January 23, 2022 • Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

There are days that make you stop and ponder life. For me, last Monday, January 17th, was one of those days. It began with my getting ready to celebrate a funeral service at Blake Funeral Home. While walking to my car in our very slushy parking lot, I managed to get my feet soaking wet, and so I had to go back in and change my shoes and socks. This led me to be about five minutes late. After arriving at Blake’s and explaining to the people what happened, they had a good laugh. It was just one of those days. Later on, in between doing a second funeral at Saint John’s and my next appointment with a wedding couple, I stopped at Hannaford to pick up a few groceries. After leaving the store and returning to my car, I picked up the bag out of the shopping cart and—would you believe!—it immediately ripped open; the containers of blueberries fell out and spilled all over the ground. No five-second rule in this instance. I went into the store and explained what happened so they could get someone to clean up the blueberries. The employee I spoke with made sure that the blueberries were replaced. This whole process, again, made me about five minutes late for my appointment with the wedding couple. But when they heard what happened, they thought it was pretty funny. I simply chocked it up to ‘one of those days’. These small occurrences can easily get us frustrated, but in the grand scope of things they really do not matter. Let me explain.

The truth of what I am saying was driven home to me when, just before 2 PM, I received a call from Fr. Bob Blaney. He called to let me know that one of my best friends, Fr. Steve Boyle, had unexpectedly passed away. The news hit me hard and put me into a state of shock. I couldn’t even think of how to respond. On top of that, my next appointment was at 2 PM, to celebrate Mass at Chelmsford Crossing. It seemed that I was going to be late for everything that day. But this time I honestly didn’t care. I knew the people would understand. And celebrating Mass also helped me because I was offering it for Fr. Steve.

As I write this, I am still somewhat in a state of shock. Steve was my classmate, and we shared a lot together in living out our priesthood. He was the go-to person I could count on when I really needed a friend. During times of struggle, he was there to listen and support me and offer good advice. We had a lot of laughs and shared important moments. When the Archbishop asked me to return to school, Steve, at his own expense, flew out to Chicago with me. It was just to make a visit to the school the Archdiocese was considering for me. Steve did not want me to make the trip alone. He knew this would be a difficult decision for me and so he wanted to be there to lend his support. I was really grateful for his support and his insight. He helped me recognize that this school would not be a good option; as such, the final choice was Catholic University.

Reflecting on all that happened Monday, I have to admit how easy it is for me to get frustrated with small upsets in my life. It is so easy to focus on the trivial inconveniences and see them as somehow bigger than they really are. At times the normal daily grind of life can seem to be all encompassing. We can feel overwhelmed by incidents that really do not matter in the grand scope of reality. And then we get hit with a wakeup call that helps us remember what really matters—what really should be important to us.
Life will be very different without my friend. I enjoyed Steve’s viewpoint on a great number of issues. And, you never had to guess what he was thinking: he told it the way he saw it—he did not believe in using a filter. And yet, there was never anything malicious in what he said. He could, at times, be considered harsh, but he was never trying to hurt anyone. Steve simply knew what he considered right and wrong, and said so. And, I always knew, with Steve, if he had your back you knew you were all set. That was the great thing about him.

The one saving grace in all of this is my faith. I truly believe in the promises of Christ. I truly believe that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, my friend continues to live. I know that the pain I feel is the potential of what is now gone: the times we could have or would have shared together; the support from him that was always there. The truth of what is gone is a long list and, really, they are the intangibles of any relationship. I mourn the loss of Steve’s presence in my life, but I am also reminded of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We can focus on the small things that annoy and frustrate us. It is so easy for that to happen. But today I am
reminded, with the death of my friend, of what truly matters—the victory Christ has won for us. It is not the loss of my friend that puts things into perspective, but the hope that arises from my faith in Christ. Steve is not here with me today, but I will see him again. That is the promise of Christ’s victory and that is what gives true meaning to life.

If you have any questions about anything, please do not hesitate to ask me directly via email (link above).

Please keep me in your prayers.

Fr. Brian 2022 Weekly Articles

January 16, 2022
January 9, 2022
January 2, 2022

Fr. Brian 2021 Weekly Articles

December 26, 2021
December 19, 2021
December 12, 2021
December 5, 2021
November 28, 2021
November 21, 2021
November 14, 2021
November 7, 2021
October 31, 2021
October 24, 2021
October 17, 2021
October 10, 2021
October 3, 2021
September 26, 2021
September 19, 2021
September 12, 2021
September 5, 2021 [No Article]
August 29, 2021
August 22, 2021
August 15, 2021
August 8, 2021
August 1, 2021
July 25, 2021
July 18, 2021
July 11, 2021
July 4, 2021
June 27, 2021
June 20, 2021
June 13, 2021
June 6, 2021
May 30, 2021
May 23, 2021
May 16, 2021
May 9, 2021
May 2, 2021
April 25, 2021
April 18, 2021 [No Article]
April 11, 2021
April 4, 2021 [Easter]
March 28, 2021
March 21, 2021
March 14, 2021
March 7, 2021
February 28, 2021
Februry 21, 2021
February 14, 2021
February 7, 2021
January 31, 2021
January 24, 2021
January 17, 2021
January 10, 2021
January 3, 2021

Fr. Brian 2020 Weekly Articles

December 27, 2020
December 20, 2020
December 13, 2020
December 6, 2020
November 22, 2020
November 8, 2020
November 1, 2020
October 25, 2020
October 18, 2020
October 11, 2020
October 4, 2020
September 27, 2020
September 20, 2020
September 13, 2020
September 6, 2020
August 30, 2020
August 23, 2020
August 16, 2020
August 9, 2020
August 2, 2020
July 26, 2020
July 19, 2020
July 12, 2020
July 5, 2020
June 28, 2020
June 21, 2020
June 14, 2020
June 7, 2020
May 31, 2020
May 24, 2020
May 17, 2020
May 10, 2020
May 3, 2020
April 26, 2020
April 19, 2020
​​​​​​​April 12, 2020
April 5, 2020
March 29, 2020
March 22, 2020
March 15, 2020
March 8, 2020
February 23, 2020
February 16, 2020 

Fr. Brian Eucharist Articles

• Week One: Introduction to Eucharist
• Week Two: Eucharist a Noun
• Week Three: Eucharist as Verb
• Week Four: Eucharist as Sacrifice
• Week Five: Eucharist as Meal
• Week Six: Eucharist as Covenant/Memorial
• Week Seven: Conclusion 

Fr. Brian Teaching on The Mass
From October 18 - November 15, 2021, Fr Brian presented a 5-week Teaching on The Mass. Below you can find a link to both his videos as well as the coinciding articles that appeared in the previous Sunday's bulletin.

Teaching on The Mass Videos

• Part One: Why we go to Mass
• Part Two: Introductory Rites
• Part Three: Liturgy of the Word
• Part Four: Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Part Five: Concluding Rites