Weekend Reflections for 1/16/15

January 16, 2015 

The young prophet Samuel heard a voice calling him. At first he didn't recognize the voice--God's voice. His teacher, Eli, tells him to go back to sleep. The Lord keeps calling and finally Samuel recognizes that it is God calling. For Samuel as for each of us, God reaches out first and keeps coming to us. St. Paul brings us the truth about how close God is to us: "Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him."

We "temples of the Holy Spirit" now have that voice--the very presence of God--within us. Now our journey is that of Peter and Andrew in the Gospel. On that journey, in this new year, we hope to learn even more deeply the answer to their question, "Lord, where are you staying?" What an adventure it can be to follow the invitation of Jesus: "Come and you will see!"
 

Weekend Reflections for 1/9/15

There are moments in our lives--perhaps a number of them--that are what we would call "defining" moments. They change and direct us, enlighten us, strengthen us, give meaning to our lives. For Jesus his baptism is one of these defining moments: he is now sent to be the carrier of God's presence and action in the world. The voice of the Father says, "You are my beloved with whom I am well pleased."

 There is a mystical truth that this feast brings to us: those words, addressed to Jesus,  are addressed to us! Though we might find it hard to grasp, God loves us exactly as God loves Jesus. ("As the Father has loved me, so I love you...And the Father and I are one...") Those words to Jesus were addressed to us at our baptism and at each moment in our lives thereafter. May this feast confirm us in grace and strength for this coming year.
 

Weekend Reflections for January 2, 2015

A favorite bumper sticker: "God loves everyone in the world...no exceptions!" At the deepest level here is this simple truth of Epiphany: Christ has come for ALL people.  The "tenderness" of Christmas, the warm feelings that we share at Christmas time are meant to console us and strengthen us so that we can embrace our Lord Jesus Christ as He is now. The picture of our Messiah is the picture of Christ humbly drawing all people--not to dominate but to bless.

As we begin the new year we, like the Magi, can let God reach out to us in mysterious ways (our "star") and draw us in-- so that we can offer our gifts and take home with us Love itself.
 

Weekend Reflections for 12/19/14

Christmas

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High." (Lk 1:30-32)

Karl Rahner, S.J. was one of the most brilliant and holy theologians of the last century. (My opinion.) He wrote that if you want to experience what Christmas is really all about, you should go into a darkened room at night, sit quietly and comfortably, quiet your mind and go deeply within yourself, your own darkness.

You will become aware of your own longings, your deep desires to love and be loved, to know the truth and relish the beautiful, to be fully alive and to live forever. It's what it is to be human, to know our limits, our profound needs. Our God shares those longings and desires with us and so becomes one of us, a tiny, helpless infant. Now go and stare at the lights on your Christmas tree.
 

Weekend Reflections for 12/12/14

It is the Lord's Work

St. Paul writes: "Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ... May the God of peace make you perfectly holy ... and may you be preserved blameless for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will also accomplish it." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

Paul encourages us to be grateful and prayerful. We are that when we are aware of God's generosity and blessings to us, when we take the time to simply remember how God has been active in our lives and in the lives of our families and loved ones. It hasn't been and is not always easy; there are always challenges, sometimes confusion and even pain. Yet the Lord never abandons us, never leaves us to face life alone. Paul reminds us that our holiness isn't our work but the Lord's. When we invite Him into our lives, we give Him permission to make us into the people He wants us to be. As we pray at the ordination of a deacon: May the Lord bring to completion the good work He has begun in you.

Weekend Reflection for 12/5/14

John the Baptist

"John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And this is what he proclaimed: 'One mightier than I is coming after me.'" (Mk 1:4,7)

John can seem like a rather strange character to us. Certainly his wardrobe and diet were most unusual. I always think of him as a "pointer". When people came to him, he always pointed them to someone else, to Another, to Jesus. As people of faith, we share that vocation and role with John. We, too, are to be pointers.

During this Advent season we have many opportunities to quietly point to the true meaning of these days. There is so much more to these few short days than sales, colorful lights and new cookie recipes. We are invited to remember that Christ has come, is here now and will return to claim us as His own. And so, we point to His presence here and now and pray: Come, Lord Jesus

Weekend Reflections for 11/21/14

Just before that reception of Communion, the priest says a quiet prayer.  The last line of that prayer goes like this: "Keep me always faithful to your commandments and never let me be parted from you."

This line sums up my own life in the Spirit.  I want above all to be faithful to the Lord.  A husband and a wife have vowed to be faithful to each other for life.  They may not always be able to boast of strong feelings of love for their spouse, but they can and do profess fidelity to each other.  Love is what makes their faithfulness possible.

In a similar way, I cannot always claim to love God with all my heart and soul, as I did when I was a child, but I can desire with all my heart to be faithful to him.

