​The Holy Spirit Speaks through the Scriptures: Forgiveness: Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

I come to do YOUR Will: Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

​Last week I wrote a message for iFalls Nice, one of my favorite Facebook page.  Its point is to continue to grow joyfulness, support and energy for our community.  As we are going through this interesting season with the coronavirus, this is what I shared with our community, and would like our parishioners to read it too:

“iFalls Nice.

Thank you, when I was almost faced death in my first stroke. And thanks for many of you doing the same when I had a mini stroke last summer.

As I look, and think around our community, and around the world, there seems to be two extreme areas with this new disease: the former to be very scared--perhaps even death. The latter are those who think this "Corona without lime" is ridiculous. 

I believe in what our patron--St. Thomas Aquinas--used many centuries ago; the "Golden mean," aka, finding the middle of most situations. In my mind, we are not on either extreme, but somewhere in the middle.

I move this sharing from the secular level as I also praise God. For instance, I pray beyond learning information, data, or how decisions I must do for our parishioners during this time, as crucial that is. And I praise God, that we, as a family, pray, pray, pray.

I pray for our scientists, doctors, genetics, immunologists, etc.

I pray for those who are suffering, not only this new disease, but also those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, lonely, in jail, in hospitals for any other situation.

I pray for those who are scared. I pray for those who do not care.

I pray that we, Christians, seek the time during the season of Lent to offer almsgiving, prayers, and fasting to seek God's mission in each of our lives.

I pray that we, in iFalls Nice, continue to not only speak in this venue, but also open our hearts to know of the love, mercy, compassion and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Praise God, he, too, died on earth, but destroyed death, sin, and all illness, including what we call the COVID-19, and opened the gates of heaven.”

            Finally, we have made a copy of the prayer that I have been using at Mass from St. Damien: “Saint Damien, you ministered to those in despair and isolation.  I call upon you, to open my heart and mind, to care for the poor, sick, weary, and forgotten.  Bestow upon me the inner strength, faith, and unconditional compassion to be a disciple of Christ.  I come before you also as your humble servant, to bless me with your love and instill the touch of healing and grace.  Amen.”

God Bless!

First weekend private Mass.

"I have come not to abolish but to fulfill": Wednesday, March 18th, 2020

Also on my Facebook Live and probably had some too much recorded after I concluded!  Haha​

​Oh Naaman (Leprosy Offered for Cleansing): Monday, March 16th, 2020

This weekend I would like to continue to add information and challenging you, to our family, as we have some influence opportunities during Lent.  As I wrote before, this Lent, we must support us to get back to the basics with Jesus Christ and we are offering some cake walk chances for Lent, both in our parishes and in the Diocese of Duluth. For instance

• Every weekend Mass or trying daily Mass(es) are FREE! J
• The next three Saturdays is simply to learn about THE MASS by Bishop Robert Barron. Do you know

that every movement—sitting down, kneeling, the priest’s hands, using the sign of the cross, genuflecting, and beyond are not for lame ritual actions, but deep ways to worship God our Father—could this help you to dive into Mass?  The event will begin with food, free after Saturday’s Mass, children care and learn quite a bit in 20-30 minutes.  Please come and sign up to make sure we have enough food!

• Monday mornings after Masswith men conversing about faith, scriptures, questions, etc. with me
• First Mondays of the month with women to praytogether for intercessions and conversations with each other
• Friday evenings at 7:00pm for the Stations of the Cross(both at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban)
• Women’s Conference in Duluth on Saturday, March 28th(all day)
• 40 Hour Eucharistic Adoration: March 31st-April 2nd.  We already have two amazing speakers,

musicians, and times to stretch out your soul to engage with Jesus Christ’s true presence. And, here is a tidbit from Alex Schindler, who will be giving both a talk as well as praise and worship music:

• “Hello and welcome!  I’m Alex, a Catholic worship leader, liturgical musician, and singer-songwriter. 

I grew up just south of Ohio River in Lousville Kentucky, and through a crazy journey with God I have found myself in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.  If you had asked me 10+ years ago what I would be doing today it most certainly would not be what I am currently occupying my time with, but God is funny like that!”

• Nic Davidson will also be giving a talk on Wednesday evening.
• Finally, I am hoping to pack a bus to go to the Cathedral of Holy Rosary in Duluth on Monday, April 6th in Holy Week for experience the Chrism Mass.  If you have never been to the Chrism Mass (the blessing for the three oils we need for our Sacraments) you will not be disappointed!  

​Let’s continue to walk through Lent well, and please check out some of these remarkable events to support your relationship with Jesus Christ.

God Bless.       ​

3rdSunday in Lent

As we gather as a family, I think it is to speak about the issue around the world with the COVID-19

• Two extremes

  -   One seems to be panicky, hording, thinking it’s the apocalypse 
  -   The other side seems like this is ridiculous, a joke, something that is not really hurting anybody

• As St. Thomas Aquinas Patron believed in finding the Golden Mean and, Ecclesiastes: “nothing new under the sun”

So how do we respond to this situation?

