A Family Circle - Reflection Feast of the Holy Family - Year C

(Readings)
Contemplating the Holy Family, Family Circle Magazine came to mind, one of my mother’s favorites growing up. From there, the old gospel song, “Will the Circle be Unbroken” with one specific verse standing out “Now the family is parted. Will it be complete one day? Will the circle be unbroken by and by, by and by? Is a better home waiting in the sky, in the sky?”

As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, remember we are all family. All part of God’s creation. Created by the word of God, molded into the image of God, and then by God’s own breath, the spirit of life came into us.

In each and every life, in each and every person, in each and every day, creation comes again full circle. It is in that circle of God’s love that we will find the truth and happiness for which we constantly search

It is a circle that all of us are part. It is a circle whose center everywhere and whose end is nowhere. In that circle, we are born in the image of God and meant to grow into the full likeness of God.  It is a likeness that has heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in bearing with one another and forgiving one another.

I saw that last week. Due to a family illness, I have been at the University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Medical Center.  There, the halls are full of people wearing Christian Crosses or Yarmulkes or traditional Islamic dress. And each speaks to others with compassion and kindness and gentleness and patience.

One day I walked upon two medical students (One Asian and one European) were speaking to each other. The Asian student asked the other, “Where exactly is this country you are from, Poland?”

That is why we can say, it is a circle whose center everywhere and whose end is nowhere. The Creator has bestowed his love on all of his creation. The human family is enormous. The problem is we get lost. We get lost when we think God is only ours. Sometimes, it is fundamentalism. Sometimes, it is radicalism. All the times, it is a mistake to think God is only for us. It is a mistake to think that Christ came and died only for us. God sent his truth and his word for all people.

We are all in some way trying to get closer to that word and ultimate truth.  Some just do not know where to look. We look with great anxiety. We look in the wrong places.

As I walked down the halls of the hospital after Christmas, I overheard two young nursing students discussing Christmas. One said, “I was raised Catholic, but all that is just not my thing anymore.”

I hope she was not talking about God.  I hope she still seeks the truth. Because, it is in each of us that over our lifetime we develop our own unique relationship to God from our life and experiences. Some will embrace that relationship. Some will seek wholeness from an inner realization of union with God. 

Some will seek separation. Some want only ordinary earthly thinking. They disregard everything else.

But the truth is they never leave the circle whose center is everywhere and whose end is nowhere. The never leave the circle that is the family of God. They never leave the love of their creator even if they deny it.

Each of us is loved with a love that nothing can shake, a love that loved us long before we were created; a love that will be there after everything has disappeared. Even those who deny love are loved with the same love as those who embrace love. It is a circle that will be unbroken.

Those in Christ know this circle. See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Be part of the Holy Family and realize the truth of our family’s circle.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life, by and by, and love another. Amen.

A Wonderful Christmas Song - Homily Christmas Day Mass 2018

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122518-day.cfm

Merry Christmas, everyone, I hope each of you awoke this morning to a beautiful Christmas song. Every year we hear some great Christmas songs, both religious and secular.

One interesting fact I heard is that Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” earns between $400 - $600 thousand dollars in royalties every year. It’s no wonder he’s having a wonderful Christmas time.

It’s a great song, but it missing the one thing Christmas is about the birth of the baby Jesus. That child brought us a wonderful Christmas time.

If you were here at the vigil mass the gospel of Matthew remembered the genealogy of Jesus and how his birth came about. At midnight mass and mass at dawn the gospel of Luke remembered the shepherds, the census, no room at the inn, and the baby in the manger.

On Christmas day is the gospel of St. John the Evangelist that begins with these words:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.

This is the mystery of Christ that is the gospel of John.  Never in this life will we be able to totally explain the mystery, only believe the Word of God came to us to bring us closer to God.

The gospel is in the words of St. John the Evangelist, Jesus’ best friend. John was one who knew Jesus intimately. John was one of Jesus’ first disciples. He laid his head on Jesus’ chest at the last supper. When Jesus was arrested, John did not run away or deny Jesus and followed the Lord to his accusers. 

John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross and the one Jesus charged with caring for Mary. John was the disciple that lived the longest and thought, pondered, and considered for years all he saw and all he heard to slowly come to his words of truth about Christ Jesus.

He writes about who Jesus was in prose and philosophy. But because of who John was, how he lived, and when he lived, his poetic thoughts tell us exactly who Jesus was. John is writing a song.

