May 15, 2020
Hi everyone,
As you probably know, Governor Hogan recently updated his COVID-19 directives, allowing for the gradual reopening of churches. So it's no surprise that many people have asked what the next step is for our parish.
The short answer is: nothing yet, but the Archdiocese will be sending all the parishes guidelines in the next few days. For now, continue to pray, and we will send you updated information as soon as it's available. Thank you for your patience. Please continue to pray for me, as I continue to pray for you.
Sincerely,
Fr. Tietjen
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April 14, 2020
Hi everyone,
Happy Easter everyone! And while Easter is officially here, if you're like me then it certainly doesn't feel like it. So in the spirit of a Lent which doesn't seem to want to end, I'm continuing “The Light is On for You” practice of hearing confessions on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm until further notice. This is in addition to Sundays from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. I now have some background music in the church to help with the ambiance during these times. So if you have need of confession, those are available for you.
On another note, I'm working on giving you an update on our financial situation. I'm hoping I will have more information by the end of the week so I can give a proper update. For those who are giving – thank you! If you are giving through the mail, may I strongly suggest giving online? It has become problematic in gathering people to count and manually organize mail-in donations. But if you are able, please go onto our website and click on Online Giving to give directly to us, as it would help us avoid the difficulties in getting your donations to the bank. Thank you for your consideration.
Stay safe everyone! And keep praying.
- Fr. Tietjen
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April 5, 2020
Hi everyone,
I wanted to give my reflections on Palm Sunday this year. Needless to say, this Palm Sunday is very different. We've never been in a situation where not only is there no Mass to attend, but no palms to hand out either. But we have plenty to ponder, and given our present situation we can more easily relate to the sufferings our Lord endured for us.
We could have an interesting discussion on why we need to endure sufferings in the first place. But what I've been focusing on lately is, shall we say, God's emotional state. I say it that way because God is so beyond human emotions. In His essence, God doesn't have a human body so God doesn't have emotions. And while it's true that through the Incarnation God did take on human flesh and so has emotions now, it's also true that God's decisions aren't driven by them – Jesus has a perfect, untainted-by-sin human nature, so He doesn't over- or under-react to events like we're prone to do.
But if we understand something of the mindset of God it can guide us toward the proper disposition we should have in this crisis. Just as children will instinctively turn toward their parents to learn how they should react to a situation they've never experienced before, so we Christians should turn to the Lord and learn. Understanding God's attitude is crucial and essential for this to occur.
Obviously this isn't a straightforward thing to do. I'm trying to avoid the obvious pitfall of projecting my feelings onto God. It's easy to think God is angry when you are, and we tend to think God wants to say words of consolation when we're down. And (quick reminder here) remember that God isn't straightforward with His thoughts to us because His children (starting with Adam and Eve and ending with us) rebelled against His ways and so He was forced to leave our presence. Sin places a barrier between us and God's grace. One of the effects is that we are blind to the ways of God. Which is why you have to endure, among other things, my ramblings. Such is the heavy price of sin....
But while you and I may not have direct access to the mind of God, by-and-large we don't need to. Why? Because God has already explained to us His thoughts on matters such as the COVID-19 outbreak. How? Through His Church. If a kid burns down the family home through doing something stupid, or saves some stranger's life through quick thinking, they have some idea what their parents' reaction will be when they find out. So let's reflect on what the Church has to say through her prayers in these times of difficulty. Throughout her history, the Catholic Church has guided the faithful with her liturgies, prayers, and exhortations. So let's reflect on some of her prayers to give us a sense of where God is, and where we should be.
And this is where this discussion becomes interesting. In a real sense, this reflection is my attempt to shift the way we see God and remind ourselves of (or, perhaps, realize for the first time) an emotional state we haven't attributed to God for some time. I say this because of what I have experienced these past few weeks as my prayer life changed.
