Palm Sunday on Friday of the Fifth week of Lent

May the Peace and joy, the love and blessing of Christ be with you!  
I have been allowing this entry to percolate throughout the day as I reflected on what I wanted to share.  Today, I sat with the thought of having celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday with a group of 150 inmates in the Eden Detention Center.  It was a powerful moment to enter the gates of the center, and to hear the loud click as the gate shut behind me.  Slowly, I entered a world that is both foreign and new to me.  After the initial formalities of signing in, going through the X-ray and having our ID's taken up, Deacon and I were escorted through the facility to where the simple metal chapel is. Upon entering, I was amazed to see that so many men had come for mass, I was even more touched to see that there was a full band that had come together for the celebration!  The place was abuzz because for the first time in many years, the inmates were to participate  in the mass in their native language, Spanish.   The celebration itself was beautiful in its own rite and while there were few men who received communion, every one of them participated to the best of their ability.  Today, I have also had the opportunity to watch the movie "Of God's and Men," again.  This is a film about seven Trappist monks in Algiers who were kidnapped and killed by terrorist in the mid-nineties.  After much persuasion and threats, the monks had decided to listen to God's call as they continued to serve in the monastery where they were.  This refusal to leave eventually cost them their lives, but in reality, they had long ago decided to give those lives up for the sake of Christ.  
I write about these two incidents because in some ways, the readings for Passion Sunday are about discipleship and our call to follow Christ even when the road ahead is filled with uncertainty.  Unlike Judas, who believed himself able to manipulate God, discipleship is about Peter, and being willing to constantly turn toward God even in the face of death and destruction, clumsiness and denial.  Discipleship is being able to follow the Master and to be open the His call even if it seems to end at Golgotha.  It is precisely about trusting that God's call will  not lead me astray, but rather, to a place where life and love will prevail, even in the midst of fear or for those prisoners, behind bars.  My thought throughout today was about the ability to give up my life for the sake of the Kingdom, not only in service as a priest, but as a faithful witness to a love that calls me beyond the cross, beyond the tomb, to the glorious moment where new life prevails, the Resurrection!  Discipleship is having the courage, if not the understanding, the continue following the Master, our Master, even as he Himself takes up His cross.  Discipleship is being able to encounter God's love, not only in the bluebonnet covered fields of Texas, but also within the scary and institutional walls of a prison.  May we each continue to follow our Master, and from Him, may we be filled with love so as to proclaim that Christ is Risen, not just in good times, but always!  As always, remember that I love you and may God bless you.  Fr. Rick

the money changers in our midst

This was supposed to be a reflection on the Third Sunday of Lent, but as it turns out, there is something far greater than just one Sunday at play in my meditations and prayers.  As I imagined Jesus going up to His beloved Temple and being compelled by His love for God to undo the great sin that had taken root at the Temple in the form of the money changers, I kept wondering about the modern day money changers and God-manipulators.  Obviously, the easy targets become those who use the name of the Lord to get their own, but this is too easy.  Instead, I thought about the Commandments and their proclamation of a life that is deeply rooted in God.  Many people believe that these Commandments are "must- dos" that God imposes on us from on high.  In actuality, I believe they are humble proclamations of one who knows God's love.  Having this in mind, the question then arises, who are the money changers, or rather, who are those people who look at God and mock Him and His followers?  At the moment, one major player in this, includes those who are trying to impose on our religious liberties.  Ironically enough, its those who are manipulating a truth for their own gain.  In calling it a "choice," there are those who would rather see to the death of millions of unnamed but unforgotten babies (called fetuses) instead of reaching a point where we understand the beauty and sacredness of humanity and the delicacy of sex.  Instead, they fill the minds of many people as they proclaim these crimes to be necessary and a part of our modern world, and as they impose the payment for these crimes on those faithful men and women who try to proclaim the Good News of Christ with their lives. As such, I truly believe that we are called upon today to take on the zeal of Jesus as He overturned the tables, we are called upon to profess our faith and to do so with the knowledge that we are God's beloved children.  No longer must these money changers be allowed to deface God, as His children, and in our faithful living, may we be witnesses to a truth far greater than any government or any unjust law, a Truth in whom is our life, a Truth who is way, a Truth whom we love, a Truth to be lived beyond this, the Third Sunday of Lent!  Peace to you and God bless you.  Love you. Fr Rick

1 Lent...

Ok, so here goes another one.  As I start this season of Lent, it's strange to think of the changes that I have experienced in just a few short months.  Language in the Missal has changed, my family has changed, my life and even my assignment.  All in all, it can almost be enough to leave my head spinning and somewhat out of control.  And that's precisely what this time of Let is all about, as Jesus goes into the desert in this Sunday's readings, we see Him not only going on retreat, but invititing us to do so also.  Of course, we don't have the luxury of leaving our family and responsibilities while the angels tend to us, but we do have the capacity for growth in our very real (and usually busy) daily lives.  It is in the daily events of our lives, especially those mundane and routine events, that God sometimes speaks to us, or at least, where He surprises us the most when we realize that He has been there all along.  So I enter this new Church season having given up a few things, but also having made the conscious effort to allow myself to see God here, now, in an amazing way.  The fact is that we very often live in the desert (especially here in West Texas) and all we have to do, is let God do His thing, and let us be ministered to by his love.  Peace and blessings to you.  Love you, Fr.  Rick

Walk into the possibilities!

