Weekend Reflections for 6/3/16

Let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt. 5,16)

Often parents and grandparents are anxious and are very much concerned for their adult children and grandchildren who no longer take part in the religious practices in which they were raised. They wonder how they are now responsible for them or what they should do or what they should say to them. This issue is addressed by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser in his excellent book, “The Holy Longing.” He suggests that they have an important role and function to fulfill for them. They are to serve as the lifeline and connection linking them to the people of God, to the body of Christ. And how do they do this?

They do this not so much by admonishing and correction. Rather by their own example of living out their faith, by the constant love and concern they show and give them, and, of course, through their incessant prayers.  Thus they demonstrate to their offspring that they respect and honor them now in their adulthood. They also acknowledge that they now are the ones responsible for their faith lives. But their example also reminds them what their values continue to be as well as how much they cherish and love them.

In most cases the children realize how much their parents desire that they practice the faith they were raised in. But at the same time they notice the tolerance and respect of their parents and how much they are loved and respected and allowed to live their own lives in their relationships to their Lord and God.

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

Weekend Reflections for 5/27/16

Corpus Christi, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Say it with me: ‘The Body of Christ gives the Body of Christ to the Body of Christ so the Body of Christ becomes more like the Body of Christ.’ Is this a tongue twister, a nursery rhyme, a riddle? Try it again: ‘The Body of Christ gives the…’

Try it this way: Jesus gives the Eucharist to the Church so that we become more like Him. As Christians, we are the Body of Christ. In baptism, we are washed clean in His Blood. We are welcomed into the Divine Family as little sons and daughters with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. St Paul says simply, “You are the Body of Christ” [1 Cor 12: 27].

Sometimes we act like it. The saints exemplify a Christ-like way of life. But we don’t always act like it-- because of selfishness, bad habits, laziness, and sin. Sometimes we want to play the ‘humility card’ in order to dodge our calling: “Lord, you are truly the Christ, and I am but an unworthy sinner.” Yes. But, He wants to make us more like Himself, and thus more truly ourselves. We are the Body of Christ, and yet it's clear that we need a lot of help.

This Sunday we celebrate Corpus Christi, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Eucharist, we seek to 'become what we receive, and receive who we are.'* When we receive the Eucharist, His Blood flows through our veins. He transforms me, purifies me, and perfects me from the inside. Usually, the food I eat becomes a part of me: a sandwich or a burrito joins with my flesh and blood. However, when I consume the Bread of Heaven with love, I become (ever more) a part of Him. Jesus is the vine and I am a little branch; I am nourished by His living Blood which flows into me. His Divine Heart pumps life and love into me and into the whole Church, His Body. I am part of His Body, but I need His help to make me into His Body “in Spirit and in Truth.”

One more time: The Body of Christ gives the Body of Christ to the Body of Christ so the Body of Christ becomes more like the Body of Christ. Jesus gives the Eucharist to the Church so that we become more like Him.

Weekend Reflections for 5/20/16

God is a family. And we are welcomed into this Divine Family.

The first reading may strike us as unusual. In Proverbs, the Wisdom of God says, "I was playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth." For Christians, this is a reference to the Eternal Son, who becomes man in Jesus. The Son delights to be in the Father's presence; and the Father delights in His Son. The reading continues, "and I found delight in the human race." Jesus is happy to be with us. God loves to spend time with us, with you, and with me. 

We see this in the Gospels as Jesus welcomes children and embraces them. He calls disciples to Himself, dines in their homes, and celebrates at a wedding banquet. 

For many of us, our families are a sign of God's love. We are embraced, cared for, and supported. We feel God "delighting" in us. Other families are marked by many wounds and sufferings. In a special way, they cry out to Christ for His healing and mercy. Jesus never tires of offering us His healing. The greatest gift He offers us is Himself-- communion with Him and His Father. 

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. We celebrate the Divine Family. We also celebrate our own identity in that Family. Each of us is a son or daughter of the Father. Each of us is beloved by the Jesus the Son. In baptism, we share in the family of the Church-- wit Mary as our mother, with the saints in Heaven and with the pilgrim Church on earth. 

