THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

“Cut it down,” said the owner of the fig tree, frustrated by its failure to bear fruit.

‘Sir,” answered the gardener, “leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it.”

In today’s gospel, the tree wasn’t broken, just wounded.  And the gardener just needed a chance to work his miracle.

I asked the Elementaries about Dolphin Tale, last week’s movie.  I was amazed how they repeated every detail of the tail’s tale—from the woundedness of Winter, the dolphin, and everyone around him to the commitment of each not to allow the other to live broken. Together they worked miracles.

Last weekend at SJM went like this:  a room full of little moviegoers, pillows and sleeping-bags on the floor, pizza and plenty of parent helping-hands, goodbyes and thank yous; a sixth-grade Mass, powerful readers, happy greeters, amazing ushers, gifted gift-bearers, generous sweets, plenty of parent helping-hands, goodbyes and thank yous.  Together we worked miracles.

First Penance

First Penance for our 2^nd Graders will take place during their regular KidsRelig sessions on Tuesday (3/12), Wednesday (3/13) and Thursday (3/14).  An email was delivered to your inboxes this past week explaining the sacrament and the way we celebrate it.

First Communion News

Mass Assignments for our First Communion on May 11, 2013:

9:30 AM: Thursday (Roaring Brook) 2^nd Grades + Ms. Aurora/Ms. Metcalf’s Wednesday (Grafflin ) 2^nd Grade

11:30 AM:  Tuesday (Westorchard) 2^nd Grades + Ms. Galvin’s Wednesday (Grafflin) 2^nd Grade.

CALENDAR REMINDER

No KidsRelig this Wednesday, 3/6.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

The Transfiguration

Jesus climbs to the mountaintop for one reason—to pray.  And out of his prayer, all kinds of things begin to happen.  First, Jesus himself is changed in appearance.  He looks like he is in all his glory.  Next, two old friends of his Father stop by to visit—Moses, the savior of his people, and Elijah, the first and greatest prophet, who spent a lifetime speaking truth to power and paid for it.  The three start talking about what Jesus is in for in Jerusalem—the ultimate in truth telling and the ultimate in saving people, but not without a struggle.

I forgot to mention that Jesus had taken with him to the mountaintop three of his followers, Peter, John and James.  Not surprising that I forgot to mention them, because when they got to the top, they fell fast asleep and slept through all the big doings.  When they finally woke up, they woke up stupid.  Luke, the gospel writer, tells us that their spokesperson, Peter, had no idea what he was talking about when he opened his mouth at the sight of what was happening.  And when all three came down the mountain, they clammed up.  And we can almost hear Luke saying, Thank God, because they wouldn’t know what they were talking about.  And that’s even after they had heard the voice of God introducing them to his Son and telling them to listen to him. 

For all its detail, there seems to be one important fact missing from the gospel story.  Although everything seems to happen because Jesus is praying, Luke never tells us what Jesus says in his prayer.  Maybe for good reason, because if I were to guess what Jesus said while praying, I would guess nothing.  Jesus just listened.

The listener—that’s who Jesus is.  Like Moses, he saves his people because he listens to them and hears their suffering.  Like Elijah, he listens through all the noise to hear the voice of truth.  And like the Son he is, he listens to the Father’s word and obeys.  In fact, Jesus listens with such passion that he becomes the people he saves; he becomes the truth he speaks, and he becomes the Word of God.

All this listening took sacrifice, but the same listening would bring glory—the glory of resurrection to eternal life.  Because what better definition of eternal life than listening to God forever!

No wonder, then, that the voice of God commands all of us to listen to his Chosen Son—to be like Him who came to be like us and listen with a passion that through every sacrifice we might come to the glory of eternal life.  And listen to God forever!

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

MOVIE & PIZZA NIGHT AT SJM

GRADES 1 – 4

FRIDAY

FEBRUARY 22ND

6 – 8:30 PM

PARISH CENTER

Washed ashore with an injured tail, a dolphin, named Winter, meets a boy, named Taylor, with an injured spirit.  There begins the tale of healing and redemption in the feature film (100 minutes) Dolphin Tale.

Sounds like a religious reel!  And it is to the extent that laughs and tears, lots of fun and a true story are religious.

