For most of this week Fr. Jim, myself and a few of our parishioners attended the September Institute in Sheridan. This is a state-wide annual diocesan event attended by the bishop, clergy, chancery staff and the lay faithful from various parishes throughout the Diocese of Cheyenne. Through the years I have attended similare conferences in the Archdiocese of Denver. And generally speaking, I have found them to be informative as well as spiritually uplifting. But I have to admit this year I struggled these past few days with a plethora of theological, liturgical, sociological, and ecclesial presentations. I took several pages of notes but I just struggled to put all of this information together in a meaningful way to apply it to my ministry and to the life of our parish. 

It wasn't until yesterday's closing Mass that it all began to come together - thanks to Bishop Steven. Through the years I generally avoid sports terms in my homilies but it seems appropriate to how the Bishop saved the September Institute for me. Like an ace relief pitcher coming out of the bullpen in the ninth inning to protect a narrow lead in a baseball game, Bishop Steven as the celebrant at Mass, gave a homily yesterday that suddenly gave meaning and context and shed light on all of the data I had compiled for the past three days.
Bishop Steven summed up three days of theI Institute succinctly with four insights in his homily.

Number one (1) , as a Church journeying together, we must have a Paschal perspective, the core of what we believe as Catholics - the Paschal Mystery - Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection. The Paschal Mystery is also the core of the Gospels in the New Testament. In the Gospel today, Jesus reveals to his disciples a portion of that Paschal Mystery when He says, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himelf, take up his cross, and follow me." 

The second (2) insight from Bishop Steven was that we as a Church - all the baptized - that we must alwys remember that Christ lives within us as we journey together. This is what Paul was referring to in the first reading when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ; yet Ilive, no longer I, but Christ lives in me."

The third (3) insight from Bishop Steven was that we as a Church live in communion with each other - forged as one body in Christ. Forged, that is to say that we are being formed and shaped as one body in Christ. 

And the fourth (4) insight that our bishop preached on was that we should be moving toward a deeper awareness of what our mission is as we journey together.

Brother and sisters, that mission is simple but not easy. On this mission we are all called to commuity and on this mission, we are strengthened because we have one faith, one hope, one baptism, one church, one body in Christ as we journey toether in communion with the one Paschal Mystery that sustains us in the sacraments. In this place and at this hour discern where you are at on this journey. Reflect on Saint Paul's words, "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me." And never forget that as you journey, you are never alone! As one body in Christ we journey together. Many Christians have the notion that it is just Jesus and me. Always remember that it's never just Jesus and me. It's Jesus and me and everyone else! Keep focused on the cross as you journey - knowing that Christ lives in you - forged as one body in Christ - with the deep awareness of the Paschal Mystery that continues to surround and nourish you in the Eucharist - food for the journey.