Exploring the Kingdom

Lincoln's Log 12-11-11

2011-12-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while since I havewritten a “Log” for the bulletin or posted to my blog “Exploringthe Kingdom ( http://etk-essays.blogspot.com/). The bulletin has been pretty full and we wanted to publish manyof Sr. Anne Rehraur's columns on the new translation of the RomanMissal.

Lots of good things are going on in ourcommunity and there are lots of important questions facing us as wewelcome the new translation. So, where are we headed?

Bishop Ricken's recent Pastoral Letter“Parishes: Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive” isproviding a foundational structure for our pastoral planning. Thisyear, both the staff and the Pastoral Councils will be readingthrough this document as we plan for the future. If you would like acopy of if for yourself, you can find one in the back of church. TheBishop's document has 6 focus areas and we have been asked to takeone or two of these areas each year to focus on and work ondeveloping our ministry in that area. The areas are:

Evangelization
Youth, young adults, and family
Leadership
Education
Eucharist
Dignity of Human Life

These focus areas will help set theagenda for the next 5-7 years. This year, in light of the newtranslation, we are engaging in the area of “Sunday Eucharist andSacramental Life” as a pastoral focus area. Bishop Ricken hasasked us to begin making plans to have kneelers put into the worshipspace at St. Rose. We have begun that process. Another issue wediscussed at our annual meeting was the placement of the tabernacleat St. Rose. We are having Sr. Anne come out after the first of theyear to discuss this with us. St. Mary's is continuing to discusshow to best take care of our sanctuary and stained glass windows. Aswe also look beyond issues of brick and mortar, in what other wayscan we make Sunday the “highlight of our week” as Bishop Rickenrecommends? How can we better become parishes that are “Holy,Fully Engaged, and Fully Alive”? This is our task. How are wedoing?

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 3-13-11

2011-03-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

This week's Gospel, Mt. 4:1-11, recounts Jesus temptation in the wilderness. He has just been baptized by John and heard the voice from heaven tell him, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Right after this, Jesus is led by the Spirit in to the desert to tempted. These temptations will serve the design of the Spirit. The devils own tool of temptation will be used for the Spirit's purpose. That purpose: to clarify for Jesus (and us) what it means to be a beloved child of God.

So what do we learn from these temptations? Jesus is tempted by the devil to think that being a beloved child of God means:

He will have his fill and never be hungry (Mt. 4:3-4).
He will be safe and never be hurt (Mt. 4:5-7).
He will have power or his life and the lives of others (Mt. 4:8-10).

But Jesus has a deep sense of what it means to be a beloved child of God. The Spirit dwells within him and as the Eternal Son of God, he knows who he is. The forty days of desert fasting have prepared him to withstand these temptations. He is human. He fully accepts his humanity and as a human being, he knows that he will:

Experience emptiness and hunger
Experience fear and suffering
Experience powerlessness over his own life and those whom he loves.

Prayer, fasting, and an openness to the Spirit have taught him these lessons. The Spirit has taught him that these experiences will not separate him from God. God's beloved children will suffer, but the Spirit of God will not abandon them.

As we begin our lenten journey may our prayer and fasting teach us the same lesson. Through our baptism we are united to Jesus and because of this we are beloved children of God. Nothing can separate us from His love. Thanks be to God!

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 3-6-11

2011-03-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”: Franklin D. Roosevelt

This past weekend I had the pleasure of being with the young members of our community who are preparing to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. We were on retreat together at Camp Tekawitha. During the retreat we played games, listened to music, prayed, celebrated the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, reflected on God's love for us and his call to discipleship. It was time away from the daily activities of life to reflect on who we are as disciples of Jesus. It was a time of prayer, a time of play, and a time of reflection. We were building our youth (and even this old Parish Director) for the future.

Many of the more powerful moments of the retreat came through the witness talks given by members of our community. I am amazed at how faith-filled this community of disciples is. Several of you came up to Camp Tek to share your experience of being a disciple with these young people. That is how we build our youth for the future. By honestly sharing our gifts and struggles we grow deeper as disciples. Together we build our community. Together we face the future.

And the future (like the present) needs strong disciples. We need disciples who are clear-headed enough to see the challenges facing us. We need disciples who are strong enough to resist the temptations facing us. Most importantly, we need disciples who can love radically enough to overcome whatever we face. We need disciples who build our life on the rock of Jesus' teaching (cf. Mt. 7:24).

The youth of our parish are seeking authentic faith. They are wise and compassionate beyond their years. They are concerned about the future. They are filled with the Spirit of God.

Together with these wonderful candidates for Confirmation, we are building our community for the future. As disciples, we build each other up and face the future together.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 2-27-11

2011-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

As the events surrounding the Budget Repair bill continue to unfold, Ive been struck by the balance being called for by our local bishops in the state of Wisconsin. A call for a focus on the common good balanced with the dignity and rights of workers needs to be explored. In a letter released by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Archbishop Listecki of Milwaukee writes:

"The Church is well aware that difficult economic times call for hard choices and financial responsibility to further the common good. Our own dioceses and parishes have not been immune to the effects of the current economic difficulties. But hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers. As Pope Benedict wrote in his 2009 encyclical, 'Caritas in veritate':

"'Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued within the Church's social doctrine, beginning with 'Rerum Novarum' [60], for the promotion of workers' associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past, as a prompt and far-sighted response to the urgent need for new forms of cooperation at the international level, as well as the local level.' [#25]

"It does not follow from this that every claim made by workers or their representatives is valid. Every union, like every other economic actor, is called to work for the common good, to make sacrifices when required, and to adjust to new economic realities.

"However, it is equally a mistake to marginalize or dismiss unions as impediments to economic growth. As Pope John Paul II wrote in 1981, '[a] union remains a constructive factor of social order and solidarity, and it is impossible to ignore it.' ('Laborem exercens' #20, emphasis in original)

"It is especially in times of crisis that 'new forms of cooperation' and open communication become essential. We request that lawmakers carefully consider the implications of this proposal and evaluate it in terms of its impact on the common good. We also appeal to everyone – lawmakers, citizens, workers, and labor unions – to move beyond divisive words and actions and work together, so that Wisconsin can recover in a humane way from the current fiscal crisis."

