Author: Father Cioppi

Jesus Christ is the Truth!

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I WATCH TOO MUCH NEWS! It drives me crazy when I hear someone say something about ‘their own truth,’ or ‘I’ve made my own ‘conscience’ decision, therefore I am right and you must believe it’ What they don’t seem to understand is that making a decision with an ill formed conscience always leads to making bad decisions because they are never rooted in Christ.

Conscience is not an isolated, personal or individual thing. Consciences are formed by experience, by authority, by what is human, and by what is divine. They involve the soul, our most human element which seeks after the truth in all things.

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The Gospel presents a plan for Lent

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When we look at the Gospel today, it is short but lays out the plan for our Lenten retreat.Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God” ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’”

And so, we begin our Lenten journey here with this proclamation and we work backwards. We begin where Jesus began; by going into the desert for forty days. The desert of the Gospel is symbolic of the three practices, given to us by the Church, for the Lenten season: Prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

We are warned by John that as we journey through this desert time we will be tempted by satan; that we will be among wild beasts of those who reject God. But, we also hear that angels will minster to us as we go.

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“I do will it, be made clean!”

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There was no disease regarded with more terror and disgust than leprosy. Not only did a leper have to deal with physical pain but also self-loathing. They were given no social or emorional supports; he was completely alienated from the human touch.

Each of us has had moments when we have felt alienated or a loss of emotional or spiritual comfort. We worry about our social position and what our so-called friends can do to us if we don’t fit in.

Jesus, moved with pity, stretched out His hand and touched the leper. He tore out the consequences of prejudice, hatred and fear and restored to the leper as He does us, our human dignity. He touched the man and thus his humanity was transformed into a life of true humility.

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What is your story?

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If Jesus’ words had amazed the people in the synagogue, his deeds would leave them awestruck.

The miracles Jesus performed tell us something about three people: Himself, the disciples, and Peter’s mother-in-law. The Gospel reveals to us that Jesus was rather shy, introverted man. He did not need to make himself the center of attention. He did not need to make great incantations or gestures to dispel demons.

Jesus simply needed to speak with authority. He had confidence that His relationship with His Father was such that whatever He asked, would be granted.

A miracle for Jesus was not a means of increasing His prestige; it was not something He loathed to do. Jesus performed miracles because He was usually, ‘moved with pity,’ keenly interested in the lives of the people He touched.

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Father Charles E. Gormley, Pastor Emeritus

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Father Charles E. Gormley, who was the Pastor of Mother of Divine Providence Parish from June, 1981 until his retirement in June, 1996, died on Sunday, January 28, 2018.

The Reception of the Body into the Church will be held at Mother of Divine Providence Church on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 9:00 am, followed by a viewing.

Bishop Edward M. Deliman will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father Gormley at Mother of Divine Church, King of Prussia, on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Please offer prayers for the repose of his soul and for his family at this time of loss.

Stop worrying. Learn to be ‘amazed!’

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An old priest told me once the worry is 99% in your own mind. Today our society has many self-inflicted anxieties.  St. Paul would like us to be free of anxiety and able to concentrate on our natural inclination as human beings to be with God.

Moses speaks with clarity, “A prophet like me the Lord your God will raise up; to him shall you listen.”  Here, this morning, in this place, our parish gathers to listen and to understand. ‘Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.’

Jesus comes with the authority of God to change hearts, to obliterate fear and to destroy anxiety. The Gospel goes on to tell us about a man with an unclean spirit, who, like us is afraid of change. He cries out, just like we might, ‘Have you come to destroy my comfort zone? Have you come to change me?’

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“Lead me Lord”

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John Henry Newman, an Anglican went to Rome to discern if Jesus was calling him to become a Roman Catholic. One day, on his voyage home he prayed. “Lead me Lord…I cannot see the way…lead me kindly light.” The words brought such peace to him that he was able to hear clearly the voice of Jesus. Newman became a saint and was a significant mind in the Catholicism of the nineteenth century.

His life begs the question of us, do I believe? Do I trust Jesus who speaks to me so vitally in the Scriptures, Who commingles with my humanity in the Eucharist? Am I confident that He will lead me where I need to go?

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The Holy Family is an icon for our family

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Each family is an icon or a reflection of the Holy Family. Often, we can identify some part of our lives with theirs. Other times they can serve as a model for us to imitate.

Joseph is righteous before God, he has a good work ethic that he passes on to his son, and he is a faithful loving husband, who brings stability to his home life and to the community in which he lives.

Mary is humble, nurturing, and directive. She treasures in her heart everything about her Son and worries.

Jesus is obedient, loyal to tradition, faithful and caring for his parents. He is a willing student so He may be a better Teacher.

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Second Sunday of Advent – Silence of the heart

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Last week I asked you to enter the advent season fully aware of your surroundings and appreciate the great silence that is around you; appreciate it for what it is, an avenue to hear the voice of God Who is Himself dwelling in the silence of eternity.

This consciousness of the earth very naturally draws us into the next quarter of our meditation; the heart. The Scriptures given to us today provide many clues as to how we can encounter Christ in the silence of our hearts. But for that, we have to become fearless and persistent in our walk with the prophet into the desert. “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.”

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