Most songs about Christmas come from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. They tell us something special about the child Jesus being born in Bethlehem.  They have angels, heavenly host, wise men, shepherds, and virgin births.

But, John song tells us way more right away.  His song is not about the birth of a baby boy; it is about Christ coming into the world.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.

This is a Christmas song; this is a love song. Love can be the only explanation of this mystery John writes about.  When we love someone we want to be with them; and, when we are away from them, we want to be near them.  For love of us, God did not stay in in heaven, but unites Himself with us by his Word.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

John tells us who Jesus was in a mystery, but God is the ultimate mystery.

This ultimate mystery is why we explain who Jesus is with the same effectiveness in the meekness of a child born in a manger or the power of the word of God made flesh, the true light of the world.

God is a mystery that we with our limited intellect and limited understand cannot explain. Theologians argue about what the words of the gospels mean. John the man who knew him probably the best, explains him with prose and philosophy, a song.  

With language and thoughts that could have only come from knowing the Word of God, John explains Jesus.

And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. He gave to those who accepted him and those who believe in his name, the power to become children of God, born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.

Now that is a Christmas song. It is a truly wonderful Christmas time. Explaining the mystery of Jesus with poetry, philosophy and song is celebrating the Word of God.

Never in this life will we be able to explain the mystery, only believe the Word of God came to us to bring us closer to God.

Merry Christmas, be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

The Baby Changes Us - Homily Christmas Vigil Mass 2018

(Readings)

Merry Christmas, this liturgy celebrates the birth of Christ and our own children of St. Lawrence. We would all like to give a great big thank you to our children and music family for telling the story of Jesus birth.

Now, the words I am about to say are meant for the children, but in the words of Paul, you others who are God-fearing, listen.

Tonight we began the Gospel with a whole list of people’s names. Those are the names of people in Jesus family; his great-great pap-paws and great-great mam-maws. They are all an important part of Jesus’ story. They are part of the story of Jesus birth that has been retold again and again over the past 2000 years.

Today more are added to the list of people telling the story of Jesus birth, the children of St. Lawrence. Even their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have been part of telling the story of a baby born in Bethlehem. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger who changed the world.

The baby Jesus changed Mary. An angel of God came to Mary and greeted her - Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

The baby Jesus changed Joseph. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as you wife.

The baby Jesus changed the shepherds. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.... The angel said Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy.

The baby Jesus changed the world. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God with us.

The baby Jesus changed the smartest and most worldly people at that time - the magi, wise men, kings – they were not afraid to come and worship him for they knew of the promise of his birth.

The baby Jesus changes us. So, do not to be afraid, because the baby Jesus is good news of great joy for the world. The baby Jesus is the glory of the Lord. The baby Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

God with us is the baby Jesus. So, God knows what it is like to be one of us. Baby Jesus was probably hungry. Like all babies he had to have his swaddling clothes changed. He cried and he laughed and he was loved.

As he grew up he lost his baby teeth and grew new ones. He was upset and probably got a belly ache once or twice. He was picked on and bullied. He even scared his parents by getting lost.

As a baby, Jesus, God came to live a life just like you and I. He experience life as a young child, a teenager, and an adult. He knows what it is like to be a one of us.

We have to remember his earth family, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, wise men, and angels to tell the story of Jesus’ nativity so that the world remembers what Christmas is really about.

The presents we receive at Christmas are great. The greatest present the world was ever given was the baby Jesus, so we can know great joy and not be afraid. We may all not understand how great a gift that is now, but if you believe in Jesus, one day you will.

Thank you Mary, joseph, Angels, Shepherds, Wise Men, Narrator, and Musicians for helping us tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Merry Christmas - everyone.

Tonight especially, as a gift to the baby Jesus, be good, be holy, love one another, and tell someone about  the baby Jesus and that because of him you do not have to be afraid.  Amen

Cats, Dogs & Bringing Love - Homily 4th Sunday of Advent

Readings

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. We light the last candle on the advent wreath. We’ve already lit the candles of hope, peace, and joy. This week the fourth candle represents love and the white candle for Christ.

Christ is love. God is love. God is being itself. And God is not a being that occasionally decides to love. God’s love is infinite, absolute, and eternal. It is at the very nature of being itself.  God is the one in whom we live, move, and have our being.  (Rohr, Daily Meditations 12/5/2018)

But the problem in the world today is we focus our love on the wrong things.

Has anybody ever heard of the cat and dog theology?

