If you would like to receive these daily reflections (written by various parishioners) in your email box each day, contact darcy.wharton@rocklincatholic.org 

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Reflections for May 27-June 2, 2019
Monday May 27,2019-Memorial Day
It strikes me that there is an interesting confluence of events that occur this week.  Today is Memorial Day, a day we stop for a moment, not just to plan what we’re going to do on this holiday from work, but to actively remember, first, those who have given of themselves to serve and protect and die for this country in the military services and, second, those who have been a part of our families and who have gone on to the next phase of life. Then, later in the week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, remembering once again that Jesus lived and died for us and then returned to the Father in Heaven.         In my family I have three Uncles, now deceased, who served in the Marines, Coast Guard and Army during WWII, but who seldom, indeed hardly ever talked of what they did and or what they witnessed.  But they did this service willingly for the good of our country.  Our Lord set the example of service to His God and to His people giving us all a model of service.  We all, civilians and military, can use this week, these special days, to remember and emulate our Lord Jesus and those in our families who lived their lives for us, for our freedom and our beliefs.  Thanks be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and for those who gave of their lives for us.                      
Deacon David
 
Tuesday May 28, 2019-Too much to ask?
Some of the recent scripture readings were not easy to hear and are more than challenging.  Paul is quoted in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles saying “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”  Then, in John’s gospel, Jesus tells us “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” That sentence came after He had said “I give you a new commandment: Love one another.” 
Yes, I said “not easy…” and “challenging”.  Who goes into an endeavor having been forewarned that there will be “many hardships?”  And then there is Jesus’ commandment to love:   Love who?  The answer is the all inclusive “one another”
All of the Neophytes received into the Catholic Church on Easter heard these words and they, along with us, have the challenge of acting on them.  It’s going to be difficult but remember that the love one gives is reciprocated, possibly in greater measure than one gives.  We are here for one another with Jesus. 
As for Paul telling us that there will be hardships:  We all have things that are hard, but when I think about what Paul was saying to his brothers, my hardships pale in comparison.  I don’t trudge from town to town relying upon people’s generosity for food and shelter.  I don’t endure being spat upon and reviled for my proclaimed beliefs…or do I proclaim them? 
I love you and I want to share Jesus with you, the embodiment of Love, no matter how imperfectly I proclaim them.
 Deacon David
 
Wednesday May 29, 2019-What do you do?
I’ve often been asked about what my work was way back when I was gainfully employed.  When I explain what I did a common response has been “…oh, I could never (or want to) do that.”  That gets me to thinking about the multitude of jobs/careers people pursue:  White collar, blue collar, no collar.  My reaction to many of these is much the same as the one I mentioned in relation to my job: “Oh, I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to do that.”
Take a minute with me though.  Every job has value above earnings.  All of us need the work others accept to do to serve the needs of one another.  Jesus dignified manual labor by his work with his dad as a carpenter and also as a biblical scholar, preacher, prophet and priest.  When I pass by a field where agricultural workers are laboring I make it a point to pray for their wellbeing.  I also pray for healthcare workers, checkers and clerks in retail stores and markets, trash collectors and so on…all of whom serve my needs.  In personal gratitude I try always to say thanks to them for their service to me.
May each of us accept our work in life even though we may not be recognized for it and may we do it with joy to glorify God with the gifts and talents he has given us.
Deacon David
 
Thursday May 30, 2019-Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Wow, it has already been six weeks since Lent ended and our shouts of “Alleluia” began on Easter Sunday.  Jesus had walked physically amongst the disciples teaching and modeling for them the way of life he wished them to continue.  The disciples didn’t, perhaps, understand what he’d said about leaving them but that’s what happened and what we celebrate today.  Jesus went home to the Father and the disciples were left with the fact that the teaching and the modeling was now up to them.  We’ve not seen the person Jesus in the flesh but we, like the disciples, have, by our baptism,  been given the work of living as He did.  We certainly are “followers” but we arealso expected to be “doers” just as the apostles were, being the teacher and model of what we believe.  As I said on Tuesday the commandment is to Love one another.  We do that in many ways not only in “church” but at home, at work and as we go into the world.  I question myself, asking is my “alleluia” observable in all of these places?  What if Jesus was going down the road alongside me?  Would He know of my belief in Him?  Yep: He’s gone from sight but He’s here, all over the place, and is visible in those who live their “alleluias”.  Lord, help me to take ownership of celebrating Jesus’ going home but being Him in our world.       
    Deacon David
 