But wait, there's more! In our vocations, we even share in God's Fatherhood, pro-creating and co-creating. Fathers and mothers share in this gift through their sons and daughters. Priestly Fathers and religious share in God's life as spiritual fathers and mothers in the Church. God delights in us! The Father, Son and Spirit are pleased to work through us to create and redeem the human race. At times we back away from our calling because it seems too lofty, too powerful, too holy for us. It's true, the bar is high. Yet God reminds us that we are made in the divine image, baptized into His grace, and fed with Heavenly Bread. If God delights in us, who are we to resist?

Fr Joe Laramie, SJ  

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: 5/26, 8/4

Men: 6/9, 6/20, 6/23

CoEd: 9/2

Weekend Reflections for 5/13/16

I was ordained as a priest 5 years ago. I celebrated my first Mass on Pentecost Sunday, which we celebrate this weekend.

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to His disciples as tongues of fire. Through the power of the Spirit, the apostles are sent out to preach to the nations and spread the Good News. 2000 years later, the Name of Jesus has truly spread to every land, people, and culture. There are nearly 2.5 billions Christians in the world today. Catholic Mass is celebrated in every country, in hundreds of languages every day.

As a young priest, I have been blessed to share in this ministry of Christ. My first Mass was at my home parish, Sacred Heart in Florissant, MO. My parents and grandparents worshiped there. I was baptized, confirmed, and received first communion at this church.  I raised the chalice that day, kneeling in the church were my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, former teachers, neighbors and more. This is the Church.

My biggest Mass was World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011. Over 1 million young people, bishops, priests and religious from around the world joined Pope Benedict XVI. We prayed to the Son under a burning sun on an airfield outside Mardrid, Spain. People sang and chanted in Spanish, Polish, Tagalog, and more. We are many, and we praise the same Lord together. Days earlier I had preached in the Loyola Basilica. 

This mammoth stone structure marks the spot where St Ignatius was born and was converted to Christ. This is the Church.

I celebrated Mass in Mayan villages in Belize, Central America during my first assignment as a priest. An ancient culture of farming and thatch-roof huts exists alongside Twitter, rap music, and cell phones. I spoke in English and they responded in Mayan. I did not know what they were saying, nor did they understand me-- and yet, we did understand. This is the Mass, this is the Church.

I presided in the Rockhurst High School gymnasium in Kansas City during my previous assignment. The night before, the boys were there to cheer on the basketball team in the state playoffs. Now, 1000 boys sang and prayed before the altar, beneath banners from previous championships. This is our faith.

Now, I am honored to celebrate Mass at White House Retreat. In this chapel, thousands of men and women have opened their minds and hearts to the Lord and received His Spirit in Masses, talks, and prayers for almost 100 years. My grandfather, Joseph Ignatius Laramie, prayed here, and now I do, too. This is the Lord.

He is with us, He speaks to us, and He sends us out with the fire of His Spirit to the ends of the earth.

Fr Joe Laramie, SJ 

PHOTOS: 

after my ordination, with family

interior dome of Loyola Basilica

chapel in Belize, village of San Pedro Columbia

lying prostrate, face down, during ordination Mass

Weekend Reflections for 5/6/19

What makes a good appetizer? Chips and dip, carrots and ranch dressing, toasted ravioli? A good appetizer should be tasty, and it should stir my appetite. It should actually make me hungry and eager for the main course. Sunday's Gospel should  stir my spiritual appetite.

The Father raised Jesus from the dead-- Body and Soul. This is what the Father wants to do with us. At the Ascension, the Father raises Jesus into the glory of Heaven. This is what the Father wants to do for us, too. This is what we celebrate on Sunday.

Life on earth is a taste: sweet joy mingled with sour sorrow. Heaven is the banquet: there we feast with the saints on "juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines" [Isaiah 25]. When I encounter Jesus in my life, He stirs my heart and makes me hungry for more: deeper communion with Him and the fullness of redemption. The Eucharist should have this effect on me: it is the food that makes me hungry to know, love, and serve Him.

After the Ascension, the disciples "returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God." Though imperfectly, they grasped the glories that God had in store for them through Christ. This taste of eternal life made them hungry for more. They are not bloated and sleepy. Rather, this taste stirs them to action: preaching and teaching, serving and singing. The same Jesus who encountered them now works through them in marvelous ways.

God has great things in store for us. He desires to share His eternal life with us. This is why Christ became a man, preached and suffered, died and rose, and ascended into Heaven. He did this for us. He has built a royal road for us-- for me and for you. This road leads us back to our true Home. May our hearts be hungry and restless until they rest in Him!

