And when the Saints Go Marching In!

Before the time and opportunity pass me by, I had better respond to the request made that I have something to say about two days almost upon us - All Saints and All Souls (November 1 and 2.)
And while I did invite comments and even dialogue on any of my posts, I do not recall inviting requests. However, I guess if I want to keep my readers, I suppose I had better honor those requests and respect those making them.
So here goes - something about the Saints and the Souls.
While those among that number are as diverse as is humankind, they all do share one thing in common - they have all died.
Seriously!
I think our neighbors south of the border capture that reality well in their observance of the Day of the Dead.
To many, death seems so final, so total, so complete. They are gone. They have been taken from us. And to some death even means the end of the story, nothing more to say, nothing more to expect.
Recently I sat down with a planner from the funeral home I have selected for my final arrangements. I wanted to review and update what was on file. And I know that I surprised him when I said, "I absolutely forbid anything like 'a celebration of his life . . .'"
He admitted to being puzzled and asked why. To which I responded that I did not see this as the end of my story but rather the beginning. To speak of a "celebration of the life of . . ." sounds like the story has ended. But truth be told everything leading up to this moment was just the prelude.
Yes, the saints and the souls are dead to this life but they have, faith tells us, through the power of the Risen Jesus, entered into true life. Their stories are not ended but merely beginning.
And as they were connected to us in some ways in this life, so the connection endures after that passage called death.
Those folk who observe the Day of the Dead - they build home shrines and altars, place photographs of their deceased loved ones in these shrines, decorate with flowers and candles. They remember and celebrate that connection, that bond.
In ancient Rome people would, on the anniversary of the death of a loved one, visit the tomb and bring a picnic lunch with extra to share. At graveside they eat, drank, told stories and set a place for their deceased loved one. They sensed somehow that bond.
All Saints celebrates that bond as we are called to remember those we loved and even to remember stories of those we never even knew. Along with remembering we also speak with them and trust that they are aware of us and caring of us. There is that bond.
And on All Souls Day again we do some remembering and speak on behalf of and trust that they are also speaking on behalf of us. Again there is that bond.
These two days remind us that there is among us, our loved ones and, indeed, among all of us a bond. That bond is officially called the communion of saints - in heaven, in waiting and here on earth
That bond is stronger than death itself.
That bond keeps us united even when death seems to fracture us.
There is a bond that death cannot break.
And that bond has a name.
That bond is love.
And God understands well the strength of that bond.
God understands because God IS love!
When we remember and celebrate the bond that unites us all, we remember and celebrate God who is the Source of true unity.
That is the blessing and richness of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

A Powerful Day today!

It is late, I know.
However, I cannot put this day to rest without sharing some thoughts for this was a spiritually powerfully day for me.
I simply concelebrated at Mass today at St. Aidan Parish here in Livonia where once I served as pastor. However, it was a very special, important Mass for many and definitely for me.
St. Aidan Parish Community had produced a newly ordained deacon for service in the Church of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
I knew him. I watched him grow. I knew when he was choir member and cantor and catechist, laying hold to his faith and its power in his life.
I remember the evening so many years ago when he spoke with me out there in the parking lot after what? choir rehearsal? perhaps. We spoke about the possibilities. Is God somehow working? calling? moving? stirring? We spoke about the program which is to help discern.
Take a chance. I think I said something like that. Enter in and allow others to work with you, to help you, to enable discernment.
If God is having something to say, with help, you will hear it.
That was a whole lot of years ago.
The journey was not always easy. It usually never is.
But today there he was, vested, at the altar, preaching the Word where once (and still) I so often preached the Word.
I watched in silent, solemn awe as his wife wheeled his nephew, now confined to that chair, down the aisle to present the offerings of the faith community. I remembered when that tragic time came for his nephew and for this family. A young man tragically to be physically limited while here on this earth/ And I watched as today this brave woman, the new deacon's wife, entered into ministry with him, she, not ordained but ministering nonetheless. What a powerful witness to faith - couple ministry.
I sat mostly quietly, silently, in the background.
Proud! Indeed!
Grateful! Without question!
Prayerful! For certain for this is the dawning of a new ministry gift to the People of God.
And I remembered again how this journey was launched in a simple conversation in a parking lot on an evening long ago.
As this day comes to its ending I pray: God, bless the work You have begun in the life of Deacon Don Esler and his wonderful wife, Gail. Enrich us all with their presence.
And thank You for allowing me to have some small part in this blessing.

A Little about Luke

After "introducing you" in my last post to our newest American Saint, Oscar Romero, I received a suggestion that I do a reflection on All Saints and All Souls, up and coming rather soon now. That is under consideration but in the meantime I thought I could use some time and space today to share some thoughts on today's saint. It just might be helpful to share some thoughts with you on today's honoree.
That would be St. Luke.
At present those who take part with any regularity in the weekday Masses are hearing from the Gospel of Luke. He carries us through to the end of this Church  year, late November.
Then we also put aside Mark's Gospel which has carried us on the weekends this year. With the start of the new Church year and all through 2019, we will turn to the Gospel of Luke. He will be our guide and it might prove helpful to know some things about Luke and his writing. He is definitely different!
First off, Luke was likely a Gentile convert. The very name is non-Jewish.
Secondly, as such he would likely have not even met or personally known Jesus.
These color his Gospel. He writes primarily for Gentile readers. His writings are largely based on knowing others who knew Jesus, possibly even recollections from Mary. After all his is the only Gospel that tells of the birth of Jesus, the visit of the shepherds, the presentation in the Temple, the loss and finding of Jesus in Jerusalem. He had some good sources!
Something else to note in his Gospel - he focuses a lot on society's "outsiders" at that time. He shows that Jesus has a place for them, for everyone in the Kingdom.
And meals are a big part of the ministry of Jesus in Luke's Gospel. Each meal story, and there are ten, reveals some teaching about the Eucharist, leading up to the Great Supper and then the breaking of the bread at the table of those Easter disciples on the way to Emmaus.
As we honor Luke today with his feast, hopefully we can get ourselves ready to learn from this great writer/teacher/physician to appreciate the treasurer we have in our faith.