Like many of you, when this “became real” I began praying the rosary and other personal prayers for those affected by the virus as well as for an end to the pandemic. But then other priests – some local, some I came across online – started to recommend other prayers, and I started to incorporate some of them into my prayer life. Most of these prayers were not contemporary, as they were originally written in Latin and some were undoubtedly centuries old. I found this fitting, as the Church had weathered pandemics in the past and we should “dust off” some of these prayers in our time of need.
But the change in tone and emphasis! Frankly, this is what is motivating this reflection. We are all products of our culture. The Church of today, for better or worse, is different from that of 60 years ago, to say nothing of past centuries. True, the Faith is the same as ever, but the way people approached the Church – and, hence, God – is different. I knew this intellectually, but now, through these prayers, I can better see this difference. And better appreciate it as well.
This is not supposed to be a pre- and post-Vatican II reflection on the Church. Right now, I've had my fill of political bickering and finger-pointing, both in the U.S. and the Church. No, what I'm trying to share is my new-found appreciation of God's attitude toward His suffering children. So I want to reflect on the differences in these prayers.
Let's start off with reflecting on modern prayers that the Church offers for people who are suffering from pandemics. In the unabridged version of the Book of Blessings I have here, I found...nothing. There is no such prayer. Very telling, and that's a discussion of its own for another day. But there are prayers for those who are sick. Let me share two of them:
Lord, our God, you sent your Son into the world to bear our infirmities and to endure our sufferings. For N. and N., your servants who are sick, we ask that your blessing will give them strength to overcome their weakness through the power of patience and the comfort of hope and that with your aid they will soon be restored to heath.
Lord Jesus, who went about doing good and healing all, we ask you to bless your friends who are sick. Give them strength in body, courage in spirit, and patience with pain. Let them recover their health, so that, restored to the Christian community, they may joyfully praise your name....
For all the Grammar-Nazis out there: yes, that was a really nasty run-on sentence in the first prayer. Sorry for putting you through that. Moving on....
Some of the key words I see in these prayers are sent, endure, ask, give, overcome, comfort, hope, aid, bless, recover, and joy. These prayers focus on how we are in solidarity with God because of the Incarnation of Jesus, who is both our Lord and brother. He understands our weakness and sufferings, and in the spirit of this solidarity we ask for God's blessings to overcome the evil of sickness and disease. Nothing wrong with any of this, and when you think about the general prayers we here in the Church's liturgies, this theme is very common.
It turns out that if you want a prayer for pandemics, you need to turn to the old Roman Ritual, which has prayers and blessings for just about everything. The traditional prayers are in Latin, but they have an (Oldish) English translation. It's a little long, but let me share with you the sections that are meaningful for the sake of this discussion. It starts off with a call-and-response between the priest and those in attendance:
V. Deal not with us, Lord, according to our sins
R. And take not vengeance on us because of our misdeeds.
V. Help us, O God, our Deliverer.
R. And for thy name's sake, O Lord, free us.
…
Let us pray.
Vouchsafe (we beg you) to hear us, O God, our only salvation! And through the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, Mother of God and ever Virgin, of thy blessed Mary, Mother of God and ever Virgin, of thy blessed martyr, Sebastian and of all the saints, deliver thy people from the terrors of thy wrath, and restore their confidence by the outpouring of thy compassion.
Be moved to pity, O Lord, at our earnest entreaties, and heal the illnesses of body and soul; so that experiencing thy forgiveness we may ever rejoice in thy blessing.
We beseech thee, O Lord, grant us a hearing as we devoutly raise our petitions to thee, and graciously turn away the epidemic of plague which afflicts us; so that mortal hearts may recognize that these scourges proceed from thine indignation and cease only when thou art moved to mercy.
…
Clearly there is a different emphasis with this prayer. There are some non-Politically Correct ™ words in the prayer, and I can understand some of the motivation behind the change in the style of prayers we hear today. But what this prayer does for me is remind me that there really is a link between sin and suffering, and that if we want pain to end we must stop sinning.
