “Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.”  (Isaiah 64.7)  This reminds me that whenever we feel incomplete, it might just be that God isn’t done molding us yet.

This Advent let us look forward without fear, trusting in God who is still working to perfect us.  Let us pray for each other and remember the promise, and occasional despair, of our youth that puts it into perspective.  Let us pray for all those who have supported us along the way, including those who have now prepared us for the future.  Let us also remember the hopes and prayers of our youth as I will remember one of mine:   St. John the Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.  Live Jesus in our Hearts.  Forever.

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. 

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me,

ill and you cared for me,

in prison and you visited me.’ 

Matthew 25:34-36

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity which marks the end of the liturgical year before we begin again in the spirit of Advent.  I delight in the new title “Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” because it majestically encompasses beyond even our own galaxy as a reminder that there is “nowhere where God is not”.  Different qualities of what it means to be king happen in different cycles of our readings and we are blessed to have the image of the Good Shepherd at the end of Cycle A who separates the sheep from the goats in order to show us that God desires us to care for one another and in doing so we care for God.  That is the essential message for what it means to embrace God and share in the kingdom.

I decided this weekend to write two separate blogs for our parish communities but they will surely mirror each other as I am proud to be pastor of All Saints on the Hudson as well as Corpus Christi.  Because of early deadlines, I have not been able to properly thank the many people who worked so hard to bring the Fall Festival into being.  I am constantly impressed by what Corpus Christi is able to accomplish as it always seems to be running on multiple cylinders yet never seems to lose a beat, except for an occasional late start thanks to me!

It’s not just what the people of Corpus Christi do, but what they truly embody.  In the spirit of prayer and service, I am constantly inspired by the outreach, pastoral care and empathy of expression.  Even the fundraisers like the Fall Festival are noteworthy for the large sums they raise, but praiseworthy for how they raise the spirit of the community.  They become true community builders from which we build the Kingdom of God one step at a time.

In the afterglow of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude for all the sheep of my parish that I am blessed to shepherd along with an amazing staff who are joined, side by side with pastoral leaders and volunteers that share a Shepherd’s heart.  I thank you for your desire to stay together as members of the same flock.  You constantly amaze, inspire, and delight me, even during the more difficult times, such as the loss of a loved one, which seems to draw us even closer.

On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the blessings in our lives and I know from the deepest part of my heart, I will be giving thanks for all of you.  Let us enter into the new liturgical season with a renewed sense of purpose to continue building upon the Kingdom we are blessed to serve as a unique and special family.  God bless you!  God bless all those who tend our marvelous flock.   Fr. George Fleming

I give thanks to my God always,

Remembering you in my prayers,

For I have experienced much joy

And encouragement from your love,

Because the hearts of the Holy Ones

Have been refreshed by You.

                                                Philemon v. 4,7

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.’”   Matthew 25:20,21

In the Parable of the Talents, the master somewhat unequally distributes talents which actually represent currency but whose value is seen symbolically and metaphorically as the gifts God has given each individual.  In the shorter version, we see how successful one was by nurturing and developing those talents in order to accomplish more and move on to greater things.

The timing of this week’s Gospel couldn’t be more perfect for me as I reflect on a recent session I shared with the Confirmation Candidates at All Saints on the Hudson which focused on this particular reading and how it pertains to God’s call to use ones’ gifts and talents .  In spending time with these young men and women I couldn’t help but reflect on their futures.  They are a wonderful group, with each facing challenges and yet having great possibilities.  My hope and prayer is that they will have the courage to use the gifts and talents given to them for their own fulfilment and the betterment of the community.  I have much faith that they will do so. 

This weekend marks the ordination of Deacon Daniel Vallejo to the priesthood as well as Paul McDonald and Thomas Fallati to the deaconate in their journey also to priestly life.  I’m struck by the capabilities of these fine men and how they truly will be a blessing to the Diocese of Albany. As I wrote last week, I have admired and respected Deacon Daniel since I first met him several years ago and am happy to see how his growth and accomplishments have him well-suited to enter his ministerial vocation.  Likewise, through Deacon Daniel who served for over a year in a pastoral assignment with Paul McDonald, I see Paul as I man I truly admire and respect.  Similarly, I appreciate the many gifts and talents that Tom Fallati brings to the ministry.  As an accomplished attorney and father, he has chosen to redirect his life in service to the Church.  All three are faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Each of the men approaching ordination has unique abilities and backgrounds which will be a true blessing for their vocations.  Paul was raised Methodist but found himself drawn to the Eucharist and the Catholic Faith while pursuing fields related to communication and the arts.  He used some of his discernment time to study Catechesis and Evangelization and currently has a masters in that field as well as Pastoral Studies, all before entering the seminary.  Much of his formation has been working with Spanish-speaking people in poorer areas, including Mexico.  Tom Fallati is in his early 50’s and became increasingly involved in his home parish.  Being an attorney and a father, he had his own unique skill-base and empathy toward family life but was drawn into service.  Both these men will serve as extraordinary deacons and future priests for the church.

I reflected on Deacon Daniel last week but would like to call attention to last weekend’s Evangelist article in which he reflected on his current assignment. Father Daniel brings with him an international perspective as he shares dual citizenship with the countries of Spain and Columbia.  He has achieved much academically and is on track to share his gifts for our benefit in the future.  What strikes me at this moment in time is that he is serving with three men close to the hearts of the people of Corpus Christi.  My hope is that the members of All Saints on the Hudson also appreciate how unique and novel it is that Father Rick Lesser, Father Matt Duclos and Father Charles Onyeneke are all working closely with Father Daniel.  The community that inspired all four men at different stages of their ministry now sees them sharing the fruits of that formation with one another.  This is a wonderful example of how parish communities provide the environment and seedbed for vocations to grow and prosper.

It is not easy to be a good and faithful servant with the many distractions that we face.  I am so grateful that people are investing their time and energy in order to build the Kingdom of God within their church communities and the Diocese of Albany.  Our recent visit from those serving the missions in Haiti also reminds us that the church casts a wide net in order to reach all of God’s people.

As I pray especially for the Confirmation Candidates representing both our parishes, I hope and pray that everyone will be as inspired on their faith journey as the recently ordained have been.  May God bless all of us and allow us to share our gifts and talent on behalf of a world that needs all of us to thrive.

See Facebook for the photo!

We all have photographs or pictures which put a smile on our face and, while still capturing some of our physical flaws, look considerably better than others that somehow make us cringe.  There are ones in which we are proud to be visible, to know we were at a certain place, at a particular time, with a significant person in our lives.  When we look at, actually gaze at, these snapshots of our lives we might remember what we were thinking and feeling.  We might even ponder that it will be viewed sometime in the future by others, perhaps at a Memorial Service that illustrates our lives.

One image in recent memory gifts me with a poignant pause, leading me to not only reflect on the image itself but what the image represents.  When they captured my embrace of Deacon Daniel Vallejo Rios shortly after he was vested during his diaconate ordination last year, it seemed to capture my embrace of the priesthood and my own vocation.  I was pleased to see his smile and grateful that mine was off camera since the moment remains more personal for me but also more symbolic.

Next weekend Deacon Daniel will be ordained a priest and I feel like a proud father.  I had been informally assigned as his spiritual advisor and advocate shortly after he was accepted into a discernment program, arrived in this country, and entered the Diocese of Albany's House of Formation.    Over the course of several years, I have seen him navigate the stormy aspects of self-reflection and external evaluation, as well as all the support and challenges that come in formation.  Through it all, he has been steered in the right direction by our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

I never expected that Daniel would have been assigned to Corpus Christi during the summer of 2021 but this provided me the opportunity to see how much he had grown in his pastoral presence while at the same time excelling academically.  I only regret that I was not yet pastor of All Saints on the Hudson because I took great satisfaction in sharing him with the Corpus Christi community within which he has developed strong relationships rooted in prayer and friendship.  Viewing this up close and from afar has also given me a chance to reflect on my own connections during the last thirty-seven years of seminary formation and priestly life.

When I think of the picture of me and Daniel, I also think of the many people who have embraced me during my own spiritual journey.  Several recent reunions, in addition to poignant celebrations of mentors and friends that have passed on, remind me that they still are close to my heart.  This brings a smile to my face and a certain lightness to my soul which contrasts with the times I felt drawn and burdened by the weight of responsibility and inadequacy.  It also reminds me that I should never forget the One who never stops embracing me.

The Good Shepherd has embraced me when I needed him most, when I have strayed and gotten lost or when I have been caught between thorns. I have been lifted up when I have fallen and carried when I could not manage alone.  The Lord Jesus is there for all of us, even when certain angles appear to hide His face.  

At the same celebration in which Deacon Daniel will be ordained to the priesthood, two seminarian brothers, Paul McDonald and Thomas Fallati, will follow in the same path and be ordained deacons.  I will highlight them all in the next blog but in the meantime, I encourage you to join them at the Cathedral, next Saturday, November 18th, at 11 am.  At that time, as we celebrate the role of Jesus Christ in their lives, let us not forget the role our Savior plays in our own.  God bless you!  May God’s face shine upon you and bless all who strive to embrace their vocation.

 “You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matt: 22.37-40

Last week, our Gospel introduced the notion that while we may ‘give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’, we are also called to give to God what is God’s.  This week we find out what that is.  We are to give God our whole heart, soul and mind.  We do this best when we love our neighbor.  As simple as that sounds at first blush, we realize that in our complicated world which is so divided, this can be a challenge.

In a recent interview at the Auriesville Shrine with Fr. Dave Dwyer of Busted Halo, Fr. Roger Landry discussed not only his role as one of state organizers of the Eucharistic Congress but also his role as chaplain at Columbia University.  In light of recent demonstrations and protests on campus concerning what is going on in the Middle East, he said that in addition to prayer the Catholic response has to be rooted in love of neighbor.   It struck me as a perfect example of the difficulty of living the commandment to love in the heat of the moment.  That is precisely why this call is so important if we are truly going to hand off everything to our God.

In such a divided world, I was reminded of an historic program which had the audacity to see us as one. In 1967  “One World” was a live telecast from all over the world celebrating that for the first time satellites made it possible to reach, and to broadcast from, all over earth.  The show highlighted everything from the birth of a child to Pablo Picasso painting live.   Creative artists complimented many of the interviews and news stories which peppered the program.  The first live multinational multi-satellite television show was a huge success despite the Eastern Bloc countries pulling out in protest of the Western nations’ response to the Six-Day War between Arab countries and Israel.  There is some irony that as much as technology has progressed, human interaction still breeds the antithesis to love.

“Our World” is most famous for the hugely anticipated live participation of the Beatles and the song that John Lennon wrote to commemorate the occasion, “All You Need Is Love.”  It is even today seen as an anthem promoting peace.  At the time, the song was meant to be easily understood even by the majority of viewers who did not speak English.  It was the first song, arguably outside of religious circles, that was written for a global audience and, in turn, heard globally.   It has a simple message rooted in truth that mirrors Jesus’ call in today’s Gospel, which, in turn, is firmly rooted in Hebrew Scripture.  Love isn’t just all that ‘we’ need, it is what we need to give to our God, our neighbor, and ourselves.

The success of the Eucharistic Congress is a reminder that people yearn to be connected with one another as well as with God.  The Eucharist allows us to participate fully with the Body of Christ so that what we receive becomes a part of us.  Let us play our part in prayer for the people of a divided world. 

This week we are reminded that we are also connected and part of something even larger and greater than our earthly world.  This week, we will commemorate All Saints and particularly poignantly, All Souls.  May we pray not only for our departed sisters and brothers, but with them as we ask them to join our heartfelt, soulful, and mindful desire to be one with each other and with our God.  God bless you!

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus,

whose right hand I grasp,

subduing nations before him,

and making kings run in his service,

opening doors before him

and leaving the gates unbarred.     Isaiah 45.1

Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah has an ironic meaning for all of us today as we pray for the peoples of Israel, Palestine and the surrounding area.  Cyrus is a foreigner to the Israelites, a Persian King who is unexpectedly chosen by God to be his anointed.  He will answer the call to free the people of Israel from their captivity in Babylon so they can go home and rebuild the temple and their lives.

I am writing this on a Tuesday in the afterglow of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick which was celebrated communally as a network of parishes’ liturgy at St. Edward the Confessor.  I was blessed to both administer and receive the Sacrament.  It reminded me how each of us is anointed in some way to answer our own call as Disciples of Christ.  

I am also very much aware of the hostages taken, Israelites, Americans and victims from countless countries.  As I write these words days before the bulletin is published I am horrified at what could be occurring before this is read.  Let us pray for all leaders from every nation and faith tradition to be like Cyrus and help free all those from the bondages of terror, violence and war.  As disciples, let us continue to pray for one another, and whenever possible, to do so communally.

Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians reminds them that neither they nor he are alone.  He is traveling with his companions, Silvanus and Timothy, but ultimately all of us share in the company of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This weekend, I will be blessed to share in the state-wide Eucharistic Congress at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs in Auriesville.  Coming from our eight dioceses and beyond, we will be able to join together in a greater appreciation of the Holy Eucharist and the role this important sacrament plays in our spiritual well-being.  Let us pray that more and more people join us at the Table of the Lord with true thanksgiving.  We are all in need of fellowship.

As we pray for the people of Israel and beyond, I am struck by the fact that last month before the horrors of October 7th, Italian-born Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem was chosen as a Cardinal by Pope Francis as a way of honoring the early church and the birth of Christianity in the Holy Land.  It serves to show how important the region is to all of us spiritually as we unite our prayers together as one, as Catholics and as brothers and sisters from every walk of life or expression of faith.  No one could have predicted how the timing of this message would resonate. 

Likewise, a recent event was a poignant way for peoples of different faiths to come together in solidarity and support.  Fr. James Kane, the first pastor of what is now All Saints on the Hudson, was honored for his tireless work and advocacy for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and respect for all religions.  Presented by the Congregation Agudat Achim in Schenectady, this was a long time in the making and planned months ago.  The occasion, just eight days after the initial tragedies reminds me in so many ways that there are no coincidences.

Our readings, in their way, however, coincide with so much happening today.  Our Gospel passage is often paraphrased as: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”  As we pray for our world leaders, let us also remind ourselves that we are called into a relationship with God and that we owe our Lord our very lives.  Let us continue to pray, especially in the midst of the Eucharistic Assembly, that we are brothers and sisters, daughters and sons of the Father, and that unites us.  Our spiritual communion with the rest of the world reminds us that none of us is alone or removed from God.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts

will provide for all peoples

a feast of rich food and choice wines,

juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

On this mountain he will destroy

the veil that veils all peoples,

the web that is woven over all nations;

he will destroy death forever.  Isaiah 25.6-8a

Our first reading this weekend is the beautiful 25th Chapter of Isaiah which describes a place of majesty and holiness.  Mount Zion has been transformed and the fulfillment of our relationship with God comes to completion with grace and wonderment.  The cares and concerns of the world no longer veil us, the horrific web of war, destruction and evil no longer weaves us together using lies and deception.  Death is destroyed forever.

Mount Zion is described in Scripture as the dwelling place of God in the midst of his people.  The actual Mount Zion is the highest point in Jerusalem, just outside the walls of the Old City.  The New Jerusalem will be a place we identify with our concept of heaven; a place of the heavenly feast where God will provide for all peoples.  There will no longer be division, strife, pain or suffering.

Several members of our parishes joined the current parish families served by Fr. Rick Lesser in an amazing pilgrimage-style tour of the Holy Land last January.  It was an experience that has changed me and everyone else who has had the opportunity.  Our guides suggested that unrest was stirring on many fronts and the one who led my group ominously warned us that the people of the Middle East were without hope for an enduring peace.  That vision was in stark contrast to the beautiful sites and tremendous people we were able to encounter.

