Prayer, Miracles and Other Light Topics

HERS:
This week's Catholic adventure and the halfway point of our Roamin' journey brought us to our regular home parish, Mother Seton Catholic Church in Germantown, MD. We attended the 5:00 pm mass on Saturday evening. One thing we always joke about with this church is that it has many last minute and late arrivals to the mass, and Saturday night was no exception. Mother Seton was established in 1974 and has the look and feel of a contemporary church. It's most notable features are the large round vessel of holy water when you first enter the church and a large stone wall behind the altar.

I want to jump right into the gospel reading for this week. In Mark's account of the gospel, Jesus performs two miracles. The first is the healing of a woman who had been hemorrhaging for years and could not find anyone who could help make her well. The second was Jesus bringing back to life of a young girl who had just died. In the first account, the hemorrhaging woman belived if she was able to touch Jesus' clothing then she would be cured. This woman had deep faith to believe something like this, and because of her faith, Jesus cured her. In the account of the young girl, her family believed that if Jesus laid his hands on her then she would live. Again, the family had deep faith and the girl came back to life. I think I may be a bit jaded at times when I hear about miracles in the bible. Yeah, the woman was healed and the dead girl came back to life...

I have to let that sink in for a moment. THE WOMAN WAS HEALED. THE DEAD GIRL CAME BACK TO LIFE. Cue Barry Manilow's lyrics... It's a miracle! A true, blue spectacle! A miracle come true! Woo!

Do you believe in miracles? When something happens that can't be supported by any scientific evidence, do you call it a miracle? If not, what do you call it? I think I believe in them. No wait, I do believe in them. I think life is a miracle. I think love is a miracle. I think healing can be a miracle. Some people will say all of these things can be explained with science, biology, etc. And that is ok, if that is what you want to believe. I choose to believe in miracles. Without miracles, there is no hope.

I want to share an experience of the week that challenged me. I was faced with some negativity that really bogged me down over the course of the week. It was after I had just asked in last week's blog, "When confronted with a choice, to serve God or to serve yourself, which do you select? Wow. Talk about timing and feeling as if I was being tested! I think I just now at this very moment decided to serve God. They say it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. After much angst and confusion, I am deciding to let it go. Wow. That does feel good! And those of you who know me well know that my letting go is something of a miracle!

Early on, a friend of mine commented about the blog and indirectly implied that because I was doing this I thought I was "holier than thou".  To this I say,

No. NO. and NO!!

I am doing this because I struggle and I needed to mix things up. Why?

Because I question the Catholic Church.
Because I question God.
Because I am the epitome of imperfection.
Because I want to learn.
Because I want to grow.
Because I have a tough time just letting things go.
Because I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me.
Because I believe in miracles!

We didn't go to our usual dinner at a restaurant this week, but instead we went to Heather and Kevin's house for dinner, games, discussion and lots of laughter. Another couple, Ann and Mark joined us. Ann and Heather played a role in my healing after foot surgery last year - Ann with Physical Therapy and Heather with Therapeutic Modalities. Both continue to heal me today with their friendship and unique perspective on things. Dinner consisted of a bevy of meats (wings, ribs and thai peanut chicken), potato salad and a garden salad. This place gets two thumbs up. We'll be back - don't worry, we'll make a reservation first!

I am praying for miracles for everyone seeking one... This week especially for K.F. and P.M.

HIS:

What is your prayer life like?  For me, this was a thought provoking question posed by this week’s celebrant, Father Louis Faust at Mother Seton Parish in Germantown, Md.  I like it when the celebrant challenges me to look inward and that is exactly what this question does.  I have been mulling this one over since mass ended last night and have the following reflections.  For those of you who know me, you know that I am somewhat reserved but that doesn’t mean that I am not prone to deep reflection.  After all, still waters run deep, right…?  The bible tells us not to "blow our trumpet” in our conversations with God.  Matthew: Chapter 6 – “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.”  That’s what prayer is, isn’t it?  A conversation with God.  I believe prayer needn’t be something formal or stuffy or fitting into what someone else’s definition of prayer is or isn’t.  Prayer is very personal and for me can be as simple as reflecting on a sunrise and being thankful for all that I have been given, including those around me.  When I look around me and see those who are less fortunate, I am truly grateful for all that has been given me.  Way back when I was in high school (South Catholic – Go Rebels!) a friend said that every time an ambulance goes by, you are supposed to say a Hail Mary for your mother.  Maybe this is a form of OCD 😊, but ever since then, I have said a prayer each time an ambulance passed with lights and siren blaring.  Perhaps this is proof that prayer works, Mom celebrated her 90^th birthday this past April.  The second theme that I gleaned from this week’s readings that caused me to reflect is, death.

We are taught in the Catholic faith that death is not an end but a beginning, our entry into eternal life.  Our Catholic faith also teaches us about purgatory or a period of atonement prior to entry into heaven.  Purgatory is defined as a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven.  Not to get too far afield on the topic, but I have always thought that our time here on earth is our purgatory.  This is our chance to cleanse ourselves and make ourselves worthy of a heavenly reward.  But I digress, let me return to a much lighter topic, death…. :-0 The most important thing I am thankful for is my lovely bride.  My first wife Mary is my everything and I cant imagine being without her.  That said, this week’s readings cause me to reflect on some of the people in my life who has lost people close to them.  Whether it be my cousins who have lost children or those in the generation that came before me who have lost spouses or even contemporaries who have lost spouses, I can only imagine the pain that they have experienced.  This week’s first reading taken from the book of Wisdom says right up front, “God did not make death nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.”  Later, the Gospel, Mark: Chapter 5, talks about Jesus bringing back to life the daughter of a synagogue official.   I believe this is the whole point.  We are brought back to life in heaven.  We don’t die, we live on and are all reunited in heaven.  I truly believe this is the nexus of faith.  I am sad for those who don’t have faith.  I ask myself, if there isn’t something else, then what is the point?

As I mentioned earlier, Roamin’ Catholics visited our home parish, Mother Seton for the first time this year.  Mother Seton, located in Germantown, Md was established in 1974.  This was one year prior to Elizabeth Ann Seton being made a saint, marking the first time an individual born in America was canonized.  This is why the church is named, Mother Seton vs. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  The church was established prior to her canonization.  The parish celebrated mass in several different locations for six years prior to moving to its current location.  The first time that we attended mass here, the church building didn’t exist.  Mass was celebrated in an activities center.  The parish has since added a new church.  The most significant event that happened at the parish took place back in 2000.  The pastor, Monsignor Thomas Wells was brutally murdered by a homeless person who broke in looking for money.  The outpouring of support for the Monsignor’s family is truly uplifting and a proof of the special life that Monsignor Wells lived.  He gave his all and it was said that every day he was a priest was his happiest day.  I read that his family has made several attempts to see the convicted murderer in prison to tell him that they forgive him.  Additionally, Monsignor Well’s nephew was ordained into the priesthood ten years after his murder.  Both are truly testaments to the legacy left by a beloved figure of the parish.

Dinner this week was not out at an area restaurant, but instead we were hosted at the home of Kevin and Heather for a gathering of friends.  It was a lovely evening of food, games and spirited discussion.  I truly look forward to the next time we are able to get together again.  Live life like you mean it.

Soulfie time...