Today's Gospel reminds us that “No one can serve two masters.” Only by moving beyond ideology and genuinely exploring “new forms of cooperation” will we be able to move through the current crisis and face the future with hope. The common good needs to take center stage once again!

Peace,

Lincoln

LIncoln's Log 2-20-11

2011-02-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well.” (Mt. 5:38)

Its not always easy to find the Good News in a passage like this. Where is the Gospel? “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other one as well.” This doesn't sound like Good News. It sounds like a way to insure that you get beat up.

But there is Good News here! The Good News is that the world is not about tit for tat. There is more to morality than justice. The cycle of violence and escalation is broken and those of us who are disciples of Jesus are called to live our lives in a different way. We are no longer bound by the law of karma (You get what you give.)

By the power of Jesus death and resurrection, the law of karma is transcended. As Asla n says when he explains his own return from death in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,

“It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch [who killed him] knew the Deep Magic [of justice], there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge only goes back to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.”

As disciples of Jesus we live a life filled with this “deeper magic.” Our hearts are called to act with justice (deep magic) but due to Christ's resurrection, we are empowered by a deeper magic which allows us to “turn the other cheek” and not fear suffering and death.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 2-13-11

2011-02-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

“I have come not to abolish [the Law] but to fulfill.” (Mt. 5:17)

This week's Gospel continues Jesus teaching on discipleship found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). After proclaiming the grace of discipleship in the Beatitudes and teaching the necessity of sharing God's blessing with others, Jesus moves on to consider the role of the Law (Torah) in the disciple's life.

The “New Law” of Christ is the fulfillment of the old law. It recognizes that the Law is a gift of God that has been placed in the disciple's heart. The Catechism states,

“The New Law is called a law of love because it makes us act out of the love infused by the Holy Spirit, rather than from fear; a law of grace, because it confers the strength of grace to act, by means of faith and the sacraments; a law of freedom, because it sets us free from the ritual and juridical observances of the Old Law, inclines us to act spontaneously by the prompting of charity an, finally, lets us pass from the condition of a servant who 'does not know what his master is doing' to that of a friend of Christ – 'For all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you' – or even to the staus of son and heir.” (CCC 1972)

Love, grace, and freedom. These are the gifts of the New Law of Christ. Following Jesus' as a disciple demands a lot. In fact, being a disciple demands everything. Discipleship is a new way of life. A radical way of life that struggles to bring justice, love, and peace into a broken world. The demands of discipleship are written on our heart and come to us through the voice of conscience. By following these demands we are empowered to love and ultimately set free from our own selfishness.

The New Law of Christ is a gift. It is the way to joy and freedom.

Peace,

Lincoln

P.S. For a fuller discussion of the role of conscience in guiding the life of a disciple, see an article by Cardinal Pell at: http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/ZPELLNEW.HTM

Lincoln’s Log 2-6-11

2011-02-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

“You are the light of the world...“ (Mt. 5:14)

This Sunday's Gospel (Mt. 5:13-16) continues Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. This “sermon”: is found in Matthew 5-7 is the clearest teaching of Jesus on discipleship.

As in the beatitudes proclaimed last week, Jesus begins his teaching on discipleship with a clear reference to the goodness (Blessedness) found dwelling in his disciples through the grace of God. “You are the light of the world.... “ We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) in the image of God (Gn. 1:27). But now Jesus moves that teaching a step further.

Sin is recognized as the enemy of grace. The profound grace God has given us is not meant for the individual. It is meant to be shared. God's grace, given to us, “cannot be hidden.” The gift that we have received demands to be shared. God's grace bubbles over and cannot be contained in our small hearts, but overflows. The flow of grace must not stop in the disciple. It is a gift given to be passed on. God's grace must not be kept for ourselves, It must be given away. As disciples of the one who lays down his life for his friends (See. Jn. 15:13), we are also called to lay down the gifts we have been given and use them for the sake of others.

If we fail to share the gifts we have been given as disciples of Jesus we block the flow of grace. We sin. We put the gifts we have been given under the “bushel basket” of sin and selfishness. Whenever we do this, we are hoarding something that is meant to be shared and are “no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt. 5:16).

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 1-30-11

2011-01-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

“Blessed are you... “ (Mt. 5:11)

This Sunday we hear some of the most familiar words found in the Gospels. I would guess that 90% of the things I've read and heard (and probably the things I've thought and said) about this familiar Gospel has been dead wrong.. Commonly referred to as “The Beatitudes” this Gospel goes to the heart of what it means to be a disciple.

However, most of what I've read, heard, and thought, understands the beatitudes as rules of conduct. We interpret them as commandments. We read, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and immediately we start to think about how we can become poor in spirit. We read it as, “If I become poor in spirit (or meek, or persecuted... ), then I will get blessed.” We make this Gospel conditional and a conditional Gospel is not a Gospel at all.

The key word in the Gospel passage is “blessed.” The passage comes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5. It occurs right after Jesus has called his first disciples and begun his ministry of healing and teaching. Jesus is explaining discipleship. He is telling his disciples that they are blessed. They are the beloved of God, chosen to be his disciples. Their call does not mean that life will be easy or perfect. They will still suffer poverty, affliction, persecution, and loss. But God blesses them in the midst of the mess of life. Contrary to appearances, God's blessing comes in spite of pain.

The Good News of this Gospel is that God's blessing is not conditional. As disciples, we do not have to become poor or grieving or meek to earn God's love. The blessing of God stands at the beginning of discipleship. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, the Beatitudes “proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured... for Christ's disciples.” (CCC 1717). Now that is Good News. God's blessing is beyond condition. “Rejoice and be glad!” (Mt. 5:12)

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 1-23-11

2011-01-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Budgets.

We hear a lot about budgets in the news: the Federal budget, state budget, budget cuts, school budgets, family budgets and even church budgets. All this talk about budgets is usually very far removed from the life of faith. In today's economic climate, budgets are often framed in terms like “making tough decisions” and “tightening the belt”. Practical concerns dominate our thinking about budgets. For some families and businesses the guiding question for budgeting is “How are we going to get through the month?” If you are the “low man on the totem pole” when you hear decision-makers talking about budgets the reaction is often fear. “Will my job or my hours be cut?” Budgets look to the future and the future can often be frightening.

