Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

I was eleven years old when I watched my first Olympic Games in the summer of 1992. It was the Barcelona Olympics. During the men’s 400m semi-finals around 150 meters into the race: British sprinter Derek Redmond’s hamstring tears apart. The camera lingers over the wreckage for a few seconds, then jumps ahead to the finish line as the race ends.

He had trained for four years and was one of the favorites to win a medal.  All his work and energy came to a halt.  He tries to get up and run again, only to find himself falling back down to the track. 

As tears fall down his face, a commotion from the stands comes.  There was an older man pushing his way down to the track yelling at the security guards, “That is my son.” 

The devoted father ran onto the track, embraced his son, and helped him up.  Together, arm-in-arm, he aided his sobbing son across the finish line. 

Each of us has a race to compete in life, and all of us have an eternal medal waiting for us as we cross the finish line into heaven.  However, we have become injured by our sins and we cannot finish the race.  This is why God our Father sent His only Beloved Son from the grandstands of paradise onto the race of life.  God comes to aid us to the victory of eternity.

This is a story of a father’s love.  I wish all father’s a happy and blessed Father’s Day.  Your love of your children is a reflection of God the Father’s love for us. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please join us for Mass this weekend to celebrate with the newly ordained priest, Fr. Tony Schukei, our deacon last summer.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Maybe some of you are planning on camping this summer.  One of the best things about camping is the campfire.  When you throw a log on the fire, it is not consumed right away. Rather the bark is first burned up, then the fire penetrates the wood, and finally, the wood and fire become united as one as the fire possesses the wood.  This effect creates a radiate flame and warmth to make the evening memorable. 

This past weekend we celebrated the feast of Pentecost.  It was at the first Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Mary in the upper room as tongues of fire.  The fire of Divine love equipped them for their missionary endeavors.

“Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world. …..It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary” (CCC 799,801). The Holy Spirit is given to each of us as forms of different gifts so that we may give glory to God and build His Kingdom. The Church in Her wisdom tells us two things in these short sentences: 1) you have a part to play 2) every gift is vital; never think that your gifts to share are unworthy of appreciation.

“Each one has received a gift; use it to serve one another as good stewards” (1 Peter 4:10).  We are a stewardship parish and every one of us is called by God to give back our time, talents, and treasure.  What are your spiritual talents, gifts, and charisms?  

Like other presents, it is impossible to fully appreciate and make use of our spiritual gifts until they have been discovered and opened.  Let us discover our gifts together today so we may allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to help others and build God’s kingdom.

Like a log on a campfire, the Holy Spirit wants to burn away the things of this world in our life.  Secondly, we must allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate our souls.  Finally, the Holy Spirit wants to consume us so the fire of Divine love comes radiating from our soul through the use of our spiritual gifts. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS - Please take a few minutes to take the free discernment of Spiritual Gifts Inventory by going to Spiritual Gifts (saintpeterlincoln.com)  

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

What does a Christian church look like?  Many people and churches have tried to define or redefine this over the years. 

The simplest way to find what an authentic Christian church is is to look at what the early Church looked like.  If you go back to the beginning of Christianity in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  You will find that they had four defining characteristics – breaking of bread (Mass), teaching of the Apostles, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:42). 

I consider myself blessed to be the pastor of St. Peter since our parish community lives out these four characteristics well.  We have many parishioners who gather together for Mass each day.  There are people who are engaged in learning the faith through various opportunities.  Many others commit to praying as a family or making a Eucharistic holy hour weekly.  And we have fun and fellowship while growing closer to the Lord. 

This weekend, we have two great opportunities to grow in fellowship.  Tonight, June 3^rd, our annual parish fellowship event, Pints for Peter, will take place.  On Sunday, the Knights of Columbus will sponsor our annual family picnic after the 11 AM Mass. 

