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Reflection for the Solemnity of the Resurrection 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Resurrection 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Resurrection 2025

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Resurrection 2025

He saw and believed.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Today we encounter the greatest image ever, the empty tomb.

That image is the one, beyond the cross, that God wants us to remember most.

God envisioned that empty tomb for us. It is our hope, it is our comfort. Most importantly it is our assurance, the vision God has for us resurrected and with Him forever.

On that Easter morning, Jesus encounters His faithful in varieties of ways. He greets Mary Magdalene as the Gardener. He walks with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus. He enters the upper room. In each encounter we see God’s image of how life should be, lived with Jesus’ resurrected reality and in the family of faith. There is truly nothing better than to be loved to the extent God loves us.

We concluded on Palm Sunday by remembering the totality of God’s gift of love, great grace, restoration, and His amazing promise. Today we see the reality of that fulfilled promise at the empty tomb. As the Apostle John did,  let us see and believe it.

Christian Witness, Homilies, , ,

Maundy Thursday 2025

“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

This evening, as on this evening about 1992 years ago, we gather around the table of the Lord. We take time to commemorate the great things He instituted for our benefit.

In the washing of the Apostle’s feet, Jesus instituted the sacrament of penance. As Jesus washed their feet before they gathered around the table, so we too do the same, engage in the Sacrament of Penance at the beginning of every Holy Mass.

At the table Jesus not only celebrates the annual Jewish Passover meal but He more importantly reconfigured the sacrifice and consumption of the Passover lamb around His own passion and death. He institutes a new Passover memorial. Jesus identifies Himself as the new Passover Lamb Who will be sacrificed for the redemption of the new Israel in a new exodus.

We have the privilege of living in this new exodus. We are headed across the dessert of this earthly life to God’s eternal kingdom.

As with the Israelites in the dessert, our journey to the Kingdom is a protected journey. As God went with the Israelites as a pillar of fire and pillar of cloud. This dual theophany (manifestation of God) guided the Israelites through the desert during the Exodus from Egypt. The pillar of cloud provided a visible guide for the Israelites during the day, while the pillar of fire lit their way by night.

The pillars of cloud and fire are first mentioned in Exodus 13, shortly after Moses leads the Israelites out of their captivity in Egypt. When Pharaoh brought his army in pursuit of the Israelites the pillar of cloud intervened to keep the army from approaching during the night. The pillar positioned itself behind the Israelites, casting light upon their camp while leaving the Egyptian army in darkness.

As I mentioned, we have protection, and it is a far better protection than a pillar of fire and cloud. We have a lasting memorial in Jesus’ body and blood, His real physical presence with us always. The dessert of life is a far better place with the assurance and protection we have in Jesus’ eternal presence. 

In penance we are reconciled over and over and work to change what negatively affects us. We are spiritually healed and brought back. Jesus assures us of his mercy and compassion for us.

In the Holy Eucharist and in receiving His body and blood in communion Jesus remains in and with us. He is always present here, in the church where we may receive Him and adore Him, where we may just sit with Him and converse with Him is a very special and privileged way because He is truly physically present just as He was this night about 2022 years ago.

The worst part of life’s dessert, of our exodus journey, is feeling alone and abandoned. Like a child, we all feel afraid of that kind of solitude. Jesus Himself cried out from the cross when He experienced it: My God, My God, why have You abandoned me!?! Jesus did not and does not want that for any one of us. So, we have tonight, and the gifts of awesome assurance, gifts so we are never alone and always protected.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for Palm Sunday 2025

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us.

This week God provides more than just images, but rather a whole movie filled with a cast of characters illustrating exactly what Jesus came to save us from.

Brandon Lake appeared on the Grand Old Opry last night. He is a Christian artist and his song; Daddy’s DNA carries this refrain: ‘all I’ve given you is trouble all you’ve given me is grace.’

Certainly, true for each of us. In big and small ways.

Jesus came to solve those troubles we offer God and most particularly their consequences. As St. Paul reminds us In Romans 6:23: the consequence of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We could spend some time here recalling the big and small sins of all the characters in the Passion, we could see ourselves in those sins, think about the ways we have bought in to wrong, but let’s not do that.

Instead, let us focus on our Daddy’s DNA – the image of God that He has placed into each of us. Let us look to the beauty we have in God’s eyes and give thanks for what Jesus has done to make us beautiful. Let us further exhibit in worship and praise our gratitude for God’s outpouring of grace that renews us when we fail and fall, grace that restores our beauty.

All God gives us is love, great grace, restoration, and an amazing promise. All the proof we need of what God gives us is in our bibles and on that cross.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for Passion Sunday 2025

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us.

This week God’s set of images call us to self-reflection and a merciful attitude toward all.

