Throughout the quarter, listeners continue to climb. The parish includes links to each week’s homily episode in their weekly bulletin they email to subscribers. Holy Trinity is a parish in Beaverton, OR. Even though the parish has more people returning to in-person, the ways they have connected with parishioners since the shut-down in 2020 has grown. They have decided to keep their online streamed masses, the podcast and daily videos from staff going. Connecting with local parishioners and building their virtual following has been so much fun for their staff. Parishioners like being able to take the parish to-go when traveling, or when someone is ill and they can’t make the weekly services.
#10 – The Alternative to Clanging Cymbals!
Words and actions without love are only clanging cymbals. We live in a time where there are a lot of strong opinions and convictions that are often expressed in a very noisy way that’s more like cymbals than it is like love. St. Paul defines that “love” as patient, kind, not jealous, not rude, not quick-tempered. It’s relatively easy to have those qualities in our conversations with those who agree with us. It’s difficult to live St. Paul’s definition of love when we’re in conflict or disagreement with someone – and even more so when you or the other is so entrenched in a way of thinking that there is no possibility of dialogue at all. That’s when the clanging cymbals become noisier and noisier.
Our challenge is to be attentive to our conversations – at work, at home, at school, and elsewhere – and avoid being a clanging cymbal. Differences will always exist, but let’s allow our words and actions to hold true to the Word of God so we can continue to build His kingdom on earth without caving in to the negativity and clanging of cymbals.
#9 – If you had to choose: Christ or Chicken Wings?
We celebrated our Confirmation Mass this weekend, with 72 youth and adults receiving the sacrament on Saturday morning. Fr. Dave invited Chris Storm, our Director of Religious Education, to talk about confirmation and what it means for each of us.
Chris answers the question he poses – if you had to choose, Christ or Chicken Wings? – with the point that it isn’t either/or; we don’t have to make a choice. This is not where we are Church – this is where we come because we are Church out there. We gather here to become Church when we go out for chicken wings, or to the river, or to a movie. Don’t take for granted what a beautiful thing it is to be Church together.
#8 – Speak up! Quietly and with Kindness.
The way we speak to others is so important – our words can either bless others or curse others. Fr. Dave challenges us to be mindful and intentional with our words this Lent, speaking words that encourage and build apart instead of words that accuse and tear down.
Fr. Dave quotes the following passage from Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli tutti (On fraternity and social friendship):
Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word “dialogue”. . . . It involves “speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement” and not “words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn” [208, Amoris Laetitia]. (198, 223, Fratelli tutti)
#7 – Following YOUR star
The message of Christmas is that God is with us. Have confidence and trust in that, and when you sense that God has provided you a star to follow, follow it!
#6 – It’s okay to laugh
Our world is beset with serious problems, as are our personal lives at one time or another. But those problems don’t have the last word. Every once in a while, turn off the screeching – the cable and talk radio and social media – and find a way to laugh, to play, to be delighted. This is still God’s world, we are still His beloved children, and our Father’s plan hasn’t been derailed.
#5 – When you fall away from God, you need to go back.
Jesus gave us the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation because he knew that we would need help at times to correct our course and regain our closeness with Him. When we’ve moved away from God, we need to go back – and Reconciliation is the way to do it.
#4 – Is your life an adventure or an ordeal?
The attitude with which we approach all that life dishes out makes a huge difference. Inviting Jesus into our lives is key to maintaining a positive attitude, and He is constantly whispering to each of us, “Let me in.”
#3 – Letting God In
“You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased.” This is the truest, most fundamental thing about us. Claim that identity, let God in, and watch how your life begins to change.
#2 – From Dust You Came (Ash Wednesday)
Lent reminds us that we cannot build our lives on our own; we need God in our lives and are absolutely dependent on Him. On our own, we are powerless; with God, we have everything that we need.
#1 – Spirit of the Living God, Fall Afresh on Me
Continue to pray the words from Fr. Hans last week: “Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit.” We need a renewal of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives in order to be everything that God needs us to be.
