The Communion of Saints

When I was a child I learned our faith as a child would, in very simplistic terms. I learned Jesus loves me; I memorized prayers, the 7 Sacraments and the Beatitudes. In 8th grade I was confirmed and like all Catholic teenagers, I felt “graduated” in the Faith. How wrong I was! I didn’t realize then that Confirmation was really the beginning of an adult faith. The Holy Spirit has now come into my life and guides me towards an adult understanding of faith.

Over the past year and a half I have been exploring the concept of the Communion of Saints. As a child, I was taught all about the lives of the Saints, now in heaven, and how they help guide us in our daily lives. But my definition of a saint was someone who was really good and holy and perhaps martyred for the faith. It never occurred to me that you and I, when we pass on and go to heaven, that we too enter into the Communion of Saints.

A little over a year and half ago my beloved father passed away. There came an emptiness that can never be filled. I turned to my faith to bring me answers about suffering and death. As I prayed with Jesus and I delved into Church teachings and talked with persons more knowledgeable than I, I discovered that my Dad was up there in the Communion of Saints. I learned that he too, along with St. Peter, St. Paul, etc…, was still looking out for his little girl and now he has help from St. Peter and all of angels to keep me safe.

Every so often I feel my father’s presence on one side of me and Jesus on the other side of me and behind us my deceased grandparents, and the army of Saints ready to help where needed. Ask yourself today “Who do I know in the Communion of Saints?” and then feel their loving presence. While our loved ones may pass from this life, they are always present in our lives.

—God Bless all our Saints in Heaven and Earth, Holly Clark

Who are Our Neighbors?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. –Mt 22:39

Very often when I put together the weekly bulletin I save writing this column last so I can feel the spirit move me! I will often read the Sunday scriptures ahead of time and the Holy Spirit will inspire my little brain with an idea. Today we ask ourselves “Who are our neighbors?” Pause a moment and think about your answer. The obvious answer is those whom we know, those in our Church and town… but Jesus would suggest also those whom we do not know and perhaps even our enemies. Who are your neighbors?
As I put together this week’s bulletin, and I read everyone’s articles, I was moved by so many of you helping your neighbors, both friends and strangers to us, through your participation at Sacred Heart and St. Rose. Please journey with me through the bulletin and explore how we help and love our neighbors…

We help our neighbors in need with our Parish Tithes; we pray for our neighbors who are ill; we remember our parishioner-neighbors when contributing to the Grand Annual collection; we are helping our elderly and ill neighbors through a Generations of Faith project; we are giving comfort to our bereaved neighbors by remembering their deceased love ones in song and in our Mass Intentions; we help our poor and needy neighbors with the SVDP Food Pantry; we help handicapped young neighbors by selling Tootsie Rolls; and lastly we enthusiastically come together in faith and fellowship thus spreading the joy of Christ and the Love of Christ to one another and to the world!

—God Bless all our neighbors, Holly Clark

Letters for Today…

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of ourLord Jesus Christ – 1 Thes 1:2-3

In the early days of our faith disciples of Jesus established Christian communities and Churches throughout the known world. These early communities were often besieged, ridiculed, and made to suffer at the hands of the authorities and unbelievers. Paul journeyed to these Churches to the local communities to establish a working, functioning Christian faith. He would also write letters to these cities of Thessalonia, Rome, Corinth, etc. to answer theological questions and to bolster their spirits.
As you listen to Paul’s letters proclaimed from the pulpit do think of the early Churches and how much of a struggle it was to actually be a Christian and proclaim the faith? As I hear and read Paul’s letters I close my eyes and I realize that not only is he addressing the Thessalonians, Romans, Corinthians, he is also addressing us today in our time, Middleboroians, Rochesterians, Americans, Chinese, and all the world’s Christians of today.
Paul is thanking us in the here and now, for our faith, labor of love and enduring hope in our risen Lord. He is giving us encouragement in a time when people are “offended” by the phrase “Merry Christmas” and society seems to be more materialistic and atheistic. He is telling us to take heart! Do not be discouraged! Our Lord is with you! Pauls’ letters are indeed for all time!
As we listen to Paul’s letters, imagine Paul addressing you right now. Pay attention to his message to you… let yourself be buoyed up in faith, hope and love. Paul is praying for you as is our risen Lord…
—God Bless, Holly Clark

Gimme Quiet… Please!

When do you find time to pray? In our busy, busy lives, running here, running there, it is very difficult to find time to pray. We have to be creative and steal precious minutes where ever we can during the day to just be with Jesus or ask God for an intention or ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. I try to fit in prayer in some very unusual places. For example, instead of reading two year old magazines in a doctor’s waiting room, I close my eyes and pray for those around me and if alone I talk to Jesus about my day; at the gas pump I close my eyes, listen to the gentle gurgling of the gasoline while I ask for God’s help to get me through the day; and while I wait for my morning coffee at Dunkie’s I listen to the chatter around me and thank God for the gift of life- (and good coffee!).
But something is amiss--- The other day I sat in my doctor’s office and a humungous flat-screen TV had been installed, blaring some inane talk show. Gone my quiet time to pray. I went to get gas and a recorded voice was yelling at me telling me to buy a Coke with my gasoline. Gone my quiet time. I went to Dunkie’s to get coffee and there is a small closed circuit TV running ad after ad for things we do not need. Gone my quiet time. I ask myself if we really need to be “entertained” all of the time or be bombarded with noise everywhere we go?
Jesus was surrounded by quiet. Gunpowder had not even been invented yet. Jesus taught us how to pray and often went to quiet places to be with His father. Let us start a small rebellion and ask for peace and quiet. Ask the doctor’s office to turn off the TV… ask the gas stations to turn off the ad bombardment…, etc--. in short, ask politely to “gimme back my peace and quiet, please!”
—God Bless, Holly Clark

Autumn- Part II

THIS is the forest primeval.
The murmuring pines and the hemlocks…
Evangeline by Longfellow

A friend of mine from Brighton came down to visit us not too long ago. She had never come to this area and had gotten a bit lost trying to get here. When she finally did get here she remarked to me several times how pretty our town was with all the trees and country roads. I just said… come back in a few weeks and your eyes will pop with the foliage!
We can look at fall foliage and think back to our high school biology class and know the leaves turn color as the tree shuts down its circulatory system in preparation for winter. The leaves turn color as they die and fall to the ground. Looking at foliage with a scientific eye is called “reason”. We can look at nature and through science we can explain away most everything. We can reduce our world to scientific equations and pat ourselves on the back for figuring it all out. But where does faith come in?
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), states that faith and reason (or science) do not have to be opposites of one another and totally separate. God created the world and the cosmos to be understood and by understanding God’s creations we can come to know and appreciate God: through “all that is created the ‘eyes of the mind’ can come to know God (Fides et Ratio, no. 22).
In my previous profession I had the opportunity to look at life under a microscope. My schooling had taught me about cell structure, chromosomes, etc., but as I gazed into the nucleus of a human cell I would always find myself appreciating God’s creation and the complexities of life. So too when I gaze into a fall leaf tinted red or gold. I see, in the leaf, the face of God…
Another poem I had to memorize in school was the intro to Evangeline by Longfellow. I find just reciting the first line (quoted at the top) when I am walking in the woods (for real or in my mind) puts me in a contemplative mood. This month as you observe the changing seasons contemplate the challenge put forth by St. Augustine:

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. All respond: "See, we are beautiful." …Who made them if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change? (CCC no.32)
God Bless, Holly Clark

Autumn- Part I

When I was a child, in school, we were “forced” to memorize poems. At the time I never understood why… but this particular poem, Trees by Joyce Kilmer, has always stuck with me. As a child I could not understand the simplicity and beauty of what Kilmer was trying to say. Every autumn I think of this poem as I reflect upon the fact that “only God can make a tree.” Here in New England we are so blessed to have the seasons that fully express themselves in nature, especially in trees.