As many of you know, and occasionally see, I get emotional when I proclaim certain of the gospels. I mentioned this last week, and those who were at our Seniorate Lenten Retreat may have picked up on that as I led the Seven Last Words devotion.

We call this conviction. Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit where an individual is confronted with what God sees. We face the guilt we know we have and realize we are unable to save ourselves. Further, we get overwhelmed as we consider our guilt in light of God’s tremendous mercy. His love overpowers the sentence we deserve.

In the Passion we see Jesus telling the good thief that he will be with Him in paradise. The good thief’s effort to seek forgiveness is enough for Jesus to welcome him. In the parable of the Prodigal, we see both sons’ sinfulness set aside by a father whose forgiveness and mercy is limitless. We see the image of our heavenly Father waiting for us as we return.

Today we see two sets of sinners standing before Jesus. The prostitute, obviously being manipulated as sex workers so often are, is used here to trap Jesus. That does not discount her sin, but it is minor compared to the allegedly righteous who brought her there. The others, they are masters of manipulation, deceit, and an inner anger that causes them to hate God Himself. A stark reminder that we must not judge.

Jesus attempts to break through. By ignoring the accusers, He points out His knowledge of their evil. In His mercy He attempts to convict them of their sin, but they will not accept that conviction. They merely walk away. What a loss!

For the woman Jesus does indeed break through. He doesn’t question or interrogate her. She does not make excuses. Rather, she accepts His mercy and His instruction: from now on do not sin any more.”

Over this Passiontide, listen and allow Jesus in. Then accept His mercy. Finally, like St. Paul, forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.

Homilies,

Reflection for the 4th Sunday in Lent 2025

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter as light.

This week God’s set of images call us to reliance on His mercy. I, for one, can barely get through the proclamation of this gospel without breaking down because I see the image of God’s infinite mercy as He welcomes me back over and over, embraces me again and again despite my failures.

The richness of God’s imagery in this parable of the Prodigal makes it a sort of movie. We can see what is happening, how each person acts and reacts. Despite the things that are pretty evident, God as the perfect artist has inserted some less obvious images.

In movies and games this is often referred to as an Easter Egg. The term was first coined around 1979 by Steve Wright at Atari Computers to describe a hidden message in a video game. Since then, creators, like our Creator, have inserted things we must search for in their creations.

Let’s look at some Easter Eggs in the Parable of the Prodigal.

The younger son is unwilling to wait for his inheritance. He exhibits selfishness. Once he has wasted everything the Parable tells us he went to care for the swine. The slightly hidden thing is that the swine owner was probably a Gentile. If he were a Jew, he would have let his servants take a portion of the feed for themselves (a commandment in the Law), but here he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. The son’s selfishness is confronted by the owner’s.

As the son returns, he has no need to search for his father. The father is shown waiting. Imagine that, from the moment the son left the father stood in the road waiting for his return. Prodigal means extravagant – and the father’s love was indeed extravagant.

Finally, the older son is upset. It is not just the father’s extravagance. It is the fact that all that remains of the estate is his, yet he feels unable to enjoy it.

We are called to confront those areas where we are selfish, to seek the less than obvious ways God shows us where we fall short thus taking the lesson to heart. When we turn around and return, let us recognize God’s extravagant love and accept His embrace. Finally, let us enjoy God’s Kingdom here on earth and spend time rejoicing with all who find their way home. In all things let us seek Him so never giving up we may find Him.

Events, PNCC, ,

2025 Scholars Conference Program

The History and Archives Commission of the Polish National Catholic Church announces the program for the 2025 Scholar’s Conference.

The Conference will be held on Saturday, April 26th both in-person and via Zoom. To register please call the Rev. Dr. Jim Ploskonka at 570.466.4069 or contact him by E-mail.

