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Reflection for the Solemnity of Christ the King 2021

Ultimate Faith.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when He reached the Ancient One and was presented before Him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve Him.

We focused for months on strengthening our faith individually and collectively. Now it is time for the test. Wait, no one said there would be a test!

The fact is that the test comes each day. It comes in ways expected and unexpected. It comes amid conflict and at times of peace. The test is this: Who is in charge of my life, who is my leader, and who do I follow?

Oh, ok, that is easy — Jesus.

We think it is that easy, or at least it seems so in our minds. We want to believe that we are all for Jesus, all-in, dedicated disciples of our Lord. Let’s ask some hard test questions.

If I asked, how many of us consider ourselves patriotic citizens of the United States, I am sure most would raise their hands. As citizens, we may be, at any time, called into service, to even place our lives on the line for our country. While we might not be all too happy about the prospect, we would go and do it; it is our duty. But what about service to the Lord, to His Holy Church, the organization He established for His disciples? Would we place our lives on the line for faith in Jesus? Would we be willing to face ridicule to declare the name of our Lord and leader? Would we give up career, home, social status, financial solvency for Jesus?

Some consider themselves politically active. They are quick to throw shade and hate on opponents and rabidly support their political masters, never realizing that they are being used to promote agendas that are against their self-interest. Imagine if they threw off the shackles of political slavery and servitude and spent all that energy on promoting Christ with love and compassion for those who do not know Him. It would change the world. But Jesus would have to be their Lord and leader.

In all these cases, and so many others where our dedications and loyalties are screwed up, we need to assess and recalibrate. Is the Jesus on trial, tortured, mocked, shamed, tried, nailed to the cross my Lord and King? Is He worth my life, my all, my work and sustained effort, possible persecution, mockery, suffering and my potential martyrdom? 

The ultimate test of faith is how much I value Jesus’ kingship in my life. Who is in charge of my life, who is my leader, and who do I follow? Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.” Let is be so in each of our lives. Let us be those who belong to the truth and listen to His voice. For that is all that matters.

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Reflection for the Solemnity of All Saints 2015

beatitudes-list-right-aligned-1-

We need a
hero.

After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.”

Many of our fellow Christians get worked up over the dangers of Halloween. They see it as a glorification and perpetuation of evil. Setting aside the fact that or little Batman, Disney Princess, and movie character is a lot more interested in candy than in evil, Halloween does give us a really good lesson to reflect on as we come to church today on the Solemnity of All Saints and as we remember all our dearly departed throughout the month of November.

Part of the danger we face these days is that we think that the evil of evil isn’t real. Some romanticize evil and ignore its real dangers. A few are so paranoid of evil that they give it power over their lives – like those who try to ban Halloween altogether. Sadly too, there are those who delight in evil and immerse themselves in it. They become numb to what evil is – hatred and the power of death.

If we have watched old horror movies or have read the universe of good stories with their villains and heroes we confront the fact that these stories, based in the experience of their writers, reflect the fact that evil is real. We learn that vampires, werewolves, and mummies shouldn’t be let in the door. We know that these creatures, like evil, are deceptive and dangerous. We also knew that in the end good will prevail. Evil is overcome by great and even unlikely heroes.

So the Holy Church teaches us. First and foremost, the power of our Lord and Savior has overcome all evil. At His death, Jesus crushed Hell beneath His feet. His Precious Blood is the sure remedy that eliminates sin and death. He is on the Heavenly Throne. We, those who have preceded us in holy death, and the glorious band of saints and martyrs will be and are: “… the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

We should not diminish the evils of the world, or their real danger to us. At the same time we should have confidence that evil holds no power over us if we are in Jesus.

Our power and confidence come from the fact that we are children of God, people of the Light. We have a glorious band of heroes who we should model ourselves after – and like those great saints, let us all find in Jesus the example we are to follow, the way we are to go, and the attitudes we are to live. Then we will indeed be heroes and the blessed of God.

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Stoning of St. Stephen and small ‘t’ tradition

A great story from the Sunday Dispatch below. We honored this tradition at home when I was young. My grandmother (Busha – a Polish term of endearment for grandma) used to wake us up by throwing a few nuts at us. This story brought back those memories. In these small ‘t’ traditions we do a certain kind of catechesis that is experiental.

From the Sunday Dispatch: Stoning of St. Stephen honored in Duryea by throwing walnuts at priest

DURYEA — St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, Duryea, continued the celebration of the sacred holiday season on Friday night with a mass commemorating the feast of St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr of the church. The service included the throwing of walnuts at celebrant Father Carmen G. Bolock.

“Although this week has certainly focused on the birth of Christ,” said Bolock, “it is fitting that we should also focus on the suffering and service that define the life of Christians.”

