Being Welcoming

Being Welcoming

In a day or two our Church will be gloriously filled as we celebrate the coming of our Savior. There will be visitors from out of town visiting relatives as well as people who may live just down the street from us who haven’t been with us for a while. I was brought up to always put company first. I was to take their coats, smile warmly and offer them the best seat in the house. The goal being to make them feel as if they were in their own home. Our Church is very much like a home. We come together to worship, share a meal, and socialize before and after Mass. We are family.

Think back to last Christmas… Did you put on your “company best”? Did you welcome a newcomer to our family? Or… did you think to yourself, “that stranger took my pew!” Or ask… “whose car is in my usual parking space?” And then go grumbling and finding a new space to sit or park in. At Christmas-time we all have to shift from our usual seats at the dining room table to accommodate our guests. We open our hearts and pocketbooks to those in need. This is the spirit of Christmas. Should it be any different in our Church home?

This Christmas let us put on our “company best.” Today, before leaving, let us pick up any stray bulletins, gum wrappers and Cheerios to prepare for our guests. Let us at Christmas Mass give up our usual seats and let our company have the best seats in the house. Let us park further away so that those who are visiting will feel welcomed.

Let us welcome our company with open arms and warm hearts. You may never know the impact of a smile or a simple Merry Christmas will have on someone. Who knows? Perhaps instead of feeling like “company” they will begin to feel like family and a part of our home.

God Bless, Holly Clark

How was Your Day?

Praying Through Advent

How Was Your Day?

If you are like me you probably go over the events of the day and think about the things that went wrong and how to correct them or maybe you make a mental list of what you need to do tomorrow. Your mind is often racing in a million directions. All you want to do is quiet your mind and get a good night’s sleep.

A lot of us “say” prayers before going to bed or maybe read some scripture but have you ever actually shared your day with Jesus? Have you ever thought of conversing with Jesus about your daily worries and problems? Have you thanked God for the graces you have received during the day. Have you ever shared your hopes and dreams with Him?

St. Ignatius suggests that you take a few minutes every evening and look back over your day and examine how and where Christ was with you during the day:

Get comfortable and close your eyes

Let Christ show you this day as you lived it.

The people you met

The circumstances you encountered

The activities you engaged in

In Christ these things are God’s gifts to you, revealing His presence in a new way.

Recall the feelings and moods that were evoked:

Love, hope, contentment, joy, anger, fear, shame

These feelings can reveal your movement toward God or away from God

Sit with Christ and tell Him how you feel.

Listen to what Christ is telling you.

Thank God for the blessings of the day.

End with an Our Father…

 

This form of prayer will be challenging at first. We have a lot of “noise” in our heads and staying focused will require much practice… but always remember… Christ is with us until the end of time… God Bless… --Holly Clark

Advent: A Song in My Heart

Praying Through Advent

A Song in My Heart…

How often have you had a song floating around in your head that you cannot get rid of? You try humming a different song, or try to think about something else but your mind keeps returning to one song. This happens to me often and I never gave it much thought until I noticed it happening more frequently. I began to think that perhaps the Holy Spirit is speaking to me through music. I began to pay more attention to the lyrics and notes in my head and have realized the Spirit is indeed communicating things I need to hear. Praying with music can be a very spiritual and enriching experience. Advent is a time of prayer and this is an easy form of prayer that can be done in a car, at home, at Mass, etc. Here is one method of praying with music:

Choose a piece of music. It does not need to be a hymn or a particular genre or style. Settle down. Take a few minutes to become comfortable and still your mind Pray to the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray and to hear what the Lord is saying to you.

Play the song you have chosen. Pay attention to the feelings and images the songs stir up for you. After the song, reflect on it. Ask: What is this song saying? How does it speak to my life right now? How can I apply its meaning to my life? What might God be saying to me through this song? Thank God for these moments of insights you received. Record your experiences in a prayer journal for future reflection.

As we attend Mass this Advent let us sing out with strong voices and pay attention to the Spirit moving within us through song.

The faith of countless believers has been nourished by melodies flowing from the hearts of other believers,…In song, faith is experienced as vibrant joy, love, and confident expectation of the saving intervention of God.

