BEARING FRUIT

In Ezekiel, The imagery put forth is at once beautiful and challenging to our faith. God emphasizes once again that He would take the smallest, most insignificant sprout from a great tree and raise it up to unprecedented heights. This will be placed on a high mountain for Israel. And from it will come fruit. Here we have a vision of Jesus Christ. Israel signifies all of us. We are the birds and the trees. Christ is the greatest of them all and his shadow will cover the entire earth. He will offer comfort, solace, and instruction. 

Through our own Salvation Story we recognize this. With Jesus Christ, all is opposite. The large tree dies. A small tree becomes much stronger. The weak are lifted up. All people are important.

   When we read Sacred Scripture, we must realize that everything leads to Jesus Christ. Our confidence is build with Jesus Christ at the top of mountain. It is the desire of God to make this so. With Jesus Christ, all is opposite. The large tree dies. A small tree becomes much stronger. The weak become strong. All people are important. This is the Christian theme and the road to salvation. Christ calls us in our weakened, sinful state and it is from there that he molds us into a new being. We are a constant work in progress that will never be complete until that fateful day when we are finally taken from this earth and are completely renewed in Jesus Christ.

When we find Christ and respond to his call for us to love him, it is a natural reaction to look at everything in a different way. This includes judging our own actions and the actions of others through a paradigm of expectation that, in the end, no one can ever live up to. We are corrupt by our very nature and struggle with our humanity every day. This struggle is not unique with each individual but it is a shared struggle with successes and failures which will encompass our entire lives. The failures must be recognized as much as the successes but with the intent to improve on them and shape them into perfection; a perfection that will not be achieved in this lifetime. It is about the journey and where we are going. From failures come wisdom and understanding that cannot be achieved any other way. We all must look towards the mountaintop for guidance because that is why it is there. If we were perfect or had that capability to make ourselves perfect then there would be no need to look to the epoch of our faith for guidance. We are not Christ and we are far from Christ-like even though there might be those who think differently. They are called hypocrites.

When we see the light on the mountain, we want to climb it. As Christians, we want to go with the Lord. It is a battle between body and soul. He is our father. Our hearts belong to Him. It is our reality.  Our soul longs to be one with our creator as Paul mentions in the reading today: 

“Yet we are courageous,
and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
Therefore, we aspire to please him,
whether we are at home or away.”

Yet we are here amidst His creation. We are asked to enjoy it in all of its wonder and beauty but with the realization that there is more to our existence than this life alone. If we don’t, we risk the danger becoming lost while trying to climb the mountain. This must be our constant theme and constant understanding of our faith.

When we remain diligent we can find ourselves becoming stronger in our own formation. Through prayer and an active faith-life we are capable of bearing our own fruit; providing shelter and nourishment for those around us. We become exemplars of Christ; providing solace, comfort, and instruction for others who are climbing that mountain beside us. Together we achieve insurmountable greatness through our Creator and Lord. 

DISCIPLINE

A friend of mine handed me a book telling me that it would be a good book for someone within the Concord Community to read. Being in between books myself, I decided to give it a chance. Seventeen pages into it, a simple quote from the Bible stood out. It was from Timothy (4:7):

“Train yourself for devotion.”

I thought: “What a powerful statement.” It serves as a warning and words of encouragement. Paul then went on to compare the benefits of spiritual training and physical training. Each has a singular purpose: one to improve the performance of the physical body and one to improve the performance of the spiritual body in relation to God. Each can take a lot of dedication and hard work. With focus and endurance, one can witness the betterment in these areas. Regarding the physical training: the body will improve and the outcome is self-evident both in appearance and capability. In the spiritual sense, other things will happen.

The purpose here is to write about Spiritual Training. With it, our relationship with God will improve and the understanding of our faith will deepen. How are we to know our faith if we do not practice it? Familiarity comes with repetition. Knowledge deepens when we seek it. Wisdom is only revealed to those who strive for it (“For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them”-Wis 4:14).

Training is not always easy. It is very hard to enjoy it, yet as improvements are revealed throught it, so will appreciation and dedication. Think about this: Are we the same as when we first came back to the Church? I would have to say obviously not. This in itself is because of training. We saw the improvements in ourselves as we committed ourselves more and more to knowing God. The challenge now is not to be satisfied with the small betterment while ignoring what we can truly gain. The book gave a perfect example:

“Jascha Heifit, the greatest violinist of this century, began playing the violin at the age of three and early began to practice four hours a day until his death at the age of 75-when he had long been the greatest in the world-some 102,000 hours of practice.”

