Spiritual Guidance
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Christ Has no Hands But Ours
Christ has no hands but our hands to
do His work today
He has no feet but our feet to lead
men in the way
He has no tongue but our tongue to
tell men how He died
He has no help but our help to bring
them to His side.
We are the only Bible the careless
the world will read,
We are the sinner’s gospel; we are the
scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message, given
in word and deed;
What if the type is crooked? What if
the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy with other
work than His?
What if our feet are walking where
sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongue is speaking of
things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him or
welcome His return?
—Annie Johnston Flint -
A Word From The Pastor January 16thYears ago there was a beautiful custom that when priests or seminarians wrote to one another, just before signing their name, they would pen the words, "Oremus pro invicem!" The English translation of the Latin is, "Let us pray for one another" and, of course, it is from a time when people were in the habit of writing letters.In this week's Gospel, from John 2: 1 - 12, we see the power of Mary interceding for a young couple with Christ, her Son. On Tuesday of this past week, In 1st Samuel 1: 9 - 20 we read about Hannah praying at the shrine in Shiloh, begging God for a son, and then Eli the priest, after first misjudging her, joining in her prayer. Mary's intercession with Christ and Hannah's prayer at Shiloh were both answered. In both cases we can be certain that Mary and Hannah prayed again in thanksgiving for their answered prayers. Both recognized God's blessing, care, power, and intervention. They believed and their faith was powerful and persistent.Each one of us receives blessings from God every day, some of those blessings and interventions are quite extraordinary, but we may take them for granted. As we begin a new year, we should take time to do the following:- Pray for one another!- Recognize the blessings, large and small, we and others receive each day.- Take time to thank and praise God for His constant care and grace.This three-fold process will bring blessings to those around us, stronger faith in our souls, and peace in our hearts. God bless!
Third Sunday in Advent
St. Paul tells us "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!" (Philippians 4: 4) Immediately after he adds a key directive, "Your kindness should be known to all." (Philippians 4: 5) Rejoice and be kind, always, for Christ has come with mercy, forgiveness, and healing strength.In the final days before Christmas and the New Year, let us be joyful because of God's grace and love. In addition, with God's grace, let us share kindness with everyone and be "A Joy and Blessing" to all those we meet!
2nd week of AdventSt. Paul declares, "I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel... And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception... so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ..." (Philippians 1: 4 - 6, 9 - 10) At the beginning of this Sunday's Mass, in the Collect, we pray "may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son."
St. Paul provides us with a formula, that when used faithfully, nothing can hinder or stop from uniting us with Christ:
- Choose to be partners with Christ and the Saints in spreading the Gospel, by living the Gospel.
- Ask God for the grace to grow in Love, Wisdom, Mercy, Peace, Purity, and Kindness.
- Use the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion to grow in every virtue and become more and more a partner with Christ and the Saints.
Advent focuses on the coming of Christmas and the coming of Christ. If we follow this simple three-fold formula, not only will we be ready for Christ and Christmas, but we will help everyone around us be more prepared as well.
11/20/21
This coming week we celebrate our National Feast Day of Thanksgiving. From the time of President Washington to the present time we have stopped our daily tasks to thank Almighty God for the blessings He has given us individually and as a country. Regardless of the sacrifices and trials we experience, there is much for us to be thankful for in our lives. Below you will find a blessing for the Thanksgiving meal and a passage from the Thanksgiving Presidential Proclamation of almost a century ago. Though issued by President Coolidge in another millennium and century, it remains thoughtful and inspiring.At the Masses over this weekend we will be distributing the Thanksgiving Blessing Prayer on nicely printed cards. Be assured of my prayers for all the people of the parish and for all the families of Grays Ferry. Happy Thanksgiving!11/13/21
From this Sunday's Scripture readings we have the following passage: "At that time there shall arise, Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress... At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book." (Daniel 12: 1) The Book of Daniel, powerful and prophetic, speaks about the "end times" when judgement and the fulfillment of salvation will come for God's people. It is not meant to frighten us, but to focus our attention on the reality that all of us will stand in judgement before the Lord.Last Sunday I shared a quote used by the widow and family members of a very young Naval Aviator killed during the Korean War: "He lived as one prepared to die and died as one prepared to live forever!" That is what our Lord and all the Prophets and Saints call us to realize. This life is a preparation for Life Eternal, it is the testing and proving ground for how we respond to God's love and grace. In the next few weeks we will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, which marks a new year of grace for the Church. This is the perfect time to take stock of how we live, a time for all of us to take an inventory of our faith and how it guides and impacts our lives. The Prophet Daniel knew that a Day of Judgement would come upon God's people, and he called them, and us, to live in accord with the Law of the Lord and so be recorded in the Book of Life.As we thank God for the blessings we have received and enter a New Year of Grace, we are called by Christ, the Saints, and Prophets to take stock of our lives and how we live our faith. We are called to live as a people who are prepared to die and stand before the Lord, so that when we are called home by Christ, we die as women and men prepared to live forever!