• First, with some wise comments from Fr. Jim Bissonette, our administrator
• Read letter
• Know that yes, God has given us gifts with science, technology, immunization, etc. but we also have our spiritual lives
• Pray, pray, pray
• Communion in Hospitals/homes

  -   Myself and Eucharistic Ministers
  -   Hospitals

§  Communication with hospitals, nursing homes that often protocols and/or have safety garments
  -   Homes

§  Come Holy Spirit

• Service for those who need food, medicine, how could we quickly realize for those who could pick up groceries for those who are lonely and not able to get groceries?

  -   Senior Linkage

• How do we support our loved ones or those at the hardest moments of their lives?

  -   Here I think of St. Therese of Calcutta
  -   St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope
  -   What is God calling you to do?

“we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.”

God, may your will be done, and may we serve our neighbors

https://bhadrich.podbean.com/e/silver-lining-and-the-golden-mean-via-coronavirus-3rd-sunday-in-lent/

​Trees...the Lorax!: Thursday, March 12th, 2020

Father or father as a priest?: Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

​Listen for Three Thoughts for Tonight: Wednesday, March 11th, 2020

​Esther: "Help me...": Thursday, March 5th, 2020

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
    
Earlier this week, we heard about the reading above on Tuesday during daily Mass.  It is such a beautiful passage—with only two verses that I wanted to print it via this bulletin article.

The first section of this quick persona, was Isaiah, writing from God about how crucial it is for rain and snow on the earth.  Once again, we listened: “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful…”  And how beautiful it is to remember, or learn, how essential it is for water to support the life of anything alive!  This, from God, in the cycle of water, quoted:

“The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.”
Then there is a pivotal comment from God: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.”  Now, this “word” can introduce His Son—Jesus Christ (who is often named as “the Word”), or the Scriptures.  Like the water cycle for the world, God wants us to imagine his teaching to fall upon US so that we may soak in truth, support these gifts and give them back to our Father.  

Finally, this quick passage concludes with God’s mission for us: “It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”
Boom!

​
God Bless!

​The second Sunday in Lent

• ·      We continue to journey this season, pause in Salvation History, which we heard about last weekends
• ·      Mountains

“Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”

• ·      I consider, what did Peter, James and John going up a mountain?  What were Peter, James and John thinking about?
• ·      Did they know of the history of how many mountains were received for relationships with God?  With the Law?  Or just some time to rest, or pray?

Well, an opportunity certainly came up:

• ·      “And he was transfigured before them;

his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.”

• ·      Boom!  Jesus was transfigured, aka, shown as God and a Man
• And there appears Moses, and Elijah, who were both called up a mountain: 
• ·      Moses, with the law
• ·      Elijah as a prophet, the former to teach God’s people, and the latter to do the same as his people were divided
• ·      And Peter, James and John, what were they thinking of now?

“…behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;listen to him…they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”

• ·      Now Peter, James, or John?

  -   ​Guessing they were not experiencing this!
  -   They were afraid!
  -   “Rise, and do not be afraid!”

Now for you, for us

• How do you taste reality as our world is connected with heaven at Mass, at the Eucharist?
• Then, how do we go back to our daily lives, down that mountain?

This weekend, I believe that this passage is to remind us a few truths:

• God is both with and above us
• Hopefully we have experienced something on a mountain knowing his connection
• Eventually, we must come back to our community
• And during this Lent, how do we serve our neighbors again?

Take these readings to your heart and follow our theme: serve your neighbor

​Jonah, as a sign?: Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

7thSunday in Ordinary Time

Neighbor 

• 104 times throughout the Bible 

  -   Used twice in our readings today
  -   Connection between Leviticus and Matthew

§  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the LORD
§  Matthew: You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
§  Sermon on the Mount

Who is our neighbor?  (son at 92.96 million miles)

• McGregor: who was my neighbor

  -   College in a dormitory

• Definition: Those that live next to us, or near to us

That by itself sunk into my mind: how to I support, serve or help those who live around me, my neighbors?

• Rural area, which is unique as I haven’t had neighbors that well

Actually, while I am asking this question, analytically, I finally thought like a preschooler, Jesus

• ·      So ,think, think, think

  -   Didn’t someone ask this same question to Jesus?  Indeed! A parable.  Luke 10.  Good Samaritan.  A lawyer in Luke 10 asked that exact question: “How am I to love my neighbor?”

• And Jesus responded to the lawyer, and me: “Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”  He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
• ·      Now, were these “neighbors” that we would define today?  Perhaps, but perhaps something deeper.  I mean, did the priest, Levite or the Good Samaritan neighbors?  Was the Good Samaritan a physical neighbor, or was he a neighbor because he was a NEIGHBOR that needed mercy?

