The Vision of a Ministering Church

 

 

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard’s article, The Vision of a Ministering Church: Personal observations and reflections on the Nature of the Diaconate and Ministry in the Church

 

A Commentary

Deacon Anthony P. Cassaneto, Ph.D., Ed.D.

When I first read His Excellency’s article, I was impressed by his boldness, clarity, and understanding of a deacon’s ministry.  At the time of its publication, I was Director of Formation and Director of Ministry and Life inr the Archdiocese of New York. As Director of Formation, I had the opportunity to share His Excellency’s thoughts with the staff and faculty and encourage them to incorporate in their classroom instruction and personally His Excellency’s thoughts and reflections regarding the Nature of the diaconate and its ministry in the Church.  I thought this was important since the identity and ministry of the deacon at that time was still in question.  Why do we need deacons?  was the outcry of the day.   

The vocation of the laity is to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will (CCC §898).  They are to transform the world by proclaiming Christ by word and the testimony of life (CCC §905); and they are to cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community, for the sake of its growth and life (CCC §910). 

The man called to diakonia moves beyond his own self and reaches out to others in need—the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the lost and lonely. “He is strengthened by sacramental grace and dedicated to the People of God, in conjunction with the bishop and his body of priests, in the service (diakonia) of the liturgy, of the Gospel, and of works of mercy”(CCC §1588).

The collaboration of clergy (bishop, priest, and deacon) and the laity is the foundation of Christian ministry.  The bishop and priest have a sacramental role that enriches the Faithful in the Church through the reception of the graces received in the sacraments.  The deacon is the minister who brings Christ to those who are in corporal or spiritual need.  The laity called by their baptism serve the needs of the community by the gifts and charisms.   “You will know that they are my disciples by the way they love one another.”

 His Excellency enumerates three major principles that he suggests underlie the ministry of deacons, namely, (1) The diaconate is an extension of the mission of Jesus, the Servant-Healer; (2) This [diaconal] vocation is an authentic ministry of service; (3) The focal point of the deacons’ mission and ministry is the HUMAN PERSON who has been created by God with a dignity that is unique, sacred, and inviolable.

In order to do justice to these principles, I will only treat one principle at a time.  I challenge myself by asking a question based on the principle discussed.  For the first principle I may ask myself:   Am I a Servant-Healer to the People of God in the community to which I belong?  That will provide an opportunity to reflect on our activities, to determine whether or not some transformation is necessary in my diaconal ministry, and to pray for the humility and grace to live up to the principle that will identify me in my unique role of servant. 

Principle 1:  The diaconate is an extension of the mission of Jesus, the Servant-Healer.

Firstly, the deacon’s vocation is intimately rooted in the mission of Jesus and in what He came to say and to do in the world, namely, to proclaim the Good News of God’s saving love for humanity. 

We read in scripture, 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.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this to lay down one's life for one's friends. [John….]

Secondly, the deacon’s vocation is intimately rooted in the mission of Jesus and in what he came to say and to do in the world, namely, to transform the world through a pardoning, forgiving, reconciling, and liberating love.

The deacon outreaches to the community in many ways.  He brings to the table his own talents and attributes that serve as magnets and draws all those who are lost disciples back to the Church.  

 The deacon develops an affective maturity.  What does this mean?  Basically, agape (selfless love) becomes the driving force of his ministry.  He appreciates the importance of love in his own life and struggles against his own sense of selfishness.  St. John Paul II wrote in the Encyclical, Redemptor hominis,

man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it (§80).

 

Likewise, St. John Paul II explained in Pastores dabo vobis, this is a love which involves all the aspects of the person, physical, psychological and spiritual and which therefore demands full dominion over his sexuality, which must become truly and fully personal (§81).

Of particular importance for deacons, called to be men of communion and service, is the capacity to relate to others. This requires that they be affable, hospitable, sincere in their words and heart, prudent and discreet, generous and ready to serve, capable of opening themselves to clear and brotherly relationships, and quick to understand, forgive and console (§79).

 Deacons should be:

> persons who set standards that are higher

> persons who are more open, generous, and reassuring in relationships with others

> persons who, even in the midst of the meanness, violence, fear, stupidity, suffering,

            greed and injustice of this sin-wounded world of ours, strive not to waver from

            that call of Jesus to be meek, humble, gentle, poor in spirit, sufferers for

            justice sake. 

