Yesterday, I joined a couple parishioners for a fundraising luncheon for the St. Michael the Archangel Pregnancy Help Center.  Sr. Dede Byrne was the keynote speaker.  Dr. Leisa Marie Carson introduced her.  You can see both of them in the video above.  Their website is https://sistersoldiersurgeon.com/.  Sister Dede mentioned her quest to end euthanasia.  That website is https://credostlouis.org/.  

     Our parish has begun supporting the new pregnancy help center in West Creek, south of Manahawkin.  It's named after that great defender, St. Michael the Archangel.  Their website is https://stmichaelhelp.org/.  St. Michael's opened recently to help pregnant women in need.  Their big dream is to build a maternity home.

     My favorite complainer is Jeremiah.  If you want to complain well, imitate him.  See today's readings here.  In the first reading from Jeremiah 20, we hear Jeremiah's best complaint.  I liken it to a common situation today.

     Many of us have cut back on social media and the news because of all the terrible things going on in the world.  If we live in a bubble, then we might not know what's happening.  Otherwise, we probably still hear the "whisperings of many" about terrible things.  If we get mired in these whisperings, we'll remain miserable.  If we complain well, God will rescue us.

     The best complaints have a particular form called the Lament Form.  Instead of allowing the whisperings of many to go around in circles in our minds, we complain/lament to God about our troubles.  It might take a long time, but we eventually finish our complaint/lament.  The next step is to wait quietly upon the Lord and listen to Him in the silence.  Sometimes He speaks to us in a tangible way.  Usually, He does not.  It's called the "gap".  In that gap, God mysteriously does something to encourage us and inspire us.  That's the idea because the third step is that we praise God.  That's the lament form:  lament, gap, praise.

     If you want to avoid remaining stuck in the muck, tell God your troubles and spend some quiet time with Him in prayer.  You'll be surprised to find yourself praising God even if the situation doesn't change.  That's because God is God.  He loves us dearly.  And He's got a wonderful plan even if we don't know the details of His plan.

     Let's whisper to God about the whisperings around us.

1)  For relief efforts in Myanmar.

2)  For greater respect for all human life, especially the young, the old, and the sick.

3)  For all visitors coming to Mass on Palm Sunday.

4)  For peace around the world.

5)  For upgrading circular complaining to lamenting to God.

God love you,

Fr. Jim