I was thinking how often our visits were directed either to the water or to magnificent mountains that stood up in anticipation our view.  The views of Mount Zion in Jerusalem best seen by the Mount of Olives and the landscape were filled with images of the Old City and modern life.  What struck me as powerful in its own way were the mountains we approached from the barrenness of some of the countryside.  The Mount of the Beatitudes was among the plushest journeys yet our guide described that the green pastures only lasted for a few months a year.  It was in his opinion that it was during our winter months that Jesus fed the multitude.

The Mount of Temptation which rises above the city of Jericho provided the clearest contrast.  The plushness of the oasis was most likely seen by Jesus at the same time he was fasting, praying and eventually tempted by the devil.  This area of the West Bank is actually in the State of Palestine and much of the surrounding area was in fact barren. 

How challenging it is to think about what God is seeing from the vantage point of the mountain top.  We must continue to pray for our brothers and sisters and do what we can to lift the veil, tear the web, and offer life to so many in this world who lie in despair.  In the meantime, let us maintain the hope that comes from knowing that ultimately promises will be fulfilled and salvation one day will arrive not just for some of us but for all peoples.

I will end my blog with the closing verses of our Isaiah reading this weekend.  Let us continue to pray for that day when it will be said:

 “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!

This is the Lord for whom we looked;

let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.   Isaiah 25.9-10a

The hand of the Lord will never leave us.  God bless you and God bless all peoples.

Brothers and sisters:

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4.6,7

This reading continues Paul’s Letter to the Philippian’s beautiful hymn of celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ emptying himself in all humility to truly become one with us.  We are called into a unity with God that also unites us together as one which is as daunting as it is beautiful.  We live in a world in which we are so often at odds with one another and the challenge calls for us to have a renewed attitude as we model ourselves after Jesus as true disciples.

Key to our progression is the trust we are called to have which frees us from our fears and anxieties.  Jesus is with us and as we tune into the graces we are provided by prayer and petition, we move into a true expression of thankfulness or thanksgiving which is translated into the Greek as “eucharistia.”

The peace that the world does not give but that God provides will guard our hearts and minds, even during periods of doubt and anxiety.  To be true caregivers of this message requires us to change our own dispositions.   The passage will continue to inspire us with the qualities and aspirations we strive to embody so that the Body of Christ can be brought more meaningfully in the world today.

The First Reading from Isaiah and the Gospel of Luke this weekend are cautionary parables that describe human nature in such strong detail that we can see the history of the People of Israel and the Passion of Christ alive in their telling.  We are reminded that God loves us and trusts us but that we have a propensity to turn away, to become more like wild grapes rather than good ones.  There are also times in our lives we feel we can do it alone, without God’s help or without God’s blessing.  Knowing that God is the true vine owner, I believe that we are more stewards than tenants because God places the world in our care.

As we do what we can to cultivate a world of mercy and justice, faith, hope, and love, let us do what we can to expand and strengthen the harvest so that all people will truly be fed by the blessings of God. May we not only reap what we sow but may we trust God will provide. May we work together in unity to produce a bounty that alone or apart from God would not be possible.

The readings this week challenge me to recall those times I have faltered when I have thought I could do it alone, or worse, felt that I was alone.  Like Paul instructs, by prayer and petition AND thanksgiving, I need to remember those times when Jesus has always been by my side, helping me to grow along with the harvest.  May we continue to follow Paul’s lead as he invited his people to emulate him, in one sense, but ultimately Jesus Christ, God-Self:  “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of Peace will be with you.”

May the God of Peace be with you and with your spirit!  God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

Brothers and sisters:

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

any solace in love,

any participation in the Spirit,

any compassion and mercy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,

united in heart, thinking one thing.  Philippians 2.1-5

Of all of Scripture, there are few passages as beautiful, heartwarming, or soul satisfying than what has become known as the Philippian Hymn.  The verses that introduce it touch me in a new way as I have been feeling sentimental lately as people have reentered my life and I have revisited past relationships, including those that mark my time in other parishes.  Some of these loved ones rest with the Lord.

As someone serving multiple communities for most of my priesthood, I have always been more surprised at what makes us similar than what makes us different.  It’s true each and every community is unique in its own way much like individuals are very much their own person.  Still, the image and encouragement of Christ lifts us up into a unity that brings us into more than one sense of communion.

In the coming weeks, we will be having opportunities to come together among the parishes I serve, the network which builds us up in remarkable ways, and as a Diocese.  The upcoming Eucharistic Congress at the National Shrine in Auriesville in just three short weeks will give us an opportunity to come together as an extended family composed of the eight Dioceses of New York, covering the entire state from north to south, east to west.  What an honor it is to be the home diocese and to be blessed by the legacy of the Jesuit martyrs, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and so many people who inspired others to live out their faith.

Just over two hundred years after the birth of St. Kateri, another form of missionaries, a band of brothers came into our area to serve the Lord and draw the people into a true family. In 1858, the Augustinians were brought into the Diocese of Albany and asked to serve a new church in Lansingburg which had formed just sixteen years earlier.  Before St. Peter’s that was formed not long before it, the closest Catholic Church was in Albany, NY!

The ministry, service and future legacy of the Augustinians grew throughout Rensselaer, Washington, and Saratoga counties.  I was blessed to follow in their footsteps, including my current assignment that includes the histories of Assumption and St. Paul Churches.  When I first went to what was then called St. Bonaventure Church, I instantly was embraced by the priests of St. Augustine Church, our neighbor and this only increased when I took on Holy Trinity Church soon after which was the merger of St. John the Baptist, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Monica.   I loved hearing the first hand stories of those who had served the families I then called my own.

The positive relationship was particularly inspiring because as St. Bonaventure had been formed out of what was once the territory of St. Augustine Church; there had been past grievances and continuing rivalries.  How healing it was to work together as an extended family in the name of Christ who calls us to be ‘united in heart, thinking one thing.’  

My reflection on the Augustinians comes at a difficult time as the Order of St. Augustine has announced that they are relocating the last remaining priests from our area.  St. Augustine and St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Watertown will continue their legacy after June with diocesan priests who will be blessed by the example of their predecessors as I was then and am now.

I considered separate blogs this week but I know individual families from Corpus Christi have strong connections with the Augustinians and the parishes they served.  I think it is important for me to share common messages as much as possible and address all of us as I focus, perhaps, on what is of greater concern of certain members of our extended family.

Please pray for two Augustinian priests that passed away last month.  They were prayed for at church but not as consistently as they deserved.  Rest in peace, Fr. Michael Patrick Sullivan, O.S.A. who served Mechanicville from 1975 to 1978 and brought Saint Paul and Assumption into one parish community.  He passed away on August 3rd.  On August 31st, Fr. Edward John Dixey, O.S.A. passed away after a long history of serving many of our parishes, including Assumption/Saint Paul from 2002 to 2008.  God bless them and all who have been blessed by their legacy.

The Philippian Hymn raises us up to aspire to be more unified, remembering the One who brings us together.  May we continue to be people of compassion and mercy, setting aside differences as we uniquely join together in communion with each other and Christ. 

God bless you!

Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;

then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.

Could anyone nourish anger against another

and expect healing from the Lord?

Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,

can he seek pardon for his own sins?   Sirach 28.2-4

           (The first reading this weekend compliments the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew.)

Have you ever tried to excuse yourself with an explanation that you ‘weren’t thinking’?  I must admit I have been guilty in attempting that even as I remember from an early age that this was not a defense that would go anywhere with my parents.  “Of course you weren’t thinking!” I can hear them say,  “Start thinking!”

The servant in today’s Gospel wasn’t thinking and if he had, it may have been a different outcome for the man under his charge and himself.  The king had just forgiven him and yet he didn’t even consider passing that forgiveness on to someone in his own shoes. He didn’t give a second thought to punishing a servant under him for a much smaller debt. The forgiveness initially granted by the King did not enter his mind…. or his heart.

Let’s reflect on Matthew 18:21-35, a powerful parable from the Bible that teaches us about the awesome and merciful forgiveness of God.  It is prompted by a question from Peter, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"  Peter thinks he is being generous even though it would be easy to find cases where Jesus forgave Peter multiple times.  Taking his three denials separately, Peter would be halfway there by those actions alone!  He obviously wasn’t thinking about himself needing forgiveness.

When posed with the question as to how many times one must forgive, Jesus says "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times" or in some translations, "seventy times seven." We all know that adage, “I will forgive but I won’t forget.”  In some cases, this might promote healthy boundaries but ideally, we are not meant to keep track of the transgressions against us just like we lose track on how many times we rely on God for mercy.  Jesus is letting us know that this process is not about keeping score.  If we are not all winners, we are all losers.   

I’ll make a confession as someone who hears confessions.  It is always awkward when someone enters into the Sacrament and assumes I remember all the details from their last visit.  I truly believe it is by the grace of God (and the number that come forward!) that I never remember the sins of those who have confessed.  Sometimes, I remember their pain or remorse but never the details.  This has taught me much about the forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ:  new beginnings are just that, fresh starts free of sin and its consequences.

I was searching for a personal story in which I was forgiven or I had the courage to forgive and I came upon something close to my heart and a difficult memory that was transformed by my acceptance.  I hold a special place in my heart for all my assignments and my last one in Columbia County was particularly special since I enjoyed the multiple small town feels and the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people from all backgrounds and ways of life.  

When I was asked to move to Corpus Christi, I had so many mixed feelings but I had to forgive myself because I felt that I owed it to myself to take a break and focus on one assignment, one parish.  I was talked into the move by representatives of the Diocese who said I owed this to myself.  Little did I know that in less than a year, some of the same people who said it was better for me to have one, now wanted me to take on a second with multiple communities.  I was back to where I began; only the communities are significantly larger!

Being pulled in different directions causes me to ask for forgiveness on a regular basis!  Not everyone receives the attention they desire.  Still, I have to say that I could not be happier or more fulfilled.  I hold no grudges, in fact I am grateful to everyone who saw me up to the challenge, even though I realize this is only possible because of the staffs and leadership across the board who do so much to meet the needs of our people.  

The ability to truly forgive requires thought (and prayer!)  recognizing how grateful we are to God for the many blessings we have received.  This opens our hearts and minds to the notion that we too can walk in Jesus’ footsteps. We too can bring that forgiveness, mercy and love to people who are often broken by their own guilt.  Let us be a reconciling people for each other.   Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.  God bless you!

Brothers and sisters:

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery;

you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,”

and whatever other commandment there may be,

are summed up in this saying, namely,

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Love does no evil to the neighbor;

hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:8-10

One of my favorite messages to young people is a reminder of all the rules they live by.  The youngest one in a family knows that they have to brush their teeth, make their bed, not fight with their brother or sister, and never talk back to mom or dad.  They may not always succeed but they do know that life is ultimately better for them and the mood of the family if they do the right thing.  I think it takes an older child getting closer to First Communion and the age of reason to fully realize that these rules are imposed by people who love them deeply and strongly care that they share that love with others, especially those within their own family.

Paul speaks to us in a similar way.  He reminds us of some of the Commandments but he puts it into the context of why they are important.  We can do the right thing and not love, defeating the possibility of fulfilling the law. Likewise, we can get much closer even if we don’t succeed when we attempt with a sincere desire to love.  Motive is important!

The Gospel of Matthew this week reminds us that to truly love means that we seek reconciliation and peace, even among members who have differences and disagreements.  There is always the implication that most conflicts can be resolved even if separation from the community is kept as a last resort.  The motive of the community working together through their conflicts, for people to be in union with each other, ultimately is to be in communion with God.

Next year, I will be celebrating my 30th anniversary as a priest of the Diocese of Albany and I am struck that throughout that time, I have spent only three years serving a single community (and that includes one year at Corpus Christi)!  I have been like a parent caring for multiple children or one with responsibilities that drive them in multiple directions, I know the frustrations of feeling like I could do more for my loved ones if I didn’t feel so divided.  I also know that it is not uncommon for some people, at times, to resent my other obligations.  Someone recently joked to me, ‘the people don’t like sharing your time but they are perfectly fine sharing your cost’!

Ezekiel in today’s first reading bemoans the responsibility placed upon him and feels he is going to receive the blame if things go wrong.  Paul In his Letter to the Romans and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew counter that sentiment by placing responsibility within the community.  Communally, we are called to work toward cooperation and reconciliation whenever hurt has occurred.  Having multiple responsibilities reminds me that I am not in this alone, remembering, ‘if two or more are gathered…’ Perhaps that’s the way it should be.  Jesus, as we know, sent forth his disciples two by two.

I want to thank all my partners in ministry who journey with me in our quest to bring our people closer to the awareness of God’s healing, unifying love.  I am able to lean on so many people and respect our incredible staffs, ministers, volunteers and supporters who do so much for us and never give up on the power of prayer.  All Saints on the Hudson, in particular, combines several communities that have shared both common and differing approaches with other parish families, including that of Corpus Christi and other neighboring churches.  As we work closer together, may we ultimately love more deeply the people we serve and the God we worship.

God bless you!

We give thanks to God always for all of you, 

Remembering you in our prayers,

Unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love

and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Before our God and Father, 

knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.  

1 Thessalonians 1.2-4

I would like to take a moment on this Labor Day Weekend to thank the people of Corpus Christi for the many ways I have witnessed their ‘work of faith and labor of love.’   I have been meaning to take a break from my joint blog to address my appreciation for the uniqueness of each parish and how blessed I am to serve you both.  As pastor of Corpus Christi for two and a half years, I marvel at how fast the time has gone by and how exciting it is to be continually inspired by our people.

While I am humbly blessed to be called ‘father’, there are times I identify as well with the role of mother, especially those who are pulled in multiple directions while trying to please everyone and give each of their own equal attention. Thanks to an amazing staff and parish leadership as well as the ministers and volunteers, I believe Corpus Christi will continue to offer a wide variety of worship, prayer, faith formation, faith sharing, social and service opportunities.  We are constantly looking for ways to serve our community in new and different ways while keeping our traditions alive and well.  It can be a daunting task for a few but truly possible for the many who make up our family.

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the work that has been accomplished as well as a moment of reflection honoring the dignity of every worker. In our Catholic Faith, we see this dignity as the right of every Child of God. As Christians we also see ourselves as workers in the vineyard and disciples to the mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is a wonderful moment to offer thanks to God for the blessings of the people in our midst.

I am so grateful for so many who have embraced the parish family of All Saints on the Hudson and supported me as I serve that community. There was a wonderful turn-out at the extremely successful Italian Festa in honor of the Feast of the Assumption.  Corpus Christi is also participating in All Saints’ bus trip to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy and more information is in the bulletin.  Watch for two other upcoming events, including evenings of reflection for Pastoral Caregivers and Liturgical Ministers.

All Saints, in turn, has continued to support Corpus Christi and took advantage of the wonderful Vacation Bible School that was truly one of the highlights of summer.  Christina Dombkiewicz drew dozens of volunteers of all ages and provided our children with an experience they will never forget. The day was filled with song and dance, appealing food, wonderful games and crafts, and most importantly time to reflect on the love of Jesus Christ and what it means for us to be brothers and sisters in the best way imaginable.  With the older youth guiding and leading the way, the multi-generational event felt like what it truly was: family.

As a parish family, Corpus Christi is at its best when we live out our name.  To be the Body of Christ means many things, including what it means to embody a diverse group of people dedicated to the service of others as disciples. It also means to become what we are and in the Eucharist we partake. My hope and prayer is that we will continue to see more of our families coming together, in person, to share a sacred meal and be nourished by the Food for our Journey.

As an extended family, the Diocese of Albany, is joining Roman Catholics from throughout New York State in our own backyard for a Eucharistic Congress to be held October 20-22 at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville.  More information is available at the parish and online at NYSEucharisticcongress.org.  Labor Day is a time when often friends and family come together from far and wide and remember that we truly are one.  May the many ways in which we witness our ‘work of faith and labor of love’ be brought together into better focus as we gather around the table.  God bless you!    

