Grandmas Hands…

Our parrish RCIA Director sent this story to me, enjoy.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear strong voice.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:
"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life."

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war."

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse."

"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand."

"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer."

"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

Our Church at work…

This is our Church in action, stand-up, be proud and
do something!

Please take 10 minutes and watch this short documentary of the Christian faith and work of the Missionaries of the Poor, an international Catholic monastic order of religious brothers dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor. The order was founded in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung and is headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) community is a missionary institute of the Catholic Church. The men who join the MOP community make four solemn, lifetime vows -- of poverty, chastity, obedience, and free service to the poor -- after about six years of discernment while serving in the MOP missions spread throughout the world.

Please visit the Missionaries of the Poor web site
and help in anyway you can.
http://www.missionariesofthepoor.org

Shortie 3…

Les Rohsrettor's Host Barn.

I'm sure I'll get few thousand years in purgatory for this one. But I couldn't help it, it was late!

Taking responsibility for my actions?

But If I'm responsible, what am I paying my lawyers for?

As Alec Baldwin's angry words to his daughter were being broadcast around the world, the 49-year-old actor explained himself Friday on his Web site.

"Although I have been told by numerous people not to worry too much, as all parents lose their patience with their kids, I am most saddened that this was released to the media because of what it does to a child," he wrote. "I'm sorry, as everyone who knows me is aware, for losing my temper with my child. I have been driven to the edge by parental alienation for many years now. You have to go through this to understand. (Although I hope you never do.) I am sorry for what happened. But I am equally sorry that a court order was violated, which had deliberately been put under seal in this case."

Equally sorry? It's nice to see that Mr. Baldwin is so tuned in to what effects the media has on his daughter, when they release a tape of him yelling and saying things to his daughter any real man would never dream of saying. I guess I'm going to have to let Mr. Baldwin in on a little secret about fatherhood that he was never taught. When speaking to you kids or people that you love (assumed of course) don't say things like–your a thoughtless little pig and threaten to straighten their a** out. Especially if their 11 years old. Also why are you blaming the media or your x-wife or her lawyers for spilling the beans? If you hadn't said the things that you did, they wouldn't be all over the Internet right now. And I have this feeling that the message you left your daughter probably hurt her more because you, the man who see looks up to for strength, protection and courage, left it. Not that the media got a hold of it. I don't care how good looking you are or how much money and influence you have. You're NO MAN in my book, but then you probably don't care. After all I'm just another religious, proud to be an American shmo who doesn't recycle.

In case your reading this and you think I'm making mountains out of mole hills. Below is the recording of Mr. Baldwin's message to his daughters cell phone. Caution this message was not edited and contains some strong language.
(Click Here to Play)

and we thought Imas was a jackass…

April 19, 2007

DISNEY/ABC NEEDS TO REIN ROSIE IN

On today’s edition of the ABC show, “The View,” the discussion turned to the Supreme Court’s ruling yesterday affirming the partial-birth abortion ban. In an angry tone, Rosie O’Donnell asked, “You know what concerns me? How many of the Supreme Court judges are Catholic, Barbara?” Walters responded, “Five.” O’Donnell: “Five. Five are Catholic. Separation of church and state, America.” Walters then said that when the Catholic justices were vetted, they said they would not vote in a particular way because of their religion. But she then said, “It is interesting they’re Catholic.” After others spoke, Walters said she thought the justices were able to separate their faith from everyday life. To which O’Donnell replied, “From your everyday life but not hopefully from the foundation of our government. Separation of church and state.”

Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed this issue today:

“This is O’Donnell’s eighth attack on Catholics since September. She has said there is no difference between radical Christians and radical Muslims (9-12-06); she has ridiculed the Eucharist (9-28-06); she has falsely claimed that the pope was in charge of policing miscreant priests since the 1980s and did nothing about them (10-2-06); she repeated the lie about the pope again (10-27-06); she has mocked priestly celibacy (2-7-07); she ridiculed the Eucharist again (2-27-07); she mocked Catholic teaching on the Bible and the Virgin Birth (3-26-07); and now she is complaining about too many Catholics on the high court.

“On December 8, 2006, O’Donnell apologized for offending the Chinese after Chinese-American groups protested the way she ridiculed them the week before. On January 18, 2007, ABC said of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Isaiah Washington’s anti-gay slur, ‘We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed.’

“Accordingly, we are asking Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group, to demand that O’Donnell apologize to Catholics and that O’Donnell be treated with as much seriousness as was shown Washington.”

It's time that we Papists stand up and be counted. Please phone your complaints into
818-569-7700

Shortie 2…

Holy food…

I ran across this video the other day. Enjoy.

I think I'll go make myself a sandwich, that looks good.

Abortion? What about the other issues…

I was watching a book review program the other night on "The Politics of Jesus by: Obery M. Hendricks Jr." Obery M. Hendricks Jr. happens to be a biblical scholar in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When being asked to comment on some of the issues he raises in his book, I was stunned by his response to the question of abortion as a political issue, and what Jesus would think of the value our society places on the unborn child today. Basically his response was… there are a lot of injustices in the world and abortion is just one of many, no better or worse than say, death in war, poverty, the death penalty and so on. Well I'm not going to attempt to argue this point here, I don't have that much time, but I am going to post a few words from someone you might have herd of. Someone even non-Catholics generally recognise as a true servant of God.