The cat’s theology is these people that live with me give me shelter, give me food and water, protect me, and love me. The cat thinks, even though I don’t need any of those things they give them to me; so, I must be a god.

A dog’s theology is these people I live with provide me shelter, provide me with food and water, protect me, and love me. The dog thinks even though I’m brave and strong, I still need this; so, they must be a god.

Sometimes I think the world is moving toward that cat theology of God. Because all this that is provided for me; I must be a god.

Maybe the reason so many people error in God’s love is because it is radically different from human thinking on love. Maybe, this is why more and more people are not coming to mass. Maybe it is why so many are hurt by the sins of man manifest in a Church of sinful people.

More and more are not coming to mass or attending in the worship Service because they don't understand ultimate love. They fail to realize the truth of God‘s love or any love.

To most, the reality of love is “What’s in it for me.” It is reality even for some in ministry. Love is not about what is given to me; love is about what I give to others.

It was for love of the Father that Christ said, “Behold, I come to do your will." It was His act of love for us fulfilling the Father’s will.

And today’s Gospel gives another example of giving love.

Mary traveled to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was with child. And when Elizabeth saw Mary, She was overjoyed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was overcome by love; because, Mary in more ways than one was filled with the ultimate love of God.

Mary, the mother of God, Mary, the Christ Bearer, Mary, the vessel that brought the ultimate revelation of the love of God into the world carried the love of Christ to Elizabeth. This was the first time she gave the love of Christ in her to someone else.

Elizabeth cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

We come to mass to know love, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be filled with Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and  share the love of Christ with one another. My brothers and sisters do we take that love to others outside these walls.

Do not disrespect the love of God who gives everything to us by not bringing the one who is love itself to others.

I think that is what Elizabeth realized when she said the moment the sound of Mary’s greeting reached her ears, the infant in her womb leaped for joy.

The love of Christ leaps for joy inside of us. It will leap for joy inside of those who we share Christ’s love.  Share the feeling.  Share His love.

Look at the dog; it leaps with joy, wags its tail happily, and barks excitedly when it sees the one it loves. Dogs are so enthusiastic with the love  we have for them and they have for us that they share that love with everyone around them.

We should do the same for our love of God through Jesus Christ. Jump for joy, shout with excitement, and share with everyone the love God has for all of us.  

Cat lovers don’t get upset, some cats do tolerate, maybe, even love their people.

Have a blessed Advent. Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your lives and love one another. Amen.

Joy in Who I Am - Reflection 3rd Week of Advent

Joy

This week I sat in the surgical waiting room at M. D. Anderson in Houston. I met a family of a young man undergoing colon surgery. The doctors in his home town said there was no hope; but, the doctors at M. D. Anderson said they could help.

The young man’s wife was there as a source of strength for her family, her husband’s family, and for their family, two small boys. The surgery was to remove 1/2 of her husband’s colon to fight the cancer. He was only 32 years old.

She was so strong, so positive, smiling and loving.

After 9 hours of surgery the young man was moved to recovery and most of the family left.The young wife was left alone except for a single close friend, a young woman of the same age she had known since they were small in school.

They talked. They laughed. Then, they cried.

I overheard the young wife confide to her friend these words about her husband. “He is who I am. He is who my children are. He is all I have known for the past 12 years.”

Some would say, those were the words of a weak and dependent woman.

All I saw was strength. The strength to say the one she loved made her who she was and that is who she wants to be. In tears, she rejoiced in the relationship with her husband.

Some of us are lucky that we have someone who makes us who we are. It could be a spouse, family, a child, or even friends. We rejoice in that relationship.

Yet, all of us have one relationship in which we can rejoice. It is a relationship with God the Father through our LORD Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the LORD.

Some rejoice in the relationship. Some are looking for that relationship. Sadly, some deny any want or need or possible relationship with God.

We should all rejoice in The LORD, our God. God is in our midst, a mighty savior. Our LORD and savior rejoices over us with gladness. Christ renews us in his love.

This is the truth the blessed virgin Mary knew; the truth in which she became the mother of God. It is the truth of her strength. The strength to say the one she loved made her who she was and who she wanted to be.

This is the truth John the Baptist preached. He called for a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.

He promised that one greater than he would come. One that baptizing in the strength of the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit that gives the strength to say this is who I am and this is who I want to be.

Through baptism we are called to the joyous relationship with our Lord and Savior. If we are true to that relationship, he is all that we are. He is all that we want to be.

And those who don’t know that joyous relationship will look at us and say we are a weak and dependent people.

They do not recognize strength.