I look forward to seeing you all at Mass this weekend and having fellowship at these two great events! 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS - Purchase your tickets for Pints for Peter by clicking here

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

In the summer of 2008, I had the privilege to work with St. Mother Teresa’s religious sisters, the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India.  I was blessed to be able to work in the home for the dying. Each day, there would be about twenty volunteers who took care of these dying people.  Many of the volunteers were Catholic, but some were of other religions from around the world. 

One day I met a man from France who said he was an atheist.  I was shocked that someone who did not believe in God would travel to the armpit of the world to work in the slums.  I asked him what motivated him to volunteer if he was not inspired by the love of God.  He responded while shaving a crippled man, “This is therapeutic for me.”

Brothers and sisters, we are called to be good stewards of what God has given us by giving of our time, talents, and treasures.  It is easy to give God 10% of our money.  It is even easier to give Him our talents.  But it is a true sacrifice to give Him our time since we are all limited, and we don’t know how much time on earth we all have. 

I am so grateful for those of our parish who give God their gift of time.  I especially would like to thank the people who have dedicated their time to make our annual parish fundraiser, Pints for Peter, a wonderful event for all. 

I ask you to prayerfully consider giving God your time by volunteering for our Pints for Peter event.  I promise you, God will reward you immensely.  Even if you don’t see the rewards of your time here on earth, you will one day be in the Kingdom of Heaven.  After all, volunteering could be therapeutic for you too! 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor 

PS - Please volunteer for Pints for Peter by clicking here

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

On this date, May 20^th, in the year 325 AD, the early bishops from around the world gathered in the town of Nicaea to call the first ecumenical council.  It was at this council we, as Christians, received the Creed, which we pray every Sunday. 

These apostolic fathers of the Church could only gather together to fight against the early heresies with the support of their people from the local diocese.  In the early Church (Acts 4:35), as is today, people of God take ownership of the local parish and diocese by contributing their time, talents, and treasures.   The book of Sirach states, “With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy” (Sirach 35:8). 

With this scripture passage in mind I look forward to beginning a new year of the Charity and Stewardship appeal. The theme for this year is “As I have Loved You.” As a Diocese, we are called to love by evangelization, outreach to the suffering, and Catholic education. The Charity and Stewardship appeal is an important way of participating in this work since it aids a wide number of ministries such as the Evangelization office, Catholic Social Services, and especially, our Catholic Schools. Last year, more than 87% of Charity and Stewardship funds came directly back to us to support our school and parish. 

Our goal for St. Peter this year is $200,000.  Currently, we are at 60% of that goal.  If you have not yet made your pledge, I kindly ask you to do so by clicking here.

Brothers and sisters, please know of my deep gratitude for your ongoing and generous support of the Charity and Stewardship appeal. May Jesus, the risen Lord, abundantly bless and reward you. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor 

PS- Check out this year’s Charity and Stewardship Video.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Cardinal Basil Hume of London once told the following story about a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.  The line leading up to the gas chambers was long. The faces of the people waiting to enter reflected a welter of emotions.  Some were in shock.  Some were in denial about what was happening.  Some were filled with anger, some with fear, and some were crying.

A little gypsy girl was standing in that line, holding a doll in her hand. She was crying.  One of the guards saw her and some forgotten corner of his heart came to life.  But what could he do? He couldn’t save her since he was only one man against a thousand armed with machine guns. He did the only thing he could do.  He joined her in line. Holding her hand, he walked with her into the gas chamber to die together. 

In this weekend’s gospel, Jesus asked His disciples to love one another as He loves them. He gives them a series of intensifiers here.  First, he tells them, “I give you a new commandment – love one another.” Love can be commanded because it has first been given. We are infinitely loved by God, therefore, we can be commanded to love others.  Then, Jesus says, “As I have loved you, so you should also love one another.” How does Jesus love us? To the end. He loves us to the point of laying down his life for us. And because of his power in us, we can love others in the same way. Finally, Jesus tells us that love is the Christian’s name tag. He says, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

Love is meant to be our name tag as Christians. In the 3rd century, Tertullian said that when the Romans referred to the early Christians they often remarked, “See how they love each other.” This was how they recognized them as Christians.

