How Long O' Lord

This past Sunday I preached on the tragic events which took place in Paris just a few days ago.  I decided not to use any notes except for the official statement released by the Vatican later that day\morning.

It is not always easy to preach on such a sensitive topic and when you do so you are bound not to please everyone and homilies are not meant to please you but rather to invoke emotion and elicit a personal reflection that is what the Truth is supposed to do.  Anyway, here it is to the best of my recollection.

Good morning everyone.  I remember as a young child me and my dad had a deal worked out when it came to going to the movies.  We would go twice a month, one week it would be to see an Italian or some European film and then the next time an American film.  The theater we went to in Astoria Queens showed European films many of which I fell asleep at.  I remember one of those great directors, Franco Ziffirelli who directed Jesus of Nazareth, which he did in English, not Italian, a great movie which I really enjoyed.

There was a great scene in it in which Roman soldiers had come to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth and began to plunder and take the people’s food, money, and other resources just because they felt they could.  Israel was under Roman occupation at that time.  In the scene Jesus is about twelve years.  Ziffirelli took liberties with the scene, it’s nowhere in the Bible, yet I am glad he did it because it was powerful.  After the soldiers leave two young Jewish men fall to their knees and cry out, “Lord, how long before you come to help us, how long until you save us, have you abandoned us.”  The Jewish people were waiting a long time for their Messiah and in that waiting you could hear their plea and cry for help.  Not just a cry from these two men in the scene but all of humanity crying out to the Lord, “help us.”

Today we also await our Messiah, not like in the first coming, which we celebrate at Christmas but rather for His second coming in which we wait for Him to restore all things.  We live in a time in which we are asking the same thing, “Lord how long, have you abandoned us?”  In light of what happened in Paris and what has taken place in the last thirty years with terrorist attacks growing in number and other violent attacks growing in number we ask the same questions as those young Jewish men.

The times have changed indeed.  Talking about movies, thirty years ago when I was a kid, one guy would pay to get in and then go and open the emergency door to let in my other 10 buddies.  I do not condone this now, but I guess the Lord gave me a pass since I was quite young, but the time have changed, it’s no longer opening emergency doors to let in your buddies, but rather gunmen who come through those emergency doors gunning down innocent movie goers.

It’s not just these maddening violent crimes in movie theaters and schools, but also terrorists who go into concert halls, stadiums, restaurants, malls and other public places killing innocent people.  We cry out to the Lord, “How long!

The Vatican issued the following statement in regards to the terrorist attacks in Paris.

“Here in the Vatican we are following the terrible news from Paris. We are shocked by this new manifestation of maddening, terrorist violence and hatred which we condemn in the most radical way together with the Pope and all those who love peace. We pray for the victims and the wounded, and for all the French people. This is an attack on peace for all humanity, and it requires a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us as we counter the spread the homicidal hatred in all of its forms.”

This is strong language.  The Vatican is saying that a response needs to be given by all of us, one that counters the terrorists.  It is not the job of a priest, bishop or even the Pope to declare war or to condone strikes; we simply look at the moral possibilities.  The decision to counter with military action is up to the governments of those nations that will or will not decide such.  This, however, brings another question to mind.  Is there an official Church teaching about self defense or war?

There is a teaching that goes back to the Church fathers who throughout the centuries have taught that self-defense is permissible, even war.  St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas and many who came after expounded on a just war theory.  There are three basic elements involved, one) all forms of communication with the unjust aggressor (nation) have been exhausted, two) the war must be defensive in nature even if it’s a first strike against the enemy so long as it is not preventive, i.e. we will bomb them first because we think in ten years they will bomb us, and three) we must use and maintain appropriate means throughout the duration of the campaign, i.e. if someone throws a rock at you cannot retaliate with a nuclear weapon.  Would this theory apply to the terrorists, it very well could.

Please remember, however, that Jesus was not or ever was or will be in the war business.  Jesus is in the business of saving souls.  Again, the declaration of defense or war is made by politicians and leaders not the Church or its ministers; our number one goal is saving souls.  With that being said, even if war is declared Jesus still asks what seems like the impossible from us and that is that we pray for our enemies.

