Family: The Center of Vocation

On Wednesday evening, I was formally accepted by Bishop Bambera as a candidate for the reception of Holy Orders for the Diocese of Scranton. I am experiencing the Spirit's gift of peace as I publicly commit myself to prepare for ordained service in the local Church of Scranton.

This rite was celebrated during Evening Prayer in the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Peter in downtown Scranton. This celebration of Evening Prayer and the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders occurred within the context of our annual Project Andrew Dinner, a time when young men from throughout the diocese who are discerning the possibility of priestly service gather together for prayer, fellowship, and a meal.

Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders

My entire immediate family (mom, dad, siblings, and their spouses and significant others) were in attendance, as were various priests, deacons, seminarians, and young men from throughout the Diocese of Scranton.

Earlier that day, I had been preparing for this ritualized moment by spending some time in prayer. I happened to be reading an excerpt from a speech given by Pope Francis in 2015. In this talk, the pope speaks about priests and seminarians as those who are "born into a certain human context." These ecclesial ministers are not "mushrooms" that automatically spring up on the day of their ordination. Rather, as Francis reminds us, each priest and seminarian comes from a "fundamental center of pastoral vocation, which is the family."

Pope Francis

The family is the first center of human formation. It is within this "domestic Church" that "the desire for a life conceived as a vocational path can burgeon in young people, to be followed with commitment and generosity." Within the confines of the family, we first learn selfless love!

Pope Francis certainly captured my own experience and vocational journey! In my family, I learned the ways of love and acceptance, as well as the realities of sin, mercy, and forgiveness. From my parents, grandparents, siblings, and so many others, I learned what it meant to love unconditionally, to forgive from the heart, to embrace simplicity of lifestyle, to lovingly obey another, and to enjoy the beauty of life! In our home, I learned the fundamentals of my faith. We prayed. We thanked God. We went to Mass. We struggled. We fought. We forgave. We were not perfect, but God was still present!

And so, on Wednesday night and in these most recent days following, I have found myself experiencing great gratitude for the gift of my family - the domestic Church - where I first learned what it meant to be generous, forgiving, and prayerful. This shaped my own self-understanding and how I continue to respond to God's call to serve.

My family with Bishop Joseph Bambera on Wednesday evening

My prayer is that I never forget my roots and the very concrete, real center of my human formation. I hope that I continue to move forward toward ordained ministry in the Church as one who is selfless, open, merciful, and grateful. As Bishop Bambera said so beautifully on Wednesday evening: "Ryan, your openness to the Lord's call to serve the Church also demands a continual letting go of your own ego, needs, interests, and control in order to imitate Jesus - who washed the feet of his friends in humble service of their needs and then commands all who hear his words, 'As I have done, so you must do.'"

Indeed, this is a lesson I first learned from my family.

The Dangerous Reality of Christmas

A blessed and joyous Christmas to all who read this! While we continue to be immersed in the light and joy of this blessed and holy season of Christmas, we are also reminded of the dangerous reality of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ that we celebrate during these twelve days.

St. Stephen,
Deacon & Martyr
December 26th

In claiming the Christ Child as our Lord, Savior, and Master, we are embracing a counter-cultural vision of the world. Our power is not in prestige or wealth, but rests in the fragile baby who was born into an impoverished Jewish family. God exults those who are powerless and humble. The merciful, the just, and the peacemakers will be vindicated by the Lord, for our faith reminds us that there is more to life than what we experience here and now. Indeed, God's justice and mercy - inaugurated one silent night more than 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem - will be brought to fulfillment and fullness at the end of time. 

As Christians, we celebrate the Incarnation of the very Word of God. We must then constantly work to de-construct the gods and idols of our own making: consumerism, greed, lust, and domination. Instead, like the Christ Child, we humbly embrace the Gospel values of poverty, lowliness, and self-giving love.  

St. John,
Apostle & Exile
December 27th

All this week, we have remembered various saints and martyrs who have given their very lives in witnessing to these Gospel values inherent in the coming of Christ at Christmas. In some cases, such as in the martyrdom of Stephen, their lives were willingly handed over to their persecutors. In other cases, such as with the innocent children of 1st century Bethlehem, violence and martyrdom were imposed by those unbridled forces of evil and hatred. 

Today in our own time, Christians throughout the world, particularly in Iraq, Syria, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Nigeria, continue to be persecuted, rejected, and martyred for their faith in the Incarnate Lord. Many others - though not Christian in creed - become like Christ the refugee child as they flee the violence that has engulfed their once serene towns and homelands.

The Holy Innocents,
1st century Martyrs
December 28th

The wood of the crib foreshadows the wood of the cross. Christ was born into our imperfect and sinful world, a world that still clings desperately onto its own darkness. However, the Son of God became one like us not to condemn nor to punish us, but to illumine our lives and our hearts with the light of God's love, truth, and mercy. The martyrs of long ago and of today still experience the dark powers of cruelty, evil, and suffering. Their witness points to the victorious power of God's saving love, even in the midst of death. The martyrs' lowliness and poverty of spirit give perfect witness and embody the Incarnation of Christ Jesus. 