Letter to Artists #12, Pope John Paul II, 1999

 

– God Bless, Holly Clark

Imaginative Prayer in Advent

Praying through Advent:
 Imaginative Prayer

A few weeks ago we were expecting Hurricane Sandy to hit our region hard. I prepared myself by stocking up on flashlights, batteries, and some spiritual reading. I was very prepared to be sitting in the dark with a little reading light and found myself actually wanting the electricity to go out! I was craving the stillness and peace darkness can bring. I was going to use the time to pray, to be with God, to contemplate my life and where God is in my life. Unfortunately my electricity stayed on and I never got to sit with God that day. Lucky for me Advent is here! Advent is a time of waiting in darkness for the light of Christ to come to pierce the darkness. It is a time of praying and watching. How do you pray?

            Today’s Gospel reading lends itself easily to a form of Contemplative prayer known as Imaginative Prayer: Read over Luke 21:25-28, 34-36. Imagine yourself part of the scene… Imagine you are at Jesus’ side, one of His disciples, and He is telling you about the signs in the sun, moon and stars- the signs that will come before He comes again in Glory… You may be frightened but Jesus tells you to be vigilant and to pray for strength.to overcome fear and anxiety. Is there anything in your life right now that makes you fearful? Are you facing troubled times and need strength? Read over the text a few times… still your mind and ask Jesus for what you need to get through until He comes again.

Take advantage of the Holy Season of Advent. Stay away from the Malls and busyness of the season. Look forward to the darkness of early winter to be with God. Look forward to the Light that will pierce the darkness.      God Bless, Holly Clark

Advent is Coming

Advent is Coming… Are You Ready?
Praying Through Advent

The season of holy Advent begins on December 2. Are you ready to prepare the way for our Lord? The season of Advent is a time of expectation, we are reminded of the coming of Christ not only at Christmas, but of His second coming in glory at the end of time. This is a time to welcome grace into our lives, and a time for a new “advent” of Christ into our lives.

            We begin December, in the Northern Hemisphere in darkness and so too Advent. We await and seek out the light that will bring brightness to the darkest places of our lives. We long for Christ, whom we know will lead us out of the darkness and will shine his face upon us lifting us up in love and hope. Our liturgical celebrations echo that feeling of hope and expectation of Christ’s return. Christ’s return may seem to be something that won’t happen anytime soon but the reality is the time of His return is NOW! Are you ready?

            For some Advent is a time of rushing around, Christmas shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. There seems to be very little time to even think about Christ’s coming to meet us. We already have the darkness illuminated by all the Christmas lights and décor (before Thanksgiving no less!). But this year, let us try to add prayer to our lives. Look forward to the darkness, stillness and peacefulness that the nights bring. Let us add prayer to the top of our Christmas todo lists. Over the next several weeks We will explore many types of prayer... prayer can be done by everyone at any time in a multitude of ways…

Giving Thanks

Setting Our Hearts Aflame

Giving Thanks

Every year around Thanksgiving time I like to reflect on the past year, sometimes even years back. Last month I celebrated my fifth year of breast cancer survivorship. As I reflect back to where I was five years ago, before the diagnosis, I was lost career-wise, questioning my purpose in life… I was clueless. The diagnosis of cancer threw me into a whirlwind and my life was turned upside down. I turned to the Holy Trinity and gave each of them a job to do. God’s job was to give me strength, Jesus was to hold my hand and carry me when necessary, and the Holy Spirit was to give me wisdom and guidance. With this team in place how could I despair?
            My treatment progressed and I found myself growing closer and closer to God. God was with me and one day, while I was in the middle of radiation treatment and working at a church function the Holy Spirit came to me. I was filled with warmth and joy. A voice said to me “You are where you are supposed to be, doing what you are doing.” I suddenly found myself with a purpose in life! I received a calling from God! A few days later I started the process of enrolling into a Masters of Arts in Ministry program to put into action my calling.
            This coming May, I will be graduating from that program. I think back to five years ago and realize that cancer came into my life for a reason. And that reason was to bring me closer to God and to bring me to your service. In some very real ways I am thankful to cancer for putting God into my life. I look forward to serving you all in the months and years to come.

