Twilight Twitches

Dear Family,
I’ve been staring at my keyboard wondering where to start. It’s last Monday (the 25th) and the first thing I want to say is Thank You. Yesterday, (Sunday) you contributed $5,610.45 to the Hurricane Funds. That was more than our regular Sunday collection: $5,284.00. I liked that split.

I made a contact by email with Caritas Antilles in the Diocese of the Antilles. You probably know that Catholic Charities in many countries operates under the name of Caritas. It was nice to get a name out of the nameless ravages we have been seeing in the reporting. Perhaps with this personal contact we can focus on some small corner of the vineyard which is going to need so much rebuilding over a great period of time.

Dear Family,
The mystery of suffering will always elude me, at least on the level of my emotions. After the storms go through and I see the devastation, I say, “Why, Lord, and why to the same people?”

I feel relieved that we didn’t get it as badly as we thought we would the first time and that we will probably hardly notice the second pass. (As usual, I’m writing five days ahead of when you will read this.) My relief is submerged by the knowledge that if the storms don’t hit us, they hit someone else, probably people far less equipped to deal with them than we are.

The one shaft of light that penetrates all this suffering for me, is the knowledge in faith that God is not orchestrating misery for his amusement. ‘He’s been there and done that’ when Jesus suffered and died. Jesus totally identified with the human condition. He did it at the Jordan when he told John to baptize him “for the sake of righteousness.” In other words, I stand here in solidarity with broken humanity.

Dear Family,
I’m writing on Labor Day - last Monday, wondering if this letter will even see the light of day. Right now it looks like Irma might be coming our way. As they do every Monday, Annie and Cynthia and Bill F. came to count the collection. Holidays are no exception it seems.

I couldn’t help but think that no matter what the impending and/or threatening event that may be overshadowing the future, little things like counting the collection still go on. (By the way, no cheap shot intended regarding the size of the collection...)

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
You are reading a Twitch provided by one of us (a St. Sebastian parishioner) because our Pastor is completing his well earned vacation. I will try to be relevant as well as inspirational.

Several weeks ago, on Trinity Sunday I heard Monsignor Fetscher say, “if you want to know what you believe, listen to what you pray.” That sentence resonated with me because so often in church we miss the opportunity “to listen to what (we) pray.” Monsignor has tried to increase our awareness (and listening) by slowing down our reciting of the Lord’s Prayer. However, there are some who continue to rush through their recitation to see who can finish fastest. Not only does this prevent listening to what is being prayed but - at best - it disrupts the sense of community that is conveyed by praying together.