Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Nature's Own Black and White Photo

2/12/2018

I kept the roadway in the picture so that you could see that it was a color photograph. However, nature certainly provided an opportunity to take a black and white photo this morning without altering the settings on the camera. The frozen fog that seems to be happening on a repeated basis creates beautiful scenery, but the six degree temperature makes me not want to stay outside very long to enjoy it.

When you discern certain decisions in life, do you ever wish that things were simply black or white? It can be difficult at times to clearly discern God's will for us because there are frequently many possibilities from which to choose. Weighing the pros and cons will take us to a particular point, but what do we do when the options appear closely matched in regard to the number of pros and cons? How do we finally make that decision with as much clarity as possible?

Consider these factors:
1. Have you prayed about the decision?
2. How has God moved in your life in the past when making decisions?
3. Is this current circumstance consistent with that previous experience?
4. Is the decision in line with the commandments of God?
5. Can you move forward in peace if you choose one option over another?

Our decisions in life are not always easy. Very little in our world seems to be black and white. Thankfully, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit can empower us to see clearly the will of God. How frequently do we ask for a release of those gifts in our lives? Walking in faith requires a vibrant prayer life. How will your prayer life grow during this Lenten journey? It begins in two days. Make preparations now.

This is the same photo with the roadway cropped out.

World Day of the Sick--Our Lady of Lourdes

2/11/2018

In a letter dated May 13, 1992, Pope John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This is a day very near and dear to my own heart because of my own experience of suffering. St. Pope John Paul II described the day well when he stated that the World Day of the Sick is "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying, and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind."

While the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time takes precedence over the usual feast that falls on this day, it is still a good opportunity to reflect upon Our Lady of Lourdes and the many miraculous events connected with this feast. I encourage you to take some extra time in prayer today lifting up all those in your families who are sick.

World Marriage Day is also celebrated today. Our society is stronger when married people are building families centered on solid Truth, Jesus Christ. May God's grace flow abundantly so that the domestic Church, the family, will flourish in love, patience, and holiness!

Is Your Faith Built On Solid Rock?

2/10/2018

Today was the ninth annual retreat that I have led for the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) candidates and their team members here in Cheyenne. {It is hard to believe that I am in my ninth year of ministry here in the Diocese of Cheyenne. Time does go by more quickly as you get older.}

I want to thank St. Joseph's Parish for hosting this event each year. Your hospitality and generosity is truly appreciated.

All three parishes from the city were represented in attendance at today's retreat. I truly enjoy spending this time with those who are preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil. This annual event is also a great boost to my own preparation for the season of Lent. As I challenge those who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, I am also challenging myself. Is my own faith built on solid rock?

PLANNING AHEAD:
Tomorrow is World Day of the Sick. Although the Sunday celebration takes precedence over the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, it is still good to remember in prayer all those who are sick.

My reflection question today is this:
When is your presence a source of healing to others?

Lenten Book Discussion Groups--Thank You

2/9/2018

I am grateful to those of you who are initiating book discussion groups in your parish during Lent utilizing my book as the source of discussion. Feel free to copy and paste the "Book Discussion Guide" found here on my website for your use. I wish I would have thought to include such a tool in the book itself, but it was something that never crossed my mind until a reader suggested it. That was another learning moment for me.

The positive feedback that I am getting from people who have finished reading the book is quite humbling. We each have a story, and I am glad that I have been able to help others reflect more deeply on their own stories. Prayer and reflection helps us grow. If my book helps you do those two things a little bit better, it has indeed been a successful project.

Have a grace-filled Lenten journey! (Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday.)

Cold, Lukewarm, Or Sizzling Hot Beyond Description

2/9/2018

Dense fog and a 19 degree temperature created a winter wonderland this morning in the Cheyenne area. The 100% humidity seems to be setting the stage for us to receive snow later today and tomorrow. (For the sake of this blog post just picture yourself as being cold for the moment.)

As we prepare to enter the season of Lent in just five days, have you given any thought as to how you will make this 40-day journey a productive and holy experience? If your faith is as cold as the Wyoming wind, what will you do to heat it up? If you are lukewarm, how will you bring it to a sizzle? If you are on fire with love for the Lord, how will you sustain that love? Basically, how do you intend to cooperate with God's grace during this Lenten season to bring yourself to the next level in regard to your faith development?