I must admit as a fellow human being that I have very mixed emotions, on the one hand I can picture in my mind the destruction and the eradication of the terrorists and to use any means possible, those were my first thoughts when watching the news that night along with my prayers for those killed and injured.  It was hard to fall asleep.  I had feelings of anger, sadness, even asking myself the same two questions the two young Jewish men asked, “How long O’ Lord, have you abandoned us?”

Then when I was able to calm down I began to reflect on Jesus’ life most notable His passion.  I wondered and was amazed again as I have been so many times before, how did this man remain silent when He was arrested, stripped, mocked, beaten and even tortured and then made to carry a cross and be nailed to it with not one bad word or condemnation coming from His lips.  Rather, He forgave them, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do?”

Please do not misunderstand me or I would imagine even the Lord for that matter, we are talking about people’s forgiveness not about punishment that they may deserve for their crimes.  Jesus does not say to eliminate punishment, i.e. prison or such, but rather that even the worst of sinners can be converted, forgiven.  Some may not like that since some have drawn a line in the sand on what and what cannot be forgiven.  Jesus has no such line because if He did then you and I my friend would be on the wrong side.

It does feel impossible, to sit and pray for someone who does such evil atrocities, but I think no matter what we must leave eternal judgments to God and God alone, earthly punishments we carry out in justice and even mercy but we cannot judge the eternal outcome of one’s salvation or damnation.

People will also ask, "where Jesus in all of this is?"  I answer, "He is always present, especially in the faces of the first responders, the military, the police the firemen who come to aid of those in trouble."  At 911 I saw Jesus in the face of the firemen who climbed up the stairs of a burning building, in the face of Father Mychal Judge who was administered anointing and last rites to his fallen brother firemen and who himself died doing his priestly duty.

I am not sure if I answered anything today maybe I left us with more questions than with which we started, it just maybe that I don’t have all the answers to such complexities and tragedy, but I think together in prayer, hope, and a crying out to Jesus we will find the answers together, God bless you.

Picture is from Jesus of Nazareth, young Jesus in the Temple, I will also post the video from the movie depicting the scene I spoke of.

The Patience of the Lord

The readings this week and next center around the end of the days and Jesus’ 2^nd coming, this is so in order to prepare us for Jesus’ first coming in the Incarnation and His birth.  It also a reminder that Jesus did come once, which was promised but He will also come again which is also promised and the Lord makes good on His promises.

When we reflect on apocalyptic readings, those which refer to a 2^nd coming we are naturally interested.  Everyone wants to know, when will Jesus return, when will the world end?  The world will end as we know it but in reality the world will never end as we pray each time we say the Glory Be, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.”

I do not want to necessarily discuss the end times but rather the patience of the Lord as is clearly understood from today’s Gospel from Mark.  Jesus uses the example of a fig tree.  He asks us to read the sign of the times, He does not give us exact days or hours of His return but He gives us signs allowing us to know that it is near.  But more importantly than that is that Jesus is patient.

The Apostles first thought that Jesus would return and restore all things immediately after His Resurrection, when that did not happen they then thought surely within their lifetimes, and when then that did not happen they realized that Jesus would come later when they time of fulfillment would be reached.

The question is, “Why all this waiting?”  The world is pretty messed up.  Terror, war, famine, poverty, hunger, morality turned upside down, we allow the abortion of babies but will arrest you if you hunt a bald eagle, don’t get me wrong, I love animals and if you hunt a bald eagle you should be punished, but I think you get my point, we have become backwards in our thinking.  One would assume the Lord is going to come back now for how much worse can it get?

I often wonder that same thing, how much worse can it get?  Well, the Lord is very patient.  He often uses examples of trees, vines, the harvest, because when they grow it takes a long time to reach its maturity – to be ready – to become ripe.  Even though weeds will grow up along with the wheat the Lord holds back the sickle waiting for the right time.  The Lord is patient with us.

Think of how long it takes for a person to mature.  Aristotle said a man reaches maturity and wisdom usually around 50.  That’s more than half a life time.  This patience of the Lord leaves me in awe.  With all my faults, weaknesses, sins, with all my immaturity and yet He deals with me slowly and with compassion.

