Saint Bernadette - November 27, 2011 - Eric

What's Happening:
The long discussed changes to the Mass are upon us with the beginning of Advent 2011 and we, the Mass Chaos group, gathered again as a group to support each other through these changes. There will be people who don't like the changes, and those of who are living should and do have a say in the ways of the church, but we belong to the church, not the other way around. The church belongs to God and all generations of believers. I like the ancientness of the church. I like that changes take place and are tweaked on century long time frames. Forty years has passed, and two generations of believers got to try out the changes coming out of Vatican II to see how it works. A good amount of time has passed, and now is the time to check the translation against the original document, and improve on the way we do things.

My first thought is: I appreciated the cue cards in the pews to help us through the Mass, now if I actually read them. I don't think that the changes are that significant, other than trying to get through saying "and with your spirit" instead of the old way. I really like the ending to the Nicene Creed.

"...I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Beth, Ben, Maggie, Nancy, me, and Joe.

I only took a few photos, because we have been to this church before. I'll be compiling all of the photos from this mini-tour here. I also added a visit to the Holy Family Shrine on Saturday, December 17.

Gospel:
"What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” Mark 13:37

Jesus tells us to watch.

As I read through the Gospel, I ran through what I have been taught about this reading, but then I considered something a little different. We need to be ready to watch for Jesus in every encounter that we have, in every person. He will come again in glory, but we can encounter him in the here and now in Communion and in the people we meet. We treat everyone else with dignity and respect because Christ came to save those people equally as much as He came to save us. He is here. Are we watching? Are we ready?

Lord Jesus, help me to be watchful for you in all that I do.

Next week: Sun, Dec 4 @ 11:00am - Saint Bridget - 4112 South 26th Street, Omaha

Saint Bernadette - April 3, 2011 - Eric

What's Happening:
One of the things that has grown for me on this journey is the respect that I have for the clergy. I am more and more amazed every week. This week after the busyness of Mass and the pancake feed, I got a chance to visit with Father Al Salanitro for five minutes or so in the quiet of the church. He was open, caring, and quite honest to someone who he did not know. I find it difficult to talk to people I know well, let alone complete strangers.

Preceding this on Thursday was Father Hoesing lecture on eternity at Theology on Tap. Father Hoesing was funny, smart, and again, open and honest about himself. If he had notecards, it wasn't apparent, the same thing with Archbishop Lucas the week before. I keep wondering how they can come up with so many intelligent things to say. I think one of the things that keeps me from talking openly, is that I say so many dumb things.

The people who lead the church are human, a fact that was very lost on me twenty years ago, and may have been suspect five years ago. Now I understand that they are human, prone to mistakes and temptations, and they mean to do the very best that they can. Sound familiar? It's just like we are, only their job is to be Christ's representative in our lives.

Support your Priests, Sisters, Brothers, and Deacons. Pray for them, they have a hard job. Thank the Lord for the gift that they bring us.

Frank, Joe, Ron, Beth, me, and Teri. We're all thankful for the beautiful weather.

Location and Architecture:
Saint Bernadette, 7600 South 42nd Street, Bellevue. My only previous visit to Saint Bernadette was little over a year ago for a Reconciliation Mass, it was dark and the church was not well lit at the time. I am happy to say it looks much nicer in the spring sunlight. The natural wood and the rich purple of the lenten decorations are really easy on the eyes and relax the mind to hear the Gospel.

If you'd like to see the rest of my pictures from Saint Bernadette's, you can click here.

Gospel
"...Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him." John 9:3

Jesus says this about the blind man, but really this can be said about every single one of us. God created all of us "so that the works of God might be made visible through" us. I believe no other argument needs to made to for a reason to treat every other human being equally.

Everyone brings something to humanity that God gave them to bring. Don't ignore that, don't trivialize it, don't even think that you know where it is that someone else fits it. Treat each other (and yourself) with dignity, respect, and a sense of wonder.

It a blessing to understand those moments when God is using someone else to teach you to love. The more that you realize people have so much to show you, the more that you receive this blessing.

Lord, show me the way to love each of my sisters and brothers.

Prayers
Please pray for:
The people of Japan.
The people of the countries in Southwest Asia and Africa in this time of revolution.
Tom who is deployed to Afghanistan, and his wife and two daughters.
Amy and Shannon for protection on their missions.
Kevin as he prepares for his final year of seminary and the priesthood.
Marcus as he has been accepted into seminary and will be discerning the priesthood.
My friend M., who is pregnant, please pray for her and her baby.

Next:
April 10th @ 10:00 Saint Patrick's, 1404 Castelar Street, Omaha.

Peace, Eric