And that, my brothers and sisters, is the punch line for today. We can debate the active vs. passive nature of God's relationship with the evils of this world – i.e., can and does God actively punish people for sin, or does God merely allow evil to happen to a person? I'll save that debate for another day. But this prayer reemphasizes the reality that suffering is a byproduct of sin, and that it is utter foolishness to believe that people – as individuals or all of humanity – can find peace and contentment while continuing to sin with impunity.
Let me bring up a topic I've brought up in church before: what is the opposite of God? What do you think? Is it the devil? Satan would like you to think so, because that would put him on par with God. No, it's not the devil. It's sin. Metaphorically speaking, God's love wages a war against sin. This must be true, for anyone who loves anything hates that which threatens the one they love. But because sin is very personal (it's an act of the will where we choose to oppose God's love), God's war against sin feels personal. And as harsh as hearing about God's wrath and vengeance is, the reality is that when I sin I'm choosing to fight God. Is going a round with “Iron Mike” Tyson supposed to feel good? And for the same reason, when I fight God, peace is out of the question.
Lesson for today: don't like wrath? Then don't sin. Because they're linked.
Go back and read that prayer again. God's compassion and mercy is still emphasized. Jesus is still our Savior and still loves us. We're still asking for healing on our loved ones. But I am reminded again that our God is the God of everything. Science is a gift from God. But for many, Science and the Medical Establishment are the gods that will deliver us from the present pandemic. And once we get our vaccine we can all get back to the way things were, where we can once again forget about God and pretend that Man is the measure of all things.
In our collective hubris, we're setting ourselves up for a larger, more disastrous fall. Don't think it won't happen. Mark these words.
We must pray for the restoration of a true understanding of God – that He is the source of all blessings. And until our collective hearts turn back to God – and I mean really turn back to Him – our sufferings will continue.
Does God have our attention yet? I don't expect those enamored with this fallen world to understand these things. But we Catholics should. But do we? Think about our own in-house problems. The following isn't supposed to come across as a rant, but maybe one of the reasons behind this pandemic is because of the evils going on within our own Church. Maybe it's a shot-across-the-bow-hard-rudder-right moment. Consider:
So maybe God – in His mercy – was done with all the blasphemous Communions and false worship taking place in His churches and put a stop to it? Maybe that's part of the message we need to hear? Thus saith the Lord: your heart isn't into Me? You don't want to follow me? Ok, then don't. It's Amos 5:21-27 all over again.
Want something else to reflect on? Isaiah 1:11-31 is worth a read, as well as 1 Samuel 15:22-23. Want to please God? Hebrews 13:15-16 has the answer. And Hebrews 13:17 has a healthy reminder as well.
So yes, pray for those affected by the present times: those who are sick, whose jobs are threatened, for wisdom and prudence for all those making decisions on our behalf, for those who are lonely, depressed, or close to despair, and for those who have died. But let us also not forget to repent wholeheartedly for our past and present transgressions, and to seek justice and right living today.
Then maybe, just maybe, God will grant us not just relief from the pandemic, but impart a healing grace on our culture. You never know. Don't knock it 'till you try it.
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Michael Tietjen
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April 3, 2020
Hi everyone,
As you all know, Palm Sunday is almost upon us. We've had several inquiries regarding the distribution of palms this year. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, we have been told by the Archdiocese of Washington the following: "To avoid the transmission of the coronavirus, palms should not be distributed on Palm Sunday, including the practice of leaving palms out for the faithful to pick up."
I understand and share your disappointment, but before this becomes a point of contention for any of you (and, therefore, a near occasion of sin), may we reflect instead on our Lord's Passion, of which these palms signify? From my perspective, it's almost fitting – the very people Jesus came to save shouted “Hosanna!” one week and “Crucify Him!” the next. If we catch ourselves complaining, even interiorly, about the loss of a palm branch this year, we should immediately meditate on the Passion of Jesus. In light of this reality, we have no reason to be upset. Disappointed, yes, for we must do without this concrete symbol of our love of God and of His Passion. But this year, instead of a symbol, Jesus is inviting us a concrete experience of His Passion. Do not lose sight of this grace-filled time we're living in. Embrace the cross that our Lord is offering us, knowing that we shall reap our reward in due time.