Here are a few questions for reflection to help you discern where you are right now in your spiritual quest:

1. Are you making time for daily personal prayer?
2. Are you participating well in the Sunday Eucharistic Liturgy?
3. Are you receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently?
4. Are you seeking opportunities for conversion?
5. Are you serving others willingly?

Will your answers to those five questions impact your decision as to whether or not to make any Lenten resolutions? If you are going to make resolutions, how will your answers to these questions shape those commitments?

Condense it down to three categories if that makes it easier. Obviously, your approach to these things will vary according to your state in life. (A young couple with small children running through the house will not find it as advantageous to hope for quiet meditation as will an older couple whose children have all grown and moved out.)

PRAYER
STUDY
ACTION

PRAYER
What prayer experiences do you want to have during Lent? In addition to participating regularly in the sacramental life of the Church, what else do you intend to do? Suggestions--go on a retreat; pray the Stations of the Cross each week; pray with the Scriptures every day; pray the rosary every day; spend time each day or each week in front of the Blessed Sacrament; go to Mass during the week when possible if that is not currently a practice you have; spend time in quiet and meditation each day. My encouragement is to not let this season pass you by without growing in your discipline of having a vibrant prayer life.

STUDY
What do you want to learn during Lent? Will you study a portion of the Catechism? Will you take a class on an aspect of your faith that you wish to understand more fully? Will you study the Sacred Scriptures? Will you study something about the liturgy--maybe with a focus on Holy Week and the Triduum? Bottom line--how will you grow in your knowledge of the faith during this holy season of Lent? This academic pursuit is not just to make you smart. It is to lead you into deeper prayer and a deeper love for God.

ACTION
How will you put your faith into action? Let's start at home. How will you serve those right in your own home during the season of Lent? Give that some serious thought.

ACTION CONTINUED
Will you serve the poor in a very intentional way during Lent? Will you visit someone who is sick or homebound? Do you have a talent that you could share with those in a nursing home? Once again, our state in life will dictate how much time we can invest in some of these types of outreach. However, I challenge you to look at your life in the overall context of question number 5 written above. Are you serving others willingly? Put it into the framework of life at home. Do you fold the laundry joyfully? Do you take out the trash exuberantly? Do you wash the dishes with gusto? Okay. Let me rephrase the question. Do we at least do these things without grumbling? These are all opportunities to seek conversion--right in our own home.

Read Revelation (last book of the Bible) 3:15-16. It talks about what happens when we are lukewarm in our faith. Let's bring our faith to a sizzle during this Lenten season! Do you need a visual? How about this?

If you have ever ordered a "skillet meal" at a restaurant, you know the sizzle that accompanies it.

An Awesome Evening @ St. Patrick's Parish in Casper

2/8/2018

Come Holy Spirit! I had the privilege of being with the confirmation candidates, their parents, and sponsors yesterday evening at St. Patrick's Parish in Casper, Wyoming. It doesn't get any better than having the opportunity to teach about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The impact on our lives is phenomenal when we cooperate with God's amazing grace and allow the Holy Spirit to truly move among us.

I arrived in Casper early enough to spend some time in the adoration chapel before conducting the evening workshop. What a blessing it is to the life of a parish when we have someone constantly and consistently praying for our needs in front of the Blessed Sacrament. To all of you who faithfully spend time in the adoration chapel--thank you!

As I left the adoration chapel I noticed that the choir members had gathered in church for practice. What a blessing it is that our music ministers give so generously of their time and talent to help all of us worship more fully on Sunday. Your preparation and rehearsal benefits us profoundly. You probably don't hear it frequently enough, but I want to say, "Thank you."

I passed by the gymnasium on the way to the classroom where we were going to be gathering for the evening. I glanced through the window and was able to see that the Shalom Prayer Group was together for their regular session. The praise and worship of a faithful charismatic prayer group is a tremendous blessing to a parish. (I know first-hand that the praise music of this group certainly lifts out hearts, minds, and voices to Almighty God.) Thank you for your prayer. Thank you for your music ministry.

St. Patrick's Parish in Casper, Wyoming--may God continue to move powerfully in your midst! Keep up the good work. Thank you for inviting me to be a small part of it.

How Do You Respond To A Feeling of Emptiness?