This week, as we “mourn” the ending of summer and begin to appreciate the show God is about to give in the splendor of fall foliage let us reflect upon the fact that only God can make a tree, a flower, the sun set, the moon rise, etc. Let us reflect upon Kilmer’s poem and thank God for his gift of nature. (and I will also thank God for the English teacher who made me memorize this poem!) God Bless, Holy Clark

TREES
Joyce Kilmer

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

It's Not Fair!

Mt 20:1-16a
Every time I read this passage from Matthew 20 I picture a whole bunch of workers whining at the end of the day about their wages being unfair. Can’t you picture the same thing happening today? Parents with several children fighting over chores or prized possessions will certainly recognize this scenario. Why do we always look at what others have and think we have been gypped?

In my position I have had many opportunities to speak with people who are at low points of their lives. Some are experiencing the loss of a loved one, or dealing with terrible pain and suffering or perhaps the loss of an income and face losing a home. (Some are facing all of the above.) It has always amazed me that many of these people talk to me as if these things were stepping stones in life. They do not complain, they do not feel as if life is not fair. They look at life’s trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow and give back to God. Never do they say to me “life’s not fair.” They know they have the Holy Spirit to guide them, Jesus to walk with them and God to love them no matter what happens in life.

All of us have probably muttered “not fair” a few times in our lives and think the “other guy” has it all, .but it is important to shake off those feelings. God may have something else in mind for you. Instead of looking at what others have, count your own blessings… I bet you will find you have too many of them to keep to yourself! Spread your blessings around. Even when you are down and out God is there, blessings are there, love is there… but it is up to you to seek them out. Life is fair when you let God do the planning! God Bless, Holly Clark

Where Were You on 9-11?

Our nation suffered a terrible blow 10 years ago on this date. The unthinkable occurred. Planes, flown by terrorists, plowed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing nearly 3000 people. Where were you on this day? Do you remember what your thoughts and feelings were then? How do you feel today? Are you still angry? Do you blame an entire religion or way of life? Even today, the death toll continues to rise as citizens and first responders perish from “World Trade Center Syndrome.”

How do you feel today? Take some time this week to reflect upon your own feelings and how they are different now and back then and then pray for the victims and their families. If you find yourself still angry ask for Jesus’ help. In today’s Gospel Jesus advises to forgive “seventy times seven.” He asks us to forgive over and over again. If He were here today He would advise us to forgive the hijackers. Anger, hatred, resentment are all nasty emotions that are harmful to the body and soul. Sirach makes this point:

Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD? Sir 28:3

Let us pray for the riddance of hatred, the vanishing of religious divisions and ask the Lord for guidance in our efforts to forgive those who have wronged us. Let us pray for a better world. God Bless, Holly Clark

Where Two or Three are Gathered

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” MT 18:20

Recently I have been romping through our medical system, spending some time in medical waiting rooms, waiting for appointments and tests. I usually bring something to read or browse through the magazines to find the most mundane articles ever printed. But lately my mind was elsewhere… In each of these waiting rooms I was thinking two or three are gathered here and I asked myself where would Jesus be in this room? In a pre-op area, would he be comforting the person about to undergo neurosurgery for a brain tumor or maybe the elderly gentleman who needs knee surgery or is he talking to the older woman with the black pants with hot pink purses emblazoned on them? (She told me the wild pants help to cheer her up before surgery.) I looked into the faces of all those around me and wondered what brought each of them there. I could feel Jesus’ presence in the room, beside me, helping me to focus on praying for the health and well being of those around me. I found that as I focused my prayers on others my own medical issues seemed much lighter. I knew I didn’t have cancer or dire medical issue. As I listened to various conversations while waiting for my turn to be called I tried to silently give strength to those around me. When I was finally called up for my turn in the O.R., I found myself uplifted for there were “two or three” or more gathered in the surgical suite and I knew Jesus was there.

This month, when you find yourself in a group, take a few minutes to pray for those around you. Not everyone is Christian, of course, but Jesus is there for us all.

Be Transformed!

Be Transformed…
Do you find life chaotic? Do you crave peace and quiet and time to just be? Do you try to control your life only to find it lands in chaos anyways? How much time do we spend trying to maintain order in our lives and surroundings! You know something is amiss in life but not quite know how to fix it.

This summer I have been spending a bit of time in nature. I take walks in forests, sit by the seaside, and gaze up at the night sky. What I see is lots of randomness and chaos. The forest can be a messy place with flowers and trees intermixing with weeds and vines. The night sky has scattered stars and planets and the ocean splashes water everywhere! There seems to be chaos everywhere I look! Just like our lives… we try our best to keep order but we fall into disorder. I got to thinking, however, despite the chaos there is a balance and equilibrium to nature. Nature is perfect! Perhaps there is order in chaos and perhaps God’s plan for us is that once we stop controlling everything ourselves and surrender to chaos that maybe we will find equilibrium and God. I took another look at a mountain meadow and saw beauty in the “messy” clumps of wildflowers and thought the seemingly random placement of trees, bushes, blades of grass may seem scattered to us but each seed, each animal, each flower and weed were lovingly placed there by God’s hand. This was more beautiful to me than the most cultured garden planted by men.

Our lives are messy at times… but do not run away from it! Dive right into the messiness as we might dive into a pile of leaves in the fall. Learn to find equilibrium in chaos. Let us be transformed! Paul offers this advice:

Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect. -Rom 12:2

Imagine the world once we all are transformed!

God Bless, Holly Clark

Who Do You Say I Am?

How would you describe Jesus to someone who did not know him?”

Have you ever sat and pondered who Jesus is to you? In the Bible Jesus is many things to many people: healer, forgiver of sins, pure love and peace, philosopher, holy man, miracle maker, savior, Son of Man, Word of God… God. But how would you describe Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you chat on a regular basis? Do you invite Him into your life?

Today take a few moments to ponder these many questions. If you cannot answer them all that is okay- it is not a test! God gave us Jesus as a companion to our journey in faith and in life. You can ask Him anything and He will never laugh at you or ridicule you or be angry with you. As an exercise make a list below of who is Jesus to you. And then list ways you will include Jesus into your life. Cut this out and post on your fridge or in your Bible. And when you feel lost in life reread your list and invite Jesus into your heart, mind and life and He will walk with you always.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Reflections on the New Mass

Reflections on the New Mass
Travelling Across Space and Time
We have been publishing periodically reflections on the new Mass translation and have provided you with some side-by-side comparisons of the old and the new words of the Mass. You may be asking yourselves “Why?” Why do we need, or want, to go to a new translation that is truer to the original Latin and Greek words? Why do we want to go back and speak like ancient Greeks, Romans and Jews, after all we do not share in their cultural heritage or customs? We need to remember, however, that when speaking of liturgical language we are inexplicably tied to the religious culture that produced it. The language of our liturgy is not so much Latin, Greek, or English. The language is Christian. It is the language we use in the liturgy of the Mass that connects us in the here and now with the ancients. It is also this common language that connects today’s Catholics across the country and the world. Isn’t this awesome? Our Mass has travelled across space and time to unite us in Christ. Our translation of the Mass is a living translation that grows with our love and understanding of our faith heritage. Let us open our hearts and minds to the new translation. Picture our brothers and sisters in the ancient holy lands speaking the same words we speak today. Can you feel their heartbeats? Can you feel Jesus connecting us all in infinite love no matter what language we are speaking? Let us thank God for our family in faith.

Footprints...

