"An Acceptable Day" - A Lenten Minute for Feb. 12

Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? - Isaiah 58:5c

Through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD tells us that merely making a personal sacrifice without showing mercy to another isn't the kind of fast that He seeks.  Self-affliction or self-abasement does nothing to improve the Body of Christ; fasting isn't penance for something we have done or failed to do but rather it is a sacrifice that brings justice to our oppressed brothers.  Reflect on the fasting you are doing or planning on doing this Lent - does it somehow improve life for the Body of Christ?

"Self-Denial" - A Lenten Minute for Feb. 11

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23

Included in the Spiritual Works of Mercy is: "Bear Wrongs Patiently".  Following Jesus is not an easy road, and we shouldn't be surprised that it often puts us at odds with those who fight the Good News that Jesus represents.  But we cannot shrink away from our responsibilities, even when we may be unfairly persecuted for our beliefs.  Let us remember that the Cross is not a grave-marker, but a ladder that leads to heaven.

"Ambassadors For Christ" - A Lenten Minute for Feb. 10 - Ash Wednesday

"Brothers and Sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - 2 Cor 5:20

An ambassador is a person who represents his or her own country while living in another.  So, as ambassadors for Christ, we belong to and represent the Kingdom of God, and not the earthly world that we are passing through.  Through the ashes with which we have been marked today, we tell others that we are Christians and we assume the responsibility to evangelize our faith to others as they look to us to learn about Christ.  Let us reflect on what it truly means to be an ambassador for Christ.

A Lenten Challenge (StVdP)

A Lenten Challenge

Reflection for St. Vincent de Paul Meeting, February 8, 2016  

Dcn. Bob Bonomi 

Lent is upon us, and the first thing we usually associate with Lent is fasting.  As a kid, I remember having to “give up” something for Lent, and it usually was candy.  Once I became a responsible adult (more-or-less) , I added alcohol and soft drinks to the list.  Of course, there’s always the ban on meat on Fridays, but fish sticks and macaroni and cheese were quickly replaced with salmon or other fancy fish meals.  The toughest fasting came when I began to give up television.

But as tough as giving up these things might be (depending on how old I was) I always knew that once Easter came I could return to the things I loved most. 

The last several years, however, the Church has emphasized a more comprehensive approach, focusing on all three three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 

First, prayer.  During Lent one is encouraged to spend time in prayer, meditation and reflection.  To aid in these endeavors, parishes often offer Lenten missions, provide Lenten prayer books, or some other type of opportunity for spiritual growth.  You might find presentations on the Stations of the Cross and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration.  All are meant to help you grow spiritually.

Second, fasting.  Fasting was the primary focus of Lent for many centuries, based upon Jesus in the desert.  Often it became an excuse to lose weight or to try and break a bad habit, but more and more it has come to help us identify with those who do not have the luxuries of life that we do, and serve as a reminder to us to think of God and His Son’s sacrifices for us.

Finally, Almsgiving.  This is more than just putting money into the Rice Bowl for Catholic Relief Services, although that is indeed a worthy cause.  But in addition to money, almsgiving includes the participation in charitable acts, especially addressing those needs defined in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  It is as important to give of ourselves as it is to give of our resources.  As Vincentians, you are intimately familiar with the first four of the Corporal Works: Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Clothe the Naked, Shelter the Homeless. But almsgiving includes the other works as well.

Although we often look at these three pillars as being independent of each other, for this Lent I’m going to suggest a change in emphasis in your approach to all three, combining them into a personal program for a lasting change in your life.   

First, instead of fasting from food or drink, I would suggest that you fast from something related to the time you spend somewhere.  It may be from television or the computer, or it may be from one of your other favorite activities. But rather than fasting 100% of your time from that activity, pick a specific time every day and give up whatever it is that you might be doing at that time.  One day it might be TV, the next day it might be gardening – or it might be sleep.  But it should be for at least an hour every day.  

Then, spend that time in prayer.  You might consider spending that time every day in front of the Blessed Sacrament or in front of a home shrine or even a religious statue or icon.  As part of your prayers, use that time to pray that God reveal to you His special mission for you.  As Vincentians, you already have a mission, but if you are not feeling joy in your calling, ask God to show you why.  You might find there is something more you can or should do.