On a more positive note, the Archdiocese of Washington will be streaming the liturgical celebrations for Holy Week live online, beginning with Palm Sunday. If you visit our website, click on the Holy Week and Easter Sunday tab and you will find a link to view those celebrations online. On a side note, I am still available for confessions from 3 pm – 4 pm on Saturday, and 6 pm – 8 pm on Wednesday.
Perhaps, for this Holy Week, we can work on seeing all the negative events and losses through the eyes of God. The loss and suffering is real, just like the sufferings of Jesus. But so are the graces. Keep offering your difficulties to God as a spiritual sacrifice so that, in God's time, He may bless us with health and prosperity again.
– Fr. Tietjen
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March 29, 2020
Hi everyone,
These are my reflections on the readings for this Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Lent. If you don't have the readings, you can find them (among other places) at the USCCB website (found at usccb.org and click on the calendar date you want). The readings are Ezekiel 37:12-14, Psalm 130:1-8, Romans 8:8:11, and John 11:1-45. If you haven't read them yet, go ahead and read them. Take your time, then continue reading this. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I'll wait....
No really, read the readings before you continue. It's important. Remember, God speaks to us through the readings. My comments below may not be the only message God has for you, and maybe my comments may remind you of something God wants to share with you which won't happen if you don't read the readings before you read my reflections. So read them, maybe even a second time, then come back.
Ok, welcome back. So from my perspective, the Gospel readings (once again) are quite fitting for our time, as the Gospel is about someone who succumbs to an illness. That someone is Lazarus, and we know that Jesus will eventually arrive and raise him from the dead. But even though we know how the story ends, there are a number of lessons we can reflect on.
The first one is a general theme and one that ties in with last week's theme of Laetare Sunday. We didn't get to celebrate last week's liturgy either, but the theme of Laetare (or “rejoicing”) Sunday perhaps seems, at first glance, ironic. We're gripped in the effects of a pandemic – not much to be happy about here. But today's readings actually remind us why we must rejoice, or at least have a joy-filled attitude toward life. For as bad as life can be, there is a much greater problem that God has solved for us.
And what that is can be found in our first reading. Namely, death. We can be having the grandest time here on earth, where everything is going our way, bluebird-on-our-shoulder, zippedee-do-da, and all that. But eventually, we die. No way to avoid it. Done. Then what?
Well, before Jesus came along, nothing good. Even if we lived a virtuous life in the eyes of God, the best we could hope for was to be in what the Church describes as the “Bosom of Abraham,” hinted at in Luke 16 in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (a different Lazarus than the one in our Gospel, but coincidence on the names? Hmmm...). The abode of the dead for the righteous was a place free from torment, but it is not heaven. It couldn't be. That's because the gates of Paradise were closed by the rebellion of Adam and Eve. No one could be with God. Not Moses, not Isaiah, not John the Baptist, no one.
But our first reading from Ezekiel is a prophecy about what will eventually happen. God promises that He will open our graves and we will rise from them. We will have His own Spirit placed within us, and we will be settled back upon the land. The details of this “land” are lacking in this prophecy, but the meaning is clear – God will destroy death someday. He has promised it, and so it will come to pass. God would eventually save us from unending death and separation from Him.
The promise of God's blessings continues in Romans 8. Chapter 8 of St. Paul's letter to the Romans, in my mind, is the high point of this letter. And here we see, again, the promise of God's Spirit being given to us. There is the reminder that those who persist in sin (i.e., “those who are in the flesh,”) cannot please God. The curse of everlasting death still hangs over them. But if God's Spirit is within us, the physical body will die, but our souls (“spirits”) will live on. They have been united to God, and so we will share in the immortality of God. And when we couple this promise with the promise in Ezekiel we read earlier, we see the foundation behind what the Church has been proclaiming for centuries – we will get our bodies back, now united to an immortal, sin-free soul. Death will no longer have any sway over us.
This is why we must rejoice. Life can be hard, and death still has reign over our bodies. But in the big, God-given picture, it is temporary. Death does not have the final say. Despite all appearances to the contrary, God will fix this.