A New Saint for America

Romero!
We, Catholics, will be hearing that name a lot in these days. On Sunday, October 14, Archbishop Oscar Romero will be canonized as a saint. We will add to our calendar still another American saint.
He is another from Central America, El Salvador specifically. He is also quite unique among our American saints.
Among them we currently number a few martyrs, foundresses of religious communities, social workers, another bishop, members of religious communities including a certain "almost saint" doorkeeper who is of local pride.
 Oscar is uniqure because he is a bishop (archbishop, to be exact) and a martyr. He was shot and killed while presiding at Mass at the altar. He was assassinated one day after he called for the military of his country to disobey immoral orders, orders that called on them to suppress, repress and even eliminate the poor, the indigenous, the workers who were standing in the way of the whims and wishes of the wealthy, those we today might called the one percent. Oscar was being a voice for the voiceless.
Oscar had a reputation for keeping his nose in his own business, of not making waves, not stirring things up. When he was chosen as archbishop of San Salvador, the haves rejoiced because they thought they had one more of their own in a high place.
But he was paying attention to what was actually going on in his country, to what the haves were doing to the voiceless, to what the Gospel was saying about situations like this. He chose to listen to the voice of God rather than the voices of the rich and the powerful.
For this he paid the ultimate price.
He was a bishop who had the smell of the sheep.
And for that he paid the ultimate price.
He is the first bishop to be killed at the altar since Thomas a'Becket in the twelfth century.
As he is being canonized, there is much attention to his life. Amazon Prime has available, free to Prime members, the film telling his story. Watch it if you can. Come to appreciate this man.
This weekend EWTN is featuring the same film. Check that out and again, watch if you can.
Don't know if you can access this if you are not a subscriber but Liturgical Press, Give Us This Day is providing a brief, three minute mini-biography. Check their web site to see if ou can get a view.
I say get to know this man because the source of his holiness is a lesson for us, especially us right here, right now in the United States. His life has something to say to us, something about not always sitting quietly by and just letting whatever happen. We have a duty and responsibility to be the voice of reason, the voice of wisdom, the voice of the Lord Jesus in the shaping of our society and its values. We have a duty to cry out when there is injustice, when human dignity is being destroyed.
Saint Oscar Romero, pray for us.
Saint Oscar Romero, lead us and teach us!

There is something about that town!
Assisi!
That's the town that comes to mind today as we remember and honor St. Francis of Assisi. This was his town - where he grew up, where he received his Call, where he set a bold, new direction for those who chose to follow him.
Assisi!
My first trip there was forty-three years ago but I still vividly remember it. In fact, whenever I remember, something of its spirit and the experience still captures me. I have been back to Assisi a number of times since that first visit and each time there is that spirit and experience.
For those who have never experienced Assisi let me explain that, while one can find the modern, it is still, at heart, a medieval town with medieval roads and medieval buildings. It is like stepping back into a long gone era.
At the heart of this town is the basilica in honor of Francis which stands above a smaller worship space which holds the tomb of Francis.
That's the spot!
On my first visit there I sat down in front of that tomb.
And I sat there.
And time itself seemed to evaporate.
And all else likewise seemed to evaporate.
It was like a glimpse, an entry into eternity.
It was a place to experience The Divine - God!
No words were needed; no prayers called for. Just the Silence. And the Peace.
When I glanced up again more than an hour had passed. And it seemed like seconds.
As I mentioned, I have been back to Assisi a number of times, the most recent being shortly after we had begun the year 2000. That visit I was able to preside at Mass there at the tomb. Each time the same thing - the Silence - the Peace - the evaporation of time itself.
I have mentioned this to others and without fail have been told again and again - "I know what you mean. I felt it too. It happened to me."
I dare to say it - Assisi - there is something about that place.
It can be a place where one can touch the very Presence of God.

And here we are! (I think)

Many, many years ago, back in 1973 actually, I began an endeavor that I called " . . . As I Was Saying . . ." It was an attempt to share with any readers my thoughts, observations, experiences, memories, reactions and whatever with anyone interested and willing to take the time to read and also to get to know me a bit better.

This work continued from St. Clement of Rome in Romeo to Precious Blood, Detroit and then on to St. Margaret of Scotland in St. Clair Shores and finally to St. Aidan in Livonia. In 2008 when I retired from full time ministry and entered "senior" status, " . . .  As I Was Saying . . . " was finally put to rest.

But now I am reaching one of life's milestones - turning eighty.

And I am finding this a cause for some reflection and prayerful introspection. I see a time for looking back and for looking around and even for looking ahead.

And so here I am again!

And I have chosen as the title for this new writing, reflecting endeavor " . . . And eighty if you are strong." That comes from Psalm 90 verse 10. It relates the sum of one's years declaring that one may see eighty if strong.

Guess that means that I am somehow "strong."

But what really does it mean to have been blessed with eighty years?

Well, bear with me.

I am going to try and use this space to reflect on that.