Fr. George Fleming

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

Simon Peter said in reply,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”               (Matt 16.13-16)

When we hear the word ‘confession,’ especially in Catholic circles, our minds might go directly to the experience of Reconciliation and confessing our sins. The word has a broader meaning as it is the act of expressing what is deep within our hearts, bringing to light what may be hidden from not only the view of others but from our very selves. We confess our sins, yes, but we also confess our hopes and dreams, our fears, and our faith; we confess our love.

Today’s Gospel is commonly referred to as “The Confession at Caesarea Philippi” when Peter confesses who he truly believes Jesus is. This is a remarkable moment, especially within the Synoptic Gospels, because this is a further advancement of the understanding of who Jesus was (and is!) for his current and future disciples. Peter is key in this progression, and he will progress to receive the Keys of the Kingdom. Despite his own too human behavior in the future, Peter stands out for his courage and leadership. He misunderstands what this means and will be admonished but his faith will override any missteps he may make as he moves forward, occasionally stumbling along.

This week’s Gospel is shared every February 22nd which commemorates the Chair of Peter, acknowledging not only the stature of the saint but the importance of the office we now refer to as the papacy. For most of my priesthood I have identified this Gospel with my grandfather who was born on February 22nd in 1892. Although he was from an Irish family that rarely named their sons by a name identified with English rulers, my great-grandmother insisted he be named “George Washington Fay” when she realized he was born exactly 160 years after our first president.

The story that connects me most with this Gospel passage is another confession of sorts, one made to me and members of my family and one that predated it for decades, the origin story of my grandfather and Grandmother Fay’s romance.

In an ice cream parlor in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, around the year 1920, my grandmother Phyllis sat with her friend Sadie and noticed a man who worked for the railroad in a back corner by himself. She said, after only meeting briefly before in a mutual introduction, “That is George Washington Fay. He is going to be my husband!”  The rest, as they say, is a major part of my family history.

Just like Peter recognized who Jesus was and what he would mean in his life, my grandmother’s instinct foretold the events that would follow for generations to come. Like Peter, her romantic notion did not comprehend all the trials and tribulations that they would face together over the next forty years. It also did not foresee how much joy would come with the birth of their daughters and the families that would follow. She used to joke that although she knew she was going to be his wife, she may have had second thoughts if she had not committed to it before meeting his mother. At least I think she was joking!

Peter too is naïve but will be given not just the keys but the means to withstand the good times and the bad times, the sickness and the health, even his own crucifixion.  Every story has its own unique origin, and this is when Peter’s life takes a dramatic turn. Certain of who Jesus is and what that means for him, his life will forever never be the same. Ours in turn, continues a journey begun long ago by our ancestors as well as our forefathers and foremothers in faith. God bless you!

Fun fact:  My twin brother and I were born on April 22, 1961. Two months before our 21st birthday on February 22, 1982, we celebrated our 250th month anniversary on the day that our grandfather would have turned 90 and George Washington would have turned 250 years!

Then Jesus said to her in reply,

“O woman, great is your faith!

Let it be done for you as you wish.”

And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Matthew 15.28

Sometimes, it just feels better to skip to the end! That is why I am only sharing a quote from the last

verses of this week’s Gospel. What leads to this moment is actually disturbing and scandalous for us as

followers of Jesus. The Canaanite woman of a foreign district within which Jesus is traveling (close to

modern day Lebanon) approaches him with pleas to help and heal her daughter. Jesus speaks to her as

would any Jew of his time but what is horrifying is that we know that Jesus is not like any other Jew.

Saying that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he goes on to cut her off by saying,

“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” The woman could have been

paralyzed by that sting or fought back in anger but she is powerfully diplomatic. She would have known

that Jews commonly referred to Canaanites as ‘dogs’ as a form of disrespect and abuse, primarily because

the people of Israel feared these foreigners whose land they had taken. Out of a greater love for her

daughter she made the point that “even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”. In

reply, Jesus redeems the situation as highlighted above.

We do not always have the luxury of skipping to the end when so much more needs to be done to be

accepting, compassionate and loving of each other. Jesus uses this situation to highlight for us how

scandalous the culture of the time could be and bring us back with a new awareness that there is enough

grace to go around. He has just multiplied the bread and the fishes for the Jewish population and soon he

will do something similar for the Gentiles. There will be abundance, and no one will be kept from the

table.

As parish families, we strive to be welcoming and caring for not only those we see as our own but the

entire community. Great events like the Italian Festa at All Saints on the Hudson remind us that we do

not have to lose our identity to broaden our scope. All Saints is very much aware of the individual

histories of Assumption, St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, and St. Isaac Jogues Chapel. Both All Saints and Corpus

Christi network with other parishes in our region, our vicariate, our Diocese, and so on and so on. We are

truly a universal church that only gets better when we take the time to get to know each other. With

knowledge comes understanding. With understanding comes respect. With respect comes admiration.

With admiration, comes love. With love, we are truly brothers and sisters. It takes time and effort that

cannot be skipped over, but I have a feeling it is all going to come out right at the end.

God bless you!

Beloved:

We did not follow cleverly devised myths

when we made known to you

the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received honor and glory from God the Father

when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,

“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven

while we were with him on the holy mountain.

Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.

You will do well to be attentive to it,

as to a lamp shining in a dark place,

until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.   

Second Letter of Peter:   1:16-19

Fourteen years ago the parishes I served across the Hudson River, the Church of Holy Trinity and St. Bonaventure were merged under the new title of Transfiguration Parish.  I used to joke  the name brought the people together as nothing else could.  They shared a common dislike for it!  We have ‘apologists’ who speak up for our faith, I became a Transfiguration Apologist and as I tried to convince people of its beauty, I discovered more about the Feast than I ever had before.

I particularly like the fact that the Feast supersedes the Ordinary Sunday celebration.  While we hear of the Transfiguration on the Second Sunday of Lent in order to prepare us to celebrate the mysteries more fully, August 6th is the actual Feast Day in which we would hear these particular readings.  The first-person account from the Second Letter of St. Peter puts into perspective the experience of the Apostles at that event.  In its immediate aftermath, St. Peter wants to capture and hold on to the moment without the insight he gained after the Resurrection.  Jesus was transfigured along with Moses and Elijah in the presence of Peter, James and John who arguably were forever changed and enlightened in a way they never could have foreseen.  

There is a consensus among scholars that this Second Letter may have actually been written by a follower of Peter who was writing in his name.  I love this interpretation because it reveals that ‘the lamp shining in a dark place’ is not dimmed as the torch is passed on.  As brothers and sisters, we too, experience the Transfiguration through the Sacred Scripture that enlightens us to the Glory of God. This provides us with a reminder that we too will be glorified when the ‘morning star’ rises in our hearts.  Let us continue to be light for one another and carry on as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In our Gospel this week, Peter exclaims, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”  Now that I have been at Corpus Christi and All Saints on the Hudson for a period of time, I can relate to how he feels.  May we continue to be here for one another and be welcoming to those searching for a lamp shining in their own world.  God bless you.

PS:  Speaking of being ‘here’, I will be at the Festa this weekend at All Saints on the Hudson!  I hope to see you ‘there’!

He sells all that he has and buys the field.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,

which a person finds and hides again,

and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant

searching for fine pearls. 

When he finds a pearl of great price,

he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

        Matthew 13:44-46

It’s not easy serving multiple communities represented by two parishes.  When I think of the Wisdom of Solomon as it is presented in our first reading, I am struck that it takes some of that wisdom to determine how to divide my time fairly and productively.  More often than not, I fall short in my own eyes and yet the support and the gifts of our parishioners lift me up and provide what is needed in abundance.  When all is said and done (even when some things are unsaid and undone!)  I wouldn’t change my situation for the world.

Last year at this time though, I was feeling the pressure of taking on new responsibilities at All Saints on the Hudson several months earlier and then something remarkable happened.  I was able to participate and enjoy All Saints on the Hudson’s Festa, the annual Feast in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption.  Its longtime tradition had been derailed like so many other activities during the pandemic but now was back on track and moving forward.  I met so many new people and truly felt like a member of the community.  What impressed me most were the many generations coming together in honor and memory of generations before them.  It’s then when I realized that the new assignment would be a treasure for me and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, despite the cost of being pulled in different directions.

The Festa reminded me how I felt the same way after the summer and fall the year before at Corpus Christi.  It was a remarkable time as the community celebrated its 75th anniversary, Father Matt Duclos’ ordination and First Mass, as well as its own Fall Festival.  At every turn, people were giving of their time and talent so that others would feel at home and enjoy the togetherness each event brought.  Again, it made me feel at home and appreciative of the parish just like I would feel in the future at All Saints.

Certain feasts come once a year but we have a celebration every week that allows us to give of ourselves and to receive so much in return.  As we continue to celebrate the blessing of the Eucharist in our lives may our liturgies be occasions that bring us closer together and help us recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.  As the hymn Earthen Vessels reminds us “We hold a treasure, not made of gold, in earthen vessels, wealth untold, one treasure only: the Lord, the Christ, in earthen vessels.”

I am hoping that members from all our communities will join me for part of the Festa on Friday and Saturday, August 11 and 12th.  I am going to try to be there the whole time from its start at 5:00 pm through the evening and hope that this will serve as a way for our parishes to come together with the extended community of friends and neighbors.  You can enjoy a wide variety of Italian and Fair-style food choices, Italian beer, wine and other refreshments, incredible homemade desserts as well as other delicacies.  There will be activities and games for our youth and lots of opportunity to socialize amid live music and dancing!  Please join us and don’t forget to save the dates of November 4th and 5th for Corpus Christi’s Fall Festival.

God bless you all for providing me with such riches that are worth any sacrifice.  Thank you, too, for the opportunity to break bread together. Mangia!

Brothers and sisters:

The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;

for we do not know how to pray as we ought,

but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.

And the one who searches hearts

knows what is the intention of the Spirit,

because he intercedes for the holy ones

according to God’s will.    Romans 8:26-27

This weekend’s Gospel continues a theme from last week with the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds.  It has always given me a sense of fear, wondering if at the end my weeds would outnumber my wheat and I would be judged, or worse yet, I would be cast aside as a weed.  I don’t believe that God would be so harsh and I find much comfort in our Second Reading which comes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Paul could play hard ball with the Romans and challenged them in addition to edifying them.  This passage, however, reminds us that God is persistent, compassionate and caring in spite of and perhaps in light of our weaknesses - God understands. Paul showcases a new image of the Holy Trinity with the Holy Spirit interceding with the urgency of groanings. The groaning should not be seen horrific but fully engaged, voicing desperation for us to be healed.  In some translations the groanings are referred to as too deep for words.  I interpret this like the cry of a newborn letting you know they are fully alive.

St. Paul had an extraordinary understanding of good vs. evil and admits he often chose the latter even if he wanted to do the former.  Through it all, he reminds us of both our responsibility and the mercy of God.  This reading has been interpreted as the Spirit searching our inner hearts where not all can be expressed.  In other words, we see the weeds, God sees the wheat.

In light of this wonderful message, I would like to mention that Pope Francis and the Vatican have earmarked the fourth Sunday of July as The World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly because of its closeness to the feast of the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne.  We remember our older generations for the influence they have on the youth.  I was struck by several aspects of this.  How blessed is the child, youth or adult to have someone in their lives who loves them unconditionally.  Sometimes that love is coupled with the younger one shielded from the full extent of the challenges, illnesses and concerns the elder in the relationship carries.

As someone young enough to remember my grandparents yet old enough to be contemporaries of grandparents, I marvel at how much we take them for granted.  I don’t think it is out of selfishness, I think it is affected by the sense of security of knowing that they will always be there.  The amazing aspect of our faith is that we know that it is true.  How important it is however to remember those heroes in our lives who face so much with dignity and grace even in light of harsh realities.

Two years ago, there was an official prayer for the World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly.  I am closing with these beautiful last lines that may or not be coincidentally similar to the words of Paul this week.  My prayer for all families this weekend is that they find God’s strength in their weakness.  Let us remember each other in prayer, especially those who carry the flame of faith, the spark of hope and the torch of love from past generations on behalf of the future ones.

Sustain me in weakness

and help me to live life to the full

in each moment that You give me,

in the certainty that you are with me every day,

even until the end of the age.

And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:

“A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,

and birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,

and when the sun rose it was scorched,

and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.

But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit,

a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”    Matthew 13.3-9

As I continue to grow and mature, I find myself becoming more reflective. I begin to see the parables differently - more intimately.  At one time I am sure that I saw the seeds in the parable falling as on multiple people and I wanted to be one of the ones who surrounded himself in good soil.  Now I realize that there are parts of me and moments in my faith life where I embodied the hardened path, the rocky ground, or the thorns as well as the rich soil.  When I think of all this, it troubles me yet affirms me at the same time.

When I see myself running in all directions, I imagine I am forging a path that is tangled and knotted.  I realize that unless I intervene, turn off the radio or stop to pray, my life gets disoriented, and I can get lost.  It’s no wonder that the early name for the Jesus movement was The Way.  The path can describe the journey in a wonderful way, but it needs to be forged to bring the seed to good soil.  

My life can get rocky when I let distractions and responsibilities build up and block me from ministering effectively.  I can feel the pressures and the heat as if scorched by the sun, so I know I must move into the shade of God’s love and return to my roots.  I need to smooth out these tasks with patience and understanding while allowing the rocks to build new foundations but not contaminate the soil.

My life can get thorny when I allow myself to give into negative thoughts or actions. If unchecked, I would be prone to build resentments toward people or situations and that stings me as well as the people I should be serving best.  The image of choking reminds me of the need to breathe properly, letting prayer breathe into me peace, forgiveness, and contentment. 

I have been blessed with good soil: communities, families and friends that enrich my life and encourage me to grow.  These fruitful relationships help me to see how beautiful this world  is.  I have been blessed throughout my life in many ways but I do not often succeed in truly appreciating all these gifts that have been given me by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Once I begin to realize all that I have received, I am moved to share with others.  Together, we are transformed and able to enrich the environment in which we live.

All the readings use the natural world and the environment to serve as metaphors for our spiritual life and with a closer look, we realize how we are all connected and reliant on both.  Recent upset in our physical world reminds us of the damage that can be done just as spiritual upset can hurt us tragically as well.  The secret is to continue to work together even in times of challenge, caring for one another with the love of the Master Farmer.  God bless you and Happy Gardening!

“Come to me, you who are untaught, and lodge in my school. Put your neck under the yoke, and let your souls receive instruction; it is to be found close by. See with your eyes that I have labored little and found myself much rest.” (Sirach 51:23, 26-27).

“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. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Matthew 11.28-30

Rather than include the entire Gospel this week in which Jesus addresses God as Father and makes a connection with the innocence of the child-like that may have more inherent wisdom than those who are considered learned, I have shared the passage from Sirach which speaks of Wisdom.  Jesus beautifully alludes to this quotation and places himself as the fulfillment of what this means in relationship with the Father directly and the Holy Spirit implicitly.

Growing up, I never understood this passage although it gave me comfort and I remember it often proclaimed at the funerals of people I loved.  Simply put, I did not know what a yoke was.  I can only imagine myself as a young boy either not fully paying attention or imagining the yolk of an egg.  

In Jesus’ time, yokes were commonplace and essential.  They could be forged or made by different materials but often they were shaped out of wood.  A yoke could be a burden placed on someone or an animal (beast of burden) that is forced to carry or pull a large weight.  The more it was shaped to fit the neck properly, the ease and comfort was greatly enhanced.

There were yokes that were willingly placed on ones’ shoulders when they saw this as assistance to what they wanted to do, or at least freely decided they had to do.  The prime example would be the yoke upon the shoulders of women who would balance two large pails or more likely, water jars, on either side as she made her way from the source of the water to her home.  

