Pastor's Message

May 14, 2000

A MOTHER’S GUIDANCE

At Easter dinner my sister’s adult children were talking about their growing up years. These nieces and nephews of mine are now married with children of their own. After reviewing their mother’s handling of them during their grade school, teenage, and college years, they concluded that she had been too easy on them! At that point my sister laughed, remembering that that was not how her children felt when they were in high school. What’s more, she knew that how tough or how easy someone is on theirœchildren is not the primary issue. Being a mother has never been an easy task.

Perhaps it is harder today because there are so many outside influences on most families. What is needed by children remains the same, however. What is needed is guidance. Of course, parents can be too lenient. I have seen parents afraid of saying no to their children, fearing that the kids will dislike them or portray them as mean and cruel to their friends. Parents can also be too harsh to their children and punish too severely, punish for the wrong things, or have impossibly high expectations of their children. Guidance requires discipline and directiveness, but it is more than that. Guidance from parents means setting standards and helping children reach those standards.

For that to happen, guidance is at its best when parents live by the same principles they want for their sons’ and daughters’ children. When your children have kids of their own, they may look back on how you treated them. What will really stay with them, however, is how you let your love for them guide your mothering and fathering.

Fr. herb

May 7, 2000

COME TO THE LIGHT

I remember as a child being enchanted by the large search lights that used to be used for grand openings of stores, restaurants, and fairs. I guess they were also used for many other gala extravaganzas. The beams of light would cut through the sky announcing that something special was happening.

At first I thought that the lights were searching for something in the night sky, and I would look up trying to see what might be flying about. Then I began to realize it was not what the light was shining on, so much as the source of the light, that was the attraction. One was to follow the beams of light to their source; there would be the treasure.

As we continue our observance of the Easter season, we continue to meditate on light. Jesus, as the Lord of Light, penetrates the darkness of our world. We are attracted to his light, but we must not stop there. We have to follow the light to its source. This weekend, as we celebrate the first reception of Eucharist by our children at the 12:15 Mass, we take a moment for everyone to contemplate how the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist is a way in which Jesus’ light enters our lives. Like the great search lights that used to shine in the dark night, the love of Jesus in the Eucharist lights up our lives.

Fr. Herb

Pastor's Message May 28, 2000 COME AND GONE This spring a pair of robins raised a family in the rectory backyard. I don’t know what it was exactly, but some strong force told me not to look for the nest. There was plenty of evidence that the robins had nested. From the early days when they were picking up dry grass to line the nest, I regularly saw the two birds busy about the task of home-making. One day I found a piece of a discarded blue egg shell. Probably it had been thrown away from the nest after the chick had hatched. In subsequent days I frequently saw one of the adult birds picking up worms or grubs to take to the young ones. Yes, I wanted to look for the nest and watch the feeding process. But something else compelled me to let nature alone. I needed to be content not interfering. This week all activity ceased. In fact, the adult birds are strangely absent from the yard. I suspect the newly hatched have already grown big enough to move on. I never knew the little ones, but I feel a real comradery with the parents. They worked so hard; their commitment was so strong. I guess you don’t have to meddle in someone’s life to be a good neighbor. Fr. Herb

May 14, 2000 A MOTHER’S GUIDANCE At Easter dinner my sister’s adult children were talking about their growing up years. These nieces and nephews of mine are now married with children of their own. After reviewing their mother’s handling of them during their grade school, teenage, and college years, they concluded that she had been too easy on them! At that point my sister laughed, remembering that that was not how her children felt when they were in high school. What’s more, she knew that how tough or how easy someone is on theirœchildren is not the primary issue. Being a mother has never been an easy task. Perhaps it is harder today because there are so many outside influences on most families. What is needed by children remains the same, however. What is needed is guidance. Of course, parents can be too lenient. I have seen parents afraid of saying no to their children, fearing that the kids will dislike them or portray them as mean and cruel to their friends. Parents can also be too harsh to their children and punish too severely, punish for the wrong things, or have impossibly high expectations of their children. Guidance requires discipline and directiveness, but it is more than that. Guidance from parents means setting standards and helping children reach those standards. For that to happen, guidance is at its best when parents live by the same principles they want for their sons’ and daughters’ children. When your children have kids of their own, they may look back on how you treated them. What will really stay with them, however, is how you let your love for them guide your mothering and fathering. Fr. herb May 7, 2000 COME TO THE LIGHT I remember as a child being enchanted by the large search lights that used to be used for grand openings of stores, restaurants, and fairs. I guess they were also used for many other gala extravaganzas. The beams of light would cut through the sky announcing that something special was happening. At first I thought that the lights were searching for something in the night sky, and I would look up trying to see what might be flying about. Then I began to realize it was not what the light was shining on, so much as the source of the light, that was the attraction. One was to follow the beams of light to their source; there would be the treasure. As we continue our observance of the Easter season, we continue to meditate on light. Jesus, as the Lord of Light, penetrates the darkness of our world. We are attracted to his light, but we must not stop there. We have to follow the light to its source. This weekend, as we celebrate the first reception of Eucharist by our children at the 12:15 Mass, we take a moment for everyone to contemplate how the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist is a way in which Jesus’ light enters our lives. Like the great search lights that used to shine in the dark night, the love of Jesus in the Eucharist lights up our lives. Fr. Herb