Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: LORD, may I give You glory by putting You first. May I forgive others and seek forgiveness because I put You first. May I live in gratitude because I put You first. And may I freely seek blessings in Your goodness because I put You first and You want me to ask. Please guide the doctors with Michelle Hardy's treatments that begin tomorrow. Please calm John Hoiland and guide his doctors in open-heart surgery 3/13. And be with Billy Maggio on his trip to Lourdes.

Birthdays: Tom Leininger (2/24), Tom Duggan (2/26).

 
Keeping In-touch: The Olympics have concluded and baseball has yet to begin...what will be the diversion in this house? I find much joy and some stress in all my Emmaus and Regis work. Marge keeps busy with her service and planning our February birthdays celebration. We're livin' the high-life.

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The Readings: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.
My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
Ok, I will not worry about how I'll get all these papers graded; I will not worry about how I'll keep paying the house payment or these increased insurance premiums; I'll not worry about eating less and getting in shape (hey, round is a shape). I'll just be concerned...
We will always have worries. The point I take from this Gospel is, what will I put first? No matter what will happen, God will never forget me. I may need to suffer physically, intellectually, emotionally, and/or spiritually but Our Father will never forget me. So when push comes to shove, can I put The Lord first: morning prayer, thanksgiving at meals, listening in celebration and study, evening prayer.... really a true relationship with God?
It's not, "Don't worry, be happy." but "Don't worry, love God and neighbor."

Fr. Udick: Denver Jesuit and Psychologist Dies

Fr. Udick (left) and Father General Nicolás in October 2013

I took psychology courses from Fr. Udick as an undergraduate at Regis College in the early 70s. Many people touch our lives and we will know them more fully in the Resurrection of Christ.

Fr. William “Bill” Udick died Sunday (Feb. 16, 2014) at Fusz Pavilion, the Missouri Jesuits’ nursing care center in St. Louis. He was 89 and had been a Jesuit for 71 years.
A Denver native, he graduated from Regis Jesuit High School and attended Regis University for one year before entering the Society of Jesus at the former St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo., in 1943.
He studied Latin, Greek philosophy and theology at Saint Louis University.
From 1949 to 1952, he taught Latin, English and religion at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo.
He studied theology at St. Mary's College in St. Mary's, Kan., where he was ordained to the priesthood in June 1955. He served as assistant to the novice master at St. Stanislaus Seminary from 1957 to 1962 where he encouraged novices to live their Jesuit vocation conscientiously.
Fr. Udick returned to Rockhurst in 1962 and taught religion for eight years while earning a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University in New York.
In the early 1970s, he completed a doctorate in psychology from Boston College and then joined the psychology faculty at Regis University where he taught for 18 years. He also had a clinical practice.
After retiring from teaching, Fr. Udick devoted many years to pastoral and sacramental ministry at parishes in the Denver area.
In 2006, he joined the community of Fusz Pavilion, where he prayed for the church and Society of Jesus. Despite his declining health, he remained gracious and friendly.
He is survived by his brother, Charles Udick, and several nieces and nephews.

Barbara Weed DeWitt

September 12, 1922 - February 17, 2014

WEED (DeWitt), Barbara E (nee Slanger), age 91 , of Grand Rapids, died Monday, February 17, 2014 at St. Ann's Home. Barbara was born on September 12, 1922 in Grand Rapids, daughter of the late Fred and Helen "Nell" (Jirous) Slanger. She was also preceded in death by her husbands Vern C. Weed and Harold DeWitt, daughter-in-law Mary A. Weed, sisters Loretta Jane Miller, and her husband Floyd, and Betty Worden and her husband Jack. Barbara is survived by her sons Richard C. (Linda) Weed of Stockbridge , GA and Robert J. (DeAnna) Weed of Grand Rapids, grandchildren Debra Lassaline, Michelle (William) Lawver, Timothy R. Weed, C.S.C., Colleen M. Weed, and Mary Kate Weed, and great grandchildren Trevor and Nicole Lassaline. She was a member of St. Alphonsus Parish.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: LORD, may Your name be glorified by our love for our enemies, please forgive us when we fail to do so, thank you especially for Your gift of mercy, and give us all we need this week to live lives filled with love and mercy.

Birthdays: Byron Plumley (2/18), Chloe Carlson (2/21), Tony Gulmantovicz (2/22), Mitch Ross (2/23), Michele Lay (2/23). In memoriam: Pat Bruno (2/18/2013), Richard Smith Jr (2/18/1968).

 
Keeping In-touch: We're enjoying the balmy weather here (60° +) as we watch our friends and neighbors to the East being bombed with snow and cold. We're also enjoying watching the Winter Olympics.

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The Readings: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.
My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
We are all called to be saints. It is soooo difficult to love those who hurt us, to pray for our enemies. But that's the challenge of this Gospel.
And I have found that, when I examine the actions of my enemies, the behaviors that hurt me, I notice that I have the potential to act likewise toward others. This is behind the need to forgive and love our selves for we can be our own worst enemies.
If we choose the path of "on my way to perfect," we must accept God's awesome love for us and pass that commitment for the satisfaction, security, and development to all our brothers and sisters... especially our enemies, those who hurt us.

John

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

My Companions pray with me: LORD, may we give You glory by following Your commandments. May we know Your awesome love for us and how Your commands bring us the fullness of life. Forgive us for our failures to follow. Thank You for Your great love. And please provide us all we need: guide the surgeon at Larry Grau's operation this week. 

Birthdays:  Avery Johnson (2/10), Mohamed Lofty (2/10), Bob Romadka (2/11), Jim Makin (2/11), Lori Beth (Lay) Gulmantovicz (2/14), Mary Throne (2/16), Matthew Lay (2/16).

 
Keeping In-touch: We're enjoying the Winter Olympics and a bit of a thaw in our weather. Otherwise, we're living the high-life!

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The Readings: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.
My comments and an invitation for your comments: The Gospel challenges me to check my anger and my cravings. It's so much easier to condemn all the junk we encounter rather than live with compassion and withhold judgments.

John

Dialogue with others in a  small, online, Gospel sharing group.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Companions pray with me: We praise you Lord for all the gifts You have given us. Help us to bring You glory by living fully and serving Your Kingdom. Forgive us for the times we have covered our light. Thank You for Your loving kindness. And give us all we need; help us to realize the difference between wants and needs.

Birthdays:  Ed Luckett (2/2), Anita Dunn (2/5).

 
Keeping In-touch: Living in the Denver Area we have experienced as much colorful orange this week as we have fluffy white snow. We're sharing our lives these days with Caitlin Throne who's living with us as she participates in an internship. It's been fun to re-connect with the Thrones. Otherwise, we're doing well with our ministries and with resting by the hearth.

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The Readings: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.
My comments and an invitation for your comments: I came back from my annual retreat last weekend with much compassion for men who have lived difficult lives and with much gratitude for all the wonderful people events of my life. The Gospel this week challenges us to be our best selves, to let our light shine, and to contribute all we can with the salt of our talents.
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John

Dialogue with others in a  small, online, Gospel sharing group.

Comments, Reflections, Insights...