In continuation from last Sunday’s bulletin, there was one more moment I wanted to reflect on from my friend, Fr. Joe’s, priest ordination, though this moment was not the last of sacred rituals that took place during the ordination. There is a point in the liturgy when the newly ordained exchange their deacon vestments, the dalmatic (the outer tunic with sleeves) and the deacon stole, and receive their priest vestments. It is tradition that the man to be ordained chooses a priest that has served as a guide and brotherly support to vest him; I was humbled to receive this honor from my friend.

It is important to note that the new priest does not clothe himself in the vestments, but rather an older brother from the fraternity of priests bestows upon the new priest the vestments that serve as an exterior sign to the weight of his office. Unlike the coronation of Napolean, who took the crown from the pope and placed it on his own head, the priesthood is not something we take on for ourselves and by ourselves. It is an office given out of the pure mercy of God for the sake of sanctifying His people and nourishing them with His divine life through the sacraments and life of the Church. He is still a man beset with weaknesses (Heb 5:2). And so, it is an extraordinary gift from God, not to be taken lightly and not to be taken up for any other reason than to glorify God through the salvation of souls.

I encourage you and ask for your prayers on behalf of myself and all of my brother priests. We with great joy in our hearts out of love for Jesus serve you and desire to share with you the blessed life of God that is found in prayer, the sacraments and conforming our mind and heart to Jesus Christ. He is the perfecter of all life.

"For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Who should I admire? Who isn't worthy of my admiration?

It's a question for us just as it was during Jesus' time. And while it is easy to pick on a few people, perhaps a media star or celebrity who are obviously shallow, almost everyone - politicians and sports stars and celebrities and friends (and even clergy!) - disappoint us when we look up to them as examples. 

Perhaps our disappointment is in not just because of what they've done, which sometimes is problematic, but also because of what they haven't done.

Today's Gospel points out that hearing isn't heeding, that knowing isn't doing. Do you remember the old saw that sitting in a garage no more makes you a car than sitting in church makes you a Christian? This is an enormous challenge for many, because faith has become performative. It isn't for our internal sake, or for God's sake, but it is for the consumption of others: Look at me! I'm good!

But the message from Jesus is quite different. This isn't about appearances, about being in the "in" crowd, about admiring the "right" people. This is about what we admire on the inside. It isn't about the headlines, or about the media darlings, but about the real people - perhaps our neighbors! - who make a real difference. 

Have you heard about the Love Fridge? It is a group in Chicago (and there are similar groups in large cities all across America) who stock publicly-accessible refrigerators with fresh food. Volunteers fill the fridges, and people who need food (which, after all, is a basic human right) can take what they need to survive. It is a simple way to take care of each other, and the volunteers really make a difference. These volunteers are the people who are worthy of our admiration, because they aren't doing this to be seen, for the adulation of the masses, but because they believe in a basic human right: we all deserve to eat. 

So whom should we admire? Not the celebrity, not the sports hero. We should admire the quiet people who make a small difference in the world. It isn't glamorous, but it is the way of Jesus.

Peace!
-mark

Movie on the Turf

Please join us on Wednesday, August 27 at 6:30pm for a viewing of a “Bug’s Life”. Bring a chair or a blanket for some great family fun. A special thank you to SAPO for organizing!

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