And it’s not just a love of good feelings. It is a love that brings us to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus laid down his life for us. This is our great power; this is our great privilege.

God has come to earth and told us what will fulfill us. He has come to earth and told us what he’s hoping for from us. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Love is a Christian’s name tag. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

If you ever get the chance to go to Quebec City, Canada, I would recommend it.  You get to experience the French culture without having to endure jet lag.  While there, check out Notre-Dame Cathedral.  This is not as impressive as the Notre Dame in Montreal, but the Cathedral of Our Lady (Notre Dame in Latin) in Quebec City has the tomb of St. François de Laval.

May 6^th is the feast day of St. François del Laval. He served as a bishop for nearly fifty years until his death in 1708.    He is considered a Father of the Catholic Church, of the Canadian Church, by establishing the seminary, parishes, and works of charity. 

Throughout his life, Laval's mother, Michelle, continuously served as an example of piety and encouraged him to be charitable to those who were less fortunate.  Saints don’t just happen by chance.  They come from God’s grace and the witness of faith by their parents. 

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day.  Moms have the beautiful dignity of showing the sacrificial love of God to their children.  I thank my mom, Michelle, for pushing me out into this world and up into the next! 

None of us is here by chance, as the Darwinists want us to believe. None of us is an unwanted mistake, as the pro-abortionists would like us to believe. None of us is a toy or experimental product manufactured by scientists, as the cloning advocates and artificial reproduction companies seem to think. 

Rather as the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.”  Each one of us is a beloved, desired child of the living, eternal, all-wise, all-powerful God of the universe.  We have received our existence directly from Him in cooperation with our mothers.  If, from all eternity, He had not yearned for our friendship and envisioned a lasting purpose for each of us, we would not be here.

A blessing for mothers from the rite of baptism: “God the Father, through His Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children.”

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

I was a high-hurdler in high school, which consists of ten hurdles 39 inches tall for 110 meters.  It happened to be the 3^rd race of my freshman year in which I tripped over the third hurdle.  I got up and noticed the blood running down my leg, which caused me to trip on the next hurdle and lose the race.  Coach Germer told me afterward, “If you focus on your wounds, you will fall again and again.  However, if you focus on the end, you will win.” 

All of us have been wounded in life.  We were born abnormal and wounded by original sin.  We have been wounded by others.  We have wounded ourselves.  But too often, we focus on our wounds.  It is as if spirituality consists of picking the scabs of my wounds instead of looking at the cure. 

Instead of focusing on our wounds, we should be looking at the wounds of our Risen Lord, Jesus.  His wounds are the finish line on which we should focus. The word for wound, in Hebrew, is chabar, which comes from the root word to unite, to ally.  His wounds unite us to the Father. 

The wounds of Christ contain a message for us, a message of love and sacrifice, a message of salvation from sin, a message of his unconditional and unfailing devotion to each one of us.  By His wounds, He has poured mercy upon us for “By his wounds, you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

Today, may we take our gaze off of our wounds and like St. Thomas, put our hand in the wounds of Christ and cry out, “My Lord and My God!” 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

In September 2015, Jesuit artist Fr. Marko Rupnik completed the mosaics in the chapel at the John Paul II Shrine in Washington DC. They are a stunning overview of salvation history.

One wall depicts the fall into sin and the early revelations of God in the Old Testament. The other wall portrays the events of the New Testament, such as the Annunciation and the Birth of Jesus. The focal point is the sanctuary. Behind the altar, there is a striking mosaic of Christ with outstretched arms in the form of a cross. He has a visible wound in His side.  The wound has a very particular shape. It looks like a flame and you’re left wondering what it means.

Then you look up. Above the altar, there’s an identical mark on the ceiling. It matches the wound in Christ’s side.  It represents the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on the altar, to transform the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. It also represents the mercy of God, which the Holy Spirit pours out upon each of our lives.