I received the following updated version of Footprints in an e-mail not too long ago. I’d seen it a couple of times before and it has always given me pause to reflect. I am sure we can all identify with the zig-zagging of our lives…
God Bless, Holly Clark


FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently... You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'

'That is correct.' 'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..'

'Very good.. You have understood everything so far..'When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'

'Precisely.' 'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. 'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!

God is Passing By!

…the LORD will be passing by… 1 Kings 19:11

So often in the Old Testament God makes himself known in very dramatic ways, a thunderous voice, burning bushes, raining down manna from heaven. In today’s Old Testament reading the LORD speaks to Elijah and tells him to be on the look out for another message from the LORD. Elijah stands by in a cave entrance and starts looking for the Lord in the gusty wind, in an earthquake and finally in a fire. Surely the mighty Lord would give him an unequivocal, obvious sign of his presence. But alas, the Lord was not to be found amidst all the drama. Elijah was looking and listening in the wrong places. He should have been paying attention to the gentle whispers of nature, for the Lord was there.
How often do we beg God for signs? Signs that we are on the right road, the right path? How often do we look at a disaster and think God is teaching us a lesson? The other day I sat on my back deck, closed my eyes and prayed to God for guidance. I kept asking him for signs, signs that I am on the right path. Like Elijah I’d been looking in the wrong places. A gentle breeze came across me and I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and a bird was tweeting in the background… I mused to myself that God was answering me… in the gentle undertones of a cool breeze and in the chirping of birds. God’s speaks to us where we are at although we are always looking for God in the wrong places! God is in nature, in our fellow man and in our hearts.
This week take some time to slow down… close your eyes and ask God for what you need, or for what others need, God will soon be passing by your home in the whispers of the wind. He is listening… take the time to hear his voice speaking to your heart.
God Bless, Holly Clark

A Ministry of Healing

His heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. Mt 14:14

In today’s Gospel we find Jesus in mourning for the death of His close friend, John the Baptist. He needed to get away for a while, by Himself, to gather His thoughts and pray with His Father. How often do we need to get away ourselves? But being a celebrity of His time Jesus was soon faced with a huge crowd full of suffering and ill people. Jesus, despite being in mourning, put aside His emotions and began to heal them. Jesus’ earthly ministry consisted of many such healings. The question arises: “How can we continue, on our own, a ministry of healing?” We do not have the divine, miraculous power of healing that Jesus’ had but we do have our love and prayers to offer to those who are ill and forgotten.

How will you practice a ministry of healing? Prayer, love and human touch is a good beginning. I remember being ill as a child, and in the hospital, and knowing my parents were holding my hands… I could feel love and healing pulsating throughout my body. Jesus often healed with a simple touch. Human touch carries the warmth and love of Jesus and helps to alleviate pain and suffering. Praying for others also brings healing. In my position here at Sacred Heart I have prayed for many and many have prayed for me. The power of prayer is awesome cannot be overestimated. Again… How will you follow Jesus and practice a ministry of healing? I challenge you today to set aside a few minutes and pray for those on our prayer list and for those who you know are ill. Visit someone this week and let them know you care. Put aside your own worries and concerns as Jesus did today. Who knows what will happen when love, touch and prayer come together in Jesus’ name?
God Bless, Holly Clark

Separating the Good from the Bad

Last week I sat down and opened up the readings for today to reflect upon as I prepared to write this weekend’s column. I found the clip art to the right that corresponds to today’s Gospel from Matthew 13 and my mind began to wander as I thought about my current projects: clearing out “stuff” (and more stuff!) from my closets, file cabinets, desk etc. I’d pick up something and ask myself why on earth did I buy this? Did I really ever need it? I started separating my stuff into keep, toss and “give to Thrift Shop”.

As I try to refocus on the Gospel, I am realizing my desire to clear out my stuff has more to do with my faith than my desire to get more space in my closets and drawers. At various times in our lives we purchase and procure things to “make us happy” only to find out in the long run they do not. Jesus tells us to rid ourselves of possessions and we will be freer to follow Him. It seems contradictory, but in today’s Gospel the merchant actively finds and keeps a pearl, the farmer a field of treasure and fishermen seemingly fishing to excess… all to find something priceless. When Jesus asks “Do you understand?” the disciples say yes but I say no! I don’t understand.

My mind starts to wander again back to all my cleaning out efforts and I start pondering why now? Why do I wish to clean out my life? I suddenly had an “AHA” moment… The pearl of today’s Gospel is my faith! As I have explored more deeper into my faith and found the love of Jesus, the strength of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I no longer need as much “stuff” to keep me happy. I am like the merchant who has found a great pearl--- the pearl of great price is my faith. I will gladly give away all that I have to keep my faith in our Lord and hope in the kingdom of heaven.

This week let us remember those who seek happiness in possessions and pray that they will find a great pearl. Let us also remember and pray for those who have nothing, not even the basic necessities and lastly, let us pray for ourselves to rid ourselves of what keeps us away from the love of our Lord.
God Bless, Holly Clark

At Rock Bottom

Despair is contrary to God's goodness
CCC #2091

A few weeks ago I was watching the tide go out and gazing out at the exposed rocks musing that this was probably the origin of phrase “hitting rock bottom.” I saw all the exposed rocks, cracked and worn from the elements and passage of time. I got up from my beach chair and decided to take a walk “at rock bottom.” There have been times in my life that I have been at rock bottom and full of despair as I am sure we all can identify with. We look to the Cross for our hope but we can also find hope surrounding us in the form of nature and each other.

As I walked among the seemingly barren rocky shoreline I started to look for signs of life and little treasures that may have been hidden by the sea. In the little tidal pools I found sea-life that couldn’t exist without the ebb and flow of the tides. I found little seashells, now devoid of life but bringing me happiness in their dainty forms and shapes. I found little fish, temporarily safe from predators and little bits of polished stone… polished by the sea over centuries or eons. I got to musing what a perfect balance there is in nature.

Keeping the now rising tide in mind I continued my walk and found an awesome little spot that was full of rocks, but water had collected in the indentations and the sun was hitting the wet stones and water to give me a dazzling array of God’s handiwork. A beautiful ballet of water, stone, light and life danced before my eyes. I paused and gave thanks to God. I thought perhaps life at “rock bottom” isn’t so bad after all and when faced with times of despair we should take a walk and explore rock bottom a bit and we will find life, and God, again. Always remember, too, Jesus’ humanly life hit rock bottom when He was nailed to the cross… and look what He gave us… new life… new hope… and so much more…
God Bless, Holly Clark

Today

Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea –Mt 13:1

A couple of weekends ago I went out of my house and literally sat down by the sea in Gloucester. I spent a wonderful weekend on retreat, communing with God through the beauty of nature. I picked up a little book to read from the house library and found this very apt poem on “Today”. I thought with sadness how true to life these words are. How often do we not pay attention to today? How often do we not see God’s peace, joy and love in front of us in the form of each other and in the beauty of nature?

TODAY
Today came, smiling, toward me
Arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts.
And I said, “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”
You see, I was in this conversation with Yesterday
—I forget exactly what it was all about—
And it went on and on.
I called out to Today, “I’ll be right with you.”
Then, when Yesterday finally finished with me
And before I could get back to Today,
Tomorrow barged right up and began talking.
I called out to Today, “Just give me a few more minutes.” Well, Tomorrow would be satisfied with nothing less
Than dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s—
I forget what it was all about. really.
(You know how Tomorrow can be.)
So I called out to Today,
“Just hang in there.”
Tomorrow, satisfied at last, left me.
And I looked up.
And Today was gone.**

**Making Friends With Yourself, Leo P. Rock, S.J.- Paulist Press, 1990

This summer, make today count. Look around you right now and enjoy the moment. Thank God for the joy of today and ignore the pains of the past and worries of the future. Today only happens once in your lifetime- make it count.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Resting...