​

• Finally, as we heard last week about the fulfillment of the law, for us to be challenged and seeking excellence, this is how powerful that Jesus called our neighbors:

• ·      “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  39And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

So, let’s go deeper than a definition of a neighbor, but what we do with our neighbors in our lives: LOVE

A few weeks ago, I heard an interesting YouTube conversation with two men and a priest.  As they have several videos on the internet with Catholicism, they began their discussion with fifteen "issues" that should be changed at Catholic Masses. I agreed with them with several of them, others in which I disagreed, and some I didn't hear their conversation as my nap began!

This weekend I would like to comment on some areas that could continue to grow or learn within Mass.

One of the issues that the gentlemen spoke about something essential today: healthiness as we receive Jesus' Body and Blood.  As I have talked about this at Mass, please be wise and prudent if you are sick at Mass.  If you are throwing up, know that it is okay to stay home!  Remember, the Sabbath is for us, not us for the Sabbath.  If you are ill, but not contagious, praise God and get to Mass, but no matter what, be careful during this season of the year, not only with the Blood of Christ but also the sign of peace.   

A second comment on this YouTube was, once again at our parish, that clapping should not take place in Mass, except for an ordination, wedding, or something significant in our culture.  One this comment, I will again remind our parishioners that our musicians do not enjoy hearing clapping at the end of Mass.

Why?  They are not offering a concert, but they are offering their talents to worship God.

Another idea about clapping is something you may consider.  Our lectors are dang good.  They do not just walk up and read the readings, especially with large books or unique names.  They practice.  They read it with passion.  They can proclaim the word of GOD.  Outside of Mass, I think that these readers, and our School students, could be clapped like our musicians.  Yet, they, too, should not be given an applause because they are helping us to worship God, not applauding to other people.

Finally, please remember to dress well, especially with typical Mass clothes or winter jackets this time of the year.  You may not notice this (or you may), but sometimes we have seen scratches or scuffs on our pews.  Often, they come from buttons, metal on clothes, or other clothes in which I have no clue (haha!). Let's make sure that our pews may be protected from items that we wear.
​
If you have any questions or other ideas that may continue to help Mass and our church and God Bless you!

​Neighbors, again!: Monday, March 2nd, 2020

​Jesus taught how to serve the poor: Thursday, February 20th, 2020

What is going on with these dogs in the Gospel today? Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Read the Letter of James! Several wise verses and great nuggets: Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

​1stSunday of Lent

Salvation History, or God’s saving plan

• This weekend we hear some crucial moments in these points

  -  Genesis 2: “The LORD God formed man out of the clay [dust] of the groundand blew into his nostrils the breath of life,and so man became a living being.”

§  One rule

§  Eve, who was tempted by the evil one and she and Adam turned away from God—who walked in the
​cool breeze together—until their reality of choosing sin

• “Then the eyes of both of them were opened,” aka, they could now choose not to be with God

  -  Responsorial Psalm: “Be merciful Lord, for we have sinned”
 -  Romans 5: “For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,how much more did the grace of Godand the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christoverflow for the many.”
  -  Matthew

§  The real fight: Jesus vs. Satan
§  While Adam and Eve did not go against their temptation, Jesus did
And this is why we have these readings as we begin the season of Lent.
And how should we respond?

• Another part of our history as Catholics throughout the year and in Lent: alms, pray, fast

What causes evil? Physically or spiritually in our bodies?: Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Facebook. 

This weekend I would like to offer part of a comment I made on my FB (which means Facebook for most of those who work this platform on social media).  Like money, alcohol, possessions, FB is actually neutral but may become good or bad by how it is used.

Last week I put a controversial commercial that was not allowed during the Super Bowl, and I put my comment before this video: "Politicians could have commercials during the Super Bowl. This commercial was not allowed. And, these are real people who were survivors of abortion.  ?"  

This post allowed other people on Facebook to add comments or showing a thumbs up, and sad face emoji and angry emoji.  As I was able to read through other peoples' comments, I responded again, and this was the real point of my belief of FB and social media, whether you are on these platforms or not.  Here you go:

"When big controversial issues are coming on Facebook, I believe that you may have an opportunity, as an adult, to actually speak with another adult, in which you may disagree. 

For instance, with the commercial below, it was indeed an emotional and challenging hot button issue. With one comment back, I moved from my FB to a private message. This then led to a conversation on the phone. That conversation led to more opportunities with sharing life situations, laughter, speaking and listening of each perspective, and learning more with the others' ideas. 

FB can be done well, especially if it is a stepping stone to a deeper conversation rather than more gas on a polarized fire."

So, if you are on FB, Twitter, or what else there is out there, use them well.  Make sure you're not using them for hours and hours as that doesn't seem healthy, in my opinion.  And if you are not in this world, you are a-okay in my mind!
​
God Bless!