Common-Sense Media calls Dolphin Tale, “Sweet, inspiring for kids and tweens,” and rates it age-appropriate for ages 7 and up.  I have watched the movie several times and understand that its PG rating is due to a brief dialogue (20 seconds) between Taylor and his friend Hazel about Taylor’s dad abandoning the family.  There are also some quick scenes that include war veterans and a little girl with prosthetics.  These are sensitively done, showing the challenge and dignity of disability.

Of course, the most trusted review in my book comes from grandson Hudson (age 6), “Pop, Dolphin Tale is the best; your kids will love it.”

Kids:  bring something soft for sitting—blanket, sleeping bag, pillow, bean bag.

Parents:  really need your help.

1.       You gotta RSVP to kidsrelig@optimum.net if your kid(s) are coming.  I gotta know how much pizza to order.

2.      I need some parent volunteers if Movie Night is going to be a happy happening.  When you RSVP about your kid coming, tell me if you can help.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Go away from me, Lord.

Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch of fish in today’s gospel.  It echoes what happened last week in Nazareth when the people in town witnessed the cure of the demoniac.  Just as those in Nazareth had run Jesus out of town, Peter would have him take a hike.  But there is a big difference.  In Nazareth, it was a matter of pride and rejection.  In Peter’s boat, it was a matter of humility and faith.  After all, he only tells Jesus to get going because Peter recognizes that he is in the presence of the Lord.  And that makes this poor fisherman feel so unworthy.

Funny how miracles can cause such mixed reactions.  Or is it?

I guess if we have it all, we really don’t need any miracles in our lives.  So when a miracle comes our way, we have to reject it—even get angry at its intrusion.  But if we know who we really are, then that miracle just around the corner will be a sight for sore eyes.  And we’ll know it when we see it, because Jesus will have convinced us not to be afraid to look.

No fear to look at KidsRelig.  We’re catching miracles hook, line and sinker.

First Communion News

Mass Assignments for our First Communion on May 11, 2013:

9:30 AM: Thursday (Roaring Brook) 2^nd Grades + Ms. Aurora/Ms. Metcalf’s Wednesday (Grafflin ) 2^nd Grade

11:30 AM:  Tuesday (Westorchard) 2^nd Grades + Ms. Galvin’s Wednesday (Grafflin) 2^nd Grade.

Calendar Reminder

Although Chappaqua CSD has changed its Winter Recess, the originally scheduled Winter Recess for KidsRelig will remain the same.  There is NO KidsRelig on February 19, 20, 21.  

 

Movie & Pizza Night

Grades 1-4

Friday, February 22, 6-8 PM

Love,

Deacon Charlie

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus walks off today’s gospel page as a truth-teller in a long line of truth-tellers.  We call them prophets.  And they all had two things in common—truth and the rejection of truth.  In Jesus, these two common things come together in one person.  Jesus not only tells the truth, he is the truth.  Jesus not only gets rejected, he is the rejected one.  It’s more than curious that today’s gospel story ends with Jesus on the brow of a hill!

What does this mean for us in KidsRelig?  It challenges us to tell the Jesus story in ways that are appropriate for the ages of our kids.  As they mature, the story matures.  And as it does, the person of Jesus becomes central, not just in its “once upon time” detail, but in its present reality.  We embrace a rejected Truth, which demands intimate knowledge and courageous commitment. 

Some of this happens in the classroom, but none of this can happen without the opportunity of our kids to meet and engage with Jesus.  And this opportunity is called Sunday Mass.  That’s where we approach Jesus, and he approaches us. 

Last week, our Fifth Graders celebrated Sunday Mass in a very special way.  Their participation as readers, ushers, greeters, gift bearers and servers brought joy to the celebration, but more than joy—meaning.  As I watched them in the front pews of the church, I thought how blessed we were to have them come and simply be with Jesus. 

First Communion News

An email has gone out to all First Communion Parents announcing this year’s Mass assignments for the May 11^th First Communion.  Each year, we try to keep classmates together and the two Masses as even as possible in the number of First Communicants.  This year, it was impossible due to the large Westorchard class.  So  . . .

9:30 AM: Roaring Brook (i.e., Thursday’s 2^nd Grades) + Ms. Aurora/Ms. Metcalf’s Grafflin (i.e., one of the Wednesday 2^nd Grades)

11:30 AM:  Westorchard (i.e., Tuesday’s 2^nd Grades) + Ms. Galvin’s Grafflin (i.e., the other Wednesday 2^nd Grade.)  

Love, 

Deacon Charlie