Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Where Are You Going?

8/30/2018

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
~Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

Do you remember the old saying admonishing us to pay attention to the processes of life? While there is debate about who should get credit for the quote, I share it here for your reflection. It went something like this.

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.

How are you spending your days? What habits have you formed? What does this reveal about your "true self?"

My encouragement to you today is simple:

1. Think holy thoughts.
2. Speak in a charitable manner.
3. Act with reverence toward God and others.
4. Instill these things by developing the habit of a faithful prayer life.
5. Let your character reflect the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
6. Recognize that your eternal destiny is with God.

"He Must Increase; I Must Decrease."

8/29/2018

John the Baptist summed it up quite well. (See John 3: 30) As we liturgically celebrate the Memorial of the Passion (Beheading) of John the Baptist, it is a good time for each of us to reflect upon our own journey of faith. What price are we willing to pay to follow Jesus?

"This saying Is Hard; Who Can Accept It?"

8/28/2018

Celebrating the Memorial of St. Augustine today and the Memorial of St. Monica yesterday has prompted me to spend a little more time in prayer and reflection. St. Augustine's journey of faith captures my attention. The description of his younger days when he was seeking chastity and continence--but not yet--is a sentiment that probably rings true with most of us in one way or another. We may not all experience the same type of temptations, but we each probably have areas in our lives that are a struggle to remain free from sin. It is a simple question. Are we truly seeking holiness right now? If we are saying quietly--not yet--what are we waiting for? The time to be a saint is now.

In my many struggles through life, I have grown in gratitude for all the imitators of St. Monica. I know that I have been blessed by the prayers and sacrifices of others. What difference would it make in our world if we all prayed and sacrificed for one another with true humility and endless perseverance?

In last weekend's Gospel we heard about many of the disciples of Jesus returning to their former way of life. "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" The disciples simply could not grasp how Jesus could give them his body to eat and his blood to drink. Seeing their reaction "Jesus then said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?'"

Unfortunately, based upon statistical data, it appears that many Catholics today have made the decision to no longer accompany Jesus either. They do not come to the Eucharistic sacrifice and partake of the great gift given to us by our Lord.

For those who do attend Mass regularly, is there full, conscious, and active participation? Is there joy at being able to gather as a community of believers to receive the Lord in Word and in Sacrament?

Chapter six of John's Gospel is something we should read over and over again so that it can sink in and permeate every fiber of our being. It gives us the opportunity to allow God's grace to wash over us so that we truly grow in our love for the Eucharist. I firmly believe this is a profound key to our holiness.

Sharing in the Eucharistic celebration equips us for mission. In the second reading this weekend (Sep. 2, 2018) we will hear, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves." Quite simply, we put our faith into action.

My dear readers, I pray for holiness for each of us. Let us keep ourselves "unstained by the world." Let us be people of integrity who live authentic Christian lives. May the example of St. Augustine and St. Monica impact each of us in the unique ways we need to grow in holiness!

"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
O Lord, may these words from the prophet Isaiah not apply to us.

Diocese of Charleston Deacon Day Of Prayer

8/27/2018

I made my first visit to the chancery in Charleston on Saturday. Margaret and I attended a diaconate day of prayer. It was quite impressive to see a large gathering of deacons and their wives. We had the opportunity to meet many people and start making connections around the diocese.

The Chapel At The Chancery

The Chancery Sits Next to the Marsh

Friday Night Fun--Visitors From Missouri

8/26/2018

Our first visitors to Hilton Head Island arrived on Friday. While it was a short visit, we had the pleasure of meeting up for dinner at the Boathouse. It was exciting to share some memories and make new ones at the same time.

We chose to dine outside. While the fans kept the air moving, it was still a little on the warm side. The bugs stayed away until our food arrived. Imagine that! Staying indoors and enjoying the air conditioning would have brought some benefits, but being outside near the water brings a very different atmosphere as well.

This was the start to a full weekend. A trip to Charleston was on tap for Saturday for a diaconate day of prayer. I will write more about that later in a separate post. Religious education classes were scheduled to meet for the first time on Sunday morning. As I write this in the early afternoon on Sunday, the morning classes are complete but I still have youth group and a parent meeting for the Sacrament of Confirmation on tap for later this afternoon and evening.

In this weekend's liturgies we heard the last from chapter six of the Gospel of John. We will return to the Gospel of Mark next weekend. How has the "Bread of Life" discourse impacted you over these last five weekends?