What does faith have to say about budgets? First, I believe our faith tells us, “Do not be afraid.” (Lk. 1:30; see Jn 14:1). The Scriptures repeatedly remind us that God is in charge and that God loves us. “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Mt. 6:34). While we don't know what the future brings, we can be confident that God has a plan and has prepared a place for us in eternity (Jn. 14:1-3). The future is unknown, but God is waiting for us there and is present there just as He is present here and now.

Budgets also indicate our priorities. Our faith, when it is being lived, helps us to set our priorities in line with God's priorities. The prophets of Israel are continually calling God's people back to a way of life based on God's priorities. High among God's priorities are: respect for life (e.g. Ex. 20:13) and care for the poor. (e.g. Is. 58:6ff; Lk. 3:11). As we look at our personal, state, federal and even our church budgets:

Do they reflect the key values of the Scriptures?
Are we planning for the future God intends trusting confidently in the God who loves us?

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 1-9-11

2011-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

“John tried to prevent him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?'”

I can relate to John's confusion in today's Gospel. John has a sense of who Jesus is. He believes Jesus is the Messiah, the one who will come to bring about the Kingdom of God and change the world. Yet, Jesus asks to be baptized by John. What is Jesus doing?

He was already the Son of God; he did not need baptism. He was already free from sin; he did not need baptism. He was the Son of God from the beginning, yet he took on our human nature and humbled himself to be baptized. His solidarity extended so far that he allowed himself to be thought a sinner.

Jesus reverses what we would expect. He makes himself one with us in our helplessness against the power of sin and in making himself one with us he overcomes the power of sin.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners... Already anticipating the 'baptism' of his bloody death. (CCC 536)

In being baptized, Jesus embraced all of us in our sinfulness and alienation from God. By descending into the waters of baptism, he descended into the darkness of sin, our sin, and brought his light there. His baptism reveals Jesus commitment to go to any lengths necessary to free us from our sin. He was counted as a sinner so that we could be free from sin. The baptism of Jesus leads us to the cross where his baptism is brought to fulfillment. Jesus was baptized because he loves us and wants to be one with us in all things.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 1-2-11 (Epiphany)

2011-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like Christmas music. Something about Christmas brings out our most beautiful and joyful music. This year, our school's annual Christmas music program was exceptional, the music at our liturgies was excellent, and the combined St. Rose/St. Mary's concert which is coming up on January 9 at 2pm at St. Mary's promises to be a beautiful way to close the season of Christmas.

One of the new songs I heard this Christmas was “Walking Like a Wise Man.” This song outlined how to walk like one of the magi in today's Gospel. The particular line that caught my attention was:

“They walk by faith and not by sight.”

For me, this line captured the essence of wisdom. Normally I think of a wise person as someone who knows what to do and what not to do. That's true, but this song pointed out another important dimension of wisdom... faith. Wisdom is more than simply knowing what to do in any given situation. The wise person knows when to walk by faith and step out when they don't know the final destination.

The magi in today's Gospel possessed this deeper kind of wisdom. They did not know where they were going. They walked by faith. It wasn't blind faith, because they could see the star and knew that God was guiding them somewhere. They just didn't know the final destination. These wise men put one foot in front of the other, trusting that the destination was a good one. Trusting that God was leading them to new life, a better life.

We are also called to walk by faith and not by sight. When we are honest with ourselves, we know that we don't know where we are going. But we can have faith that the destination God is leading us to is a good one. Together, we put one foot in front of the other and walk by faith and not by sight.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 12-26-10

2010-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

“The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already inaugurating his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #531)

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast always occurs on the Sunday within the Octave (eight days of celebration) of Christmas. It is an integral part of our Christmas celebration of the Incarnation. The Feast of the Holy Family shows that holiness does not have to be something dramatic. Most often, holiness is hidden. It is hidden in the day to day acts of obedience and love that make up family life.

Family life is one key place where God takes on flesh... where Incarnation happens. We just celebrated Jesus' birth into the world. This was dramatic as all births are. It changed things. It made a visible difference in the world. Angels singing, shepherds running, the glory of the Lord appearing. “Glory to God in the highest.!”

Today's feast has a different tone. Instead of “Glory to God in the highest,” it's more like “Hey, stop hitting your brother.” It is not about drama, but about simplicity. It is not about the once in a lifetime birth experience, but the day to day grind of life. It is not about the intense attachments and emotions between a mother and her newborn baby, but about the ongoing growth of listening and obeying.

It is not only the dramatic events that make for holiness. God is as present in the day to day routines of life as he is at the times of radical awakening and conversion.

Today's feast reminds us of the importance of living each day seeing God made manifest in every opportunity for love and obedience.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 12-19-10

2010-12-14T09:44:00.001-08:00

“Ask for a sing from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” (Is.7:10-11)

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.... When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (Mt. 1:18)

The scripture readings this weekend put a stark contrast before us. Ahaz, the King of Israel, is told by God to ask for a sign. “Just ask,” God says, “and I will answer.” But Ahaz, due to false humility, refuses to answer. Ahaz has the choice of relying on the Assyrians or on God. Ahaz has more trust in the Assyrian armies than in the God who promises a sign. He refuses to even ask God for help because he has his own plans already. Trusting God is not a part of those plans.

In spite of this, God promises the sign of the Messiah who shall be called “Emmanuel.”

Joseph responds very differently. Joseph is given a remarkable dream that informs him that the child in Mary's womb has been conceived “through the Holy Spirit.” Like Ahaz, Joseph is choos to trust in God or in his own plan “to divorce her quietly.” However, Joseph chooses to rely on the incredible message of the dream. Because of Joseph's faith, he comes to know Jesus. He allows the child who is God to be born into his family, despite his plans and that makes all the difference in his life.

We face the same choice that Ahaz and Joseph faced. Will we trust in God or in our own plans?