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. – Mt 25:28-30

Welcome to summer! Last Monday I saw a comic strip that featured a father and son relaxing in lawn chairs enjoying the gift of summer and in flies Mom frantic that it almost July and panicking over not making any vacation plans: “If we don’t get off our duffs and start planning something fast- I MEAN NOW- then we won’t get a chance to relax this summer.” As the father and son continue basking in the summer sun the son asks his father “Can she hear herself?” How often does this happen in your family? Cramming every minute of vacation with fun and adventure but not relaxation time? Do you ever feel like you need a vacation to recuperate from your vacation? Vacationing is not the same as resting!

Even Jesus understood the need for rest. Very often in the scriptures we see that He will go off to the mountains to get away from the crowds and to be with His Father. He needed some alone time to rest and pray and rejuvenate Himself. Today’s Gospel reading emphasizes rest. I find it interesting that Jesus does not simply tell us to rest but instead tells us to turn to Him and He will teach us and help us to find rest. He tells us He will show us how to unburden ourselves and find rest for ourselves.

This week let us remember to find time for true rest… sit in a chair quietly, perhaps outside with nature or inside by dim light. Listen to the silence around you… pay attention to the little noises you’ve never heard before… a bird chirping, wind chimes chiming, a floorboard creaking… listen for the voice of Jesus teaching you how to rest. Spending time at rest is time you cannot afford to miss.
God Bless, Holly Clark

We are one...

Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
1 Cor 10:17

Last weekend was the Feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We celebrate and reflect upon the source and summit of our faith: the uniting of individuals at the table of our Lord and partaking of the Holy Eucharist. When we gather together at Mass to celebrate the Eucharist we become one body in the Lord. Look around you at Mass today. Do you see individuals or do you see one body, a mystical body? When you listen and respond to the Liturgy of the Eucharist do you hear one voice, a mystical voice? Do you feel at one with the Lord AND your fellow worshippers?

Take some time today to reflect upon the bread and wine that become the body and blood of Christ. Think of how many grains of wheat it takes to make the bread and think of how many grapes it takes to make the wine. The grains and grapes start their lives as individuals and then come together to form bread and wine. The priest consecrates the bread and wine to form the body and blood of Christ. We too are like grains of wheat and grapes. We start out as individuals before Mass, each doing our own thing, but when we come together at the table of the Eucharist we form one body and one voice. And after Mass we become the earthly hands of Christ and the earthly voice of Christ. How will you carry out this responsibility? How will you be Christ in your home, workplace, playground, grocery store etc.? How will you carry on Christ’s earthly mission? How will you go forth to love and serve the Lord?

Always remember that you carry the Light of Christ with you. He will guide you, travel with you and will illuminate your path. Christ is a part of us and we are at one with Christ. Though we are many, we are one…
God Bless, Holly Clark

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-4
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

I have always found this passage from Acts to be a very prayerful and thought provoking image. Today I’d like for you to travel back two thousand years and put yourself into this reading. Picture yourself gathered with the early disciples of Christ. You may feel saddened and lost, maybe even abandoned by your friend’s death. You wonder where your new found faith will take you, martyrdom and death or to new journeys? Suddenly you feel a strong wind… you know something is in the air… you hear a huge noise coming from the sky but yet you are not frightened. You feel a sudden warmth in your heart and you see tongues of fire hovering over your friends’ heads. You are mesmerized for a moment or two and you know you have touched God for God has filled you with the Holy Spirit!

Our lives are filled with the Holy Spirit. We do not always realize it or understand it but the Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to fill our hearts with God’s love and guidance. We need to slow down our lives and listen for the Wind of the Spirit. This week let us pray with this passage from Acts and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance for what may be troubling you. Slow down and feel the Holy Spirit’s “tongue of fire.” Let the fire penetrate your mind and your heart. Let us set our hearts ablaze with the Spirit! Come Holy Spirit, Come and fill us with God’s love.
God Bless, Holly Clark

And With Your Spirit...

Reflections on the New Mass:
The first weekend of Advent in 2011 we will be coming together and celebrating the Mass together with a fresh, new voice. We will come together and worship as one body in Christ, a Mystical Body with one Mystical Voice.

The very first thing you will notice is the priest greeting you with… “The Lord be with you.” We used to respond with, “And also with you.” Instead we will respond instead with “And with your spirit.” When I first heard this new response, it sounded very foreign to me and not quite grammatically correct. I also was asking myself what difference does it make?

Last week I attended a conference called Mystical Voice, Mystical Body which was offered by the Archdiocese to help explain to Church staffs the changes in the Mass. The presenters explained to us that “And with your spirit…” does not refer to the spirit of the priest but rather to the spirit of the Lord that ordained priests receive at ordination. The priest, is offering us Christ’s greetings, not his own. Taken in this context the wording makes perfect sense.

The new wording may seem to be a bit formal, but as one of the presenters pointed out: “wouldn’t you greet Christ more formally than a buddy at the football field?” The language one uses needs to fit the occasion. When we come together at Mass we form the Mystical Body of Christ and speak from the Mystical Voice of Christ. We want our words to be more prayerful and reflective in Mass than the current translation allows. (Don’t you think “and with your spirit” sounds more prayerful than “and also with you?”). Let us all pray for an open mind and heart as we reflect on the new translation of the Roman Missal in the weeks and months to come.
- Holly Clark

A Dream Begins With a Tear...

How often in life do you feel like the world is against you and you have nowhere to go? Perhaps you suffered the death of a loved one or the loss of a job or perhaps the insanities of life are catching up with you and you feel the loss of all your dreams and hopes. How do you cope? Do you become bitter at the world or do you turn to your faith? Do you pick yourself up and build new dreams? Many dreams are “built on a tear.”

We are now bringing the Easter season to a close next weekend with the celebration of Pentecost. After Jesus’ death, the first Christians felt as if their world was torn apart. They believed all of Jesus’ hopes and dreams for a new life on Earth were destroyed. They mourned the death of their leader and friend. Slowly, as they traveled the road to Emmaus and met the risen Jesus, they began to realize larger dreams, a life after death. The disciples began to spread the joy and Good News of the risen Christ. Christ had died and was risen once again. Christ’s tears, as He suffered on the cross began a process to enact God’s hopes and dreams for all of humanity. It was a dream begun with a tear…

This week take some time to review your life. Where are your tears flowing from? Using Christ as a role model, can you take those tears and turn them into dreams? It is difficult to reflect upon sorrows, when you feel as if your heart has been ripped open. But always remember when you feel as if God has ripped your heart open, it is to make it bigger for Him to pour His love into. Turn your tears into dreams… and you’ll be surprised at what will arise!
God Bless, Holly Clark

Reflections on the New Mass Translation

On November 27, 20011, the First Sunday of Advent, the words to our Mass will be changing. When the first translation of the Latin into English came out post-Vatican II, the translation was rushed and did not accurately reflect the original Latin text. The new translation of the Mass will bring the text closer to the original Latin. Parishioners may feel that this is a step backwards from the intent of Vatican II. I can tell you nothing could be further from the truth!

I recently attended a workshop on the new Mass and had the chance to delve into the new translation. It was explained to us that the original Latin contained many references to Scripture that were altered, or removed, in our current translation. The bishops felt, at that time, that Catholics had not had a lot of exposure to Sacred Scripture and parishioners would feel lost in the English Mass. In the years that followed, we became more familiar with Scripture through the daily and Sunday readings and we began to study the Bible in small Bible study groups. We became more familiar with our Biblical roots. Now we are ready for a more accurate translation steeped in scripture.

