Sunday, August 27, 2006
DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

For the past several weeks in the Gospels, we have been returning to the scene where Jesus has been trying to convince the crowds that he is the living bread, sent from heaven, and that the bread that he is referring to is his flesh and blood. Yet very few seem to be able to accept this teaching. Instead, they “murmur” among themselves. Jesus is very direct in his approach to them when he says quite plainly, “Stop murmuring among yourselves.” What does it mean to murmur?

I looked up the word on the internet and among several definitions, found the following: “gossip and rumors, as well as dissent and mocking talk about an authority. . . .” This seems to be the best explanation for Jesus’ use of the word since he experienced so much resistance to his teachings. We, at times, are no different than those crowds, but our resistance may concern other teachings. We may find it easy to accept that Jesus feeds us with his body and blood but cannot pray for our enemies or turn the other cheek. We love Mary as the Mother of God but look down on people who are not like us or are of a different social status. Each of us has our own walled fortress of resistance when it comes to Jesus and we guard it well, finding all kinds of reasons for justification. We “murmur” about why that particular saying of Jesus is not acceptable.

“STOP MURMURING,” says Jesus. He invites us to embrace our weakness, to accept that we have areas of resistance and to try our best to grow. Murmuring does not help anybody – it is only a sign that there is resistance and we need to sit with it and discern why and what to do about it. I recently met a woman after Mass who told me that she cannot change. This greatly troubled me and I told her that the moment we stop changing and growing, we become stagnant and die spiritually. Change is all around us and an integral part of our natural world. Until we reach perfection like the Christ (whom we refer to as the same, yesterday, today and forever), life will offer us opportunities to change and grow. And if we stay connected to the body and blood of Christ, we will be molded by God’s hands. Another way to look at it is like St. Peter: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!”

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Daniel Barica, O.F.M., Pastor Sunday, August 13, 2006
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?” This is what the people were “murmuring” about Jesus when his words and actions were found to be too challenging. What is YOUR reaction when you are asked to do, follow or believe something relating to faith that you want to resist?

For most cradle Catholics, it seems easy to believe that Jesus is the bread of life. It is when our belief moves us to action (which it ought to do) that we begin to struggle. What does the Bread of Life ask of me? What would I rather not hear from Jesus?

Please do not take this as a criticism of St. Barbara parish: I need to confess that I have had a difficult time adjusting to my new life here at the parish. Just about everything is NEW! I have a new room, office, friar community, staff, parishioners, policies and procedures. All of this brings new challenges and expectations and at times I have felt overwhelmed. The one thing that is not new is that I remember so many of you from the last time I was assigned here. Your warmth and acceptance of me has made the transition so much easier and I thank you for that!

Now that Bishop Curry has officially installed me as pastor here, I plan to spend the next several months gathering information about the status of the parish and building relationships with staff and parish ministers and also with you, the faithful members of St. Barbara Parish. I pray that you will be ready to move forward as I ask you to bring your gifts to our parish table so that we can continue to fulfill our parish mission (listed on the front of the bulletin). Our mission is the blueprint we use to build the Reign of God here in our corner of the world. At times we will want to resist in what the Lord asks of us. Resistance is OK, yet needs examination and discernment in prayer. God puts us all to work yet we need to remember that he does not forget to feed us and nurture us for the work we are called to do. God truly is our bread. As we feed on this bread, may we draw strength for the challenges our God presents to each of us, especially the greatest challenge: to become bread for the world!

Yours in Christ Jesus, the bread of life,
Fr. Daniel Barica, O.F.M., Pastor