Yes, the Lord could end it all now and be done with it.  But I personally think He is still waiting, continuing to give 2^nd chance after 2^nd chance so that we will turn towards His mercy.  This coming Dec. 8^th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will usher in the Year of Mercy.  What a great way for us to reflect on the mercy the Lord has shown us and them mercy and patience we should show to others.  Remember, it’s always easier to hit the reset button but then you would never learn, you would never become mature in the faith.  Trails, tribulations and even our sins if we are sorry for them are all life’s lessons, a part of the growing processes.  If we were to hit reset or stop short the harvest would never become ripe and ready and that is why the Lord waits for us both in our individual lives and for His return for all of us.  What patience, what Love!

Vocations Awareness Week: Some of My Journey

This Sunday ends our Vocations Awareness Week, but it no way ends Vocations Awareness, that is something that must go on each day.  Fr. Michael Romano, our Vocations Director has been doing a wonderful job in the recruitment and development of 18 young men who are now active seminarians moving towards ordination.  I remind him over and over again that Coach K did not make Duke what it was overnight, but slowly and steadily built it into a juggernaut and that he could do the same for priesthood in our Diocese.  However, Fr. Romano is not alone in this, we too must help.  We can help by simply offering to a young man, “Have you ever considered the priesthood,” or “I think you would make a wonderful priest.”  Praying for vocations is also needed, but along with those prayers active recruitment as I just mentioned.

When I think back on my journey to priesthood I realize now there were so many signs and so many people, by God’s Divine Providence – and grace, that led me to enter Seminary.  Some I have shared with you already and to go over each one would be redundant.  My parents were a great influence, not because they ever asked me to be a priest, but through their prayer life, which was daily rosary, catechism, morning and evening prayers, and sharing bible stories, my local priests from Fairview whom I use to really wonder and be amazed at.  I use to think, “What made them become priests, why would they choose that life?”  That reflection on them was really an inner reflection of myself, i.e. what do you want.

As a young boy I loved Church and I was really in awe of the Mass, all the colors, sounds, smells, what the priest was wearing, his movements, the signing, the reading, all of it was incredible.  By the time I reached thirteen to fourteen years old Mass began to lose its luster for me, not that the Mass diminished, but I allowed myself to be pulled in different directions.  Two of those things were basketball and girls

.

On Sunday mornings I couldn’t wait to get to the park to play pickup basketball with the older guys or go with them to 4^th Street in Greenwich Village to play against some of the best, I rarely got on the court there but love it I did.  When I would return home my mother would ask, “Did you go to Mass?”  I would say, “Yes” and hand her the bulletin.  What I would do is sneak into the back of the Church grab a bulletin and shoot out of there.  Eventually my mom caught up on this because she began asking me, “What did Father preach on?”

Then in my very early twenties I started going back to Church, not of my own volition, but rather due to the girl I was dating at the time.  I use to think, what a sacrifice I am making here, I hope she sees this sacrifice, anyway all kidding aside even in those moments, mostly bored out of my skull, God was still speaking to me because during Mass I would picture myself in the priest robes, walking around the altar, and most of all preaching and thinking I can do better than this guy (I am such a typical New Yorker-North Jersey guy, what can you do).  Without even knowing it those childhood memories of being in awe and beauty were breaking through.  God was working slowly but surely not just for me, that would be selfish, but also for my girlfriend at the time who has also been blessed by God with now a beautiful family.  What great love God has for us as He works in each of us to bring about the best for us.

And still, even after all of this I continued head long into what I thought what eventually be a college coaching career for me.  Again, Church became or rather went to the bottom of my priorities.  But, God did not give up on me.  After a powerful conversion experience in my mid twenties and about two years of discernment I eventually entered seminary, “Alleluia” the angels sang, he finally responded after 100,000 calls.

If you sat down with a priest I am sure each and every one of us has an incredible story of our journeys.  Today I only shared with you a very small part, there were other big moments and signs, and hopefully one day I will just give a vocation talk for about an hour and share it all in one sitting.  