St. Mary's Polish National Catholic Church pastor, the Rev. Carmen Bolock, gives his homily Friday night. -- Bill Tarutis for the Sunday Dispatch
St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church pastor, the Rev. Carmen Bolock, gives his homily Friday night. — Bill Tarutis for the Sunday Dispatch
Amidst beautiful Christmas décor that included carefully lighted trees, poinsettias, and of course, a nativity scene, Bolock reminded those gathered to stand firm in their faith.

He said just as St. Stephen looked up to see Jesus as he was being put to death by stoning, Christians must also “look up” when their faith is being challenged or others avoid them because of their beliefs.

He said just as Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him, so Stephen also asked God to forgive those who stoned him.

The service also included holiday hymns including “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “God is Born.”

Bolock said celebration of patron saints’ days throughout the holiday season emphasized the continuing spirituality of faith.

Church members continued their week of commemoration, remembering the feast of St. John the Evangelist on Saturday and the Solemnity of Humble Shepherds on Sunday.

“St. John was the only apostle to die of natural causes,” said Bolock, “even though those who opposed the Gospel tried to kill him by execution and poisoning.”

Bolock said the throwing of walnuts at the priest was both an opportunity to strengthen faith of those attending and to keep a time honored Eastern European tradition alive.

And, although that tradition is certainly a sacred one, Bolock also remembers one such service when he was “beaned” in the head.

“I found out later it was the organist,” he said laughing.

Calendar of Saints, Christian Witness, Poetry,

Submissions requested – poems about saints

From Dr. John Guzlowski

Dr. Mary Ann Miller, Associate Professor of English, Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ, is calling for submissions of poems for a proposed anthology of contemporary American poems that contain references to one or more Catholic saints (excluding Jesus and Mary).

All e-mail submissions must be Sent To Dr. Miller by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2012. The subject line should read: “saint poem(s)”

GUIDELINES:

  • Up to 3 poems per poet will be accepted for consideration.
  • Each poem must be no longer than 3 pages.
  • The poems should NOT be historical poems, i.e. “lives of the saints” in modern idiom, written in the voice of the saint speaking in the first person “I,” NOR should they be prayers addressing the saint in the second person “you.”
  • Personae SHOULD be contemporary voices, male and female, from a variety of social, regional, and occupational circumstances. Voices of poems already selected from traditional research are speaking within very specific contemporary dramatic contexts, such as: a mother trying to get her newborn to fall asleep at 3 a.m., a man returning to a depressed coal town in western Pennsylvania after abandoning it to live elsewhere, a Native American child experiencing the pains of assimilation in a Catholic school, an older brother concerned about the kind of marriage his younger sister might make, a burn victim’s compassion for a small child with whom he shares a hospital room, a woman holding the hand of her dying mother, a Hungarian Catholic woman whose marriage to a Jewish man causes her father’s rejection, a woman doing laundry, a family moving out of their home, a disillusioned nurse whose back goes out from lifting so many bodies, a medical doctor struggling to inform a patient of his terminal illness, a friend of a gay person who died of AIDS, a friend of a woman who attempted suicide, a patron of a food pantry who finds money on the floor.
  • Poems of humor and irony are welcome.
  • Published and unpublished poems may be submitted. If published, please include all original publication information in bibliographic format at the end of the poem.
  • Send submission as a single-file Word attachment to Dr. Miller. The first page should list the poet’s name, phone number, and e-mail contact information, a brief 4-line bio, and the titles of submitted poems. The poet’s name should appear on each poem.
  • The editor will respond by e-mail to all submissions within a month of the submission deadline.
  • The editor is in the process of finding a publisher for this anthology and, therefore, cannot guarantee its publication. She is proposing a collection of approximately 50 poems.
Calendar of Saints, Homilies, Saints and Martyrs

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 


First reading: 1 John 1:1-4
Psalm: Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12
Gospel: John 20:1-8

Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

Cut off:

Rumi was a Muslim poet, theologian, and Sufi mystic. He lived in 13th-century Persia.

Many of Rumi’s poems center on the concept of longing and desire for union with the beloved. But this is longing and desire based on being cut off from our beloved. Our trying to find, reconnect with our beloved.

Names:

Saint John is known by many names: Apostle, Evangelist, John of Patmos, the Beloved Disciple, one of the sons of Zebedee, one of the “sons of thunder,” one of the twelve, a Pillar of the Church at Jerusalem.

John is best known as the “Beloved Disciple” mentioned about 8 times in the Gospel. John was present at every important event in the life of Jesus.

That term, beloved disciple, tells us something about the connection and relationship between Jesus and John. This is a connection between two people who love each other. Being beloved is never about being cut-off, about searching to find our beloved, but about being joined in an on-going loving relationship. Being beloved is the real presence of love in our lives. John was surrounded by, filled by, and completed by the love of Jesus.

Witnesses:

John, along with Peter and James witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and of the Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:37). Peter and John were sent into the city to make preparations for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8). At the Last Supper John sat next to Jesus and leaned against Him (John 13:23, 25). John was the “other disciple” who followed Jesus after His arrest, and witnessed the mock trial before the Sanhedrin and Chief Priest (John 18:15). John was the only disciple to stand, along with Mary and the other faithful women, at the foot of the cross. Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John (John 19:25-27). After the Resurrection John ran to the tomb along with Peter, as we heard in today’s Gospel, and he was the first to understand and believe that Christ had truly risen (John 20:2-10).