10/17/21
One the great song stylists of the the 20th century was Frank Sinatra and one of his greatest hits was "I Did It My Way." The song is smooth and his way of crafting it is magnificent, however, if we wanted to have a song that captured what it means to be a Christian, the title would be more appropriately "I Did It God's Way!" In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus has to correct the Apostles, when two of them ask him to give them positions of honor "in your glory" and the other ten are "indignant." Jesus makes it clear what true greatness, glory, and leadership entail: "You know how those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles Lord it over them... it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all." (Mark 10: 44) In the opening prayer, the Collect, of this Sunday's Mass, we pray "Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart." True glory, authentic greatness, and the most effective leadership are all rooted in loving concern for others and generous care for those around us!Jesus not only talked about greatness through service and leadership by example, he was and is the perfect example of all that he taught: " For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45) Christ cured the sick, fed the hungry, washed the feet of his disciples, and died for our sins. We too are called to care for and serve others, and to "die to self" by putting aside arrogance and selfishness. St. Augustine summed it up beautifully when he spoke about love: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." And Jesus calls us all to live and share such love!
10/10/21
"Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!'... 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10: 23-24) The young man to whom Jesus was talking was stunned, "his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions." (Mark 10: 22) Does that mean that those who are "poor" are automatically destined for the Kingdom of God? Is Jesus taking a stance against income disparity and calling for a socio-economic revolution? Are possessions inherently evil and does wealth automatically disqualify one from the Kingdom? The quick answer to all those questions is an emphatic "NO!"
The problem with having many possessions and much wealth is that the "possessions and wealth" can take possession of us. The more we have, the more we run the risk of being controlled by our possessions. The money and "things" can become a fixation and can become the focal point in our lives. Being a follower of Christ, a disciple of the Lord, means that we submit ourselves completely to God's will and grace. In doing so we gain the True Freedom of being sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. As we look around our world, we may fantasize about being very wealthy, but all of us know that "Money cannot buy happiness and does not guarantee success or a happy life!" Jesus warns us, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?" (Mark 8: 36) The tragedy is that oftentimes the more money that people have, the more the Devil tricks them into thinking that nothing else matters, so God, faith, virtue, worship, and even family become less and less important. The commandment is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut. 6: 5). When we give our all to God and get our priorities right, we discover that God has so expanded our hearts and minds that we are able to love our family, friends, and all humanity as God has commanded us to do. Therein lies true happiness and eternal riches!
10/2/21
A recent hit song by Duncan Laurence has the memorable line: "Loving you is a losing game." With almost 55 million views of the video, the song obviously resonates with a lot of people. The good news is that God does not intend our relationships to be "A Losing Game."Though fewer people are getting married in the U.S., almost 50% of all marriages will likely end in divorce. Yet Jesus is very clear in Mark 10 and Matthew 19 that divorce is not part of God's plan. SO, is Jesus being unfair or unreasonable? Are people destined for failure because Christ is asking too much and setting the bar too high? NO! Too often we approach Marriage and Divorce from the perspective of a failed marriage already ending, too late to fix. Rather, we need to focus on healthy relationships and Build Marriages to Last!The average cost of a wedding in 2021 is $22,500, and before COVID it was over $28,000. Less than 1% of that money is spent on any type of Marriage Preparation counseling, training, class, or program, in spite of the fact that the engaged couple are preparing to enter the most important relationship and commitment they will ever make. The key ingredients for happy, successful, and lasting relationships are: true LOVE (not some temporary emotion or feeling), TRUST, RESPECT, forgiveness, patience, self-control, and GOD! God can aid men and women to understand and embrace these qualities, and GOD can and will help them to grow in all of them! The Church has a lot of practical information and insights about healthy relationships. St. John Paul II alone wrote volumes on Marriage, Human Sexuality, and Family Life.When Jesus declares, "What God has joined together, no human being must separate,'' (Mark 10: 9) he offers the grace and wisdom to make the ideal a reality! Beautiful gowns, receptions, and rings are nice and cost a lot, but they don't guarantee a happy marriage. Men and women of all ages, those who are dating, those preparing for marriage, and those newly married, should take the time to learn what Christ and his Church have to say about the qualities of healthy relationships and healthy marriages. God never intends love to be a losing game, and He wants marriage to be a little bit of heaven here on earth. With Divine guidance and grace, the ideals of love can become a reality.