When I think of all of those who have helped me towards a vocation whether they knew it or not, like my cousin Vinnie, my mom and dad, my high school English teacher Mr. PJ Shelley, my History Professor at Montclair State who was actually atheist, my former girlfriend who dragged me to Mass for purposes I would not fully understand until ten years later, Fr. Peter, Fr. Frank, Fr. Jim, Fr. Anthony, and finally my friends, the OLG gang the older crew and the younger crew.  We were more like brothers than friends and their support was amazing.  Each and every one of the folks I just mentioned was a Vocation Awareness person, simply by living the faith or by being direct. 

There is one other person I would like to thank and he has been gone from this world for about 1600 years and that is the man who was known as Augustine of Hippo.  He is my favorite Saint.  I gravitated towards him immediately upon reading about his life and recognized our paths shared many similarities.  In no way am I saying that I am like him, I have a very long way to go for that, but rather both of us were being called throughout our lives and either ignored the call or shook it off, however God did not give up on either one of us and I know that this great man prayed for me, that’s another story.  I will leave you with words that he wrote about himself that fit me perfectly, words that made us brothers, brothers as friends and brothers as priests.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!  You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.  In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created.  You were with me, but I was not with you.  Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.  You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness.  You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.  You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you.  I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.  You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

Happy Name Day, Happy Feast Day to All!

This Sunday we celebrate all of our name days as it is the Solemnity of All Saints.  We will also be celebrating Confirmation today and are always blessed to have Bishop Sullivan here celebrating with us.  I can remember my own Confirmation which was just a couple of years ago, just kidding; it’s been more like thirty years ago.  I remember two things very vividly and distinctly.  That was in the name I chose and also what it felt like to get Confirmed.

I chose the name Paul because I was very moved by John Paul II, it was 1982 and he had been Pope for about three years and already he left a mark on me a thirteen year old kid from Jersey.  So, I chose the name so that my full name would be exactly like his, John Paul.  He was obviously not a canonized saint at that point, but a saint he already was as we can all attest to.

I did not want to just choose any old name, I wanted one that had meaning to me, yes I would have the same name but it was Pope John Paul’s ability to relate to the young, how he was gentle with the old, how he was able to forgive the man who shot him, how he could walk into Madison Square Garden and receive a louder cheer and applause than any performing act could.  But it was also his depth of holiness; you could see it emanating from him in the way he spoke, the way he celebrated mass, in the way he prayed.

I also remember the way I felt the day I received Confirmation.  I could remember not wanting to be there originally.  Just another long day of doing things, sitting around, standing around, waiting, etc., typical thirteen year old with no patience and no awareness of the moment.

Yet, when I finally went up to be Confirmed and the Bishop placed the sacred chrism on my forehead I felt the presence of the Lord, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I felt him all around me as soon as the Bishop placed the oil on my forehead.  I felt warmth and unbelievable peace through my whole being.  As I walked back to my pew I felt as though I was walking on air.  It had nothing to do with me in the sense that I prayed for it, it came out of left field, if you will.  Yet, there was no mistaking it, it was God touching my life even with all the teenage baggage I brought with me to the Altar, it was a feeling of love that could not be mistaken.  It moved me for some time and kept me asking God, “What do you want of me?”  That question would be answered in my entering Seminary to study for the priesthood.

This leads me to a third point, this week also begins Vocations Awareness Week, a week in which we discuss vocations to the priesthood, but also encourage young men to consider that vocation.  Next week Fr. Alfred and I will preach on our own vocations and what it means to be a priest.

You can see that the Saints help us in our lives, they pray for us.  I had a bunch of them praying for me without even knowing it and most of all Saint John Paul II who prays for me now.  All Saints is a celebration of their lives, those canonized saints, but it is also a celebration of family, for we believe that the Church is a family and those who have gone before us continue to look out for us, just in different ways.  So, again I wish you all a happy name and happy feast day, God bless all Saints!

For Grace Moves in Mysterious Ways

In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man, whom Jesus heals.  Just a little over a week ago we had the double blessing of having a Diocesan Healing Mass here at Holy Family which was celebrated by Bishop Sullivan.  Bishop Sullivan spoke to us about the difficulties of suffering and all that sickness and entails, but he also left us with a great message of hope which I wish to share with you today.