During the upcoming weeks together we will be reflecting upon the New Mass. We will start publishing side-by-side comparisons of the old and new translations. Change is always difficult but we ask you to please keep an open mind. When you begin to look at the new translation you will find it more prayerful, scriptural and inspirational. I, for one, am truly looking forward to deepening my faith with the New Mass translation.
Holly Clark

Where Has Religion Gone?

A couple of weeks ago, I was travelling to another church for a conference and forgot to bring directions. I thought… lucky me… I have a GPS system with me. So I plug it in and try to locate Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton. No luck! Apparently my GPS does not list churches, not even as a category or as a point of interest. Schools, hospitals, restaurants, parks are listed but no churches, temples or mosques. And yesterday I got an invitation from Twitter (a social networking service on the Internet) to link up with people who share my interests. I thought, “How wonderful!” I can connect with other Catholics and see how they use the Internet to share the faith. So I logged in and looked over the list of categories… no religion! Have faith and religion in our world completely faded from the public view? Do people see God as not important anymore? I look around me at Mass and see the empty pews and wonder how we got into this mess. Have we lost our sense of mission?

During the Easter season we hear selections from the book of the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles, after Jesus’ death and resurrection are sent forth into the world to baptize and make disciples of all nations. This mission is carried on by all of us today. How are you carrying out this mission? Are you spreading the God News? Are you sharing your faith?

Last weekend Fr. John Swencki, in his homily at the
11 o’clock Mass, gave us some great advice. He told us that we each carry out the mission in our own way just by sharing our faith. We do not need to go to Africa to be missionaries but we can be missionaries right here, at home, school, work and in our everyday lives. Fr. John told a 7/8 year old boy that he was a missionary and to talk about God with his friends at school and that he would be carrying out Jesus’ directive just like a foreign missionary would be doing. He told us older folks that we are missionaries too by living the faith, sharing the faith and not being afraid to show our joy and love of Jesus. Imagine what the world would be like if we all shared the light of Christ with those who are in darkness! (We’d all be happier and perhaps GPSs would be programmed to help us find our Churches!)

This week, let us reflect upon what little ways we can share our faith with our family and friends and people whom we don’t know. Make an effort to invite someone to come to Mass with you. Take the time to sow some seeds, you never know what will grow! Ite missa est!
God Bless, Holly Clark

A Psalm of Love...

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;
you restore my strength.
You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for
you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.
You set a table before me as my enemies watch;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
Psalm 23

So often when I hear the 23rd Psalm I think instantly of funerals because it is a popular psalm for funerals, providing much comfort to grieving loved ones. Today, however, as I look at the psalm, I realize that it is a psalm to be cherished at all times of our life, not just the sad times. Psalm 23 is actually a Psalm of Love between God and His children and between us and God. Psalms can be used as prayers in good times and bad. They can be prayed in praise of God and thankfulness or they can be used to help pull us out of the depths of despair. You will find a psalm to fit every emotion imaginable!

Today, take some time to meditate upon this psalm. Get in a comfy chair and prayerfully read Psalm 23. Imagine yourself in a green pasture with a gentle stream flowing next to you… hear the birds chirp and the wind in the trees… Close your eyes and feel God’s presence. Picture Jesus sitting beside you… enjoying the scenery and your company. Consider sharing with Jesus what is going on in your life… ask Him for what you may need. Or, maybe you would like to just sit with Jesus, quietly enjoying the silence. As you end your meditation, keep repeating to yourself, “Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life.” And then thank God for His great love.
God Bless, Holly Clark

The Gift of Broken Time

The Gift of Broken Time…
A few weeks ago I was at a Day of Prayer for Pastoral Associates and we were asked to bring a symbol of what gifts we bring to ministry. We all brought many symbols including Bibles, icons, prayers, technology, listening ears, etc. The person sitting next to me brought a broken pocket watch and called it “the gift of broken time”. She explained that we spend too much of our lives speeding through life and not taking the time to be with one another and give someone our full attention. (How often do look at your watch, thinking you need to move on when talking with someone?) She believed that if we could stop time, or at least not pay attention to the clock, we could all serve and love one another better… after all Christ did not have a wristwatch!

I thought about this for awhile and thought what a nice gift… the gift of broken time. Shortly thereafter the clock in my car died. I decided to let it go for a bit. It drove me crazy! How often did I glance at the empty clockface! I had not realized how much the clock ruled my life! And then God decided I still wasn’t paying attention,,, my wristwatch band broke and fell off, and all my other watches had dead batteries! God was giving me the gift of broken time.

For the next few weeks I took up God’s challenge and tried to use His gift of broken time. I decided to go watchless for awhile and tried to be less conscious of “what time it was”. It was a challenge at first, but then I found myself suddenly free. I didn’t care to know how much time I was using for this, that or the other. I was able to give people more of my time, time doing tedious chores became less annoying and I found myself more joyful and full of life. Broken time is truly a gift from God.

This week try going watchless and perhaps cover up or unplug your clocks, especially where two or three are gathered. See what happens when you are free from the tick-tick-tick of time. Use the gift of broken time joyfully with your family, friends and our risen Lord.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Those Who Have Not Yet Seen...

Those Who Have Not Seen… And Yet Believed…

On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and we begin a period of waiting for the “fullness of time” when we will see Him again. Death, then, will truly be no more as we are all reunited with our Father and loved ones who have gone before us. This is our faith.

In the days shortly, after the Resurrection, Jesus’ disciples and followers believed that the “fullness of time” or “end times” were upon them and would see Christ’s second coming within their own lifetimes. They prayed and waited. They passed on the Gospels orally and prayed some more. But Christ did not come. Soon another generation was to come along and Jesus’ could have become a footnote in history. His early followers, however, obeyed His command to “go forth and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). Oral tradition was passed on and the Scriptures were written down and Christ became known to all.

Many generations have come and gone since the resurrection. We are still waiting and praying for the second coming of Christ. We have not seen Christ in the way that the disciples did, in the flesh, but yet we believe. Thomas, in today’s Gospel, did not believe until Jesus appeared to him. Thomas needed reassurance of Jesus’ resurrection. He needed to feel the holes in His hands, only then did He believe. We have not seen, like Thomas, but yet we believe.

Today we do not “see” Jesus in the flesh with our eyes but we do know He exists. We have not yet seen but yet we believe. Jesus is with us every day. His hand is on your shoulder guiding you and His face shines upon you. He laughs with you and cries with you. Today take some time, close your eyes, be still, and feel Jesus beside you and know He is with you always…

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.
John 20:29

God Bless, Holly Clark

He is Risen! Death is No More!

He is Risen! Death is No More!

Alleliuia! He is Risen! Every Lent we travel with Jesus on His journey to the Cross. On Holy Thursday we dine with Him and agonize with Him in the Garden. On Good Friday we share His pain as we witness His trial and journey to His execution; we want to help carry His cross and ease His suffering; we watch in sadness as He dies on the Cross. On Holy Saturday we keep Vigil over His tomb… somewhere, in the back of our minds, we pray that He really isn’t dead. On Easter Sunday, we awake to find an empty tomb… Where can He be? He is Risen… body and soul. He has conquered sin. He has conquered death itself. He has given us new life.

Many of us know the story of Christ’s Passion, death and resurrection, but have you ever taken the time to pause and reflect upon what it all means to you personally? How it all relates to you and your life?

I recently took some time to reflect on Christ’s journey to the resurrection and what it means to me in my life. Christ has conquered death! Last August my father passed away after being ill for some months. As I struggled with my pain, I asked God many times, “Why? Why do we suffer so when we lose a loved one?” Especially when, by our faith, I should be celebrating that Dad is with Jesus in heaven. Jesus has conquered death, after all. But those left behind still feel the pain of loss, just we feel the pain of Jesus death.

