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This week, I would like to share this poem by Lo Alaman with you.
Fr. Bill+ A Prayer for Pentecost He said be And everything became so And in the amount of time it took for breath to pass through lips A universe boomed, and stars sparked, and worlds began to exist And all became His He said breathe And we became lungs And we became bodies filled to life Animated by spirit and instruction And suddenly this dust had a Father So we became daughters and sons And love became both our names and our heritage He said taste and see He said faith and believe He said inhale love’s promises And exhale whatever lies lead our hearts to lonely We went astray Smoke filled our lungs Sin cut off our airways Like a knee to the neck We cried, I can’t breathe There was no justice, there was no peace Could He speak again? Could His Spirit whistle through the caverns of our chests? Could He send a savior to resuscitate? They whip His skin He gasps in pain He breathes His last He lay in grave The Spirit comes He rises to reign! He breathes on the church We rise the same He says breathe And we come alive He says receive And let Spirit guide The world needs life The breath of Christ Is in our lungs Say Spirit come! Say Spirit come! Spirit come! We pray . . . Holy Spirit come!
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Spiritual Strength
It’s 1904, and a 10-year-old Italian boy named Angelo Siciliano arrives in Brooklyn, New York, with his family. He’s a skinny child, and as he adjusts to life in this new city, he’s often picked on by the bigger kids. Fast-forward to 1922, and this same guy is on the podium at Madison Square Garden, having been named “America’s Most Perfectly Developed Man.” By then, this 97-pound weakling had not only grown a stronger body, he’d also changed his name to Charles Atlas. We see or hear about stories like this all the time. We are living in an era that focuses on bodily health and strength, but how do you do that spiritually? What’s the formula for gaining spiritual muscle? Actually, it’s no secret. In fact, God’s Word makes it plain: Putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow. (1 Peter 2:1–2) When babies come into this world, there’s only one thing they really want to do—and that’s eat. They do so about every four hours. And if their desire for milk is not met at the exact time they need it, then they will scream! Without question, if a baby doesn’t have a desire to eat, it’s a sign that there’s something wrong. As Christians, it is the same for you and me. If we don’t have a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word, then it’s a sign we’re spiritually sick and are going to get sicker. The Word feeds and strengthens us, but our daily living can also expose us to spiritual illness. St. Peter proclaimed that growing spiritually is not solely about feeding on the Word; it’s also about steering clear of appetite killers! We must put aside “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1). This is the simple formula of spiritual health that can sustain us day in and day out, come what may. Be completely honest before God, read and pray, and stay away from those who drag you down and infect your soul. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). Easy said, easy done. Fr. Bill+ Where are you going?
There is a lot of traveling going on. To Pennsylvania, Baltimore, shipboard, Boston, San Francisco, Grants Pass, Winston-Salem, and to places unknown. Family vacations, events of many kinds, new home hunting, pure recreation, and the call of the wild facilitate such movement, but they do not define it. No matter the reason for going, it is the way we encounter the “when we get there” and the “how we got there” that makes the difference. In the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35), we hear about two disciples traveling the Road to Emmaus. There were very specific reasons why they were on that road and why they wanted to be in Emmaus. There is no doubt that their discussion along the way would have been a learning process and an opportunity for personal reflection. Considering the time needed to travel to Emmaus, they would have had a reasonable expectation of some sort of resolution, but they could not have foreseen the transformative, life-changing encounter that would take place on the Way. We have long heard it said that it is not the destination but the journey that sets the stage for what is to come, and for Christians this couldn’t be more true. Travel is a way to meet Christ on the road and to feel the reality of his redeeming work in the world — not just by reading about it in a book, but by experiencing it in the flesh. Traveling is about more than just knowing God’s goodness in our minds. It’s about seeing and tasting and feeling it in his created world, and in those we meet along the way. And though strangers we may be in this world, the reality is that God is here, working in remarkable ways. To travel is to meditate on God's blessings and his rich creation; it is to experience his faithfulness and trust him in ways you just can't do in the comforts of your own home, culture and comfort zone. At times it can even be an act of worship. Most often, we and the world see travel as it benefits us only. It is our experience, our desire, our money, and we will receive something for our effort. Realizing and acknowledging God’s hand at work in fashioning the trip we are taking will radically alter that way of thinking. All those “our” statements may be true, but what we receive can be so much more than the satisfaction upon completing the trip and the photo memories of the adventure. Starting our voyage with God and inviting God into all aspects of the trip will change everything. There are many reasons we set out on journeys and many modes by which we get to where we are going, but there is one Christ who accompanies us along the Way and encounters us when we least expect. Each trip can be our Emmaus walk. Pray in thanksgiving for the opportunities you have had, pray for those in our Parish Family who have also traveled lately and for those who are about to. You have no way of knowing the transformative, life-changing encounter awaiting you. On the Way, Fr. Bill+ "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 Knowledge is a good thing. There’s nothing wrong with studying doctrine, theology, or church history. But knowledge and belief aren’t the