St. Thomas a Becket,
Bishop & Martyr
December 29th

This is the dangerous reality of Christmas that we are invited to consider. We remember those who have given their lives in witness to Christ. And we pray for those who continue to be persecuted for the sake of the name of Jesus. While we may never have to give up our lives in martyrdom, we are nevertheless challenged to embrace the same Gospel values of Christ and his martyr-witnesses: humility, lowliness, poverty, and self-giving love.

Advent Reflection: Week 4

As we approach the Christmas season, I can’t help but recall some of my favorite memories from this time of year. I think of those snowy days in December when my siblings and I would zoom down white hills on our plastic sleds. I remember waiting with great anticipation for Santa Claus to come with mountains of gifts. My mouth waters as I think about the smells and tastes of my grandmother’s Cuban dishes prepared on Christmas Eve. Those cold, dark days of December were softened by the glow of Christmas lights in our neighborhood and the warmth of our family’s home. As fun and as beautiful as these memories are, however, they do not fully reflect the true meaning and significance of this approaching Christmas season. 

As I read and pray with the Nativity of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Luke, I come to realize the very radical nature of the Incarnation. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, left his proper place at the right hand of God the Father in order to fully assume our human nature as a small, helpless, and fragile child. Jesus’ very conception occurred in unusual circumstances: an unwed, Spirit-filled mother, ponderings of divorce, dreams and visions, acts of trust and faith. Jesus was not born as a wealthy or powerful Roman, but he chose to be born into a poor and powerless Jewish family. Jesus was born a stranger in a damp and dirty cave amidst oxen and cattle. 

We continue to see the radical nature of the Incarnation in the announcement of the angels to the shepherds! Shepherds were societal outcasts who existed on the margins of society as landless workers. They were tasked with herding unintelligent, smelly animals. It was precisely to these shepherds that the heavenly host of angels declare the birth of the Savior! The birth of Jesus inaugurates his life’s mission of restoring all people, particularly the marginalized, to new life in God.

While I’ll always hold onto and cherish those dear Christmas memories from my childhood, I recognize that the true meaning of Christmas is much more challenging! As a baptized disciple of Jesus Christ, I am called to identify myself with the Incarnate One who chose to be born poor, powerless, and vulnerable. The entire life of Christ – from his birth to his death – was one of mercy, compassion and constant selflessness. This kenotic, self-emptying love is to be the hallmark of all who claim to be followers of Jesus.

My life as a Christian, then, also compels me to be like those angels on that first Christmas night, to find the outcasts on the margins of society and proclaim to them the Good News that Christ has been born to free us from sin and restore us to God’s life and friendship!

And this is what the Christmas season is truly about. Merry Christmas!

Advent Reflection: Week 3

(Luke 1:26-38)

Two weeks ago, we looked at the hope fostered by the prophet Isaiah for the coming of the Lord. Last week (in the middle of a snowstorm!), we focused on the faith of John the Baptist in God's immanent presence in the world. And now, in this third week of Advent, we focus on the Virgin Mary and her great act of love and trust.

As I prayed with this passage of the Annunciation from the Gospel of Luke, I began to think about the different images we have of Mary in our churches and in our homes. So often, Mary is depicted in statues, stained glass windows, and artistic renderings with eyes closed and hands folded in prayer. She is calm, serene, and at peace.

These are beautiful depictions, but I'm not sure they quite reflect the emotions of tonight's Gospel. I like the painting by artist Henry Ossawa Tanner which shows Mary as a young Jewish girl with messy dark hair, startled awake by the glow of a pillar of light, representing the angel Gabriel. The bed sheets are strewn about. Mary sits uncomfortably on the bed. For me, this painting reflects Mary's experience of the Annunciation. The Gospel passage describes her as "greatly troubled" and "ponderous." Mary even questions the angel: "How can this be?!" God had invited Mary into something quite unexpected and unplanned. Naturally, Mary was troubled, confused, and had many questions.

"The Annunciation" by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1898)

My friends, we can probably relate to these emotions of Mary. Consider the many ways in which God calls and invites us to be open, to do that which is entirely unexpected. In various ways, we experience the unexpectedness of God:

-We might be called to stretch ourselves in serving the needs of others, especially the poor, the hungry, the homeless, and the immigrant in our midst.
-We might be challenged to forgive somebody who hurt us many years ago and only now, this person is apologizing to us.
-We welcome the unexpected or unplanned child into our families. Or maybe we take the lower-paying job and stretch our checkbooks so that we can spend more time with our family.
-We care for our sick and aged parents.
-In my case, the unexpectedness of God came in the call to further explore priestly ministry.

In these ways, and in so many other instances, we are being invited by God to make Christ present in the world. Mary became the bearer of Christ -the Theotokos- through her motherhood. How are we being called to bring Christ into the world?