Being there, being together is a key part of being joined in love. John was not apart and away, or cut off from the events in Jesus’ life. Instead, as a beloved of Jesus he was present. As a faithful disciple and apostle, in love with Jesus, he remained with Him throughout it all, good and bad, and he understood Jesus.

Long life:

John went on to live a long life with his ministry and home primarily in Ephesus where he served all of Asia Minor, guiding the Churches of that province as their bishop. John was the only apostle who was not martyred. That’s not to say that some didn’t try. Church Tradition teaches that Domitian tried to boil John in a vat of hot oil. John emerged unhurt. He was then exiled to Patmos where he wrote the Revelation. On this day we recall that event, when John was given a chalice of poisoned wine. He prayed over the cup and the poison left the wine in the form of snakes. John then drank the wine without harm.

Death and suffering are a big fear, and are often the times when we feel most isolated, most alone. When we are sick, in trouble, threatened, we can feel cut off and alone, unloved.

We see that John’s life was marked by moments of suffering. The key is that John knew he was not cut off or alone. He knew that Jesus was with him throughout it all, through loneliness, struggle, suffering, and exile.

Witness to love:

On this feast, we should focus on our connection to Jesus. Do we know that He loves us as He loved John? You and I are the beloved of Jesus. No matter our state or situation, we are never abandoned, alone, or cut off. The whole reason for Jesus’ coming was to connect us as individuals and as a community to God.

Witness to constancy:

Jesus’ love is constant. It can be hard to conceptualize that constant connection. We can find it hard to remain connected even to those we love the most. We can find it difficult to overlook the sins and breakdowns in our relationships. We can sit and wonder whether those we love really love us. St. John’s feast reminds us that there is no such thing as being cut off from God. Jesus’ coming and His relationship with John, teaches us that We are His beloved.

Share in the chalice:

John bore witness to the gospel’s message, to the overriding love of God that is at the center of our lives. Jesus told John and James “My chalice indeed you shall drink” (Matthew 20:23). When we hear those words, we might think about their share in Jesus’ suffering. Today, let us recall and remember that Jesus’ chalice, the wine that He offers, is abundant love, an on-going relationship, and the promise that we will never be cut off from Him.

As we share later in the wine we will bless, remember that we are His beloved. That little warm feeling isn’t the wine, it is the warmth and love of Jesus who loves us completely. Amen.

Art, Calendar of Saints,

Art for the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist on Pathmos, Alonso Cano, ca. 1648

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. — 1 John 1:1-3

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Art for the Feast of St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr

The Stoning of St. Stephen, Bartłomiej Strobel, ca. 1620,

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. — Acts 7:51-60

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Pet Blessings across the PNCC

Blessing of animals in honor of the Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi at a PNCC Parish near you as follows:

Saturday, October 2nd, 10:30-11:15 a.m., St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Stephenson St., Duryea, PA.

Saturday, October 2nd at 1 p.m. at St. Francis Parish, 1752 Harton Avenue, East Meadow, Long Island, NY.

Saturday, October 2nd at 2pm at St. John the Baptist Parish, 414 West Oak St., Frackville, PA.

Saturday, October 2nd, at 10am at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1040 Pearl St., Schenectady, NY. A collection of pet food and other supplies will be taken in support of local pet rescue organizations.

Contact your local Parish for more information.

Calendar of Saints, PNCC, Saints and Martyrs

Feast of St. James the Greater, Apostle

St. James the GreaterAbout that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
He killed James the brother of John with the sword — Acts 12:1-2

O Glorious Saint James, because of your fervor and generosity Jesus chose you to witness his glory on the Mount and his agony in the Garden. Obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending struggles of this life. Help us to follow Christ constantly and generously, to be victors over all our difficulties, and to receive the crown of glory in heaven. Amen.

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Annual blessing of wine

From the Toledo Blade: Resurrection PNCC plans ‘Blessing of the Wine’

Resurrection Polish National Catholic Church will hold a traditional ‘Blessing of the Wine’ service on Dec. 28.

The ceremony is an old tradition in the Catholic Church and one that the PNCC has followed for many years, according to Chris Cremean, a member of Resurrection PNCC.

People can bring their personal wine from home to be blessed, he added.

The Rev. Jaroslaw Nowak, pastor, will perform the blessing at the 12:15 p.m. service at the church, 1835 West Temperance Rd., Temperance. More Information is available by calling the church, 734-874-5052.

Irony – the blessing of wine on Temperance Road in Temperance, Michigan… 🙂

I previously wrote on this event, which takes place every December 28th on the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. My post includes the Rite used in the PNCC. For more information, contact your local PNCC Parish.

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