For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/120408.shtml
Katrina. Ike. Fill in the name of your least favorite hurricane. Or tsunami if you prefer. Or tornado, like the one that hit Greensburg, Kansas. The floods came. The winds blew. And there is always lots of video footage of the damage that can help deliver visually the metaphor of today's Gospel.
Jesus says that those who are 'pretty good guys' and those who have a modicum of piety may not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Our willingness to give up our own will to do the will of the Father is much more important than our simply finding something worthwhile to do with our lives. Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the One who came not to do His own will, but to do only the will of His Father. Jesus' trust in the Father's love for Him allowed Him to wait patiently for 30 years before being driven by the Spirit into the desert to be purified in advance of His three years of public ministry.
Let it not be said of us that we say 'Lord, Lord' easily but instead of being driven by the Spirit, we are instead driven by our wants, desires and ambition. There is no room in heaven, according to the words of our Lord, for one who tries to 'match' His will with the will of God. There is only room for the one who abandons His own will so that he may follow the will of God with more perfect trust and obedience. The only true disciple is the one who daily sacrifices His own will so that He may receive with joy and expectation the will of God the Father, even if God the Father points him toward something difficult, unexpected, and something that requires a great leap of faith. We must be able to pray daily with Jesus our brother - Lord, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass me by, but not as I will, but as you will.
The only way to be sure that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone on which our spiritual lives are built is to let God the Father lay every stone in our house. This takes patience. This takes perseverence. It takes a resolution on our part to never try anything in our lives without first seeking the Lord's permission and blessing. Yes, that's right, in building our home, it is harder to ask for permission than to ask for forgiveness, but we should ask for permission anyway. If we look back on our lives to those times when we have been discouraged and disillusioned by a storm that passed our way, we can usually see how our own will contributed to the disaster. The prophet Isaiah tells us that we must instead trust in the will of God forever, so that He may set up walls and ramparts to protect us. +m
Katrina. Ike. Fill in the name of your least favorite hurricane. Or tsunami if you prefer. Or tornado, like the one that hit Greensburg, Kansas. The floods came. The winds blew. And there is always lots of video footage of the damage that can help deliver visually the metaphor of today's Gospel.
Jesus says that those who are 'pretty good guys' and those who have a modicum of piety may not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Our willingness to give up our own will to do the will of the Father is much more important than our simply finding something worthwhile to do with our lives. Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the One who came not to do His own will, but to do only the will of His Father. Jesus' trust in the Father's love for Him allowed Him to wait patiently for 30 years before being driven by the Spirit into the desert to be purified in advance of His three years of public ministry.
Let it not be said of us that we say 'Lord, Lord' easily but instead of being driven by the Spirit, we are instead driven by our wants, desires and ambition. There is no room in heaven, according to the words of our Lord, for one who tries to 'match' His will with the will of God. There is only room for the one who abandons His own will so that he may follow the will of God with more perfect trust and obedience. The only true disciple is the one who daily sacrifices His own will so that He may receive with joy and expectation the will of God the Father, even if God the Father points him toward something difficult, unexpected, and something that requires a great leap of faith. We must be able to pray daily with Jesus our brother - Lord, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass me by, but not as I will, but as you will.
The only way to be sure that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone on which our spiritual lives are built is to let God the Father lay every stone in our house. This takes patience. This takes perseverence. It takes a resolution on our part to never try anything in our lives without first seeking the Lord's permission and blessing. Yes, that's right, in building our home, it is harder to ask for permission than to ask for forgiveness, but we should ask for permission anyway. If we look back on our lives to those times when we have been discouraged and disillusioned by a storm that passed our way, we can usually see how our own will contributed to the disaster. The prophet Isaiah tells us that we must instead trust in the will of God forever, so that He may set up walls and ramparts to protect us. +m
11 comments:
Rev. Mitchel:
In response to your message asking WE, the Christian Faithful, to manifest our identity, we seek to reply to your comment.
1. We understand your concerns ... however, to protect all parties and individuals involved, we may not provide any information, other than, we are everywhere and our society is growing.