As I journey with Jesus this past Holy Week I am also reflecting back and journeying with my Dad. I am walking with Him on His journey to meet Jesus, his hand in mine. The lesson of the Cross gives me hope that I will see my father again in the fullness of time. And we know Christ’s death brought us new life. My Dad is also giving me new life now in so many different ways. He is in my heart and my soul and still inspiring me to be the person I was born to be.

Today, take some time to remember lost loved ones. Their suffering is over and they are in Heaven today, helping Jesus to take care of you from above. I guarantee it!

Have a Blessed Easter, Holly Clark

Imaginative Prayer

Imaginative Prayer

In our Women in God’s Spirit Group we have been exploring Imaginative Prayer. Imaginative Prayer is a prayer technique in which we open up a piece of scripture, read it through a couple of times, and then imagine yourself “in the scene.”

Right now, let us travel back in time to the time of Christ. Let us read and reflect upon Matthew 26:14-27:66 the Gospel Reading for Palm Sunday. Let us travel with Jesus during His final days. Read over the scripture, or a part of it, and imagine yourself as one of His disciples, or perhaps just a simple bystander… what are you seeing in the scene? Are you feeling sadness because you know what will soon happen to our Lord? Or do you feel triumphant because soon death shall be no more? Take yourself deep into your imagination. Smell the smells, touch the trees, talk with Jesus. Let us take time to be with Jesus this week in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let us tell Jesus He is not alone in His vigil and let us walk with Him on the journey to the cross. And then… let us remember… that Jesus travels with us as we each carry our own crosses. Have a Blessed Holy Week, Holly Clark

Stumbling Along

If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. – John 11:9-10 How is your Lent going? Now that we are over half way through, do you find yourself stumbling in the dark or have you found yourself enlightened and walking steadily in Jesus footsteps? I will bet that most of you (and me!) will answer that you are stumbling along. When we first begin our Lenten journey we are filled with hope and determination. We decide what we will “do” for Lent by way of prayer, alms service and sacrifice. Then we get to weeks four and five and we truly feel as if we are stumbling along in the dark. We find we must have that piece of chocolate we gave up for Lent (for me… popcorn!). We promised to pray every day but “forgot” to pray yesterday and the day before. And now we may feel like failures in the eyes of our Lord and give up on ourselves entirely.

Our Lenten journey can be a rough one, but we need to remember, Jesus walked this same journey 2000 years ago. He went into the desert and there Satan tried to make Him stumble. When you feel like you are stumbling, grab Jesus’ hand. He will pull you up. Don’t let go! Let Jesus be your guide. He has walked this journey once and He has walked with you since you were a baby. Let Christ’s light into your heart and He will guide your way and you shall stumble no more. God Bless, Holly Clark

Living as Children of Light

In today’s second reading from Ephesians (Eph 5:8-14), Paul states: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” How do you live as a child of light? What does it mean, to live as a child of light? You might think being a child of the light is a worthy goal to attain but you are not yet ready to be called a child of the light, which is to say a person who embodies Christ and does everything right… goes to Church, prays, fasts, gives alms and service, loves everyone (enemies included) and lives a virtuous life. But who among us is perfect?

Last weekend, after receiving the Eucharist, I watched every person that passed by me, after they had received. At the time I was thinking we are all children of the light, the Light of Christ. In every one of your faces I could see into your hearts,… I could see the glow of Christ’s light emanating from you. You may not feel it, nor may you see it in others… but… it IS there! Think of it! Every time we receive the Eucharist we are feeding our souls and adding to our inner light and warmth. We are slowly being transformed into the Children of Light.

As we travel the barren desert with Jesus this Lent, let us be mindful of the Light of Christ. Let us pause and gaze into one another’s hearts and see Christ’s Light in our friends, family and strangers. Let us all live as Children of the Light, in love and peace… God Bless, Holly Clark

Who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink’?

Remembering Japan

In today’s Gospel (John 4), Jesus is thirsty and asks the first person he sees for water. This woman is a Samaritan and in those days certain cultural groups just did not mix. Jesus was Jewish and she was a Samaritan, two groups that did not mix or dwell together. Jesus replied to her that if she only knew who He was (Son of God) that she herself would never thirst again. The woman had some sense that she was talking to a very special man, one who was willing to share water, conversation, and friendship with her, putting aside all cultural and religious differences. Jesus was in need of water to quench His human thirst and she was in need of “water” (living water) to quench her spiritual thirst.

As I read this Gospel I find myself thinking of the Japanese people. A proud nation facing unthinkable devastation and unbearable suffering. Looking into their faces on the tv news reports I see a terrible sadness but yet also resilience and hope. They may be too proud to verbally ask us for “a drink” but their eyes say it all. They are “thirsty” and need “living water.”

During Lent, we are asked to pray, fast and give alms. I ask you today to pause and reflect upon people in your life who may be thirsty, thirsty for basic needs, company, and spiritual fulfillment. I ask you to think of ways to provide the living water of Jesus to those who need Him so desperately. Remember those in Japan who need your prayers and alms. Perhaps you could dedicate a personal fast as well to show solidarity with those in Japan who may be starving and dehydrated. Let us open our hearts and give them drink as Jesus would. By sharing the Living Water Jesus quells our thirst as well. So… pause and look around… who is asking you for a drink?
God Bless, Holly Clark

Transfigure Us, O Lord...

And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
Mt 17:3

Oh how don’t wish you could climb up a mountain, feel God’s presence and look to the sky and be transfigured by God into the person you were meant to be? Wouldn’t it be joyous? Doesn’t this sound a bit dreamlike and not within the reach of reality? So often in our society we look to instant gratification, joy, communications. Nothing seems to take any time at all. We look to self help books, Google, Facebook, advice from friends in search of instant answers. We don’t want to wait for solutions to our problems and we lose patience with ourselves.

During Lent we are asked to be patient. Answers to our faith longings cannot be instantly obtained as easily we would like (i.e. receiving a text message from God!) Jesus spent 40 days in the desert while His faith was being tested and tempted by Satan. During Lent we are asked to walk with Jesus in the desert. We are asked to reflect upon our lives and examine where Satan is tempting us in our lives. We need to be patient with ourselves and to not expect instant answers to our faith.

Each one of us will walk a different path in the desert. One of us will see nothing but dirt and dust, another will see small signs of life in the cracks and still another will see nothing but joy in the challenge of walking in a desolate landscape. No one will find instant answers to life and after our 40 day journey we may find ourselves with more questions than answers. Our desert journey is just the beginning to our own transfiguration. We are fortunate to have Jesus as our guide and companion. As we travel our road to Easter and the joy of new life, let us remember that our transfiguration will come, in time… be still… and you will someday wake up, look in a mirror and see your face shining like the sun… transfigured in joy and love.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Become What You Think and Do?

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. Lent is a time for reflection upon our lives and our relationship with the Father and Son. As we begin Lent I would ask you to take some time to quietly sit and reflect upon your life. Ask yourself what takes up the most time in your lives and what occupies your thoughts. Family, careers, worries? Then ask yourselves where does God fit in… is He even there?

Back in the eighties, with my first career in the medical sciences, I tended to look at life in terms of science. Looking at a flower, I would think of my botany class. Looking at the ocean I’d think of ecosystems. Later when I tried my hand at graphic design I looked at life with the eye of an artist. I saw everything in terms of shapes and colors. Getting a job in graphic design was very difficult and my life seemed to be a bit empty. I started volunteering my graphic design skills here at Sacred Heart and suddenly my life seemed much fuller! I was being exposed to new thoughts and ideas. I started reading Scripture and finally started understanding what our faith is all about. I started looking at my life and the world around me with a new lens. Now as I look around me I still see things in terms of science and art but now I thank God for giving us the beauty of science and nature. I still see life surrounded by color and shapes and I thank God for His paintbrush of Nature.