Photographers Capturing The Blessings Of God

8/23/2018

As the sun sets and the evening light softens, the professional photographers suddenly appear on the scene. Engagement photos, family photos, senior pictures, and publicity shots can all find a common backdrop on the beach. As a newcomer to this type of scene, I was fascinated as I watched several photographers each pursuing their individual handiwork.

Two of the photographers were working near where I was sitting on the beach. One was with this couple above. Another was working with a family of five. The family of five (with three small children) walked hand in hand at the edge of the water. Getting all five to look at the camera simultaneously while walking seemed to be easier said than done. The photographer's assistant walked in the water alongside the family holding lighting equipment. (Could it be that I was watching and waiting for a big wave to come in and dismantle the process quite suddenly?) The poses, the different lighting methods used, and the excitement of the people involved made for an interesting evening of people watching.

We are fortunate to experience beautiful moments and milestones in our lives. Let us give God thanks and praise for the many blessings!

Would You Canoe In A Place Like This?

8/22/2018

Would you be afraid of tipping over in this type of water? What type of critters are just below the surface of the water? I have only been in a canoe once in my life, and I was far from being steady. Would I be willing to to go canoeing in the state of Louisiana in a place like this? Not a chance!

It takes practice for us to strengthen skills. Athletics, water sports, music, business, artistic endeavors, and a multitude of other things require learning. We don't become masters of anything without doing the hard work. We study, we observe, we practice. In this way we develop proficiency skills at the particular task at hand.

The spiritual journey is no different. We typically don't become saints in a flash, although some people like St. Paul had dramatic experiences when they encountered God. Being holy requires practice and perseverance. It requires study to learn. It requires sacrifice. It requires prayer. How do we learn to pray? We learn by actually praying.

If I had to canoe in the water pictured above, I would start by practicing in a nice clear lake. Once I had developed my skills sufficiently I may be willing to go to someplace like this if there was a good reason for doing so.

The Church is finding itself in some yucky water like this right now with the new revelations from the Pennsylvania Grand Jury. It will be tough paddling for a while. However, for those of us accustomed to the spiritual battle, we can canoe safely and surely through these murky waters. Let us keep our eyes focused on Christ.

St. Peter's Catholic Church--Beaufort, South Carolina

8/21/2018

After seeing the address of 70 Lady's Island Drive, I was surprised that the church did not have a Marian name. However, St. Peter's Catholic Church is quite an appropriate name as well. The campus is beautiful, and it is obvious that Catholicism is flourishing in the low country of South Carolina.

The church is in the background with the large wooden doors.

This outdoor space made the address of "Our Lady's Island" seem well-suited.

I do not generally like attending meetings, but today's meeting with other DREs (Director of Religious Education) from the deanery was very nice. This adventure to a new area (about an hour away from Hilton Head) and meeting new people was helpful in getting to know the dynamics of faith formation in the region. I am grateful for the genuine welcome I am receiving from many different areas of ministry.

How are you building up the Kingdom in your local parish? Are you involved in faith formation is some way, shape, or fashion?

Leadership Has Lost Credibility--Church Is Still Holy

8/21/2018

"The Church remains the Body of Christ and the source of holiness despite the sins of her members."
~Jeff Mirus

The news recently coming out from Pennsylvania (and other places) has been difficult to digest. I could not even bear to read the whole grand jury report from Pennsylvania. Certain snippets were plenty to make my stomach churn. How could these atrocities have happened within the Church--"the pillar and foundation of Truth"?

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we celebrate The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the Octave of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It may be a good time for us to truly seek Mary's intercession and follow her sound guidance to "Do whatever He tells you."

I chose this particular photo (above) because of the Alpha and Omega symbols. It is a good reminder that we put our trust in the Lord--the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Thankfully, we know that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.

St. Francis by the Sea--Education and Formation

8/20/2018

Is summer vacation really over? How can that be? The public schools on Hilton Head Island went back to class today. St. Francis Catholic School students will head back tomorrow (Tuesday).

I had the pleasure of meeting many of the St. Francis teachers last week during their faculty in-service days. They are full of energy and ready to go. It is a tremendous blessing to see the dedication and commitment among Catholic school teachers across the country. Thank you for your ministry.

I had a meeting with all of the catechists and their aides last week in preparation for the start of parish religious education classes. We begin this Wednesday evening. I am eager to get the ball rolling.

My predecessor set everything up well, and I am extremely grateful for her diligence. The majority of the catechists are experienced while some are new to the ministry. Others are simply new to the parish, but are well-versed in catechetical methodologies because of their experience in previous parishes. It is a blessing to see parishioners willing to give of themselves so generously. It is going to be a terrific year as we experience the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit move among us.

How do you plan to grow in your faith journey in the days ahead?