8/24/2014 - This is what I wish today in place of a homily -

     There were a lot of things swirling around in my head as I thought about the Gospel today.  Indeed, who do I say Jesus is?  How do I proclaim this in my words, and more importantly, in my actions?  When confronted with adversity and strife, I want to reach out not in anger or sarcasm or passive aggressive behavior, but I want to reach out in love and peace.  And so, what I wish from all my heart today for me and my parish is this – the peace prayer of St Francis of Assisi.  This says it all for me:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.