We all have burdens and challenges in our lives.  Some of us are dealing with health issues or struggling with emotional or mental distress.  Many worry about their loved ones or face difficulties in their relationships.  Other burdens might be stresses in the workplace or community.  People are dealing with financial issues or fears and concerns of other kinds.  These are heavy burdens difficult or impossible to carry on our own.  That is why we need the yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ to give us the balance and support we need.

Faith, hope and love have been described as the greatest gifts and they all describe essential qualities of the yoke we need.  The gift of the Sacraments, the loving help of others in our communities and the skillful assistance of caregivers help mold the yoke to fit better on the shoulders of which the burden rests.

My grandfather believed in the adage that we should not pray for lighter burdens but for stronger backs.  That’s a wonderful sentiment but I’m going to stick my neck out and say that we should pray for lighter burdens so that our strong yokes can support the burdens of others.  It is together that we bear all things, the heavy and the light.  God bless you all and I hope during the summer you find rest for yourselves, comforted and eased by the support of the Church that carries the Mission and Yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God bless you.

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them 

because they were troubled and abandoned,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest.”  Matthew 9.36-38

Our Gospel begins this week with the human side of Jesus shining through and quite possibly radiating the divine side as well.  The love and compassion Jesus has for the people are coupled with his concern that their needs are not being met.  He will commission the twelve to go out and bring the Good News and healing ministry to the people of Israel as a trial run of sorts before the growing community will reach out to all people.

When I was ordained a priest twenty-nine years ago this month, I never anticipated serving multiple parishes at once having been graced to live in rectories during my formation that housed several priests at one time.  We knew a shortage was coming but it was beyond me how it would affect not only me and fellow priests but the people we serve.  By the grace of God, however, we are managing thanks to the goodwill and generosity of time, talent and treasure provided by the people with whom we minister.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the Twelve are sent out to minister in a scenario I would compare to student teaching or hospital interns.  They are not yet fully accredited but they are given great responsibility under the direction of the Great Teacher.   As Jesus called them forth then, so too are modern disciples called to serve our communities.  We are reminded, especially in light of the readings that accompany our Gospel that we are called as we are, sinful and lacking, but nevertheless justified by the One who calls us into service and never abandons us.

All that we do is first and foremost grounded in faith.  Paul will remind us that good works do not justify faith but faith pours itself out in good works.  We are seemingly helpless and yet Christ brings the reconciling grace we need to answer the call.  All we need is to have the disposition that craves to bring healing into a world that cries out often in emptiness and despair.

I marvel at how the mission of Jesus Christ continues to move forward with lay ministries and lay initiatives, despite shortages among the clergy and religious.  I have been blessed and continue to be inspired by the people of our parishes that answer their call to true discipleship.  Thank you so much for ‘all that you do’ but especially all that you are about, doing the works of the one who continues to send us forth.  God bless you.   

Moses said to the people:

"Remember how for forty years now the Lord, your God,

has directed all your journeying in the desert,

so as to test you by affliction

and find out whether or not it was your intention

to keep his commandments. 

He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger,

and then fed you with manna,

a food unknown to you and your fathers,

in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live,

but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord.  Deuteronomy 8:2-3

As we celebrate our parish feast day, Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, I was going to begin my thoughts with a quote from the Gospel.  That said, I could not pass up the beginning of our first reading from Deuteronomy as I am just returning from my 40th reunion at Le Moyne College.  “For forty years now…” I have journeyed but not lost in the desert, in fact I have been blessed to find myself in the richness of all this world has to offer.

When I started at Le Moyne, I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted to be.  I faced challenges there and after college that I would have identified as afflictions and yet I was graced to yearn for more.  It was in my vocation, that I found myself more content and fulfilled than I ever could have imagined.   I hope all of my friends and classmates feel the same way with their lives, but for me, I know that the hungers and thirsts are satisfied by the Word of God and the Sacraments I am blessed to share, first and foremost, in the Eucharist.

The experience of concelebrating the closing liturgy of my weekend at my alma mater was an experience I will cherish.  I was blessed not to preach, which may have brought extra stress and anxiety.  Instead, I could relish the experience and stand side by side with the College Chaplain who had been there for me twice in the Fall of my Freshman year: the death of my beloved Grandmother in October 1979 and weeks later with my Mother’s near fatal bout of spinal meningitis, which would continue to affect her for the next twelve years before her passing.  How proud I was to be in this man’s presence with so many Jesuits throughout the congregation who had inspired me with their priesthood.

The chapel at Le Moyne College is arranged in a semi-circle so that most of my classmates were seated behind me but I felt their presence.  I felt quite sentimental and it was a poignant moment as we remembered those who had gone before us, especially members of our own class.  The room filled with grief as we remembered in prayer two separate tragic deaths among students in the Class of 2023.  We were there for one another at a deeper level than when we journey alone.

The first sight of my closest friends came at the distribution of Holy Communion where most maneuvered to be in my line.  Ironically, the smiles of their faces brought tears to my eyes and, in several cases, tears of their own.  I felt an overpowering love and understanding of the Eucharist that I too often take for granted.  A close bond of friendship was brought to a truer unity in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Assembled Body became one with the One Body.  The Eucharist truly lives up to its meaning as we give and receive Thanksgiving, not just for time shared but for Bread broken together.

For my family and friends who make up the body of Corpus Christi, I want to thank you for your presence in my life and the lives of our people, including our brothers and sisters representing All Saints on the Hudson.  When I think of how proud I am to be a graduate of Le Moyne College, I am humbled and grateful for all the experiences there which led me here.  Thank you for being my companions on our journey.

Brothers and sisters, rejoice. 

Mend your ways, encourage one another,

agree with one another, live in peace,

and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

and the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

2 Cor 13:11-13

Our reading this week from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians includes one of the earliest Trinitarian blessings shared in Scripture.  It is so appropriate as we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity and reminds us that the depth of our understanding is rooted in the relationship we have with God which is manifest in love, the magnificence of love that renders peace.

When I was young, I imagined the Holy Trinity much like the Three Musketeers, they were all for one and one for all.  This is not only simplistic, but it fails to capture the true meaning of the Triune God.  It’s always a challenge to preach on the Holy Trinity and I will not have to rise to the occasion because I am going to be away for my 40th college reunion this weekend and the liturgy I will be concelebrating will have another preacher.  I decided to share with you some thoughts that have resurfaced since the first time I preached on this Holy Mystery 28 years ago.

I had been ordained less than a year and found my first homily based on the Holy Trinity rather challenging.  I had been thinking about what I was going to say for days and went to a school concert with the thought that I was not prepared just days before the weekend.  Close friends of mine from college had invited me to witness my godson perform for the first time as part of his kindergarten class.  Joey had been rehearsing for weeks and I remember his mother calling me and having him practice his songs over the phone.  I couldn’t see him, but I heard the enthusiasm and confidence in his voice even if it was a bit off-key!

I remember sitting in the pews of St. John the Evangelist Church where I would have my next assignment a year later.  I was multi-tasking by glancing as discreetly as possible at the missal which contained the Holy Trinity readings for the upcoming weekend.  Never would I have imagined that the concert would serve as the essence of my homily as well as my future understanding of the Holy Trinity.

When Joey came out into the sanctuary to sing with his classmates, I noticed that he stood out for not his singing but his not singing.   Even from a distance, I saw the back of his tongue reach up to the roof of his mouth and he just stood there awkwardly.  I was concerned for him but not nearly as much as his mother.

My friend was upset, whispering how this was unacceptable after all the time they had rehearsed.  If there was initial anger, however, it was quickly replaced by a deep concern as to why this was happening.  Was he sick?  Was he suffering stage-fright?  Had he forgotten the words?   

Joey’s mother wished that she could have morphed into a kindergartner herself, in order to stand beside him and show him the way.  Her singing would remind him of the words he knew, and her example would give him confidence.  If that didn’t work, she wished she could have been a microphone or ‘bug in his year’ to gently remind him and give him the confidence he needed to perform to the best of his ability.   

The secret of the Holy Trinity is that God does what every parent wished they could.  The Triune God is all in one:  the Creator, the loving parent who watches their beloved creation, the Son, the friend gracing us by our side who comes to save the day, and the Holy Spirit who inspires us in fellowship and communion.  The reason we see God manifest in the Holy Trinity is that God is able to be what every parent would be if they could – and God can.  God exists in the Holy Trinity, first and foremost to bring us into a relationship of peace and love as Paul attests.

May God bless you today and every day; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!

They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky

a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.  Acts 2.1-4   

My experience of Pentecost changed forever the summer of 2021.  I had just been appointed to Corpus Christi and it would be many more months before I was asked to also pastor All Saints on the Hudson.  I was living at the rectory owned by St. Edward the Confessor and was assigned two seminarians that would serve Round Lake and an additional seminarian who would serve Clifton Park.  I had not shared space in quite a while and what I thought would be a challenging three months indeed began a moment in time that reinvigorated my priesthood.

Along with Deacon Adam Feisthamel who would serve both our parishes the following summer, all three men living with me that year are now deacons in formation.  What made my living situation unique is that we were all from different parts of the world, in fact we represented five continents.  Deacon Daniel Vallejo represented two since he has dual citizenship in Spain and Columbia.  Deacon Anthony Uno is from Nigeria and Deacon Joseph Tuan Pham is from Vietnam by way of the Philippines.  Each spoke English as a second language they were learning.  It was the only way they could communicate with me and each other.

The four of us that summer were remarkably different and all of us had unique perspectives and personalities.  What united the men in formation with me were our hopes for the future of the Church, a future we prayed in which we would serve and make a difference.  There is something incredibly humbling about not being able to communicate in one’s own language but it was a vehicle that strengthened their vocabulary and pronunciation.  Behind closed doors, I could hear muffled conversations with family and friends from often three different languages speaking excitably of whatever interested or concerned them.  Three languages other than my own filled the entire house.

Pentecost celebrates the Birth of the Church and the penetration of the Holy Spirit into every aspect of our lives.  We are united far more than separated from each other as the culture of discipleship expands into the entire world.  We discover that we are brought together by a common mission by many voices, all drawing us closer to what it means to be children of God.  It is interesting that at the Pentecost one language does not dominate yet each is understood.

When I was leaving Columbia County one of the most poignant compliments was paid to me that filled me with both pride and humility.  I struggled to communicate with the large Spanish-speaking community and a couple said, in both Spanish and English, “You don’t have to translate a smile!”   The Triune God smiles upon us on Pentecost, revealing the Holy Spirit in the fullness of the Father and the Son.   In the midst of our diversity we are called into reconciliation and hopefulness, knowing we are never alone.  As brothers and sisters we are called together to share our faith and our smile.

Let us join our prayers with Deacon Daniel, Deacon Anthony, Deacon Joseph and Deacon Adam as well as newly ordained Deacon Eduardo Trevino from our neighbor in network of parishes, St. Edward the Confessor Church.  May they continue to radiate the Holy Spirit in their ministries and may we also feel the presence of all of God’s people, in all nations, including those recently confirmed or receiving First Communion here at home.

Far and wide, up close and person, the Spirit continues to breathe new life in our Church.  God bless you!  Happy Pentecost!

Beloved:

Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,

so that when his glory is revealed

you may also rejoice exultantly.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,

for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

But let no one among you be made to suffer

as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.

But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed

but glorify God because of the name.

1 Peter 4:13-16

The First Letter of Peter which we hear proclaimed this week holds significance for all of us and me personally.  I was struck how it spoke to me as I write these words, winding down from a couple of intense weeks of ministry.  In the midst of so much going on and incredible celebrations focusing on our children and young adults, I have had an unusual amount of funerals.

I am aware in once sense that ministering to so many suffering has ‘taken its toll’ on me.  I know that I am emotionally and physically drained.  Peter’s words however shed a light on how these experiences have not drained me spiritually; in fact the opposite is true.  I have marveled at the faith of the people even as they have suffered loss.  Their loved ones also exhibited extraordinary grace in their final days, gifting the people around them with a renewed sense of purpose.

The last verse shared in the second reading is truly remarkable.  The only time the term “Christian” is used to describe the early followers is in this sentence and in just two times in the Acts of the Apostles.  (Acts 11:25; 26:28)  In today’s context, the Christian is seen in the context of suffering in which they should not be ashamed, in fact in all humility they should be proud.  Ultimately however the pride is in God in whom we are called to glorify.

When I preach, especially at funerals, I know I am preaching to myself.  There is a great blessing in knowing that as we serve others, God is nurturing us to share honestly and hopefully.  Christian hope does not mean that we ignore the sufferings of the world but that we see that the Kingdom of God eventually brings great joy.  For that we acclaim, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to His People on Earth.”

As we journey as a church from the experience of the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, may we receive and share the peace for which we crave.  The sadness we experience does take its toll but the faith, hope and love God grants us redeems us from its cost.

Like the ten days we ritualize from Ascension to Pentecost, we live in a between time.  The Kingdom of God has been described as ‘already and not yet’ and we know how that feels.  May we be ready however to realize that God has prepared us to reach out to  others, bringing Good News to all people, especially those in most need of encouragement and consolation.

The Gospel begins with the words, “Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come.“  (John 17.1)  He has taught his disciples all that he could and now he is preparing to leave them, knowing that they will not be orphaned.  We could imagine this was said at the Ascension but it is actually at the close of the Last Supper Discourse.  He is going to enter into his pain and suffering but he will also reach the other side, as will we; Thanks be to God!

“Life’s a journey, not a destination.”  God bless you!

Jesus said to his disciples:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

And I will ask the Father, 

and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,

the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,

because it neither sees nor knows him.

But you know him, because he remains with you,

and will be in you.

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.    

                             John 14.15-18

Happy Mother’s Day!  

Our Gospel this week touched my heart as I was preparing for this blog and my homily.  As I completed these words on May 9th, I was struck by the fact that it would have been my mother’s 90th birthday.  I remembered her in my prayers and at the liturgies I celebrated as well as in my heart all day.  When I am particularly stressed or lonely, I feel her presence and encouragement.  When I am joy-filled, I still imagine telling her and remember her smile.

My mother passed away on New Year’s Day at the start of 1991.  My brother and I had watched the ball drop just a few hours earlier with my dad at her side in their bedroom.  The surreal picture of people celebrating on the small TV while we were in such pain haunts me still but then light broke through the darkness.  My mom, who hadn’t really responded in days, suddenly, with labor, spoke with the words, “Happy New Year.”  We rushed closer to her side and told her we loved her.  Her last words were, “I love you, too.”

My mom was probably my strongest advocate, along with my father, and a handful of loved ones.  Her passing while I was a third into my seminary education was the biggest influence of priestly formation.  I have tried to be a good person and a good priest by remembering what she stood for and how she taught me to follow the commandments and the golden rule.  I have never fully lived up to what I would imagine to be her standards but I also know that she would have accepted me as I am with unconditional love.

This weekend, we celebrate Mother’s Day and I cannot think of any other relationship that defines who we are and how we relate to God.  I know I was particularly blessed to have not only my mother but loving wisdom figures among my grandmothers and my aunt.  Today we celebrate all those who bring their maternal love to those who crave what it means to be cherished and never alone. Ultimately it is God who will never leave us orphans in Jesus’ name.

I have been truly blessed to be part of parish families and extended friendships that always make me feel at home. Some of the closest people in my life are actually what would have been my mother’s age and I cherish their presence that gives me strength and comfort.  I know that we will not always be here in one sense but the Father’s dwelling place will one day bring us together as one family.

My sentimental reflection reminds me that this can be a difficult day and the memories bittersweet for those who have suffered a loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Many of us, though, are feeling the joy of first-time mothers, recent grandmothers and mother figures who finally receive some of the delight that they bring to others. The parish family has a heart large enough to experience compassion and joy for all of us.

I hope all of us have a blessed and beautiful Mother’s Day in the presence of the people we love spiritually as well as physically.  God bless you!

They presented these men to the apostles

who prayed and laid hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread,

and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;

even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.  Acts 6.6,7

 You know something extraordinary is happening when ‘even….priests’ come on board!!!!   More on that later!