Which brings us to today's Gospel. Knowing what we now understand about our first two readings, we can see our Gospel as a foreshadowing of this promise – what happens to Lazarus will also happen to us. The resurrection is not some mere analogy of poetic pipe-dream of philosophers. No, the very dead corpses of people will come back to life and be clothed with flesh, and will be alive someday. Just like Lazarus. In fact, if you want a really neat description of this, break open your Bibles and read all of Ezekiel 37, as Ezekiel had a vision where this happened before his very eyes. Is this supposed to be an exact description of the resurrection? Who knows. But what isn't up for debate is that the physical resurrection of our bodies is going to happen. We are not angels – we will get our bodies back, and they will be glorified bodies. That means they will not be subject to aging or decay. They will be what God intended for us from the beginning – strong, beautiful, and filled with joy.
This is something we should reflect on often. We need to understand it down to the marrow of our bones (sorry, I couldn't resist...) so we have a proper perspective on getting older, sickness, and death. Then, and only then, will we be able to share that perspective with others.
So many people don't understand this. If we don't understand the resurrection of our bodies (which is only possible because of the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus – hence the joy-filled anticipation of Christians for the celebration of Easter), we won't have the proper perspective on life in general. Fatalism, chance, and luck will inevitably dominate a person's outlook on life without a true understanding of God. But the Resurrection of Jesus led to the resurrection of those who trust in Him.
Yes, death is real. It made Jesus cry. It came about through sin, and it seemed, at first glance, to ruin all that God had planned for us. The pandemic we're facing and the disruption of the economy, and all of the other negative effects we're working though – they're all traced back to that first original sin of Adam. Sin ruined everything, and death is a byproduct of sin.
But Jesus shows us – through our Gospel today and later in His Resurrection at Calvary – that He has the final say over death. For He is the resurrection and the life – whoever believes in Him, even though he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Him will never die. If Jesus can overcome death, the other effects can be overcome as well. Just like Lazarus' family, we too will experience true loss. Some of those losses will be permanent in this life. We will have to adapt to these changes. But God will get us through them.
The truth is that Jesus has the final say in every aspect of our lives. This takes a lot of faith. We need to pray for this grace. Pain is real, but God's love conquers all. In the midst of this life's trials, don't lose sight of God. I don't understand why God allows certain evils to befall us. But I do understand that the trials of this life are not a reflection of God's indifference to our plight, but instead are opportunities for God's glory to be revealed. When we live out our faith in God, that glory is revealed – mostly in the way that things eventually play out. At the time, it's not fun. It doesn't make sense. Why did Jesus wait around for two days when He heard that Lazarus was deathly ill? It first glance, it seems that Jesus didn't care. But we also see how things played out in the end.
Human nature being what it is, we don't really appreciate blessings until we're slammed with problems. Right now, we have problems. We didn't ask for them, but they're here, and they're real. But Jesus is here too.
Do we believe this?
*** *** ***
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Tietjen
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March 28, 2020
Hi everyone,
I hope this finds you well. I wanted to pass on some best-practice guidelines when it comes to worshipping God outside of church. Many of us have been watching Mass online or on the television, which is a good thing. There are more resources that can be found on the adw.org website regarding Mass-viewing opportunities, so make use of that resource if you haven't already.
One suggestion is to enter into the proper mindset when we watch the Mass. The problem is that whenever we sit down to watch something, it's always with the mindset of being entertained. By sitting down on the couch, Comfy-Chair ™, or favorite bean bag, we inadvertently prepare our mindsets away from seriousness, which is what we need when it comes to proper Mass participation.
So here's the suggestion: stand, sit, and kneel at the proper times while watching the Mass. It changes everything. You need to ignore phone calls, and turn off or minimize other distractions during this time, too. Try it and see.
And suggestion #2: pray a spiritual communion. What's that, you say? Glad you asked. We realize that God is not limited by His sacraments – He can bless people whenever and however He wants. A spiritual communion is simply expressing our desire to receive the graces of Holy Communion even though we cannot at this time receive actual Communion.