WOW! So, with that example, we must reflect on what could we all accomplish if we just listen to what God wants us to do: walk with Jesus, live our lives according to His teachings, and learn to understand about our faith. Knowledge comes through seeking, understanding through learning, and finally Wisdom through a full awareness of each. From the small amount we each do, we have already witnessed tremendous results. So, why not more?

An inspirational story of a man who serves his community

3rd Sunday of Lent 2012

 My Brothers in Christ,

This weeks Gospel Reading is the only time where Jesus is seen losing His temper. He is visibly upset and drives the merchants out of the Temple using a whip, overturns tables, and berates all who are present. Why was this situation different? Why with all the wrongs in the world and situations that Jesus interacted with within His ministry was this circumstance so different that he actually got physical? There is a messsage here in His actions. He obviously wanted to get our attention and sometimes actions do speak louder than words. It is like Jesus has grabbed our face with His hands and put His face two inches from ours. He is trying to tell us something.

One of the biggest feasts on the Jewish Calander is the Feast of Passover. In the time of Jesus, Jews from all over the world would come to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrafices to God and fufill their religeous obligations. What was once a very solemn event had turned into a money-making opportunity. The Jewish Community had lost their focus and the true meaning of the ritual was lost. The temple was becoming a center of commerce. Its true purpose was blurred. What was once a testament to their faith had become a cultural center. Jesus was sending a clear message: “You have lost your focus!”

Today, Jesus is sending that message to us in the form of a warning: “Don’t lose your focus!” We have just passed the Third Sunday of Lent and our journey has just barely begun; yet with the lures of society and the lures of sin it is very easy to forget why we are here. It is very easy to forget our religeous obligations. We need to keep ourselves empty of everything except for Jesus. It must be the central aspect of this season as we journey with Him carrying our own crosses to Calvary. It is so easy at this point to throw down our cross and abandon the journey. That is what temptation is all about: we are here because we want to be here. We have responded to Jesus’ call for us to love Him. Yet, we can always ignore Him instead of confronting our own pain, sin, and short-comings. We can always forget that we are part of something far bigger than ourselves. We do not need to help our brothers and sisters and treat others as we expect to be treated: with love and compassion.

It is so easy to take the road that offers no challenges and lowers expectations. Christian Life is not easy. It is arguably the hardest life that one can choose to live; but the rewards our endless. We become one with our God and that relationship becomes so intimate and personal like no other realtionship we can ever comprehend having. Let the Holy Spirit move you and let Jesus love you. There is no better feeling than being moved by the Spirit and knowing that Jesus is with you always.

“DON’T LOSE YOUR FOCUS.”

DEACON TOM

2nd Sunday of Lent 2012

My Brothers in Christ,

 Through the Transfiguration, Jesus reveals himself to Peter, James, and John  on a mountain in all of His glory. From that point on, there is no doubt as to who He is: the Son of God. His kingship is also solitified by the presence of Moses, Elijah, and God himself.

It is important to understand why Peter, James, and John were there and no one else. It is also important to understand why Elijah and Moses were there. Peter, James, and John were the key disciples of Jesus’ “Inner Circle” of 12. After Jesus left this earth, it was Peter, James, and John who were instrumental to spreading His message of everlasting life and salvation. Peter was “The Rock” from which the Church was built upon, James brought the Faith to Spain and evangelized throughout Jerusalem. He and his brother John were known for their fiery tempers and passion for the Faith. In the end, this caused him to be the first Apostle to be martyred. John, the Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the only one who did not suffer matyrdom. He lived well into the next century until the age of 94. He was central to the founding of the Early Church at the end of the Apostolic Age. Saint Polycarp, one of the most important Bishops in the Early Church, was a disciple of John.

The signifigance of Moses and Elijah being present with Jesus in the center is an indication that Jesus is indeed the Son of God: Elijah represents all of the prophets whose messages point to Jesus’ coming and Moses represents the Law of God. Then there is God Himself reveiling Jesus as His Son.

During this Lenten Season we all can relate to the Transfiguration. As Jesus and the three climbed a mountain to its peak, we are climbing our own mountains to reach a greater glory through our own suffering and struggles. To get to the peak and to the Easter Glory that waits us, we must first challenge ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually to achieve our own Transfiguration that awaits us. Jesus is at work in all of us. We need to recognize this and let Him influence our lives. The more we ajoin ourselves to the Suffering Christ during this season the more we will understand our relationship with Christ.

