Tribute to Love

Thanks to Jennefer for the link to this video. It is here , however, as a tribute to my Uncles who cared for their wives like this man and to my neices and nephews who cared for my sister, their mother, in a similar way. It is a tribute to the kind of love Jesus and the Church are calling us to - giving oneself away for the sake of those we love - Agape, in Greek.

Due to the events of today (The departure of Benedict XVI) I would quote from the ending of John's Gospel (21:15-17) when Jesus Challenged Peter to do likewise.

 

'When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (like a friend) you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

 

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (like a brother) you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

 

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." [Jesus] said to him, "Feed my sheep.'

 

How About This Sunday Congregation?

Fellow Clergy;

Can you even imagine preaching to this crowd every Sunday?

Deacon Joe

Today (October 2, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI welcomed Minnesotan Miguel Diaz as the new Ambassador from the U.S. to the Vatican. Diaz met with the Pope to present his credentials as he took up his new office in Rome. The Pope and the Ambassador exchanged written greetings. Here is a section of the Pope's comments to the new Ambassador.

"In the course of my Pastoral Visit to your country last year I was pleased to encounter a vibrant democracy, committed to the service of the common good and shaped by a vision of equality and equal opportunity based on the God-given dignity and freedom of each human being. That vision, enshrined in the nation's founding documents, continues to inspire the growth of the United States as a cohesive yet pluralistic society constantly enriched by the gifts brought by new generations, including the many immigrants who continue to enhance and rejuvenate American society. In recent months, the reaffirmation of this dialectic of tradition and originality, unity and diversity has recaptured the imagination of the world, many of whose peoples look to the American experience and its founding vision in their own search for viable models of accountable democracy and sound development in an increasingly interdependent and global society."

Obviously the "reaffirmation" of our American ideals that "recaptured the imagination of the world" refers to the election of Barack Obama.

Read the entire greeting from the Pope which includes addition emphasis on our concern for the human dignity of all from conception to natural death and the protection of conscience of healthcare workers.

Pope and President Meeting Reviewed

Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, reviewed Friday's meeting between President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI. Here is part of his introduction.

'The speculation over what the pope and president would discuss, and whether or not abortion would be center stage has been answered affirmatively. As the Vatican's statement makes clear "the conversation turned first of all" to issues "such as the defense and promotion of life, and the right to abide by one's conscience."

We also know that President Obama told the pope of his desire to "reduce the number of abortions," and of his "respect for the positions of the Church." '

Read the entire review on the Blog of the Diocese of Kansas City/St Joseph.