9/26Throughout the gospels Jesus frees people from demonic possession. Oftentimes the people were violent, what we would today call "anti-social", alienated from family, friends, and community, e.g. the Gerasene demoniac in Luke 8: 26 - 39. In fact the Greek word for diabolic is "diabolein", which means to cut, to tear asunder or divide. The Devil divides, tears people, families, and communities apart. The Apostles come to Jesus in Mark 9: 38, upset because someone was expelling demons in Jesus' name, but was not a disciple of Jesus: "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." The Apostles objected to someone doing good, who must believe that the "Name of Jesus" is powerful, but because that person was NOT a disciple, fully "onboard" with the Apostles, they wanted to stop him. Jesus' response is along the lines, "You Don't Get It!" He teaches the Apostles that when they encounter someone who has the foundations of faith, a person who believes in the power of his name and is doing good, don't stop him! Just because that person is not in full agreement with the Apostles is NO reason to attack him or her. Rather, the Apostles are to bring people into fuller belief in Jesus, fuller commitment and communion, by their example, encouragement, invitation, and prayers. Jesus is a healer and unifier.Today our nation is very divided, religiously, politically, and culturally, even among those who believe in Christ. The Devil is using this opportunity to divide and tear us asunder, and we often fail to see his hand in all the anger and violence in our communities, online, and within our daily social interaction. What are we to do? We are to remember that we are disciples of the Lord and call on the Name of Jesus, to enlighten, guide, strengthen, and inspire us. We are to follow the example of Christ, who "came not to call the righteous but sinners." (Mt. 9: 13) When we are encouraged to "be angry" and to "attack and lash out" we can be certain that we are unwittingly being manipulated by Satan. Jesus healed and brought the possessed, the lepers, and sinners back into the community. Jesus united people and so must we, with the grace of God, by calling on his Holy Name and following his example. -
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Wisdom From The Saints"To pray, it is not always necessary to be on bended knee, or in church, or even in some quiet corner at home, though it is advisable when possible to adopt a reverent attitude in some place where you are not exposed to distractions. You can pray while at work, you can pray while walking the street in any place, under all circumstances, by raising your mind to God, and thinking of the Passion of Christ, or any other pious subject."- St. Alphonsus de Liguori
"This is faith, when we speak to God as a fellow man."- St. John Vianney
“Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.”-St. Vincent de Paul
“On the question of relating to our fellowman – our neighbor’s spiritual need transcends every commandment. Everything else we do is a means to an end. But love is an end already, since God is love.”
-St. Teresia Benedicta (Edith Stein)
"Circumstances are beyond our human control, but our conduct is in our own power."
- Benjamin Disrael (19th century British Prime Minister)
"We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become."
- St. Clare of Assisi
"Confession is nothing but humility in action. We call it penance, but really it is a sacrament of love, a sacrament of forgiveness. It is a place where I allow Jesus to take away from me everything that divides, that destroys."-St. Teresa of Calcutta
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Prayers
PRAYER FOR HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS
O merciful God, I pray that you fill my heart with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Teach me to love those who hate me, to pray for those who despitefully use me; that I may be your child, O heavenly Father, who makes the sun shine on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant me grace to be patient; in prosperity keep me humble; may I guard the door of my lips; may I lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
St. Anselm of Canterbury (+1109)
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PrayersAn Act of Resolution"O my God, henceforth I resolve to strive earnestly to be patient and gentle, and not to allow the waters of contradiction to extinguish the fire of that love and charity which I owe to my neighbor. Amen!"- St. Francis de Sales
An Act of Dedication"O God: You are my God: in You will I hope! You will be my help and my refuge: I shall not fear, for not only are You with me but You are in me and I in You. Amen!"- St. Francis de Sales -
Poetry
Something Beautiful to Help Us Pray
(This poem is from an 11th century anonymous Irish verse, translated by Eleanor Hull.)
It were my soul's desire
To see the face of God;
It were my soul's desire
To rest in His abode.
It were my soul's desire
To imitate my King,
It were my soul's desire
His ceaseless praise to sing.
Grant, Lord, my soul's desire,
Deep waves of cleansing sighs;
Grant, Lord, my soul's desire
From earthly cares to rise.
This still my soul's desire
Whatever life afford --
To gain my soul's desire
And see Thy face, O Lord
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Welcome to Our Spiritual Guidance Page. Weekly messages and prayers from our Pastor, Fr. Foley, along with poetry and quotes from the saints, will be posted here!
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Fr. Foley: Baptism
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125 Anniversary Mass FULL HOMILY
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Fr. Foley: "We don't have challenges, we have opportunities"
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Fr. Foley: Who's the Boss?
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Fr. Foley: There are no Uhauls on Hearses
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Fr. Foley: Marriage in the Gospel of Mark
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Fr. Foley: Demonic Possession