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The Preaching, Teaching, & Healing Ministry of Christ

3/27/2021

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Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  As we enter into another Holy Week that seems far from "normal," I probably have more questions than answers.  However, these questions, and lack of answers, are impacting your life and mine.  We have now surpassed a year into "two weeks to flatten the curve."  Will you participate in Holy Week services in person?

I probably spend more time on social media than I should.  However, it keeps me looking at things from a variety of angles as I read the differing viewpoints on almost any topic imaginable.  Let's face it.  There is no staying out of politics.  Politics has inserted itself into every facet of our lives.  The topic does not matter.  It is now political.

Why does any of this matter from a faith perspective?  First of all, I would ask how many times have you heard that the Church should stay out of politics?  If every moral issue is now a political football, how can the Church stay out of politics?  It impacts what we teach, how we pray, and how we serve as we continue the preaching, teaching, and healing ministry of Christ.

There are many issues in modern society that are viewed through the ideological lens of the political party one more closely aligns with on a regular basis.  Thus, even a simple press conference generates polar opposite viewpoints and assessments.  One party states that it was so good to have a respectable person addressing reporters versus the last four years.  The other party sees an individual who is in mental and physical decline.  They are fearful of our enemies taking advantage of us due to a diminished person in the White House.  Some even said that it is elder abuse in the way the president is being handled.  (Are there any "mandatory reporters" in Washington who feel a sense of dilemma at this situation?)  Same press conference--totally opposite conclusions.

Wearing a mask--is it helpful or is it not? 
Social distancing--yes or no?  (As an introvert--yes!)
The vaccine--yes or no?

You have all seen the news clips.  People getting into brawls over mask-wearing no longer seems unusual.  Social distancing--I am sure my readers in Missouri remember the national headlines being made by people having fun at the Lake of the Ozarks last summer.  The question was somewhat humorous last year, but seems more daunting a year later.  "Will the government let us out of lock down so we can celebrate our independence on July 4?"  Will "Party Cove" make national headlines again this year?

The vaccine has many issues attached to it.  First of all, who gets credit for it?  Depending upon who is addressing the issue, credit goes to either the previous administration or the current one.  Wow! Imagine that.

Is the vaccine harmful?  Was it made with aborted fetal tissue?  Will it make me infertile? (People who have read the information posted on the website of the Bill Gates Foundation understand why this question needs to be asked.  Others just think it is a crazy question.)  If we are honest, it is now difficult to ascertain what is medical science and what is politics (or business).  Who has earned substantial profits from the vaccine and all of the personal protective equipment sold in the last year?

All of these things matter in regard to the impact on the Church and God's people.  We missed last Easter.  There are still locations that are going to miss Easter this year too.  Some are limiting space, requiring advance sign-ups, etc.  Once again, one side generally approves of safety at any cost.  The other side worries about the loss  of freedom and the increased control and power of the government over our inalienable rights.

I have touched on the topic of mental health many times during the course of the pandemic.  The isolation and lack of support from the usual people, places, and things in our lives has had a detrimental effect on the mental well-being of a lot of people.  The anecdotal stories abound.  Hard statistics will show up eventually down the road.  We will feel the consequences of the pandemic for years to come on multiple levels.

My questions for Church leadership remain the same:

1. When will we open up our Catholic hospitals and nursing homes to allow families to visit more openly?  Dying from loneliness and isolation cannot continue to be tolerated out of fear of the virus.  I have even heard of a person being on hospice with a week to ten days to live, and the family still struggled to be allowed in to see their loved one.  Seriously?

2. How will we start resuming faithfully teaching and preaching God's Word in more than a live-stream format?  When will we resume retreats, days of recollection, and parish missions again?

3.  This Holy Week, I have one overarching question. Do we believe in the power of Almighty God?  If so, let's start living like we truly believe it.

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The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

3/25/2021

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Numerous items popped up on my "memories" for today.  Five years ago, March 25, 2016, was Good Friday.  In 2021, we have an opportunity to celebrate The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.  March 25 marks nine months until December 25 when we celebrate the birth of the Lord.