God Bless, Holly Clark

For Veterans

For All Veterans…

Today I am remembering my grandfather who served in the army in the Phillipines in WWII and my father who served in the Navy during the Korean War. Both men volunteered to serve their country in different ways. My grandfather was a mortar man fighting in jungles and my Dad was an electrician aboard an aircraft carrier. Both men I admire for their willingness to travel across the world, leaving their families temporarily, and risk their lives to keep us and those around the world safe. Both my dad and grandfather were very proud of their military service and were buried in the last couple of years with military honors. As taps was played for them at their wakes I thought of all the veterans who never made it home; those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans deserve a very special place in our hearts… please join me today in saying a prayer for veterans. God Bless, Holly Clark

 

Prayer for Veterans

Heavenly Father,

on this day, help us remember those

who gave of themselves to keep us safe and secure.

Enkindle in our consciences a desire

to serve those who served their country selflessly.

Give us the grace to aid those

who have given aid and protection to us and others

both here and overseas.

Let us never forget the causes for which they fought

or the bravery they showed on the battlefield.

May we be always be mindful of those

who paid the price for our freedom,

just as your Son gave his life

to free us from the bondage of sin.

Amen.

How Do You Treat Yourself?

How Do You Treat Yourself?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31

I have always looked upon this quote from Mark as a guide to how to treat others. We are to help our neighbors, feed our neighbors and love our neighbors. You will note however that Jesus does not come out and say this here directly. Do you treat your neighbor as yourself? If you said “of course I do,” I would next ask you how do you treat yourself? Do you take care of yourself? Do you worry too much? Do you take care of your soul? St. Bernard of Clairvaux in his Sermons on the Song of Songs (no. 18) suggests that we take some time to reflect on the care of our inner selves. If we reflect deeply and discover that our inner soul and mind are distressed and have been neglected then how can we possibly treat and love our neighbor as our self? St. Bernard says “If you discover this chaos in your own interior, what madness drives you to insinuate yourself into other people's business?”

            St. Bernard reminds us to not be over virtuous, to not be more generous than God. God would like us to take care of ourselves and to treat our body and souls well so that we are able to take care of our neighbor and love our neighbor as ourselves. St. Bernard suggests that we look at our inner energies and soul as a reservoir. If our inner being has been fed and we are overflowing with the Spirit then we can share with our neighbors but if we are empty and depleted we need to tend to our body and soul. We need to slow down, refill our reservoirs with prayer, energy and love. Only then will we be able to treat and love our neighbors as we do our self.

God Bless, Holly Clark

 

Do You See and Hear?

Do You See and Hear?

"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."

Take a moment now to put yourself into today’s Gospel. You are blind and sitting by the side of the road. You are totally dependent on the generosity of others. (Remember there was no Social Security, Braille, computers that speak, nor even guide dogs.) Animals were valued more than the lame and the blind in first century Palestine. You are sitting at the side of the road, begging for food and money. Suddenly you hear a crowd coming along. You remain still and listen. You hear the name Jesus. You think to yourself—could it be really the healer from Nazareth you have heard so much about? Your heart leaps with joy. But that joy is soon silenced as the crowd pushes you away. You have faith however and you determinedly find Jesus. Jesus tells the crowd to back off and let you through. Jesus asks you what you want. You might think to yourself isn’t it obvious what I want? To be healed! Jesus should know this, you think, He knows all. You do answer Jesus and you asked to be healed. You have the faith, Jesus saw your faith, and between your faith and Jesus’ healing power your eyes are opened and you can see! Glory be!

Have you ever wondered why so often in the Gospel when an ill, lame, blind or deaf person approaches Jesus and He asks them what they want of Him. I have often thought it was odd since Jesus knows all, then He should know what they wanted—to be whole and healed. Jesus knows, however, that often it is WE who do not know what we want of Jesus. By asking us to state what we want we have to think about what we are asking and what our intentions are. He is asking us to think about our faith, to reflect on our needs and wants and where faith fits in to our plans. Jesus could have easily read the blind man’s mind, snapped His fingers and healed the man’s eyes and the man would have been cured. But by asking the man “what did he want” Jesus also opened the man’s mind and heart to faith as well as his eyes and ears.

Today… reflect upon what you want or need and talk to Jesus. He already knows what is on your mind but He desires a conversation with you. Open your eyes, your ears, your mind and your heart and you will find peace in the Lord. "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."