same. And neither one on its own is anything without trust. Think of it this way: If God’s love is like the air in our lungs, then our trust in Him is like the connective tissue in our body, holding everything together. A lot of people consider trust an abstract concept. But in reality, it results in observable change in action or attitude. And that’s what we see in the Bible—references to trust, faith, or belief are usually associated with noticeable transformation. Similarly, when we wholeheartedly trust God, there’s often a noticeable change that occurs. It may be something that happens within us rather than to our circumstances. But when God’s love causes such a shift, our perspective is likely to change and impact our daily life as well. For instance, it’s possible people around us will feel encouraged by our presence, we’ll treat the environment with more care, and our reactions will open the door to peace instead of conflict. Trusting God frequently begins in commonplace moments. Sometimes the greatest change is triggered by an action as simple as humbly asking the Lord for help. Take even one small step toward Him today. Let Him show you how trustworthy He is. Trusting, Fr. Bill+ Creator and the Journey
Each Sunday we pray for “those members of our Parish Family who are away or may be traveling,” and we pray for consolation and safety as we worship as a family in spirit if not in body. This is our Parish, and we are a Parish Family. We are all part of one another on the journey of life, which God has called us to. Sometimes we think we are alone in this, but we are not—how could we be? There is a truth about the reason we have each found our way to Creator. Yes, the building is unique and beautiful; it may be convenient and easy to get to; we may be fed by the worship and liturgy; but there is another reason we must consider—God wants us here. God has called each of us into this family for a reason, and we are called to grow as a family to discern God’s purpose. Oh, we will have our moments, even disagreements—what families don’t?—but these must be held up against the question, “What does God want me to learn from this here?” For here is where we are. The answer to this question will build us up and send us out in the name of Christ, because the answer will be from God and in accordance with God’s plan. As a member of this Parish Family and a Child of Christ worshipping here at Creator, you are held in the hearts and minds of your Brothers and Sisters and prayed for with fond regard. God has given us to each other and to this place in accordance with His plan and our cooperation with it. As a person of faith, you are here—for Christ first and for the discovery of God’s blessing second. Our time here is of great importance. Your community participation and support are your active parts in God’s plan. The work and witness of our Parish continues 365 days a year in good times and bad, laughing and crying, boldly standing and in fearfulness, and in all of that, we are all part of one another on the journey of life that God has called us to. Peace to all my Parish Family, Fr. Bill+ These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Luke 24:44
Reading the Psalms is a little-used but highly effective way of advancing your spiritual life. The Psalms are the songbook of Israel, a chronicle of praise and pain from our spiritual ancestors. The New Testament relies on the Psalms as foundational, and they can be a scriptural bedrock of spiritual formation. The Psalms are, first of all, part of God’s inspired word and, thus, reveal to us the character of God. Reading the Psalms, we understand who God is and what it looks like to relate to Him. In the Psalms, we also learn how to bring our whole selves to God. When we read the Psalms, we will encounter both intellectual and emotional aspects of life brought into God’s presence. The entire range of human experience is captured in the Psalms, from the heights of joy to the depths of despair. The writers were not afraid to bring fear, delight, shame, exuberance, repentance, and longing into prayer with God. As we read and pray the Psalms, we discover that we, too, can bring our whole selves to God. The Psalms were written by various human authors: David wrote 73 Psalms, or about half of them; Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Moses wrote some; some do not indicate an author. But whatever human author they have, they are the inspired word of God. Jesus in Matthew 22 said, “David, IN THE SPIRIT,” wrote Psalm 110. Jesus said in Luke 24:44-45 “that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” — then :45 says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the SCRIPTURES.” So these Psalms are inspired Scriptures, the word of God. They were written originally as songs — the Hebrew word for Psalm (Mitzmor) means a song sung to musical accompaniment. Many of them carry inscriptions (which are part of the original Hebrew text), which say things like: “for the choir director,” or “to the tune of ‘Lilies’” and so on. So when we are reading the Psalms, we are basically reading song lyrics that the Hebrews used for worship. And of course, many of the songs we sing today come right out of these Biblical Psalms. But these aren’t “just” song lyrics, but prayers, which teach us how to speak and walk with God. There are 150 Psalms — more chapters than any other book in the Bible — and it also has more verses by far than any other book in the Bible. So the Psalms are a rich storehouse of spiritual treasure for us that we need to take advantage of to grow spiritually. We are beginning a study of the Psalms starting this Thursday night at 7:00 via ZOOM. Please join us for this ten-week study and experience the Psalms for yourself in real time. Singing psalms of praise! Fr. Bill+ St. Clare of Assisi