2/7/2018

The challneges and difficulties of life are real. How do we respond when we are going through tough patches in life? How do feelings of loneliness and emptiness impact our spiritual journey? Maybe more importantly, how does our spirituality impact our feelings of loneliness and emptiness? (The marina pictured above obviously looks a little empty compared to what it looks like in the summer. We all experience seasonal changes in life.)

I have recently been preparing a presentation for candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This gathering will also include their parents and sponsors as well. Through my preparation, prayer, and study I have been renewed and energized about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even in the darkest moments of life we are never alone.

It is time to hit the road as I head to St. Patrick's Parish in Casper, Wyoming to explore more deeply the beauty and magnificence of God's Holy Spirit in our lives. Looking forward to a wonderful evening.

Next up on the agenda--the city-wide RCIA retreat this Saturday at St. Joseph's Parish here in Cheyenne. This will be my ninth consecutive year of leading this retreat. I love this time of year. Get ready for Lent. It is just around the corner.

Confirmation @ F. E. Warren Air Force Base

2/6/2018

Congratulations to the five young men and women who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last night at F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. (I did not get a new picture so this photo from 2014 will have to suffice.) I am grateful when I receive the invitation to assist in these liturgies on the base. Sharing in these milestone celebrations with our military families is indeed a privilege that I do not take for granted.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio recently marked his ten year anniversary as Archbishop of the Military Services. I appreciate his service in this challenging role. The archdiocesan website states:

On Thursday, 25 January, Archbishop Broglio celebrates ten years as Archbishop for the Military Services, providing spiritual guidance for Catholics in the United States armed forces worldwide, VA Medical Centers across the country, civilian federal and government contract jobs beyond American borders, and their families.

That is a huge amount of territory for the archbishop to cover.

May all of our military personnel, and the clergy who serve them, be filled with God's grace.

Super Bowl Sunday--A Nation In Need Of Healing

2/4/2018

I realize that a photo of a football stadium may seem like the appropriate thing for Super Bowl Sunday, but this shot of Devils Tower was sent to me this morning with the caption of -3 temperature and -18 windchill factor. It seemed like a good photo to use instead.

As I looked at social media this morning I was even more convinced that Devils Tower may really be an appropriate photo for today. There seems to be seeds of division being sown by the evil one. Here are just a few samples (in my own words) that ran across my news feed.

Are you going to be a "good American" and boycott the Super Bowl since the flag and military have been repeatedly disrespected by the players throughout the regular season?

Why are the Marines running an advertisement during the Super Bowl after a 30 year absence? Don't they feel disrespected from the anthem protests?

Why wouldn't executives run the advertisement for the veterans in regard to challenging (inviting) folks to stand for the anthem?

How will the half-time show disgrace us?

If a football game doesn't bring enough controversy in and of itself, you can always look to politics for filler material. The State of the Union speech, the released memo, Russian collusion, government shutdown potential, immigration, and on and on the list of possibilities goes.

Nancy Pelosi never ceases to provide material as well. Will the "crumbs" from the tax cut meany anything to us?

We are a divided nation, and that division is displayed on many different levels. It has filtered into our schools, places of employment, our church congregations, and of course, into the sports and entertainment industry. The seeds of division have been sown widely.

What can we learn from Devils Tower?

The Native Americans have a spiritual and cultural connection with the area known as Devils Tower. Some of the tribes refer to it by other names such as "Bear's Tipi", "Bear's House", "Bear's Lodge", or "Bear Peak". Still others refer to it as "Tree Rock", "Grey Horn Butte", or "Ghost Mountain". Reading the history is quite fascinating as to the significance of this sacred place.

What did I personally learn from my reading today?

Different names and cultural traditions do not necessarily indicate division. Maybe Devils Tower has something to teach us about coming together as a people with respect and honor. I think we as a nation, and the National Football League, could learn something from the history behind Devils Tower.

The caption on the National Park Service website sums it up well:
The Tower: Many People; Many Stories, One Place

"One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Lenten Parish Mission in Newcastle, Wyoming

2/3/2018

We are just one month away from the Lenten Parish Mission in Newcastle, Wyoming. I am looking forward to preaching at Mass for the first time in Newcastle, as well as in the mission communities of Hulett, Sundance, and Upton. We will break open God's Word and invite the Holy Spirit to set our hearts on fire so that zeal for the Lord's house will indeed consume us.