Program Session For 2025

  • Christ and the Coal Mine: Francis Hodur and the Labor Movement, 1897-1905 by Gavin Moulton, Ph.D. candidate in History at the University of Notre Dame. He is a cultural historian with research and teaching interests in religion, migration, and architecture, especially Slavic diasporas in the industrial United States. Gavin holds an M.A in History from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture and Near Eastern Languages with a secondary field in Italian from Harvard University.
  • History of a Canadian Parish by Father Ted Zawistowski. Father Theodore L. Zawistowski, born in Philadelphia, is a respected theologian, social psychologist, and educator with a distinguished career in religious and academic circles. He earned degrees from Savonarola Theological Seminary, Southeastern Massachusetts University (B.A.), the University of Connecticut (M.A.), and Marywood College (M.A.). He served as pastor of Blessed Virgin Church in Fall River, MA, and later as editor of Straz. He also taught at Savonarola Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania State University, and Marywood College. Recognized for his contributions, he has received multiple grants, scholarships, and awards from religious, academic, and cultural institutions, including the Bishop F. Hodur Order and the Kosciusko Foundation’s Medal of Recognition.
  • “Struggles and Service: The Polish National Catholic Church in Poland and the Ministry of Bishop Józef Padewski (1930–1951)” by Father Damian Heratym, graduate of the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw, Master of Theology, Ph. D. candidate of ChAT.
  • The 1700th Anniversary Of The First Ecumenical Council Of Nicaea: Reflections From The 2025 Union of Scranton Theological Conference, Mainz, Germany by Most Reverend Mikovsky Ph.D. and Very Reverend Robert M. Nemkovich Jr. The The Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, Ph.D., is the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church. He previously served as Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese. Ordained to the priesthood after theological formation, he has held various pastoral and episcopal roles. Bishop Mikovsky holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, bringing academic depth to his leadership. He represents the PNCC in national and international ecumenical and theological engagements. Very Reverend Robert M. Nemkovich Jr. is the Ecumenical Officer of the Polish National Catholic Church. He serves in various capacities within the church and is pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Fall River, MA and Holy Cross Parish in Central Falls, RI. He is deeply involved in outreach and ministry work in his communities.
  • A Retrospective View Of The Innovations In Organization, Liturgy, Theology, And Culture Of The Polish National Catholic Church 125 Years, A Round Table Discussion, Moderator Rev. Jim Ploskonka, Ph.D. Reverend Jim Ploskonka received his Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky. He previously completed academic studies at Boston University, Mansfield University, Harvard University, and the New England Conservatory. He currently serves as a visiting priest at All Saints Parish in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Reverend Ploskonka brings a diverse background in higher education, music, theology, and pastoral ministry to his work, reflecting a deep commitment to both academic excellence and spiritual leadership.
Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Lent 2025

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

In last week’s reflection we concluded by praying that our Lenten disciplines strengthen us for the work we must do in the chaos, bringing light to overcome darkness.

This week God’s set of images call us to the charge of overcoming barrenness.

Jesus begins by issuing a set of very stark warnings, and the warning slightly hidden in the parable of the fig tree.

These kinds of warnings concerning consequences are the subject of vast theological and philosophical dances. We might regularly hear pastors saying – Well, Jesus didn’t really mean that, He was actually saying…

People tend to shy away from the idea of consequences, from the idea that they have to lie in the bed they made, that we can set aside God’s justice and take His mercy for granted. It is the very reason the word sin and the concept of hell are rarely if ever brought up – especially in churches.

In Jesus’ parable, the owner of the fig grove is God. He arrives expecting results and when He finds the tree that produces nothing, He orders it cut down – literally cut off from life.

The picture of barrenness is a stark one. Today’s image of the barren fig tree is not the only occasion for Jesus addressing a tree’s failure to produce. In Mark, Chapter 11 we see Jesus cursing a fig tree for failing to bear fruit even though it was out-of-season.

God expects us to bear fruit and to do so both in and out of season, to always be at the top of our game, in the action.

The other message we receive today is the assurance of help in the process. The owner, God, has waited for fruit for three years. He agrees to wait yet another year. The gardener, Jesus, will provide the tree with His grace by tending it, cultivating it, and fertilizing it. But there too we must take care not to take that grace and time for granted. Jesus’ tending, cultivation, and fertilization must be taken into ourselves so we may reach the result He wants.

The image of barrenness and death is juxtaposed with God’s image of life and fruitfulness. Which image we reflect is up to us.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 2nd Sunday in Lent 2025

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

Last week we encountered the tremendous set of images where we saw with the eyes of our heart the fasting Jesus, tired and hungry in the dessert. There He was put to the test by Satan. We saw the rocks – would they be turned to bread, the mountain top with a supernatural view of all the kingdoms of the world, and the parapet of the Temple high above Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Today, the eyes of our heart are taken to another mountaintop, Mount Tabor, where Jesus is Transfigured, appearing in all His glory, and standing between Moses and Elijah. The Patriarchs and Prophets give testimony to God’s Son come among us.

The three Apostles overwhelmed seek to react. We might have the same thoughts they did – what can we do and how will we do it.

Wait, let’s build three dwellings right here, then we can stay here with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Indeed, it is good that we are here. I will leave everything else behind just to remain.

The linchpin in the Gospel is the statement: they spoke of his exodus. Jesus’ path is made very clear. He is going to Jerusalem where He will be arrested, tortured, and killed, and on the third day rise.

The apostles wanted none of that bad stuff. How much better to stay on this mountain then to descend into the coming chaos.

