Tri-State Tales Tinged by Patis

Another blessing that Consie and I always am grateful about is the Our Lady of Mercy Parish.

Where to begin to describe the experience of OLM?

• Is is the Music Ministry? Suffice to say this is not the first time that I have been spurred to write by their voices and music, and I daresay, not the last.
• Or maybe the Sacrament of Baptism, done in OLM in such a way that optimism really shines through, despite what the world tries to do mitigate it.
• The spiritual fire burning strongly in the congregation, making the Eucharist such a meaningful and relevant high point in the week-in, week-out lives of our individual families?

So many things we appreciate about OLM, not one blog entry is enough to cover them all.

But I certainly will try to do that one for today.

Father Jack today gave such a brilliant, insightful homily today on the question that I have grappled with ever since I had the ability for critical and rational thought:

Is there no salvation for anyone else but Catholics?

I come from a culture that is strongly set, in what I now have been told, as the Pre-Vatican II teachings. What this has done is that it has put into place a way of thinking that troubles me.

Otherwise pleasant, dear relatives of mine have said "  the only good (non-Christian religion), is a dead (non-Christian religion)".

A mentor of mine that I hold dear has said of my questions regarding the unchecked, heavy-handed edicts of religious authorities; to paraphrase: " Take it or leave it. "

And many other situations that escape me at this time.

But Father Jack distilled and expressed so clearly today on how to reconcile the conflicting (at first glance) readings on whether Salvation is Exclusive to Catholics vs. all of humanity.

He focused on the part that said  : " The Word was made flesh … "

And he made the parish realize it did not say:

" … was made Jewish … "

or " … was made Presbyterian … "

or " was made Catholic… "

Just … " The Word was made flesh … "

He related , as far as I understood him, that Christ was a gift to all of man. To all that is of  "flesh". And with that, twenty eight years of my uncertainties, of my questions regarding my perceived hubris and arrogance of my religion/faith and how that clashed with what I thought the very essence of Catholicism to be … was clarified and renewed once again.

All the other ministries are such a big part of that is what makes OLM so special to me and our family. But for me personally, it is the always thoughtful, mind provoking and ultimately enriching homilies that Father Jack, Father Marty and Father Donato give, that makes it what it is.

A light for my own family, in the middle of a sea of material concerns and evils of the world, guiding us to what is true, what is fair, and what is just.

To what His Will is.

My family thanks you all.

One flaw I have always not liked about myself is the fear that I have of the new.

I worry and fret about how I do not know/understand/comprehend/be skilled enough on unknowns that I end up not doing it altogether. Driving, cooking, watching my health, heck even fixing broken friendships; all these things if are too much of a variable for me, I would shun it away, or put it off, and pretend it was not that important to begin with. This has caused me life-altering, albeit thankfully non-catastrophic effects on my life.

God blessed me with all the talent, skills, and abilities I need to fulfill His Will, yet I was not making the most of it. Dereliction of duty, if you will. But this is why I deem Consie as my greatest asset.

She has a quality of inner strength and self-confidence that is such a radiant part of her person. She encourages me to do things I would never have done on my own. Just this past week,see the things that I have done that I thought I never would do.

• I can now actually drive an automobile. Yes, my California based buddies, that is not a typo.
• I prepared, grilled and served hamburgers for lunch today. This is significant if one remembers my unique ability to cook so bad that I saw first hand that if one abandons boiling water long enough, smoke can come from the metal pot. I am lucky the state of New Jersey still allows me anywhere near a kitchen.
• I actually studied and am able to do, by myself, a Double Windsor Tie Knot. Which was caused by  …
• I got my first suit! Oh my, I am turning to an adult, I daresay. The tie was motivated by the suit, and considering that I have repeatedly sworn that I shall wear a tie on two more times from now on; my wedding, and my funeral. Darn it how was supposed to know I can carry a suit like that?
• Lose the sandbag of adipose around me I have been lugging around since … I don’t know ? 1996? And be in better fitness and conditioning than I have ever been in my entire life.

Consie has always said to me: " See what happens when you don’t give in the the fear? "

To which I say: " See how far I have come since the you, my God-given-gift, came into my life?"