> more enthusiastic in their support of religious and civic causes

> more resolute in their attempts to establish genuine community

> more humane and compassionate in their ministry of healing and reconciliation.

 

Deacons are to be all of the things that the world around us considers to be the foolishness of Jesus Christ [John’s Gospel, Ch. 6], but which Jesus himself reveals to be THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.

 

In fulfilling the mission of Jesus, we must make every effort to reach out to those in need—be they physical or spiritual. 

 

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy provide us with a specific way we are able to heal, to teach, to console, etc. They are our checklist of pastoral outreach projects that we can undertake in a parish community.

 

Corporal Works of Mercy

Charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs

FEED THE HUNGRY

GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY

SHLETER THE HOMELESS

CLOTHE THE NAKED

VISIT THE SICK

VISIT THE PRISONERS

BURY THE DEAD

GIVED ALMS TO THE POOR

 

“The Apostles’ decision to appoint ministers to attend to the needs of the Greek-speaking widows of the early Church at Jerusalem has long been interpreted as a normative step in the evolution of ministry.  It is seen as a practical response to Jesus’ command during the Last Supper mutual service among his followers.

 

In a world hungry and thirsty for convincing signs of the compassion and liberating love of God, the deacon sacramentalizes the mission of the Church in his words and deeds, responding to the master’s command of service and providing real-life examples of how to carry it out.”

[National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. § 36. USCCB.  2005].

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Actions that help our neighbor in their spiritual needs

COUNSELING THE DOUBTFUL

INSTRUCTING THE IGNORANT

ADMONISHING THE SINNER

COMFORTING THE SORROWFUL

FORGIVING INJURIES

BEARING WRONGS PATIENTLY

PRAYING FOR THE LIVING

AND THE DEAD

REFERENCE:

Article Title:  “The Vision of a Ministering Church: Personal observations and reflections on the Nature of the Diaconate and Ministry in the Church”

Author:  Bishop Howard J. Hubbard

Periodical:  Diaconal Reader published by BCD/NCCB

 

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR 

“The Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard was born October 31, 1938, in Troy, N.Y. He attended St. Patrick’s School and La Salle Institute, both in Troy, and entered Mater Christi Minor Seminary in Albany in 1956. He furthered his studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he earned his college degree in philosophy. He continued his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Albany on December 18, 1963, at the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome. He later did post graduate studies in social services at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

 

On February 1, 1977, he was appointed as the ninth Bishop of Albany by Pope Paul VI, making him the youngest bishop in the United States at that time; he was 38 years old. He was ordained to the episcopacy on March 27, 1977, at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y.

 

Bishop Hubbard submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Francis when he reached the age of 75, as required, and on February 11, 2014, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had accepted his resignation. At the time of his retirement, Bishop Hubbard’s 37 years as Bishop marked the longest tenure of any Bishop in the history of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

 

As Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Albany, he continues to be a voice for the poor, an advocate for justice, and a pastoral presence.”  [The Diocese of Albany page on the biography on the Bishop Emeritus Hubbard]

 

Bishop Hubbard was a member of the Bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate / National Conference of Catholic Bishops. As the National Association of Diaconate Directors’  President,  I had the opportunity to meet His Excellency and was very impressed with his perspective on the diaconate.  It was a fresh look at a ministry that was yet in its infancy stages.  Today his words are as relevant today as they were many years ago. 

 

Ascension of the Lord

I would like to present a guest blogger for my blog-site, Arlene B. Muller.

Arlene B. Muller, OSF, is a Professed Secular Franciscan, lector & Extraordinary Minister at St. Pancras Church, Member of St. Margaret's Choir, Itinerant Speech/language Therapist, & Caregiver for her elderly mother.

 

The scripture readings for the Ascension of the Lord can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/053019-ascension.cfm

I must confess that I feel a little sad on Ascension Thursday. For JESUS it is a totally glorious event because His mission on earth has been completed & He is returning to His home in heaven & the glory He has enjoyed with the Father & the Holy Spirit since the world began of which He emptied Himself & laid aside during His earthly mission of 33 years. But like the disciples who stood looking up, feeling somewhat lost & bewildered, I would tend to wish that the Risen LORD JESUS could remain with us in His glorified body so I could see Him with my human eyes, hear His actual voice speaking His words with my human ears, and to touch Him, as St. John describes in His first letter. I know that His Ascension is one of the Glorious Mysteries, but in my human weakness I feel a little sad that a face to face encounter with Our LORD JESUS will not be my experience until I hopefully meet Him either at my death or His return.  Does anyone else share this feeling?