As I reflect upon my life this Lent, I am finding myself enriched by the Living Word. I try to see the world as Jesus would. I look at seed and think of the Parable of the Sower; at a recent wedding, the miracle at Cana; at a blind man- I think of Jesus’ healings… This Lent break open the Sunday scriptures and see where Scripture fits in your life. Scripture is a living word, a glimpse into God’s world. This Lent, ask Jesus to be your guide to life. Your eyes will be opened and your heart will be filled. As I look around me I see God’s world, God’s handiwork… in the smile of child, in the change of seasons, in the sky, in my family and friends, and in each of you.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Where is your Heart and Mind?

Even now, says the LORD, return to me
with your whole heart… -Joel 2:12

The first reading for Ash Wednesday, from Joel, asks us to return to the LORD with our whole heart. As we begin Lent we are beginning a new program called “Catholics Come Home.” We are inviting those who have drifted away from the Catholic faith to come celebrate and share our faith once again. I ask you to examine your hearts and try to recall a time when you were separated from your faith and remember what it was that brought you back. Was it an invitation from a friend, a kindly welcoming smile from a parishioner or perhaps you were in a crisis and the Church helped you overcome grief or economic hardship? In my early adulthood (seems like eons ago) I had drifted away and what brought me back was my love of music. A new choir was forming and though I had no idea even if I could sing, I joined after hearing God’s invitation. From that point on, 19 years ago, I started an incredible journey, arm-in-arm with the Lord.

On Ash Wednesday, and throughout Lent and Triduum, we will meet many people who have drifted away from the faith. How will you welcome them home? Will we be upset because they “took my pew” or will we smile warmly and say a silent prayer for them. Will we welcome them with open hearts and minds? St. Paul tells us that “We are ambassadors for Christ…” (2 Cor 5:20). How will we carry out this awesome task? Open your hearts! Open your minds! Open up a highway to God that all may travel!

I am looking forward to this Lent and Triduum as opportunities arise to show our love for one another with the Lord. I look forward to seeing new people and welcoming them to the Sacred Heart and St. Rose faith communities. I look forward to shouting “Alleluia! He is risen!” at Easter-time with our new family members. Only together can we build our highway to God.
God Bless, Holly Clark

What, Me Worry?

Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman has asked this question with every issue of Mad Magazine since 1956. How often do you worry? How much time do you spend worrying and does it do any good? What do you worry about?

Today’s Gospel (Mt 6:24-34) asks “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” Take a moment now and reflect upon the things you tend to worry about and worrying affects you. To answer Jesus’ question we would have to say that worrying probably shortens our lives. Worry causes stress which in turn causes heart problems, high blood pressure, strokes, etc. But you may ask how can we stop worrying? (Worrying can be very addictive!) It is not easy, especially when we care so much but worrying only gets in our way to reason out solutions to our problems.

During this Lent let us try to fast on worry and feast on life instead! Take note of today’s Gospel and reread it and reflect upon it often. When you catch yourself worrying, ask yourself “Will this add to my lifespan?” Then take your worries and let them go. Give them over to our God… Look to God, Father for strength, to Jesus for support and healing and to the Holy Spirit for guidance. You may find your worries will lessen in time…and always remember:

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. – Mt 6:34

God Bless, Holly Clark

Seeing Christ

Seeing Christ

Chaos and mayhem… floods, earthquakes… murder, starvation… war… sadness… Looking at the daily news everyday can be very depressing. You read world and local news everyday and it seems as if our world is falling apart. You may find yourself asking “Where is Joy? Where is God? Where is our Savior?” Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed by humanity’s state of affairs. When I get depressed I remember a quote I once heard from a nun: “We live in a time of Spirit-filled chaos?” Spirit-filled chaos? We need to remember that Christ is always with us in the middle of our chaotic world. Very often He is working silently and it is up to each of us to actively seek Christ working amongst us. The hard part is we are so often caught up in our own lives to see much beyond our own space.

Where do you find Christ working in your life and in the world? This past month I have tried to find Christ as we battle our winter woes. And… I have found Christ everywhere! He is often a silent, but efficient worker! I have found Christ in my neighbors who helped shovel and snow-blow our walkways, and in our parishioners who call in to make donations to the food pantry and in a group of kids who will be diving into icy waters to raise money and awareness for those in need. I see Christ in my friends and co-workers who sense when I need a hug or a shoulder to lean on. I see Christ in my family who are with me through the good times and bad.

More recently I found Christ at work in the three Generations of Faith Festivals I attended. I facilitate three of our adult groups and the time spent sharing my faith with other adults and aiding them in their own faith journey, has been priceless to me. Christ said “wherever two or more are gathered you will find Me.” How true! When I facilitate a GoF session I am so buoyed by the love of Christ I find in each of the adults! At GoF I also see the face of Christ in our children. They show such enthusiasm for the faith and learning about Jesus. At the end of our last session a little 6 year-old girl came up to me, hands still in a prayer position as we had just finished our Lord’s Prayer, looked straight into my eyes and said, “Thank you.” I didn’t quite know what specifically she was thanking me for but it really didn’t matter. I looked into her face and saw the face of Christ.

This week I challenge you to seek out Christ in others. Examine where Christ has been at work in your lives and lastly examine how you can be Christ to others. Spring is coming and it is time to come out of winter darkness and chaos and go seek the light of Christ.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Caregiver Advice from St. Francis de Sales

Caregiving for an aging parent or terminal loved one can be very draining spiritually, emotionally and physically. Always remember to take of yourself too. If you don't you will not be able to take of your loved one too. Remeber, Jesus is always at your side... God Bless...

What Do You Pray For?

What Do You Pray For?

Last Tuesday morning I woke up and looked out the window and saw that it was snowing, yet again, and the ground was slushy/icy/slippery. We had just been blessed with a couple of nice days with plenty of sunshine and blue skies and I prayed for a very early spring. As I trudged to my car, trying not to slip in slush, I wondered whether praying for an early spring was perhaps a selfish prayer on my part. I had a conversation with someone a few weeks ago whose family had come across some hard times, but…, they owned a snowplow. Because of all the snow they are able to keep afloat. So, of course, they are praying for a very late spring!

How often do we pray for something, which if granted, may cause hardship to someone else? My praying for early spring will help me, and others afraid of falling on ice, etc. but what about those who depend on the extra income: snow plowers, neighborhood kids shoveling, etc.? I pondered this for quite some time. How do I pray for what may be selfish but necessary needs? What do you think? After much thought, and more prayer (!) I decided to pray for an early spring for myself but added to that a prayer to God to watch over those who need extra income. We can pray for our needs and the needs of others and let God figure it out!

This month, let us examine our prayers and ask if God were to answer them, how would his decision affect others? Let us pray for our needs and remember others’ needs at the same time and know that God sent Jesus to be always at our side, in good times and bad.

God Bless, Holly Clark

Lenten Longings

Lenten Longings:
LET YOURSELF BE

Let us pray that our prayer and sharing lead us to greater self-understanding and to reverence anew God’s way of leading us to our deepest peace and truest potential through life’s rhythm of joy and struggle. – Lenten Longings

Last week I went to a workshop at the Archdiocese on “Lenten Longings”. Lenten Longings is a faith sharing program put out by Renew International, a company dedicated to renewing parish life and the faith of her parishioners. By rediscovering and sharing our faith we find that we renew ourselves and each other with Christ’s help.