 The sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles shares the story of the early church which up until that moment had been unified under the persecution it was receiving.  Now there is discord among the ranks and within the early movement as frustration surfaces that not all members of the community are being served equally.  I have chosen to spotlight the verses after the Twelve call forth Stephen and other six men.  These seven were chosen from the community for roles linked to the origin of the deaconate.  Essentially, we are seeing structure formed within the Early Church to serve the people more effectively.

 My amusement toward ‘even the priests’ actually is contrary to what is truly happening within the community.  The Author is referring to the priestly families, most likely many Levites, of the Jewish faith that were joining the ranks of the early Christians.  For the first time in Acts, followers of Christ who never actually followed Jesus are being recognized as disciples.  It’s fascinating how things are evolving and while so radically different from our own conception of ‘Church’, the blessings and the tensions are very similar. We continue to be a sacramental church, founded on the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. The Church herself becomes a living sacrament, who mediates the encounter of our Loving Lord in Word, in the elements of the  sacrament, and within the whole praying community.

 This weekend many of our young people will be receiving their First Eucharist, and we welcome them with great joy. Candidates from Corpus Christi will    receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this Wednesday, May 10th and they will be followed by the members of All Saints on the Hudson on May 18th, Ascension Thursday.  Let us continue to pray for them and for their call to discipleship.  They will have a role, if they choose to accept it, in bringing forth the Mission of Jesus Christ for future generations.   May God be with them on this amazing journey.

 On May 20th, four men will be ordained as deacons at our Cathedral in Albany.   Eduardo Trevino, the Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry will be following in the footsteps of our own Deacon Andrew Haskins as a Permanent Deacon, ordained to serve the Church.  He will be joined by three men with close ties to us that are considered transitional deacons.  Adam Feisthamel served us last year and will be joined by Anthony Onu who was with us the year before.  The fourth candidate, Joseph Tuan Pham lived with Anthony, Deacon Daniel Vallejo and me in the summer of 2021.

 I have seen great changes in the Church since I was ordained a deacon thirty years.  Some things have remained the same.  Despite all our differences, we essentially are united when we continue in the footsteps of the early disciples and seek ways to serve the community better.  Our Gospel reminds us of Jesus’ words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”   Let us continue to spread the faith. 

 May God continue to inspire us and fill our dwelling places with love.  

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,

I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers,

but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the gate.

Whoever enters through me will be saved,

and will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”      John 10.7-10

Have you ever heard, "You make a better door than a window"?   The phrase has been described in dictionaries as a tactful way of asking a person to move aside so that one may see.  In most cases, I have heard these words used less tactfully and more sarcastically in a tone that makes it very clear that someone wants another to ‘get out of the way’!

We celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday this weekend with the Gospel reading in which Jesus is self-described as the gate.  In others words, he becomes not only the Shepherd who calls and hears our voice but the actual doorway to everlasting, abundant life.  Jesus also described Himself as The Way which became the name of the early Church.  In this ‘way’ he invites us to get not out of but into The Way.   We are called to follow Jesus, not from a distance or as if gazing through a window but up close and personal.   

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Pope Saint Paul VI establishing Good Shepherd Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  As we call for more shepherds and those responding to the life of the clergy, the religious and lay ministry, the readings ground us in what it means to be led on a journey as a shepherd tends, feeds and leads their sheep.

In addition to the sacred places we visited in the Holy Land this January, my imagination was struck as our bus took us from place to place and allowed us to soak in the terrain.   It was not uncommon to see sheep along the fields that wrapped around more desert-like hills.  If I had time, I would search from the bus window as it drove by for some sign of a shepherd among the sheep.  More often than not, I was able to see someone tending the sheep as Jesus had seen 2,000 years ago.

Today, we are still in search of shepherds for the flock.  Often our lives seem to be speeding by and we don’t take the time to look.  Perhaps we need to open a door or call through a window and invite others forward.     While directing his comments to youth in January of 2019, Pope Francis clearly meant these words for all of us:  “Dear friends, it is not always easy to discern our vocation and to steer our life in the right direction.  For this reason, there needs to be a renewed commitment on the part of the whole Church – priests, religious, pastoral workers and educators – to provide young people in particular with opportunities for listening and discernment.”   In other words, we need to clear some windows and open some doors!

Like Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday which mark midway points of Advent and Lent respectively, the Fourth Week of Easter begins with “Jubilate Sunday” from the invitation to proclaim: "Jubilate Deo omnis terra" ("Shout with joy to God, all the earth").  Whether I say it or shout it enough, I want to let you know I am joy-filled and blessed to be sharing this terrain with all of you.  God bless you!

And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,

but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them,

“What are you discussing as you walk along?”

They stopped, looking downcast.

One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,

“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem

who does not know of the things

that have taken place there in these days?”

And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”

     This weekend we are blessed with the incredible story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  Perhaps of all the Resurrection Stories, this one has garnered our imagination and truly invited us in.  One of the disciples, Cleopas by name, is joined by someone who is anonymous; so anonymous, in fact, we do not know the person’s gender or the relationship the person has with the other.

     Scripture scholars remind us that when a set of individuals are mentioned and only one is given a name, it is because we are to find ourselves entering the story and see ourselves as the missing person.  The Emmaus story allows us to see two friends, or perhaps a parent and a child, maybe even a husband and a wife.  The familiar aspect of them not just conversing but debating without leaving each other allows us to think of them as close, even before we later find that they share a home.

     Jesus is slowly revealed to them as he not only listens to their story, but as he opens and interprets Scripture.  He becomes fully manifest in the breaking of the bread which transforms the scene to a ‘first’ supper following the ‘last’ and ultimately reveals him in Eucharist. The Sacred Meal will bring these disciples together in awe of what they now understand, and having accomplished his Mission, our Lord disappears from their midst.  In turn, witah great joy the disciples return to 

Jerusalem to proclaim the Good News.

     “What are you discussing as you walk along?” “What sort of things?”  If Jesus were to manifest in person to us directly in our travels, how would we respond?  We are a people often conversing and debating but are they about the things that are truly important?  If we really believed that Jesus walks with us even when we do not recognize him in our midst, how would our conversations be elevated and how would our debates be nuanced?  This Easter season as we celebrate the resurrection and witness with the disciples the risen Lord, may we always remember that Jesus is present within us and in those we meet along the way.

     This weekend I will be celebrating, from a distance, my birthday with my twin brother.  The Emmaus story always reminds me that, from the very beginning of my life, I have been blessed to have a companion on my journey.  Now I also see my partners as the parishes I serve.  Ultimately, each of us is in communion with the one who is always by our side, our Lord Jesus Christ.  God bless you!  

Fr. George Fleming

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

we too might live in newness of life.    Romans 6.4

Christ is Risen!!!  Alleluia! 

I would like to begin my blog by thanking everyone for joining us and extend my deepfelt gratitude for everyone who worked so hard to make everything possible.  

The Scripture quote I chose to share this week is from the Epistle of The Easter Vigil.  These words are often used at funerals to remind us of the hope that Christians carry even in times of loss, darkness and despair.

The Light of Christ shines especially bright each Easter which reminds us that every day is blessed!  To proclaim that Christ is risen, and the tomb is empty means that we too will share in everlasting life and that the tombs of our existence will be cast away.  The hope of our Lord Jesus Christ will remind us of the love and peace which conquers everything, even death itself.

Easter is the time to let God release us from the tombs of despair, sin, fear, loneliness, anger and any kind of resentment.  The frustrations of this world cannot contain us once we are set free to appreciate the love of Christ which is illuminated at Easter.  Like Mary of Magdala, we come as we are and encounter Jesus in the gardens of our existence.  We may not at first recognize our Savior, but our Friend recognizes us with a familiarity that returns us to our innocence and reaffirms our openness to the grace before us.

As I get older, I sometimes feel the weight of the world on me more and more.  I understand my own limitations and am tempted to resent when things do not go in the direction that I believe the people deserve.  It is easy to get overwhelmed and overtired, wondering if it is worth the trouble.  That feeling disappears when I embrace Easter joy!

Easter returns us to the newness of life and the youthful hope and joy that comes with the knowledge that the best is yet to come, and anything is possible.  The possibilities become endless because life does not end and there are no limits to what we can achieve in Christ’s name.

As the proud pastor of both Corpus Christi and All Saints on the Hudson, my hope and prayer is that our churches retain that optimism and grace as we look toward our futures with joyful anticipation and unending hope.  May our faith encourage others to join us more regularly and know that they are never alone.  Our communities are always better for those who grace us with their presence and prayers.  Thank you, also, for your love and support!

May God bless all of you this Easter and may the Risen Lord raise your spirits!  Together, let us share in the joy of the Risen Lord!

A reading from the beginning of the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

and Sosthenes our brother,

to the church of God that is in Corinth,

to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus,

called to be holy,

with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.   (1 Corinthians 1-3)

    Our second reading today on the Second Sunday of Ordinary time captures the very beginning of a rich and complex essential portion of the Christian Scriptures. I always find it delightful and challenging to preach on Paul’s first letter to the people of Corinth as it is filled with an amazing subtext.  Corinth was quite diverse; it was one of the original melting pot civilizations with traders from all over the new world.  Ancient Greece had been destroyed by the Romans 400 years before the birth of Christ, only to begin to be rebuilt less than a hundred years before Paul wrote the letter.

     As you can imagine, the diversity of people often accentuated differences or, in some cases, blended cultures together. The early Christians in this area were often a hybrid of Jewish and Gentile and disputed how to form the community. When Paul exhorted that love was patient and kind, he knew full well that most were not loving in that manner, if at all. The powerful, challenging words to the people and culture of that time speak to us as eloquently and as critically today.

     This week we are celebrating “Christian Unity” in honor of Rev. Martin King. The dreams he shared continue to be ours.  We are painfully aware of the divisions not only between religions but also between those who share a faith in Jesus Christ. Our own Catholic Church is painfully divided, and we have been described as having as many differences across pews as we do across other denominations.

     This week let us answer the call of St. Paul and great leaders who remind us to set aside what divides us and truly unite. May we also inspire others by our example and remember the words to the riveting hymn, “Let them know we are Christians by our love!”  We must truly remember that love is patient, kind, open, compassionate and forgiving.  Let’s start right here at home so, as disciples, we can truly reach out to our community.

     I want to thank everyone for their example of cooperation and grace within and between the communities I serve.  I am truly blessed.  Please continue to pray for me as I will for you.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released prayer materials for this week. I am going to conclude with one of the beautiful prayers shared on behalf of all Christians.  In our own way, let us pray for all people, and may we continue to rely on our Lord Jesus Christ who will, through us, be a Light for all Nations. God bless you!

Compassionate God, help us repair the harm that we have 

inflicted upon each other

 and the divisions we have created among your people. 

Just as Christ Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto the disciples to birth 

the community of the new creation, 

send your grace to heal our divisions and gift us with the unity 

for which Jesus prayed.

Fr. George Fleming

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,

the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the Lord shines,

and over you appears his glory.         (Isaiah 60:1,2)

As I begin these words, I am still deeply touched by the generosity and support our communities have shared in the days leading up to and extending into the Christmas season.  I have had multiple parishes before, but I have never served this volume of people, nor have seen how much work has gone into preparing the two parishes which consist of four churches.  Please know of my appreciation and respect for all those who gave of themselves in a multitude of ways, serving the Lord and the communities.

With Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays, we lost the opportunity to celebrate on two great feasts on the Sundays when they are normally held.  The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was celebrated on Friday, December 30th and The Baptism of the Lord will be celebrated on Monday, January 9th.  It is important to realize that many of the themes of these two days are captured with the solemnity of Epiphany, which now is observed on the Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Family, although it was traditionally celebrated on January 6th, the twelfth day of Christmas.

Epiphany celebrates not only the Christmas Star over the manger that led the Magi to the place of Jesus’ birth, but the revelation of God to all nations, represented by these sojourners.   The beauty of Epiphany is that it represents all the epiphany “aha” moments in which a great idea is exposed and new wisdom is found.  I have likened the cartoons we grew up with as providing a wonderful example.  A character might have a flashing light bulb over their head which alerts the viewer that a solution to the problem has been called into mind.  Once in the mind, our wisdom points to our hearts and calls us into action.

Epiphany moments include the Baptism of the Lord, the turning of the water into wine, the Transfiguration of the Lord when the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ is revealed.  The manifestation of God becomes real and out of darkness, we begin to see the Light.

In light of our awareness of Jesus in our lives, we are called to think and live differently.  Most of all we are called to love with a new devotion and a responsibility knowing that as heirs, adopted children of God, we should act, and behave, and love accordingly.

We know that darkness continues to cover the earth, and many feel the weight of thick clouds over their heads but our faith reminds us that God does shine in the midst of this adversity.  We were created to give God glory and appear before others to share that light of divine love.  May God continue to be with you as we begin a new year. May our resolutions include the desire and resolve to spread the healing light of God’s love.  

God bless you!  May you have a truly blessed new year.

Rejoice in the Lord always! 

Again, I say, rejoice!

Indeed, the Lord is near!

                  Philippians 4:4-5

     This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday which takes its name from this passage from Paul’s letter that serves as the Entrance Antiphon. I confess that I have added the exclamation points to accentuate the idea that Paul was demanding the people to return to a sense of joy. It was in response to a community that was fraught with tension. He is pleading with the people to not be easily angered or to act foolishly out of spite. Several commentaries have described his motivation as being a heartfelt, yet deliberate plea for the early Christian communities to handle difficulties, disagreements and disappointments with maturity and grace. Christians are not to be seen as easily angered or foolish, but rather as reasonable, wise people who can handle difficulties and disagreements with maturity.

If you watched the irreverent comedy, Seinfeld, you may remember a famous episode which included a reference to a self-help mantra that was played for humorous effect. The character of George’s father screamed, “Serenity Now!” whenever he became angry, defying any concept that this would be calming.  I sometimes think that being told to “Rejoice!” when we are ‘not there yet,’ makes as much sense, at first glance anyway.

We may not be there yet, but there is still great wisdom in recapturing joy even when it sometimes evades us. Maintaining the joy-filled sense of faith and hope is represented by the pink or rose-colored candle that is a break from the penitential purple ones. This calls for a lightening of mood and a decision to actively pursue a healthier disposition.  Gaudete Sunday is taken from the Latin “Gaudete in Domino semper!” which in English is “Rejoice in the Lord always!” We may not always feel like rejoicing but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t, especially when we allow ourselves to rest in the Lord.

I remember the challenge of celebrating Gaudete Sunday during the first year of the pandemic when the lack of progress seemed so frustrating, and people were experiencing much suffering. Through it all, we were never alone. Out of love and compassion, the Lord rejoiced for us. Just as now, the turmoil we often feel will one day be replaced by a return to Paradise as our first reading from Isaiah describes so beautifully. The natural world will blossom and all things will be made right. This may be easier said than done, but as a people of faith it is not beyond our imagination. As Paul reminds us in the second reading, the secret is to be patient. Patience allows us to put our insecurities and fears on hold.

In the Gospel today, John the Baptizer is in prison and tragically appears to be losing faith. He sends his followers to Jesus to ask him if he is in fact the person they have been waiting for, the Messiah in Hebrew, the Christ in Greek. Jesus reminds him not only of all the signs pointing to Himself, but he also reminds John of his role in making all this possible. It is a beautiful moment and a reminder to all of us to encourage others by reminding them of how important they are and how special their role in our lives continues to be. There are many people who are our role models in this regard.

I was blessed for many years to help pastor a Spanish-speaking community, and I am thinking of them as we approach the Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday. They reminded me often of how to live my life. Despite all the fears, uncertainties, frustrations, and anxieties that could have burdened their lives, the community was filled with great joy, all because of their faith. This faith poured itself into maintaining hope and always magnifying love. May our Lady inspire all of us this Advent to follow her Son with that same faith, hope and love that brings rejoicing.    God bless you. ¡Dios te bendiga!