Of course, this is just the reaction of my human emotions, but learning Scripture, especially the Scripture readings of the past few weeks, learning the teachings of the Church, coming into a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST & receiving the sacraments, especially Baptism, Confirmation & the Eucharist (the Real Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of JESUS we can receive at every Mass), cause me to realize that because JESUS CHRIST not only suffered, died & rose from the dead but also ascended into heaven, the LORD is actually with us now in a more deeply intimate way--His life is WITHIN us--& He can work in the lives of millions of people at the same time in a way that was not possible when He was limited to walking in a specific geographical area. 

In the last discourses in St. John's Gospel that we have been reading over the past few weeks JESUS has assured us that it was necessary for Him to leave so that He could send us the Holy Spirit to be with us, in us and upon us and enable us through the mission of the Church to do even greater things than He did in His earthly ministry.

Many disciples, both men and women, along with Mary, the Blessed Mother of JESUS who was the first to experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in her virginal conception of JESUS, obeyed the command of JESUS to wait & pray together for about 9  or 10 days until the Holy Spirit came. What was it like to watch, wait, & pray with expectation of what JESUS called His Father's promise, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon each of them!  I imagine the presence of Mary gave them some comfort & bolstered their faith. Though some may have felt lost & bewildered, they knew from experience (especially of the Resurrection) that JESUS is faithful to His Word, & they were not disappointed, because the Holy Spirit came & that has made all the difference! In their waiting I am sure they found comfort & confidence in JESUS' final words in St. Matthew's Gospel, the same words that can give us comfort & confidence in our times of trial & confusion: "Behold, I am with you always, until the end if the age."

So as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension let us remember & trust that although JESUS ascended into heaven He will never leave us or forsake us,  no matter how difficult our life circumstances may be, and let us be grateful for the gift of the Holy Spirit that us the very life of God living within us.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you!

Scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052619.cfm
We continue in the 14th chapter of John where Jesus is at table with them for the Last Supper. Judas has already left to betray our Lord, and Jesus goes on to speak to them of the love that He has for them, and how they are to live out their lives out of love for Him once He leaves them after His death and resurrection.

In this time with the apostles, our Lord is teaching them to have Him as the center of their lives. He informs them, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." (John 14:23) What a beautiful way to live out our lives: knowing that we who love Jesus, the Father in turn will love us.

Jesus would go on to say comforting words, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)

We live in a world with problems: hatred, anger, hostility, war, racism. That's along with the problems we may face in our family lives with the problems associated with family arguments and misunderstandings.

Jesus is calling all of us to have Him at the center of who we are and to bring His love to this world full of hatred and violence, and to our family life full of misunderstanding. Once we have accepted Jesus into our lives and try to live according to His love, and to share that love with others, we will then bring the Love of the Lord to a world that desperately needs it.

In whatever situation you find yourself, bring the Love of Jesus with you and show His love to those in your life.

Dreams and Hope

Here's another reflection from the late Fr. Paul Keenan, who passed away on June 10th, 2008. He wrote a series of reflections for a blog I formerly had called Trinitarian. Here's one from January 2005.

We begin a new year full of dreams and hopes.  But we also begin this year with an overwhelming sense of tragedy in the aftermath of tremendous death, loss and destruction in Asia.  Putting the two states of mind together may seem a bit overwhelming.  Everywhere we seem to hear the question, “How could God allow this to happen?”

 

I don’t know whether we can come up with an answer that will satisfy everybody or truly answer the question fully.  But there are some lines of thought that can guide us.

 

One of the most telling considerations for Christians is the fact that God did not spare even his own Son from horrendous suffering and death.  Cries for divine intervention permeated the air on Golgotha.  It is even reported in the gospels that the crucified Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  It is normal and natural to feel abandoned when tragedies happen to us.  Yet the resurrection challenges us to interpret tragic events in a way that surpasses human understanding.  When such things happen, we are tempted to ask what kind of God, who is supposed to be omnipotent, could permit something so tragic.  The fact is, we may not ever arrive at a fully satisfactory answer with our human reasoning, and as a result some will tend to conclude that God is cruel.  The real problem is that we are constantly being called to challenge our cherished ideas and ways of thinking.  For us, this is not the easy answer that we long for and therefore some people will dismiss it.  We’re at the heart of faith here.  Can we have faith in God when, from a human standpoint, that faith may seem unwarranted?  When we come to terms with that question we take a giant step toward coming to know the mind and heart of Jesus.  He knew – more deeply than most of us ever will – what the appearances showed, and yet he believed.  It remains for us to decide whether or not we will join him in that belief.  It takes much more humility to admit that we struggle to understand God’s ways than it does to insist that God should conform his ways to ours.  That is true, even when we are dealing with unspeakable tragedy.