Fr Joe Laramie, SJ

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: 5/19, 5/26, 8/4

Men: 5/12, 6/9, 6/20

CoEd: 9/2

www.whretreat.org

314-416-6400

Weekend Reflections for 4/29/16

It's never easy when a good friend says goodbye. Imagine Peter, as Jesus prepares to Ascend into Heaven.

Years earlier, Jesus saw Peter on the seashore and called him. Jesus lead him, listened to him, and spoke to Peter's heart. Jesus placed Peter as the head of the disciples. Jesus gave him the Eucharist and ordained him at the Last Supper. In fear, Peter ran from Jesus during the crucifixion. The Risen Jesus then appears to Peter to forgive him and welcome him back.

Now Jesus prepares Peter's heart for the next step in their relationship. Jesus will ascend to be with His Father. He is not abandoning the disciples, but will be with them in a new way. He will work through them, with them, and in them in powerful ways. His Spirit will spread the Gospel through their preaching and witness. Jesus is not saying goodbye; rather, He is promising a more intimate communion with them and us. He will be with with us always; we can listen and speak to Him anytime, anywhere.

How has Jesus done all of this in my life? As Catholics, most of us are baptized as babies. Thus, we become friends with Jesus even before we are aware; the initiative is entirely His. He forms us through family, teachers, and pastors. He feeds us with His Body and Blood at Mass.

He is closer to me than my other friends. They may be busy, unable to talk, or in a bad mood. He is always with me, ready to speak and listen. In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells us, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." He brings peace to my life whenever I turn to Him. Next Sunday, we celebrate the feast of His Ascension. For now, He prepares us so that we can Ascend with Him.

Fr. Joe Laramie SJ

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: 5/19, 5/26, 8/4

Men: 5/12

CoEd: 9/2

www.whretreat.org

314-416-6400

Weekend Reflections for 4/15/16

The Risen Shepherd

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand."

 Jn 10:27-28

In John's Gospel Jesus is both the lamb of sacrifice as well as the shepherd whose self-sacrificing love protects and cares for all of the sheep. The apostles and disciples of the early church knew and remembered how Jesus had been their shepherd, their protector, the one who always saw that they had what they needed. When they were lost, he went looking for them; when challenged and frightened, he comforted and strengthened them. The witnesses of the risen Lord always insisted that it was Jesus of Nazareth who came to them, the same person they had known and experienced before he was nailed to the tree. He bears the wounds of the nails and spear in his hands and feet and side.

Jesus' death and resurrection changes the experience and meaning of death. No longer is it punishment and falling into darkness but passage into the loving hands of God Himself. We return to the One from whom we came, as did Jesus. He promises us eternal life and pledges that to be our destiny. Alleluia!

The White House Retreat PAR 3 Classic will take place next Friday-April 22nd at Gateway National!  Space is still available if you'd like to join us.  Find out more and register at www.whrgolf.com

Weekend Reflections for 4/8/16

He Is Risen

And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord.  John 21:12B

Sunday's Gospel is the story of Jesus' appearance to seven of his apostles at the Sea of Tiberias. At Simon Peter's suggestion they have spent the night fishing and, as usual, have caught nothing. Jesus appears on the shore in the dawn haziness and tells them where to cast the nets and they catch 153 big ones. It has always struck me that the apostles shouldn't be fishing for fish; they left their boats and nets behind three years ago when Jesus first called them. It's as though they have lost their sense of who they have become through their relationship with Jesus; they've gone back to what they were before meeting him. John recognizes Jesus in the miraculous catch of fish. That's how he called them the first time. It has to be Jesus!

They come ashore and meet Jesus again. He is the Risen Lord, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and he's cooking breakfast for them. Who else in their experience would treat them this way? Only Jesus. It's what he did at the last supper as he lovingly washed their feet.

At the last supper Peter swore that he would never deny Jesus and then he does three times. He's been carrying that burden of guilt ever since and now Jesus initiates the merciful conversation with him. Three times he asks Peter for his love and then challenges him to show it in how he treats others: Feed my sheep. Treat others as I have treated you. That's the Peter we see in the stories in the Acts of the Apostles.