2. We are a group of Priesthood Laity, both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds who pray daily at the Sacred Liturgy as well as the Office that the Church will purify itself.
3. We demand financial accountability of all ordained ministers. That is one of the reasons we can't understand why the Archdiocese of KCK is planning a celebration in honor of JPK of KCK.
4. Maybe someday we will contact you via the telephone. Do we contact the headquarters in KCK or KC, MO? Do you work for both diocese?
5. During this festive season of Advent, let us all pray that victims of the Church reconcile with their abusers and that all people will recognize Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
In Christ the Lord of Life, The Christian Faithful
you can reach me at frmitchel@archkck.org - I work for the Archdiocese of Kanas City in Kansas. Thank you for your comments -I'm sorry that since they do not really pertain to my blog homilies I would ask that you contact me privately by email so we can continue this discussion. I have removed your most recent comments from my blog.
We, the Christian faithful understand your logical suggestions regarding our comments. Our comments will center on your homilies!
First, For many individuals, the sexual abuse scandal in the Church is a reminder of Hurricane Ike or the terrible tornado in Greensburg, KS. OUR QUESTION: WHY WASN'T ARCHBISHOP KELEHER MADE TO MANIFIEST HIS SINFULNESS IN MOVING PRIESTS FROM PARISH TO PARISH. THIS IS A DISASTER AND HAS CAUSED STORMS IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS.
2. For some individuals, the ARCHDIOCESE HOSTING A CELEBRATION FOR ARCHBISHOP KELEHER IS A DISASTER. YES, HE HAS DONE MUCH GOOD BUT ALSO PLAYED WITH EVIL. YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT ABORTION, PREMARITAL SEX, WHAT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ABUSED BY PRIESTS, INCLUDING IN KCK, THAT WERE MOVED AROUND BY ARCHBISHOP JIM OR JPK KCK?
3. SOURCES TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL INFORM US, THAT JPK KCK, KNEW OF A PRIEST IN GARNETT, KS, LIVING WITH A WOMAN. OUR PRESENT LORD, BISHOP NAUMANN, INQUIRED AND REMOVED THE PRIEST. WHY WEREN'T THESE ACTIONS TAKEN EARLER.
4. DON'T BECOME A PUPPET LIKE PASTOR SCHIEBER, WHOM YOU REPLACED. HE WAS A BIG PUPPET FOR ARCH JPK. IT IS SAD THAT JIM COULDN'T DO HIS OWN WORK.
5. SO, IN CONCLUSION, YES, SOME INDIVIDUALS IN OUR GROUP OUR FEELING A TSUNAMI, A TUSUNAMI TO CLEAR THE CHURCH OF EVIL ... THE EVIL OF SIN.
IN CHRIST, THE LORD OF LIFE,
THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS
Pastor Mitchel
My name is Bishop Agnes, CEO and CFO of 'the Faithful Christians' a non-profit organization which desires purity in the Church.
Some of our members are terrified that the Archdiocese of KCK is spending money on a celebration honoring the former Archbishop James Patrick Keleher, STD.
We are asking this celebration be canceled now. We will be contacting many groups and asking for this cancellation.
The economy is bad. The diocese needs to be good stewards and stop wasting money on celebrations, especially, of a man who moved sexually active priests around. We are praying for him.
Numerous sources wish to contact you via telephone. We don't send emails due to the fact that many sexually abused people thought the church want to remain silent about their identity.
WE, the Christian Faithful mean no harm, only, love and peace of Christ this Advent season. Many of our members are former sisters and seminarians, are understand the mechanics of the Holy Church of Roman Catholics.
In St. Agnes,
Bishop Agnes,
CEO, CFO the Faithful Christians
Rev. Mitchel:
My name is James Hanker, otherwise known as Jim. My family belongs to the Christian faithful, an international group which desires the reformation of the Catholic Church.
During my younger years, following the depression, I entered the seminary desiring to be a Catholic priest. However, on my birthday, a priest attempted to terrorize me. I still have terrible memories of that evening.
