Reverend Bernard Mach - 'Who is Jesus?'
Speaker: Reverend Bernard Mach ('Corky') Associate pastor of St. Gerard's parish,
Bailey and Delavan Avenue,Buffalo,NY.
(Note: Corky was the creator of the Mission ' 75 program of renewal, he left us
in February, 2004 to be with the Lord.)
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I was born in July, 1938.
I went to St. Luke's Parochial School.
I had trouble with bedwetting...
I had a mean sister at school...
I had a problem at school...and I wouldn't go back to kindergarten.
...
In the Seventh Grade, I played the part of a priest in a play.
I was pushed towards the seminary, but I wouldn't go!
I went to Canisius High School on a scholarship, and I quit after three days!
I wanted to go to Ken (Kensington High School), but my father made me go to Hutch Tech.
I had back trouble in High School, I was home for two weeks during Junior year.
I was bored to death!
My aunt gave me a prayer book, The Young Man's Guide.
I read it through boredom!
It had chapters titled "The Shield of Faith", and "The Helmet of Hope".
The last chapter was about the priesthood.
I decided on the priesthood!
I went to Our Lady of Angels Seminary for two years.
...I saw very little of Jesus.
I was ordained a priest.
I was always a choleric person...but no Jesus...
...
I went on retreat, and realized that I was stuck for life!
I made a Cursillo, and a dim light lit up...
I was sent here (to St. Gerard's)... and ... I. . . hated . . . it ! ! ! !
...
Father Wild was in charge of everything that interested ME!!!
My bitterness was so terrible!!!!
I asked Father Wild why he was so happy, and he said "You don't know how to pray!".
In May of 1972, I almost left the priesthood!
Of twenty-seven in my ordination class,
there were only eleven left!
I made Cursillo.
I wanted to drag everyone down to my level !
There was all this spooky stuff about God, and The Holy Spirit...
I thought, "...I must be the lousiest priest...".
...
I was in a group with fifteen people who knew how to pray, and I was leading them!
Peace and Joy descended upon me!
I had an appendectomy, but my peace lingered on!
I love beautiful surroundings, and I love when people rejoice!
...I hate crowds!
People were coming, and they weren't annoying me, as they did before!
...I loved being alone!
I asked the Lord to help me, and He did!
Now I know that if I turn to Jesus, He will help!
Anything I ask in Jesus Name, God will give me!
On a spiritual scale of 100, I am a 3, or a 4.
"Cork - I have called you by your name..."
Now I wouldn't quit even if the government persecuted us!
Now when people rejoice, I can be happy, and join them!
His Light is the Light that shines through the darkness, and the darkness will never extinguish it!
This Jesus is God! (as the Gospel of St. John tells us!)
He came to be with us, so we wouldnt have to be
moody, or tempermental, or mean to each other!
But, for this to happen, He must become a part of us !!!
He was right there, but it was so hard to see Him!
Many of us use excuses to keep ourselves out!
We want Him to come to us in the neat, packaged way of childhood,
... statues,... crosses,... the Eucharist.
...
He still pursued me!
I fled Him!
Finally, when you are so exhausted, you turn to find that He was the Hound of Heaven!
Even the Jews, His Chosen People, did not believe in Him!
Some of us have seen His glory!
I didn't know what a Bible was, and why Christ was killed!
He was killed because we couldn't stand to listen to His message!
" I don't need Him... till everything goes wrong!"
Take up your cross, and follow Him!
Sorrow and suffering can be transformed into Joy and Glory!
We can't be good on our own!
The only way we can be lifted up out of that baloney is through Jesus!
Jesus had to pray ! ! !
Most of prayer is listening.
Jesus took Peter, and lifted him up to a new life!
Remember the ship on the lake, the storm, Jesus walking on water, Peter walking on water, Peter sinking and crying for help, Jesus taking his hand, and lifting him up!!!
Why did Jesus come?
Jesus came because we need to be healed!
...We don't like to hear that we need healing.
Jesus comes, and wants to touch us.
We act as though there is no way out at all!
I know because I did this!
Monsignior Selbert's kindness was killing me!
(Note: Monsignior Selbert,"Shorty" was the well loved pastor of St. Gerard's. He went into retirement (although he remained in residence at St. Gerard's) when Father Joe Sharmach became the new pastor. Father Joe gave permission to hold the first Mission in 1975)
...
Jesus lifted me up!
God can and will lift us up!
"Come to me, all you who are burdened, and I will refresh you!"
We have to step out in faith, get out of the boat!
Let me tell you what faith is!
It's standing at the edge of a cliff, hearing "Walk on..." "Trust Me..."
and walking on...! ! !
If we know how to take care of our children,
how much more will Our Father in Heaven take care of us ?
We must Trust!
I remember when I first heard " I'm a born-again Christian".
... it...made...me...sick ! ! !
But now I see ! ! !
I'm doing less worrying.
The more you trust, let go,let the lord control your life...
the more He changes you!
The Lord touches you so gently...
"Don't be afraid... it is I... It's the Lord!"
There is a predisposition to faith.
"All right, Lord...You show me how ! ! !"
We have the same problems.
He knows how petty, and how noble we can be.
Jesus loves us exactly as we are ! ! !
Jesus is a living, loving person, who's saying ...
...
We kept Him so far away!
I feel so terrible with how I acted my first eight years in the priesthood!
We must learn how to talk to Him, and learn to listen!
Prayer isn't repetition of words... It's listening and talking!!!
Listening through the actions in our life, and through the Bible.
Sometimes we don't pray the way He taught us...
I used to be the Choir Director in the Seminary...
and I never prayed...
All of that crap that is hurting us so terribly...
is there because we do not read and live the Word of God!
I used to be a super-pouter!
I tell you as your brother in flesh that He can heal you!
If you let Him...
You must carry your cross, but it is easy next to Him!
"Where two or three come together in My Name... I will be among them!"
Don't be fools...
Don't be stupid...
Don't pass up this opportunity!
We've got to keep Him alive!
He's there, and He loves us!
Let Him come alive and touch you ! ! !
You have to keep Him, and His relationships alive ! ! !
" I am the Bread of Life, he who eats of me will live forever ! ! ! "
Instead of paying attention to Him...
We pay attention to garbage ! ! !
We spend most of our life worrying about garbage.
Christ is the only one who matters!
He is the only one who can bring us happiness!
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Discussion: Joe Kamrowski, Sharon Lynch, Frank Berry.