These apostles recognize Jesus in the way he treats them; they don't have to ask who he is. He comes when they've lost their sense of call, he cares for and serves them as he always has, he meets their needs and reassures them of his love. That's how he deals with each of us. Alleluia!

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: May 19 (Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.), May 26 (Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.), September 12 (Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.)

Men: April 14, April 18, April 21, April 28

Coed: September 2-4 (Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.)

Weekend Reflections for 4/1/16

Encountering Christ is both a wonderful and challenging experience. We come to the realization that Jesus always wants to give us more of himself. We also notice that in revealing himself Jesus is also asking his friends and disciples to share this Good News with others.  It is important that we remember that this blessing is also meant to be a precious grace and blessing to be shared with others.

Encountering Christ is also always a faith experience.  How marvelous and blessed gift it is to believe that Christ comes to me, touches me, forgives me, and feeds me. In this Sunday's Gospel reading and many of the gospel readings for the rest of the week, we see these truths exemplified, first with the disciples in the upper room, with Mary on the feast of the Annunciation, with Nicodemus, the crowds who encountered him and are fed by him, and again with his disciples on the storm at sea.

To believe that Jesus is the risen, he tells us, is in itself a great blessing, gift of faith on the order of the one received by the doubting disciple, Thomas, in the upper room. We should beware of taking this gift of faith, our belief in Christ, for granted. Rather pray and ask that you always rejoice in gratitude and cherish greatly the gift that allows us so to believe.

Finally, Jesus calls and commissions us to what he calls disciples in his first encounter with them: it is the mission his Father had given him has now been passed on to us. He comes to us and he is with us so that we may carry on his work.  How challenging, how wonderful, how incredible!

-Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

We are in need of more people to help staff our upcoming Golf Tournament.  The event is at Gateway National (10 minutes from Downtown STL) on Friday April 22nd from 11:30am to approximately 5pm.  No golf experience necessary.  Volunteers will be working each of the 18 holes, measuring for our "closest to the pin" contest.  Food and drink provided. To sign up, contact Joe Parisi- joep@whretreat.org or call 314-416-6400.  

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: May 19 (Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.), May 26 (Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.), September 12 (Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.)

Men: April 14, April 18, April 21

Coed: September 2-4 (Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.)

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY LECTURE SERIES

Wednesday April 13, 2016 at 7:30pm

in  SLUH's Si Commons (4970 Oakland Ave)

Fr. Francis Ryan, S.J. presents "To Be of Some Help to My Neighbor- A Jesuit in Hospital Chaplaincy" 

This is a free event.  Doors open at 7:00pm.  Call 314-416-6400 to register.

We still have openings for players, hole sponsorships and pin flag sponsorships!  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Fr. Denis Daly S.J. Passes Away

Fr. Denis Daly, S.J. passed away on Easter Sunday at St. Louis University Hospital. He was 85 years old. He served as the director of White House Retreat from 1982-1991.

He was a Jesuit for 63 years and a priest for 51. His contributions to White House will be long remembered and we will miss him dearly.

The Memorial Mass will take place Monday April 11, 2016 at 7:00PM at St. Francis Xavier College Church. All are welcome. College Church is located at 3628 Lindell Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63108

*We had initially stated that the memorial mass was taking place on April 4th, this is incorrect.  April 11, 2016 at 7pm is the correct date/time.  Thank you.

Weekend Reflections for 3/18/16

PASSION OF CHRIST

March 2016

For many Christ's Passion is a confounding and horrible mystery.  We cannot understand why the Father allowed this. However, through our prayer and reflection on the Last Supper and Eucharist we can gain some understanding of Christ's passion and death.  The Eucharist is the sign of Jesus love for us, of his desire to be one with us. The Eucharist is where Jesus is; Eucharist is what gives everything that happens to Him purpose and meaning.  We are caught up in a love that holds nothing back, a love that accepts even death, seeing death-in-faith as no limit to God's love.

The Last Supper and Eucharist can become the lens through which we try to take in and comprehend why God and Jesus have allowed this.  The Last Supper and Eucharist says Jesus passion is about his desire to be one with us, to share himself as completely as he can, to do this for all times, now in this life and forever in the Risen life.

