I was visiting my Dad and stepmother this past Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. It has been a long week. My dad almost died from a 91% blockage of his main artery. Miraculously, he is recovering from the real scare. I truly expected him to die in this 80^th year of his life. Apparently, he has made a total recovery after the skills of doctors and nurses and prayers which included modern medicine of heart angioplasty, a bypass performed 30 years ago, and stints. I hope to be a steward of all these many gifts in my life that support health and quality of living.

While visiting my parents, I noticed the church bulletin from St. Mary’s in Flagler Beach. Father Al Esposito had a short column entitled:

Father Al’s Homework Corner

This week let’s tame any feelings of entitlement

that may be lurking in our hearts.

Entitlement in many ways is the opposite of stewardship.

Entitlement places “me” in the center of the universe;

Stewardship places God in the center of my daily activities.

Entitlement is fueled by seeking pleasure and avoiding pain;

Stewardship is fueled by the Cross of Christ

and compassion for our sisters and brothers.

Entitlement sees material goods as self-serving;

Stewardship sees material goods as means to advance

the mission of Jesus Christ.

Entitlement says “I deserve whatever I earn.”

Stewardship says: “Everything is a gift from God.

Our homework this week is to echo in our hearts

the words of venerable Solanus Casey,

“Thank God ahead of time!”

Let’s thank God even before He answers our prayers

and provides for our needs!

(STEWARDSHIP: What we do after we say, “I BELIEVE!”

Beloved, if I am truly honest, I feel a sense of entitlement in this world. However, if I acknowledge my lack, my sin, I have a much better chance of being perfected and cleansed in God’s infinite and merciful love.

In some ways, my role as a priest is a temptation to believe I have an entitlement to God’s special love. However, God’s love is a free gift for every one! My gift in walking the pat as a priest is an opportunity to see the world and God’s love much clearer. It is an opportunity to coach others to their own clarity and understanding for God’s incredible love and joy and mercy for them.

This ongoing Memorial Day was a gift to many of us. I desire with all my being to be a steward of my experience. I attended three funerals. The first was for the mother of a friend who was in Pearl Harbor on December 7^th as a new bride to a Marine. She died at 92. The second funeral was for my neighbor who had a massive heart attack after returning from celebrating his 14^th wedding anniversary with his wife. He died at 58.

On Thursday, I somehow ended up at the side of the chartered plane on NAS as the casket of the body draped in the red, white and blue was lowered before me. The family was a few yards away. I knew this young man who was killed in action in Afghanistan. I needed to be a steward of the uniform I wore, the hand salute I rendered, and the tears burning my soul. Philip Clark, USMC, was only 19.

I sang the third verse of the National Anthem and kind of focused on the part that says, “In God is our trust.” I sprinkled Holy Water on the ends of the casket exposed. I was transported back to Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. I had to be a steward of the tear in my soul and the unknowing what to do or say. When the family came forward, Philip’s new bride and widow let go of copious tears that mingled with the holy water on the casket. She then laid her face on this water made even holier by her tears.

Beloved, this world is loved by God. It is all gift. We are entitled to nothing. Memorial Day is a reminder that many brave heroes and heroines paid for our freedoms with their blood and lives. Their families also paid that price. Let us not take this gift for granted, but say, EUCHARIST! (that is THANK YOU!)

God Bless America!

God Bless the Names and Families we honor on Memorial Day!

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses+

www.tearinthedesert.com

.