There is a special kind of Grace that can only be experienced through suffering and pain. All of us here are in a unique poisition to experience it. All of us here have had something taken away from us and have experieinced a crisis in our lives that have brought us to this point. The challenge now is to let it affect us in a positive manner and to prevent it from destroying us. Through this Lenten Season we will then be able to experience our own Transfiguration and become closer to Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Tom

Lenten Message to the Prisoners at Concord MCI

My Brothers and Sisters,

We have reached the First Sunday of Lent. Our journey together is still very fresh and very new. We haven't fully gotten to know each other but, in many ways, we are old friends. You see, there is an immediate trust between us because we are truly Brothers and Sisters through Our Lord Jesus Christ; and with that, we need to open our hearts to each other and be completely honest. That is what Jesus wants us to do.

The scripture Readings this past Sunday deal a lot with trust. In the First Reading, God renewed the world with water. Her cleansed it of its evil and brought forth a new creation. Today, the Church uses this imagery to explain our own baptism and relationship with God. God washes away our sins and cleanses our soul when we are baptized and we are then orientated towards God. As we progress through our life, we find ourselves sinning and making mistakes just as children will always do, for we are indeed Children of God. But God still gives us that opportunity to say that we are sorry; then, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are washed away clean again.

God further tells us today that he will never cleanse the world physically again with water. Instead, God spiritually cleanses us through baptism and keeps us clean through Reconciliation: from no hope to hope. We can always make our life new just as the Great Flood did the same to the world. The Covenant has been made, evil was punished, and we have an opportunity for salvation.

Peter mentioned this also: linking the great Flood to baptism. Water cleanses us and lifts us higher to God much the same way the arc was lifted by the floodwater. Remember, through baptism and the cleansing water of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we remain His forever. We will always be tempted to sin; that is our nature. But Jesus understands this. In His human nature Jesus was tempted also. He let this happen so as to serve as an example to us all: we all are tempted but through faith and love in Jesus Christ we can overcome these things.

Know that Jesus is with you this entire way and that I am with you always.

As I mentioned before, we all have lifted our crosses this Lenten Season and have begun walking together towards Calvary. When you get tired, talk to one another. When you grow weak, ask for help.

Remember, we all are in this together.

Deacon Tom

Season of Lent 2012

My Brothers in Christ,

With Ash Wednesday, we have entered the Season of Lent. This is a very important time in the Church and should be a very important time in all of your lives. This is a time where we should all realize that we are sinners and that we all are human. With that, our lives are hopeless and lost without Our Lord Jesus Christ. We come forward to receive the ashes on our foreheads to remind us that we are sinners and that our time on this earth is limited. We all have been born, we all have sinned, and we all are going to face the same end: death. We are then presented with a choice: Do we live our lives with Jesus and his meassage of forgiveness and salvation or do we turn our backs on Him and face the consenquinces of a death without forgiveness and eternal life? It cannot be made planer than this: Do we walk with Jesus or without Jesus?

During this Season of Lent, we are encouraged to focus on the Human Jesus Christ; the Jesus Christ who suffered and died for our sins. This same Jesus is the one took up his cross for us and journeyed towards Calvary for us because of our sinful nature. As we try to picture this event, we must also reflect on our own sins and the struggles we encounter in our own lives. Jesus truly shares in these struggles and the pain that they bring. We are never alone in this life: JESUS IS WITH US THE WHOLE WAY. Lent serves as areminder of this. To truly experience our faith we must reflect on this for the entire season of Lent. Through this exercise we will become closer to Jesus and our faith. There is an exchange of feeling and love: we feel Jesus’ pain and torment during his crucifixtion and he feels ours as we journey through this life. No one is without hardship, pain, and suffering; NOT EVEN JESUS.

In the end, we form a bond with Jesus because of this shared experience. Jesus knows that this life is hard. Jesus knows that we all suffer on one level or another. Yes, we all sin. No one does not sin. The first person who tells you otherwise or judges your is a hypocrite. Jesus says this himself. The only way to overcome our sinful nature is to come forward, admit our sin, and beg Jesus for forgiveness. If we do this, if we beg for forgiveness, it will be given. Jesus has never turned away anybody who has asked for forgivesness.

Lent is the season of new beginnings and forgiveness. It is a time when we confront ourselves, admit we have done wrong, then throw our sins away in the garnage and being anew.  I invite you all to do this. Join me in prayer, celebration, and redemption and Brothers and Sisters through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As the ashes are placed on your forehead, remember, YOUR JOURNEY BEINGS TODAY!!!!!

