Father's Monday, 5/25/2020 Message

Though I myself have never served in the Military, I have been blessed to have family members who have, namely my grandfather who served in the Army, my brother George who served in the Marines, and two uncles who served in the Navy. And, with being in parish life for almost 13 years, to know many more, especially those who now serve the parish faithfully. I am thankful for their dedication to service.  In the Gospel today, we have Jesus say, “In the world you will have trouble, but, have courage, for I overcome the world.”  How appropriate are these words as we find ourselves in a battle with an unseen enemy that is taking its toll on the world.  Yet in this time of uncertainty, let us trust in Jesus, that we can move forward with our lives, knowing that He is with us always, casting out all fear that seems to be inflicted upon us. 

On this Memorial Day 2020, a day to remember those who have died defending us, I would like to provide some reflections from a National Catholic Register article from 2016 from some Military Chaplains, who embody the meaning of serving God and Country. Father Carl Subler  stated, “I would liken Memorial Day to a National All Souls’ Day.” We commemorate all the faithful departed on All Souls’ Day, while on Memorial Day, “I pray specifically for those who have died in our nation’s wars, whether you agree with them or not,” explained Father Subler. “I pray for their souls and the special sacrifice they made for our nation.”  Father Raymond Leopold, states, “ Some veterans often called the holiday ‘Decoration Day,’ as it was first named during the Civil War,” with many decorating the graves, mostly with U.S. flags.  Father Mikstay is a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. When he noticed the recent trend to refer to the constitutionally guaranteed right to “freedom of religion” as the much lesser “freedom of worship,” he started making it a point to correct that notion because it changes definitions. “Freedom of religion means we live this publicly and we’re free to do this. That’s the basis, the real reason why chaplains are here,” he said. But freedom of worship means you keep it within your church or temple, not in public.

On Memorial Day, we remember the true freedoms Americans fought to keep alive. Said Father Mikstay, “the United States can still be a sign of hope and a sign of faith, not only to people who live here, but those who live throughout the world.”  On this Memorial Day, may we remember those who have died for us, and so the pictures I am providing hopefully bring out the message that someone willing to freely die for another, is the ultimate meaning of sacrifice, truly fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, and, to understand that service in any branch of the Military is one of honor, duty, and dignity. 

Thank you,
God bless you,
Fr. Robert