Today is the Feast Day of St. Clare. To better understand her as a companion of St. Francis, I have included a brief summary of her life as told on the catholic.org website's summaries of saints. St. Clare of Assisi Feast Day: August 11th Patron Saint of Television, Telecommunications, Eye disorders, Embroiderers St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was one of the Church's great saints and the foundress of the Order of Poor Clares. Inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assisi, she gave up a life of wealth and privilege to follow Christ in poverty, prayer, and humble service. Born into a noble family in Assisi, Italy, Clare felt called from an early age to dedicate her life completely to God. At the age of eighteen, she left her family home and was welcomed by St. Francis, who received her vows and cut her hair as a sign of her new life devoted to Christ. Soon afterward, her younger sister, St. Agnes of Assisi, joined her, and together they established the Poor Clares. Clare led her community with wisdom, humility, and unwavering trust in God's providence. She embraced a life of simplicity, continual prayer, and Eucharistic devotion. She insisted that her sisters own no personal property, placing their complete confidence in God's care. According to Catholic tradition, St. Clare displayed great faith during an attack on her convent. Holding the Blessed Sacrament before the invaders, she prayed for God's protection, and the attackers fled, leaving the sisters unharmed. After many years of faithful service, St. Clare died in 1253 and was canonized just two years later by Pope Alexander IV. Today, she is remembered as a model of holiness, humility, and joyful trust in God. Her life continues to inspire {Christians} to seek Christ through prayer, simplicity, and complete reliance on His loving providence. Did You Know? · St. Clare founded the Order of Poor Clares at 18 years old. · St. Francis of Assisi cut her hair as a sign of her dedication to God. · She protected her convent by praying before the Blessed Sacrament. · She is the patron saint of television because she miraculously saw and heard Mass from her room when she was too sick to attend. Enjoy St. Clare's feast day, and may you be inspired by the example she set. Fr. Bill+ Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
This greeting, delivered by St. Paul to the Corinthians, was not an uncommon one. In fact, he used similar words in all thirteen of his letters: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy. For example, Galatians 1:1-5: “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through men but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1: “Paul, Silvanus [Silas], and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2: “Paul, Silvanus [Silas], and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:1-7: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the Gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of god with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Titus 1:1-4: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, a true son in our common faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” If you have read the Letters, and I hope you have, you know that Paul was writing in every context, praise, encouragement, anger, frustration, joy, etc. No matter what the occasion, Paul frames himself and every letter wholly in the context of God’s grace and saving action. He is worthy to write not because he is Paul, but because God has made him such. Some, who do believe, categorize this as simply literary stylings. They would describe his words in terms of persuasion and categories of authority, but we know it is not style, it is truth and witness. As we reflect on the personal nature of Paul’s communication, we receive his proclamation of what he believes and wants to believe more. St. Paul’s powerful witness leads us to ask: Why does St. Paul feel called to frame all he says in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? And, What does that witness mean to me? The language in St. Paul’s letters has everything to do with his relationship with God, regardless of the topic of the letter. His faith and the exercise of his faith form the language he is using and provide the foundation from which he approaches each subject. The depth of his reliance on God and the importance of God’s saving witness are the two aspects of his life that animate all his letters. His communications are all filled with references and proclamations to and about God because God is the source from which everything flows. This is not because it is a “church letter,” but because he is a godly man; simply put, Paul writes as a believer and encourages us to do so (write, speak, share) as well. Geologists write like geologists, and lawyers like lawyers. Likewise, the emphasis of our life is evident in how we write and the language we use. C. S. Lewis echoes St. Augustine as he teaches that as we grow into a thing, we must “rehearse it”—after all, practice makes perfect. If you want to love more—LOVE MORE. If you want to see more—SEE MORE. If you want to forgive more—FORGIVE MORE. This is not magic, blessing, or gift; it is an act of the will, and it requires will power to accomplish. This is true as it is true in all things we practice – tennis, French, cooking, bridge, programming, and all manner of things we want to grow in. St. Paul shows that the practice of our faith needs to be exercised even as much as we would practice Yo-Yo or how to use our phone. Wishing to be more faithful is not being more faithful, but it is a start. From wishing (a genuine admission of a need for something we don’t have) to practicing is a BIG jump. Wishing is an act of the mind, but practicing is an outward and visible sign of an inward commitment to change. In the same way that to love someone more, you need to live out of love to them, to grow in the faith of Jesus Christ, you need to live out that faith in all things. Jesus tells us he is always with us, and he is! Knowing this and acting on it, through faith, through him (who is with you), like the love that grows by giving it away, you will grow in faith by living the faith given to you. Pursue the presence of God with energy and focus. Be fixated on being the faith you proclaim. Practice the acts of love and devotion you want to be. Speak yourself as the one you wish you could be, and you will be it. Risking to speak the name of Jesus and to talk about the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit is as liberating as it is joyous! God is present in the speaking of the name because He and the name are one, and it is in the speaking that we are blessed. Practice your faith, and it will grow strong. Rely on the Holy Spirit to comfort you in this, and you will be transformed. Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Fr. Bill+ Father Bill is away on a family vacation this week. His regular weekly letter will return next week, but for today, he has chosen to share these words of wisdom from the Heavens Inspirations website.