Rejoice in the Lord always! 

Again, I say, rejoice!

Indeed, the Lord is near!

                  Philippians 4:4-5

     This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday which takes its name from this passage from Paul’s letter that serves as the Entrance Antiphon. I confess that I have added the exclamation points to accentuate the idea that Paul was demanding the people to return to a sense of joy. It was in response to a community that was fraught with tension. He is pleading with the people to not be easily angered or to act foolishly out of spite. Several commentaries have described his motivation as being a heartfelt, yet deliberate plea for the early Christian communities to handle difficulties, disagreements and disappointments with maturity and grace. Christians are not to be seen as easily angered or foolish, but rather as reasonable, wise people who can handle difficulties and disagreements with maturity.

If you watched the irreverent comedy, Seinfeld, you may remember a famous episode which included a reference to a self-help mantra that was played for humorous effect. The character of George’s father screamed, “Serenity Now!” whenever he became angry, defying any concept that this would be calming.  I sometimes think that being told to “Rejoice!” when we are ‘not there yet,’ makes as much sense, at first glance anyway.

We may not be there yet, but there is still great wisdom in recapturing joy even when it sometimes evades us. Maintaining the joy-filled sense of faith and hope is represented by the pink or rose-colored candle that is a break from the penitential purple ones. This calls for a lightening of mood and a decision to actively pursue a healthier disposition.  Gaudete Sunday is taken from the Latin “Gaudete in Domino semper!” which in English is “Rejoice in the Lord always!” We may not always feel like rejoicing but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t, especially when we allow ourselves to rest in the Lord.

I remember the challenge of celebrating Gaudete Sunday during the first year of the pandemic when the lack of progress seemed so frustrating, and people were experiencing much suffering. Through it all, we were never alone. Out of love and compassion, the Lord rejoiced for us. Just as now, the turmoil we often feel will one day be replaced by a return to Paradise as our first reading from Isaiah describes so beautifully. The natural world will blossom and all things will be made right. This may be easier said than done, but as a people of faith it is not beyond our imagination. As Paul reminds us in the second reading, the secret is to be patient. Patience allows us to put our insecurities and fears on hold.

In the Gospel today, John the Baptizer is in prison and tragically appears to be losing faith. He sends his followers to Jesus to ask him if he is in fact the person they have been waiting for, the Messiah in Hebrew, the Christ in Greek. Jesus reminds him not only of all the signs pointing to Himself, but he also reminds John of his role in making all this possible. It is a beautiful moment and a reminder to all of us to encourage others by reminding them of how important they are and how special their role in our lives continues to be. There are many people who are our role models in this regard.

I was blessed for many years to help pastor a Spanish-speaking community, and I am thinking of them as we approach the Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday. They reminded me often of how to live my life. Despite all the fears, uncertainties, frustrations, and anxieties that could have burdened their lives, the community was filled with great joy, all because of their faith. This faith poured itself into maintaining hope and always magnifying love. May our Lady inspire all of us this Advent to follow her Son with that same faith, hope and love that brings rejoicing.    God bless you. ¡Dios te bendiga!

Brothers and sisters:

Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, 

that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures 

we might have hope.

May the God of endurance and encouragement 

grant you to think in harmony with one another, 

in keeping with Christ Jesus, 

that with one accord you may with one voice 

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15.4-6

Because of early publishing deadlines, my last blog was written a week before Thanksgiving.  News and discussion of the Diocese entering into mediation or bankruptcy in light of lawsuits stemming from clergy, religious and lay employee abuse allegations have opened old and new wounds.  We are horrified at the complexity of the issues given a new spotlight and, for many, our faith, at least in the institutional church, is shaken to its core.  

Having multiple parishes serving diverse communities of different generations makes it difficult for me to address what I am feeling let alone address what I imagine is going through your minds and affecting your hearts.  Please know that we are not alone in this and I am confident that we will endure while hopefully bring healing and grace in the aftermath of so much pain.

We feel confused, hurt, angry and betrayed.  We are also defensive to those who use this painful situation as a way of attacking our faith.  As a public figure, I want to defend the honor of those who I believe in but I am also overwhelmed by the realization that this very action will cause harm for those who have courageously come forward.  How do we deal with so much suffering?

St. Paul reminds in the midst of our turmoil to find rest for ourselves.  The extended passage with which we are gifted this weekend reminds us that we are to be faithful in times of trouble and turmoil, placing our trust in God.  Twice in the passage today he calls upon us to allow Scripture and our faith in God to help each other endure and encourage one another.  When our focus is firmly resting in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, harmony and accord are possible.  With one voice we have the courage and strength to move forward, glorifying God.

Twenty-nine years ago, I was assigned to a parish outside Baltimore, and after meeting the pastor and the staff I was looking forward to celebrating my ministry as a newly ordained deacon.  Weeks before I would formally begin, a thirty-year old allegation came forward against the pastor.  This rocked me to my core.  I questioned whether or not I was up to the task of comforting and bringing healing to parish so torn and in turmoil.  The seminary offered to reassign me.

By the blessing of God, I kept that assignment.  I journeyed with the people as they endured their own pain.  I also found families concerned about me, the state of my being, and the affect this might have on my vocation.  I was nurtured and loved.  I became the priest I am today because the people did not give up on me, their church, their community, or their God.

Everyone needs to find their own way to heal.  Some may take a break from us or participate in some way but hold back some of their support.  I am asking for your continued prayers.  If you can stick by us and make us stronger, please know that we need to rebuild the trust of so many before they might be open to us.  I know that we can build a community that will glorify God for years to come and instill in every generation what it means to be blessed by a Savior who saves us from ourselves.  We are better than we are at our worst and we are always blessed in spite of ourselves.

As a young man, I remember being struck by the comments of Arthur Miller in an interview about his famous work, “Death of a Salesman.”   I am paraphrasing but basically he said at the core of the play is the tragedy that happens when the son views his father for the first time with a public, harsh eye.  He sees his father in the sharp light of how the world judges him, not with the loving gaze for the man who has been his hero.

If it feels like our heroes have fallen, if it feels like the Church has fallen sharper, let us remind ourselves that from the ashes we will rise again.  The Church may have at times lost its way but it’s never lost its mission.  As they say, ultimately the Church does not have a mission, the Mission has a Church.  May we continue to be about the Mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.   In the meantime, let us pray for one another.  God bless you.

You might remember the song, “We need a little Christmas”.   I’m thinking we need a little Advent!  The readings at the close of our liturgical season remind us of the End Time.  This weekend’s Scripture passages are filled with foreboding images including “the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble”, when we will work ,”in toil and drudgery, night and day” and that’s just from the first two readings from Malachi and St. Paul to the Thessalonians!  The Gospel which follows predicts “wars and insurrections….(when) “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.   There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”  We may want to stock up on bottled water!

To be honest, I’m trying to be humorous because we should really get the truer message that is given in the broader context of these passages.   Ultimately, the Day of the Lord is not about punishment and destruction, but to God making all things right by restoring us.  Malachi concludes by saying that the sun of justice will come with healing rays and the Gospel of Luke reminds the faithful that they will escape all harm.  God brings salvation to the righteous. The second reading ( 2 Thes 3:7-12) has Paul admonishing some of the actions of the community while offering himself as a model.  “we wanted to be a model for you, so that you might imitate us.”

As your pastor, I aspire one day to be the kind of disciple that you might feel called to imitate.  For now, I am blessed by my parishioners whom I wish to emulate.  I can see how so many of our people are fulfilling the model Paul spoke of by offering themselves in service and prayer.  Both of our parishes are truly inspiring me and so many others in their journeys back to church and toward Jesus Christ.

Likewise, Corpus Christi did not only benefit financially from the hard-work and dedication of so many people on behalf of our Fall Festival, the event also helped build community and reached out beyond our own people.  I could see how these people were fulfilling that model Paul spoke of by offering themselves in service to others, collectively for the benefit of our parish, while being ‘Church’ to everyone who came -  with welcoming kindness and generosity of spirit. Thanks to all who organized, created, baked, cooked, grew, served, set up, cleaned up, worked, played, enjoyed, came & supported. Thanks to all who went home exhausted, but immediately began to dream of next year. 

In the coming weeks, we will be offering opportunities in the Advent and Christmas seasons for all of us to join together in a variety of ways.  Next weekend, we will be joining our network of parishes to address the mental health needs of our young and all who love them.  Please be on the look-out for the many ways in which we might serve you and the community better.  God bless you all.  Fr. George Fleming

May the Lord encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

Brothers and sisters:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement

and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and 

strengthen them in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2.16-17

In the midst of feeling pressures and anxieties as I write these words, I have to smile because I am remembering a much parodied movie and poster tagline from the fourth "Jaws" film, released thirty-five years ago, “This time, it’s personal.”   ("Jaws: The Revenge”).   The film had a ridiculous plot but the quote still makes me smile, especially during those times when my ministry, which means so much for me on a daily basis, takes on a personal dimension.  This usually happens when I am celebrating rituals with my own family, as I did recently.  It also happens when I am called in to serve close family friends.  This is where the stress comes in for me because I know I am going to be affected personally even as I hope to focus on the families in my priestly or ministerial role.

Next Saturday, November 12th, the parish family of All Saints on the Hudson will be hosting a funeral liturgy for Matthew Harrison, someone with strong ties to the community and the son of Mary Harrison and her late husband Mike.  I have been personal friends with the family for thirty years.  The Friday after that, we are joining our network of parishes in order to host the Baltimore-based band, “Big Infinite” at St. Edward’s.   Combining music, witness talks, and interactive participation, the band members will address the anxieties and mental health concerns of our youth, their family, their friends, and all concerned.  I am friends with all members of the group and am particularly close to the extended family of Jordan Lally, the lead singer who began this initiative in honor and memory of his father, Ed Lally.  I was ‘adopted’ by the Lallys in 1993.  I look forward to parish families joining me in their support.

Our All Souls Liturgy, following our special connection with the communion of All Saints, gives us an opportunity to pray for, and with, those whose prayers rest on us.  The first and second readings today are not afraid to address death as a consequence of life, but they also allude in Maccabees and reveal in Luke’s Gospel, our final destination home by way of the Resurrection.  Sentimental journeys, remembering those who were a part of our past, become sacramental moments when we realize that they are still present to us.

As I said earlier, I am naturally nervous about serving people I care for so much in light of my own emotional involvement.  However, I am far from hopeless because as Paul’s letter reminds us, we are encouraged by the same people we wish to serve. We are strengthened by the prayers which join us here and envelop us with love from beyond this world.  Those who now share in everlasting light, happiness and peace also share everlasting encouragement and hope to strengthen us in our words and deeds through God’s grace.

My blog, this time, was personal. I hope you can relate to those in your own life that inspire you and lift you up even in times of difficulty and loss.  We truly will gain an everlasting life with those we love and who continue to love us.  God bless you! Fr. George Fleming

Beloved:

I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.   (2 Tim 4:6-8)

     The beginning of this week’s Second Reading is one of my favorites and I am particularly touched to hear these words proclaimed at funerals even though the Lectionary does not designate this as one of its primary choices.  The Scripture is often chosen regardless in much the same way that passage from Ecclesiastes is selected which begins, “For everything there is a season…” (Eccles. 3:1a) 

Things are in full swing as we continue into the fall season with many opportunities for us to come together and support each other on our faith journey.  We are competing, not against each other but in defiance of the distractions and negativity that can slow us down and misdirect our efforts.  As disciples, we look to the day when we can truly say we have finished the race and kept the faith.  Prayer is a way for us to slow down and replenish so we can move forward.

The crown of righteousness awaits all of us but not in the self-righteous sense demonstrated by the Pharisee in this week’s Gospel which continues a theme.  Last week we were reminded out the need to be persistent in prayer, to pray communally with and for each other, and to do so with conviction and intent.  This week we continue the reflection by Jesus presenting the correct disposition or attitude in which we are to pray.  The Pharisee loudly proclaims his prayers assuming he will impress others with his holiness.  The tax collector comes forward with humility and even a sense of shame, begging God to have pity on him.  

Paul’s confidence in his letter to Timothy is different from the arrogance of the Pharisee precisely because he will ultimately give the glory to God.  The sinful one will be exalted because of his humility and openness to the mercy and love God offers.  The Pharisee will ultimately be humbled by his lack of openness and his self-centered attitude of correctness.

In our complicated world, I am asking that all of us continue to humbly pray for one another and in a special way for all of us in the Diocese of Albany.  We are moving forward to address concerns in light of revelations of our options and abilities to make amends to victims.   May our prayer plead for ways of justice and mercy in such a way that all lives will turn toward hope and healing for all.  The race isn’t finished, let us continue with humility and with confidence in God, may we always keep the faith.  

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

Beloved: 

Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, 

because you know from whom you learned it, 

and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, 

which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation 

through faith in Christ Jesus.  2 Timothy 3.15 

The opening lines of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, the younger disciple he mentored and the receiver of messages now shared with us, reminds me of the beautiful song by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, “Teach your Children” which begins, “You, who are on the road, Must have a code that you can live by…”  The powerful message of the song is that wisdom is meant to be shared from parents to children and conversely from children to parents.  The insights are not about facts but they are about truths and revelations which transcend knowledge and point to the biblical and classical understandings of wisdom. 

Somewhere along the way, and to some degree or another, we all have experienced losing faith.  We may have struggled with our faith in God but similarly we often have periods when we lose faith in ourselves and in one another.  Our hopes and dreams are clouded by fears and anxieties.  Instead of being raised up to meet each challenge, we struggle with depression.  These moments may be fleeting but they might sometimes linger, even to the point of being life-threatening. 

For our young people there are many reasons for the struggles they are feeling that might, for instance be the result of some underlying medical issue, bullying or some level of abuse.  As a church, all too often, we have not addressed these issues and concerns in the loving compassionate way as we are called to do so by our faith in Christ Jesus.  Next month, we are going to do something about it. 

On the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 18th and 19th, Corpus Christi and All Saints on the Hudson are joining St. Mary’s in Crescent and St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park for a special event which will address the needs of those struggling with self-esteem, anxiety and depression.  On Friday night our focus with be on our young.  We are having a live concert by a well-established band from the Baltimore area, “Big Infinite.”   When lead singer Jordan Lally lost his own father to suicide, he learned that he needed to address his own struggles with anxiety and depression.  This awakening was shared by his bandmates and together they moved in a new direction.  With powerful words and uplifting music, they are hoping to inspire others on their own journeys towards mental, emotional and spiritual wellness. www.thebiginfinite.com/ 

Saturday, the band will be participating in a retreat that our parishes are offering that will look at mental health issues within our families and seek ways of finding healing and salvation for all affected.  More information on this and the concert the night before will be available and online very soon.  

Won’t you join me?  I have been friends with Jordan’s parents for nearly thirty years since I served as a deacon at their church in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  Over the years my connection to them, Jordan and his sisters has only gotten stronger.   I have been there for every wedding, baptism and funeral.   At every step of the road, I have been their priest and they have been my family.  Please join us for part of this incredible journey.   

God bless you! 

Fr. George Fleming 

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matt 11:28-30)

In his recent pastoral letter, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, invites members of the Diocese of Albany to participate in “Hope and Healing Masses” which are being arranged throughout the Diocese.  The first one will be in our Vicariate which comprises all the parishes in Southern Saratoga and Schenectady Counties.  The Bishop will preside at the 10:30 am liturgy at St. Gabriel the Archangel on Sunday, October 23, 2022. His representative Frederick Jones, the Diocesan Assistance Coordinator, will also be available afterwards to talk with anyone wishing to do so.  Mr. Jones can be reached by email at: assistance.coordinator@rcda.org 

I am grateful that the Bishop addresses and does not shy away from the issue of abuse by clergy, as well as recognizing the struggles of people amid many forms of suffering today and he approaches those traumatic events of life with sensitivity, compassion and desire for healing.  As a church, we are trying to take responsibility for what was done, and what we have failed to do, for survivors of every kind.  We realize even through taking these steps - seeking the good, episodes can be triggered that may continue to cause pain to the vulnerable.  So with the considered input of those affected most, we humbly strive to serve as part of the healing process. Within this, our most sacred Sacrament of the Mass, we accept Christ’s invitation to yoke ourselves to him, our redeemer and savior to ask his guidance to lead us together from this place of brokenness and isolation through reconciliation, healing, and communion, toward a place of freedom, and rest, and wholeness.