Finally, once you begin to feel a deeper sense of calling, then as part of your almsgiving, spend your resources in pursuing that call.  It might require attending a class, or going somewhere to see something being done, or investing in reading materials – or it may be in giving directly to assist someone else to do it.

Use your Lent in discovery, not in just doing.  Then, when Lent has ended and the Easter Season of new life begins, BEGIN.  Begin to implement what you discovered about God's call to you during Lent.  Let it be the start of something new for you.  Let it be the start of something great.

Deep Waters

Deep Waters

Homily for February 7, 2016      Fifth Sunday of Ordinary - C
by Dcn. Bob Bonomi

I have a confession to make.  I’m afraid of deep water.

When I was in grade school, I couldn’t swim.  I tried to learn but never did – in fact, I had a swim instructor who got so frustrated with my not being willing to dive in that he’d throw me back in every time I’d get out of the pool.  After several times of this, I waded across to the other side of the pool and crawled out, and I never went back.  As a result, I never really learned to swim and to this day I am still deathly afraid of deep water.

But I didn’t want to be afraid and I most certainly didn’t want other kids to know that I was afraid.  So after a while, I learned to jump into the deep end of the pool with them, but I’d always jump toward the edge so that I would only have to swim a couple of strokes to reach the ladder and pull myself out. 

As I grew older, I continued to “jump into the deep end”, figuratively speaking, even though my swimming hadn’t improved much – I learned to scuba dive and snorkel, and I’d go on float trips.  But I can’t float, and have almost drowned several times. I’m still afraid of deep water, but I still do not want to be left behind.

Today’s readings are all about being called into deeper waters. 

In our first reading, Isaiah sees the depths of the glory of God.  He has this vision of the LORD sitting on a throne, surrounded by celestial beings singing praises to him.  By the way, the “Holy, Holy, Holy” that we sing during the preparation of the Eucharist comes from this passage.  He knows his limitations and failures and believes he is unworthy to be in God’s presence.  He is afraid. But God sends one of the seraphim with a burning ember and touches his lips with it, signifying that Isaiah has been cleansed of his sins and is now ready to accept God’s call.

“Here I am,” Isaiah says. “Send me.”

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, talks about how, because he persecuted the Church, he was unworthy to enter the depths of Jesus’ mission for him, but the grace of God within him carries him and makes him effective in proclaiming the Good News.

And then we have Simon Peter.  He also experiences the depths of God’s call when Jesus first asks him to help him with his mission of preaching to the people. Peter helps him with the easy task; then Jesus puts him on the spot – “Put out into deep water.”

Peter isn’t afraid of deep water; after all, he’s a fisherman.  But he’s tired and too caught up with his own problems to be able to fully embrace the glory of God before him.  He’s heard Jesus’ message and it has had enough of an impact on him to respond to Jesus’ command to continue fishing, but his heart wasn’t in it. It’s only after experiencing the miraculous catch of fish that awakens him to who really is before him – and he is afraid.

Isn’t that a little like where we are in our faith?  We come to Church and receive Jesus through the Eucharist, but we’re a little afraid to put out into the deep waters of our faith.  When we do jump, we still jump close to the edge where we can pull ourselves up the ladder to safety.

There’s a song by TobyMac called “Beyond Me”.  Don’t worry, I won’t torture you by singing it.  It opens with:
Call it a reason to retreat
I got some dreams that are bigger than me
I might be outmatched, outsized, the underdog in the fight of my life
Is it so crazy to believe?
That You gave me the stars put them out of my reach.  Called me to waters a little too deep.  Oh, I've never been so aware of my need.  You keep on making me see.  It's way beyond me. 

All three readings today point out to us that we are called, and we are called to do things that are beyond our own ability to succeed on our own.  And we’re afraid.  But we do not need to be. Jesus commands Simon Peter to “Put out into deep water” and tells him: “Do not be afraid.” 

He is telling us the same thing.  I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating:  God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the called.”

Lent starts next week.  As you ponder what it is that you should “give up” for Lent, I challenge you to give up things that will allow you to spend more time with God – quiet time to listen to Him.  He is calling you into deeper waters.  The graces that you will find there will fill your boat – your life – to excess with the Joy of Jesus.