The Theotokos

No matter how we are called, it can be quite a challenge to say "yes"! By ourselves, we cannot do it. We are paralyzed by our own fears and doubts. But we need not fear! For God gives us a word of comfort. God's angel says, "Fear not! Do not be afraid!"

God alone helps us to move from fear to freedom, from uncertainty and doubt to trust and confidence. This is our Advent journey.

We move from the impossible to the possible because God comes to dwell within us. God desires to be birthed within us! Mary was an open receptacle. Mary is the one who was open to this unplanned and unexpected will of God the Father. Mary's "yes" comes only after questioning and grappling with this invitation from God.

The same is true for us. We continue to wrestle with what we are to do with our lives, how we are to respond in faith, love, and trust to those unexpected and unplanned moments of invitation. And in the end, when we finally do live out our own "yes," when we open ourselves up in loving trust to God, and when we truly say and mean those words of Mary, "Be it done to me according to your word," then our souls will begin to feel like those artistic renderings of Mary: calm, serene, unafraid, and at peace.

Advent Reflection: Week 2

(Matthew 11:2-11)

During this second week of Advent, we now turn our attention to John the Baptizer, somebody who has always been a bit of a mysterious figure to me. John was an odd man who wore coarse camel skins. He was a gaunt figure who ate honey and locusts. John was a fierce preacher and prophet in the desert of Judea.

So, why were so many people drawn to John the Baptist?
Why did so many people leave the Temple area of Jerusalem in order to be baptized in the Jordan River?

I think the people were drawn to the firmness of John’s conviction that God’s Kingdom was breaking into the world. John believed with his entire heart that the promise made to the People Israel long ago was now coming to fulfillment. The reign of God’s justice, peace, and love would soon be embodied in the advent of the Messiah. John saw himself simply as the humble messenger of the coming of the Messiah. Those who repented of their sin would be welcomed into this share of the Reign of God.

John is a preacher and a prophet full of zeal, one who has encountered the saving power of God. He can - and he must! - preach the good news.

Yet, in this Gospel passage, we hear that John's desert ministry of preparing the people for the coming of the Lord has been suspended. John is in jail. John needs to know that his preaching, his ministry, and his entire life were not in vain.

In desperation, John asks Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” This question posed by John for Jesus is certainly ours, too. We’re aware of the struggles of faith that often arise in our lives. When life seems hard, when nothing seems to go right, when we keep falling into the same old bad habits, or when God's love seems distant or absent from our lives, we might experience a crisis of faith. 

Like John the Baptist, we can be imprisoned to our doubts and struggles. The light of hope fades. In our struggle to cling onto faith, we cry out: “Jesus, are you truly the One who has come to save me? How can I experience you as my Liberator, my Lord, my Messiah?” Jesus reminds us that we need only to look around us, even when are faith seems shaken – to see with new eyes of faith that God's Kingdom continues to grow all around us. Jesus, our long-awaited Lord and Messiah, is at work among us today, here and now! 

To John – and to us – Jesus responds: “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” This is Emmanuel. This is God-with-us! We've experienced the saving power of Jesus in our lives. The Lord Jesus gives us sight when we were unable to see the goodness in others or ourselves. The Lord Jesus cures us of those things which keep us confined, unable to walk as free children of God. The Lord Jesus whispers into our hearts that we are loved, that we are important and special to God, cleansing us of the noise of negativity that deafens us. The Lord Jesus raises us from death to new life, saving us from the powers of sin, addiction, and evil.

Yes, in all of these moments, Jesus comes to save us! Jesus is God-with-us: Emmanuel. John’s mission, John’s preaching, and John’s faith were not in vain. As we continue on our Advent journey of faith, let us take to heart two lessons that the John the Baptist teaches us:

1) First, like John, we are to be emboldened by the Good News of God’s presence among us. We are to be passionate about God’s Reign of justice and mercy in all that we say and do. We are to be bold missionary disciples of Jesus Christ!

2.) And secondly, when we have those moments in which we are imprisoned by our doubts and fears, when we feel that our faith is not strong enough to get us through difficulties, it is in these moments that we depend totally on Christ Jesus. We allow Jesus to reveal his saving presence to us in all the good that he has done and continues to do in our lives.

In this way, with John the Baptizer and many others, we will prepare the way of the Lord for others, and for ourselves. May we be always be aware of our God who is always with us, our Emmanuel.

Advent Reflection: Week 1

(Isaiah 2:1-5)

My friends, tonight we hear from Isaiah, the first of the great Advent figures we will be looking to in these next four weeks. Isaiah is the prophet of hope, the one who trusts in the Lord, even when everything around him seems to be falling apart around him.

If you’ve ever read the Book of Isaiah, you’ll notice that the prophet uses many evocative images in his writings. We just heard of the “Lord’s mountain” – this fantastic peak in which all different peoples and all different nations will climb to learn of God’s law of peace and justice.