I am hoping that representatives from All Saints on the Hudson and Corpus Christi might attend the liturgy at St. Gabriel’s or one of the other six that will be scheduled soon.  Perhaps we can join the churches of our network and find ways to address these delicate topics in healthy ways.  Thank you for your own concern for our brothers and sisters.

Our Gospel this week tells the story of ten lepers who are shunned to live in isolation and shame.  Together, they have the courage to cry out to the Lord for healing.  As they are following the directions for a remedy, they are healed in a miraculous way.  We know the outcome of the one Samaritan because he returns to give thanks to the Lord.  His gratefulness reminds us that our response to our loving God should be one of thanksgiving, especially when we experience the healing power of the Sacraments to transform our lives.  

 Please know as I run from place to place, I nevertheless never cease to be grateful for all of you.  Thank you for your support and the many ways you inspire me in the healing process.  

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

Why do you let me see ruin;

why must I look at misery?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and clamorous discord.

    Habakkuk 1.3

There is a part of my warped sense of humor that sees these verses as describing the moving process and what I have been witnessing during my move from the rectory in Clifton Park to the rectory in Stillwater. As I write these words, there are still a few boxes in the basement but thankfully the rest of the living spaces are clear of what appeared to be chaos and debris just days earlier.

I wonder why I hang on to so much ‘stuff’. I don’t feel I have too many ‘things’ as much as too much stuff. My drawers are filled with mementos from the last nearly thirty years of my priesthood and many objects that I also identify with my parents. As I went through things of little material value, I once more began to remember who gave them to me or the special memories associated with each. I was so struck by these memories and my heart yearned to remember what it was like to be in the company of these people who have since passed who loved and cared for me so. I know all of us can relate to letting go in times of moves, and all of us know the bittersweet toll of reminiscing especially when pressured for time and a seemingly unfathomable need to downsize.

In actuality, the prophet Habakkuk was voicing his dismay during the painful, chaotic move from one period to another, ultimately heading into the Babylonian exile. These feelings resonate for us today as well, where we may fear for the future on an international and global level, as well as a personal one. It is natural that we might be filled with a sense of uncertainty and doubt. The prophet is boldly addressing the situation but expresses God’s desire that we not lose heart. The Gospel message speaks to us today as much as it did when it was written. We are being asked to support one another, especially during such times of doubt and uncertainty. Our faith may appear small but it will grow as we assist each other. The analogy in today’s Gospel centered on the mustard seed reminds us that something so small grows into one of the largest plants. We, too, broaden and grow when we join together as a community.

My hope for our parishes is that we will continue to encourage each other’s faith and collectively seek communion as a Eucharistic people. Ultimately, we know that the pillars of our community that inspire us with their faithful service will continue to do so.

As we are entering a new season of growth within our parishes, I would like to thank everyone for truly coming together to encourage our growth. In the coming weeks I look forward to continuing to talk about specific ministries and opportunities for us to promote this growth. There have been so many wonderful events and gatherings recently that have brought such joy to me. I hope to elaborate my thanks and the inspiration I have received from you all.

When I see you I do not see ruin…I see beauty, I do not see misery…I see joy. Before me, I witness workers constructing new ways of peace. Instead of strife, I see a harmonious accord. God bless you all, especially those who helped me in the move. They have truly earned their way to heaven and into my heart.

Now it’s time to unpack.

Fr. George Fleming

But you, child of God, pursue righteousness,

devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

Compete well for the faith.

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called.

    1 Timothy 6.11-12a

The first verses of our second reading this week from Paul’s first letter to Timothy prepare us well for the Gospel story of ‘The Rich Man and Lazarus.’ As every commentary points out, this is not ‘that Lazarus’ friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha. This is another person, who may or may not have actually existed but lives on in a parable which makes a startling point. This Lazarus is a poor beggar, a homeless person who we would have expected to be nameless. In contrast, it is the wealthy man of means who is left without a name.

There are no indications that the rich man pursued righteousness or the qualities of a good, compassionate life that describes one who is truly a person of God. It is interesting that he noticed the poor man named Lazarus even as he ignored him during their lives. Now in death, Lazarus is with Father Abraham in anticipation of what we would understand after the Resurrection as heaven and the man of means is left without, subjected to what we would understand as hell. Here, the rich man becomes the beggar, and the tables are completely turned as he cries out to Lazarus for help. Father Abraham explains this is no longer possible and we are challenged to mend our lives before it is too late.

In my wild imagination, totally unsubstantiated by anything, especially since they are accounted in two separate Gospels, I like to think that Jesus chose the name of Lazarus after his own friend who was obviously wealthy. Perhaps Jesus was aware that the end was near for him and wanted him to reflect on his own ways. In this way, I see this as not a story of judgement but of compassion.

We too are being asked to mend our lives as best as we can not only for our own sakes but for the sake of the least among us. In most cases, when Jesus did not give a name in the parables he shared it was so that we would give our own and identify with that person. We are called into ways of service and charity. Ultimately however, all this rests on our competing well for the faith by loving God and our neighbor as ourselves.

Corpus Christi is having a large Ministry Fair this weekend to promote the various opportunities people have to minister and volunteer in all aspects of parish life, including social outreach to those needing special love and attention. All Saints on the Hudson is also looking at ways to revitalize some of the ministries and committees that have served the community as well. Together, both parishes are looking at complementing our faith formation initiatives so that, among other goals, we are able to cooperate more fully in our service to the greater community.

We are all trying to meet the needs of our people now that the more difficult aspects of the pandemic appear behind us. We need a spiritual jumpstart which requires renewed devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness as we begin anew. It is with great excitement that our two parishes along with our network of St. Mary’s Crescent and St. Edward’s have so many great events planned to try to help rejuvenate our communities. Please join me on October 1st for the Blessing of the Animals at Corpus Christi and on October 4th for the Anointing of the Sick service at St. Mary’s Crescent. October 11th, 18th, and 25th our parish network will be holding discussion series surrounding Critical Decisions in Health Care & End of Life Issues. We also have our Corpus Christi Fall Evangelization Retreat on October 22nd and the Corpus Christi Fall Festival on November 5th and 6th.   More information regarding all of these events is in the bulletin. The thought of our communities coming back to life brings such joy and I would just ask for you to please continue to reignite us with your prayers and support. My hope and prayer is that we will continue to work and pray together as a family where everyone knows each other’s’ names and everyone is warmly welcomed at the Table of our Lord.

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

A Prayer for Catechists

Loving God, we thank you for the gifts of catechists who have answered your call to discipleship in our parish presently, in the future, and in our rich past. We pray that they will be blessed for the good works they achieve in spreading the Good News and sharing the Faith with people of all ages. 

May we be attentive to the presence of your Word in them, a Word that lifts up and affirms, calls forth and challenges, is compassionate and consoles. We pray that our parish family will always be blessed with those who have responded to the call to share in Christ’s prophetic mission as catechists.

In preparation for my blog this week, I adapted and quoted parts of a prayer that was published in 2010 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops promoting Catechetical Sunday. This year our Church promotes the Year of the Eucharist with a powerful theme, “This is My Body Given for you.” In the past, we have used a Scriptural verse for our theme, this year we have a quote attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ that centers the Consecration in our Eucharistic Prayer.

The Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday as a way to recognize the many people representing the Body of Christ in a special ministry that is critical in promoting the faith development and enhancement of women and men of all ages.  The dictionary defines the catechist as someone who, “instructs systematically, especially by questions, answers, and explanations and corrections” but we know that this is a just a small part of the role. Catechists introduce a deeper level of God’s love for each and every one of us while providing and encouraging a means to answer our baptismal call. This is all about relationship.

In ‘Joy of the Gospel’, Pope Francis wrote, “I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, rising up, healing and freeing.” Catechists inspire others to live out and articulate this mission with understanding, thanksgiving and love.

I believe that Joyce Solimini wrote these words for a digital newsletter shortly before retiring from the Office of Lay Ministry and Parish Faith Formation in the Diocese of Albany: “Catechetical Sunday reminds us that the ‘Vocation of the Catechist’ is a special gift to the Church. It is so much more than being a volunteer. Like all vocations in the Church, it needs to be nurtured with care. As catechetical/ youth ministry leaders, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to provide such opportunities for catechist enrichment.”

We are blessed that Joyce is going to be sharing words of wisdom, guidance and support at a special evening for all the Catechists of All Saints on the Hudson and Corpus Christi on Monday, September 26th from 6:30-7:30pm. This event is hosted by both our parishes at the Corpus Christi Parish Center. We welcome all women and men who are or might consider becoming a catechist or are interested in discovering ways to share this faith with their own loved ones, to join us. You are welcome to bring friends and family from other parishes who might be interested in learning and sharing as well!

You will be hearing more soon about our plans for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry which will be unique to the different parishes but complimentary. I am so proud of our parish leadership representing our churches, particularly those concerned with Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, who are working with and inspiring each other. Stay tuned and stay alert to the Holy Spirit calling you to live out your own call. God bless you!

Beloved:

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,

because he considered me trustworthy

in appointing me to the ministry.

In my blog this week, I am relating to St. Paul totally out of context! That said, let’s make it about me. I was struck by the opening words of what we share as the second reading this week from his letter to Timothy. As I reflect on my six months as pastor of All Saints on the Hudson and my eighteen months as pastor of Corpus Christi, these words take on a special tone for me. First off, I think of you all as my beloved. As overwhelmed as I am with the work of ministry, and the fact I’m torn in multiple directions, I love the people I serve, especially those whom I serve with. Secondly, I know that I am able and trustworthy because I have been strengthened by your support and prayers.

As I write this on Labor Day, I am struck by how different things are for me now than in recent years. I’m aware that my previous Labor Day weekends, packed full with visits to the Schaghticoke Fair and the Columbia County Fair in Chatham, as well as involvement at the Mac-Haydn Theatre were absent from this year’s routine.  Instead, I was very much involved in the final stages of my move from the rectory leased by Corpus Christi to my new home in Stillwater. Today has been a day of work, catching up and preparing for the days ahead.

Most priests I know, including myself, get caught up in the trials and tribulations of their ministry and forget how blessed we are to serve. I’m feeling a little fried but I’m also feeling pretty special and free. The support I have received strengthens me in so many ways, and I am truly grateful for all of you who do so much in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we begin a new season, the unofficial start of the fall, let us use this time to begin anew. I am looking forward to strengthening or reestablishing the Pastoral Councils of both Corpus Christi and All Saints on the Hudson. Together we can look to the future with grace and conviction.

I want to especially express my compassion and true empathy for those who feel truly overwhelmed. My hopes to get away were recently dashed by the amount of pressure I have felt to get things in order. I know so many of our people exist in frenetic lives, doing their best to get by and get beyond the bare minimum. I feel that way often and hope that you don’t feel shortchanged. Gratefully, I have the support of staff, parish leadership, ministers and volunteers to keep me grounded yet ever reaching.

In the coming months, with your support, we want every voice to be heard and every concern to be addressed. This will only happen with patience, respect and the outpouring of people who will step up. May the power of God’s goodness toward us all continue to inspire the best in us. 

On a final note, the number 21 conjures up so many different meanings. This year, on September 11th, we are remembering the twenty-first commemoration of the horrific actions that occurred on September 11, 2001. May our loving God continue to pray for all the victims of that day, including those who lost someone special.

God bless you all!

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’

Luke 14.26-30

One of the most beautiful prayers of commendation for those who have died is simply, “May they rest from their labors for their good works go with them.” This passage from Luke is at the center of our Gospel this week and is so appropriate for Labor Day. Jesus is arguing his point through an allegory related to the process of construction. We see that it is crucial to calculate the cost beforehand in order to see if there are enough resources to meet the expense. Similarly, we need to calculate the cost of discipleship by acknowledging the cross we are expected to carry. It is not merely that the benefits outweigh the expense, which as Christians we understand, but fundamentally we must begin with the resources we need to bring about the desired outcome.

As the summer winds down for many, both parishes are looking into ways in which we can help build up the spiritual resources in the lives of our people. In the weeks ahead, we will be sharing with you what the community can do on behalf of our youth and young adults as well as people of all ages. It is important to not only provide them the foundation on which they will build but we want to also capitalize on their interests and concerns, gifts and talents as well. The foundation of comprehensive youth ministry is fundamentally comprehensive, intergenerational, and inclusive of all aspects of parish life. We hope to build and expand many of our ministries, especially those which have been dormant in recent years due to the pandemic and other issues. We cannot do this alone but are hoping to construct our future on the solid foundation laid before us by the men and women who built our parishes. On their success, we want to go higher and higher.

I would like to use this weekend to thank everyone who labors on behalf of our church communities. The hard work and dedication of our people has impacted my own faith and commitment to serve you. I want to also thank you for your generosity of resources that allow us to continue in the spirit of discipleship. Our parishes and the Diocese of Albany continue to aspire the completion of the work of our ancestors, knowing we will not finish in this world. Ultimately, we cannot do this alone and must work together for the sake of the Kingdom.

I haven’t thanked others whose example buoys us upward and onward: those who serve our country, the first responders, and those who put themselves at risk for our safety, health and wellbeing. We also want to thank those who sacrifice on behalf of the communities they serve. We are truly blessed to have so many examples of service to emulate.

As we are called to be generous in our resources, we know that our greatest resource is the prayer we share. Please pray for us and know that I will continue to pray for you. May all who labor not necessarily grow weary but feel what it means to be awoken by God.

God bless you! Happy Labor Day

.

Fr. George Fleming

Humble yourself and you will find favor with God.

My child, conduct your affairs with humility,

and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,

and you will find favor with God.

What is too sublime for you, seek not,

into things beyond your strength search not.

The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,

and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise.

Water quenches a flaming fire,

and alms atone for sins.

  Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

When I began thinking of my blog this week, I wanted to address, from my own perspective, how we hope to address the needs of our youth in both parishes. We are looking at ways in which we can expand our offerings, especially for the teenagers, and allow them to enhance their own gifts and talents on behalf of our community.

When thinking and praying about our young people, I was struck when I began looking at this weekend’s readings and particularly the first one from the Book of Sirach, which I have included in its entirety. The Book of Sirach is a fascinating, beautiful collection of wisdom and poetry which is included in our Catholic Bible but not seen as part of the canon of Hebrew Scriptures. That is because it was a later addition to the tradition and we are told it was written from the perspective of Jewish people settling into Greek culture just a couple of hundred years before the birth of Christ. It lovingly entices the Jewish readers to hold on to their values and traditions in the midst of a different, often contrary, culture.

We are living in an extremely polarizing and challenging culture of our own, no matter what our personal perspective may be. This is particularly difficult for our youth who are torn in so many directions. The verses of Sirach hold beautiful advice; to be humble does not mean we lose our self-esteem, it actually means to root ourselves in humility before God, recognizing how valued we are as a child of God. It is a wonderful reminder for our youth but it speaks to all of us.

If you look closely at the last four lines, it explains where humility is best expressed. It is rooted in having an attentive ear and the wisdom of the group, not just our own presumptions. To address our youth’s needs we pledge to listen to them, directly and empathetically, adapting how we are serving them accordingly. We will appreciate their own proverbs and link them to our own.  This is an important step in order to open our hearts and minds on behalf of the entire community.