Moreover, I can and do pray wholeheartedly that I may never be separated from my Lord and God.  I want to be able to say, with St. Paul, that there is nothing in life or in death that can separate me from the love of Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS

Be on the lookout for our 2014 appeal letter!  It should arrive in your mailbox within the next week. 

Weekend Reflections for 11/14/14

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: "Our Father..."

Why the word dare? As kids we used to dare others to do things that were daring, like jumping off a roof or drinking a nasty drink or eating a live goldfish. But what is so daring about saying "Our Father"?

A friend of mine once met Queen Elizabeth. Upon being introduced to her, he said: "I'm so pleased to meet you, Elizabeth." What could be more daring than that?" I'll tell you what: addressing God as Father! Do you want to get yourself zapped right out of existence?

The only saving grace to our addressing God as Father is precisely that: saving grace. After all, we were formed by divine teaching; Jesus himself told us to address God that way, the way Jesus Himself addresses God. I know it must sound very arrogant to a non-Christian to address God so boldly, but that is precisely what Jesus-and his Father, our Father-wants us to do.

Weekend Reflections for 11/7/14

Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

The above words, known as the Doxology are the conclusion to every Eucharistic Prayer.  They sum up what is taking place at Mass: we, the People of God, are giving God the Father all honor and glory.  The Mass is not a prayer to Jesus but rather to the Father.

We give all honor and glory to the Father by offering Him a gift: the gift of His Son, Jesus.  However, we offer the gift through, with, and in Jesus.  Each of these three prepositions- through, with and in is important; Each is saying something different. 

First, through Him: we make our gift, as we make every prayer, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  We do it by means of his life, death, and resurrection, even though we were not present at the time.  Second, with Him: now we are right beside Jesus; we are cooperating with Him in the making of our gift of Him to the Father; we are yoked to Him.  Third, in Him: we now move to much greater depth in our making of the gift; we are in Him.  The only metaphor I can think of that even approximates this closeness to Jesus is the closeness of the fetus in the womb of the mother; the infant in the womb, through a separate human being, shares the life-giving blood and oxygen of the mother.  We are in Christ, members of His Body in a union so intimate that we cannot make a gift of Him without, at the same time, making a gift of ourselves.

Making that gift of Jesus and of ourselves, we give all honor and glory to God the Father.

Weekend Reflections for 10/31/14

"For me life is Christ and death is gain.  If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.  And I do not know which I shall choose.  I am caught between the two.  I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.  Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit." -Philippians 1:22-24 

Paul speaks as if he has a choice as to when he will depart this life, and the choice is a tough one for him.  If he had his druthers, he would really like to die and be with Jesus.  On the other hand, he knows that there is still a lot of apostolic work for him to do here on earth.   

I cannot honestly claim to have the same predicament as Paul.  Given a choice, I would likely opt for sticking around here on earth for a while, not because my remaining would be of such great value to others, but, in all honesty, because I am enjoying myself here.  I would likely argue that I still have many retreats to direct, homilies to preach, sinners to absolve.  The truth is: I look forward to consuming more Ted Drewes concretes, enjoying family, and taking walks with a friend.  

And when my time to depart does come, I just hope it doesn't hurt too much.  In that, at least, I am like Jesus, who would rather have had the cup of suffering pass him by.  Hopefully, I can be like Jesus in saying to the Father: "Thy will be done".

Weekend Reflections for 10/24/14

Our Father

 By Fr. Gene Renard, S.J.
God is our Creator.  God created us with the help of our mother and father and gave us life and our soul.  But God is more than our Creator.  God is truly Our Father.  He is the Father to every person who has ever lived, is alive or will live in the future.  God is our Father because he helps and supports us in this life with many gifts.  When we say: "Our Father," we join ourselves with those who pray to our heavenly Father.

We cannot see Our Heavenly Father with our human eyes.  But by faith we know he loves us always and is around us and inside us even if we are not aware of his presence.  We are surrounded with God's love always.  From his home in heaven, Our Father loves us, watches over us and inspires us as we need.  But he gives us freedom to make our own choices.

We pray: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,"  Our Heavenly Father wants us to reflect his goodness and forgiveness by loving and forgiving our neighbor.  We struggle to reflect the Father's love and forgiveness on those who hurt us and cause us to sin.  With God's grace we can love and forgive. 

Weekend Reflections for 10/17/14

Reaching our true goal

 
The planets, the earth and rocks are inanimate and they hardly change.  But nature is alive and constantly changing.  Trees and bushes grow and develop throughout their lives.  We see the spring and summer flowers come and go.  Cows, horses, dogs, cats and insects propagate the world and they will be around for centuries to come.  The human race also grows and develops.  Husbands and wives beget children who take over the next generation.  Human life is always renewing itself.