The more I reflected upon the photos from 2016, I could not help but ponder how the two events--the Annunciation and Good Friday--are so closely connected.  Jesus came into the world through Mary for Good Friday and Easter.

We enter into Holy Week this coming Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday.  The annunciation by the angel to Mary that she would bear the Savior of the world set things in motion in a dramatic way in the course of salvation history.  We celebrate that event today.  I invite you to reflect upon the connectedness of these two events.

To all of the good people at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming, thank you for being faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ.  I continue to treasure all the memories in which I had the opportunity to pray with you.


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Laetare Sunday--I Guess We Rejoice For The Moisture

3/14/2021

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Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log? There are still five frogs on the log. There is a difference between deciding to do something and actually doing it.

We are beyond the half
-way point of the season of Lent for 2021. What resolutions did you make at the beginning of this journey on Ash Wednesday? Did you decide to do something penitential? If so, did you follow through with actions on those decisions?

Whatever your answer to the previous questions, the next one is even more pertinent. How will you finish out
the season of Lent? When The Sacred Triduum arrives, will you be able to look back at your Lenten pilgrimage and see definitive evidence of spiritual growth?

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as
Laetare Sunday. We are rejoicing because we are starting to sense the beauty of Easter in the midst of our Lenten pilgrimage.

This Sunday has also been referred to by some other
names as well. Refreshment Sunday is an appealing name that has been used in the past. The Sunday of the Five Loaves comes from the miracle of the boy with loaves and fishes in the Gospel of John. The Fourth Sunday of Lent was also previously observed as Mothering Sunday, in reference to Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, where the faithful are called “sons and daughters of God”. Whatever title you prefer for today, how does it enhance your commitment to prayer, study, and action?

Many blessings to each of you for a fruitful continuation of your Lenten pilgrimage!

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I was notified at 6:00 A.M. this morning that Masses were canceled for today.  I made the decision to get up and start shoveling the driveway.  As I started shoveling, the snow started coming down again.  After ten minutes, I decided to call it good.  (I guess I am a frog still sitting on the log.)

Someone told me to "find joy in the snow".  Maybe it is easier to find the joy if you are not the one shoveling it or driving to work in it.  I would still prefer to take my chances with an occasional hurricane in the warm air of South Florida.

To my readers in the West--stay safe!

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"Zeal For Your House Will Consume Me!"

3/8/2021

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Yesterday's Gospel still has one line repeating itself in my head, "Zeal for your house will consume me."  Has the past year increased my zeal for the Lord's house because of the societal shutdown, or has the absence of the sacraments for this extended period of time diminished my desire to receive them?  How would you answer that question?

Do you realize that last year, the second week in March, was the last week we experienced what would later be referred to as "normalcy"?  We are now 51 weeks into, "Two weeks to flatten the curve."  Who would have ever guessed that our world would have been turned upside down like this by a virus?

We missed Lent and Easter in our churches last year.  Many churches are still requiring reservations for the upcoming celebration of Easter in 2021.  Limited capacities due to social distancing requirements will be the norm in many locations.  After two consecutive years of limited opportunities to celebrate the greatest feast of the year, will the population simply grow accustomed to virtual religion?  Will we lose our zeal for God's house?

The photo above was taken this morning in Orlando, Florida and sent to me.  It shows the zeal of people desiring to be inside the Magic Kingdom.  In some regard, this fills me with hope.  There may a come a time when we actually resume living with less fear and more vibrancy.  As states "open up," and life resumes some sense of returning to what used to be, will our churches experience overflow crowds?  Will people be waiting in line at Easter to get into church, or will that be more the norm for amusement parks and stadiums rather than churches?
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    This is my personal blog.  The opinions expressed are those of Deacon Vernon and the blog's readers.  This site operates independently and is not affiliated with any other entity. The information I provide is on an "as-is" basis. I make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information on this blog. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. Furthermore, I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.

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