Please be assured that I am joined by parish leaders who are looking forward while aspiring to be worthy of our call as disciples. Watch for more information about our youth and for all aspects of our parish life in this bulletin and in the coming weeks.

As we approach the final weeks of summer, please know of my prayers for all our families.

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13.29,30

Our Gospel this week ponders the question of who will be saved. At its center, we have a stark image of a narrow door at which the master of the house responds with suspicion on the other side to those who knock. It implies that the homeowner doesn’t know the potential guest and we are reminded that it is important for us to introduce ourselves while there is still time. If recognized, we will be warmly welcomed; if not, watch out!

The closing words cited above, however, take a turn and appear that God’s welcome will be for many, not few, and the invitation will go out to all peoples, urging them to come forward and knock with confidence and hopeful anticipation. The expected order of the guests may be reversed but the table is large enough for everyone to be seated.

Last weekend, I was so blessed to be a part of the restored and renewed Festival in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. The Festa has a rich tradition in the city of Mechanicville and its roots in the Italian Community have blessed the extended family of our community. I was so amazed at the hard work and dedication that so many people gave of themselves, carrying on the legacy of Assumption Church and welcoming people far and wide.

I was so grateful to the people of Corpus Christi for responding to my invitation on behalf of our sister parish. I felt so proud to see dozens of families who normally worship in Round Lake come to enjoy everything offered, including the amazing choices of food and beverage. I felt like I was witnessing a bit of the kingdom with a sense of diverse unity coming together in the spirit of friendship and family, in the spirit of “Mangia!”

To the people of All Saints on the Hudson, I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me into your lives as your pastor. To see new friends from the Isaac Jogues Mission Church, St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s join us each evening, along with the return of so many, made me think of large family reunions where people “come from the east and the west and from the north and the south.” As I reclined at the St. Peter’s rectory Friday and Saturday night, I reflected on how far you have come and how much healing has taken place in the community. I also saw myself praying for the families that have gone before us. Several young adults connected with me over the course of those days and spoke about volunteering to honor their grandparents whose own grandparents were leaders of the Festa generations ago. How proud I was of them and how proud are they who have gone before us, now enjoying the heavenly banquet in the kingdom of God.

We were unable to have fireworks, but we had plentiful lights in the sky, shining above and lighting a spark in our hearts. The Festa is in honor of the Blessed Mother and I felt her smile upon us last weekend. May a mother’s love always unite as one and may we share together the blessings of her Son. 

God bless you!

Fr. George Fleming

Brothers and sisters:

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us

and persevere in running the race that lies before us

while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,

the leader and perfecter of faith.   Hebrews 12.1,2a

The readings this weekend remind us that sometimes we will be ridiculed for our beliefs and belittled for our values.  It is not always easy to not feel resentment for this but there are many ways in which we are humbled and realize that this is a small price to pay for the blessings we share as brothers and sisters.  We are called to keep all things in perspective and see this in relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ.  The cloud of witnesses might be seen as the women and men who have gone before us, but they could also mean the people who are right before us. 

We are blessed to host Father Kilian Tereba as part of our annual Missions Appeal which gives us the opportunity to join all the parishes of our diocese and learn about what the Church is doing throughout the world in Jesus’ name.  We are not only helping those in need, but we are journeying with them, surrounded by a renewed empathy and understanding.  Please be as generous as possible but more importantly, listen carefully in order to pray more intentionally. 

The Bishop, following his visit here two weeks ago, has sent us a poignant letter reminding us to also opens our hearts and minds to the survivors of sexual abuse.  I encourage you to read about what we are trying to do to address these and other concerns.  More information is shared in the Evangelist and online at rcda.org.  Please do not be hesitant to challenge us so justice and mercy may meet.  May the sins and burdens of our world lessen by the grace of God and the commitment to do what is right.

I want to thank you all for your support of our parish, the community at large, and our global family.  You inspire me more than you can imagine, and I want to let you know you are always in my thoughts and prayers.  Please keep me in yours.  Let’s continue to run the race together.

On a lighter note, please join me at the All Saints Festa Celebration on Friday and Saturday of this weekend.  I will be having my own Listening Booth!   If you are reading this bulletin after Sunday, please know that we hope to have social and prayer opportunities at both parishes soon.  These events give me the opportunity to know whom I’m running with and spend some quality time in the relay!

Fr. George Fleming

Look to your covenant, O Lord,

and forget not the life of your poor ones for ever.

Arise, O God, and defend your cause,

and forget not the cries of those who seek you.

  (Psalm 74 (73):20,19,22,23)

If you follow the readings online or have a Missal, you’ll notice that each liturgy has an Entrance Antiphon which sets the stage for the Mass. Usually it is a portion of a psalm that was selected to highlight the themes of the Scripture and often it sheds light on a particular feast or solemnity. You may not always be aware of these passages that are read or preferably sung because we substitute an opening hymn which serves a similar purpose.

The Entrance Antiphon for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time strikes me in light of what occurred at Corpus Christi last weekend. Members of both Corpus Christi and All Saints may have heard announcements or saw the news that the Bishop joined us in signs of compassion and humility in light of the Church’s role in cases of abuse and neglect. He was responding to a particular victim but made it clear that he is open to all and not afraid to confront or address the issue.

My admiration for Bishop Ed grew even stronger as he helped others defend themselves and their cause while at the same time did not forget the cries who sought him. I believe he truly walked in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ and allowed himself to be vulnerable as he remembered those whose lives have been affected forever. I hope that the Covenant of our God was made stronger in our midst as we attempted to bring healing love to those who were present. My exchanges with the many people present made an impact in my life and enhanced my prayer. May we continue to prayer for one another, especially those who have been hurt or are vulnerable. God bless you.

Last weekend All Saints on the Hudson hosted Peg Vámosy, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner serving El Salvador and next week Corpus Christi will be hosting Rev. Kilian C Tereba, a bona fidei priest of the Diocese of Kigoma in Tanzania. We are blessed to participate in each of these Annual Missions Appeals as it not only gives us the opportunity to be generous stewards but it reminds us of the work being done in the name of the church.

If you are looking for me next weekend, I will be spending my evenings in Mechanicville after formally moving into the Stillwater Rectory. I will be circulating and having a booth at the All Saints Festival, lovingly known as the Assumption Festa which will provide food, entertainment, games and prizes. Please join me and get to know your neighbors, including me! God bless you everyone and I want to especially thank everyone who has been working so hard to bring the community together.

Let us continue to break bread together….Mangia!

Fr. George Fleming

In those days, the Lord said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great,

and their sin so grave,

that I must go down and see whether or not their actions

fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me.

I mean to find out.”

Genesis 18:20-21

This is not an easy blog for me to write. I begin my week looking at the upcoming Sunday Scripture passages as a springboard for inspiration and ideas about what I would like to address. This week, I was struck by the opening lines of our First Reading and I was challenged to address what I have not been addressing, the outcries we have heard directed toward our Church and other institutions dear to us, including our country.

I am not, by nature, a person of strong opinions and I despise talking politics. As our world has become increasingly polarized, I find myself in conflict with several sides of the same issue and question if I am as dogmatic as I should be given my position. I also wonder if giving an appearance of being unbiased is better than distracting or turning people away from their relationship with God. As Roman Catholics we have a long tradition of both a strong Moral Theology and a progressive Social Teaching which complement and balance the ideals we espouse. I have become even more proud to be Roman Catholic as I look at the pastoral response of Pope Francis and other women and men in church leadership, including our own Bishop. As Jesus challenged the Sadducees and Pharisees, we are always challenging ourselves to ensure that any burdens of the laws we place are lightened by our loving response and compassion.

In light of my role as a Roman Catholic and a priest, I am also humbled and scandalized by harmful, sinful actions that have been made by those representing our Church. As someone who has been dealing with the issues we have recently seen promulgated in the news for over thirty years, I have reached a tenuous state of acceptance that most leaders are doing what they can to bring healing to victims as well as all who have been affected by abuse or other scandals resurfacing in the church. Our own Fr. Matthew Duclos is on his 2nd year of a 2 year program for his Licentiate in Safeguarding in Rome. Safeguarding is a term used widely in Europe which details measures that protect people — especially children, young people and vulnerable adults — from abuse and harm. He will be the first American to go through the world-renowned program for the license. Please know like you, I too am wounded to my heart when I think of those who have been traumatized. I also know that we, as a community, are trying to reconcile and bring healing to all of those who feel hurt, alienated or disenfranchised in any way.

I continue to pray for all those who feel distanced from our church. I know some are dealing with this by turning away from the church and my hope and prayer is that as a community we will encourage them to turn back when the time is right. It is time for us to make amends and cleanse ourselves in order to help facilitate this. We must be a church where justice and mercy meet, especially on behalf of the most vulnerable.

In a liturgy with family members of all ages, I will continue to struggle with how to address major issues in a brief and pastoral way. I am willing to address these concerns with individuals or small groups. I also am not confident in my own skills to communicate effectively without causing more harm, which is why the diocese makes available professionally trained experts. The Consultation Center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is a mental health center which provides therapeutic services within a Christian environment, respecting the unity of body, mind and spirit. You can reach the Consultation Center at (518) 489-4431.

Please know that the same things that distress you, also keep me awake at night. Let us continue to pray together for a better future and dream for a better tomorrow. God bless you. God bless America. God bless our Church. God bless all of God’s children.

Fr. George Fleming

*****   The Diocese of Albany would like to make sure all victims/ survivors, including those who have not filed NYS Child Victims Act lawsuits, are aware that there is help available on the path forward. That includes mental and spiritual healing. To learn more, contact Assistance Coordinator Frederick Jones at (518) 453-6646 or by email at assistance.coordinator@rcda.org.

Jesus entered a village

where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary

who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,

“Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?

Tell her to help me.”

The Lord said to her in reply,

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

There is need of only one thing.

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.”

Luke 10.38-42

  Our Gospel this week is one that is often interpreted quite differently from people with different points of view and personalities.  As a young child, I remember hearing my mother complaining when this passage was proclaimed at Sunday Mass.  It’s the only time I ever heard her dispute Jesus!   “Why is He letting Mary get off the hook?  She should get up and start helping.  It’s not fair!”

  Early on in our household, and especially when the extended family came for Sunday dinner, my mom was the one usually stuck in the kitchen and serving others.  I know how much she identified with Martha and saw some of us and our guests and the ‘Mary’s.   Often she did this lovingly and often out of a sense of ownership and delight in getting things prepared and served.  As time went on, however, she delegated more and more.  My brother and I would become the servers and the clean-up crew when it was her time to relax.

  As my mother matured, she found a balance and made sure that others did their share.  I wish I could talk to her face-to-face as I have loved this passage and meditate how she would be reflecting on this now that she is serving and being served in heaven. 

  The secret for us as a community that often is composed by male and female Mary’s and Martha’s is that it’s important to strike a balance, to find time to serve and time to be present in prayer and in communion with God and our neighbor.  Jesus never says that Mary is right and Martha is wrong nor does he say the opposite.  Both roles are important and two different parts of the same whole. Better yet wouldn’t it be wonderful to blend both parts integrating our service in prayerful reflection.   There is ‘only one thing’ needed to be a true disciple and that contains both parts.

God bless you all.

Fr. George Fleming

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,

“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?

How do you read it?”

He said in reply,

You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart, with all your being,

with all your strength,

and with all your mind,

and your neighbor as yourself.”

He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;

do this and you will live.”

Luke 10.25-28

The Gospel this week reminds us of the Golden Rule which is reflected in most religions and is essentially that we should treat others as we would wish to be treated. Jesus takes this much further and challenges us not only to treat each other justly but to love our neighbor as ourselves and ultimately love the Lord, our God, completely, with every aspect of our being. The response of the scholar of the law is to ask “Who is my neighbor?” and I’ve been asking myself that question in recent days.

As most of you know, I’m moving residences from the rectory that belongs to St. Edward the Confessor to the rectory serving All Saints on the Hudson in Stillwater. I’m excited to join the neighborhood of one of my churches and look forward to connecting more fully with the communities I serve. Obviously, however, I’m filled with anxiety as I begin to pack and pare down some of my belongings before the move.

There is a bittersweet feeling of leaving a place where I have felt so comfortable and I will miss the area I often walked, (but, let’s face it, I mostly drove!). Monday evening, in particular, I enjoyed strolling through the neighborhood, past the school grounds and into the Commons to enjoy the 4th of July festivities. The crowds were huge and I strained to recognize people I knew. I thought, are these my neighbors? Who are my neighbors?

I was accompanied by one of our summer seminarians, Bobby Sandagan, someone I barely knew a month ago. His companionship brought delight as he marveled at his first exposure to the way Americans celebrate July 4th and he experienced fireworks for the first time in this country. His enthusiasm was infectious.

Bobby and Adam Feisthamel, along with the seminarians that join parishes every year, are part of a long line of shared experiences in which someone preparing for the priesthood encounters new neighbors in a dynamic setting. These scholars of the seminary are brought into the real world and they see how we celebrate. They see the good and the not so good, occasional fireworks, but mostly they see people loving their God the best they can as neighbors brought together as a family. Within a few weeks they feel they are a part of our families as we feel they are a part of ours too.

Rooted in love and mutual respect, our seminarians learn what it means to truly follow Jesus. They experience discipleship in the real world and adapt to new environments and pressures. Often they are challenged in their views and presumptions. More often than not, they feel the spiritual and emotional support that comes from being loved and prayed for as part of a parish family, in our case two, and in the course of their formation, several. Each seminarian or priest assignment holds a special place in my heart and I know you will leave a mark on theirs. May God be with them as they continue to do what they are called to do and live out their vocation.

God bless you all.

Fr. George Fleming

(PS I especially love them because  they’re helping me with the move!)

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit. 

He said to them,

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest.

Luke 10: 1-2

Last week, we could identify with the hesitancy of the early disciples to give up all they had and answer the call: “Follow Me.” The image of following Jesus takes another turn this week, literally and figuratively, when he sends them ahead. How daunting must it have been to those experiencing life with Jesus to now go off into the greater world spreading the Good News that they have learned. I can’t help but think of our graduates from various levels of schooling and how we hold our breath for them, waiting for them to return safe and sound.

The Gospel begins with the appointed ones representing six sets of twelve, journeying two by two. This in itself reminds us that no matter how daunting life can be we are never alone when we travel with others and especially we are not alone when we journey with Christ. I am humbled to be serving two parishes composed of multiple communities gathered at four churches. This is only possible because I am not alone. I have Jesus Christ by my side and I have you. Graced to partner with Fr. Marty Fisher, Fr. Bob Hohenstein, and several other priests always willing to lend a hand, we have been able to serve you to the best of our abilities. Even still, that would not be enough if it wasn’t for Jesus, if it wasn’t for you.

I am so grateful for the parish staff and leadership as well as the many ministers and volunteers who are with us on this special journey. I am also grateful for all those who have gone before us and planted the seeds of faith that we are now privileged to harvest.

We are blessed to celebrate the Fourth of July over a three day weekend this year which is relatively rare. My hope and prayer is that our Sunday worship, possibly celebrated as part of the Vigil, will encourage us to be vigilant in our prayer for our country, mindful that we walk hand in hand with every nation. May we stand united even in the midst of multiple divisions among us and be drawn closer to the ideas that scattered and were sown for us to harvest.

One of the most impactful experiences of my life was serving as an assistant director of a Senior Citizen Center in a predominantly African American area during the mid-80’s. I’ll never forget a meeting in which my superior explained that we weren’t decorating for Independence Day because their ancestors were not free. A ninety-five year old woman of color named Myrtle said, “That’s why we have to celebrate it! The day reminds us of the promise of freedom even if we haven’t fully achieved it.” Thirty six years ago, I was celebrating the 4th of July by serving and caring for people who sang patriotic songs and spirituals as a community. I was never prouder to be an American.

Let’s walk two-by-two, hand-in-hand, and follow Jesus into the Promised Land.

God bless you all.

Fr. George Fleming