 

It brings us up short to realize that the purpose of theological reflection is not necessarily to make God look good to human eyes.  Rather, it is to help us to understand God.  The situation is akin to Shakespeare’s “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not with the stars, but with ourselves.”  Whatever God’s role in a tragedy turns out to be, it is not appropriate for God to be brought down to our level of reasoning; rather it is for us to be brought up to God’s.

 

Did God will the tsunami tragedy?  From the gospel accounts of the life and work of Jesus, I hardly think so.  Could he have prevented it?  It’s entirely possible, in the same sense that he could have prevented the death of Christ.  If so, why didn’t he?  We just don’t know.  Tragedies such as this challenge us to the very roots of our faith.  Sometimes we just have to admit that we don’t have all the answers. 

 

Perhaps this is because we are asking the wrong questions.  We get some help here from a passage in St. Luke’s gospel (Luke 13: 4), in which Jesus comments on a similar tragedy – the collapse of a tower which killed a large number of people.  Commenting on the incident, Jesus turns directly to the question of human mortality.  No matter how or when death comes, he tells his hearers, it comes nonetheless.  His conclusion – the only appropriate response is to realize the inevitability of death and to assure ourselves that we have done everything necessary to be ready when it comes.  That is a much better question for us than worrying about than whether God was responsible. 

 

Perhaps the complexity of all of this is the reason that God gave us not only a first commandment – to love him – but also a second one  – to love our neighbor.  Knowing the tremendous challenge it can sometimes be to understand his ways, he gave us something we can more readily do – respond to our neighbor in need.  The tremendous outpouring of assistance to the tsunami’s victims from all over the world is a heartfelt response to an unimaginable set of needs.  That second commandment is perhaps his wise way of letting us know about his caring and his kindness.  The fact that he gave us such a commandment – to love those in need and to consider them our neighbor even when they lie half way around the world from us is actually, when you stop to think about it, a way of helping us to expand our vision.  Our neighbor is usually someone next door or in the next block.  God says, “Your neighbor may be half a planet away.”  The fact that so many people are “getting” this leaves great hope for an expansion of their vision of God as well.

 

These are complicated questions to which there are no simple answers.  They challenge our beliefs about God and neighbor.  They make us think and pray and do.  Despite their complexity – perhaps even because of it – they could well lead humanity to an expansion of awareness and lead us to be more considerate of God and of each other.

Love One Another

The readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051919.cfm

Our gospel from today can be very challenging. In this section of John's gospel, Judas just left to betray Jesus, and on Jesus' mind is his eventual crucifixion on the cross. Jesus is intent on glorifying God through his death and resurrection.

But he wanted to be sure to get across to His disciples one last time before His death of how they are to live out their lives as His followers: "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

All throughout His time on earth, Jesus was always teaching about love and forgiveness. Yet we as Christians always seem to have a problem following that command of love and forgiveness that Jesus gave to us.

How many times do we turn away from people that appear different to us, or are in a lifestyle that we may not agree with? Do we love them as Jesus wants us to, or do we judge them and condemn them? As difficult as it may be, we are always called to love all people regardless of their lifestyles or appearance. We are called not to judge, but to love.

Or how many times do we have resentment or hatred for a former spouse that we have since divorced in not too pleasant terms? Or those relatives that can get "under our skin"? We are called to love them as well, as difficult as it may seem. We are called to not only to LOVE them, but to pray FOR them!

During this Easter season let us put into practice that love that Jesus is calling us to do!

THE SPIRIT of the LORD IS WITH US

THE SPIRIT of the LORD IS WITH US 

SPIRITUAL REMINDERS TO THOSE IN ACTIVE MINISTRY  

Deacon Anthony P. Cassaneto, Ph.D., Ed.D.

             “The deacon’s service begins at the altar and returns there. The sacrificial love of Christ celebrated in the Eucharist nourishes him and motivates him to lay down his life on behalf of God’s People.” [National Directory, §21].  This service is worthily rendered by our understanding that all that we do is for the greater honor and glory of God. 

