by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • January 31, 2012
Birth is a miracle from God. Every mother of a newborn can look down with awe at the new life she cradles in her arms. She might ask her child, “Where did you come from, little one?” She might say the words of poet Maureen Hawkins: “Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would give my life for you.”
Today’s Gospel from Luke describes this in one sentence: “Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.” We marvel at Mary, the Mother of God, a teenager from Nazareth. She gave birth to a tiny baby who was also God. It is a miracle within a miracle.
Happy New Year,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • January 6, 2012
Epiphany
Through the centuries, a variety of interesting legends have grown up around this feast of Epiphany. Although the magi from the east are not named, described or numbered in the scriptures, most legends agree that there were three of them. One particular legend, told to world explorer Marco Polo on a trip to Persia (Iran), seems to describe Balthazar as the youngest of the magi, Casper in the middle and Melchior as the oldest. (The travels of Marco Polo). In this legend, when the three travelers arrive in Bethlehem, each goes separately into the cave to visit the one they seek, and encounter no one there but a man his own age. Later, the magi take their gifts and go back to the cave together. When they enter, they find inside a 13 day infant.
The Persian legend does not go into detail about their conversations, but we can imagine what the three travelers might have talked about with the man in the cave. Perhaps when young Balthazar entered, he met a young prophet with whom he shared his thoughts on reform and promise. Casper met a middle aged teacher with whom he talked passionately of leadership and responsibility. When Melchior entered, he saw an old man like himself, with whom he was quite at ease, and they shared memories of days gone by.
Jesus understands and speaks to every person at every age. Those with the maturity of old age hear the call to integrity and wisdom. The middle aged hear the call to responsibility and service. The young hear the call to find their way toward intimacy with God and to the unique identity that will shape and direct their lives.
And you? Who do you meet as you come bearing the gift of yourself to offer to God this day? To what is God calling you? How will you use the gift of the new year that lies ahead? Like the magi of old, we too are on a journey, searching along the way for some manifestation of God and grace.
May God bless you on your journey,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • January 3, 2012
Birth is a miracle from God. Every mother of a newborn can look down with awe at the new life she cradles in her arms. She might ask her child, “Where did you come from, little one?” She might say the words of poet Maureen Hawkins: “Before you were conceived, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would give my life for you.”
Today’s Gospel from Luke describes this in one sentence: “Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.” We marvel at Mary, the Mother of God, a teenager from Nazareth. She gave birth to a tiny baby who was also God. It is a miracle within a miracle.
Happy New Year,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • December 23, 2011
Merry Christmas…
Jesus Christ is Born
If it weren’t for his life, we wouldn’t be celebrating his birth. If it weren’t for the way he lived his life, then the story heard at the Christmas Vigil, that proclaims his genealogy and the story of Joseph’s dream and act of faith about the Emmanuel to be born, would fall on deaf ears. Were it not for the witness he gave and the actions he did during his ministry in Galilee, there would be no midnight hymns and songs of praise, and the stories of the gathering shepherds would not make a difference. It would just be another night and just another baby born in an overcrowded town.
We remember his birth because of how he lived among us. We celebrate his birth and his coming again by our very lives. Every day could be Christmas if we allowed the Christ child to be born where we walk, where we eat and drink, where we mix with people – family, neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies.
Everywhere we walk, we carry Christ. Everywhere we go, Christ goes with us and is born again and again in those loving and messy relationships between the beloved children of God, the brothers and sisters of Jesus, the heirs of God’s loving promises. His life is what gives us reason to celebrate his birth. Take Him with you in your life – and celebrate it!
Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Deacon Ron Cook
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • December 20, 2011
A little girl and her grandfather.
A little girl sat on her grandfather’s lap. Looking up into his face, she touched his wrinkled old cheek. Then she touched her own smooth cheek and asked, “Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes,” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.”
Then she asked, “Did God make me too?”
Grandpa replied, “Yes, of course he did honey. But God made you just a little while ago.”
Checking her own smooth face once again, the little girl said, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”
In today’s Gospel, Mary learns that she will give birth to the Son of God. She will soon be privileged to look upon her newborn child and to let her lips be the first to kiss the perfect cheeks of the face of God.
God bless,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • December 2, 2011
Moving towards Christmas: Saturday, December 10, will be our last Men’s Fellowship gathering for 2011. We will gather for Mass at 7:30 a.m., followed by a light breakfast and then continue our discussion from November – How “Catholic” do I have to be in order to be Catholic? Come with questions and we will discuss them as a group. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please email it to me at E-Mail.
For those of you who may be interested, the men’s group, Bravehearts at St. Joseph’s in Lake Orion, welcomes Fr. Larry Richards, author of the book, “Man Up”. Their meeting is also Saturday, December 10, beginning with Mass at 7:30 a.m. Registration is from 8:15 – 9:00 a.m. and the speaker from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Suggested donation is $8.00 per person. St. Joseph Parish is located at 715 N. Lapeer in Lake Orion. The program will take place in the school gymnasium. To RSVP call 248-693-6215 X401.