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Tom.

Newsletter - Jan 2012

   

 My Brothers in Christ,

 I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas and a safe New Year. My heart goes out to all of those who have found themselves confronted with obstacles, trials, and tribulations. As you all know, I have had my share pertaining to the safety and security of my daughter but remember this: Christ does indeed hear our prayers and grants them. We as Children of God should never forget this. As long as we maintain our faith and hand over everything to Christ, he will be there to guide us, strengthen us, and ultimately save us. Through adversity comes Grace, Love, and Salvation. For everything bad that comes our way, Christ will be there to stand with us and help us when necessary.

I would like to share with you some wonderful news that I have been waiting on for months now. The position I have been waiting for as full-time chaplain at Concord MCI has been funded and I start February 13^th. This completes my transition to Prison Ministry where I feel God has been calling me to. I will be retaining my position at the Nashua Street Jail also. I have been waiting for this moment since November 3^rd and now it has come to fruitation. Please pray for me as I go forward to build up the Kingdom of God here on this earth. Those that are to be served are truly the Lost Sheep.

It must be remembered that we are all Children of God and must not be judged except for that which Christ himself has said: “Stop judging that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” In the end, realize that we are all Children of God and come to Christ as sinners seeking redemption. And how can we ask for redemption if we do not offer forgiveness?

Bless you all and thank you for what you do.

Deacon Tom

WHY I LOVE TIM TEBOW

There has been a lot of criticism and accolades for Tim Tebow, much of it stemming from his unorthodox playing style and because of the way he professes his faith so openly. There appears to be no grey area regarding him and, as the Denver Broncos trudge forward in the playoffs, football fans appear to be lining up on both sides.

One observation I do have is why is there such a fuss about his religion and the way he has decided to practice it. He is a devout Christian, pro-life, and a professed virgin. He dedicates a large amount of his time to charity and regularly invites those less fortunate than himself to participate in the limelight with him. He has taken the opportunity that comes with his popularity to help the needy and to evangelize the faith (which we have all been commissioned to do by Christ). Yet, this makes a lot of people uncomfortable and downright angry. Tim Tebow has become a lighting rod for those who wish that he “would shut up and play.” Those against him try in vain to point out that he is not a “typical NFL quarterback” and that he is lacking in many areas. When the Denver Broncos have lost, the same individuals announce that “Tebow Time has ended.” Yet, Tim Tebow continues forward smiling, encouraging his team and giving thanks to God for the opportunity to utilize his talents; not for winning a football game.

When I started following Tim Tebow I couldn’t help but draw a comparison to other NFL Players and the lack of criticism and negative press they received:

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger: accused THREE TIMES FOR RAPE (http://www.politicolnews.com/roethlisberger-3rd-rape/)

Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis: convicted of murder

Chicago Bears Sam Hurd: indicted on possession of cocaine and possible drug trafficking.

In 2011 alone, there were over 82 NFL and ex-NFL players charged with a variety of crimes from rape, stabblings, to domestic violence. This has been a focus of the current NFL Comissioner: to “Clean up the NFL” and change its image. Yet, here we are: a devote Christian is being criticized for proclaiming his love for Jesus and basically putting his money where his mouth is.

The challenge is this: who would we rather have for a roll model and a spokesperson: Ben Roethisberger or Tim Tebow?

Better yet, which one would we rather mentor our sons or bring our daughters on a date?

Pastoral Letter for January 4 2012

My Brothers and  Sisters in Christ,

I spoke to many of you and promised you this pastoral letter as an update regarding my own Spiritual Journey and what is happening in my life. I am fully immersed in my Prison Ministry and it has taken on so many new dimensions. I am still preparing to accept the position at Concord MCI with much anticipation. The only piece that needs to fall into place now is the funding for the position that takes awhile because of the financial situation of the state (2 to three months). In the interim, my hours have increased at the Nashua Street Jail and I truly believe this is where God wants me to be.

The Christmas Season has slowed everything down to a crawl, especially regarding my new Home Parish Assignment, but I feel that in the next few weeks more solid information will be forthcoming. Truthfully, I am in now hurry. I have taken this opportunity to acquire a new spiritual director and to concentrate on my family where I feel I have taken for granted for some time now.