I saw strength when I went to mass Sunday morning at the hospital chapel. I saw people well and sick who came to celebrate that joyous relationship with the LORD. Some were doctors. Some were nurses. Some were patients. Some were family of patients. The one strength in each and every person at that mass was a relationship that defines who they are, a relationship with Christ.

A relationship with Jesus Christ is all that I am and all that I want to be.

Even though our church community is small at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, and Christ the King - Catholic Campus ministries I ran into several members of our family at that Hospital. Each and every one of them has a story of strength.

Each has a story of strength in their relationship with Christ even as they fight cancer. I pray that Jesus Christ the Divine Physician is with them and heals them. May God's miracles found in the skills, knowledge, and wisdom of those who treat them be released to all those in need.

Friends, pray for those who are sick and crisis and all those who need our prayers. May the Holy Spirit give them continued strength. 

St. Peregrine, pray for us. St. Anthony Mary Claret, pray for us. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.

"If Only" - Homily Second Sunday of Advent - C

Readings

Today is the second Sunday of Advent and we light the Peace Candle, the candle that represents John the Baptist.

We come together in Advent as a time of anticipation about new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals. But, Advent is also about the incarnation and life.

Scripture tells us God became a person “that we could hear, see with our eyes, look at, and touch with our hands.” 1 Jn 1:1 God became a person so we could experience him and He could experience us through a human life. God in Jesus Christ would have a human life story.

Each of us has a life story. I wonder how Jesus’ would compare to ours.

Our lives all begin as helpless and naked infants.

From that beginning, life becomes is a series of new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals. We live advent, waiting and many times longing of the next stage of life; living in anticipation of getting somewhere or being something. We look to find our life’s incarnation of happiness and peace.

At every stage, we wish “if only”….

“If only” I could ride a bike. “If only” I could finish school. “If only” I could meet the right person. “If only” I could get that great job. “If only” I could buy a nice house. “If only” I would get that raise or promotion. “If only” I could get what I want in life; I would know happiness and peace.  

These “if only” wishes fills our lives with ups and downs, rough ways and winding roads, valleys and mountains.

Yet, when life nears death, the “if only” wish of many - “if only I had lived my life differently.”

In college I asked my dad “Was it wrong for me to want to go to night clubs?” I liked girls, dancing, and beer. A nightclub was a place for all three.

“If only” I didn’t have to spend my little bit of money on a bus ticket home. “If only” I wasn’t expected to work around the house, clean, and wash clothes.

At that time, my dad was sick and even though I never said it aloud, I thought it. “If only” I didn’t have to come home to all the sadness, sickness, and suffering.

My life story doesn’t compare very well to the life story of Jesus.

But my dad answered that question with a smile and some of the best theological and spiritual advice I ever received. “The Lord is coming again. Go ahead and live your life, but don’t let Jesus find you where you shouldn’t be.”

At that time, I probably didn’t hear the truth in those words.

We make bad choices in our imperfect human life. These are choices that we mistakenly believe are the source of happiness and peace. We find these “if only(s)” wishes in our pride, greed, envy, lust, anger, gluttony, and laziness.

Why did they get a promotion and I did not, “if only” it was me. Why do they have a big house and I do not, “if only” it was me. Why do they have someone special in their life and I do not, “if only” it was me.

These “if only(s)” are not the way to live.

God lived a human life in example of the life He wants of us. It’s not about us. It‘s about God. Although, the Prophet Baruch’s words were about Jerusalem and prophesying about Jesus, they apply to our lives. 

God will show the earth your splendor, the peace of justice, and the glory of God’s worship.  

That is why Jesus’ life was so much different than ours. He lived a human life to the expectations of God the Father.

Paul encourages us in our new beginning.  “The one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it.” This one is Christ. As we prepare for His advent, he prepares us for ours.  

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Each chapter of a person’s life leads inevitably to the next, from birth to death. We can’t change that; but, we can change the “if only.” These are life’s new beginnings, new starts, and new arrivals.

Our advent is the everyday “if only” to live life in the Lord. It is the beginning of true happiness and peace.

God leads us in joy, by the light of his glory, with mercy and justice.

“The Lord is coming again. Go ahead and live your life, but don’t let Jesus find you where you shouldn’t be.”

Friends, try these “if only(s)” during Advent. “If only” we can be good. “If only” we can be holy. , “If only” we can preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.                            

Have a blessed Advent.

Ordinary becomes Extraordinary - Homily Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Being raised Baptist; the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was something I had to work at to understand.

