The Christian Life can be summed up in two words: Imitate Jesus.

In today’s first reading at Mass, we are presented with the Martyrdom of Saint Stephen. Let us see how, in his death, he imitated Jesus. As with Jesus, himself, the motivation behind Saint Stephen being condemned to death was his preaching the message of faith: Jesus is God. While Jesus hung on the Cross, two of the “last words” he spoke were: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” and “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” While Saint Stephen is being stoned, he calls out to God, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

As we can see from his words, he was able to adopt the same mindset that Jesus had. There is no cursing his persecutors. There is no anger. Instead we find a loving turning over of oneself to God, and a loving concern for others, in particular, that they be forgiven.

It is unlikely that we will face martyrdom ourselves. However, there are other ways in which we can imitate Jesus in our lives. So let us pick one aspect of Jesus’ life that pertains to our own mission in life and let us live it out fully. We need to keep in mind that Jesus was and is Jesus and we would be foolish to think that we could imitate him in all of the aspects of his life. Even for the great saints, we generally find that they were able to grow and highly develop only one aspect of imitating Jesus.

Let each one of us take a close look at our own life. Let us see where the Lord is calling us. Let us see what responsibilities we have. And then let us embrace one aspect of Jesus’ life that applies and let us develop it and live it out.

In today’s first reading we hear the words: “If this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5)

After trying without success to put a stop to the spreading of the early Church by threats of death and imprisonment, the authorities of the day are at a loss as to how to stop the early followers of Jesus from spreading the news of his Resurrection and bringing new members into the Faith.

In a meeting, a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel offered the above words, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. They ring true with respect to the early Church, for some two thousand years later the Church is thriving with an estimated 1+ billion Catholics.

From time to time, we need to remind ourselves of the thought behind Gamaliel’s words. How often — without any consideration of what God wants of us, and how God wants us to carry out his will in our lives — do we dream up our own ideas and seek to carry them out and either congratulate ourselves if our idea turns out to be a success or ridicule ourselves if our idea turns out to be a failure? When we find ourselves falling into this trap, we would do much better to take a step back and employ something that is very much a part of our Christian spirituality, namely “discernment.”

Discernment takes time. It takes prayer. It is trying to determine through the guidance of the Holy Spirit what God wants and how God wants it to happen.

So let us make a conscious effort to prayerfully consider what God wants us to do and how he wants us to carry it out.

And let us look not only to the words of today’s first reading from Acts, but also to Galatians 3:3. “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

Not only do we discern what God wants us to do, but we rely on God to see it through to completion.

How well the words spoken by a bishop in bringing someone into ministry convey this idea: “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”

In the first reading at Mass over the past weekdays, we have seen the early followers of Jesus live out one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely fortitude or courage. Let us remember that after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven they were afraid. He had left them. They knew that authorities who had put him to death would possibly seek to punish his followers as well.

Before the Pentecost event recounted in Acts 2, we find the early followers of Jesus not out preaching the resurrection of Jesus, but rather indoors together. It is not until the Holy Spirit, as tongues of fire, descended upon them that full of newfound courage they went out and publicly proclaimed that Jesus had risen.

In today’s first reading, we find that the authorities had threatened the early followers of Jesus to no longer proclaim his resurrection.

Yet, with great courage and suffering imprisonment and threats of death, they state: “We must obey God rather than men.”

Chances are that our witness to the faith will not face such direct opposition. We will most likely face more subtle opposition from family members who think it well and good for us to attend Mass once a week, but if we get caught up in the Spirit and more fully pursue our Christ Life, we might find them beginning to object. Similarly with friends, who might take offense that we are no longer willing to participate in the wild revelry that was once a regular part of our Friday and Saturday evenings. The work place is another place where we might find subtle opposition. I recall my own days of working in New York City, and facing the disapproval of co-workers who went out for a nice lunch at a NYC restaurant, while I spent my lunch hour attending Mass.

Let us look to the gifts of the Holy Spirit to assist us in our journey. The early followers of Jesus needed great courage or fortitude and so they were given it. My own personal favorite gift of the Holy Spirit is wonder and awe.

What is your favorite gift of the Holy Spirit? Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Piety, Wonder/Awe. Perhaps you have more than one favorite gift of the Holy Spirit.

As the early followers of Jesus received courage at Pentecost, let us look to the experience of our own Confirmation as the time when we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

And let us look to today’s Gospel reading, John 3, where we hear that God does not ration the gifts of the Spirit.

The early followers of Jesus needed great courage and they received it in abundance. We too should open our arms and hearts wide to receive an abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s first reading at Mass gives the account of how the Angel of the Lord freed the early followers of Jesus’ from prison. “But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and led then out, and said, ‘Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.’”

What we have here is a marvelous miracle. The authorities attempted to silence the message of Jesus’ resurrection and the spreading of the faith by imprisoning those who preached. But God intervened. Yet, it is more than a marvelous miracle story about something that occurred some two thousand years ago. It can be seen as a model for how God works in our own lives.