During the six weeks of Lent we will gather in small groups to pray together, break open the Sunday scripture together and share our faith with one another. During Lent we are asked to reflect deeply into our faith and seek ways to becoming closer to Christ. We can only do that if we allow ourselves to just “let ourselves be.” We need to--we long to- allow Christ to take care of us and shape us into the people, or persons, we are meant to be. We need to be still and hear God’s voice in the quiet of our minds. Let us break open God’s Word this Lent and truly listen with our hearts as we are invited to “just be”…

… these reflections on the Sunday readings of Lent invite us to “let ourselves be so that together and alone we may be moved during this holy season by the Loving Presence who longs for us more than we long for life itself To this God of our longing, we entrust ourselves throughout this paschal journey, asking only that—little by little or in one great flaming of our hearts— we may let ourselves be set ablaze.
– Lenten Longings

We set our hearts ablaze when we come together to share our faith and our hearts with one another. We set our faith on fire when we join together in Christ’s name. And… we WILL set the world on fire with love. Please consider joining a Lenten Longings group (or leading one!). Details to come…
God Bless, Holly Clark

Just Sing!

Setting Our Hearts Aflame

Just Sing!

Sing, sing a song. Make it simple to last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear…Just sing, sing a song. -The Carpenters

One of God’s gifts to us is the appreciation of music and sound. We listen to the rustling of fall leaves, the gentle surf against the shore, children laughing and playing on a summer’s day. We tune in to radios, IPods, and go to rock concerts and symphonies… and, how many of us sing our favorite songs in the shower or car? How do you feel when you are singing? You are filled with joy!

This past weekend, I looked around the Church during Mass and wondered why very few Catholics sing. Why do we sing everywhere but in Church? Psalm 100 calls us to “come before the LORD with joyful song.” At Communion time we are to proceed to the altar in song, in joyful anticipation of receiving our Lord. But…You will find very few singing.

The very early Church incorporated song into every Mass (Don’t forget the Book of Psalms are in actuality a collection of songs.) As the Church grew, and cathedrals replaced the simple home churches of St. Paul, choirs were formed by religious brothers and very soon the average parishioner became a listener of song rather than a participant. The reforms of Vatican II sought to bring back the participation of church-goers in song. These reforms were put into place 44 years ago. (So why aren’t YOU singing!!!)

This month, when you attend Mass, try singing joyfully to the Lord. Open up those hymnals and truly read and hear the words. Let the lyrics flow into your heart. Start by humming along if you are shy. God will appreciate your voice and your efforts and will reward you with joy. I guarantee it!
God Bless, Holly Clark

From Earth to God or God to Earth?

January 23, 2010

From Earth to God or God to Earth?

Last Friday, at about 4:30 p.m., I walked out of the office to go home. Very often God blesses me with a beautiful sunset. On this day the sunset was subtly pink at the horizon, pretty but not overly spectacular. As I travelled to my car something caught my eye. On the horizon the pink had grown in the sky a bit and in the center of the horizon was a single column of hot reddish pink jetting straight up from the ground to the sky, no other streaks of color except for this one column headed straight to the heavens. I drove home a different way so I could stay focused on this beam of light and as I drove along I observed many people pausing, with cell cameras in hand, to observe and praise God’s handiwork.

At the time I was reminded of the old Batman series when a beam of light directed at the moon would summon Batman. As I looked up at the sky I half expected to see a big “G” or perhaps a “J” at the end of the column of light as we summon God and Jesus to our aid. While the column of light seemed to be coming from the earth to God I think more likely God was directing the light from above. It is God trying to get our attention through the beauty of the evening sky. God is reminding us that He sent His light down to earth in His Son, Jesus.

As I read today’s Gospel, Matthew states, “…the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light…” (Mt 4:16) I know I am no longer sitting in darkness for I have seen a great light. We do not always see the Light of Christ. Sometimes it is hidden and we have to look for it but at other times (as through sunsets) it plops right in front of your face! This week let us no longer sit in darkness. Let us look for the Light of Christ in the sky, on the earth and in one another.
God Bless, Holly Clark

A Look to the Psalms

January 16

A Look to the Psalms
I waited, waited for the LORD; who bent down and heard my cry, Drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, Set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps
- Ps 40:2-3

Oh how often have I waited for the Lord to bend down to me and take my hand, to draw me out of the not so happy times of my life! We all have times in our lives that we feel lost and abandoned. Throughout history, men and women have fallen into the depths of despair and may have felt God had abandoned them. The Psalms often express our cries of despair, feelings of abandonment and loneliness when life troubles us and we are blind to God’s presence.

Today I encourage you to look at Psalm 40, the Psalm for today. Get your Bible (or web printout!!!) and really look at the words. Let the words flow through you. Feel the pain of the psalmist and let your pains and emotions flow through to God. And then listen. Listen to your heart, listen for God. When we read and pray the Psalms we are in conversation with God. We cry out to Him and He hears our cry. He never abandons us. He will take your hand and pull you out of the swamp… He will put you back on solid ground, solid rock… He will steady your steps…and… He will love you always.

Though I am afflicted and poor, the Lord keeps me in mind.
Ps 40:18

God Bless, Holly Clark

The Ice Palace

January 9, 2011

The Ice Palace

Winter has barely begun and we are already grumbling at the icy parking lots, un-cleared sidewalks, and scraping car windows. We are already longing for the warmth of spring. The other morning I started out to my car to come to work and discovered yet again I needed to scrape off my windshield. I became really stubborn and decided to just sit and wait while the defroster cleared my windshield. I just sat there cold and frustrated, wondering how many more times I’d have to do this, this winter. But then, the sun came up over the horizon and started peeking through the trees. Suddenly I was illuminated in light! The sun came through my car windows and illuminated each and every ice crystal. Every crystal refracted a bit of a rainbow. I was surrounded by joy and quickly regretted turning on the defroster! I was in an ice palace, created in love by God.

Every day we come across many things that frustrate us, anger us and perhaps even depress us. God does take notice and will often send some indication that He is near and to fear not. But it takes a bit of work on our part too. We need to be open to seeing God in unusual and unexpected places. We need to still our minds to hear God’s voice. We need to look for the rainbows that surround us daily. This week toss out frustration and anger and look for joy instead… it is there… I promise!
God Bless, Holly Clark

What's Your Story

January 2, 2011

What’s Your Story?

Everyone has a story to tell… from the tiniest of babes to our elders. Have you ever stopped and looked around in a crowd and try to imagine what stories people would tell you if given the chance? Long before the written word people were telling stories to one another. People would gather around the fire and share their lives. We have lost something in the last ten years or so as technology is threatening to over-run us. Nowadays we share only brief tidbits of ourselves via e-mail, texting, Facebook and Twitter. Our brains are being rewired to think, converse and listen in brief tidbits. When was the last time you sat down and truly listened to another person’s “story” without thinking of your to-do list or trying to multi-task (or rather ‘multi-think’)? Everyone has a story…

One time, in my twenties, I was taking a tour of the Canadian Rockies and was travelling solo on a bus/train tour. I befriended three elderly ladies from New Mexico. They were gracious enough to invite me to dine with them at meals and I found them to be fascinating company. You see, they had a story to tell… It would have been very easy to ignore these three ladies and find people my own age but I felt it was important to listen to their stories and was glad I did. These three ladies were married (now widowed) to nuclear scientists who lived and worked at Los Alamos on the first atomic bomb. They told me stories of what their lives were like and how proud they were to be a part of the project. These ladies taught me that everyone has a story. I often think of them when I see older people on the street and wonder what tales they would like to tell us, if given the chance.

In this New Year, let us be mindful of others stories and listen attentively. (Yes! Even when Uncle Joe tells the “how I survived the Great Depression story” for the millionth time!) Let us give one another the opportunity to share our stories and our faith just as God shares with us, and listens to us, every day of our lives. Let us turn to each other now and ask “What’s your story?”

God Bless, Holly Clark