Articulating Hope - Deacon Vernon's Blog

Sermon on the Mount

1/26/2023

This weekend we will hear the Sermon on the Mount narrative from the perspective of St. Matthew. I invite you to do some study before going to Mass this weekend.

1. How does St. Matthew's account differ from St. Luke's version?
(See Matthew 5: 1-12.) (See Luke 6: 20-23.)

2. Why do you think Luke's account only has four beatitudes while Matthew's has nine?

3. What is the difference between these statements?
~Blessed are the poor.
~Blessed are the poor in spirit.

~Blessed are those who hunger.
~Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

After pondering and praying with these scripture verses, spend some time with the first line of each of the first two readings as well.

The prophet Zephaniah says, "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth..."

St. Paul says to the Corinthians, "Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters."

1. How will you sincerely seek the Lord in your day-to-day life?

2. How do you discern the manner in which God is calling you to serve right now?

The Sacred Scriptures are rich. Allow God to speak to you in the depths of your heart as you ponder His Word!

Can An "Outsider" Have A Lasting Impact On Others?

1/21/2023

It has been exactly one month since finishing the parish mission on December 21, 2022 at Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Concord Hill / Marthasville, Missouri. It was the Fourth Week of Advent when I was there. We have since completed Advent, Christmas and the whole Christmas season, and we are now entering into the Third Week of Ordinary Time.

I often wonder what happens after a parish mission. I spend five days in a parish. This includes preaching at the weekend Masses, and then giving three nightly presentations. I have done roughly twenty parish missions since being ordained a deacon. (I have also given retreats to forty different groups, and I have preached in more than forty different parishes.)

When an "outsider" comes into a parish, it is easy to make a splash. The individual entering in from the outside is not bogged down by all the internal struggles and challenges facing the local community. With that being said, I often wonder about the lasting impact after a parish mission or retreat. Does anything stick, or does everything pretty much return to business as usual once the outsider is gone?

Why do I ask?

I take my role of preaching and teaching very seriously. I believe that all of us in leadership roles within the Church will be held to account for how faithfully or not we lived up to our calling. That responsibility weighs on my mind. Some of the harshest words in Sacred Scripture are directed to Church leadership. Yes, I really do ponder certain passages and pray for strength. The passage about it being better to have a millstone around my neck and tossed into the sea rather than to lead someone astray paints a picture in my mind. Then there are those not so gentle moments such as: "Brood of Vipers," or "You Whitewashed Tombs," or just the good old fashion, "You Hypocrites."

I have worked at the parish level and I know the day-to-day challenges that come along with parish ministry. When I travel to other locales, I put a lot of work into my preparations. I greatly desire to give people a boost in their spiritual journey. I want to give people the best I have in my homilies and teachings empowered with God's grace and the Holy Spirit.

Since I understand the dynamics of parish life quite well, it makes my question about the impact from an outsider a relevant one. Is it an emotional high that lasts a few days and then goes away, or does it give the local leadership something to build on? Does an issue arise six months down the road and someone refers back to the parish mission, or is everything long forgotten by then?

I don't know the answer to my own question. I truly hope my presence at a parish makes a difference for more than just a few days. I will continue to work and pray in a manner that hopefully brings glory to God. I'll let the rest of it fall into place as God sees fit!

Blessings to each of you, but a special shout-out to the good people of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish. You continue to be in my prayers.

Smooth Sailing Or Stuck in The Mud?

1/19/2023

We are 19 days into the new year. How are you doing? Do you feel like the boat at low tide--stuck and run aground? Or are you crushing it and living your best life?

"What you do has far greater impact than what you say."
~Stephen Covey

How are you making a positive difference in the world? Are you being a faithful ambassador of Jesus Christ? It matters how we live our day-to-day lives. The Ten Commandments are there to guide us. The Spiritual and Corporal Works of mercy clue us in as to how to live faithfully. It's not enough to just avoid sins of commission. We are called to also avoid sins of omission.

"When you're good at something, you'll tell everyone. When you're great at something, they'll tell you."
~Walter Payton

Obviously, if you are a gifted athlete you will know it and so will the people who see you play. If you have made a successful career in music as a singer, composer, or as a musician, people will recognize your gifts and talents.

My question to you is this. Can people look at your life and see a reflection of Jesus Christ? Is holiness as evident in your life as athleticism is evident in the life of a professional athlete?

"Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes."
~Lewis Grizzard

I am not sure what to do with that last quote. I'll simply leave it there for your own reflection.

Ongoing and Upcoming Days of Significance

January 18--25 (Started Yesterday)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Monday, January 23:
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

February 2
World Day for Consecrated Life

Moisture Equals Backache

1/18/2023

There is a persistent refrain in the Mountain West, "We need the moisture." Filling up reservoirs seems to be an unending concern. Reducing the risk of wildfires for next summer is also important. Obviously, ski resorts always appreciate fresh powder. That is the beauty of living in this region.

