Updated. It’s been quite some time since I last posted something here. Perhaps a bit of an explanation is due. About six years ago, I formally began the process of discerning my call to become an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church. It was a long process, but by the grace of God I was ordained a deacon in November, 2016. I hope to share more about my formation experience up through ordination, but suffice it to say, I was consumed by the process.
At some point along the way, one of our formation directors suggested that we refrain from spending too much time online. Our focus when not on our families or our jobs should be on our formation. This was not framed as a requirement for us, but rather as a strong recommendation. So I stepped back from most online pursuits including this site with one exception.
It’s been several months since ordination, so it’s time to get moving again! I’m in the process of dusting things off as it were. In fact, it’s been so long I’ve wondered whether to start over and archive all my old articles off. So much has changed. I’ve changed.
Over the next several days I’ll be making a few updates and changes to this site along the way. Even the name of this site is updated. Time to tuck “rudy’s notes” away and to introduce “deacon rudy’s notes!”
I will hopefully figure out how to share recordings of my homilies and other talks here as well or at minimum I will post transcripts here. I will also try to utilize other social media platforms to help me evangelize. Popes from as far back as Pius XII in the 1950s have been encouraging all of us to use technology to evangelize. Pope Francis, probably the most tech savvy pope yet, is a great role model to all of us.
The timing of my return is of course due to another reason. There is a rising tide of anger which seems to have splashed us all. No one and no corner of the world appears to be left untouched. Many good people are caught up in it and seem totally unaware of the growing darkness. All disciples have got to take a stand.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people, (2 Timothy 3:17 rsv-ce).
Talk about the signs of the times? What to do? Well, we can do nothing, but somehow that doesn’t seem right. It seems reckless or perhaps self-absorbed or indulgent to leave the world to its own devices. As an Eagle Scout, I was taught that we leave no trace. In other words, we should strive to leave the place we visited in better condition than we found out it. Of course this applies more broadly than camping or some other activity. More is expected of disciples. I agree with my daughter. I believe we all should strive to make the world a better place.
So, after a bit of a respite, here we go!
Any weekend homilies I might give at my parish will be posted here: https://sjvroundrock.org/homilies. You are welcomed to check out not just my homilies, but all of our clergy’s homilies.
