Entry Seven:

Thank you, Lord for REST!

I am always so grateful to you, O Lord. You have blessed me immensely here in Flushing, and sometimes I wonder why. Why, Lord, do you treat your servant so well? For I am undeserving of it. I continuously turn away from you in sin, and yet you extend your hand of mercy to me whenever I ask. When I am too tired to continue to work, you give me the strength to persevere. When the enemy continues to tempt me, I call upon your name, and you answer me. Lord, there is so much to be grateful for, and again this past week you continued to bless me while I was on vacation.

To be with my brother priests for a few days allowed for much-needed relaxation. It also allowed for a good amount of time to reminisce about seminary days and to laugh about how little we knew about what we were about to get ourselves into. It was incredible to think back and see how much we have grown in just a few years. This time together also gave us an opportunity to share how you, O Lord, have been working in our lives — all the times that you have blessed us and all the times that you have loved your people through us. We were all in agreement that there is absolutely nothing else we would rather be doing than serving your Church as your priests. A couple of us had careers prior to seminary, and there is absolutely nothing that compares to the fulfillment you give to us, Lord, when we allow you to do whatever you ask of us.

This time of vacation with the brothers allowed for downtime, relaxation, and some hiking! I did not realize how much rest I needed and how much you truly exert yourself when you are in the regular routine of life. This vacation was a time for rejuvenation — a time to be recreated. When you created the universe, Lord, you rested on the seventh day to show us the need for relationships and communion. For you are all-powerful, and you created the universe with a snap of your fingers, yet you rested to show us the need for recollection, staying still, and being in one another’s presence. You showed us that we, as finite beings, must have rest to reorient ourselves to you — to show us why we are working in the first place and to help us understand the goal of why we work and why certain things happened the way that they did. The time to unplug from technology and be with my brothers allowed for stillness and silence, which my soul longed for. Hiking on the trails in Gatlinburg provided me with energy because I forgot how enjoyable it is to be away from everything and be in the wilderness. Thank you, Lord, for supplying me with exactly what I needed, even though I had no idea how much I needed this rest. You continue to pour out your love in ways that I did not know were necessary for my growth and development. Remain always with me, Lord. Make your presence known to me so that I can always trust and rely upon you in whatever you ask of me. Help me to use my time more wisely so that I can be more available in serving you and your people.

Happy Fifth Sunday!

Well, this upcoming week I will be scooting out of town to squeeze in some time away before the start of Lent. I shall return for next weekend’s Masses as normal. I met a very good friend of mine, Fr. Tony, fourteen years ago during seminary, when he and I were classmates in Rome. We both shared a love of the outdoors and traveled together often while studying abroad. He is now a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is the pastor of a parish along the Ohio River.

So, I’m taking the Jeep south and will spend the week relaxing at his rectory. Undoubtedly, we will grill some celebratory steaks and toast another year in the priesthood. I’ll continue to appreciate the steady progress of the beautiful renovations unfolding at his church over the past few years. Chances are better than half that we’ll meet up with his parents or siblings for dinner in Indianapolis. And I’m certain that at some point we’ll enjoy a day of winter hiking, since the local landscape includes Hoosier National Forest. Temps down there will be rising into the 50s midweek, so we shall see. After the blast of icy cold in Michigan as of late, it will probably feel like Florida weather to me!

I always look forward to spending time with Fr. Tony, even though we only see each other once or twice a year in person. It reminds me of the promise God gives in Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity… For there the Lord has commanded his blessing, life forevermore.” God pours out his blessing in the distinct forms of friendship found in each walk of life, and mine is no different. There is a special bond shared within the brotherhood of holy orders, for which I am grateful daily. And I know for sure that this fellowship among men is one of the gifts given to me that I could never have acquired on my own plans.

We need to be reminded often, my brothers and sisters, that God has not waited 13 billion years to create us for this life just to sit back and watch us struggle and slide through it — or to act toward us as if He does not care. When you and I awake from the slumber of sin and embrace the life of grace, we are continuously transformed, Jesus says, into salt for the earth and light for the world. We see for ourselves what an incomparable blessing it is to live under the umbrella of God’s master plan instead of the shackles of our own. Importantly, other people see it, too, and they glorify the Father of heaven.

I’m blessed and encouraged, and I thank God for my vocation because I have friends like Fr. Tony in it. They are the kind of people who have chosen to generously cooperate with God’s good plan for their lives. And now they season the earth like salt seasons food and enlighten the world like sunlight fills the sky. May each of us pray for the desire and courage to more generously live our own vocation like those around us whose lives most deeply mirror this day’s gospel.

Fr. Brian

Men of the parish are invited to come and enjoy growing in their spiritual walk with others. We will meet in the Knights of Columbus Hall from 6:30—7:30 on Wednesday, February 11 for our next Cor Meeting. We always have snacks and refreshments! Invite a friend or family member. We look forward to seeing you!

See what men are saying about it in the film below:

The mission of the Cor is to refocus Catholic men on Jesus Christ and to form and strengthen them in faith and virtue through a brotherhood committed to prayer, formation and fraternity.  The goal of each Cor gathering is to provide the opportunity for men to encounter Christ, to pray together, to be formed in their faith, and to strengthen their bonds of brotherhood, preparing them for courageous leadership and the mission of Evangelization for their families and communities.

You can help save lives when you give blood. A blood drive will be held 12:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, February 25 at Good Shepherd Church in the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The event is co-sponsored by the Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus Council 8669. For more information or appointment, visit redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: Montrose) or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  Give the perfect gift.  Give Blood.

Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

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