Praying on the passion of our Lord has been described as an invitation to a most intimate and personal experience at the very core of Jesus being.  The prayer with Jesus can be so stark, so simple, so sacred, so profound, that any attempt even to verbalize the experience may seem to be a violation of the sacred.  It is a gift from our Lord to take us into all of this and allow us to experience his passion in a way that will deepen, and strengthen our love for Him as well as mold the shape and manner of our discipleship.

My feelings can seem out of context and proportion to what I am considering, i.e., I don't feel as sorrowful as I believe I should or grieve as I believe I should.  But I have to accept the feelings with which Christ graces my prayer.

Moreover, for many it frustrating not to be able to do anything-but just be there.  This seems so inadequate and I am not content with that. Perhaps all you can do is be present as a friend of Christ and ask that you be allowed to share in his sufferings. But my determination and effort to remain with Christ in itself can be a great grace. 

Christ should be the focus of "passion prayer," to be with him and feel for him as he suffers for me.  However, to maintain this focus is often not an easy task.  As Joe Tetlow comments, "These are terrible events, and we are keeping a death watch."  Moreover, in praying the passion the focus can easily change from Christ to me: would I be as cowardly as Peter or Pilate, would I have fled as the other apostles did, how would I withstood the soldiers' lashes?

In order to maintain to keep Christ at the heart of your prayer, Ignatius Loyola stressses noticing what is happening inside of Christ; how he suffers in his humanity; how the divinity as it were is put aside; recalling that he suffers for my sins and for love of me. 

In Jesus passion we will find very deep if not the deepest insights into his humanity, how fully he lived our life, how fully human he is; his vulnerability, (he had not experienced the Resurrection); his frustration, his disappointment, his suffering, his great love for me, his willingness to put himself out for love of me.

-Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

Weekend Reflection for 3/11/16

In Sunday's Gospel reading we see Jesus refusing to condemn the adulterous woman. He very easily turns the tables on those trying to trap him with his statement, "let the one among you without sin throw the first stone." He gently dismisses the woman without condemnation but with the admonition that she has to avoid this sin in the future. Pope Francis was speaking in the spirit of this gospel when questioned about the situation of gay and lesbian people. He simply replied "Who am I to judge?"

Jesus more than once in the Gospels has told us that his role in this world is to first and foremost to heal and save people, not to judge or condemn. These are the Father's prerogatives.

I suspect we see the epitome  of Jesus' teaching in this matter when on the cross he says "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." There should be no doubt, however, that Jesus abhors and hates all evils and sin--and he will give his life fighting and opposing them. But the case is just the opposite regarding the evildoer or the sinner. 

In our world today on an almost daily basis we become aware of many terrible evils and horrors.  Jesus does not want to relieve us of the responsibility of trying to overcome and cure him these. But He is clearly reminding us that the judgment and condemnations of the perpetrators are not our responsibility and to leave them to His Father.  Rather he invites and asks us to work with him and His people as ambassadors of reconciliation.

-Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: March 14, April 4

Men: Holy Week-Wednesday March 23- Sunday March 26

Coed: September 2-4

Weekend Reflection for 2/26/16

A Lenten Reflection

We're looking forward to spring. After many  snowfalls and cold winter days, Midwesterners are ready for sunshine and new life. Planting flowers, chirping birds, green grass, and maybe even bare feet. New creation is a living symbol of God's goodness and love.

We will hear of two unusual plants in at Mass on Sunday: a burning bush and a barren fig tree. Moses sees a bush that is on fire, but not destroyed. Jesus speaks of a fig tree that has produced no fruit, yet the gardener wants to give it one more season.

Jesus is the true burning bush. He is the Man on Fire, the Incarnate Light who walks among us. He seems a contradiction: how can God become a man? How can a dead man rise again? To our questions, Jesus responds simply: "I AM Who Am." He is the God of our fathers who has been beside us for years, for centuries, since before time began. As we draw closer to Him, we feel the warmth of His love. His living flame purifies our hearts, and even sets them on fire. We may feel surprise and fear: why has Jesus called me to come closer? He will not destroy us; He will make us more like Himself-- and thus more fully ourselves.

We are barren fig trees. Yet, Jesus wants to give us another chance. This Lent, Jesus works the ground around us. With His Word, He feeds our soil and nourishes our roots. In the sacraments, He gives us Living Water and Food from Heaven. After a long winter of sin and selfishness, the Light of His Spirit now shines upon us. In this Year of Mercy, He wants to thaw our cold and frozen hearts. Through Him, we can bear abundant fruit. With Him, we can be renewed in His image and likeness. In Him, we can help set others on fire.