We know the literal risks of driving, climbing, and living in the mountains. We are also quite aware about the challenges of ascending God’s mountain, of striving towards that place where God’s everlasting peace reigns. How can we even dream of climbing the mountain of the Lord, to walk in God’s ways of justice, love, and peace, when we see and experience so much violence, suffering, and division in our world? Think of the suffering civilians in Aleppo, Syria. In our own cities, we are afflicted with violence. Political differences and animosity still divide us. We may know the pain of division in our own families as well.  

The mountain peak of God’s peace might seem too far from our grasp! Isaiah's vision of many peoples and many nations who were once divided coming together to climb the mountain of the Lord is nice…But can it be real? Can God truly break down these barriers?  Can former enemies walk together in God’s light?

Isaiah believed this was possible. The prophet lived during a time of great unrest, much like our own. Despite these issues of war, weak leadership, corruption, division, religious indifference, Isaiah was still inspired by his undying hope in God. God had acted in the past. And God will act now! 

Isaiah teaches us that as we look to the past and see the many ways that God has been at work in our lives, we can live in our present moment and look to the future with a profound sense of hope. This hope is not blind optimism nor does it ignore the harsh realities of our world. Rather, we live as a people who have known and experienced God’s saving presence in our lives. 

John Paul II forgives his would-be-assassin (1981).

This is the gift of hope that inspired Isaiah to trust that there would be peace in his time, that swords and weapons of war would be turned into pruning hooks and plows, that rocky paths would be made smooth, that the lion would lie down with the lamb – that former enemies would climb God’s mountain together. This gift of hope propelled women like Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa to work on behalf of the poor, to further the reign of God's Kingdom of justice. This gift of hope propelled men like Pope John Paul II and Nelson Mandela to see the world marked not by vengeance and retaliation, but by forgiveness and mercy.

We entrust our present moment and our unknown future to our loving God who has proven his faithfulness in our own past, who has acted in our lives before. With God’s gift of hope, may we dream anew with Isaiah concrete ways in which we can begin to break down barriers, climb the mountain of the Lord, and walk together in God’s light.

Mercy: Unconditional Act of Love

At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis released the apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera. In this missive, Francis reflects on the need for the Church to reflect the very heart of the Trinity: mercy. This entire celebration of the life, mission, and expression of the Church's mercy is not limited to just one year. Rather, this is to be the perennial disposition of the Church and of all Christians.

Pope Francis beautifully weaves together Old and New Testament passages which point to God's abundant mercy. The pope sees the story of the woman caught in adultery from the Gospel of John as the ultimate icon of mercy. She does not experience the condemnation of God, but the overwhelming joy of the Lord's forgiveness and mercy.

Merciful Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery

Among other things in this document, Pope Francis also extended the authority of all priests throughout the world to forgive the sin of procuring an abortion. The pope has also called for churches to celebrate and study the Scriptures in an intentional way at least one Sunday each year. These Scripture passages ought to focus on God's mercy. Similarly, Francis has called for the last Sunday in Ordinary Time (Solemnity of Christ the King) to also be celebrated as World Day of the Poor. In all things, the Church is to live in solidarity with those most in need of God's mercy.

In this current pope, we find one who has been deeply and personally touched by the gift of mercy. How else could Francis have written the following in Misericordia et Misera:

"Nothing of what a repentant sinner places before God's mercy can be excluded from the embrace of his forgiveness. For this reason, none of us has the right to make forgiveness conditional. Mercy is always a gratuitous act of our heavenly Father, an unconditional and unmerited act of love. Consequently, we cannot risk opposing the full freedom of the love with which God enters into the life of every person" (#2).

War is Hell

Last Saturday, I found myself with several hours to kill before a planned engagement later in the day. On a whim, I decided to go to the nearby movie theater to see what might be playing. As I arrived to the theater, I learned that the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" would be starting in five minutes. I had read several positive reviews for this Mel Gibson war movie and decided to watch it.

The movie itself was quite moving. I would recommend watching it, or at least researching the true story of Desmond Doss. As an Army medic, Doss courageously saved 75 wounded soldiers from the battlefields of Okinawa during World War II, all the while never carrying a rifle due to religious reasons. "Hacksaw Ridge" is indeed a story of bravery, especially the courage of maintaining one's conscience in the face of overwhelming pressure and personal abuse.

I experienced several emotions while watching this film. Certainly, I found myself in awe at the tremendous sacrifices made by soldiers, whether in World War II or in today's various conflicts throughout the world.

There was another emotion, however, that I experienced, one that sat deep within and was quite vitriolic. Throughout the movie, I felt a deep disgust for war. There is no other way to say it.
WAR IS HELL. Period.

One of the many innocent victims of war.

When individuals must use their energy and will to kill in order to protect others from being killed, this is hell. When diplomacy and dialogue between nation-states breaks down and ideologies emerge which try to eradicate entire populations of people, this is hell. When innocent civilians, especially children, are the victims of the atrocities of war, this is hell. When men and women are mutilated or subjected to torture, and human rights are violated, this is hell.