Carrots, Eggs, And Coffee Inspirational Story on our response to difficulties A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft and mushy. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardened egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its deep flavour and inhaled its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin, outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong? But with pain and adversity, do I wilt and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstance that brings the adversity, the pain, the hardship – into something quite wonderful. When the water gets hot, it releases its fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you for the better. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN? (Somehow, wake up and smell the coffee takes on a whole new meaning) - Author Unknown “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45
When we hear the words, “I was called” or “you are called,” or “he was called,” it begs the question, what does it mean to be called? Most often what comes to mind are images of missionaries in Africa, or sweating servers in soup kitchens, or door-to-door Bible witnesses. While these things are true and good for those who are called to them, the call that goes out to all of us is the call to serve as Christ served us (see chapter 15 of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.) “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13) We are not saved by serving, we are saved for serving. Jesus reminds us that He did not come to be served, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 20:28). This is an astounding statement. If anyone should expect to be served, it is Jesus. Yet His life on earth was filled with examples of serving others. And His specific instructions to us follow along with His example. To follow Jesus is to live a life where we are always looking for ways to meet the needs of others through our talents, gifts, and abilities. It is a lifestyle of putting others first, thinking not about ourselves and our own desires, but about what others lack that we can provide. So often when teaching about service in Christ’s name, Pastors and teachers quote Luke 6:30-36: 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. This is a meaningful quote from Jesus; unfortunately, when it is read, the most notable (and memorable) line is, 35 "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.” Of course this is a true teaching, but getting stuck here obscures the total message, Do to others as you would have them do to you. St. Paul tells us, “You were called to be free.” When we are self-focused and defensive, guarding our opinions or preferences against others, service is impossible. You cannot serve God until you’ve been set free from the self by Jesus. He is the prerequisite for serving. Without the freedom of forgiveness, you’ll end up serving for the wrong reasons: trying to earn the approval of others, trying to run away from your pain, trying to remedy your guilt, trying to impress God. Service motivated by these illegitimate reasons is bound to leave you burned out and bitter in the end. Until you experience the transforming power of God’s grace in your life, you’re too enslaved by your own hurts, habits, and hang-ups to think much about others. God is far more interested in why you serve others than in how well you serve them. He’s always looking at your heart, serving willingly and eagerly out of love for Jesus and gratitude for all he’s done for you. You are most like Jesus when you’re serving others. After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14–15 NLT). In this way, the call to serve is founded in love. Paul says, “Serve one another in love.” This is an important key to building community: 1 Corinthians 13:3 records, “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” When you hear the words call or serve, push down the radical images of far off lands and inner city need; receive them where YOU are. For example, if you are a husband or a wife, you can start with your partner right under your own roof. Strengthen your marriage by serving together, and if you have kids (or grandkids), teach them how to be servants by working alongside them--lead by example. Jesus formed his ministry around people who had to give something up. For Peter and John, it was their fishing boats and nets. For Matthew, it was his tollbooth. Eventually, all of them surrendered their idea of the Messiah as a conquering king in favor of Jesus, the Suffering Savior. When we hear the stories, it is too easy to focus on the things that were left behind and ignore the inner decision to do so. Christ calls us to serve by deciding to do so. By giving up fear, by forgiving and by relying on Him to lead us in love. Learning to serve others well is about getting outside ourselves. God has given each of us strengths, gifts, and abilities to use for His glory. And we should be using those to serve others. And through that service you will also be served! Jesus still serves you as you become like the One who serves you! His joy is made manifest in you as you turn to Him. Follow the example of Jesus, answer the call to serve. People in the world need to see what Jesus really looks like. You can show them by serving others. Serving in the name of Christ, Fr. Bill+ |
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September 2026
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