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 12-12-10

2010-12-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we heard of John's dramatic preaching and call to repentance. He was the striking figure crying out in the desert, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John was an expert at pointing out what stood in the way of the coming of the Kingdom. He could uncover sin with clarity and precision. His preaching exposed anything that stood in the way of the coming Kingdom and demanded that it be acknowledged and repented. The whole region was going out to hear his call to conversion.

Now we come to this weekend's Gospel. Things have changed. Time has passed. The story has moved on. John is no longer in the desert. He is in jail precisely for pointing out the sin of Herod, the ruler. The crowds are gone. John is alone and in prison. Doubt starts to come to his mind. We can imagine him thinking to himself, “What if I was wrong? What if Jesus is not the one to usher in God's Kingdom? What if I am suffering in prison for nothing?”

So John sends some of his disciples to Jesus to ask him who he is. Is Jesus really the one?

Jesus answers by pointing out what is happening in his ministry. “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” The Kingdom is indeed coming. In fact, it is already here in Jesus' ministry. Others are already living a taste of the Kingdom.

Whether we are experiencing the joy of the Kingdom, or the prison of doubt, we need one another this Advent season. Even John the Baptizer needed others to help him wake up to the Kingdom.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 12-5-10

2010-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

“Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”

It is easy to get trapped in the roles we play. We often identify ourselves with our jobs, families, relationships, religion, income, state in life, etc... This Advent Gospel reminds us that we are much more than any role we have. We are not our jobs or our families. We are much more.

John the Baptist points out that the roles we play mean nothing to God. In fact, these roles can get in the way. God does not love me because of what I do or because of any of the roles I've taken on. “God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” These roles are simply the stones that we are called to leave behind when we discover who God is calling us to be. They often become stumbling blocks that need to be cleared out as we prepare the way of the Lord.

Advent is a time for listening to the call of God inviting us beyond the stones that have accumulated over the year. It is a time to reexamine our priorities and see what we have allowed to define us as less that the beloved child of God that we are. Advent repentance is an invitation to prepare the way of the Lord and let go of all that stands in the way of God's kingdom. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log

2010-11-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the Lord of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

Mal. 3: 19-20a

During the month of November, our minds naturally turn to thoughts of harvest and of death. The days are very short. Light is scarce. Darkness seems to be closing in all around. Leaves lie on the ground, raked in piles, or burned. The last of the fall harvest is being brought in. Hunting season is here as animals are harvested for food. We are preparing. We know that the long, cold winter is not far off, whether we are ready or not. The year is ending. The year is dying. It is harvest time.

This is also the time when the church puts before us readings of judgment. We know that at the end of our lives we will be harvested. At the end of time, all of creation will be harvested. The fruits will be gathered together like a pile of leaves. Much of the fruit is rotten and will be reduced to stubble, as our reading from Malachi promises. But we also know that through the death of Jesus, we will rise to new life. The sun of justice will arise. Healing will come. God's promise will be fulfilled and it is not a promise only of woe, but a promise of new life and resurrection.

As the cold of winter death approaches. Let's keep our eyes fixed on the sun of justice with its healing rays. The fire of judgment leads to the light of justice. Christ's light has conquered the darkness.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 10-24-10

2010-10-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

"Now you are the body of Christ and

individually members of it." (1 Cor, 12-27)

The past few weeks, I shared in the joy of the members of the Body of Christ here at St. Rose and St. Mary's who responded to our Stewardship Process. Sacrifices like these have made it possible to further Jesus Christ's Mission at St. Rose and St. Mary's.

Thank you to everyone who made or renewed their Stewardship Commitment this last weekend. You should be receiving a letter or phone call within the next two weeks about the ministry you signed up for. If you don't hear anything by Friday, October 29 please call the parish office.

If you have not yet returned your card, please return one ASAP. Cards can be found in church or at the parish office (140 Auto St., Clintonville) and returned in the collection basket or to the parish office. I sincerely believe that a prayerful response will enrich your faith daily. In addition, your response will demonstrate your commitment to our parish community.

God Bless you!

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 10-17-10

2010-10-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who made or renewed their Stewardship Commitment this last weekend. If you have not turned in your card yet, please drop it by the parish office ASAP. You should be receiving a letter or phone call within the next two weeks about the ministry you signed up for. If you don't hear anything by Tuesday, October 22 please call the parish office.

Attention Men!

Have you ever wondered if the church has anything to say to men as men? Here are some upcoming opportunities specifically for Catholic men who wish to grow in their faith.

Come to the first ever webcast at St. Rose/St. Mary’s! Fr. Richard Rohr will be talking with men from around the globe about what it means to be a Christian man in the world today. On Sunday, October 24, we will gather at 12:30pm in the St. Rose parish meeting room (the webcast begins at 1pm) and spend some time discussing Fr. Richard’s insights after the webcast. You can find more information about the webcast at: http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/conferences/webcast/2010-series/end-of-men/ We should be done by 2:30pm. Don’t worry, the Packers don’t play until 7pm so there will be plenty of time for pre-game festivities after the webcast. Maybe we could even conclude the gathering with a prayer for the Packers!
The Norbertine Center for Spirituality at St. Norbert’s Abbey in De Pere is hosting a Morning of Spiritual Renewal for Men on Saturday, October 30 from 8am-1pm. Cost is $30 and includes beverages, rolls, lunch and attendance at any of the sessions. During this morning of spirituality, outstanding speakers will be offering workshops to help men get in touch with their faith and what God asks of them. For more information call Lincoln at 715-823-3416 or the Norbertine Center #920-337-4315. Act fast, registrations are due by October 22. You can also register online at: http://www.norbertines.org/day_of_renewal.html
Stay tuned for more details about my Advent book discussion on “On the Threshold of Transformation: Meditations for Men” by Fr. Richard Rohr.

Money and the Spiritual Life

2010-10-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

Richard Foster's discussion of money and the spiritual life is "on the money!" The Renovare team continues to do excellent work in challenging us to have an authentic, ecumenical, integrated spirituality that is practical and centered on the Word of God. Check out the article here:

Money and the Spiritual Life

Remembering John XXIII and Vatican II

2010-10-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and also the feast of Pope John XXIII. Here is some beautiful video and the famous speech in translation.

Whispers in the Loggia: Quote of the Day

Lincoln's Log 10-10-10

2010-10-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

It is not a coincidence that on the tenth day of the tenth month of 2010 we are hearing the reading about the tenth leper. There is something important going on here.