Yet again, we are in the midst of another World War. The battlefields span Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Colombia, and on many other fronts. Innocent civilians are dying. Blood is being spilled. Brother kills brother. We have not learned our lesson. The atrocities continue to grow. The cries grow louder.

War is hell.

Voting in Conscience and with Creativity

Many people have been asking me who I will be voting for in next week's historic Presidential Election. In fact, at a wedding I attended recently, one of my friends cornered me at the mac-n-cheese station during the reception cocktail hour to ask me this very question. In between mouthfuls of that decadent appetizer, I tried to explain to my friend that, in my estimation, neither candidate was a suitable choice for President. Yet, despite my aversion to the prospect of a Trump or a Clinton presidency, I still could not decide who I would be voting for on November 8th.

Now, that being said, I must note that I do not fault anybody for voting for either candidate as their well-formed conscience dictates. However, my own conscience has led me to conclude that I cannot vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Neither candidate - indeed, neither party - has provided a suitable plan forward for our country that is built upon those virtues and values which cultivate cooperation, compassion, and the common good.

Rather than viewing individual issues in isolation, I believe we ought to see every issue together as forming one coherent vision for America. If we truly want to be a country that is "great again" and "stronger together," then I believe we must be a country that protects the vulnerable (such as the unborn child, the immigrant, the refugee, the poor, the elderly, at-risk minorities), upholds the integrity of every person, pursues peace and limits the use of military intervention, cares for the environment, develops economic policies that actually allow participation at all levels, addresses the causes of violence, racial strife, and inequality, values religious freedom and expression, and promotes authentic human flourishing. 

Again, neither the Trump nor Clinton campaigns have developed policies and proposals that embody this comprehensive vision for our country. In fact, their respective positions actually reject or jeopardize many of these fundamental issues. Furthermore, the candidates have polluted the political conversation in our country in different ways: either with demagoguery and misogyny or with corruption and ethical misconduct. 

For me, the two major party candidates present a real crisis of conscience: who do I vote for when neither candidate is a viable choice?

At first, I thought I would absent myself from voting for President. However, after hearing an inspired homily from a friend who is a priest, I decided that I needed to allow my vote to be cast in faith. Like the mustard seed, this priest implored, so too can God use our votes to bring about unexpected good and growth. Voting, particularly in a volatile election season such as this, is truly an act of faith. When we vote, we trust that God will act, despite the deep and obvious flaws of each candidate. 

A chance phone conversation with another friend helped me to move forward in a new and very unexpected direction. During our talk, I lamented about my conflict of conscience, believing that my only remaining option, besides not voting, was to cast a protest vote. But my friend on the other line of the phone encouraged me to see my vote not simply as a protest, but as a creative response to a failing two-party system. Voting for a third party candidate, my friend encouraged me, would not be a wasted vote. Rather, voting for a third party candidate ought to be seen as a creative act of faith, dictated by conscience, and determined to resist, challenge, and change our current political situation - one step (or vote) at a time. 

And so, I will cast my vote in conscience and with creativity. I will not vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. I will not allow myself to be limited to two deeply flawed visions for America. 

On Tuesday, November 8th, I will write-in Michael Maturen of the American Solidarity Party for President. The American Solidarity Party (ASP) is a fringe group that was formed in 2011. Its party platform is developed from many principles of Catholic Social Teaching and modeled after the Christian Democratic parties of Europe. Yet, the positions of the ASP are not exclusive to Catholics or other Christians. Any person of good will would likely be able to embrace their stances on life, liberty, peace, cooperation, and equality.  At last, a party and a candidate that I can vote for on Election Day!

Of course, I know Maturen will not win. I know that either Trump or Clinton will be elected President. However, I also know that I must begin to make small steps towards change in how I participate in our country's political system. I cast this vote now as a small act of faith, trusting that one day, our political system will change for the better. The alternative is too devastating to imagine. 

May we soon restore civility, care and compassion, and the common good back into our country's political discourse! And may God act, whatever the outcome of this Presidential Election!

A Prayer of Patient Trust

"Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.

And yet, it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability -
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually - let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today
what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing,
that his hand is leading you,

And accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete."

-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ (1881-1955)

The Narrow Yet Large Gate

(Readings for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 66:18-21, Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13, Luke 13:22-30)

In today's readings, the mystery of the Kingdom of God is broken open and revealed to us. At first glance, what is said about life within God's Kingdom seems rather paradoxical.

Jesus speaks of the "narrow gate," that which leads to salvation in the Kingdom of God. Many will attempt to enter through this narrow gate on their own. They will be cast out. They will grind their teeth and plea for admittance. Few, if any, will make it on their own. When we walk through this narrow gate in isolation, the pathway to the Kingdom of God seems rather dismal!

However, in the same breath, Jesus also speaks of the Kingdom of God as a great banquet table populated by all peoples from the north, south, east, and west. Here, Jesus borrows imagery from the Prophet Isaiah. Everybody is seemingly welcome to dwell and dine at God's table in the Kingdom!

