My Soul Thirsts For You, Lord

Last week Pittsburgh and surrounding areas had a large weather front move through our area with rains that flooded our roads and made them impassable. As I watched the deluge from my front porch, I couldn’t help but notice that the rain was not being absorbed into the ground. Instead, the earth, parched, hardened and dry from a long period of drought, resisted the water causing it to “bounce off” and run down to the sewer where it was washed away. How often we allow ourselves to “live in the desert” for long periods of time without seeking Living Water when the sacrament of penance is always available to us and offered regularly.

In the coming weeks our scriptures will speak of Christ’s mercy and forgiveness. Did you ever experience the feeling of elation upon leaving a confessional? There is a good reason for that feeling. To receive forgiveness is to obtain libation for the soul! It refreshes and cleanses us, bringing renewal. Thirsty? Immerse yourself regularly in God’s mercy and love. It is poured out for your sake. Then your soul will not grow hardened, like the parched earth which ironically repels the very refreshment it so desires. It then can absorb His Living Water, which it desperately needs to grow and thrive!

Center of My Life

This weekend we will sing “Center of My Life” at Communion time. This song, written by Paul Inwood and published by OCP Publications, reminds us to seek refuge in God, to make Him the center of our lives and to follow His ways. The composer uses verses from Psalm 16 to stress the importance of placing our hope and our trust in the Lord as well as making Him the center of our lives.

In today’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” When we call someone our “rock,” we mean that person is a stabilizer of sorts and a foundation; a person of substance who can be counted on in any given circumstance or situation — so should the Church be our “rock” of faith and salvation. We come to this place of worship each week seeking prayer, refuge, community, peace, love and sustenance for the journey. We leave renewed, inspired, refreshed and enlightened.

I am inspired by the lyrics to the Christian song, “I Go to the Rock,” which are:

I go to the rock for my salvation,

go to the stone which the builders rejected,

go to the mountain, and the mountain stands by me.

The earth all around me is sinking sand,

on Christ the solid rock, I stand.

When I need a shelter, when I need a friend,

I go to the Rock!

May Christ continue to be our Rock, our true foundation, our only refuge.

Give Me Jesus

This past week, along with some friends, I helped to reorganize the basement of the rectory. I must confess, it began as a project to clear a path for my music files which will be moved out of the school. But it took on a new meaning, as box after box of "useless stuff" made its way to our dumpster. At first the project seemed overwhelming. But, one corner at a time, one box of rubbish at a time, we achieved the daunting task of ridding the basement of useless clutter, making the work areas there more accessible and efficient.

This weekend, we will sing, “Give Me Jesus” at Mass. Some may recognize the simple melody, as it has certainly been recorded by many artists. The message of this fervent spiritual is one of "simplicity" and "minimalism." Written most likely as a "lament," the composer‘s message is one of longing and anticipation for the true reward of eternal life.

How often we find ourselves in the midst of a shopping spree, looking for that special item or gift that will just "complete our collection." In these decadent times the message seems to be "more is better" when perhaps the message of simplicity should be our mantra. As we sing this haunting spiritual, let us lift our voices in praise of the God who wants us to "de-clutter" our lives, ridding them of all the "useless stuff" and making more room for prayer.

Ordinary Time 19

He said, “Peace, be still!”

And the winds and waves were calmed by His hand.

I found a sand dollar on the beach last week. It wasn't the usual bleached-white color we're used to seeing. Instead, it was greenish brown, and not very attractive in its natural state. Upon turning it over, I saw that it was still alive, as its tentacles shifted back and forth like the tides from which it arrived. Worried that it would die there if left exposed to the hot Florida sun, I gently returned it to the sea. As I watched it peacefully float away, seemingly undisturbed by its "near-death" experience, I contemplated the smallness of this creature, and the vastness of the ocean. It was just one of countless shells that daily washed ashore, and clearly no match for the strong tides that deposited it on the blistering hot sand. But, because of its patience, and possibly even its faith, it was rewarded a another chance to live. We, too must learn to await the hand of God through life's storms. The Lord said, “Take courage, do not fear; it is I.”

The following is a poem ("The Seashell") I wrote for a friend who celebrated a birthday this past week. So diverse are the shells, and like people, each one uniquely designed by our Creator.

I’ve always thought the seashell is like a metaphor,

And every different sandy shell that washed upon the shore,

Contained a secret chamber known only to the tide,

That holds a life that’s quite unique, living there inside!