How many times do we find that we are metaphorically in prison — owing to the hold that a sinful habit (or a bad habit that is not necessarily sinful, but nonetheless is not good for us) has on us? We seek to free ourselves from this bad habit, but our will power is not strong enough. We need to rely on the grace of God. And God willingly, metaphorically, comes to us in the night and frees us from the prison of this bad habit.

Oftentimes it includes a conversion of heart as well. Looking back on how God may have worked in our own lives, we find that such a conversion of heart takes a personal unique form in the circumstances and details of each of our lives, but in general, a conversion of heart of any form can often be noticed by those who know us well. Whether family members, close friends, or co-workers, these people have come to know certain things about us. And now there is a certain something about us that is different. We are no longer held prisoner by a bad habit. We are caught up in the love of God, who has acted in our lives. They might wonder how and why things have changed in our lives. And when they learn that it is through the work of God, we have become witnesses to the faith.

Perhaps we have not stood in the temple area and proclaimed, “Jesus rose from the dead,” as did the early followers of Jesus in today’s first reading. Yet, we are still acting as silent witnesses as others come to know that it is through God’s intervention that we have been freed from whatever prison we have been held in.

The theme of light is so important in the Gospel of John that narrative asserts that the Word is the Light as soon as verse four of chapter one. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Then in chapter eight, Jesus echoes this idea by declaring in his own words, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.”

We are called to follow Jesus and walk in the light, but the problem is that owing to the original sin that we inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve, there are times we prepare to hide in the darkness, as did Adam and Eve themselves. Their first action after eating the forbidden fruit is to hide. “[they] hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” In response to God’s asking them “Where are you,” Adam explained to God, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid… so I hid myself.” Genesis, Chapter 3.

Part of our spiritual growth will be to make a conscious effort to give up those times when we retreat into darkness. And what are some of the reasons why we retreat into darkness? So that we can sin under the cover of darkness. So that we can hide in shame after we have sinned (as did Adam and Eve, as mentioned immediately above). So that we can secretly have a prayer relationship with Jesus, without risking losing anything that we might lose if it were known publicly that we are serious believers in Jesus.

As we grow and mature, most of us wish to be seen as “good” by others, and therefore we strive to project an image of being “good.” We seek the secrecy of darkness, either literal darkness under the cover of night or symbolic darkness where we can sin in private and not have it known by others. Even though we may do this as adults, this in reality is childish foolishness, for God sees and knows all. Although we may pay lip service to the fact that God knows and sees all, a major turning point in our life of faith is when we open up and acknowledge that God indeed does see and know all of the secret areas of our lives. It is at this point that we can acknowledge our guilt and pray that God heal us in those areas of our lives that we held secret.

As mentioned above, Adam and Eve sought darkness after their sin, and so can humankind in general from time to time — an inherited tendency to hide ourselves. As the Gospel of John (chapter 3) points out: “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light.”

With respect to seeking darkness either when we sin or after we sin, let us look to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. Let us stay in the light and allow him to heal us.

But how about the times that we seek the darkness, not because of sin, but rather because we do not want to risk losing something.

Let us consider Nicodemus, who is a character in today’s Gospel reading (John, chapter 3). “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night…”

Being a prominent and respected leader of the people, if he were to openly come to Jesus, he would risk his status. So he comes secretly by night. He is rewarded with the opportunity to converse with Jesus, in which Jesus teaches him about the importance of being born again, alluding to the Sacrament of Baptism. But we do not see Nicodemus later take this message and go public with it. We do not see him sharing with others what Jesus had shared with him.

Do we have some of Nicodemus in us? Do we keep our faith life with Jesus secret out of fear that we might lose some of our public standing and respect whether within a group of friends or whether in a more institutional setting? Are we afraid that people might think less of us, or might think that we are a religious fanatic if they come to know that we have a deep love for Jesus and pray on a regular basis?

A week ago we celebrated the greatest event in human history: Jesus conquered death. We are an Easter people. We have the answer to the greatest fear that humankind experiences: that of death. Let us tell the whole world. Let us show the whole world of our love for and gratitude to Jesus for what he did for us.

Yes, we are to spend time in private. But it is to be private time for prayer with Jesus (as Jesus did at night with his Father). We are not to seek privacy (or darkness) as a cover for sin, or as protection so that we do not risk our social standing by becoming known followers of Jesus.

Let us pray to Jesus in private, to strengthen ourselves for going forward and being witnesses to our faith.

In the Gospel reading for Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we see Peter struggle with giving over control to Jesus.

When Jesus attempts to wash the feet of Peter, how does Peter react? By attempting to take control of the situation. He attempts to prevent Jesus from doing what Jesus wants to do and he attempts to have Jesus do what he wants Jesus to do. “Peter said to Jesus, ‘You will never wash my feet.’” … “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Master, then [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.’”

It is understandable how Peter came to say this. He saw Jesus acting as a servant, and it did not fit with Peter’s concept of Jesus. This could very well occur in our own lives. We could find in our prayer and spiritual development that things are not the way we think they should be. We could attempt to take charge, to direct the way things should be in our prayer life. We could even attempt to take entire control of our spiritual development and direct it the way we think it should be directed, knocking out the Holy Spirit, who would otherwise direct our spiritual development.

