Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Have a Blessed New Year!

12/31/2021

Abby Gillis of AG Photography in Cheyenne, Wyoming recently gave a generous gift to my staff. We were given a photo shoot to enable us to update our profiles on the website. Abby took many photos during our session, and each of us were given multiple choices of poses and backgrounds from which to choose. While I chose a colored photo for the website (see below), my favorite shot was this black and white one (above).

What is it about a black and white photo? Is it a fond memory from when all of our photos were black and white? (Yes, I am that old.) Is it the softness that the photo brings? Is it the comfort I feel because many of the skin blemishes and flaws are kept concealed? I realize that the many surgeries, the chemo drugs, and age itself are all catching up with me. It is not a big secret that I am getting older. As the saying goes, "Some people age like fine wine. I am aging like sour milk." Actually, as I look back and recognize that 35 years of my six decades of life have been as a cancer survivor, I am okay with the scars, blemishes, and other physical abnormalities that accompany such a difficult journey.

I try to end every year, and begin the new year, in a spirit of prayer. While I find it more and more challenging to stay up until midnight, I still yearn to enter into that new year praying. As one meme on social media put it, "Raise your left foot just before the stroke of midnight. You want to make sure you start the new year off on the right foot." Being immersed in prayer is the right foot in which to start the new year.

I invite you to look back through the years on my previous posts from New Year's Eve to see the many prayer intentions I bring to the Lord on this particular night. Also, please know that the readers of these pages are always remembered in my prayers throughout the year.

Have a blessed 2022! May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always!

This is the finished product. The photographer can only work so much magic with the subject.

One of my co-workers captured the scene as it was happening.

Faith and Freedom--Pray for Our Nation

12/30/2021

Superman stands tall in Metropolis, Illinois. As I witness our nation struggling on so many different levels with truth, justice, and morality, I think back to watching this TV show in my youth. Superman was always able to make goodness and righteousness prevail. We could certainly use a dose of that now.

"Let freedom ring." There are some people who have labeled me a conspiracy theorist from time to time when I talk about the loss of freedom in our country. I attempt to share my concerns based upon historical precedent. Why was the American experiment of government established? What brought us to that moment in time? What does it mean for us today?

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
~ Thomas Jefferson (it may have also been Patrick Henry, Junius, or Wendell Phillips.)

"A patriot must be ready to defend his country from his government."
~Edward Abbey, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Page 19)

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
~Ronald Reagan

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
~Gerald R. Ford

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
~Attributed to Thomas Jefferson, (Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, and others?)

Do you remember the HHS Mandate requiring Catholics to violate their conscience in providing abortion services in their healthcare plans? Do you remember lawsuits involving the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations because of this mandate? We were told, "It is for the common good."

Do the vaccine passports now worry you any at all? Major cities are requiring you to "show your papers" to go into a restaurant, bar, or gym. We are told, "It is for the common good."

Are you bothered in the least that aborted fetal cells were used in the development of the of the gene therapy products (more typically called the COVID vaccine)? We are told, "It is for the common good."

Are you concerned at all that as of December 30, 2021, there have been 725,362 reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in regard to the COVID vaccines. Why is it that any time a member of the medical community begins to speak out about these concerns regarding the safety, or lack thereof, of the vaccine, he/she is immediately silenced and canceled? I don't typically quote NFL football players, but Aaron Rodgers recently had a good point. "Science that cannot be questioned is propaganda." We are simply told, "The vaccine is for the common good."

All of these things combined lead to my deep concerns about the churches closing without the slightest resistance in March of 2020. The moral voice of the Church has been a huge factor throughout history in helping to keep our government accountable in at least some small fashion. When the voice of the Church is silenced, by force or by choice, our nation is in serious moral and ethical trouble. In my opinion, that is where we find ourselves today. Government bureaucrats and Church leadership echoed the same refrain about the closing of the churches. "It is for the common good."

Go ahead and call me a conspiracy theorist, but losing our freedom one mandate at a time is not for the common good. Please pray for our nation, and stand up for liberty!

Who Follows You?

12/29/2021

I was scrolling through my December posts from each year since I started blogging. These photos appeared when I reached December 29, 2015. I had gone for a walk and the neighbor's two little goats followed me home.

My wife snapped a few photos of the goats while I remained outside with them. I eventually walked them back to their home.

Today, I invite you to give some thought to the word "influence." Who do you influence? Who follows you?

Seeing these photos reminded me of two things.
1. Time passes quickly. It was six years ago when this incident took place. It feels like yesterday.
2. We each have a circle of influence. People pay attention to what we say and do. Do our words and actions build up the Kingdom of God? People may not follow us as eagerly as these goats followed me, but our presence impacts others. Are we using our influence for good?

Okay--only a couple of days left in 2021. Make the most of it!

American Freedom Is On Life Support--Pull the Plug?