"Your opinion stated that you did not need to “resolve the difficult question of when life begins.” That question is inescapable. If the right to life is an inherent and inalienable right, it must surely exist wherever life exists. No one can deny that the unborn child is a distinct being, that it is human, and that it is alive. It is unjust, therefore, to deprive the unborn child of its fundamental right to life on the basis of its age, size, or condition of dependency… But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child—a direct killing of the innocent child—murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"
–Mother Teresa

The most important issue facing our world today is the issue of abortion, it trumps all others. The right to life is the foundation of human rights and freedom, from which all other issues arise. True freedom is not the ability to do anything you want, but instead the opportunity to do what is right.

Approx. number of abortions preformed since Roe v Wade:
46.5 million. Let's end the genocide.

Utah is one sick Place…STILL!

I'm re-posting this blog for the simple reason that I can't seem to get rid of a terrible cough I've somehow acquired. I need to move!

What in the heck (yes I said heck) is going around in Utah. My family has been sick so many time this season I'm considering investing in a CDC franchise. First, kid one gets sick then kid two then mom then me then the dog (to be fair he ate too much sausage) but I digress. Once we think we're over it ka-pow (not to be confused with Lighting McQueen's slogan ka-chow © 2006 Disney/Pixar) we're at it again. Kid two gets sick then mom then kid one then me, are you getting the picture. We're on our sixth round this season already and we're not alone. The people I work with are all going through the same process. Well at least the ones with kids. I'm trying to design a bubble suit that we could wear when we go out, but I'm afraid I might roll down the Isle at Church and up to the alter while attempting to genuflect, and I don't see receiving Communion being a successful experience either. ( Hand or mouth? I don't know Father it's a freaking bubble suit!) I wonder if Vatican ll has anything on the proper reception of Communion in a bubble suit. That would be an interesting find.

Anyway if you wouldn't mind throwing a few prayers our way it would be greatly appreciated. I think Teresa of Avila is still on vacation, I haven't herd back from her yet. I hope the weather is nice… It's cold then warm then cold then warm… geeeeez, I hate it here!

Christus resurrexit!

Christ is Risen!

This Easter vigil started as any other. As we wait outside of the Church the Easter Fire is kindled and blessed, the Easter Candle is blessed and we humbly sing "thanks be to God" as we enter into the Church. With candles in hand, one by one we share the flame with one another until all are lit. I have to admit that this is one of my most favorite parts of this Mass, the symbolism of Christs light spreading throughout the world. As we make it to our seat the readings begin, In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth… now I'm not going to give you a play by play account of all aspects of this wonderful Mass, and if you've never been witness to the Easter Vigil Mass you can watch one (HERE click.)

What I want to talk about is the second Old Testament reading "God put Abraham to the test." There are a few things I remember as a child concerning the bible. The first is the story of King Solomon and the two women, I like this story because it shows the most basic instincts of motherhood, the unselfish sacrifice of giving up your most precious child so no harm would to him. The second thing I remember is the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice is only son Isaac. Two things I remember about this story, one is the picture I had in my head of Isaac tied to the alter, and his father, knife in hand, inches away from slaughtering his own son. A frightening image I still remember to this day. The second thing I remember is how my father couldn't understand why such a horrible story would be in the Bible and how Abraham could have been manipulated into killing his own son, his only son at that, even at Gods command. Dad, I'm going to try to answer your question, why would God ask such a thing of Abraham?

There are a few answers but being Easter I'm only going to delve into one of them. What does this story have to do with Easter, and OUR perception of Christ's sacrifice? First let's parallel the stories of Abraham and Isaac to that of Christ's. I'm going to post the scripture text, my comments will be in red italics.
––––––––––––––––––
Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am, “ he replied.
Then God said:
“Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
When Jesus is baptised His Father says "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" Matthew, 3:17 Jesus is Gods only Son.
There you shall offer him up as a holocaust
on a height that I will point out to you.”
Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey,
Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of an ass. "Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written:"Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass's colt." John 12:14-15
took with him his son Isaac and two of his servants as well,
and with the wood that he had cut for the holocaust,
set out for the place of which God had told him.

On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar.
Then he said to his servants:
“Both of you stay here with the donkey,
while the boy and I go on over yonder.
We will worship and then come back to you.”
Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the holocaust
and laid it on his son Isaac’s shoulders,
Jesus takes up His Cross. "and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha." John 19:17
while he himself carried the fire and the knife.
As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham:
“Father!” Isaac said.
“Yes, son, “ he replied.
Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and the wood,
but where is the lamb for the holocaust?”
At this point Abraham's comment enters into prophesy.
“Son,” Abraham answered,
“God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust.”
Listen to John the baptists response when he sees Jesus approach the river Jordan. "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
Then the two continued going forward.