The message is clear and powerful. Mercy flows from the wounds of Jesus. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please join us Divine Mercy Sunday at 2:30pm for a Eucharistic adoration hour with keynote homilist Father Bedient. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Winston Churchill, England's Prime Minister during the crisis of World War II, who many say singlehandedly saved his country from succumbing to Nazi Totalitarianism, died after spending nine days in a coma. Before falling into the coma, his last words were, "I'm bored with it all."

Dying words can be very instructive. How is it people, who have seemingly achieved so much, value it so little from hindsight? Because we were made for more than this world has to offer.

Jesus came to save us from a life of meaninglessness and frustration. It is in knowing, loving, and following Him that our lives take on the true, lasting excitement that we long for.  I encourage you to meditate upon His dying words and their Old Testament fulfillment this Good Friday. 

7 Last Words of Jesus 

1. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46; Mark 15:34)
   • Psalm 22
     
     
2. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
   • Exodus 32:32
     
     
3. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
   • Genesis 2:15; Ezekiel 36:35
     
     
4. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
   • Psalm 31:6
     
     
5. “Women, behold, your son…..Behold, your mother.” (Jn. 19:30)
   • 2 Kings 4:8-44
     
     
6. “I thirst.” (John 19:28)
   • Psalm 42:3; Psalm 69:22
     
     
7. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
   • Zechariah 4:4

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

The composer Ludwig van Beethoven did his first recital at seven years old. At twenty-six, he started having hearing problems.  It is believed when he performed his Ninth Symphony he was completely deaf.  Ludwig van Beethoven played pianos with such drive that he broke them and he is often depicted with a stern face to reflect the intensity with which he performed.

He once said, “To play without passion is inexcusable.” 

With Palm Sunday, we begin Holy Week by remembering the Lord’s Passion. The word “Passion,” like the word “love,” is a used and abused term in our day. When we speak of Passion, in the case of what Our Lord underwent, there’s room for multiple understandings of passion. He shows us passion in all the facets that we should live it.

Passion means suffering. Our Lord put up no struggle and went as a lamb to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53:7) Our Lord suffered greatly for us.

Secondly, St. Paul reminds (Philippians 2:6-11) us that a passion for others is what drove Our Lord to empty himself by assuming human nature and undergoing the Passion. It was not a passion for honors; He already had them.  It was not a passion for gain, as God, He already had everything and needed nothing. It was not a passion to excel; He was the Son of God in eternity before he was born of Mary. It was a passion for His Father and us.

Most importantly, Passion means love. People are encouraged today to be passionate about what they do and to change what they’re doing if they’re not. We’re expected to love what we do and we consider people blessed who love what they do.   However, the mystery of Christ’s Passion shows us that it is not so much loving what we’re doing as loving those for whom we’re doing it.  You may not love the cross, but you take up your cross daily for those you love. 

Jesus loves us through the Cross and undergoes the Passion to teach us what passion truly is.  In imitation of Christ in these days, contemplate not what you love or don’t love, but whom you love through what you do.  As we follow Our Lord, step by step, blow by blow, to Calvary, ask him to show you for whom He is suffering: you.

To be a Christian without passion is inexcusable. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

If you ever make it to Tewin, England, you should check out the graveyard around St. Peter Church. There is a unique gravestone with a massive tree growing out of it.  The 200-year-old gravestone belongs to Lady Anne Grimston. 

She was a wealthy atheist who mocked Christianity, specifically the resurrection.  She once told her friends, “I shall not continue to live. It is as unlikely that I shall continue to live as that a tree will grow out of my body.” She went so far as to challenge Heaven, saying, “If indeed, there is life hereafter, trees will render asunder my tomb.”

Heaven accepted the challenge.  For today, growing right from the heart of Lady Anne Grimston’s grave in St. Peter’s churchyard in Hertfordshire County is one of the largest trees in England, with four trees growing from one root. The marble masonry of the tomb has shattered to pieces, and today Lady Anne Grimston’s grave is a heap of broken stone.