12/28/2021

This tweet from the Mayor of Chicago on December 21 follows on the heels of the "Good News" article published by Cardinal Blase Cupich in Chicago on December 15.

www.chicagocatholic.com/cardinal-blase-j.-cupich/-/article/2021/12/15/getting-the-covid-19-vaccine-is-a-moral-imperative

How did we ever get to this point? Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a moral imperative? How and why has Church leadership aligned themselves so closely with the government bureaucrats who used the virus and societal chaos as an opportunity to sideline the Church by placing the label on it, "nonessential"?

When will as much effort be expended in Chicago to look at the root causes of the shootings weekend after weekend? Don't bother answering with the words "gun control." Chicago has many restrictions on lawful people. Unfortunately, criminals don't seem to abide by those rules. What role is the Church playing in trying to curb the violence in Chicago (and other major metropolitan areas)?

There have been 12,385 COVID deaths in Cook County. (Of course, we also have to question the legitimacy of information placed on death certificates. We have seen that it pays to have people die of COVID.) I would like to know how many of these individuals had co-morbidities. While it is a significant number of people that have died, more details are necessary to put it into a proper context.

On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, I think we should look at the statistics of the modern day Holy Innocents. How many deaths by abortion have occurred in Cook County (Chicago, Illinois area) since 1973? There have been 38,000 to 53,000 abortions per year in between 1995 and 2018 according to the stats listed on Illinois Department of Public Health website. Where is the outcry over this level of death and destruction? Those numbers makes the COVID statistics pale in comparison.

dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics/vital-statistics/abortion-statistics

What statements have been made in the last two days by public officials or Church leadership in regard to the death of Sarah Weddington on Sunday? How did her role as an attorney in the Roe versus Wade case shape America? It seems that as the Church celebrates today's Feast of the Holy Innocents, there would be some comment about the state of affairs in our society that refuses to protect children in the womb.

I ask these questions because I am trying to understand how we reached the point of Church leadership declaring the experimental jab a "moral imperative" while also giving abortion, weekend shootings, and other violence a gentle pass. It just doesn't add up.

It also seems that the loss of freedom on many different levels is of no concern to those in authority. History lessons clearly indicate that this will not end well.

Let's continue:

The tweet below is from the official account of the City of Boston.

The campaign to create fear, which was orchestrated by the politicians and the cooperative media, has worked beyond all imagination. If anything, it has been a great history lesson for all of us too young to remember World War II. More than once I have heard the question asked, "How could the Germans just stand by and watch a dictator take over the country?" Now we are watching in real time just how easily a society can be manipulated into relinquishing freedom for a small portion of safety.

"Fact Checkers" became a thing. Really? These basement dwellers were allowed to censor the President of the United States. I don't care what you thought of the previous president, but seeing him shut out of social media by a conglomerate with their own agenda should send ripples of fear and concern among the rest of us. If the most powerful position in the country can be squelched in such a manner, what do you think can happen to the rest of us peasants far, far below?

Let me ask a few basic questions regarding current circumstances in our country based upon what has transpired since March of 2020. So let's start each question like this:

In the last 22 months (almost two years),

1. has your trust in the government increased or decreased?
2. has your trust in the media increased or decreased?
3. has your trust in public health and Dr. Fauci increased or decreased?
4. has your confidence in the economy increased or decreased?
5. has it become more or less of a concern maintaining your constitutional freedoms?

Throughout history, the Church has been a guiding light for society. We were the voice of morality and reason. We helped shape the conscience of society. Sadly, our own failures have damaged our credibility in being the societal moral compass, and unfortunately, we seem to be floundering in finding our way back to being ambassadors for Christ. Let us pray for forgiveness, and seek the strength and perseverance we need to become beacons of light in a society enveloped by darkness. After all, we know that "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." May each of us reflect the Light of Christ brightly!

Romans 12:2 continues to speak to us in our current circumstances.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Are You A Work In Progress?

12/27/2021

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christmas Day is over, but the Octave of Christmas is in full swing. Celebrate well.

I recently had a chance to go into one of the historic buildings in downtown Cheyenne. I can only imagine the stories that would be told if those walls could talk. Some renovations are happening within the building, and as I looked at the work taking place, it was a reminder to me that we are all a work in progress. As 2022 approaches, have you thought about the ways you will pursue new growth in the coming year?

Let's face it. The last two years have been quite a challenge. How are you doing mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually? I am concerned about the well-being of people based upon what I see on social media. Here is one example of a post I saw over the weekend by a site called Wounded Butterfly. Credit for the quote is given to Jillian Medoff in "Hunger Point."

"My only relief is to sleep. When I'm sleeping, I'm not sad, I'm not angry, I'm not lonely, I'm nothing."

This post had over 36,800 shares this morning. It had received nearly 65,000 reactions, and it had 2,000 comments. I took the time to read many of the comments, and my heart aches for all those feeling such lonely desperation. I could summarize many of the sentiments with a couple of general statements:
1. I can't sleep, so I have no escape.
2. My dreams are haunted by the person who hurt me. I can't even find relief in sleep.