The best place to understand the Catholic faith is the Catechism. Paragraph 490 uses Ephesians 1:3-6 to explain the Immaculate Conception.  

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.

The Church says that God, the Father, blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens” and chose her in Christ “before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him.”

So that when the angel Gabriel salutes Mary "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary, filled by God’s grace, was able to give free assent through her faith to her vocation.

Mary’s ordinary faith became the extraordinary.

The Catholic author, GK Chesterton said -The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.

Ephesians speaks to us - ordinary men, ordinary women and ordinary children – the Church. It is a church of ordinary people, full of grace working hard with love to build a foundation of faith for their families and community.

Full of grace, they go to mass. Full of grace, they are spiritual leaders of the family and the church.  Full of grace, they serve the church and partake in the sacraments. Full of grace, they teach their children to trust in God and pray the rosary

Full of grace, charity is at the heart of even the most meager of resources. Full of grace, seldom is heard a complaint about mass, the priest, his accent, or the chaos in the Church.

Yet today, the numbers who attend mass has dwindled; maybe like our first parents, so many feel separated from God, ashamed and hiding, afraid they are naked in grace.    

God asks “Who told you that you were naked?” 

In Christ love, we will never be without grace.

We may not be immaculately conceived: but He has chosen us in him, a Church full of grace. Ordinary people of faith in Christ that becomes the extraordinary.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.

Blessed with Hope - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent 2018

(Readings)

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. This is the day we bless the advent wreath and light the first candle, the candle of hope.

I hope I get this right, because I am often confused by what to say at this time of year. It is too early for Merry Christmas and happy advent or merry advent is just not right. Of course we could always go with the secular Happy Holidays.

The appropriate greeting is “Have a Blessed Advent.” That is what it is about, because we are blessed by the anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

We are blessed; Christ came as the child Jesus born in Bethlehem. We are blessed; Christ is coming again. We are blessed; Christ comes every day to our lives. In all these we are blessed with hope.

These are the advents our readings point to today.

The prophet Jeremiah proclaims the first coming from David will come a just shoot that will do what is right and just in the land.

Of the Second Advent, Jesus proclaims stand erect and raise our heads because redemption is at hand. It is with these words he prepares us. Beware that your heart does not become drowsy from the Anxieties of life. Pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

For most Christians prepare for these two Advents. They celebrate that He has come and He will come again. But many fail to recognize the everyday advent. They fail to realize the hope of Christ in ever day life.

That is what Paul is telling the church in Thessalonians.

Brothers and sisters: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all….” And again, “Conduct yourselves to please God ...., strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen”

Everyday advent is seeing the face of Christ in each other. Advent is bring Christ to the world in all we are and in all we do. It is an everyday advent. It is hope for this world.

This week I flew to Kansas City for a business meeting. I had a layover in Dallas. There, I met a beautiful lady, Mrs. Caldwell. The valet had pushed her wheelchair next to where I was sitting.

After she finished her lunch, I offer to throw away her trash and we struck up a conversation. Boarding the plane, she said to me “I saw Christ in you the moment I laid eyes on you.”

It was not about me. It was her faith seeing Christ in others. It was her advent.

On the return flight again in the Dallas airport was another woman. The valet had pushed her wheelchair to the area I was seated so she could watch the Saints - Cowboys game.

Immediately, she was on her phone, obviously upset. Upset the valet had placed her chair too far from her departing gate. She was at the gate but in front of the television.

She was upset with the Dallas Cowboys, upset with the New Orleans Saints. She was upset with the person on the phone, apparently a family member.

And in all this she showed an extreme talent for colorful language and used it in abundance.

She was clearly distraught. And as I and another person offered her assistance, I noticed that around her neck hung a cross.

As we approached her, she said to the person she had been so upset with on the phone “Got to go now, love you!”

I thought to myself, she doesn't sound very Christian.

Friends the problem was not her. It was me. I was not seeing Christ in this person who was in need of help. I was not celebrating the coming of Christ in the world today.

My brother and sisters advent is to prepare ourselves to meet Christ every day. It is seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters, every person. No matter if they are hungry or needy or sick or in pain or can talk a blue streak, Christ comes to us in each and every person.

I met two beautiful ladies; in one was so easy to see Christ and in the other it was a little harder. It is that way for all of us.

Remember this prayer from the psalm:  All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy; to you o Lord I lift up my soul.

Have a blessed advent, be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another, Amen.