Not long into my tenure as Director of Formation and Ministry of Life I interviewed a recently ordained deacon.  Since his ordination was scheduled during the Fall of his fourth year of formation, he was responsible to return during the Spring to complete his course of studies.  While in conversation with the deacon, I discovered that every night of the week he was engaged in ministry to the exclusion of family and a wholesome prayer life.  He was on the road to a perilous burnout experience.  Equally perilous is the story of a deacon who does not have time to attend to his spiritual life. 

While in formation, the objective of the spiritual dimension of formation “is to assist the candidate in achieving a spiritual integration of his life, family, work, and apostolate.” [National Directory, §216].  This integration is made possible with the help of a spiritual director, a pastor, the diaconal formators who provide” the means for the future deacon to grow in holiness by equipping and motivating him to lay a foundation upon which he may continue his spiritual growth after ordination.” [National Directory,§216].

The deacon’s spiritual life is the foundation of his ministry.   We read: ”Without prayer a human being will not persevere for long in his spiritual life, so we must seek refuge daily in this powerful resource.”  [Foundations for the Renewal of the Diaconate.  1993.  USCCB.  Kramer, Hannes.  The Spiritual Life of the Deacon.  p. 44]

             Upon Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon, the deacon is responsible to maintain a close relationship with the Lord.  Permit me to highlight several key events of the spiritual life that at times are terribly neglected because of other priorities.   Among them:

1.  Prayer

           The deacon’s prayer life maintains a personal relationship with the Lord on a daily basis.  His daily recitation of Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer assists in building up his relationship with the Lord.  Deacons are encouraged to pray the Divine Office regularly and when possible to pray the Divine Office with others. [Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium, par 75].

            A second component of the prayer life that enhances a deacon’s spiritual journey is Lectio Divina.  Breaking open the Word of God and meditating on a Biblical passage provides us with an opportunity to listen to Lord more closely through His Word and to respond more genuinely with our life of service.   The more we immerse ourselves in realization that our God obediently followed the will of the Father and humbly submitted Himself to death for our sake, the more we become aware that we too must be obedient and humble servants if we are to lead the People of God by our example.  Through Lectio Divina we appreciate more fully the love of God and His boundless mercy.  Deacons set the example for the laity who are likewise urged to adhere to Lectio Divina as often as they can in order to grow in the love of Christ and His Bride, the Church.  

2.  Spiritual Direction

Deacons are to continue their relationship with their spiritual director post ordination.  Preferably, the spiritual director should be a priest, but due to the priestly vocation crisis, a trained and certified spiritual director other than a priest is most acceptable. 

The spiritual director’s task is that of discerning the workings of the Spirit,  of accompanying and supporting the deacon in his ongoing conversion; providing concrete suggestions to help bring about an authentic diaconal spirituality and offer effective incentives for acquiring the associated virtues. 

Preferably the spiritual director is a priest  of proven virtue, equipped with a good theological culture, of profound spiritual experience, of marked pedagogical sense, of strong and refined ministerial sensibility. [Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium, .§ 23]

3.   An Annual Retreat

Deacons are to set aside each year time for prayer, meditation, and contemplation with the Lord.  Ideally, both the deacon and his spouse attend a scheduled retreat or make a personal, private retreat under the guidance of the spiritual director

4. Frequent reception of the sacraments

Deacons are encouraged to receive the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis.  These sacraments enrich and strengthen the spiritual life so that the deacon can go about doing the Lord’s work among His People.

The source of this new capacity to love is the Eucharist, which, not by chance, characterizes the ministry of the deacon.  In fact, service of the poor is the logical consequence of service of the altar. . . Within the context of this Eucharistic spirituality, care will be taken to give adequate appreciation to the sacrament of Penance@ [Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium, § 73]

In the prayer of diaconal ordination, the bishop implores God that the deacon may be “full of all the virtues, sincere in charity, solicitous towards the weak and the poor, humble in their service…and may….be the image of your Son who did not come to be served but to serve.”  [National Directory,§85].

“To live their ministry to the fullest, “deacons must know Christ intimately so that He may shoulder the burdens of their ministry.” [National Directory, § 62].  This is possible through an active spiritual life that forms the foundation of their ministry and life. 

 

The Magnificat

Many years ago I used to host a website called Trinitarian. One contributor was a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, Fr. Paul Keenan. He passed away on June 10, 2008. He wrote the following article on December 29th, 2005. I thought it would be nice to publish it again. I'll search for other articles Fr. Paul wrote and will put them on my blog.   But here's one from December 2005.

