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Finding God In The Ordinary

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Gary Zimak

In the Gospel Reading from today?s Mass (John 21:1-19), there are several themes that can be explored, most of them dealing with St. Peter. In this reading, Peter is given a chance to atone for his threefold denial of Christ. We also see the Lord affirm Peter?s role as the ?shepherd? of the Church when He asks the first pope to ?feed my lambs? and ?tend my sheep?. We also see Our Lord predicting St. Peter?s suffering and eventual martyrdom. However, there is another theme that I would like to look at ? one that directly affects me, and probably affects many of you as well.

In the beginning of this passage, we see that the Apostles are back at their ?day jobs? as fishermen. Can you imagine what a let down it was to travel around with Jesus for 3 years, witnessing all of His miracles and healings ? and then have to return to their ordinary lives as fishermen? However, it is in the midst of that daily work that Jesus appears and blesses their labor.

Like many others, I have a secular day job. Often it is a challenge to find God in the midst of my work, but it?s what I am called to do. One of the things made clear in the Vatican II document, Lumen Gentium is that lay people are called to bring God to the home and to the workplace. The bishops, priests and deacons can?t accomplish that task, as they can?t be everywhere. That task is up to lay people like us. Too many times our ?religious lives? are considered to be separate from our ?daily lives?, and that is wrong. We need to find ways to integrate our Catholic Faith into our everyday lives. That is the challenge of being a Catholic.

If you have any doubts about Jesus being in your workplace, remember His appearance to the Apostles while they were fishing. He was right with them as they worked, just as He is with each of us. Note also that when they spent the night fishing, they caught nothing. However, once the Lord recommended that they cast the nets over the right side of the boat, they caught more fish than they could handle. While each of us is called to bring the ?Good News? into our homes and workplace, the Lord does not expect us to do it alone. He will assist us, just as He helped the Apostles. In the weeks to come, I will be offering some practical suggestions for exactly how to do this, but for now just try to recall that Jesus is with you at home and at work. Being mindful of that fact should add meaning to all of our daily tasks, no matter how mundane or trivial.

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He Is Risen!

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Gary Zimak

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10)

Wishing you all a Blessed and Holy Easter. May the peace of the risen Christ fill all of your hearts this day!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Zimak

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Holy Thursday – Can You Spare Some Time For The Lord?

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Gary Zimak

Today is Holy Thursday, a day which commemorates the Lord?s Last Supper with His Apostles. On that day, some 2000 years ago, Jesus instituted the Sacraments of the Eucharist and the Priesthood. Because of His generosity, we are still able to receive and adore Him today. The same Jesus who walked the face of the earth, healing and teaching, can be encountered to this very day. How could we ever fully express our appreciation for His gift?

After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He was in agony, knowing that He would die a painful death the following day. This death was necessary so that unworthy and ungrateful sinners like us could someday go to Heaven. The Lord asked Peter, James and John to accompany Him to the garden. Unfortunately, they couldn?t stay awake and Jesus was basically left alone.

After tonight?s Holy Thursday liturgy, you and I will have the opportunity to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Make no mistake about it ? this is the SAME Jesus who suffered alone in the garden. Do you think you could spare some time to keep Him company tonight? If you need some incentive, think about this ? Jesus is God and knows everything. Unlike us, He is not bound by time and space and therefore knows all that will happen in the future. While He was suffering alone in the garden, deserted by the sleeping apostles, He knew that you and I would be spending some time with Him on Holy Thursday of 2010?

Can you spare a few minutes to keep Him company?

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Are You Ready For Easter?

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Gary Zimak

As Lent winds to a close and we prepare to celebrate the Lord?s Resurrection, many of us are feeling guilty because we ?should have done more?. While it is true that we are in the final days of the Lenten season, it?s important to recall that there is still much that we can do to ensure our readiness for the Easter celebration. A simple and effective approach is what I call the ?4 R?s? ? Reflect, Repent, Remember and Rejoice!

Reflect ? The practice of reflection is vital to the Christian life. One of the greatest examples of this can be seen in the life of our Blessed Mother, Mary. Scripture tells us that on multiple occasions, she pondered things in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51). In our case, reflection involves looking back at Lent and deciding whether we became closer to the Lord. Are there still any obstacles that we can remove from our lives? Are we holding grudges, spending lots of time pursuing leisure activities, being selfish with our money or time? Are we in the state of mortal sin? How about venial sins or imperfections? If we conclude that there are no improvements needed, perhaps meditating on the words of the Apostle John may enlighten us, ?If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

Repent ? Now that we?ve identified those things which may be keeping us from the Lord, what do we do? Without a doubt, the single most effective thing that we can do is to receive the Sacrament of Confession. The Lord gave us this tremendous gift and, sadly, it is rejected or ignored by many Catholics. In this sacrament, we have the opportunity to experience healing directly from Jesus Christ. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), ?The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the sacraments through the Holy Spirit for the Church. The saving mission entrusted by the Father to His incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to act in His name and in His person.? (CCC 1120) It is especially important to remember that we must be in the state of grace (free from mortal sin) before receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. The good news is that the absolution received in the Sacrament of Confession will cleanse us from our mortal sins and restore our souls to the state of grace. What about if you haven?t committed any mortal sins? According to the Catechism, ?Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.? (CCC 1458) Here?s a little known ?secret? for those of you who keep committing your ?favorite? sins and can?t seem to make any progress in eliminating them ? The grace received in the Sacrament of Confession will help you to conquer those habitual sins. God knows that we are weak and doesn?t expect us to do this alone. Take advantage of His help!