How can it be that few make it through the narrow gate yet many will recline at table in the Kingdom of God?

Perhaps our readings for this Sunday are a good reminder yet again of our radical dependence on Jesus. Those who trust only in themselves have severed their relationship with the Lord. They will not make it through the narrow gate. It is only when we put our trust in Jesus will we be able to enter the Kingdom. Only Jesus can perfect us. Jesus is the only way into the Kingdom.

In God's Kingdom, God's reign of justice, mercy, and generosity will be on full display. All those from the north, south, east, and west - those who have no claim to the table of God - will be present. Those who otherwise would never have had a chance of making it through the narrow gate will be at table. All of us are called to strive for the narrow way, even though we might falter. The Kingdom has been offered to us! This can only be possible with and through Jesus.

And suddenly, we will realize that the gate, while at once narrow, is large enough to encompass the whole world.

Post-Pilgrimage Reflections

Even though I've been home from Poland for more than a week, I am still unpacking all the wonderful experiences of this sacred pilgrimage.
There are really three personal moments that I continue to revisit in my heart:

1.) I hold onto that feeling of joy and peace experienced during the opening mass for World Youth Day in Krakow's Blonia Park. That was the first time during the pilgrimage in which I realized the 'catholic' nature of the Church. Every continent was represented. Diverse faces, flags, and languages created a mosaic of unity within the park. All came together to celebrate our common faith in Christ. The opening mass was a transcendent moment for me, a moment that is difficult still to put into words. All I could do was silently thank God for the beauty of life, creation, my fellow pilgrims, and the gift of the Eucharist.

Pilgrims from the Diocese of Scranton at Blonia Park, Krakow

2.) Later in the week, after the concluding mass with the pope, we were required to walk eight-miles from the park back to our hotel. Nearly two-million pilgrims slowly trudged out of the park and onto the streets under the sweltering sun. At this point, I lost my patience. I broke away from my fellow pilgrims and made the long walk back by myself. Yet, by the fourth mile, I realized just how alone I was and how I had greatly misunderstood the true purpose of pilgrimage. We are made to journey together, never in isolation. All of life is a pilgrimage. It is better to walk with another in order to experience the struggles and joys of life together. This was an invaluable lesson for me to learn.

The way of the pilgrim...

3.) Finally, I was quite surprised to find just how moved I was while praying at the grave of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko who was murdered by the communist secret police in 1984. I wonder - did this parish priest ever imagine that he would become the spiritual voice opposing communism by standing up for human rights? Despite the tyrannical practices of the communists in Poland, this man of peace never advocated violence. Blessed Jerzy has become an example and role model for me of selfless ministry rooted in justice, peace, solidarity, and mercy.

Praying at the grave of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko

These are some of the experiences I reflect upon in gratitude. I can only hope that I remain open to whatever else God's Spirit desires to share with me as I continue to unpack this holy pilgrimage.

WYD Krakow: Day 7

Last night's candlelight prayer with the pope, overnight vigil in Misericordia Park, and the concluding celebration of the Eucharist this morning served as the culmination of our time together as World Youth Day 2016 pilgrims in Krakow, Poland.

Pope Francis encouraged all of us gathered in the park - 1.5 million - to "take the path of the "craziness" of God, who teaches us to meet Him in the hungry, the thirsty, the migrant." The pope also called us to get off of our "comfortable sofas" of indifference, self-doubt, and fear. Instead, we are to wear "soccer cleats...to be starters, not reserve players" in serving others and spreading the Good News of God's mercy.

Our time together as pilgrims has ended. However, we have been summoned to return to our homes, our parishes, our dioceses, and our countries as renewed missionary disciples of mercy. We have been called to more than just mere mediocrity and indifference. Rather, the pope has invited all of us - but especially the young Church - to follow Jesus, "the Lord of risk, the Lord of the eternal more."

This "more" involves puting ourselves out there to encounter others, to risk our security, comfort, and reputation. In following Jesus, the "Lord of risk" in this way, we will also encounter our truest and most free selves. Emptied of all pretense and fear, we then begin to receive the "other" no longer as stranger, but as beloved friend.

In loving and serving each other in mercy, we also discover how it is that God truly sees and totally loves us. This is the enduring gift of following Jesus, the "Lord of risk."

WYD Krakow: Day 6

"Be protagonists of service!"

After praying the Stations of the Cross on Friday evening in Blonia Park, Pope Francis called on the pilgrims to imitate the selfless example of Jesus, telling us to be "protagonists of service." This year's Stations of the Cross at World Youth Day were matched with the seven corporal works and spiritual works of mercy.

Our true meaning and purpose in life is found in the Cross of Christ, for the Cross is the sign of God's selfless love and mercy. When we commit ourselves to Christ, we are also committing ourselves to seeing Jesus in the hungry, the thirsty, the ill, the doubting, the ignorant, and the dead. And after seeing Jesus, we respond with concrete works of merciful service.