I am at a point in life where I am ready to take a calculated risk with a hurricane instead of enduring winter. I am in more danger of keeling over while shoveling snow than what I would be from a hurricane in Florida. Sadly, someone else in my house wants to stay here. Hmmm. She says it's because of the grandchildren. I think she just likes to torture me. As a side note--she doesn't do any of the shoveling.

Apparently, that is the look I give when a gust of wind recovers a part I had already shoveled.

Or maybe that was the look I gave when I looked at the stock market report. More retirement dollars for people all across the nation just evaporating into thin air as 401k accounts get pummeled day after day.

Seriously, are politicians just trying to bankrupt everyone except themselves?

Keep your eye on the World Economic Forum.
We are in for some tough times ahead.
Stay close to the Lord.

Sunset on Florida's Gulf Coast Today

1/16/2023

I am sitting in Colorado waiting for the next snowstorm (which is supposed to begin tomorrow afternoon). Meanwhile, I enjoy photos from family members who are living a life of ease sitting in a beach chair watching the sunset over the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida. Someday soon, I intend to be enjoying that same experience.

That is the beauty of God's handiwork.
I hope your Monday was filled with blessings.

Homily Notes From Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

1/16/2023

Sometimes the preaching resonates with God's people more than usual. This past weekend was one of those times. I had more requests for a written version of my homily than what I have ever had. Unfortunately, the homily was crafted in my head and delivered without any notes. With that being said, I will try to list some points as a refresher for those who were at the Masses where I preached. Others may find this too vague to be helpful.

The phraseology of "Lamb of God" can be further examined by studying the Passover, animal sacrifice as atonement for sin, and the triumphant victor represented in Chapter 14 of the book of Revelation.

Do we recognize Jesus as the "Lamb of God," the "Son of God," as revealed by John the Baptist?

Do we encounter Christ, the "Lamb of God," in other people? This is an especially pertinent question when we talk about encountering Christ at the local parish. How do we lift one another up in our journey of faith?

Do we encounter Christ, the "Lamb of God," in the proclamation of the Sacred Scriptures at Mass? Even if the homily is lackluster, do you still encounter Christ when the readings are proclaimed?

Do we encounter the "Lamb of God" in the Eucharistic sacrifice, and when we approach the table of the Lord to receive Holy Communion?

Do we recognize the significant role that Sacred Scripture has throughout the entire Mass.

The greeting at Mass echoes what we hear St. Paul say repeatedly to each Christian community he writes. What's more powerful? "Good morning." Or, "The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion, fellowship, and power of the Holy Spirit be with you." There is a reason why the rituals are established.

The Penitential Rite expresses our desire for mercy. It reminded me of the blind man calling out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

The Gloria brings the Choir of Angels to the forefront.

The three year cycle of readings brings us a lot of Scripture if we attend Mass every week. We typically hear an Old Testament reading, a responsorial psalm usually sung (from one of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament), a reading from the New Testament, and then a Gospel reading.

The Creed expresses the twelve articles of faith found in Sacred Scripture.

The Eucharistic Prayer, especially the prayer of consecration, takes us to the upper room where Jesus commands us to "Do this in memory of me." We have been doing it since the beginning. Read paragraph 1345 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read the letter from St. Justin the Martyr written around the year 155 which is contained in that paragraph. It pretty accurately describes what we are still doing today.

We then echo the words of John the Baptist in each Mass. "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," have mercy on us and grant us peace.

Finally when we are invited to the table of the Lord, the host and chalice are elevated, and the priest boldly proclaims those words of John the Baptist. "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him who takes away the sin of the world." We are indeed blessed to be called to the supper of the Lamb.

Our response to this is also straight from Scripture. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed."

If we aren't encountering Christ in this ritual, we need to pray and study to try to enter more fully into this mystery of our faith.

So, on a practical level, let's look at this from the view of a three-legged stool. Those three legs represent prayer, study, and action. If we pray well at Mass, our personal prayer life will also grow.

We need to study. If we are content with an 8th grade understanding of our faith when we are fifty or sixty years old, do you believe we are missing anything along the way? Don't just study to grow smart. Study to grow in holiness. Let the knowledge about God support the journey to knowing God.

Finally, we can't just be hearers of the Word. We need to be doers of the Word. What is God placing on your heart right now to do for our world? How are you being called to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ? Will you be an ambassador of Christ and be a beacon of light in a world that is often enveloped in darkness?

You are equipped for this mission. You do not walk alone. Remember, "The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion, fellowship, and power of the Holy Spirit is with you."

Have a powerful week walking humbly with your God!