Growth and development are necessary for a spiritual life.  We are nourished in our spiritual life by the sacraments, the scriptures and prayer.  We grow spiritually by helping our neighbor and serving the needs of others with love.  We live our faith by loving others as Jesus loves us.

In the gospel Jesus tells us to "repay to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar and to God what belongs to God."  If someone follows only materialistic goals throughout life, that person will never reach the true goal of life.  We care for our physical life in this world and we attend to our spiritual growth by loving, serving and helping God and our neighbors. 

Weekend Reflections for 10/10/14

What are our dreams?

by Fr. Richard Hadel, S.J. 

Can you imagine what the world will be like in the year 2500?  That is only 486 years away.  Will all the cities and towns be packed full with no open space available?  Will every open space and field be used to raise enough food and cattle to feed everyone?  Is it conceivable that some people will be living on another planet?  Who knows?

Fortunately we do not have to solve these problems.  God may decide to end creation before year 2500.  The Sunday readings challenge us to think about life after death.

In the Gospel parable, Jesus pictures heaven like a wedding celebration, where everyone will be united with Jesus, with God and each other.  Some people will refuse the invitation and turn down Jesus' invitation.  All you have to do is accept the invitation.  You don't have to be holy or a saint to be invited.  All that is required is the desire to love God, have faith in God and trust him.  If you love others and serve others, you will be most welcome.  Even after failures and struggles to be good, God loves and invites you to come.

It is hard to imagine what heaven will be.  But we know that there will be no pain, suffering or sickness in heaven.  God will share with us himself, his peace, wisdom and love.

Weekend Reflections for 10/3/14

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

- Matthew 5:16

This time of year is always particularly busy around White House.  Most weeks we are having back-to-back retreats...with groups arriving on Mondays and again on Thursdays.  Some weeks we will see as many as 170 people come through our doors for their annual three day retreat.  

It's hectic at times, but always in a good way.  It's nice to take a step back and just think about how all of these people got here.  How did they find us?  Someone had to tell them about White House.  Very often, they were personally invited by a friend, family member or fellow parishioner.

I'd like to take a moment this week to express our gratitude to the men and women who volunteer their time and serve in our Captain's Ministry.  

These folks have lives of their own to take care of,  but still manage to donate a great deal of their time and energy to White House.  They are the reason most people find out about White House!  We could not do it without them.  Whenever you see a flyer for White House on a bulletin board outside church, or a mention about an upcoming retreat in the parish bulletin, know that one of our wonderful volunteers has been hard at work.

We are in the final stretch of another very successful year.  We just want everyone to know how much we appreciate the help in sharing this wonderful gift that is White House Retreat.

God bless you all.

Weekend Reflections for 9/26/14

What Motivates Us?

 by Fr. Richard Hadel, S.J.

We live in a very materialistic world.  People think only of becoming rich or becoming influential and controlling, or knowing everything and excelling in all we do, especially in sports.  Yes, we want to be "Tops".

Where does this come from?  Is it pride, or the desire for power and control?  Maybe.  It comes from putting the world FIRST on our agenda, forgetting that we have been created by a loving Father, who wants to share eternal life with us.

The parable in Sunday's gospel tells us about the greedy tenants who want to keep all the produce, all the grapes for themselves.  They refuse to give any produce to the owner.  The tenants ignore the landowner who represents God our Father.

How sad!  Yet we often act in the same way.  We want to take all for ourselves and seldom think of God and how he helps us.

Jesus teaches us to be generous.  Jesus was generous when he offered his life on the cross to save you and me.  God the Father wants us to love him, our Creator, but also to love everyone.  Jesus said, "love one another as I have loved you."  We live in God's world and we owe him gratitude for all he gives us.

Former White House Director Passes Away

Father John F. Snyder, S.J. was called to eternal life on September 13, 2014. John died at the Fusz Pavilion infirmary of the St. Louis University Jesuit Community. He was ninety-six years old, a Jesuit for seventy-three years, and a priest for fifty-nine years. John was a member of the Wisconsin Province but did many years of ministry, including his last years, in what is now the USA Central and Southern Province.

Born in Marshall, MN on August 12, 1918, John attended grade school and high school in Marshall and graduated from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in 1940. After a year at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, he entered the Society at St. Stanislaus Seminary, Florissant, Missouri on August 16, 1941. John had the usual Jesuit course of studies at St. Stanislaus, Mt. St. Michaels in Spokane, WA, and St. Mary's College. He was ordained on June 16, 1955, made tertianship in Decatur, IL, and pronounced his final vows on August 15, 1957.