I just finished celebrating mass tonight at St. Ann's Parish in Midland, Texas.  It was quite a unique experience since this was the first time I ever really celebrated a Sunday mass here.  And on top of that, I sang the mass parts!  As I celebrated today, I was particularly touched by the beauty and elegance of the mass, but also by the power it possesses.  As we come together, we, the community, are reminded that the communion we share is food for the journey, and witness to a moment in which past, present and future stand in the midst of Christ, Emmanuel!  The readings this week remind us of poor Job and his sufferings, but they are also contrasted by Paul and his yearning heart that proclaims to the world the Good News of God's love.  In the Gospel we see also the possibilities of allowing God's transformative and saving love to enter our being.  Upon doing so, we undergo transformation and are never the same, and even when we sit with Job, we sit in confidence that even in this moment, God is acting and I will be alright.  So as I go home for the day, I go hoping that my journey may be one of walking into the possibilities that God has in store, even if Job is right there with me!  Be blessed and know that I love you all.  Peace.  Fr. Rick.

Be still and know that you are loved!

I haven't written in a while, and although there have been many things going on since this Advent season when I last wrote, there has been one event that has particularly touched my heart.  Since I have been in Midland, just a little over three months, there have been four or five teen suicides that have shaken the community.  Although I have not personally been involved with any of the families or the teens, it has been especially sad to read about each suicide when it happens.  Yesterday, I was casually looking in my local news site and noticed a bulletin that told of another suicide.  My heart sank and I paused a moment to pray for the young man, his family, and those affected by this tragedy.  Since then, I have been thinking about these different suicides and the last effect that they have had and will have on the community at large and more importantly, on the Body of Christ, each and every one of us that is an adopted child of God.  As a minister, I think of the appropriate pastoral response to these suicides, but as a brother, an uncle, and a friend, I think more what can drive someone to such extreme measures.  Although I cannot propose a solution, I cannot help but wonder if one thing would be to be able to look into our brothers' or sisters' eyes and to tell them "I Love YOU!"  I don't mean texting them, or posting it on their wall, but actually looking into their eyes, recalling the love of God as I have experienced it and letting them know that they are loved, not only because I love them, but because they are indeed worthy of love!!!  I fear that more and more, many of us have forgotten the importance of human contact. In an act of love and truth, may we be able to take the time, not only to recognize God in our lives, but to express that love to others.  Sometimes, all we need is to be reminded that we are loved.  Peace to you and God bless you, and I LOVE YOU!  Fr. Rick. 

One little light.

As many of you may know, this past October, my dad Isaias died suddenly of a massive heart attack.  While it has been nearly two months (on Christmas day) it has been strange to keep expecting him to arrive from a trip.  The reality is that the next time  I see my dad, we will hopefully be in a place where the glory of Christmas is eternally proclaimed.  The reason I bring up my dad is because since his death, the house has seemed a bit darker,  and during this advent season, the journey toward the celebration of the Nativity has taken a truly anticipatory feel for myself and my family.  While we await the celebration that is to come, we understand that it will be like no other.  This having been said, as I reflected on the Scriptures this week, I was touched by the gesture that David offers to God, "let me build you a home" he says, and in short reply, God reminds David that it is He who has given us a home and that it is in Him alone that we find all that we have.  This thought is important because it allows us to walk from being children of God as the Israelites were, to being children of God, who have known Christ.  In our knowing and believing in Christ, we are brought to a place where we no longer offer to build a "house" for God, instead, we prepare ourselves to be worthy vessels of Christ, of Him who is Emmanuel and in whom is our hope.  By doing so, we no longer look with anticipation to knowing a God who is distant and aloof, or one that can only be met in the Temple, instead, we come to know God in the intimacy of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and there, like Mary, we are able to say "I am the servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word"  in our participating in communion, we actively enter into a relationship with God where we are called to holiness, where life is found, even in the midst of confusion and darkness, where death is only a moment of transformation, and not an end.  Today, this last Sunday of Advent, our journey continues, but during these last few days of reflection and preparation, we are invited to become  more and more, worthy temples of God who is indeed among us, and in whom is our life and our light.  And so, as my family and I anticpate this Christmas day, we gather with some sadness, but with the knowledge that even in the pain of this loss, light will abound because God is indeed with us!  Peace be with you and know that you are loved.  Fr. Rick

It's time to start the music, its time to light the lights!

I recently watched the Muppets movie with great joy.  For the time I was in the theater watching this film, I felt like a kid again.  Watching Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy and the gang brought back memories of watching the Muppet show on TGIFriday on ABC when I was growing up.  What was interesting for me, however, was the anticipation with which I greeted the movie.  Although I am not a BIG fan of the Muppets, something within me was sparked, and my excitement to see these lovable characters once again was a joyous and jovial!  I write about this because today we are preparing to celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday!  Its the first time of two during which the Church invites us to wear Rose, not pink!  Anyway, the reason the Muppets came to mind during my preparation was because just as I felt great joy at going to watch this movie, and these characters, the Church today invites us to live with great joy as we continue to prepare for the coming of the Light!  Today, we even wear a color that is not like any other, nor is it common.  Instead, we make today special as we become aware of the Light and we celebrate the feast of His Incarnation.  Today, in color and in reading, we are reminded that just as the morning sky gloriously announces the dawn in an amazing array of color, so too, we see and hear about the amazing Light that is coming ever nearer, and if we are attuned to this great event and this Great Person, we will find ourselves dancing with great anticipation, this time, not over a movie, but over Him who is our Light and our Salvation, Christ.  And so, as we continue our Advent journey, I recall the opening words of the Muppet Show theme song:  It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to get things started (in our hearts, here tonight) --that's my addition!  May God's blessings continue to fill you as the sun fills the morning sky, and may the joy and peace of our Lord Incarnate fill you now and always!  Love ya! Fr Rick.