April Fool's Day Will Be Spent In Cheyenne, Wyoming

1/13/2023

In September of 2015, I had the privilege of sharing speaking responsibilities with Susan Conroy. We were at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne, Wyoming for the Wyoming Council of Catholic Women State Convention. Susan is an author, and was the host of a mini-series on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) called, "Speaking of Saints." It was a true joy to hear Susan speak and to be with nearly 100 faith-filled women from all over Wyoming for that convention

On April 1, 2023, I will be heading to Cheyenne once again to speak at the Cheyenne Deanery gathering of the Council of Catholic Women at Holy Trinity Parish. While this event will be smaller in scale, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be back with this amazing group of devoted servants of the Lord.

As I look at the photo above from 2015, I realize I have aged immensely since then. The schedule of speaking engagements during those days, along with all of my work commitments, kept me hopping. My inability to say "no" to certain requests probably did not do my health any favors. Unfortunately, it was also during that time when heart issues were really taking hold as well.

Multiple medications, a heart ablation and four cardioversions only relieved symptoms temporarily. A move from the Mountain West to the low country of South Carolina proved to be just what the doctor ordered. As my health continued to decline, I was referred to a doctor nearly two hours away from where we lived. I was skeptical, but I needed help.

Dr. Jeffrey Winterfield is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Hank and Laurel Greer Chair in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has my utmost respect and gratitude. While the heart ablation took much longer than anticipated, when I woke up after the procedure my wife said, "The doctor thinks he fixed it." My skepticism remained. However, I recently marked four years of renewed health because of the expertise of this doctor.

My schedule is no longer as rigorous as it once was. I devote my energy now primarily to speaking commitments and writing. Renewed health, and a narrowed focus of my energy, is a blessing for my ministry.

Next up--I preach at the 5:00 PM Mass this Saturday evening and the 8:00 AM Mass on Sunday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins, Colorado.

If I can be of service to your parish or organization by leading a retreat, a day of recollection, or a parish mission, please reach out to me. I can be reached at the following email address:

articulatinghope@gmail.com

Serving Up A Little Dose Of Serenity In A Photo

1/12/2023

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a beautiful place. This view in Spanish Wells Plantation was always one of my favorites when I went for a walk. It could bring a sense of serenity in no time at all.

We recently celebrated Christmas and the beginning of the new year. Many people enjoy these holidays immensely. Others find them difficult and even quite depressing. The circumstances of life and family dynamics can certainly impact one's perception of these events. Now that they have passed, how are we all doing?

Those experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one frequently find these days challenging and sad. That is completely natural.

In some families, existing pain and hurt became even more escalated during the holidays. Frustration and exhaustion were all-consuming. Tears from a broken heart flowed repeatedly. Being together was anything but a "Silent Night."

In some families, it didn't even require discussions on religion or politics to start arguments. The combative nature spewed forth easily from years of pent up anger and desperation. A lack of common sense, and a complete lack of charity toward one another, turned homes into a verbal and sometimes literal boxing ring. The abuse was real and painful.

Let's face it. The world is divided. The Church is divided. Our families are divided. We are broken. We are hurting. We are adrift from God.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (See Joshua 24:15) What would happen if we all started living by these words? How would that change family dynamics? How would healthier families impact our churches? How would strong and faith-filled churches influence our schools, communities, and the world?

My dear people, let us be people of prayer, study, and action. Let us bring the transforming love of Christ to the world. Obey the commandments. Live out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Be an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

This weekend we will hear John the Baptist proclaim, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." The question for each of us is simple: Do we really believe?

Baptism of the Lord--Back To Ordinary Time

1/9/2023

This country boy really does not like city traffic in any major metropolitan area. Subsequently, I try to go to Denver as seldom as possible. Is it just me, or does Denver's "rush hour" go on all day long? Anyway, I was told that I was going to be a good grandpa today and go to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Thus, I celebrated the Baptism of the Lord by listening to "Him" through the words of my wife. Off to Denver we went with our daughter and two granddaughters.

The traffic did not disappoint. It took us about thirty minutes longer to get there than it should have.

This was my first trip to the museum and I was hoping it would be worth it. Well, I must say that it was quite impressive. Based upon the hundreds of other people also enjoying the "free day" at the museum, I would say it is quite a popular venue.

Although there is plenty of snow still on the ground in Denver, the fifty degree day today felt quite nice.

The Denver skyline with the Rocky Mountain backdrop is quite picturesque.

These are the scenes I viewed before preparing to make the trek back home. I was now ready for the stop and go traffic with the appropriate responses if anyone cut me off. Just joking. Although we were tired, we returned home safely and calmly.

As we now enter back into Ordinary Time on our liturgical calendar, please remember that there is nothing ordinary about giving praise and worship to the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords!" Continue your journey to grow in wisdom, grace, and holiness.

God's Masterpiece on January 5, 2023

1/5/2023

"Your attitude colors every aspect of your life. It is like the mind's paintbrush."

~John C. Maxwell

The Florida panhandle and the Gulf Coast can get hit with hurricanes, but this view and 70 degrees in January is why people stay. Wow! That is simply stunning. The sailboat was just an added bonus.