Fr Joe Laramie, SJ

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY   

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE: 

Women: March 14, April 4

Coed: September 2-4

We have 2 LENT DAYS OF PRAYER coming up that have openings: Monday March 7th and Tuesday March 8th. 

Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J. will lead both events.  Three conferences will take place along with the chance for confession, mass and lunch.  Check in begins at 8:30am and the first talk will begin just after 9:00am.   The day will conclude around 2:15pm.  $25/person. These events will fill soon!  Call 314-416-6400 to register.

Weekend Reflections for 2/11/16

Lent is here. Some dread it. Others wonder: what's the point of it? A few have been looking forward to it—maybe as a chance to lose a few pounds by fasting. 

For Catholics, Lent is not just another spiritual ‘self-help’ program. Every Lenten practice should be focused on one thing: helping me to grow closer to Jesus. My actions should open my heart to a deeper communion with Him. During Lent, the Church offers us 4 traditional practices to help us grow in relationship with Christ.

First: wage war on sin. For many of us, there are two or three main sins that consistently drag us down. These sins get in the way of our relationship with God. They make me self-centered. They distract me from the mission God has given to me. Yes, Christ forgives my sins. And He can help me to pull these sins out by the root. This takes trust, self-awareness, and...

Second: prayer. In the Gospels, Jesus Himself often takes time to be alone with His Father. He goes to the desert or to the mountain. How many times do I say, ‘I wish I prayed more’? We have a wealth of spiritual resources in the Church: Scripture, rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, and more. The most important thing is to mark out time for prayer each day. 15 minutes is a reasonable goal to start with. To quote Duck Dynasty, 'If you're too busy to fish and hunt, then you're too busy.' If you are too busy to pray 15 minutes today, then...

Third: fasting. All are asked to refrain from meat on Fridays. And we are each invited to cut other clutter from our lives. How much time do I spend aimlessly surfing the Internet, or clicking through channels? How about needlessly worrying? These things are spiritual junk food. Cutting back on these will free me to love Christ and to receive His love. 

Finally, alms. This means sharing my gifts with those in need, especially the poor. Pope Francis has especially highlighted this practice in this Year of Mercy. Jesus Himself did this. He promises that I will meet Him when I serve the poor, the elderly, the weak and wounded. 

War on sin, prayer, fasting and alms. Through the practices, Christ brings peace and clarity to my life and draws me closer to Himself.

-Fr Joe Laramie, SJ

Weekend Reflections for 2/5/16

Jesus Calls My Name

When I hear my name, I look for the one who called me. It could be good news or bad news. A sophomore may hear her name on the afternoon announcements: "Stephanie Smith, please report to the principal's office for detention." Maybe it's just my turn at the DMV: "Number 77. Laramie, Joseph." Or perhaps an old friend spotted me from across the room. "Joe Laramie-is that you?!"

Jesus sees Peter and calls him by name. As we look upon Sunday's Gospel scene, we see that no one has ever looked at Peter in this way before. Jesus gazes on Peter with knowledge and love. Peter meets his gaze. "Put out into deep water, Peter," He says. This is a bold command. Peter is the professional fisherman and has caught nothing after a long night of work; the carpenter, Jesus, has spent years in his foster-father's shop-on land. Yet, something in Jesus' tone, his gaze compels Peter to take a chance: "Master, at your command-- I will." His tremendous catch proves that Jesus is no mere son of a carpenter-He is the Eternal Son and the Builder of the entire Universe.

"Depart from me," says Peter, "for I am a sinful man." No! We shout. Don't send Jesus away! He is the only one who can heal you! Let us hear these words, too. When Jesus calls my name, my reaction may be to run and hide, as I see His greatness and my weakness. Jesus calls my name and it is good news. I am not in detention. This is the old friend who has known me since I was only a tiny child in my mother's womb.  

In this Year of Mercy, let us hear the merciful Savior as he calls our names-one by one by one. The Eternal Word is kindly power, merciful strength, the Son of God and Son of Mary. Like Peter, drop everything and follow Him.