When they came to the place of which God had told him,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Next he tied up his son Isaac,
and put him on top of the wood on the altar.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD’s messenger called to him from heaven,
“Abraham, Abraham!”
“Here I am!” he answered.
“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger.
“Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”
Again Jesus is referred to as Gods "beloved son…" Matthew, 3:17
I will bless you abundantly
and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
your descendants shall take possession
of the gates of their enemies,
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing
all this because you obeyed my command.”
Finally, Isaac is saved by the Angel and at the third day he returned home; just like Jesus who at the third day was resurrected and returned to the house of the Father.
––––––––––––––––––
So how does that relate to us. It helps me to appreciate God offering his only Son on our behalf. Having children of my own I can't begin to imagine how difficult that would be. Imagine having Abraham's faith, and imagine how humble, merciful and powerful our God is to offer, for our salvation His only Son Jesus! At one time this story reminded me of everything wrong with the Bible. A story out of context that seemed barbaric and inhumane, yet a story that foreshadows the greatest gift we have ever been given, Eternal Salvation in Christ our Lord. Please hug your kids today and as you hold them in your arms remember God's sacrifice for you. "Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe, because we acquired a debt we couldn't pay."

Have a wonderful Easter, I love you Dad!

My heart was broken today…

It's Good Friday

I took the day off from work today for the observance of Good Friday. We had made plans weeks ago to visit the Cathedral for the Veneration of the Cross. Now at our Cathedral they actually have a relic of the Cross of St. Helena (for those who aren't familiar with the name, the Cross of St. Helena is a portion of the True Cross. The same Cross our Lord and Saviour was Crucified on!) brought to Rome from Jerusalem in the 4Th century. The relic was brought to the Cathedral by Bishop Glass in 1920 and is only viewable on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. To make a long story short I did alright up until the time the Deacon entered the Cathedral with the Cross. As he proceeded down the isle the weight and significance of what was happening and where I was, started to weigh me down. Then it happened. The Choir started in, singing "Improperia." It was all I could do to keep the tears from flowing down my face. By the time it was our turn to go and touch the Cross I truly felt as though I was somewhere else, somewhere so much more important than the world in which I live, somewhere significant in time and space.

I want to share with you from the bottom of my heart that I know Christ died for our sins yours and mine and I stand here without the slightest idea of how to internalize that reality. They were my sins that Christ bore, for me! How does one internalize that? I guess we will never fully understand Love and Truth in their truest forms until we stand face to face with God. As I ponder on my experience today I wonder how many of my sins were present in that Holy relic. How unworthy I am Lord to have received such a gift.

To all of the people I have sinned against, please I humbly beg for your forgiveness!

Our stained glass masquerade…

Okay so all last week I was working on a ton of freelance work that had to be turned around in a week, so I sincerely ask for you forgiveness in not having more to offer you in terms of decent blogging material, or really any new blogging material for that matter. With that said I promise to update my blog more often again.

Anyway It's Holy Week and in trying to prepare for Holy Week I thought it would be a good idea to visit the confessional. I tried to make it my Lenten discipline to go to confession at least every other week (if that sounds like a lot your probably right, but I herd somewhere once that John Paul the Great went every week! If that great man felt it important enough to go that frequently who am I to say differently. I need to hold myself up to a higher standard) besides the feeling of cleanliness and spiritual rebirth afterwords make it a wonderful experience. So while I'm on my way to confession I keep singing this song I was listening to while I was working, and with Holy Week starting the next day "Palm Sunday" I just felt a real connection to the message this song was conveying…

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feeling so small

When I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like every thing's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay.

Now with that song playing over and over again in my mind and as I'm standing in line (amazing I know in this day and age to see more that one person waiting in line for confession, It makes me proud to stand next to people who actually take their faith seriously) what struck me most were the people that were there. People that I see as without blemish or fault. Then it strikes me that we're all here for the same purpose, to get right with God once again. I don't know what sins another man has in his heart and frankly I don't care, what is important to me though is that we realise that we're on the same mission, to love one another as God has loved us. So I ask you this today, with all of my past, present and future faults, sins and transgressions…

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay.
"I Pray that my arms would be open"

Please if you do any thing this Holy Week, examine your conscience, visit the confessional and get right with God. The Grace your receive will abound and the witness you give may change the life of someone who feels burdened and alone. We are the body of Christ not separated but one. Let us stand and work together, that is when we are at our greatest.

“Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all to often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We cannot bear to reveal our failures or shortcomings to others. We imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore we hide ourselves from one another and live in veiled lies and hypocrisy. – Richard Foster”

A Deacon missed…

This was my response to this news article on the murder of Deacon Aniceto Armendariz.

" The Faithful Papist 3/31/2007 10:27:00 PM

"This is a really sad example of our prideful natures taking over our lives. Let us pray for the victim's, and also the accused. May the families of both find consolation in Christ's enduring love, compassion and forgiveness. Let this be an example for us to look inside ourselves to find our own spiritual weaknesses and ask God to help us overcome the chains that bind."

May Deacon Armendariz rest eternally in our Lord's bosom.