Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I recently encountered a young gentleman visiting our neighborhood while walking over to the Westside Market.    Our encounter occurred as I was walking through the parking lot of Dave’s Market.  He smiled and warmly greeted me with, “Good afternoon, Pastor.”  I offered a reply.  He then proceeded, “do you have a minute?”  “Of course,” was my response as we paused for conversation. The gentleman asked if I would pray for a family member experiencing serious health issues.  In addition to my promise to pray for the individual I asked if we could offer a prayer together at that moment.  He accepted the invitation and we prayed.   We prayed for his loved one, for him and the family, and for everyone who is struggling with illness.

As we were moving to part ways he thanked me and said, “thanks for sharing your belief in Jesus with me today.”  Although I hesitated for a moment, I couldn’t help but inquire, “what denomination are you?”  He answered, “Muslim.”     Almost apologetically I told this kindred soul that I naturally assumed he was Christian.  Smiling, he said, “you believe in a God who rose from the dead. If this is true, who else would I have pray for me and my family?”  As we said goodbye he wished me a “Happy Easter.”

You believe in a God who rose from the dead.  If this is true, who else would I have pray for me and my family?   Oh, what faith in the hearts who hear the Word of God!

On this most sacred day as we renew our own baptismal promises, are we as convinced as this humble Muslim man who recognizes the power of He who rose from the dead and promises the fullness of life?  Are we proclaiming and sharing what we have received?

Felix Pascha!  Beatus paschae!  Felicias Pascuas!  Al Masih Kam…Hakkah kam!” Any way you translate it, may the joy and glory of Easter help us to recognize the power of the Resurrection!

Easter blessings,

Fr. Gurnick

 

2 OCT 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

As we observe Respect Life Month 2022, we do so with an answer to a decades-old prayer when the Supreme Court bravely revisited the Roe v. Wade ruling which allowed for abortion on demand, based upon the indefensible view that the government is forbidden to protect the unborn child from the violence of abortion.   The Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization rightly returned the issue of abortion to be decided by the people’s elected representatives.  What is described as a major paradigm shift in American law, a segment of our human family are again welcome to enjoy natural protections which belong to everyone.

 

But our work to promote a culture of life does not end with this important ruling.  This is the time for recommitment to building a culture of life and civilization of authentic love.  Justice is essential to this recommitment.  However, as stated by the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, to build a world in which all are welcome requires not only justice, but compassion, healing, and above all, unconditional love.

To this end, we’re called to a Radical Solidarity where we live in a world that embraces the reality of belonging to one another.  This is essential as we move away from a Roe world where the solution is to use lethal force against one human (the baby) while abandoning another (the mother).  Radical Solidarity, therefore, embraces a culture of life that insists that a pregnant woman and her baby are fellow members of our larger human community.  It is a call to friendship and compassion rooted in the truth that we are made to love our neighbor as ourselves (Saint Pope John Paul II).

As we observe Respect Life Month, therefore, let us consider the following words of Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’:

In the face of the so-called culture of death, the family is the heart of the culture of life. In the family we first learn how to show love and respect for life; we are taught the proper use of things, order and cleanliness, respect for the local ecosystem and care for all creatures.

Perhaps when we embrace an authentic culture of life for the most defenseless among us and participate in a community of radical solidarity with one another, all of creation – including our planet – may then be restored to God’s original design.

In Christ Our Life,

Fr. Gurnick

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What are we actually praying for when we say the Lord’s Prayer?  What are the seven petitions that are raised in the prayer?

(1)The Our Father begins with the desire that the honor and glory of God is our first intention regardless of our particular circumstances or needs in that moment. Specifically, we hold God’s name as     sacred.  We are not praying to an abstract or impersonal God.  Jesus reveals God as “Abba” or “Father.”  Although some may struggle with this masculine title, it is offered by Christ and places us in relationship to the First Person of the Holy Trinity.

(2)Next, we pray for God’s Kingdom to be present and

(3) that His will be done here on earth while it is simultaneously and perfectly being fulfilled by the heavenly powers.  Let’s not waste God’s time, or our own, if we’re not sincere about invoking God’s will.  Anything contrary to it cannot be honored.

(4)We then move into specific petitions that we need.  “Our daily bread” is a petition for the nourishment required to live our daily discipleship.  Both Eucharistic bread and basic essentials are implied.  It’s not about superfluous things we may want; it’s about knocking on God’s door for the necessities in order to sustain us.

(5)The prayer continues with helping us to forgive others when they hurt us.  This may be the most demanding part of the prayer and yet there it is.  In order to be forgiven we need to forgive others.  Who said discipleship was easy?

(6) And then we pray with the acknowledgement that temptation is difficult to overcome at times.

(7)Finally, we offer a little exorcism.  From the Greek language, the prayer translates that we be “delivered from the Evil One” as opposed to the Latin-English translation’s of being delivered “from evil.”  Either way, the petition is to be protected against Satan and all who seek ruin upon our souls.  Interesting that this is the way the Lord ends the prayer.

As for the doxology, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory….”  this is not part of our Catholic liturgy because it can’t be traced back to the earliest scriptural translations.  However, we pray it later on at Mass because it does hold a special place within our tradition, tracing back to usage among some of the early Churches (as evidenced in an early Church text called the Didache).

So, next time we’re praying this prayer together or by ourselves, the Our Father captures the essentials for daily life.  This is why it is offered throughout each day, in our liturgies and in our devotions.

 

In Name of Our Father,

Fr. Gurnick