One of the gifts we have as Catholics is the living Word of God. The first part of every mass we celebrate is called the Liturgy of the Word. The Word of course comes to us from the Bible, the inspired Word of God. The Bible is far more than a historical account of the relationship of God and His people, it is the life giving voice of God for us to hear, think about, and be informed, encouraged, and inspired by. The past few weeks I have been writing about the issue of abortion, an evil that legally protects those who wish to disregard the Fifth Commandment, You shall not kill.

As the Titanic was sinking, the band allegedly was playing the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee." Sadly that was the reality as 1,503 people died as the ship sank. After reading reports of the nominees for president in our nation and their differences, there should be a new hymn entitled "Further From God Are We." Now that it seems both Trump and Clinton will get the nomination to run for president from their respective parties, the differences are being highlighted in the media. Last weekend the differences on the Right to Life were made clear. Clinton clearly backs abortion rights and the repeal of the Hyde Amendment which makes it illegal for federal funds to support abortion. Trump on the other hand has said, using the mantra "black lives matter," that as well as black lives, white lives and life in the womb matters. Our nation was founded on Judeo -Christian principles. Since the legalization of abortion in 1973 there has been a movement to expand and defend abortion. That has resulted in more than 60 million children being aborted.

Last Wednesday the young people who graduated from eighth grade in our Parish School attended the 9:00am Mass. The point I wanted to make to them was that with all they have studied and learned in their years in our school, the most important subject was religion. All schools have math, social studies, science, and English language arts. But the true treasure of our Parish School and all Catholic Schools and Religious Education Programs is the privilege, blessing, and responsibility to share our faith with our young people. The strongest moral foundation we can have is a gift only our faith in God has provided for us in the Church.

Last Tuesday we celebrated the feast of the Visitation, that part of the Virgin Mary’s life where she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth as we know had conceived John the Baptist in her womb and Mary was at the same time pregnant by the Holy Spirit and carrying Jesus in her womb. Elizabeth greets Mary by saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Each time we pray the Hail Mary we are privileged to use these very words from Elizabeth. Mary’s response is her prayer, the Magnificat, where instead of thanking Elizabeth for the warm words of welcome, she thanks God: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From his day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” This prayer of praise comes from the humble, grateful, joyful heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Last Wednesday the young people who graduated from eighth grade in our Parish School attended the 9:00am Mass. The point I wanted to make to them was that with all they have studied and learned in their years in our school, the most important subject was religion. All schools have math, social studies, science, and English language arts. But the true treasure of our Parish School and all Catholic Schools and Religious Education Programs is the privilege, blessing, and responsibility to share our faith with our young people. The strongest moral foundation we can have is a gift only our faith in God has provided for us in the Church.

This past Monday I was inspired and encouraged by the words of the opening prayer at Mass: “Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and that your Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion.” There are so many things that are disturbing and unsettling in the world we live in today.

What is truth? That was the question Pilate posed to Jesus as He was brought before Pilate and accused of a crime deserving execution. In the verse just previous to this we read (John 18:37), “Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Where do we hear the voice of Jesus? What difference does His voice make? As Jesus says in the above verse, everyone who belongs to the truth listens to his voice. To take anyone seriously and let them into our lives makes us want to know the truth about them. 

One of the most difficult things to bring about is change. While the status quo might be tolerable and we might feel comfortable, there is always an inner voice that says things can be better and some things really need to be changed. A few weeks ago I was teaching two eighth grade classes about the Eucharist. In the beginning I asked them for good reasons to go to Mass on Sundays. They had good answers: to pray, to be with God, to be faithful to the third commandment, to take seriously our responsibility to live out our Baptismal commitment. When I asked for reasons why people do not go to Mass on Sunday they said: there are more important things to do (citing sports as an example), sleep in to rest, visit other people. All of these responses were given with the attitude that these are good reasons and acceptable.

In my last parish I would visit and bring communion to an elderly Italian lady who lived to be 102 years old. Every time I visited her one of the first questions out of her mouth with her heavy Italian accent was: “How’s your mother?” That was quickly followed by these words from her: “Nobody loves you like your mother!”

In today’s Gospel Jesus is speaking from the same place He was last Sunday, at the Last Supper. Once again our passage is from the Last Supper Discourse in St. John’s Gospel. In this passage Jesus is giving us His last will and testament. What is He going to leave to His followers? His love. That love includes not only Himself, but the Father and Holy Spirit. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”

I write this column Tuesday, April 18, 2016, the day both the Republican and Democratic Parties are having their Primary Elections to determine who will get the New York delegate votes at their respective conventions this summer, to run for president of our nation. Currently there are five candidates, two for the Democrats and three for the Republicans. It seems that this race has been going on for a long time. We have been invited to listen to debates and are constantly bombarded with reports from the media on what they think about the candidates and what the candidates themselves think, say, and do. We must be very careful not to let the media or anyone else keep us from seeing which candidate we think would be best for our country.

Speaking is one of the gifts and tools we have as human beings to communicate with one another. We speak to people, about people, and for people. People speak to us, about us and for us. Sometimes our words come from a heart that is loving, joyful, and grateful. Sometimes they come from a confused, disappointed or frantic mind. Words come to our ears from the mouths of those we are with or speaking to on the telephone. At other times they come from e-mails, text messages, or even the old fashioned way - in form of written letters or notes. During these three past weeks of Easter we have been listening to and reflecting on the words Jesus spoke to His followers in His post Resurrection appearances.

One of the joys of being a priest is baptizing children. Before the ceremony begins, there is a lot of joy and enthusiasm in all who are present. How good it is to see how an innocent child, who is need of constant care and attention, brings such unity and joy. Along with their parents, who among us would not do anything to help these innocent souls to be healthy, happy, and cared for? The birth of a child is a Resurrection experience in that it raises the lives of parents especially to a new level of love. Sleepless nights and concern for any problems are sacrifices readily made for the good of a child. Newborn children along with anyone else we let into the depths of our minds and hearts raise us to a level in our lives that is energizing, encouraging, and inspiring.

One of the joys of being a priest is speaking with couples who come in to arrange their weddings. Almost always the joy in their hearts is seen in their faces. There are smiles, gentle words, and great anticipation and hope for a happy life together. As they leave I encourage them to keep the joy they have in their hearts and to nourish it every day of their lives with one another. How good it is to find love and to have the blessing of sharing our love with others. In my wedding homily, I tell the groom that as beautiful as his bride is at that moment, his love for her and her love for him will make her more beautiful every day. Likewise I tell the bride, as wonderful as her groom is at that moment, her love for him and his love for her willmake him more and more wonderful every day.