Now, we leave for Misericordia Park, where the pilgrims will gather in vigil before tomorrow's concluding Mass with the pope. Tomorrow morning, we will share in the feast of mercy - the Eucharist - and then be sent out once again as "protagonists of service."

WYD Krakow: Day 5

The excitement continues to build here in Krakow, Poland. Pope Francis is now in the city. There is an electric energy buzzing amongst the pilgrims attending this World Youth Day. Something is happening. The Spirit is at work.

As the WYD pilgrims gathered in Blonia Park this evening to hear the pope's opening talk, I couldn't help but notice all of the different faces, languages, flags, chants, ages, and characters that were joyfully marching through the streets of Krakow. The sound of a million footsteps on the pavement reminded me of a street revolution.

Yet, the echo of these steps taken by the pilgrims are not those of rioters, armies, violent protesters, or disillusioned youth. Rather, we march forward in the way of peace, knowing that we've first been shown mercy and are thus called to share God's mercy.

Perhaps those of us gathered here on pilgrimage are starting a worldwide revolution...a revolution of tenderness, love, and mercy.

WYD Krakow: Day 4

"Today," quoted the nun from the Congegation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, "today is the day of mercy.  Now is the time for mercy!"

This sister, from the same religious order as Saint Faustina, reminded those of us gathered in the chapel of adoration at the Krakow Arena that Jesus is the well-spring of mercy. In Jesus alone do we encounter mercy. Together, a massive group of pilgrims then prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, reciting over and over again: "have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Even now, as I read various depressing and horrific headlines in the news, I still feel great hope in this message of mercy. Millions of peaceful pilgrims are converging upon Krakow to discover once again the saving power of God's mercy. I am reminded of my own daily need of the Lord's gentle compassion and mercy. I then am called to respond, to go and do likewise.

This isn't simply a pious thought, but a real challenge! When I am hungry, irritable, and waiting in line for food amongst thousands of disorganized pilgrims, how do I express mercy? I have missed many opportunities to be the face of God's mercy for others during this pilgrimage.

Still, there is no time to delay...the time for mercy is now!

WYD Krakow: Day 3

While we were touring Wieliczka, a famous salt mine outside of Krakow, I came to realize that one of the many gifts possessed by the Poles is their ability to transform the ordinary and the mundane into something quite beautiful. The mine itself, with its various statues and carvings (including a functioning chapel) etched out of salt, is one such example of the ability of our Polish hosts to appreciate, discover, and create beauty in the world.

The opening mass for World Youth Day that was celebrated this evening was filled with inexpressible beauty. In a rather ordinary park, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered as the Body of Christ. Various letters and words formed melodic prayers and hymns of praise in Polish, French, Latin, and English. Strangers from all over the world were brought together in a colorful mosaic of language and culture. Very basic gifts of bread and wine were transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. 

I cannot put into words the overwhelming sense of beauty I experienced during that opening liturgy. This is a mystery of my heart. But I suppose what had stirred within me was a deep gratitude for the very tangible ways in which God shares all that is good and beautiful and wonderful:

God's beauty is present in the diverse faces of all those pilgrims gathered from all over the world; God's beauty is alive in the faith of my fellow pilgrims from the Scranton Diocese; the gift of God's beauty is also given in surprising ways, such as when my friend Tom E. from Michigan found me in a crowd yesterday by throwing his orange Peruvian hat at me. And of course, what is more beautiful than the gaze of Jesus, the very gaze of God's mercy? 

WYD Krakow: Days 1 & 2

The beginning of our trip to Poland was delayed for several hours due to a malfunctioning  air conditioner on the plane. While we sat on the tarmac at JFK - perhaps a little hot, tired, and frustrated - a toddler began to cry. More accurately, this baby had an atomic breakdown. Poor kid! All I could do was laugh at our situation and remember not to take anything too seriously. Thanks be to God, our plane eventually took off (and our little friend fell asleep.)

We made it to Warsaw Airport and began our drive south to Krakow. The landscape of Poland is beautiful and reminded several of us of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our group was fortunate enough to celebrate Mass in the Sanctuary of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Skarzysko-Kamienna. The pastor showed us extreme hospitality. This priest lived out the work of mercy, of welcoming the stranger. It was a wonderful way to begin our pilgrim journey in Poland.

Today, we traveled to the Auschwitz death camp where more than one million Jews, Poles, Roma, and Soviet POW's were put to death. The compound at Auschwitz-Birkenau was massive and systematically laid out. How could human beings cause such suffering?! I prayed that I may always be a person who espouses the way of peace. No more violence. No more hatred. Only love.

Our group then traveled to the Shrine of John Paul II and the Shrine of Divine Mercy. At Auschwitz we remembered the destruction that humankind is capable of. But at these holy places, we remembered that God's love and mercy is greater than any human evil or sin.

Pilgrimage of Peace

Peace be with you!