I believe the message is very clear. We are called to be like that tenth leper. The Gospel of the tenth leper isn't simply about a miraculous healing. Healing someone of leprosy was giving them a new life. Lepers were outcasts. Jesus gives all ten lepers new life and like them we have been given new life.

And so we say, "Thank you." Just like the tenth leper. And that is our salvation.

It is also not a coincidence that this weekend we renew our stewardship commitment. As we walked forward and placed our card on the altar, we offer thanks. Thank you for the ability to pray, to serve, and to share. The altar is the place where we give thanks to God just as the tenth leper returned to Jesus to give thanks. And in giving thanks, we find salvation.

Our stewardship commitment is two-fold. It is a commitment to our community, but it is also an offering of thanksgiving to our God for all we have and are. The commitment we have made and the thanksgiving that we offer this weekend have the power to give us new life and salvation as we continue to live as good stewards and

Receive all that God has given us with grateful hearts
cultivate the gift of our life
Share ourselves generously in justice and love, and
Return and give thanks to God for all we have and are.

May the thanksgiving we offer today empower us, like the tenth leper, to "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you" (Lk. 17:11-19) for our salvation is in our thanksgiving.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 10-3-10

2010-09-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

"We are an inviting faith-filled Catholic community made up of two unique parishes devoted to life-long learning and discipleship through prayer, service and sharing."

This statement, from the St. Rose/St. Mary's common mission statement shows how integral Stewardship is to our life as community. Recently, Bishop Bob Morneau from Bear Creek wrote the following reflection on a theology of Stewardship. Here are some of his thoughts on prayer, service, and sharing:

Stewardship of Prayer

Prayer is about our relationship with God. Stewards nurture their relationship with God by having a prayer life. Whether that is two minutes or two hours a day, listening and responding to God is at the core of the disciple's life. At times the prayer will be that of thanksgiving. At other times the prayer will be that of praise or petition or forgiveness. Whether private or communal prayer, the purpose is to stay connected to God so as to do the divine will. This dimension of stewardship can be measured to some degree. Of the 168 hours per week, of the 144 daily ten-minutes slots, how much time do we use in prayer? And, of course, the most important prayer of all is the Eucharist in which we hear God's word and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Stewards are eucharistic people.

Stewardship of Service

Ministry is about gifts and needs. We name and nurture the gifts God has given us; we place these gifts at the service of those in need. Ministries are many in number and find expression in the areas of worship, education, community, social justice, leadership, and evangelization. The Epistle of St. Peter reminds us: "As each one has received a gift, use it to serve another as good stewards of God's varied graces" (1 Peter 4:10). A theology of ministry and service emphasizes that it is not so much that we do things for others but rather Jesus is doing something for others through us. Being aware of the difference between "for" and "through" changes our whole manner of service. That is why prayer is so important: it keeps reminding us that all stewardship is ultimately the work of the Lord taking place through the actions of faithful disciples. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Through baptism and confirmation we are called to a life of commitment to the wounded of the world. The Eucharist strengthens us in that mission and the Christian community hopefully supports us in our responsibilities.

Stewardship of Sharing

"The budget is a moral document" (Jim Wallis). How we earn and spend our money is both a highly personal issue as well as a social concern. Having access to someone's checkbook is also having access to that person's value system. "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Matthew 6:21 Stewards are generous people. Again, they have a grateful heart realizing that all gifts come from the Lord. They feel an obligation to return a portion (be it 3%, 6%, 10%, 20%) to the Church and other charities. They refuse to be co-opted by a culture of greed and live a life of hoarding. A tough question has to be asked: can a person claim to be a disciple of the Lord if they are not sharing generously of their financial resources? A strange phenomenon happens in the stewardship world. The greater the generosity and the greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy. Joy, according to some authors, is impossible without generosity. And as one author states, joy is the infallible sign of God's presence.

--
Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 9-26-10

2010-09-17T15:07:00.001-07:00

"Who is a Christian steward?

One who receives God's gifts gratefully,

Cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner,

Shares them in justice and love with all,

And returns them with increase to the Lord."

Last week, and in the coming weeks, we are going to be hearing a lot about Stewardship in the Gospels. You will be receiving a letter from me including a Stewardship Renewal card in the mail along with the Diocesan Stewardship prayer. You probably noticed the large poster "Stewardship: A Way of Life" as you entered the church. Why all this focus on Stewardship?

The simple answer is that Stewardship is indeed a way of life. Stewardship is simply one way of understanding our call as disciples of Jesus. The principles of gratitude, responsibility, accountability, generosity, and sacrifice are essential elements of being a disciple of Jesus.

Stewardship is as simple as breathing. Every breath we take is a gift from God. Because it is a gift it can not be held, but must be released and returned to God. Trying to hang on to the many gifts that God has given us is as foolish as trying to hold our breath… and it would lead to death.

This Sunday's Gospel (luke 16:19-31) teaches us that if we hang on to the gifts God has given us, as the rich man did, we are creating a great chasm between ourselves and God. Rather than being grateful for all he had received and acting with justice and love (see the Bishops definition of a Christian Steward above), the rich man ignored Lazarus and God.

In the coming weeks, as we focus on stewardship as a way of life, may we learn the lesson of the rich man and Lazarus.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 9-12-10

2010-09-10T07:19:00.001-07:00

I want to start this article by thinking all you who have already turned in your Parish Vitality Survey and urge those of you who have not yet turned them in to turn them in as soon as possible. It is a wonderful experience to read through the many stories and powerful moments that people have experienced as members of the St. Rose/St. Mary's community. I am sure you will hear some of these stories in my future homilies and read about them in the Lincoln's Log down the road. Also, be certain to attend the Parish Vitality gathering on Saturday, September 25 at 5pm at St. Rose or on Sunday, September 26 at 12 noon at St. Mary's.

Our community, our diocese, our state, and our nation are going through difficult times. As I talk with people, I often get a sense of despair and hopelessness. People do not seem to be looking forward to the future as much as buckling down and trying to survive. At times like this, there is the temptation to turn inward and to care only for ourselves and to protect our own interests and agenda. It is important that we resist that temptation and continue to reach out to those around us who are in need. The Gospel always calls us beyond ourselves.