I do have a wonderful story that I do want to share with you and one that really hits close to home. It has really impacted my prison ministry, my relationship with my family, and my faith. It is necessary to tell it in the third person but, at the same time, those closest to me will not find it hard to understand who am I am talking about:

It is a story about a 16 year old girl named Renee. The youngest of six children, she has always been known as a “fighter” and one who isn't afraid to speak out or step up to get what she wants. She has always had a very charismatic and outgoing personality which has attracted people to her. She has always been very popular and outgoing. She has never been lacking in the “friends department” and has been known to be active, especially in sports. At a younger age, she could be classified as a “Tom Boy” and has broken many of the sex barriers with sports including competing in boys soccer and baseball; keeping up and surpassing the stronger sex.

About three years ago, something happened to Renee which was horrifying to any parent. During an innocent snowball fight between a group of twelve kids, a random snowball hit a house. The owner, a 48 year old man charged out of the house and focused on the first person he saw: Renee. He then proceeded to assault this girl by punching her, strangling her, and dragging her across the ground. The event was so shocking that traffic stopped and people got out of their cars to implore this man to stop. Finally, he did. Charges were filed but the damage to the girl was done. She described that this was the only time in her short life that she was truly in fear of dying.

The next day, the man's children seeking revenge for the charges files, sought assistance from a 19 year old man to attack Renee with a police baton and another assault ensued.

This initiated three years of a personal hell for Renee and her parents. There was a personality change that was baffling. “Daddy's Little Peanut”  became someone no one knew anymore. She became a fighter where she didn't start a confrontation but finished it. Someone would call her a name and she would return a barrage of insults and derogatory insults which would make a drunken sailor blush. If someone would push her, she would unleash a barrage of physical retaliation that would cause someone to think she was a professional boxer. Everything would be immediately brought to the extreme. There was also a rejection of established institutions such as school, church, and authority in general.

Soon, Renee established a reputation with the school system and the police department. They viewed here in a very negative manner. At the same time, there were glimmers of hope which masked the true diagnosis of what was happening. In the eighth grade, Renee discovered basketball and a mentor who was the coach. She excelled in the sport where she was being recruited early on by high-school coaches throughout the city where she lived. Yet, when she was off the basketball court, trouble always ensued. There appeared to be a tug o' war between doing what was right and her instincts for survival and being safe.

An incident happened over the summer before high school where her and her brother were accused of throwing rocks at a police car, which they did not. Her brother, an honor roll student, was assaulted by a police office along with Renee. This caused a situation where the father had to meet with the Deputy Chief of Police and possibly bring forward a civil suite. Changes against the children were dropped but Renee continued her behavior of acting out and fighting.

The High School Years brought about a series of fights and situation that, with hindsight, could be linked to that initial assault by the 48 year old and the actions of the police department. It became an ongoing cycle where Renee would seek the approval of adults and utterly reject authority when she felt threatened. Her parents defended her, advocated for her, and fought for her without the full understanding what she was going through.

Finally, this past Thanksgiving, everything came to a climax. On Thanksgiving Eve (Wed Night), Renee was arrested in her own home for assault and battery and held without bail in a Youth Detention Facility. Every parents' nightmare became true: their child was gone. Renee spent the next 23 days in Dorchester Massachusetts at a detention facility as she went through the system. Renee's father and mother fought to bring her home but to no avail: the intent was to hold her for 60 days.

The facility was an alternative facility which concentrated on positive reinforcement and therapy. It was here that Renee was diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). She started receiving treatment and the parents brought in an outside team to help. Renee flourished in the environment and was termed, “The best detainee that we ever had.” The juvenile court realized the situation and gave Renee the break that she needed: all charges were continued and she was to receive treatment.” Renee was home for Christmas.

An emotional moment was when a church group went into the facility as asked what the children wanted to pray about. Renee, who rejected the church for years, stood up and came forward: She said she wanted to pray to God to help her go home.

Renee is now getting the treatment that she needs and a group of adults that believe in her. She is looking for a fresh start in a new school and playing basketball again.

Another emotional moment was when the judge looked at her and said, “I do not know why I am doing this but I am continuing all charges against you. You have your fresh start. You can go home.” She immediately burst into tears and ran to her parents yelling, “I love you!”

Renee's journey to recovery has just begun. It will be a hard road forward but one that is necessary.

Prayers are definitely answered. Saint Jude, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes (the Prisoners' Saint) truly does intercede. And, above all, Our God is a Loving God.

This story sums up why God has called me to be a Prison Chaplain. There are thousands of untold stories out there such as this.

Be thankful for Christ in your lives and thank you for all of your prayers.

-Deacon Tom.