 

Divine Generosity

Divine Generosity

Last Sunday I was driving home from Quincy and tuned into a radio Mass. The priest’s homily started out by asking everyone in the pews to take a moment to look around and gaze at the windows, statues, the organ, and artwork. I encourage you, if you are in Church right now (but not during Mass!), to take a moment and look around you. Look at the walls, the windows, the Stations, etc. You may notice here and there little plaques or inscriptions: “In memory of…”, “Dedicated to…” or “Donated by…” Each of these inscriptions represents a person or family who were inspired by divine generosity. Take a look now at the wood, brick and mortar that holds our Church together. Reflect upon the hands that labored in faith to build our Churches… inspired by divine generosity.

            As I look out my office window I hear the birds chirping, the wind rustling, and I see the brilliant oranges, reds and golds of autumn color. I think to myself what awesome generosity God has for us! He surrounds us with the bountiful beauty of the earth and sky! He surrounds us with love! How can we thank God for His divine generosity? Taking a look around our Church and reflecting upon what it took to build our building—divine generosity!

            This week let us be inspired by divine generosity—Let us pray more; let us donate time, talent or treasure; let us share with one another God’s love for us. Who knows who you will inspire by your generosity!

God Bless, Holly Clark

Year of Faith

A Year of Faith

Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013 has been declared a Year of Faith for a New Evangelization of the whole Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has declared Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013 as a Year of Faith for the whole Church "to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith." The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston will offer events and initiatives for parishes and the whole archdiocese to participate in this New Evangelization.

Please visit http://yearoffaithboston.org

 

Let us pray:

Year of Faith Prayer

 

O God, as you sent your Holy Spirit

upon the early Church

in the fiery tongues and the

mighty wind of Pentecost,

so now, we ask you to send that

same Spirit upon us

that we may go forth to proclaim

the Gospel of Christ to every creature.

We humbly pray that you deepen

your Trinitarian life within us;

make us effective and holy witnesses

of Jesus' death and Resurrection;

help us to live our Catholic faith

with such joy, conviction and love

that others will be drawn to the

sacred mystery of your Church

and the powerful grace of the sacraments.

We implore you to make us

Sharing the Faith:

The New Evangelization

The last few months you all may have been hearing the phrase “the new evangelization”. You might ask “What’s new? Faith is faith isn’t it?” The term new evangelization refers to the way we practice and spread the faith in today’s world. The Vatican II Council called for an “opening up of the doors and windows” of our faith” to the rest of the world. Back in Paul’s day faith was spread door to door by eager believers and Paul wrote letters (to the Romans, Corinthians, etc.). How do you spread the faith?

            Last weekend, as I read Fr. Aveni’s bulletin column of spreading the faith through new media, I thought to myself do I really want all my Facebook friends to know when I am at Mass, or would they think I am a religious nut! The more I thought about I thought why not! My faith is who I am. Why should I be shy about spreading my faith? I am not going door-to-door with pamphlets but I am promoting the faith just by being me. If my Facebook friends are annoyed they can always unfriend me! The best way of spreading the faith is just by being yourself and not being shy about your faith. Tell your friends you go to Church on Sundays. Tell your friends you turn to Jesus when troubled. Show your love of God! Soon the people around you will want you’ve got- and maybe--- just maybe—you will plant a seed, a seed of faith. If we all plant some seeds we soon will have a flourishing, overflowing Church! Celebrate the Year of Faith: Don’t be afraid—Don’t be shy – Be yourself! Be the love of Jesus to others!

God Bless, Holly Clark

Year of Faith

Year of Faith

The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime.
Pope Benedict XVI, PORTA FIDEI

Pope Benedict has declared this year to be a “Year of Faith.” which is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

Watch this space in the months that come for opportunities to celebrate our Year of Faith at Sacred Heart and Sts. Martha and Mary. In the meantime let us reflect upon the “door of faith” that is always open to us… Will you walk through that door?

Starting Simply -II

Starting Simply, Part II

Last week I talked about how we can see and honor God in our everyday lives in just a few minutes each day. We see Him in nature, in the faces of our children and in our private prayers.

