The University Series Catalogs are here!
Your catalogs will be at your parish this weekend (or you can view it online here). You will see that it lists over 90 different adult education sessions during the Season of Lent that will connect our faith with real life. This its 14th year and I am glad so many people have found them helpful. For the last several years, over 11,000 people have attended these sessions. I hope to see you there too!
It is no accident that they are delivered on the Sunday in which the Gospel features the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It is the very start of His mission on earth.
When Jesus emerges from the river, He hears God say, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Who wouldn’t want to hear that from a parent, or any important person in our life? How wonderful to hear that we are cherished and loved so much. Yet Jesus hears it right at the start of His mission, before He has done anything at all! Why is that?
Well, I have seen and heard the same thing many times when I have done Baptisms at Church. Before the ceremony even begins I notice wonderful families shower love and attention on children, who, like Jesus, are at the very start of their life. These children get loving attention and they don’t even have a job! Yet, they enjoy tons of unconditional love. I am sure Jesus was grateful to get a shot of unconditional love right at the very beginning of His challenging job of ministry here on earth.
That unconditional love of God is the most important “lesson” of every University Series session. While there will be a wide variety of sessions, in areas like scripture, current events, science, archaeology, parenting, politics, and prayer, the point of all them is to connect the person of Jesus with our life in practical ways. There is nothing more practical than knowing how to understand, and especially experience the love of God for us, just as Jesus did at His Baptism. I have always said that our faith is useless unless it is useful, and the University Series sessions will help you discover how immensely useful our faith is in everyday life. You will discover ways to apply our faith to any situation you might face.
Jesus found that love of God every day and it kept Him moving forward no matter what obstacles He encountered. You can’t find anything more practical than that.
I hope you will pick up several catalogs this weekend, one for yourself, and several others to pass out to friends. Who doesn’t need a shot of unconditional love these days!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Hi father Dave, Happy New Year, looking forward to attend some of your always educational and inspirational presentations.
See you soon!
We love you and how you nourish your flock. Can’t wait to see where you are teaching.
Your choice of a picture showing Father Joe is very touching. We all love him and pray for him and for you daily.
Gino and Della
Yes, I am glad the team made that decision. It was a very beautiful choice.
Thank you, as always. I can’t wait for the University.
God bless,
Jeanie
You are welcome!
Happy New Year Fr Dave. Yes, looking forward to seeing the University catalog-hoping you are lecturing.
On the subject of unconditional love…children get unconditional love because, they are so young and still developing in their character and morals. However, do full grown adults deserve unconditional love? Should not adults be expected to “earn” our love by being good and decent? Must I love the murderer? What about the murderer or rapist of a family member? If everyone deserves unconditional love, well, what’s the point of being good? No matter how I treat you (or society) I deserve love?
Great questions Mrs. Teresa! I’m curious what Fr. will respond to your questions..
Lis Bitar!
Take a look! They were great questions, and I hope my responses will help.
Hello!
I probably should have said a little more about that unconditional love is. Yes, we are called to love unconditionally all people, saints and sinners, as that is the way God loves us, which is fortunate for us! However, unconditional love is not unconditional approval of behavior. Parents correct their kids when they do wrong, and yet, still love them. We love the sinner and show our love by curtailing his or her bad behavior, either through the law, or direct confrontation. We never condone bad behavior, and step up to stop precisely because we love the bad person. We recognize that their bad behavior is actually bad for them! They will be happier if they stop their bad behavior.
Jesus certainly challenged bad people frequently in the Gospel. but out of a desire that they might change. But he never feared to speak up.
Although we love all people, we are not required to like them. We can certainly dislike what people do, or the personality that they have. Unconditional love, at the most minimum, means we do not wish them any harm. We hope they will change, for their own good.
Hope that helps!
Fr. Dave
I read and acknowledge your reply Fr Dave and I will try to follow this but it is very difficult. The concept of loving the sinner but hating the sin is easy to say but difficult in practice. I look at the horrible actions of these Islamic terrorists in France, Sudan, Israel, Syria and Afghanistan – I don’t have love for them Fr Dave. They are evil and they don’t deserve understanding. What am I loving? Their human form,? Their spirit? Can I say I love what they might have been had they not chosen evil? Shall I pray for the souls who chose to blow themselves up just so they could take along innocents with them? I am trying Fr Dave but this is “tough stuff” to grapple with.
Hello!
Yes, you can hate what they have done, the world can work very hard to stop future attacks, which sometimes can mean using deadly force. Loving people is a decision we make from our heard, not actually our heart. We do not feel good about this people at all, but we decide to act toward them in a way that is different from the way they act toward us. They are the ones who are acting on feelings. They hate us, and so seek to kills us. We hate them, but do not seek to kill them, but may do so only in self-defense.
Our loving terrorists does not arise from our feelings about them, but only our recognition that they are fellow human beings. Yet, our love never condones, accepts, or allows their evil behavior. We can use deadly force for the purpose of stopping terrorist actions.
Weel, those are a few more ideas. I hope they help!
I like the comment on unconditional love !! At tonight’s mass at St. Paschal Baylon Fr. Marc gave a very inspirational sermon on the sacrament of confession and God’s forgiveness. He stated that he has heard some very disturbing confessions. However, we need to view the individual as Christ does. God has given man free will and therefore we are capable of great evil and harm to others !! Like you said, we do not condone the bad behavior but out of God’s love we forgive them.
As Lent approaches, I ask you the question does going to confession and mass enable us to go to heaven immediately or do we have to spend time in purgatory? I have wondered this ever since I was a child in Catholic school.
Certainly going to confession always helps at the end of our life. While it does not remove the possibility of Purgatory, confession always helps a great deal.
The best for you in 2015 Father Dave! I look forward again to the University Series. Hope you will be doing some of the sessions.
Yes, I will be doing about 8 or 9 sessions. I am looking forward to them!
Thank you for the wonderful gospel reflection. I am looking forward to the University Series. Have a Happy, Healthy New Year Father Heney.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Father Dave! I have to agree that unconditional love is a tough concept. As you taught me, love is love, unconditional. But there can be love without reconciliation.. And reconciliation comes at a great price for all parties involved. But love is love, and we are called to love all of our fellows in creation. Love means that we want the best for the other person–maybe a happy time in jail.
Well said!
Each year I take several brochures, I have several single friends and my Jewish neighbors who I share these with. I take my elderly friends with me over the last two years since my husband can no longer go with me.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
Wonderful! Thank you for helping others attend the University sessions. I am glad you enjoy them as well.
We are so excited about the University Classes!!! Dick and I are so honored to be presenting “Mary, A Woman in Love!!!” Please keep us in your precious prayers that we may inspire others to love our Jesus and our Mary with a beautiful passion and live their love by loving others!!!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Beautiful message Father Dave – You are always so inspirational and have the words of Wisdom. God works through you to help all of us to live and see what Jesus has in our future.
You are the best! Miss you so much
Verna
Thank you!
Fr. Dave,
Really looking forward to seeing Barrie Schwortz give his presentation on The Holy Shroud of Turin!
Please bring one of the University Series booklets when you come to the desert!
Looking forward to seeing you!
Larry,
I have been telling everyone about Barrie’s University presentation on the Shroud of Turin in February 24th at St. Paschal’s. I know everyone will enjoy it very much. I bring several brochures everywhere I go!