Remember ? One of the best ways to prepare for Easter is by participating in the services of Holy Week. I strongly recommend attending the Holy Thursday liturgy and Good Friday services. My wife has commented that when she didn?t participate in these events, Easter ?just wasn?t the same?. As sensory beings, feelings are very important and can even bring us closer to Christ. By reliving these events with the Lord, we will feel closer to Him and will be able to more fully rejoice on Easter Sunday. On Holy Thursday, the Church commemorates the Lord?s Last Supper during which He instituted two sacraments ? The Eucharist and the Priesthood. He also gave us a great example of the importance of service to the Christian life when He washed the Apostles? feet. On Good Friday, we travel to Calvary with the Lord and recall that our sins were the reason for His crucifixion. As Saint Francis of Assisi bluntly stated, ?It is you who have crucified Him and crucify Him still, when you delight in your vices and sins.? While most of us would rather to put the blame for the crucifixion on Pilate and the Jewish people, the Church reminds us that WE are ultimately responsible for the painful death of the Lord due to our sinfulness (CCC 598).

Rejoice! ? Now that we have admitted our guilt, sought forgiveness, and traveled with Our Lord to the Last Supper and Calvary, we can rejoice with Him on Easter. Why? According to the Church, ?Jesus, the Son of God, also Himself suffered the death that is part of the human condition. Yet, despite His anguish as He faced death, He accepted it in an act of complete and free submission to His Father’s will. The obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing.? (CCC 1009) By virtue of the Lord?s sacrifice, death has been transformed into a gateway to eternal life. This is a joyous occasion that should fill our hearts with gratitude and love for our Savior.

Even if you?ve done nothing during Lent to prepare for the Easter celebration, it?s still not too late. By using the 4 simple steps above, you can make the most of the remaining few days. Then, you can join the Easter chorus of heavenly and earthly voices as they loudly proclaim, ?Alleluia?He is Risen!?

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Hurry Up, Lord?I?m Waiting!

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Gary Zimak

For those of you who (like me) get impatient waiting for the Lord to answer your prayers, check out my latest article for Catholic Exchange. I can’t guarantee it will get your prayers answered faster, but it may make you feel better!

http://catholicexchange.com/2010/03/16/128112/

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Time To Come Home!

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Gary Zimak

Today?s Gospel reading (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) is one that never fails to remind me of God?s mercy and my own unworthiness. Although we all have different stories, who among us has not been the prodigal son (or daughter) at one point in our lives? Perhaps some of you may have fallen away from the Church and don?t know how to return. Lent is the perfect time to rectify this situation and ?come home? to the Church. How does one ?come home?? In today?s Second Reading, St Paul has some great words of wisdom:

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:17-19)

My friends, please take advantage of the wonderful outpouring of God?s mercy in the Sacrament of Confession. Sometimes known as Reconciliation or Penance, this great Sacrament will wipe away your sins and reconcile you with the Church. If you?re not sure what to say, contact your local parish and ask to make an appointment with a priest. He will be more than happy to walk you through the necessary steps.

Do you think that it?s an accident that you are reading this? There are no accidents with God. Make up your mind to go to Confession and experience God?s mercy first hand.

?Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.? (Lk 15:23-24)

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Are You Bearing Fruit?

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Gary Zimak

When I listen to the words of the Lord in today?s Gospel (Lk 13:1-9), I get a little uncomfortable. And despite what some people will try to tell you ? that?s not a bad thing. In fact, one of the benefits of the Lenten season is that we have the ability to look at ourselves and correct those things which need correcting ?before it?s too late!

Whether we want to believe it or not, the Church teaches that Hell exists. Don?t believe me?

The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1035)

If we choose to ignore the warnings of Christ in Scripture and in 2,000 years of constant Church teaching, we can end up in Hell. In today?s Gospel, Jesus warns each of us that, unless we repent, we can ?perish? and take up permanent (and I really mean permanent!) residence in the land of eternal suffering. He mentions this twice in today?s Gospel (Lk 13:3, 5), so it?s very hard to ignore. While some of you may look at this warning and feel safe because you?re not in the state of mortal sin, Jesus proceeds to tell a parable that raises the bar a bit.