This year Pope Benedict has declared a “Year of Faith.” He calls for us to deeply reflect upon our faith and calls us to act upon our faith- to be more proactive in our faith. Do you know enough about our faith to be able to be able to spread the Good News and share your faith? It is impossible to know all there is about our faith but there are a few simple steps we can take to set us on the right path.

Believe it or not, you have already taken the first step! You have taken the bulletin home and are reading it! Our bulletin provides not only the news and events of the parish but also strives to provide a starting point for at home discussions and reflections about our faith. The area below provides a listing of the daily readings and faith sharing questions. The faith sharing questions are based on the Sunday readings and are published in bulletins across the country.

Finding time to enhance our faith can be challenging in this day and age. Try to start with a few minutes at a time and soon it will become a habit. This week try to set aside time to reflect more on today’s readings. Perhaps at dinner time discuss the Faith Sharing Questions with your family. For a deeper challenge pick a day to read and reflect on one of the daily readings. (The daily and Sunday readings can be found online at: http://www.usccb.org). You will find that these few minutes everyday spent with God will be uplifting and a time to treasure. And… what a way to start off our Year of Faith.

God Bless, –Holly Clark

Starting Simply

Let’s Set the Church on Fire!

Starting Simply

“The desire for God is written in the human heart.” (CCC 27) We, as Catholics, have a duty to learn as much as we can about God and our faith. As I said last week we do not “graduate” after we are confirmed. Confirmation gives us the basic building blocks to begin our faith journey. Sacred Heart offers many opportunities to learn and enrich our faith with Generations of Faith, Why Catholic?, prayer ministries, etc. You may be saying to yourself that “I don’t have the time,” or “I’m too shy to share my faith.” So we’ll start off with some simple ideas to rekindle the fire of your faith.

We find God every day in our lives. The fall foliage is just beginning to change. This fall take a few minutes everyday to admire the changing colors and thank God for the beauty in nature. [Aren’t we blessed to live in New England?] We sometimes take for granted the colors of autumn or a beautiful sunset. We rarely take the time to gaze up at the night sky to admire the stars while listening to the crickets chirp. All of this is thanks to God. This week let us take just a few minutes each day and consider St. Augustine’s challenge to us:

“Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky… question all these realities… Who made them if not the Beautiful One...” (CCC 32)

God Bless, Holly Clark

Setting the Chrch on Fire

Let’s Set the Church on Fire!

No, I am not advocating arson! Back in October of 2008 I began writing this column in response to a book I had read on pastoral planning and the renewal of parish life. I had written “In the very near future our diocese will be faced with a shortage of priests and we must start thinking now what this will mean to us and how we practice our faith.” This day has come. We are forming collaboratives with nearby parishes and reflecting upon better ways of “being Church.” We, the laity, people like you and me, need to rise to the challenge. God calls, we respond.

We have a good parish here at Sacred Heart. Are we content with being only good or do we want to “set the church on fire” with the Holy Spirit to become a truly great parish? Forming a great parish depends upon us, the parishioners. Jesus depended on His apostles, who were everyday people to form His Church and now we take up His call to discipleship. As we begin to form a collaboration with Lakeville, ask yourselves “Where does God need me? What can I do to help?” Please begin your reflection with prayer for the collaborative. We live in exciting times and Jesus needs our assistance to keep the enthusiasm going and growing!

Sacred Heart Parish offers many opportunities for worship and faith development. We do not “graduate” at confirmation and stop learning and growing in the faith. We are life-long learners. We are called to further our faith not only by attending Mass but by participation in adult faith enrichment programs such as Generations of Faith (not just for families), WINGS (Women in God’s Spirit), Why Catholic? and various prayer groups and ministries. We want to participate in these programs now because the day is here when we will each be called upon to spread the faith. Are we ready to heed God’s call? It is time to “set the church on fire” with the Holy Spirit and become a truly great parish and may God bless our collaboration with Sts. Martha & Mary in Lakeville.

God Bless – Holly Clark

Sunset Alert

Sunset Alert!

In my “previous life” as a medical technologist I worked in a hospital chemistry lab that was in a glass building. We were on the fourth floor with a wonderful view of the western sky. As the days grew shorter, and sunset occurred closer to 4:30-5:00 pm, very often someone in the lab would shout out “SUNSET ALERT!” At that point we would all stop working and congregate to the west side of the lab. We’d all make a special effort and take a few moments to silently admire God’s handiwork. No matter what our differences, faiths, stress levels at the moment, we’d come together for a few moments of peace, solitude, and camaraderie. These times were very special to me.