Today is April Fool’s Day.  Also known as National Atheist Day because the joke is on them since “The fool says there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)  Sadly, Lady Anne Grimston was a fool.  The fool denies the fact that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. 

Brothers and sisters, if we believe in Him, even though we die, we will live! (John 11:25)  It is our hope that one day Jesus will open our graves and have us rise with Him.  But today, we live out the Christian resurrection as we leave behind us the death of our own sins. By doing this, we let the seed of faith germinate in our souls and allow the tree of life, Jesus Christ, to break the gravestones that cover our hearts.
 
In His Mercy, 
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

I was recently reading a heroic story of a poor young teenage girl.  Her family had great aspirations for her and she was well loved and respected in her little farming community.  Her beauty was beyond compare and she won the heart of a chivalrous man who proposed to marry her.  

Her world was changed one day when she found out she was pregnant and the child was not from her fiancé.  What would he say? Would he leave her?

This child was unplanned and unexpected.  She did not have the means to take care of the baby growing in her womb.  She would need support from her family, but how would they react? How was she going to face the gossip and rumors that would run wild amongst her neighbors? 

She had to make a choice, yes or no to this child.  She said YES!  Her ‘yes’ would change the course of humanity, her ‘yes’ changed eternity. 

Today is the feast day of the Annunciation.  This is the day on which we celebrate the ‘yes’ of Mary to the Archangel Gabriel to be the mother of God. 

Today, I pray for all women who have unexpected and unplanned pregnancies.  You are not alone.  Mary of Nazareth knows your pain, your concerns, your anxieties, and your fears.  Her ‘yes’ to life in her womb brought you Eternal Life.  Your ‘yes’ to life is a participation in her yes.  Find your strength and hope in her. 

The total acceptance of Mary is accompanied by a total donation: she accepts by offering herself and she offers herself by giving of herself.  Every vocation is a gift of total donation by offering and giving of self to another. 

The Annunciation is a perfect occasion to think about one's life and whether or not we always say 'yes' or often hide, with our heads down, like Adam and Eve, not exactly saying "no," but pretending not to know what God is asking. 

Mary said ‘yes’ for the human race.  Each one of us must echo that ‘yes’ for our own lives. 

In His Mercy,
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

A few weeks ago, a beautiful young family greeted me after Mass.  The little four-year-old boy piped up with enthusiasm. “I am a boy! She is a girl.” as he pointed to his little sister.  “Mommy is a girl and daddy is a boy, like me.” 

How easy it is to see the world through the innocent eyes of a young child!  Sadly, our current society has corrupted child-like faith and reason.  But now is a time for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to put away the deceitful errors of our corrupt ways and be transformed by the renewal of our minds. (Galatians 5)

In today’s culture, we have acquiesced to the confusion of what it means to be male and female as God has created us and objective science can prove.  Recently, I was told by our junior high students that they have classmates who identify as ‘furries’.  If you do not know what furries are, neither does my Microsoft Word spellcheck. They are kids who identify as a cat, dog, or any other furry animal they want to identify as.  Maybe this dysphoria is a result of a culture that has abandoned gender, babies in the womb, and the humanization of pets. 

In the history of western civilization since the Resurrection of our Lord, there has always been a wrestling with truth.  When heresies were taught and truth became subjective, the Church would call its leaders together for an ecumenical council.  In the first millennium of the church, the main debate was ‘Who is God?’ For the next 1,000 years, the main question was, ‘What is the Church?’  Today, we have fallen into the error of questioning, ‘What is humanity?’  Maybe it is time for Vatican III to address this heresy. 

A few years ago, a renowned psychologist James Marcia published the results of a long and detailed study on the phenomenon of identity crisis. He discovered the real cause of identity confusion and anxiety has to do less with knowledge than with commitment. Most people know their basic roles in life, but they are afraid to commit to living them out. The saints knew they were children of God and committed themselves to living as Children of God.

In His Mercy, 
Fr. Eric Clark, Pastor

PS – Please join us for Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 2:30PM and 5:30PM.