 
Friday May 3l, 2019-Whose Church is This?
 In ruminating about the people who serve me earlier this week, it occurred to me that  here at Saints Peter and Paul parish, there are many, many volunteers who give of themselves wholeheartedly without requiring any compensation.  There are cooks for the Gathering Inn, receptionists greeting people in the parish office, coordinators for many ministries responding  to needs in the parish:  the bereaved, the youth who need teachers,  social events, bible studies, etc.
Recently I attended a retreat concerning how people “own” their church by going beyond mass attendance to take part in owning what makes “church” work.  That includes those who cooperate with the Pastor in determining the direction the parish takes from worship/liturgy to budgeting resources, maintaining security and oh, so much more.  These actions flow from the parish Mission Statement which asks us ”to create and sustain a community of faith… {and to be} inspired to care for others”. One of the wise participants of the retreat said this that stuck in my mind: “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it”.  The people who “do” in the parish, both paid and volunteer, don’t do it to get rich, heaven knows.  Rather they each have a purpose that becomes more evident the longer we observe them, to enrich in some way the care of souls.  Each of us has an open invitation to assume the ownership of the church by participating in any way we are able.  Worship, pray, do.  Don’t be worried about breaking anything…you already own it.                          
 Deacon David
 
Saturday June 1, 2019-Lay Mission Helpers
I’ve mentioned previously that Jane, our children and I were lay missionaries from the Diocese of Los Angeles from 1969 to 1972 in Kenya.  My reflection from yesterday reminded me of one of the mottos espoused by the LMH then, and even today:  Be the first to volunteer.  They said that often enough that we have (tried) to do that ever since.  I can’t say I have done it wholeheartedly all the time but when I look back I can see the ripple effects of our actions.  People do see what we each do, for ill or for good and they respond to what they observe.  Three of our children and their spouses plus a nephew and his wife have also gone on to be volunteers/lay missionaries in foreign countries and their ripple effects have moved others toward such service.  Our own response  was engendered from the chance meeting with a young man where I worked who mentioned that he was leaving the following week to work for the LMH in Africa, where he subsequently died while serving the people of Uganda. 
All of this is simply to say that I should be aware of the ongoing call to service to others in the vein of Jesus having given us each the commandment to “Love one another”.  The opportunities to serve are myriad and don’t require leaving the country.  That voice in my ears continues to call me to service and cannot be ignored.      Do you hear any such voice?                     
Deacon David
 
Sunday June 2, 2019-Graduation time
Last week another of my grandchildren graduated from high school and I was privileged to have been a part of the baccalaureate ceremony which reminded me of my own graduation lo those many years ago. I went on to college, just as my granddaughter will do, pursuing a degree which will not only add to her knowledge but will likely lead to her career in life.  I was fortunate enough to get such an education that led to a fulfilling career.  It also helped me, later on, to understand how my parents continual encouragement led to me being the first of my extended family to get a college degree.  Now many in my family have completed college and several have advanced degrees.   But education shouldn’t be limited to a college degree. There is an ongoing need for me to continue my faith education, not for career advancement but to prepare for my  ultimate graduation.  You see, I believe that God has given all of us the opportunity to get closer to understanding him and striving for what we are pointed toward in any baccalaureate ceremony:  the goal in life to know, love and serve him.  How am I going to do this?  I’m going to continue to learn as much as I am capable of and then try to pass it on.  Let’s pray for the graduates of this year no matter at what level they are, that they may join all of us as we continue on our way.          
 Deacon David


Reflections for May 20-26, 2019
Monday, May 20, 2019- Risky Business
I’m pretty sure that I am risk-averse.  I tend to take the safe route whenever possible.  My husband and I have never taken crazy risks with our finances, and I have always chosen a safe path over a wild and unpredictable one.  If I am going somewhere unfamiliar, I check it out on Google maps first.  However, some people see me as brave because I don’t have a fear of public speaking or public singing.  Those are risks that they would never consider taking.
So maybe the difference is that if I enjoy the activity, I am willing to take a risk at doing it.  My fear of potential failure takes a back seat and I forge ahead.  It strikes me that this is how the disciples must have felt.  It clearly was risky to leave their livelihoods behind and follow Jesus.  What made them take that risk?  I believe that their love for God was more important than any sense of personal safety, even if it meant that they might face an early death.
I wonder if I can take a risk today and do something that will draw me closer to God?
Darcy Wharton
 
Tuesday, May 21, 2019- Is the Church a Business or Not?
If you’re ever looking for a discussion starter, ask your friends or family members this question, “Is the Church a business or not?”  When I personally think of answering this question, my heart tells me that it is not a business.  The church is “field hospital for sinners”, the “body of Christ”, a “family of believers”.  My head tells me that we are a type of business.  We have budgets, buildings, services we provide, and more. 
After reflecting on this, I realized that we probably could be seen as a little of both and that both perspectives offer different opportunities for involvement.  If I think the church is a family or a field hospital for sinners, I am going to make sure that I am willing and able to be present to my fellow parishioners in all the ways I try to be there for my own family.  This requires compassion, love, and an awareness of other people’s needs.  If I think of the church as a business (with myself as a co-owner), then I have to be willing to sacrifice my time, talents, and treasure. 
Either way, there will be demands made upon me.  What am I willing to give?
Darcy Wharton
 