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'” (Lk 13:4-9)

Are you ?bearing fruit? in your life? While you may be a great person, are there some duties that you are neglecting? Do you always put God first or does He come after television, the Internet, and relaxation? Are you charitable with your time and money, or only after first satisfying all of your needs? Can others look at your life and be attracted to a deeper faith? Do your actions always provide a good example for your family and co-workers? Our Lord is the man searching for fruit on the ?fig tree? of your life. That ?three year? period is your life span. In could be over today, tomorrow, twenty or fifty years from now. What you want to avoid is being found to be ?fruitless? on the day of judgment. Please use the remainder of this Lenten season to honestly look at your life, discover those areas that need improvement and make the necessary changes. If you need motivation, remember the words of Our Lord:

?If you do not repent, you will all perish!?

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Obedient Or Mindless?

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Gary Zimak

There are 2 common themes that I hear from those who decide that they can ignore the teachings of the one, true, Church founded by Jesus: 1. That God wants us to use our free will and intellect to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. 2. That those of us who are obedient to the Catholic Church are mindless followers who can’t think for themselves.

For those who hold this position, I would honestly like to know your basis for this belief. For example, is there scriptural support for your position? Was it taught in the early Church? Also, how do you handle the situation when two individuals disagree on a serious moral issue (such as abortion or euthanasia)? Can you both be right even though you hold opposite positions?

For those who believe (as I do) that when we obey the Church we obey Christ…are you a “mindless follower” or are you being obedient out of love for the Lord?

Please email me at thecatholictruth@yahoo.com or post a comment on the blog. Thanks!

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Every Child Brings Us God’s Smile

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Gary Zimak

There are many people in the world who attempt to turn the issue of abortion into a matter of choice or “women’s rights”. For whatever reason, these individuals try to divert attention from the murderous act that is taking place. Sadly, many well meaning people fall for this lie and are fooled into believing that abortion is some kind of a “right”. The following is an essay by my 11 year old niece, Meghan Glass. She is a sixth grade student at Trenton Catholic Academy in Trenton, NJ. This composition won Third Place in the Diocese of Trenton’s Essay Contest for the topic “Every Child Brings Us God’s Smile”. Meghan exhibits a great understanding of the importance of every life and reminds us that there really is no such thing as an “unwanted” child. There are many adults who could learn a lot by reading Meghan’s work…don’t you agree?

God made us all and every child is special to Him. He loves each and every one of us. He provides us with all we need and takes care of us. In His eyes, everyone is special. Each one of His children is important to Him.

Every child should be treated the right way ? with respect. That means that no child should be abused or hurt in any way and every child should be treated equally because we are all God?s children. I believe that each child in the world should be treated respectfully and not be ignored or abused. God loves each child alike and in God?s eyes no one is more important or special than anyone else. God knows that all of us are special in our own way. God loves everyone.

God also calls each of us to love one another and obey His commandments. One of those commandments is ?Thou shall not kill.? Abortion disobeys this commandment. It is wrong because by doing or having an abortion you are destroying a life that God has created.

Adoption is a good alternative to abortion. I was adopted. My Mom and Dad tell me I am a gift from God. When I was exactly six months old to the day, I came home. That was Monday, October 5, 1998. Adoption is a wonderful thing and I know I have brought God?s smile to my Mom and Dad!

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Trusting When It Doesn?t Make Sense

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Gary Zimak

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, the readings from today?s Mass provide us with some excellent spiritual nourishment. In the First Reading, The Lord tells Abram that he will have many descendents. Specifically, he is told ?Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” He added, “shall your descendants be.” (Gen 15:5) In the Great Adventure Bible Study, Jeff Cavins points out something very interesting about this passage. Upon reading a little further (Gen 15:12), we see that ?the sun is about to set?. When God asked Abram to look into the sky and count the stars, it was daytime! Despite the fact that he and his wife were both advanced in years and not even being able to see the stars during the day, Abram believed in God?s promise (Gen 15:6).

In the Second Reading, St. Paul cautions against those whose minds are occupied with earthly things (Phil 3:19), instead reminding the Philippians that their citizenship is in Heaven. Even though we currently live on the earth, God created all of us to ultimately live with Him in His Kingdom.

In the Gospel (Lk 9:28-36), Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on the mountain and allows them to experience a glimpse of Heaven. This event, commonly referred to as the Transfiguration, occurred just after He told them of His upcoming death. By seeing Our Lord in all of His glory, the Apostles are provided with a look at ?the light at the end of the tunnel?.

While struggling through our day to day problems, it?s important to ?keep one eye on Heaven?. No matter how difficult life seems to us, we need to remember that our earthly life isn?t the end of the story. Sometimes, like Abram, the Philippians, and the Apostles, it?s difficult to see the ?big picture?, but that?s why it?s called ?faith?. Is it easy to believe in things that we can?t see? No way?but we can ask God to increase our faith and continue to trust in His perfect will for our lives. While His answer may not be as dramatic as what was experienced by the Apostles, He will give you the grace that you need. In the meantime, continue to trust in His providence?even though it may not make sense!

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