Brothers and sisters, in this place, in this church, we ascend the mountain, and we commune with Christ Jesus. We experience His glory and are safe from the chaos out there. How lovely it would be, and I often picture this, to remain here, to rest here, to be in the Lord’s presence continually. Lovely yes, but not God’s will for us.

St. Paul, as he always does, makes it real for us. We must go out into the chaos filled with the grace we have received here and be those who thus conduct themselves according to the model [we] have in Jesus and His Apostles.

Through our Lenten disciplines let us strengthen ourselves for the work we must do in the chaos, bringing light to overcome darkness.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 1st Sunday in Lent 2025

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

This past Wednesday we entered the Great Lent. I pray that the Pre-Lenten season has prepared each of you for this journey we are now on together.

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

We see a tremendous set of images in today’s Gospel. Jesus, having fasted for forty days and nights is put to the test by Satan. You see, all Jesus must do is give in just a little to gain bread for His hunger, power in the world, and ultimately provide a show for Satan by throwing Himself off the parapet of the Temple.

In resisting Satan, Jesus quotes Scriptures, “One does not live on bread alone.” and “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.”

In the third temptation, Satan quotes back two consecutive verses of Psalm 91, verses 11 and 12. In resisting Satan, Jesus recalls the next verse of that Psalm, verse 13: ‘You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.’ By resisting, by not giving in just a little, Jesus is victorious over Satan’s temptations. As the Gospel tells us, Satan will wait for another day.

Temptation is very real, and it gets redoubled during this holy season of the Great Lent. 

Think of the many small compromises we may be tempted to make. Consider still more how we might use Holy Scripture to justify our compromises and forego our disciplines.

Lent calls us to an enhanced level of care in our lives.

In our first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses speaks about the obligation of the Israelites to worship, to bring the first fruits of the soil, recognizing that they were given to them by the Lord, and to literally recite out loud the history of salvation. This wasn’t a mere exercise. It kept before the people of Israel the true center of their lives – God and His saving power.

The power of evil in this world calls us to forget God, to give in, to backslide, justify, and place God on the back back back burner – out of sight.

This Great Lent calls us to overcome all that. We are, like Jesus, to resist and persevere. Ultimately, Psalm 91:14 gives us assurance. If we cling to God, if we resist giving in just a little, we will be delivered, we will be set on high with Jesus.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for Ash Wednesday 2025

“Jesus said to his disciples:
When you give alms…
When you pray…
When you fast…”

As I have mentioned over the past several Pre-Lenten weeks, God speaks to us in images. We see Jesus setting out very clear pictures as to what good and worthy almsgiving, prayer, and fasting look like.

It is interesting that society at Jesus’ time and to our day see these virtuous activities as difficult, a chore, or as perhaps a way to earn cheap kudos from others. They and we tend to miss the point of these exercises.

Certainly almsgiving, prayer, and fasting work against the worst of sins. Almsgiving fights against our tendency to greed. The habit of prayer – having conversations with God whether in formal or informal words – brings the grace to resist pride, envy, and wrath. Fasting trains us for, and is a direct counter, in the fight against gluttony, lust, and laziness. Those are practical remedies. But consider, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting more importantly as an intimate experience of God being with us as we work to become more like Him.

Jesus, in telling us to go into our rooms to pray and in His other directives concerning fasting and charity sets a picture of a place where we and God commune and work together in the fight against sin. Jesus is telling us that these practices are a real occasion for joy – because in them we work toward victory.

There is a beautiful Orthodox Hymn sung at this time of the year: “Open To Me The Doors Of Repentance” It is short, and the lyrics as follows:

Open to me the doors of repentance O Lifegiver; for my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy Holy Temple, bearing the temple of my body all defiled. But in Thy Compassion purify me by the loving kindness of Thy Mercy. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lead me on the paths of Salvation O Mother of God, for I have covered my soul in shameful sins and have wasted my life in lazy acts. But by your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity. Have mercy on me O God according to Thy Great Mercy and according to the multitude of Thy Compassions blot out my transgressions. When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretched I am, I tremble at the fearful day of Judgement, but trusting in Thy loving kindness, like David I cry to Thee. Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me O God, Have mercy on me O God according to Thy great Mercy.

The picture drawn here is of one who seeks God, who is self-aware of their failings, and the true darkness those failings entail. It shows that one approaching the Temple of God – the Holy Church – and with the help of our Blessed Mother’s intercession placing their full reliance on God’s mercy.

As we begin this journey let us rely on our true Lifegiver. As we take these ashes, a sign of where we are right now, let us rely on Him Whom the hymn calls the Lifegiver for that is Who our God is. We pray that He open to us the Doors of Repentance to us so that with the help of His mercy we receive the full and joy-filled benefits from our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting this Lent and arrive at Easter reflecting the image of what God has called us to be – no longer ash, but light.

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