Have a blessed week,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • November 29, 2011
Advent is a time of remembrance and expectancy. It focuses our spiritual lives, bringing together our past, our present and our future. During our Advent journey, we revisit the spiritual journey or our ancestors and rekindle the feelings they felt as they awaited the first coming of the Messiah. Strengthened by their faith, we renew our own belief in Jesus’ presence and love in our daily lives. Finally, we prepare for his second coming. We ready ourselves to rejoice in the glory yet unseen.
Waiting is not a popular pastime, yet if we do not learn to wait, we will never be prepared for Christ’s coming. Advent teaches us how to cultivate and maintain a spirituality of waiting.
During this Advent season, immerse yourself in the spiritual stories of your faith filled ancestors. Have the courage to write your own salvation history. Hold this history with open hands. Allow your waiting for God, and God’s waiting for you, to transform the world in which you live. Allow this Advent, the coming Messiah, this arrival to transform your life.
Have a happy Advent,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • November 21, 2011
Why do we call our priests “Father”?
Many non-Catholics question why priests are called “Father” in our Church. They say this is not what the Bible teaches! Doesn’t Jesus Himself say, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven”? Mt 23:9
The question asked seems to presuppose that this passage from Scripture should be taken literally as an absolute statement; that we should call no man father. If we were to interpret Matthew 23:9 literally, no one could be called father, not even our biological father. Christians could not for example, celebrate Father’s Day. Nor could George Washington be called “the father of our country.” Is this what Jesus intended? Of course not. Doesn’t Jesus tell the rich young man “to keep the commandments” including the one to “honor your father and mother”? Mt 19:19
When interpreting Matthew 23:9, it would be helpful to read the entire 23rd chapter in order to get the proper understanding of the context of this passage. This chapter of Matthew contains Jesus’ indictment of the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. So, not only does Jesus condemn the scribes and Pharisees for their use of the address “Father” in a vain and empty way, but in the very next verse says: “Nor are you to be called teachers, for you have only one teacher, the Christ.” Mt 23:10. Yet, many contemporary non-denominational TV preachers describe themselves as “Bible teachers” and no one has ever argued that the Church should not have Sunday school teachers on the basis of this passage. Jesus Himself acknowledged Nicodemus to be a “teacher of Israel” (John 3:10) and in the Book of Acts, we read that certain men in Antioch were called “teachers.” Acts 13:1 As we can clearly see when reading the entire 23rd chapter of Matthew, Jesus takes issue not with these titles and roles, but rather with their abuse by the scribes and Pharisees.
The term “father” when used to address a priest is not merely an assertion of his “higher” status in the community. Rather, it is a term of endearment and of love, as the apostle Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, and 1 Thessalonians 2:11. The spiritual fatherhood of the priest is intended to be a sign of the depth of the relationship which those in the community of the Church have with their leaders, a relationship based on the priest’s role in our second birth, our baptism.
This kind of attempt to interpret the Scriptures literally and then apply a passage taken out of context, is a misreading and misunderstanding of the Scriptures. It remains a simple fact that the overwhelming majority of Christians in the world today (Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans, etc.) and across the 20 centuries of Church history have addressed and continue to address their clergy as “Father.”
In Christ’s peace,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • November 4, 2011
Expect the unexpected
If you wrote down your 10 most important priorities in life, “preparing for the second coming of Jesus and the end of time” probably is not too high on your list. Most of us are content to relegate that experience to some far off time in the distant future.
We as Christians enjoy an ongoing relationship with God, which means God breaks into our world constantly. These ever unfolding revelations of God’s presence reveal the ever–coming Christ in our world and reminds us that the world is Gods. Just as God’s first words were (“Let there be light,” Gen 1) and his last words will be (Yes, I am coming soon,” Rev 20).
Today’s Gospel is our warning to be prepared, because we do not know the hour or the day He will return. Getting ready is work and work requires motivation. It’s good to heed the old proverb, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
Some folks say, “I do my work at the same time each day…the last minute!” Mark Twain, speaking for all experienced procrastinators, took it one step further, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
Always remember, there may not be a tomorrow or a day after. Get your house in order today, and be prepared!
With God’s blessings,
Deacon Ron
by Rev. Mr. Ron Cook • August 9, 2011
Can you Walk on Water?
Today’s Gospel is the well known story of Peter walking on water. Jesus tells Peter to step out of the safety of the boat and walk to Him across the water. Buoyed with his great faith, Peter steps into the water and takes his first steps. Only when he looks away from Jesus does his faith falter and he sinks into the sea.
As we navigate the seas of our lives, those that are both treacherous and calm, Jesus is with us all the while. He is the bridge that carries us over the hills and valleys of our lives. He is the outstretched hand that is always ready to save us from the deep. As we move from fear to faith, we are strengthened by the assurance that there is nowhere God is not, no heart in which God does not choose to dwell, and no hand that God will not reach out to save.
Have a blessed week,
Deacon Ron