Bartimaeus, a blind man upon hearing that Jesus was close cried out to him, “Have pity on me!”  Many rebuked him, but he shouted out the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”  None of us knew Bartimaeus, but even though we did not know him personally all of us could understand his shouting out and trying to get the attention of Jesus.

No matter what the sickness or suffering it becomes hard on people.  When we are sick or suffering it affects our physical bodies, but it also effects our inner disposition, it can take a toll on us and even those around us.  When we are sick or suffering something is missing, i.e. the wholeness of what we were meant to be.  Suffering and sickness is what happens to us all simply because of whom we are, we are human beings and it is part of nature after the fall, but what it never is – is punishment, when we suffer or if we are sick God is not inflicting us with sickness.  Yet, we may ask God why or even blame him for what has happened to us, both legitimate and very human responses.  God can handle it.

Knowing this we can take ourselves back and understand Bartimaeus’ plea, for he too was tired and worn out and knew that something important was missing, namely his eye sight.  He did not want this opportunity to pass and he was determined to speak with Jesus.

Jesus eventually called him and the first words he said to him, was not that your eyesight be restored but rather, “Go your way: your faith has saved you!”  Then, immediately after these words his eye sight was restored and he followed Jesus on the way.  What a powerful and moving scene.  Go your way, Jesus telling him to follow a life of faith, one he was probably already on.  But to hear the words from the Messiah’s lips, “Your faith has saved you,” I am sure must have been very moving words for Bartimaeus. They were healing words, both of his physical suffering and the longing he had for God in his heart.

Jesus desires that no one suffers, some are granted miracles and have their sight restored, and others are not.  This does not mean that God loves us less, for grace moves in mysterious ways (different ways) and I believe there is still much we do not understand or fully grasp, for no suffering, whether one is healed or not is in vain.  All of it had redemptive value, if not then Jesus’ suffering on the Cross would have been in vain, for no one’s story only ends with the Cross, each and every one of us, our stories will end in the Resurrection.  Remember to pray for those who are sick and or suffering in any way, and pray for their loved ones and all those who take care of them.  Especially pray to the Lord for faith, like Bartimaeus, so that we too will hear, “Go your way, your faith has saved you.”

For Love's Sake

When I began to study theology in Seminary naturally I would begin to ask questions.  One of those questions was, did God punish Jesus?  I asked that question because in Scripture it states and as we heard read today, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)  And in another place, “He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Pt. 2:24)  This led me to ask questions such as, “if Jesus was punished for our sins then he was unfairly treated, justice became injustice because God should not punish the innocent, since Jesus was innocent why would he have to be punished?”  Also, if Jesus was punished for every sin I committed would that then give me license to sin?  Allow me to show you two major concepts on this topic, one being the Reformed position and the other being that of Catholics.

There are two major thoughts in theology which consider what Christ’s atonement means.  In Reformed theology (Protestant, but not all Protestants) it means, “… at Christ’s Passion and death, God the Father transferred all the sins (past, present, and future) of all the elect onto His Son. Then God the Father hated, cursed and damned His Son, who was evil in the Father’s sight on account of all the sins of the elect being concentrated in the Son. (R.C. Sproul says that) In doing so, God the Father punished Christ for all the sins of the elect of all time. Because the sins of the elect are now paid for, through Christ’s having already been punished for them, the elect can never be punished for any sin they might ever commit, because every sin they might ever commit has already been punished. (c.f. http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/04/catholic-and-reformed-conceptions-of-the-atonement/)

The other thought being the Catholic understanding is that, “The Catholic conception of Christ’s Passion and Atonement is that Christ offered Himself up in self-sacrificial love to the Father, obedient even unto death, for the sins of all men. In His human will He offered to God a sacrifice of love that was more pleasing to the Father than the combined sins of all men of all time are displeasing to Him, and thus made satisfaction for our sins. The Father was never angry with Christ. Nor did the Father pour out His wrath on the Son. The Passion is Christ’s greatest act of love, the greatest revelation of the heart of God, and the glory of Christ.  So when Christ was on the cross, God the Father was not pouring out His wrath on His Son; in Christ’s act of self-sacrifice in loving obedience to the Father, Christ was most lovable in the eyes of the Father.” (c.f. http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/04/catholic-and-reformed-conceptions-of-the-atonement/)

