From the Pastor: 5.31.09

FROM THE PASTOR: Pentecost, 5.31.09 Sometimes, as I read the New Testament, it seems to me that we don’t quite believe in “one God in three divine persons”; it feels more like we believe in two-and-a-half.  The biblical picture of the Spirit just never seems quite as clear and complete as those of the Father or the Son.  And yet, the Spirit is no less real or important. The symbols themselves for the Spirit suggest a being difficult to conceptualize or to pin down – wind or breath which are invisible, fire which is ethereal and ever-changing, a dove which is in...

Homily: 5.31.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia Pentecost Sunday – 05/31/09 – 6:30 p.m. Mass The Holy Spirit has been around since the beginning of everything.  In the first verses of Genesis, before the creation of the cosmos, the Spirit – the breath of God – hovers over the waters of the formless void.  A chapter later, God fashions the first human being out of clay and breathes life – God’s own life and breath – into Adam.  It is the Spirit who works in and through the minds and hearts of the prophets.  It is the Spirit who...

Homily: 5.24.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J., Pastor – 7th Sunday of Easter Old St. Joseph’s Church – Philadelphia May 24, 2009 – 11:30 a.m. Mass Many of you are probably familiar with the traditional symbols of the four Gospel writers, which derive from both the prophet Ezekiel and the book of Revelation.  Matthew is depicted as a human being because his gospel focuses on Jesus’ humanity, and also the use of our human reason to help us find salvation.  Mark – is depicted as a lion, which alludes to the kingship of Jesus.  Luke is represented by an ox, which evokes Christ’s...

From the Pastor: 5.24.09

FROM THE PASTOR: May 24, 2009 It has been ten years since popular science writer and reporter, James Gleick, published his book, Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything.  I was not surprised, when I searched online recently, to learn that the book has been reissued and is still readily available.  I expected that, because it is one of those books that “nails it” – that is, a book that articulates something which most of us experience constantly but haven’t quite been able to name… Gleick begins by exposing a couple of primary myths that we have...

From the Pastor: 5.17.09

FROM THE PASTOR: May 17, 2009 About 10 years ago, long before I ever thought of becoming a pastor, America magazine ran an article called “The Good Enough Pastor.”  I wish I could find it now, as it might prove consoling in my attempts to lead our community of faith here at OSJ.  Mind you, I hope and dream of being a good pastor; but as I become more familiar with the challenges of the job, I feel increasingly that I could learn to live with being a “good enough” pastor.  I am hoping that at least most of you will settle for that, too… I bring modest gifts,...

Homily: 5.17.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J., Pastor – 6th Sunday of Easter Old St. Joseph’s Church – Philadelphia 5-17-09 – 5:30 p.m. (Sat. Vigil) and 6:30 p.m. Well, here we go again – the old “love commandment thing.”  I think most of us are in favor of it; but we struggle with what it means, don’t we?  I know that at least I do.  Part of the problem is the broad usage – and so the ambiguity – of the word in English.  We can say that we “love” spaghetti, that we “love” waterskiing, that we “love” our mom, that we “love” our girl or boyfriend, and that we...

From the Pastor: 5.10.09

FROM THE PASTOR: May 10, 2009 One of the most ominous threats that could be held over one’s head when I was in grade school – public as well as Catholic, if memory serves! – was the promise: “If you do x, y, or z, it will go on your permanent record!”  God alone knows how many academic failures or anti-social pranks went uncommitted by me and my peers because we feared leaving a black mark on our dreaded “permanent record”! Consequently, it has been a source of considerable amusement for me, since becoming a pastor, to learn that the Catholic Church does, in...

Homily: 5.10.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J., Pastor – 5th Sunday of Easter Old St. Joseph’s Church – Philadelphia 5-10-09 – 9:30 a.m. – First Communion (Fr. Dan addresses the first communicants who are gathered around him.) Jesus calls himself many things in the Gospels.  For instance, he says he is “the light of the world.”  And maybe you can remember way back to last week when he called himself…?  Hint: it involved sheep…  (Right, the Good Shepherd.) Well, he called himself something different in the Gospel I just read a few minutes ago.  Did anyone catch what he called...

From the Pastor: 5.03.09

FROM THE PASTOR: MAY 3, 2009 If your clock and calendar run on “S.E.T.” (Spiritual Exercises time!), then Easter Season is “the fourth week.”  It is a time when we are invited, as followers of Jesus, to pray for “the grace of being able to enter into the joy and consolation of Jesus as he savors the victory of his risen life” (quotations throughout this column are from Fr. David L .Fleming, S.J., Draw Me Into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises – A Literal Translation & A Contemporary Reading,” St. Louis, Institute of Jesuit Sources,...

Homily: 5.03.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia 4th Sunday of Easter – 5-3-09 – 7:30 & 11:30 a.m. Along with millions of other people worldwide, in over 200 countries and 49 different languages, I am a big Harry Potter fan.  First off, almost anything that inspires contemporary young people to read seven lengthy books must be basically a good thing.  Beyond that, the stories give tweens and teens attractive, yet human, characters who can serve as credible role models and guides through the pain and awkwardness of coming of age by modeling...