We share that same human tendency with Saint Peter to be in charge. In many areas of our lives, we do have to be in charge, but in our Christ life, we do want to progress to the point where we have the faith and trust to allow Jesus to be in charge.

I, Fr. Henry, pass on to you a witness story from one of our own parishioners, in her own voice:

In December, on a very cold day, well below freezing, I was at a department store going about my business shopping. All of a sudden I heard a sound, like a swoosh. I looked over and saw a disabled young man — let’s call him Bob — walking with a limp and his shoes were in tatters. He would have been better off barefoot. I went about my business shopping and left the department store.

I went to get gas and then it struck me. I felt ashamed. I should have done something for Bob.

So I got on the phone right away and found the phone number for the department store. I called and spoke to the manager and asked if the patron could be found, so that I could purchase a pair of shoes for him.

They informed me that he was still in the store. I offered to buy him a pair of shoes, thinking how cold his feet must be at this time of year, when I myself go home to a warm house.

They spoke to Bob and then told me that he needed special orthopedic shoes, and that they were very expensive. They also told me where the shoes could be purchased.

I spoke on the phone to the shoe specialty store and between all of us, we arranged for Bob to be measured for the special shoes. I would cover all expenses.

Month after month passed and I never heard anything. I worried that my goodwill effort may have been for naught.

But then, yesterday, Monday of Holy Week, I received a call that the man would be picking up the shoes on this Friday — Good Friday.

I saw the significance of this happening during Holy Week, and I want people to realize how fortunate we all are. And I ask that the next time we look down at our shoes that we pray for Bob, and all who are in need.

Sincerely Carrie Manna, parishioner, religious education teacher and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph Parish.

A Working Replica of Noah’s Ark opened In SCHAGEN, Netherlands. The massive central door in the side of Noah’s Ark was opened to the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder.

Of course, it’s only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible. The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That’s two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold. A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.

Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs, chickens, goats, and one camel .

Visitors on the first day were stunned. ‘It’s past comprehension’, said Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.

‘I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big.’ There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark.

Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where churchgoing has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.

Now that I am old and gray…give me the time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles. Psalm 71:18

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The first reading at today’s Mass focuses on water. As we identify ourselves with Jesus’ forty days in the desert during our own Lenten journey, let us be aware of our need to have our thirst quenched spiritually, if not literally. We see this idea early in the Bible with People of Israel quenching their thirst literally with the water from the rock, and in the New Testament with Jesus speaking to the woman at the well about being spiritually quenched so that she will never thirst again. In addition, water plays an important part elsewhere in the Bible. The water of the Red Sea recedes so that the people of Israel may go free, and then returns as a rear guard to protect them from the pursuing Egyptians. A new birth is brought to the earth as Noah’s ark is raised up on the water as the rainwater fills the earth.

In our own day and time, we bless ourselves with holy water as we enter a church. And for most of us, shortly after we enter this world, we are baptized with water. This wonderful sacrament of initiation is foreshadowed at various times in the Old Testament. We already mentioned the crossing of the Red Sea and Noah and the ark.

Now let us see how today’s first reading foreshadows a full-immersion baptism. The angel had Ezekiel wade through the water, which was knee-deep, then waist-deep, and then so deep that he had to swim. After he fully immersed himself in this water, the angel explained to him that this is the water that makes fresh and supports life (enables creatures to multiply and trees to grow). And this is not just any water, it is water that finds its source from beneath the threshold of the temple of the Lord.

As we march through the remainder of Lent, preparing ourselves for Holy Week, let us remember our own baptism, as well as nourish ourselves spiritually by seeing the power that this special water has to renew life, as it originates from the very temple of the Lord.

Why does the Pharisee go home unjustified?

At first glance, we might go for an overly simplistic explanation and say, “because the tax collector was all good and the Pharisee was all bad.” But that is the type of characterization that we find in cartoons that target the mindset of a child, in which a character is either a bad guy or a good guy. The reality is that the Pharisee is a “good guy” in many ways. He avoids evil: he is not greedy, he is not dishonest, he is not adulterous. He does good works: he tithes and he fasts twice a week, that’s 100 days out of the year. (We Catholics are required to fast only twice a year on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstaining from meat on those days as well as other Fridays in Lent.) Clearly this Pharisee has a lot going for him. So what’s the problem?

Notice how he begins his prayer. “I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity.” He is doomed from the very beginning. Any claims that he makes after these words are immaterial. He has sought to separate himself from the human family. We are one big global human family of six-billion-plus members. Our prayer must begin with our love for, concern for, and solidarity with the members of our human family. Our prayer is to help us grow in our love for one another. Our petitionary prayer should be for other members of our human family. Our prayer should not be how we separate ourselves from other members of our human family.

Gospel Lk 18:9-14 - Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity, greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income. ‘But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Gospel reading at Mass on Saturday, March 21, 2009.