Joint venture

September 19, 2014 10:06 am

“Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities… who provided for them out of their resources.” (Lk 8: 1-3)

Our Lord created it as a joint venture, important for “preaching and proclaiming the good news.” The Twelve and women were chosen by Him, cured by Him and invited to serve the Kingdom of God in two different ways. Preaching without resources is like recourses without preaching—they help you to survive but without a bigger perspective for your life.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The whole world and my world

March 6, 2014 11:42 am

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Lk 9:25)

Especially for us, men. “To gain the whole world”. How often do we think about our mission in this world in this way. No matter what profession: a teacher, lawyer, pilot, businessman… Even if my “whole world” is really, really small. How often it is so important – TO GAIN. And how often we lose ourselves. Too busy to pray, too much work to go home, too interested in the company, and so many “too”s.

Lent helps me reorganize my priorities. Go back to my real world. To the real life.

“Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30, 19-20).

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

January 11, 2014 10:00 pm

“He does not cry out or raise his voice, his voice is not heard in the street; he does not break the crushed reed or snuff the faltering wick. Faithfully he presents fair judgement; he will not grow faint, he will not be crushed until he has established fair judgement on earth, and the coasts and islands are waiting for his instruction.” (Iz 42:2-4).

A really strong man. He does not need to cry out or raise his voice, spread the word on the street, looking for supporters of his version, will not be crushed and will not grow faint. And despite that – everything will be accomplished. Not by force, not because “I am right”. It will be done “because God was with Him” (Act 10:38). God’s will.

God, who is Creator of this world and has all the power over His creation, is acting with us only by His love. If we followed this example, how different the world could be, and especially our family life. Directed by love, compassion, respect, gentleness, gift-of-self (always free, creative and joyful) and seeking the good of my spouse.

Today’s world needs this kind of man and masculinity. Very, very strong. Not by bodybuilding (only), and strong not in order to dominate, but to love as much as God loves us. Not by force, but by gentleness. And bearing in mind the real source of strength: “because God was with Him” (Act 10:38).

With Jesus’s baptism we also can renew our baptism to draw from His love. To be like Him.

“Almighty ever-living God… grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you.” (Collect)

Place created for men

April 20, 2013 8:03 pm

The traditional dinner out for the Faculty on the last day before the end of Education Program took place yesterday at DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar.

As soon as you go in, you feel the place was created with you in mind. Loud music, which virtually makes any conversation impossible, and all the walls covered with screens showing all possible sports. Too loud to talk, so you can just “sit around” over the fastfood meal and watch lazily all the screens, not having to bother to switch the channels. In one word: perfect masculine world.

I look at the tables nearby and it turns out that women have come here, too. They don’t mind the tv screens, or the noise, because they have more important thing to be concerned about – conversation. How different it is from the “men’s” tables, where you generally just look in front of you. And if any conversation happens, it is to comment what’s on the screen.

Two worlds. Different and interesting. To understand each of them, to put them together to form one entity – that’s a lifetime adventure. And it’s worth lifetime.

From Omaha, noisy today

Fr. Jay

perfect place1perfect place2perfect place3

Men's Club

April 18, 2013 11:54 am

continuation…

As you can see, our Men’s Club has grown in number:

October 2012, you can read about it HERE

men's club 2

April 2013

In keeping with the tradition, during EP in Omaha there is one evening out for men exclusively. The menu and the place remain the same: Anthony’s Steakhouse.

Of course “to have a steak” was just an excuse – the real goal was to meet again, talk, be with one another. Every of us has a different story to tell, and different experience, so it is good to listen to one another and discover how much we can share and pass forward.

This time we were joined by guys from France, Poland, Mexico and Peru – and apart from other new men in the club, we also had two American priests. How good it is to know we can count on each other. If need be, we know were to look for each other. Because the support among men is always necessary. And what’s more – women liked the idea of men’s evening a lot. They know that men need their own company  from time to time. And afterwards, they come back as better people. 🙂

Fr. Jay