Our mission statement as a community calls us to dedicate ourselves to lifelong discipleship through prayer, service, and sharing. When times are tough, this is even more important. Reaching out doesn't just help the person we reach out to. More importantly it heals ourselves. We are made to find ourselves by loving others. Prayer reflects our love for God. Service and sharing embody our love for others.

Many of the stories that have made our parish a Vital Parish are stories of reaching out. Let's continue to reach out and reflect the image of the God of love who searches out the lost.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 9-5-10

2010-09-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Jesus teaching in this weekend’s Gospel sounds harsh. “Anyone who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” It almost sounds like extortion. “If you don’t give me your money, you can’t be my friend.” But that isn’t who Jesus is. He isn’t making a demand. He is describing the reality of discipleship.

Being a disciple is an all or nothing affair. If we are to receive the gift of being Jesus disciple, we open ourselves totally to the reality that He is God. Jesus is the source of every blessing in our life. Everything we have, even our life itself, is His gift to us. When we accept this gift we are freed to give it away. Discipleship is accepting everything as a gift of God through Jesus, and then returning that gift, in love, to the one who gave it to us. If we try to hold on to the gift as our own possession, it starts to rot in our hands.

This famous prayer by the founder of the Jesuits is a wonderful summary of this teaching. Ignatius knew that everything he had was a gift from God and that the greatest thing he could do would be to return that gift to God, opening himself to receive the giver behind the gift. This week, make this prayer your own by praying in these or similar words:

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my whole will.
All that I am and all that I possess You have given me.
I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace;
with these I will be rich enough,
and will desire nothing more.

- St. Ignatius Loyola (Jesuit) 16th century

--
Peace,

Lincoln A. Wood

Lincoln's Log 8-29-10

2010-09-10T07:15:00.001-07:00

“Remember not the things of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! … In the desert I will make a way, in the wastelands – rivers.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

By now you have received the mailing about our Parish Vitality Initiative. If you haven't received a survey yet, stop by the parish office and pick one up. I hope you have taken some time to reflect on the blessings you have received from our wonderful community and to look to the future with hope. I look forward to reading your stories and images of blessing and hope as your survey's come in.

I also hope you took 10 minutes to reflect on the various areas of ministry in our community and rank our parish as to how we are ministering to one another as disciples. This data will help us to shape our ministry into the future. Mark your calendar for the Parish Vitality gathering on Saturday, September 25 following the 4pm liturgy at St. Rose or Sunday, September 26 following the 10:30am liturgy at St. Mary's.

Several very practical and more immediate things have also been happening in the midst of ministry. The staff's offices have been moved from the rectory to 140 Auto Street in the parish school/ministry center. The hours have changed as well. The office in Clintonville (140 Auto) will be open from 7:30am-3:30pm on weekdays. In Bear Creek, the St. Mary's Parish Center offices will be open from 9am-1pm on Wednesdays (hopefully these hours can expand to 9am-4pm in the near future if we can find the right volunteers).

In the midst of all this change, I keep being reminded of Cardinal Newman's saying: “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” The Spirit is moving in our midst. Let's respond together!

Peace,
Lincoln

Lincoln’s Log 8-22-10

2010-09-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

It seems like a logical question. There are two ways of answering the question. “Yes” or “No.” But Jesus doesn’t answer the question either way. Why? Because the question assumes a set of criteria that Jesus doesn’t accept.

If Jesus answers, “Yes, only a few people will be saved” what would happen? We would start looking around and trying to figure out who was going to make it and who wouldn’t. A lot of us might give up, figuring that salvation was only for the elite and the perfect. But Jesus teaches “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

If, instead, Jesus answers, “No, many will be saved” what would happen? I think we would sit back and say to ourselves, “Well then, what is all the fuss about? I’m a pretty decent person. I haven’t murdered anyone so I must be OK.”

Jesus doesn’t answer the question directly because it sets up a standard of salvation and salvation isn’t about requirements. Salvation is a gift and a response to that gift. Jesus says, “People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.” Therefore it must be easy, right? But he also says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” So it must be tough, right?

We all want to know who is going to heaven, don’t we. How hard is it? What are the requirements? Who meets the standards? But Jesus refuses to answer that kind of question. Look into your heart and as you accept the gift God has given you, you will strive to enter by the narrow gate.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 8-15-10

2010-08-09T15:00:00.001-07:00

Our bodies matter.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This doctrine teaches us that "… when the course of her earthly life was finished, [Mary] was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory" (Catechism of the Catholic Church #966 emphasis added).

As Catholics, we take the body very seriously. We know that human beings are not disembodied spirits trapped in bodies. We proclaim that we are not saved from our bodies but in our bodies. In fact, the sacredness of the body is central to our belief in the sacraments because we know that God is encountered in and through the body. This view of the body is the reason we have all the "smells and bells" that make being Catholic so interesting. The respect we have for the body explains why we sit, stand, kneel, sing, process, hug, kiss, splash ourselves with water, eat, drink, and all the other "bodily" things we do at liturgy.

In our spiritual lives, our bodies are not something we leave behind but they are transformed and redeemed. This fundamental belief in the gift of our bodies is also integral to our Catholic teaching on sexual morality. It is the root of much of the conflict between the cultural view of sexuality and our church's teaching.

Recently, the state of Wisconsin enacted a law that will affect the way human sexuality is taught in our schools. You can find out more about this issue from our Wisconsin Bishops at:

http://www.wisconsincatholic.org/ and click the link: Sex Education Options in Wisconsin Public Schools (July 2010)

Our bodies are great gifts from God. As we celebrate this feast of Mary's Assumption, may we come to a deeper appreciation of the gift that our bodies are.

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 8-7-10

2010-07-31T12:17:00.001-07:00

Everybody wins!

Last weekend over a dozen children and adults from our parish and school picked blueberries at Blueberry Haven. Why? Due to the wet weather, the crop hasn't been picked yet and many of the berries are in danger of rotting on the bush.