John's years as a Jesuit were full of good ministry in many places. As a young priest he studied sociology at Columbia University and taught sociology at Marquette University from 1961 to 1966. For one year he was Director of Public Relations at Marquette. For two years he served as the Wisconsin Province Director of Formation. He was Rector/President of Creighton Prep from 1970 to 1972. For the next ten years John was on the staff of the White House in St. Louis; he loved this ministry and continued to give retreats for the rest of his life. From 1983 to 1996 John served in various capacities on the Gregorian Foundation, fundraising for the Gregorian University in Rome but based in New York or St. Louis. From 1996 until his death John was a member of the St. Louis University Jesuit Community, engaged in various pastoral ministries as long as his health permitted.

John was preceded in death by his parents John P. Snyder and Mary Callaghan Snyder, his step-mother, Helen Callaghan Snyder, his sister, Helen M. Coryn and brother-in-law Anthony E. Coryn.

Since John donated his body to science, arrangements are as follows:
Memorial Mass: Sunday, October 5, 2014
1:30 PM
St. Francis Xavier College Church
St. Louis, MO

Messages of condolence may be sent to his nieces and nephews:
Mary Coryn Lawson
PO Box 5245
Laguna Beach CA 92652

Edward J. Coryn
14098 Whisperwood Drive
Clearwater FL 33762

John Snyder Coryn
1270 79th Street South
St. Petersburg FL 33707

Thomas A. Coryn
103 Hickory Creek Drive
Brandon FL 33511

Ann Coryn
808 Water Hyacinth Ct. NE
St. Petersburg FL 33703

We remember with gratitude all that God has done through John's life of service to God and God's people. Since John was applied to the USA Central and Southern Province, all members of the province are to offer the usual suffrages. Members of the Jesuit Hall community are to offer an additional Mass as well.
Sincerely in Christ,
John F. Armstrong, S.J.
Socius

Weekend Reflections for 9/19/14

Weekend Reflections for September 19, 2014
 By Fr. Len Kraus, S.J.
  
Here is a strange fact: mercy and compassion sometimes evoke jealousy and resentment: "these last ones worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat." 
 
The mercy and love of the landowner (reminder to us of how things work in God's realm ) challenge the way we might be tempted to think and judge. Jealousy and "entitlement" that separate us from one another are not gifts from God's Spirit.
 
The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the true picture of God, our God who is generous in forgiving. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord." What a hopeful revelation for all of us who strive, as St. Paul exhorts us, to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel!

Weekend Reflections for 9/12/14

September 12, 2014

 By Fr. Len Kraus, S.J.

 "With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses..." The people whom God had chosen and was now leading were frustrated because they felt "stuck" in the wilderness. They did what we might tend to do when we are angry or resentful: blame someone else--let our anger come out "sideways."   Moses is told to fashion and lift up to the people the bronze saraph serpent, the reminder of the consequences of their rebellion. It heals them.

In perhaps the most popularly known passage in the Gospel (John 3:17) we have the response from God to our rebellion and our condition: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life...that the world might be saved through him."          
 

Christ, the beloved of God is lifted up to us as the One whose self-giving love and trust shows the way to true life. Displayed on the cross , he is the deep and everlasting sign of God's compassion and power. And all this is so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life!

Story of the big cross

A lot of people ask us about the big cross that sits in front of our chapel.

This cross originally stood in the St. Stanislaus Jesuit Cemetery (located at the St. Stanislaus Jesuit Seminary) in Florissant, MO on Howdershell Rd. It was b...uilt by Jesuit Brothers from Germany and was erected in 1871. It stands 18 feet high.

The seminary closed and cemetery closed in 1971. The graves were relocated to Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. In 2003, the last of the property was sold. Fr. Rich Buhler, S.J. was director of White House at that time and arranged for the cross to be moved to White House in April 2003 with the help of Lawlor Construction Company.

When the cross was removed from the cemetery, workmen found the crossbar and top piece were perfectly balanced with no apparent anchors; a balancing act left undisturbed since 1871. The pieces are firmly secured today.

The cross as it stood from 1871-2003 at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Florissant, MO.

Weekend Reflections for 9/5/14

By Fr. Len Kraus, S.J.

"...treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector." (Matthew 18:16)

In the larger passage from which this quote comes, Jesus is speaking about how we are to treat one another. This sentence seems harsh, perhaps...but then we can ask ourselves "In this same Gospel of Matthew, how does Jesus treat tax collectors?" He eats and drinks with them, invites one of them to be an apostle, is criticized for being too accepting and hopeful about them. Jesus tells us that on earth we have power to bind and to loose; and He says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them."

It would be wonderful if we could, as St. Paul tells us, "Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another," love as the Lord has loved us and truly loosen some bonds here on earth.