God asked Jesus to be obedient in love.  That obedience meant that he would reverse the penalty of sin, the penalty being separation from God; we were now given back life.  Yes, Jesus did die for our sins, for every one of them, which was done in his sacrificial offering on the Cross.  His sacrifice was necessary since there was no act we could do to turn back what had already be done, i.e. The Fall of man.  We tried with all kinds of things, animal sacrifices, fasting, dust and ashes, and all sorts of atonements; we did these naturally because we felt the pain of our sin and were always trying to make up for it and yet none of these could be eternally sufficient, the sacrifices themselves were not pure because we were not pure, we were always a little tainted, i.e. sin.  Yet, when Jesus offered Himself, that sacrifice was pure, for He had no sin and His act of love (atonement) was sufficient, but that act was not punishment in the sense that He had to pay for our sins, because if that was the case the punishment would mean eternal damnation and Jesus was not damned.  He was punished in the sense that He did not deserve to die because He was innocent, He was punished, if you will, in the sense that He had to pay our penalty (meaning He was the One who had to be the sacrifice not the one who would be eternally damned).  It can get confusing, simply stated the punishment was the sacrifice of love and not the punishment of separation from God.

What is incredible is that Jesus would have done this for us.  We were a people who had gone astray and were continuing to walk away from God and we were in dire straits if we were to continue in that route.  To turn us around God became man and would offer a sacrifice of love that would not only take away sins, but keep us walking in a path towards Him, even if we sometimes stray away from the path, the Good Shepherd comes to find us again.  Remember, God is not a God of punishment, but God is love.  Jesus died for love’s sake not for punishment’s sake!

Living and Effective

In today’s 2^nd reading from the letter to the Hebrews, we heard read to us, “Brothers and sisters: Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.  No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.”

I both love these words and at the same time cringe from them as I know that I will have to render my account to the Lord on my priesthood and my life of faith.  I love these words because they motivate me and I am reminded that God knows me inside and out.  I cringe from them at times because I do not like the feeling of being brought into the Truth when I live in my own lies, i.e. my sins, when they come to light as the passage in Hebrews says; it is then that we are, “naked and exposed to him . . .”

Recently I began teaching the Deacon Candidates for our Diocese and part of my instruction to them in the study of Christology is that we wrestle with God, both in understanding His Word as we read it in Scripture and that we also wrestle with Him in life, a tugging, a pulling back and forth with His Will and our will, that tugging and pulling occurs when we face our Lord in the reading of His Word and when we allow that Word to enter in.

That Word is described as sharper than any two-edged sword.  What does a two edge sword do when it pierces flesh; it cuts both on the way in and on the way out.  That sword penetrates into and between joints and marrows and even into the spirit as well.  Wow!  I know that would hurt and it does, that hurting is the Word cutting us to the quick.  That Word reminds us when we sin, especially those sins in which we hurt others.  Sometimes it’s good to be corrected, sometimes it’s good to feel a little embarrassed, and sometimes it is even good to feel some pain which C.S. Lewis referred to as God’s megaphone shouting out to a deaf world.  Yet, we live in a world today that does everything to protect people, especially the young from feeling anything uncomfortable.  Heaven forbid they are ever humbled by a coach, a teacher, a mentor or that they have to suffer embarrassment and admit that they cheated on a test or were at fault for something of significance.  We too are guilty from this from time to time, we run away from that sword out of fear.  Fear of being exposed only has to do with sin and not virtue. 

I want that Word to always be living and effective within me so that it does not cut but that it heals and binds up and makes me stronger so that when the light shines on me that only virtue is reflecting off of me.  I have a ways to go and I imagine we all do, together praying for one another we can become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.  Instead of cringing from these words let us love them only so as to always remain motivated and faithful, God bless you, Fr. John