Are you willing to jump into the deep end – knowing that Jesus is there to lift you up?  Jump in – the water’s fine.

Three Short Years - My Ordination Anniversary

Three Short Years
Homily for February 2, 2016    Feast of the Presentation of the LORD
Third Anniversary Ordination to Diaconate
by Dcn. Bob Bonomi

February 2^nd is a day well-known to most people, made famous by Punxsutawney Phil and immortalized by Bill Murray. It’s Groundhog Day, and it is one of the few dates most people remember that doesn’t have a day off from work associated with it, or which isn’t associated with a Christian anniversary of sorts.

But the date IS special to the Church, for it is also the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – the day that the infant Jesus is brought to the Temple and presented before God.  It isn’t a holy day of obligation, but it is an important feast day, and it will forever be special to me, for I celebrate the 3^rd anniversary of my ordination as a deacon. 

When I think back over the last three years, I am somewhat amazed at how fast they have gone by. It seems like only yesterday that I was presented to the Bishop at the Cathedral for ordination as a deacon.

And in thinking about it, I realized that in the same amount of time, Jesus, through His ministry, forever changed the world.  Think about that.  We tend to gloss over the amount of time Jesus spent in ministry, preparing his disciples – the Apostles – to continue his mission when he left. But it was only THREE YEARS.  The same amount of time I have been ordained.

I have to ask myself, am I being effective in my ministry?  Am I helping others to draw closer to Jesus – to God – and am I helping them to continue Jesus’ ministry when I am gone?

Yes – and no.  No, but I am not Jesus.  I don’t have that single-minded focus on the will of my Father in heaven that Jesus had.  No, because I have a tendency to veer off of the path to which I am called, and I sometimes have to stumble in the brush to find my way back.

But, yes, I do believe that I’m fulfilling God’s will for me.  With His help and His mercy, I have received glimpses of God’s work in others through me, and I continue to experience the joy of serving God even when I’m tired or distracted or have wandered a bit off course.  God draws me back, like a parent with a wayward child.  I am not Jesus, but I am a Child of God.

Think back over your own last three years.  Some of you have been with St. Vincent de Paul for more than three years; some less.  But all you have to do is look at your annual summary of service to know that together you are continuing to carry out Jesus’ mission. 

You continue to carry out Jesus’ mission of mercy every time you share His love with one of your clients.  You continue to carry out Jesus’ mission of Love whenever you show mercy to your clients – and to each other.

Three years into my ministry. Three short years.  But I don’t think God is done with me yet, nor is He done with you.  As you reflect on your own ministries, may you find the grace to continue bring mercy to others.  And may you re-present yourself tomorrow to the Lord, and may He continue to bless you in your ministry.

Are You a Lug Nut? (StVdP)

Are You a Lug Nut?

Reflection for St. Vincent de Paul Meeting, January 25, 2016

Dcn. Bob Bonomi

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

…

But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

The Word of the Lord.

Once upon a time, there was a car.  It was a pretty car, as cars go.  But one day, the various parts of the car began to argue about which of them were the most important. 

First, the engine spoke up. “I’m the most important part of this car.  I’m powerful; when people hear me roar, they take notice!”

Then the body of the car spoke up.  “I’m more important.  People look at me; my colors are bright and attractive and I’m what people notice when we go by.”

The headlights jumped in, “What about us?  You wouldn’t be able to see where you are going if it wasn’t for us, and in the dark others wouldn’t know to get out of the way unless they saw us.”

The tires chimed in, “Hey, we’re the big wheels around here.  You wouldn’t be able to anywhere without us.”

Finally, all the little lug nuts protested.  “But what about us?”

The rest of the car just laughed at the little lug nuts.  “What about you?  You’re so small and there’s a lot of you – one of you wouldn’t even be missed.”

The lugnuts were all sad and one by one they dropped off of the car.  Pretty soon the wheels fell off, and the car sat all by itself, unable to move.

The moral?  You don’t have to be a big wheel to be important, for it is the little lug nuts that hold everything together.

As Vincentians, always remember that you do not have to be pretty, or powerful, or bright, or a big wheel to help keep the world running.  You only have to be a lug nut, willing to hold on for the ride.