Wednesday, May 22, 2019-Holding the Pain
We recently held listening sessions at our parish.  These sessions were an opportunity for parishioners to openly voice their feelings, questions, and thoughts in regard to the clergy abuse crisis.  As staff, we wondered how many people might attend.  As it turned out, a total of twelve people combined attended the two sessions.  I began to contemplate why so few people attended.  Was it too soon?  Are we “done” with this issue?  Are we too numb to even be able to express how we are feeling? 
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is well known for her work on grief.  She has defined five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  Studies have shown that we all go through these stages when dealing with the death of a loved one. 
I wonder if we might be experiencing collective grief over the harm done to so many innocent children and vulnerable adults.  If so, where are we in this process?  Where are you?
Let us pray today for all those young people whose lives were shattered by the sin of abuse. Let us also pray for our Church, as we collectively grieve.
Darcy Wharton
 
Thursday, May 23, 2019- Too Many to List
One of the joys of my job is meeting with people who desire to return to the Catholic Church.  The class is also appropriate for those who have always been attending church but would like a refresher course.  We do this through the Catholics Returning Home program.  Recently, a gentleman bravely joined the group after being away from the Church for fifty years.   (To put this in perspective, he left the church prior to the Vietnam War).  Imagine his surprise at seeing the changes that have occurred in the Church since he left! 
As is typical of returnees, he was most concerned about confession.  How could he possibly remember all of the sins that he probably committed over the years?  Was he supposed to make a list?  He jokingly said that the list would be ridiculously long! 
My sense of God is that God is not concerned with us coming to the sacrament of reconciliation with a list.  God wants us to be reunited with him in love.  Instead of listing individual sins and confessing them, what would it be like to do a scan of our lives and see patterns of sin?  For example, if you missed Mass, why did you miss?  What attitude or behaviors need to change?
When this idea was introduced to me, at first I felt relieved.  There might be too many sins to list anyway!  Then I realized that reflecting deeper made me realize that there are patterns in my life that need to change and changing those patterns is hard!  However, if I can change these patterns (and be forgiven for the times I fall short), then my relationship with God will grow immensely.
Darcy Wharton
 
Friday, May 24, 2019-Finding the Dumpster
Do you know where the dumpster is on our church grounds?  How about the defibrillator (AED) machines?   Any idea where you could get a listening device so you can hear better at Mass? 
These might seem like silly questions, but they may help us determine how connected we are to our parish and our parish facilities.  If we need an answer to one of those questions or if we see something broken, we may be tempted to approach a staff member.   However, what would it look like if more people in our parish community helped each other by answering each other’s questions, or were willing to do a simple task such as take out the trash after a parish event?  I know that in my own family, when my children’s friends were able to find things in our house, or when they were able to contribute in some way to the family events, they felt more connected to us and more comfortable in our home. 
Lord, help us feel more connected to our parish. 
Darcy Wharton
 
Saturday, May 25, 2019- Laughing at our Differences
I recently facilitated a retreat for a group of Methodist ladies from the Loomis Basin Methodist Church.  Responding to a request for a get-acquainted activity, I decided to group the ladies into sets of five or six women and then I asked them to find the person in their group that “answered” the question.  So I began with, “find the person in your group who is the tallest”, “find the person in your group who has the most amazing talent”, etc.  One of the questions I asked was, “find the person in your group who has the most children.”   As the people stood up, I asked them how many children they had.  The answers surprised me.  “Two….Three….Two….Two….”  No one on the retreat had more than three children! 
I then said, “Well clearly I’m not leading a Catholic retreat this weekend!”   The ladies joined me in laughing about that for a while. 
It can be so refreshing to laugh at our differences or at the very least, hold them lightly, instead of being caught up in trying to convince others that we are “right” and they are “wrong”.  The commonalities I discovered between Methodist and Catholic women far outweighed our differences.  The most important thing we all shared was an incredible love of God.
Lord, help us look for what holds us together instead of what divides us.
 
Sunday, May 26, 2019- “I saw God”
It has always been interesting to me to read stories of people who have had near-death experiences.  Typically the person dies on the operating table (or is very close to dying) and once he or she is revived they tell others about an experience of getting a glimpse of heaven.  A few years ago, the movie  Heaven is for Real was in the movie theaters and it chronicled the story of a little boy who went to heaven for a bit.   I remember being fascinated by that movie.
I never thought that someone I loved would have that experience, but a couple of weeks ago my birthmother went in for surgery and while she was in recovery, they discovered that she was suffering from internal bleeding and she lost eight units of blood.  (She is a tiny woman and probably did not have much more than that to lose.)  It was a very scary time as they stopped the bleeding, and began the slow process of bringing her body temperature to normal.  A couple of days later, her ventilation tube was removed.  She couldn’t speak loudly, but she grabbed my arms and in a whisper said, “I saw God.”  Then she said, “It was beautiful”.  I wanted to come back for Frank, though.”  (Frank is her husband.)
This experience has solidified for me the reality of heaven.  Since she is not a regular churchgoer, I do not know if she fully believed in life everlasting, although she always hoped that my brothers who had died were at peace.  If you were to ask her today, however, she would tell you that heaven is for real.  Now she wants to figure out what God wants her to do with her remaining time on earth.
Let us thank God for miracles and for the hope in life eternal.
Darcy Wharton