In a few short hours, I will be en route from JFK Airport in New York to Poland with a group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Scranton. Together, we will join the global Catholic Church in celebrating World Youth Day with our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Nearly two-million pilgrims from all over the world will converge on Krakow, Poland to visit, explore, worship and pray at various shrines and churches. The stories of Polish saints Pope John Paul II, Maximilian Kolbe, and Sister Faustina will be told once again. Many of us unfamiliar with this eastern European country will discover a strong, vibrant people and culture.

Most important, we will encounter the Lord Jesus and his mercy on our pilgrim way.

As I prepare to depart for this nine-day pilgrimage in Poland, I am keeping my heart open to all that I will see and experience. Moreover, I am choosing to make this pilgrimage in a spirit of peace. All around us, the world seems to be embroiled in partisan conflicts and violence. Yet, for these next nine days, the young Church will be a witness to the world of God's abiding love, unity, reconciliation, and peace.

Please pray for me! Pray for the pilgrims!
And know that I keep my family and friends, our nation and world, the Church, all the children of Abraham, and every person of good will in my prayers.

Peace be with you!

Jubilee Year of Mercy Prayer

Friends, the following prayer was penned by Pope Francis for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. It is a fitting reminder of the transformative power of God's gentle mercy in our lives, our Church, and our world:

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. 

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal; and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. 

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God!"

Your are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifest his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. 

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. 

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. 

Pope Francis at the Holy Doors of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

Hospitality of Listening

(Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time: Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke: 10:38-42)

Hospitality, especially in arid desert climates, is essential. Without the gift of food, water, and shelter, many desert nomads would never survive. Hospitality can bring life in places of death.

By welcoming the three strangers into his tent for a meal, Abraham modeled what it means to be hospitable, to recognize the imprint of God on each unexpected sojourner. Martha of today's Gospel also embodied the hospitality of Father Abraham by preparing a meal for her friend Jesus.

While Martha's hospitality was certainly valued, it was Mary's hospitality of listening that was exulted and praised by Jesus.

Jesus also calls us to choose "the better part," to be like Mary who offers her whole self by sitting at the feet of Jesus in order to listen. What is it that Jesus the Master says to us? From the Scriptures, we hear the following:
-Love one another as I have loved you.
-Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
-Do not worry about tomorrow.
-I do not condemn you. Your sins are forgiven. 
-Come to me, all you who are labored and burdened. I will give you rest.
-Peace be with you.

As we become hospitable enough to listen to Jesus, we will hear this radical message of peace, reconciliation, and love. It is only after hearing the Word of God that we will be able to break ourselves open, deepen our service to others, and recognize God's presence in the "other."

When we authentically listen, we will soon quiet our own voice in order to hear the voice of those who are different than us. We will hear the pained cries of the oppressed. When we listen with the ear of the heart, then we shall be compelled to do nothing else but to act!

These times of turmoil call for action. Terrorism, violence, institutional racism, indifference, and political partisanship all demand acts of mourning, demonstration, political involvement, awareness, and healthy debate. Yet, our challenge is to first be hospitable listeners. Before doing anything else, we must be open to listen.

Our gift to our nation and world is the gift of listening. This is what we, the Church, can offer. Perhaps our hospitality of listening can bring life to those places plagued by death.

Holy Superabundance

(Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37)

There is a natural inclination within each of us - a pull, an instinct, a stirring - to do good to others. It is a basic instinct that most people possess. We see this impulse in parents, teammates, soldiers, and community members. Selflessness is not difficult to find.

We often try to codify such behavior. In Deuteronomy, we read how Moses called the Hebrew people to form a nation that would live by a code of ethical behavior, following God's law and commands. This law is not a externally imposed burden, but is to be found written on our very hearts.

Jesus affirms this reality. Yet, in today's Gospel, Jesus also challenges us to deepen our commitment to the law of love. This call takes us beyond a basic practice of law, ethics, and morality. The call to love begins from our heart and takes us to the most unexpected of places.

Vincent Van Gogh - "The Good Samaritan" 

Jesus presents to us the Parable of the Good Samaritan through which we learn how God showers upon us a superabundance of mercy, love, and generosity. While we need to keep developing our impulse to do good for others, we are also summoned to go deeper, to be overly generous, merciful, and compassionate in a way that defies all rationality.

The real shock factor of the Parable of the Good Samaritan is that Jesus tells us to treat those who are truly "other" from us with a holy superabundance. Those who are completely different in all things - ideology, religion, race, culture, way of life - these are the ones to whom we are called to "go and do likewise." It is easy to love those who are similar to us or who share the same family, religion, or affiliations. But those who are utterly different...how do we treat them?

Jesus, through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, shows us the way. In a world filled with violence and strife, what if we loved with the superabundance God has shown us? What if we loved the immigrant, the refugee, the elderly and disabled, the unborn, the poor...and yes, even the terrorists, the drug-dealers, and violent reactionaries with this reason-defying law of God's superabundance? Perhaps then we would be led to an unexpected place: a place of encounter, and from there, a place of peace.