My dear people, we are finding ourselves in some difficult times. Please don't let politicians and media outlets unnecessarily divide us even more from one another. Stay strong. Invite the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit to permeate every fiber of your being!

Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (Luke 1:26-38)

12/23/2021

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!

Jesus comes to us in history, mystery, and glory. May the infancy narrative in Sacred Scripture (See Luke 1: 26-38) and the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary prepare your heart and mind for what we are about to celebrate!

Conformity To The Will of God (Romans 12:2)

12/22/2021

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

I invite you to read and meditate upon Romans 12:2. Are you more conformed to the world than you are to Christ?

Dwelling of Jesus on Our Altars (John 6:48)

12/21/2021

O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

My First (and only?) Speaking Engagement of 2022

12/20/2021

Teaching and preaching has been a huge part of my ministry for many years. I never imagined the level of opportunities that would come my way after ordination. I have also come to understand more fully the burden of responsibility that accompanies these opportunities and invitations. One Scripture passage that stays etched in my mind is this: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)

Any time I accept a speaking engagement, I immediately add that group or parish to my prayer intentions. I have no right to teach or preach in front of a group if I have not prayed for them. It is truly the Holy Spirit and Fire that will inflame the hearts of God's people. My role is to simply be an ambassador of Christ in whatever manner God calls me. The only way I can do that in any significant way is to be a person of prayer. I still have a lot of growing to do in this area, but I continue to seek God's grace and forgiveness for the failures on my part.

It has been a difficult two years on many different fronts. Sadly, many of my speaking engagements were canceled when the pandemic first came on the scene. There were parish missions, retreats, days of recollection, and a couple of workshop presentations all on my calendar. In the blink of an eye they were all removed. I was especially sad when we canceled the retreat with the diaconate community of the Diocese of Des Moines. I always appreciate the privilege to gather with my brother deacons and their wives.

I was able to get a number of engagements back on my calendar for 2021. Unfortunately, I also had to cancel several commitments when I contracted COVID in mid-August. I never imagined it would take me months to recover, but it did. More recently, I have turned down a few speaking requests to limit my exposure to other potential ailments. My wife was diagnosed with cancer while I was fighting off COVID. She is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and I am doing my best to not bring any type of illness into the house. Navigating the waters of these last two years has been a hit and miss proposition in a variety of ways.

The retreat advertised above has been on my calendar for quite some time. I did not cancel this one because it coincides with the approaching end of my wife's chemo treatments. I am hoping that we will begin to head toward healing and wholeness at that point in time. I also have a fondness in my heart for both the Cathedral Guild and the Bishop's Guild, and I did not want to cancel this commitment. These two groups supported my work for years when I was the Director of Pastoral Ministries for the Diocese of Cheyenne. I am grateful that I can give this small gift back to them for their dedicated service to the Church.

As you may have noticed in the title of this blog post, this is the only speaking engagement I have on my calendar for 2022. I am contemplating getting back into it a little more fully beginning with the Season of Lent. Lent has always been a busy time for me in regard to receiving speaking requests. As I look at the calendar, I see that Ash Wednesday is on March 2. That time will roll around before we know it. Thus, the time to begin planning is now.

Let me throw this out there. If your parish or group would like a Day of Recollection, a weekend retreat, or simply a one hour presentation at an event during Lent, feel free to contact me. (E-mail address is: [email protected]) I will tentatively start accepting a limited number of requests within Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Speaking engagements need to be within a reasonable driving distance at this point. What is reasonable? Let's put it at about four hours for a weekend engagement. This would allow travel as far north as Casper, Wyoming, as far west as Rawlins, Wyoming, as far east as Sidney, Nebraska, and as far south as Pueblo, Colorado.

(Once my wife gets a clean bill of health, I will then begin accepting more requests. I do not want to get on a crowded airplane until we reach the point where she is in less danger of catching something from me.)

Someone recently asked about the possibility of me leading a parish mission. This would currently only be feasible if you are located within about an hour (75 minute max) drive from Fort Collins, Colorado. A parish mission includes me preaching at all of the weekend Masses, and then giving three nightly presentations. I want to be able to commute back and forth from home. That is why I am limiting the distance to a certain geographic area.

If you are in doubt about whether or not to ask me to come speak to your parish or your group, contact me and let's discuss it. What do you want to achieve? Am I a good fit to help make that happen? Do I have the ability to travel to where you are located? These are things we can hash out pretty quickly.

I simply provide this information to let you know of my current situation and limited availability. Eventually, I hope to expand my availability immensely. Once that happens, I will be sure to let you know.

Have a wonderful finish to your Advent journey!

Holy Communion-The Word Became Flesh (John 6:35)

12/20/2021

O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

How does participating in the Sacramental Life of the Church make you stronger?

I encourage you to read the entirety of chapter 6 in John's Gospel. Do we truly believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life? (See John 6:35)