Most of us don’t realize what a powerful thing the mind is.  When we use the word “mind,” we usually mean our thinking ability.  But, of course, another meaning of the word “mind” is “to pay attention to.”  How many times did our parents tell us, “Mind your manners”?  Or even worse, “You mind what I tell you!” 

The two meanings of the word “mind” are interrelated, and when we realize this, we discover one of the reasons that the mind is so powerful.  For when it comes right down to it, we get what we pay attention to.  I often think of a woman who lived next door to us when I was growing up.  She was a lovely person, but there was something about her that was always a little sad or melancholy.  One day, her husband had taken great care to hang some new curtains for her in their living room.  My mother went over to admire them, and when she saw them, exclaimed, “Oh, what beautiful curtains.”  To which the woman replied, “They’re a quarter of an inch too long.”

Looking back, it’s easy to see why there was always an edge of sadness in that woman’s life.  She always saw the quarter of an inch that was off.  As a result, she got more and more and more things to complain about.

Of course, there are things in life to complain about.  Nobody gets a life that is totally free from worry, stress, or things to be bothered about.  The question is, “Is that all you see?”  What we see multiplies, and all too often we focus on the quarter of an inch that’s off, and as a result we create our own unhappiness.

Faith means that even in the midst of adversity, we can choose to see something positive.  Now, I’m not talking here about positive-thinking tricks or affirmations or the like.  No, I’m talking about something much more radical, much more “hard-wired” into the core of our being.  Something that, if we pay attention to it, even in the tough times, will bring us an increasing sense of blessing.

In a beautiful scripture passage that has become the prayer known as “The Magnificat,” Mary the Mother of God uses the expression, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”  That’s an amazing statement when you stop to think about it, but it is rich in consequences for us.  When a soul magnifies God, it is not because God is small.  It is because we have focused so consistently on other things that God takes up, at most, a little corner of our awareness.  When a soul like Mary’s magnifies God for us, it puts God back where he ought to be in our awareness.  And, following the principle of mind that we described above, when God is big in our consciousness, we see more and more and more of him and the wonderful things he does for us. 

That’s why we begin the year and the month of January with the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God.  She who magnifies the Lord for us is put first on our calendar, first in our year.  By putting her first, we enable her to magnify our sense of God and his presence in our lives.  Doing that is much better than making a thousand “New Year’s Resolutions” which we will have broken within a month.  For if we have a powerful sense of God, we need not want for anything.  As Mary herself said, “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”  That is our sense of things when we have a strong sense of God. 

So as we start the New Year, let’s think of Mary.  Let’s allow her to magnify the Lord in us.  If we do so, we will, indeed have a Happy New Year.

Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.

The Scripture readings for the Third Sunday of Easter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050519.cfm
In our gospel for today, we see the Lord Jesus appearing once again after His Resurrection. This time He's by the Sea of Tiberias. The apostles, still recovering from His crucifixion, are fishing all night, and caught nothing. Then at dawn, there's our Lord at the shore asking if they caught anything. When he finds out they haven't, he gives the instruction to cast the net off the right side, and they catch a sizable number of fish. Then they realize it was the Lord.

Peter, anxious to be with Jesus, couldn't wait for the boat to get to shore to see our Lord, jumps into the water and swims to Jesus. The relief of seeing Jesus after the ordeal of seeing him crucified, must have been great for Peter.

After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter, not once but three times, do you love me? Peter responds that he does. After the third question of "Do you love me?" Peter says, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” John 21:17 Then Jesus instruct Peter to feed His sheep. Peter was hurt by the questions since it reminded him that he denied our Lord three times during the trial and death of Jesus.

Our Lord will go onto inform Peter that he will face death as a result of his faith in the Risen Lord.

Peter was able to be reconciled to the Lord by his three professions of love for the Lord. He would go on to proclaim the Risen Lord to all those he would meet, and ultimately face death for this faith in Christ.

We, too, are sinful and cowardly at times, like Peter on that Good Friday. There are times when we deny Christ by not speaking about Him as we should to others. We are called by our Christian vocation to bring Christ to others in our lives, even when it seems difficult to do.

We bring Christ into the world by the way we live, by how we treat others and by our love for all those in our lives. We are called to speak the truth of the Risen Christ to all, even when others aren't opened to this truth. But we are to do it in love and charity.

Let us, like Peter, say to Jesus, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!