Blueberry Haven approached us because the berries were going to be wasted if they were not picked. Several families responded to this need. Over a hundred pounds of berries that would have gone to waste will now be used in the school lunch program. Our children learned the importance of service by taking care of the gifts that God has given. A valuable lesson in stewardship! By working together, everybody won.

This is only one example of wise stewardship going on in our community. The generosity of people donating their skills, time, money, and work for the St. Mary's Sauer Kraut Festival this weekend is another example. If you weren't involved in some way this year, be sure to help out next year. It is a wonderful event and exemplifies generous sharing and careful use of God's gifts to us. At the festival, everybody wins.

God continues to bless us in unexpected ways. This weekend we hear that "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." As disciples, we strive to care for all the gifts God gives us. One way we do that is to find situations where "everybody wins."

If you have ideas or examples where "everybody wins" I would love to hear them. So many good things are happening in our community. Let's proclaim the good news to one another.

Peace,

Lincoln

P.S. If you are interested in picking berries (there is no charge for the berries if they are for the school lunch program) please contact Mary Hohensee at the parish office.

--
Peace,

Lincoln A. Wood
Parish Director
St. Mary's Parish, Bear Creek
St. Rose Parish, Clintonville
lincolnandrewwood@gmail.com
715-823-3419

Lincoln's Log 8-1-10

2010-07-23T12:27:00.001-07:00

"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."

These are Jesus' words to us in this Sunday's Gospel. But how? How do we guard against greed? We are surrounded by messages that tell us that we are incomplete. Buy this product and you will be happy. Eat this food and you will find fulfillment. We all know that these promises are empty. Yet the temptation is always there. Is there a spiritual practice that can help us fight the temptation to greed?

I believe there is. That practice is gratefulness. Cultivating gratefulness can be an antidote to the temptation of greed. An easy way to cultivate gratefulness is to "Count your blessings." This simple practice can be done regularly to empower us to resist the temptation to greed. Many people count their blessings just before bed as they review the many gifts that God has given them. Even on the worst days, there is much to be grateful for: sunshine or rain, a child's smile, food on the table, a glass of clear water, flowers... These simple blessings are innumerable.

There is even a website dedicated to gratefulness. You can find it at: www.gratefulness.org It has many wonderful resources and videos to cultivate gratefulness. Also check out this powerful video at:

A grateful heart is a generous heart. A grateful heart is free from greed because it is filled with the recognition of the abundant gifts that God has given. A disciples heart is a grateful heart. As disciples, may we deepen our sense of gratefulness in the coming week!

Peace,

Lincoln

Lincoln's Log 7-25-10

2010-07-17T09:41:00.001-07:00

"Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Prayer is a great mystery. It is also a gift. The Gospel from Luke this week challenges us to be persistent in our prayer and to keep asking God for what we need. The Catechism on the Catholic Church says, "We ought always to pray and not to lose heart."

Yet fear steps in. I am often afraid to ask God for anything. I'm afraid of being demanding and treating God like Santa Claus. I'm afraid of being too specific because if I don't receive what I ask for I fear my faith will crumble. It is much safer for me to keep God at a distance. "He's busy. Why would he care about me and my little life?" I say to myself.

But for some reason my heart won't give up. It cries out in spite of my fears because deep down, the Holy Spirit that has been poured into my heart, knows that God is good. That He wants what is best for me. The depths of my heart know that I am loved by a loving Father.

It is this gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts that enables us to pray and to be persistent in our prayer. God loves us. There is nothing to fear. "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" God loves us. Don't be afraid to ask.

Peace,

Lincoln

Praying the Ignatian Way - Reflective Prayer - Loyola Press

2010-07-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Praying the Ignatian Way - Reflective Prayer - Loyola Press

This is a simple and wonderful way to pray. During the month of July I am always drawn to Ignatius' simple methods of reflection.

Lincoln's Log 7-18-10

2010-07-12T08:05:00.001-07:00

I slept and I dreamt life was joy.

I awoke and I saw life was service.

I acted and behold service was joy.

Finding the right balance is an ongoing challenge in the world today. There are so many things that seem to scream out for our action, especially in times of transition. I know that I can easily get caught up in running from a meeting to soccer practice to visiting the sick to counseling a couple preparing for marriage to paperwork (which never seems to end) to writing to returning calls to putting a Band-Aid on Micah's knee to doing the dishes and all the while my cell phone is ringing and I know that my e-mail box is filling. At the end of the day I can fall into bed exhausted and wondering what I accomplished.

Most of the activities we get caught up in are good. They are service. They are, each in their own way, attempts to help manifest the Kingdom of God in the world. But are they bringing joy?

When I read the poem above by Ribindranath Tagore, a nobel prize winning Indian poet, I realized that much of my service was not joy. I had lost the roots of service. This Sunday's Gospel reminds us that without rooting our service in prayer it will become a burden. Martha felt the burden of service. She was weighed down by worries and anxiety which deprived her of joy. Mary chose the "better part" by sitting "at the Lord's feet listening to him speak." This "better part" would allow Mary to serve with joy because she was rooted in the Lord. Finding the right balance between prayer and service enables us to serve with joy. If you are feeling burdened by many worries, maybe that burden is a call to sit at the Lord's feet in prayer and listen to His gentle, loving voice.

Peace,

Lincoln

Bulletin Reflection 5-9-10

2010-05-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

Lincoln’s Log

“It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28-29 from this week’s first reading)

This is the letter that resolved the dispute about whether the early Gentile Christians needed to adapt Jewish practices (particularly circumcision) in order to become disciples of Jesus. Without this decision, Christianity would probably have remained a small sect within Judaism rather than the world religion it is today.

But it was not an easy or a clear decision at the time. The argument was heated. There were multiple factions, all of which had strong arguments from their experience and from Scripture. It was not an easy question to answer and it struck at the heart of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus. It was a question whose answer would affect the nature of the community down through the ages.

With all this surrounding turmoil, I am struck by the letter’s confident tone and assurance. “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us…” In the midst of this crisis these early disciples were confident that the Holy Spirit was with them, guiding them into a future they couldn’t see. At that moment of incredible tension the Holy Spirit was present, and the disciples trusted that guidance.