I left the Church and have been gone for 54 years. We son and daughter staterd a mega Church in San Diego, which has over 19,000 members.
In reflecting upon your comments, my life has been a tornado since my semianry days. I have bad memories and dreams of priests. My wife has been a great help. The sad part, she died 22 years ago. God rest her soul and body.
My task to you, stop the celebration of Jim K. next week. Its a waste of lay priests money. Please stop the abuse within the archdiocese.
Also, encourage all priests in Johnson Co. to be priests. Stop the drinking and parties. Its a disgrace to lay priests who can't afford to provide enough food on people's tables.
I am writing this email in response from a divine call from our personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
God Bless, James Hanker
Member 3,450 of the Faithful Christians.
Pastor Mitchel:
As you read my blog, please remember my son and family in prayer.
My family was hurt by the actions of a former vocation director of KCK. Our son was invited to a local seminary for a weekend.
During the visit he was invited into the Vocation Directors room for a conference ... it was during this time that the director attempted to take advantage of him.
Our family is still recovering from these actions. We pray he'll be strong and overcome this.
We have started a group who meets and discusses the sexual abuse caused by a former vocation director of kck. (For our sake, we will only mention his name begins with D and ends with Schmitz). There are many individuals, and possibly newly priests that might of been placed in harms way with him.
JPK KCK didn't offer any advice to my son or forgivenss. IN fact, I know of a few examples where JPK asked the seminarians to leave the seminary.
Thank-you for allowing the Faithful Christians to blog. Our publication ranks your blog as the best source of spiritual reading for 2008.
My name is Linda, and I ask for the prayers for me son.
In St. Scholastica,
Linda Hoverson
the Faithful Christians
Member 9,891
Dear Fr. Mitchel:
I attended the Sacred Liturgy at St. Michael's following your ordination to the priesthood.
After belonging to St. Mikes parish, I was introduced to a seminarian, I forgot his name ... he's a priest now I understand.
Anyways, my comments follows:
A friend was abused by Dennis Schmitz and met with Archbishop Keleher. Archbishop Keleher ordered him to keep his mouth closed and take time away from the seminary. He played with the mind of my friend. Before and after the event, many individuals were aware something was going on.
Dennis Schmitz was moved from VD office to a parish. He loved high-school and college males, often inviting KU students to his bedroom in Marysville, KS.
Archbishop Keleher doesn't need any support or celebration. We need a service to pray for him.
Thank-you,
Maria Dias
The Christian Faithful
Member 1,204
The Christian Faithful Advisor to Europe and Asia Minor
The Catholic seminary is a joke, there is no real academic programs ... only a bunch of sexually repressed males desiring to fill a whole in their heart.
Psychology informs us ... that we all have a 'control world' and we make choices to fill that control world. Some desire money, others sex, and some God. Whatever fills your heart, always remember ... the Church can't absoluetly guarantee Heaven. Afer all, who has really in recent years came back to report on the status of Heaven. Only a few sexually repressed people.
Have a good dinner Rev. Mitchel at the expense of others money.
Oh yes, I hate the Faithful Christians, those pious SOB's! I only go to the meetings to stake out hot girls.
Ex Christian,
Saul Jamesons
Rev.
As you concelebrate aroud Jim, remember, he moved around sexually abusive priests. We are considering protesting the Mass.
Priests: What can you say for yourselves. Your home diocese of Salina is much better and worthwhile that KCK
In St. Patrick
Rick
Christ Faithful Member #9833
Member since 1999
We are respodning to you via email.
Dear Father,
Would you please explain how Jesus could have been 'purified' in the desert? The definition of 'purified' relates to becoming free of guilt, defilement, and sin--the purging and cleansing of impurities. The word 'purified' seems inappropriate for God made Man.
Did you mean to use the word 'strengthened'? While Jesus is only one person, he has two natures--human and divine. In the desert, was his human nature 'strengthened' for his battle with Satan?
dustiam
PS--I'm aghast at some of the other comments you've left up--but I do the same on my blog. Sometimes, people convict themselves by their own words. --dustiam (member ∞^∞!]
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