-Fr. Joe Laramie SJ

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

Upcoming Retreats With Space:

Men: March 10

Women: March 14, April 4

Coed: September 2-4

We have 2 Lent Days of Prayer coming up that have openings: Monday March 7th and Tuesday March 8th. 

Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J. will lead both events.  Three conferences will take place along with the chance for confession, mass and lunch.  Check in begins at 8:30am and the first talk will begin just after 9:00am.   The day will conclude around 2:15pm.  $25/person. These events will fill soon!  Call 314-416-6400 to register.

Weekend Reflections for 1/29/16

His People Reject Jesus

"And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. ... When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury." (Lk 4:22,28)

In last Sunday's Gospel reading Jesus proclaims to his friends and neighbors that he is the One sent by God, the Messiah. He has taken upon himself the identity and role of a prophet, not one who foretells the future but one who calls attention to reality and indicates what is of God and what is not. He warns his audience that they are not the only ones favored and chosen by God and that their hatred of others is not of God. Their amazement quickly turned to anger and fury, so strong that they try to kill him. It's a frightening reminder and foreshadowing that the Jews often put the prophets to death in Jerusalem.

In the second reading of the day from the First Letter to the Corinthians (12:31-13:13) Paul elaborates on Jesus' prophetic message that God is Love. He details the qualities of love as lived out by Jesus in all of his dealings and relationships. Ignatius reminds us that "love shows itself in deeds"; it must be more than words and feelings. May we learn from Jesus and Paul how to truly be Christian, Christ-like, in all aspects of our lives.

Weekend Reflections for 1/22/16

Jesus Returns Home

"Jesus said to them, 'Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.'"

(Lk 4:21)

After his baptism, temptations in the desert and early preaching in the north, Jesus comes back home to Nazareth. In his home synagogue he leads the praise service by reading from the prophet Isaiah and applying the passage to himself. In doing so he gives us an example of how we might use Scripture for our own spiritual growth.  Jesus' words in the Gospels are timeless because Jesus is the Christ, yesterday, today and forever. Can we listen with our ears and our hearts and have what Ignatius called "a felt-knowledge" of Jesus' word to us?

Jesus promises "liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind." Can I realize that he is offering freedom to me, here and now as I am, freedom from those things, those behaviors and character defects that still bind me and keep me from loving others as I would like? He wants me to see clearly and truly and promises to take away those self-deceptions and distortions that blind me from seeing myself and others as he sees us. May we always say "Yes, Amen" to Jesus' promises to make us the people he calls us to be.

Weekend Reflections for 1/15/16

The Wedding at Cana

"Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him." (Jn 2:11)

The Bible frequently uses the image of marriage to describe God's relationship with His people, with each person, each of His sons and daughters. Our God delights in us as a groom who is overwhelmed with the beauty of his bride; He gazes on us every moment with infinite compassion and love. He is fascinated with our uniqueness and marvels at our possibilities. As the wedding couple pledge their love and fidelity, so God pledges His unconditional love for each of us for all eternity and invites our response.

Jesus and his mother and disciples came to join the celebration, to witness their promises and pledge their support for the future. When the wine runs out, Jesus responds that it's not time yet for the full revelation of his glory and power, but Mary knows that it's time to begin. Jesus spares the couple the embarrassment and provides 150 gallons of exceptional wine! Our God is never stingy with His gifts and graces. Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the openness and ability to recognize all the signs of God's love and power in our lives, in life itself.

Weekend Reflections for 12/18/15

A good friend of mine once said that if you truly believe that in the stable at Bethlehem the infant born to Mary is the son of God then everything else we profess in our faith is a piece of cake. He was not being flippant, but dead serious. From the first time I reflected upon this until now I've appreciated the simple truth of his statement.

The heart of the matter for me is mind-boggling and joyfully overwhelming. Our God so much wants us to be one of us and for us to be one with the Lord that Jesus comes into our world in this manner, so simply, so bereft of all human comfort, so willing to enter into very troubling time in our human history. Our world and all peoples needed him and his message then just as it does now.

The great gift of Christmas is Jesus, that the Son our God is fully one of us and with us. May he open our hearts and minds to appreciate and rejoice in this great gift of himself and his love for us.

A blessed and joyful Christmas to you and yours!

"Nativity" By Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.

Fr. Joe Laramie led three Advent Days of Prayer here at White House this month.  This talk called "Nativity" was recorded on 12/15/15.  Enjoy!