We each have crisis in our lives when we have to make decisions that are not clear or easy. Faith tells us the Holy Spirit is present. As a community we have to make decisions that are not clear or easy. Faith tells us the Holy Spirit is present. As we move forward in our lives and in our communal life, we continue to rely on the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent in Jesus’ name. May we continue to pray for the Spirit’s guidance.

Thank you for being the wonderful community that you are. Alleluia!

Peace,

Lincoln

What I'm up to... please pray for us

2010-04-12T21:36:00.001-07:00

Here is what I've been up to lately. The parishes and school I serve in rural Northeaster WI need your prayers and support!

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/Catholic-School-in-Clintonville-facing-closure-next-year

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=12297612

http://www.nbc26.com/global/category.asp?C=171398&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4696851&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

We had a Home and School meeting tonight. Our community is working hard and has come up with a very good plan and mobilized. Let's keep praying that God's will is done.

A fundraising steering committee was formed and crafted this core message. Please share it with anyone who is interested in preserving the value of Catholic Education.

Each child's primary education is vital to the future of our community. St. Rose & St. Mary's provides a solid foundation with a committed staff who understand the value of a Catholic education. We need your help to secure our future. Please send your tax deductible donation to St. Rose & St. Mary's School, 140 Auto Street, Clintonville, WI 54929 (715)823-4360.

You can also join our facebook group 1000 People Who Care About Catholic Education in Clintonville and Bear Creek.

I am off for a meeting with the Diocese tomorrow (Tuesday) on Catholic Education. Let's keep praying that God's will be done.

--
Peace,

Lincoln A. Wood
Parish Director
St. Mary's Parish, Bear Creek
St. Rose Parish, Clintonville
lincolnandrewwood@gmail.com
715-823-3419

Bulletin Reflection for 33rd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year B "Look Around"

2009-11-09T12:10:00.001-08:00

Look around. The leaves are dying and falling to the ground. The days are getting shorter and the darkness is getting longer. Halloween has come and gone. November is here and Christmas is still a long way off. It seems to me that I would expect some words of comfort in these dark times. Yet the readings this time of year are hardly comforting. They talk about the sun being darkened and the moon losing its light, stars falling and the heavens being shaken. These are words of distress and tribulation.

But maybe these images have something to say to us today and aren't simply speaking of a future time. Look around. These are distressing times. There are plenty of trials and tribulations facing us. We face personal trials. Our community has its own struggles. Our nation seems to have more challenges at home and abroad than we can handle. Look around.

The readings for the next several weeks do speak a message of comfort, but not the pious platitude that "everything will be all right" or that "its not a big deal." The scriptures do not ignore the fact that our world is messed up. Look around. But the scriptures do promise that in the midst of this mess God is near. He is "at the gates" during these troubled times. These images of distress can also convey a sense of expectation. When it seems like the world is falling apart, look around. God is waiting at the gates with a word that will not pass away. "The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." Look around. God is here, even in the middle of the mess of our lives. Look around!

Catechetical Moment: New Beginnings

2009-03-29T13:58:00.001-07:00

I want you to imagine playing golf. You set yourself up carefully at
the first tee. You slowly bring your club back, feeling the energy
build. You swing… the ball sails into the air… wait, no it doesn't…
clunk… it sails into the tree 10 yards down the fairway and ricochets
into the rough.

Mulligan! Do over! Take another shot.

In today's first reading we hear about a "new covenant" which God has
written on our hearts. It is a time of new beginning, a chance for
the people of Israel to begin again after having failed to live up to
their covenant with God.

We celebrate this new covenant in Jesus at this liturgy. But we all
know that sometimes we fail to live out the promise we celebrate. We
have to admit that sometimes our decisions have sent our relationship
with God clunking into a tree. We need a mulligan, a "do over."

On Tuesday night at 7:30pm we will gather together to renew this
covenant through adoration and benediction. Through songs, readings,
and stillness we will prepare ourselves for Easter. We will also have
the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. This
sacrament renews us by wiping away all of our past failures. It
renews our heart and reconciles us with the God who loves us. It
allows us to "do over," to begin again as beloved children of God and
take another shot at living out the promises we celebrate tonight.

Next week is Holy Week. Wouldn't it be nice to enter it freshly
renewed in God's grace? I would urge all of us to take advantage of
the opportunity to end our Lenten journey by celebrating the sacrament
of Reconciliation. The opportunity is here… 7:30pm, Tuesday night.
Come and begin again!

Beginning in Vulnerability

2008-10-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Why is the blank page so scary (or even the “empty field” of a blog post)?

Writing the first word is terrifying, even if it is a trite cliché or a quote. Staring at the blank page is paralyzing…

There is a certain purity and beauty to the blank page. How could my words improve upon the simplicity and the silence of the page? That is what paralyzes, at least what paralyzes me. The marks on the page are flaws, blemishes on the simple beauty of the blank page.

Yet the page calls out for writing. Its blankness exists to be marked. It waits for the pen. It waits for meaning. The page is pure potential that begs to come into actuality. The beauty of the page is an incomplete beauty. The page exists to be marked.

It is this tension between the purity and safety of the blank page and the call of the page that makes the act of writing so difficult and yet so rewarding. Julia Cameron says,

“Writing is like breathing, it’s possible to do it well, but the point is to do
it no matter what.”

I agree. Writing, like breathing has its rhythm and there are times when the pen must be put to the page or the fingers to the keyboard. Communication must happen and, like breathing, if it is held in too long, the writer in us will die.Beginning to write is like any beginning. It is a risk. It makes us vulnerable like an infant. Yet, one must begin as an infant. It is the only way, unless you are a Greek god like Athena who sprang fully grown out of Zeus’s head. We are not ancient deities. For us, vulnerability is the only way. Everything begins with vulnerability.

John writes, “In the beginning was the Word…” This Word is Jesus, who becomes a vulnerable infant and places himself in our hands. Jesus breaks the silence of God and becomes helpless. God risks everything. He is not content to rest in his simplicity but takes the chance of loving and communicating that love to us. All beginnings can be acts of love if they begin in vulnerability. I hope that as I begin to write I can write with love and vulnerability. May my pen (and my computer keys) be blessed with gentleness, joy, and gratitude.