Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends of Sacred Heart Church,

Borrowing from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, “I have never stopped thanking God for you and recommending you in my prayers.  May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly.” (1:16-17)

I thank you for your continued good example of living out your faith in a very difficult time, for your dedication to prayer, for your encouraging words, for your acts of kindness to others, for your generous support of the parish.  Truly you inspire me, challenge me, affirm me, humble me and show me the face of Jesus the Risen Lord!  And all of this makes me want to be a better priest, a more gentle shepherd, a greater compassionate listener, a more obedient, devoted, faithful disciple of Jesus, our High Priest.

When I was a seminarian, as part of a class on ritual, we went on a “field trip” to a Buddhist temple to witness a liturgical celebration that we had never seen before.  Although that was more than 30 years ago, I remember explicitly writing in my reaction to the service that I felt I had experienced something of a “sensory overload!”  The sights, the smells, and the sounds were rich, beautiful, plentiful and all part of a carefully orchestrated liturgy, unlike anything I had ever experienced in the Catholic Church, except perhaps the use of incense.  I came away from that service with a deep respect not only for the liturgical prayer I had witnessed but with a greater appreciation of the senses. 

Some of you have seen me walking around the neighborhood again now that the weather has turned nicer.  In addition to “getting out of the house” I get a chance to say a few extra prayers, greet a few people along the way (with a mask on!), check out what’s going on in the neighborhood and just enjoy the gift of God’s creation.  Speaking of creation, as I walk I’ve begun to pay more attention to the things I see, hear, and smell!  

Many have planted flowers around their homes.  These flowers glorify God in their simple beauty – without words, noise or movement!  Others have trimmed and manicured their lawns and hedges, even in small yards!  Fresh mulch has been spread in flower beds and around trees.  Fresh coats of paint, some outdoor repair work…all so noticeable and signs of life, especially in this dark time of the coronavirus pandemic.  At the same time, one can’t help but notice all the garbage that is strewn in our streets, in the parks and on playgrounds and even around the church property.  Masks of every shape and size, disposable [exam] gloves of every color under the sun along with many other items that should easily find their way into the garbage are just thrown out of car windows, dropped along the way, and left at the curb, on the sidewalk, or on lawns for others to clean up.  These things certainly detract from the other beautiful sights out there.  St. Francis’ care for creation and the Canticle of the Creatures often comes to mind while I am on my walks.  I notice the trees, the cloud formations, the sunshine…and I am grateful.  I found myself (don’t make fun of me!) bending down on my walk today to rescue a worm struggling on the warm sidewalk and put it back into the grass.  

I try to walk on average 4 miles or more each day.  As I walk, I hear lots of different sounds along the way.  Of course the sirens from ambulances, fire engines and police cars are prominent as we continue to do battle with the coronavirus and emergency calls.  The sound of airplanes overhead has noticeably diminished.  People are talking, sometimes shouting, across streets or through masks. On occasion, the sounds of yelling and people arguing offer another reason to keep praying for peace. The sounds of various kinds of music are heard from car radios and through open house windows.  Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, you hear the sounds of children’s laughter as they play in their yards.  The birds seem to be more numerous than usual, or maybe I’m just paying more attention and listening to them as they praise God the Creator with their voices.

Spring flowers are in bloom and some of them are so fragrant, like lilacs and other perennials; it’s  nice to smell these flowers and consider how they bless God the creator with their fragrance.  (I’ve also been smelling more barbecues and have wanted to check out what’s on the grill and invite myself for a quick bite! I love a good barbecue.)  

So, what is the purpose of all these comments on the senses?  Perhaps nothing more than to extend the invitation to try and pay attention to all that reveals God’s Presence and goodness in our daily lives.  And let’s try to remove all that hinders us from recognizing that Presence each day. Let’s demonstrate greater reverence for all of God’s creation.  Let’s not litter the streets, the parks, our lawns, our yards with garbage.  Let us pick it up and dispose of it properly, even if we “didn’t make the mess if the first place.”  Let’s do our part to protect all that God has created in the world of nature and let us defend life in all its stages, from conception to natural death.  

May God continue to bless you, protect you, keep you safe and keep you healthy.  If you haven’t already done so, please listen to the recordings that our organist, Andy Bauer, has posted on YouTube for your reflection and prayerful meditation.  We’ll keep you posted on further recordings.  Thanks for being a member of our parish.  May God who can never be outdone in generosity, bless and reward you for yours.  From my humble heart and the Lord’s Sacred Heart, thank you and God bless you!  

Fr. Bob