I find a sunset one of God’s most awesome works of nature. For me they always seem to come when I am in most need of cheering up or de-stressing. Who could remain upset or stressed after gazing at the pinks and oranges of a sunset?

The other day I was musing that sunsets remind me of Jesus’ resurrection. Daylight “dies” and a glorious colorful sky is born. About two years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and when I underwent radiation therapy. I was totally exhausted mentally and physically. As I was driving along one day, during this period, I came across a beautiful sky, full of color, and silhouetted against the panorama was a church steeple and cross. I knew God was speaking to me. He was giving me hope and letting me know that I could lay down my troubles at His feet and he would bear the burden for me.

As we travel through life let us pause at beautiful sunsets and shout out “Sunset Alert” to those around us so that all may partake of God’s wonder.    God Bless, Holly Clark

 

Musings from the Seaside

Musings from the Seaside

Every summer I try to spend time sitting by the ocean contemplating God, life, and the mysteries of the universe. A while ago I sat on a beach in Yarmouth and watched the waves come crashing in and chase the skittering sandpipers back from the edge of the sea. As each wave would recede the sandpipers would instantly peck at what the sea had brought them only to be chased away by another wave. My mind regressed to my high school biology class as Mrs. Woodburn would tell us all about how the sea brings in nutrients to shore life. But as the waves crashed I wondered how life could exist in such turmoil. The turmoil is necessary, I realized, to bring nutrients to sea birds, clams, snails, barnacles, etc. Without the constant churning of the sea these organisms would perish. So to, it is with our lives.

Our lives are filled with turmoil, stress, bereavement for lost loved ones... How do you deal with the tumultuous times in your life? Do you drown in the crashing waves or do you see dark times as necessary to bring about new thoughts and new ways of living? Dark, turbulent times often bring us nutrients necessary to live. Jesus is our ultimate example. Jesus, through his life, and final agony and death on the cross, gave us the “nutrients” to live our lives better. He brought us new hope and life in His resurrection. This week let us share with Jesus our dark times and let Him help us to find our way through our inner turmoil to bring new life to ourselves and others. Let us remember always that God turns our “tears into dancing.” (Ps 30:11).

God Bless, Holly Clark

Travelling on the Highway to Heaven

Traveling on the Highway to Heaven

Last week my mom and I took a road trip to Boothbay Harbor Maine for a vacation. The trip from Middleborough to Boothbay is around 4 hours or so though we took our time stopping here and there along the way. During one particular straight stretch of highway my mind started to wander. We were traveling in the center lane of a three-laned highway and  I began to ponder the Trinity- each lane representing one person of the Trinity. I envisioned God, the Father, in the high-speed lane, powerful and mighty; the Holy Spirit in the slow lane, who gently guides us along life’s highways and byways; and Jesus steadfast in the middle lane, never wavering, always steady and nearby. I observed the cars and people around me… some speeding along, some just puttering along and others zipping in and out of all three lanes. Isn’t this just like life with the Holy Trinity? Sometimes we need God the Father for His strength; sometimes we seek the Holy Spirit for guidance; other times we ask Jesus to walk with us; and very often we may find ourselves zipping from lane to lane – from Father to Son to Holy Spirit and back again.

As I traveled my highway towards my vacation time in Boothbay, I gazed off into the horizon. I noticed where the heavenly sky meets our earthly road and I noticed that in the distance that visually all three lanes merged into one. How like the Trinity I mused! Three persons in one God!

While travelling your highway of life try to notice the workings of the Trinity around you. Each person of the Trinity has a specific job to do in your life. Take some time today to get to know them and see where they are working in your life.   God Bless, Holly Clark

The Works of God

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

In today’s Gospel the disciples ask Jesus “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus tells them to Believe… believe in Him. But what else can we do once we believe? What can we do to carry on with Christ’s Mission and accomplish the works of God? In these “lazy” days of summer we take time out for fun and rest from our daily lives. Now would be a very good time to sit in your backyard or by the hotel pool, or by the seashore and give over to God some of your time. Begin by asking “What can I do for you?”

