GregCast Diakonia

Here's a riddle: What can you hear and feel, but not see or hold? The wind, of course! (and Thunder as one parishioner told me on the way out...) 😁 In Greek it is Pneuma, and in Hebrew it is Rûah, each meaning "wind" and "spirit." Many even define it as "the breath of God," for as this wind and spirit enter a moment, something is always created out of the mystery! The Breath of God comes to us from the Father... The Rûah in Genesis depicts the moment of creation as "a mighty wind" sweeping over the waters. The Book of Ecclesiastes offers that, "Just as you do not know how the life breath enters the human frame in the mother’s womb, So you do not know the work of God, who is working in everything." The Prophet Ezekiel tells of the Lord saying to the dry bones in the desert, "Listen, [and] I will make breath enter you so you may come to life." God has given us our life's breath, and he has entered our lives so that ...

Note: Dan and I agreed that while preaching about Mother's Day was not the purpose of this particular Homily, it was appropriate and fun to cryptically include something about "M.O.M."  Look for it below! This Mother's Day offers a unique opportunity to celebrate with something more than flowers, or breakfast in bed, for yesterday marked the 100th Anniversary of the First Apparition of the Blessed Mother to three young children near Fatima. Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta were entrusted with a series of messages that were meant to challenge godless ways, during a time when the world was being torn apart by war and sin. Yesterday, Pope Francis canonized two of the three seers of Fatima. Saints Francisco and Jacinta. His homily included a wonderful declaration, that is quite fitting for today… “We have a Mother. Clinging to her like children, we live in the hope that rests on Jesus.” But he also stressed the very sobering reality that still challenges our world t...