I asked God this question not too long ago and for a while, as I sat by the seashore, we conversed. Here are some of the things we came up with:

·         Smile and greet one another as friends

·         Forgive one another

·         Greet each day with joy as the first day of your life

·         Help someone each day

·         Give thanks for flowers, trees, the sky, etc.

·         Give thanks for puppies, and all our pets.

·         Call or visit someone who is ill

·         Do a random act of kindness

·         Pray with others (especially at Mass)

·         Pray for others

·         Call Mom and Dad or your kids

·         Hug Someone

In short spread the care, joy, and love Jesus showed us in His earthly ministry and in His love He shows us everyday in our hearts.

God Bless, Holly Clark

Assumption

Assumption:

What has the Almighty Done for You?

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior … the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.”

Mary said yes to the Lord! For saying yes, she could have been stoned to death for being a pregnant, unmarried woman. If not executed, she certainly faced ridicule, and possible excommunication from her community. Joseph also faced excommunication as well if he stayed by Mary’s side. BUT… MARY SAID YES! Mary heard her Father’s voice and trusted in His great plans for her and her unborn Son.

Has the Lord called on you lately? Perhaps He wants you to take on an incredible burden, or unpleasant task, or perhaps a joyful one. Did you say yes? How often have you called on the Lord and He said yes? We need to be open to God’s voice. I once saw a video clip about William Wilberforce, the man who led the fight in Britain against slavery. Wilberforce had a personal encounter with God who asked him to work towards ending slavery in Britain… Wilberforce says to a friend, “I’ve just been talking with God and He has charged me with an impossible task. How inconvenient!” However inconvenient it was, and detrimental to his career, Wilberforce said YES to God’s plan for him, even if it meant death threats to him and his family.

This week take some time out to thank God for the great things He has done for you and take some quiet time to hear God’s voice. We are His hands and feet. He’s calling you to say YES. Say “Yes” to God and your life will be forever changed as will the people you love.

. . –God Bless, Holly Clark

Got Gifts?

Got Gifts?

In our Church today, we find in our laity a huge reservoir of talent and expertise just waiting to be called on in the service of the Kingdom.

Theresa EE-Choi, Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (Malaysia)

Do you have talents to offer? In this new millennium we are facing a culture of pastoral planning as the number priests and religious decline drastically. We each need to do a serious inventory of our gifts and talents and discover where we can put them to the best use in service to our Lord and our parish. You may say “I have no talent. I have nothing to offer…” Nonsense! Everyone has a talent for something! Even a baby can give away a smile.

A few years ago I was unemployed and feeling a bit worthless when I was at Mass one Sunday morning and saw a Stewardship form for volunteering time and talent. I thought as I was not working that I had plenty of time to offer and did an inventory of my talents. I filled out the form offering my graphic design skills. My first project was designing a bulletin board for CCD classes. Later projects included flyers, PowerPoint presentations and building the parish website. Through this stewardship of time and talent I found myself reawakened spiritually. I fell in love with ministry! Stewardship lit the flame of my heart and I decided to dedicate my life to ministry. (You never know what God has in mind for you!)

Today’s Gospel speaks of generosity. How are you generous towards others, toward God? I would ask each of you to reflect upon your gifts. Perhaps ask your friends and families where they think you are talented. I guarantee you there is spot here for you! Be brave! Walk into, or call, the church offices and say “YES! I am here to donate my time and talent!” If the church is to survive and thrive in the third millennium she will need ALL of us working together in communion with Christ.

Let us go forward in hope! A new millennium is opening before the Church like a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ.

Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II, 2000

God Bless, Holly Clark

What Kind of Rock are You?

What Kind of Rock are You?

"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." Mark 6:31

In Today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to take ourselves out of our everyday busyness, find a quiet place and to simply rest. By telling us to go to a deserted place he would like us to be free of distractions and noise, free of any thing that will keep us from that rest. Finding a deserted place, or even true peace and quiet, in this day and age is difficult but we must work at it… because it is in the quiet of our surroundings and the stillness of our minds that we can truly hear God’s gentle whisperings to us.

A few weeks ago I went to a retreat house in Cohassett, on the edge of the ocean. When I am by the ocean I am closest to God and this is my favorite “deserted” place. On the shore of the retreat grounds, a prayer labyrinth is set up. I had never prayed within a labyrinth but thought I would give it try. When praying with a labyrinth one stands at the entrance, stills the mind and readies oneself to enter a conversation with God. As one walks to the center of the labyrinth and back, through many curves and twists one becomes aware of God’s presence.

I stood at the entrance of the labyrinth, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves upon the shore and stilled my mind. I asked God to help me with some issues I was having and asked for His guidance. I wasn’t expecting much since I’ve never prayed this way before but it turned out to be an awesome experience! As I walked I found myself not pondering my issues but focusing on the gravel beneath my feet, the round stones that lined my path, the boulders, bedrock and sand nearby. I gave up what I wanted to pray about and focused upon geology. When I came to the center of the labyrinth, I found a mound of rounded, sea-polished stones holding up a crucifix at its top. It then occurred to me that God was talking to me through the stones! We ARE the stones, the gravel, the bedrock, etc. Each of us has a role to play in this world—just like different types of rocks. The gravel creates a solid path, rounded stones along the way guide us on the path, bedrock supports the ground we walk on and sand provides us with filler. Rocks have many functions as do people… each important. We are like living stones building up a spiritual temple (cf 1 Peter 2:5). So I ask you what kind of living rock or living stone are you?

God Bless, Holly Clark

Evangelization

Evangelization

He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two… Mark 6:7

When we Catholics hear the word Evangelization we often think of Jehova Witnesses, or other denomination, going door-to-door and asking “are you saved?” We say to ourselves “We don’t do that! We go to Mass not door-to-door!” What do you think of when you hear the word evangelization? Do you think it is for Protestants only? How do you evangelize and spread the faith?

Today’s Gospel from Mark shows us the birth of evangelization- Jesus summoned the twelve and sent them out into the world to proclaim the Gospel and spread the faith. When we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we are given the same mission… to go out and not only to live the Gospel but to also to proclaim and spread the Good News. Every week, especially in the summer, we look around at Mass, shake our heads and wonder where all the people have gone. Have you ever tried inviting someone in to your faith (or back to the faith if lapsed)?

Jesus suggests that we go out and talk with people and share our faith with them. We do not have to be annoying or “in-your-face” but we can be subtle. Evangelization can happen in many different ways—sharing faith over a cup of coffee, praying with an ill friend or loved one, inviting a lapsed Catholic back to the Faith. Don’t be afraid to share your love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If someone doesn’t want to hear the message, say a prayer and, as Jesus tells us, “shake the dust off your feet” and move on. Jesus is walking with us but he needs our hands and our voice to carry on with His mission.

Today, after Mass, give some thought to how you will live out the Gospel and how you will share your joy in your love of the faith. Begin with looking inside your heart and asking Jesus to be your guide…

God bless, Holly Clark

 

 

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures

Today, as I took a walk about the church grounds on my lunch break, I stopped to look at some flowers. I sat down on a bench and started thinking of all the simple things in life we take for granted and do not notice until they are gone: a pretty flower, a beautiful sunset, a baby’s smile, sharing an ice cream cone with your child, a father’s love… How often do we get caught up in saying, “Tomorrow I will go for a walk, tomorrow I’ll visit my grandmother, tomorrow, I will take time to help a friend in need.” And then tomorrow never seems to appear and we are left with regrets.

A flower appears but briefly in our lives. First it is sown, then it is fed by the fertile soil until it blossoms with divine effervescence, and then it fades away into nothingness. Today I ask you to pick up a flower, a leaf, or a blade of grass and gaze into its essence. Ask yourselves, “By what miracle did this plant come to be?” Recall doing the same, when as a child everything seemed new and fresh and a flower was a simple pleasure to bring home to Mom.

I challenge you to take time this week in simple pleasures… pick up a flower and give it to a loved one, tell a friend or relative what they mean to you. Each person we meet is a flower that we must embrace and cherish before he/she fades away into the sunset and into our Lord’s arms in Heaven. Do not toil for fame, fortune and possessions like the rich man in the parable but rather do what Paul asks us to do Corinthians 3 and “put on a new self.” And let this new self be mindful of all the simple gifts God has given us.

God Bless, Holly Clark