Here's an example of one that's been attributed to St. Alphonsus Liguori:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
So during the time when Communion is being distributed (or would have been distributed) during Mass, pray this prayer. And in the future, if we find ourselves not able to receive because of illness, unconfessed mortal sin, or not fasting properly for an hour before receiving, we can pray a spiritual communion then too.
Stay safe everyone. Keep praying.
Fr. Tietjen
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March 27, 2020
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to be more forthcoming on my communications with you, and I'm working on some reflections on this Sunday's readings. My communications will be placed here on our website.. But before I can do that I need to update you on our financial situation.
Clearly not being together for Mass and our other activities has been a change that's affected us all. It's hard not being able to see and talk to everyone, and I do hope that things will return to normal in the near future. But the interruption in our liturgies has not only affected our ability to communicate, but (like you) it has affected our bottom line. Many of us have been severely impacted by the shutdown and I truly empathize with the worry and emotional burden that comes with this stress. The lack of collections has negatively affected our finances as well, which weren't great before all this happened. I, and the staff here at I.C., would greatly appreciate it if you would continue to make your weekly donations.
You can mail your envelopes or checks to the parish address. Our address is PO Box 166, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. If you are sending a loose check but you have an envelope number, please include it on the memo line of your check. For those who are giving online, thank you. If you would like to sign up for online giving, please visit our parish website (icchurchmd.org) and click on the tab for Online Giving. There are options for monthly or weekly recurring donations for your convenience.
Thank you in advance for both your understanding and your generosity. If there's any way I can help you during this time please call the rectory at 301-884-3123 (I'm at ext. 13). Rest assured of my daily prayers for you and your families.
Fr. Michael Tietjen
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March 26, 2020
Hi everyone,
It's been a while so I wanted to reach out to everyone and say hello. I hope you're all coping and dealing with this crisis with a Christ-like outlook. And by that I mean that you're not losing sight that God is not passively sitting by while the world suffers but that He's directing things. He's guiding affairs to our betterment to the extent that we give Him permission! The larger world, for quite some time, has walked away from God. And this is evident, not so much because God allowed a pandemic to occur, but by the way people react to it. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they react to a crisis. So we can ask ourselves: how are we doing?
For me, that question is actually pretty complicated. I want to share some of what's been going on in my head as a way to, perhaps, help some of you. When our routines get shaken up (through losing a job, graduating high school or college, moving to a new location, or earth-blanketing pandemics), our self-worth often gets shaken-down. It's never pleasant but it can lead us to a better version of ourselves if we cooperate with God in the process. So here's some of what's been going on with me.
As you know, my life revolves around spreading the Good News through public liturgy, educational opportunities (adult faith formation, Bible study, public talks, etc.), making myself available for counseling, maintaining the facilities of the Parish, and the like. So Masses are cancelled and shortly thereafter everyone goes into lockdown mode. Well, God's mission doesn't take a break, right? So what am I supposed to do? Well, in the midst of the daily updates from the Archdiocese on protocols, procedures, and guidance, we're given a list of things that we could do to continue our ministry. Much of it involves either videoconferencing – either the Mass or a short homily or the like – or constant communication via telephone / Flocknote / or emails.
One of my weaknesses I've shared with you is my fear of public speaking. By God's grace, that is no longer a crippling reality for me. But my personal temperament hasn't changed – I don't gravitate toward the limelight. And I find myself getting stressed over the idea that I must conform to a video ministry in order to fulfill the Gospel mission. It just isn't me. And while I certainly can be long-winded on topics close to my heart, I cannot maintain a constant tempo of personal communications with people. I don't do that with my immediate family. I can't. In a real sense, that's how God made me.
I was reminded this past week that God uses our unique personalities and temperaments in different ways to promote His kingdom, and so I shouldn't judge the value of what I do (or don't do) by what others are accomplishing. Many priests today have well-established social media accounts, YouTube video libraries, and other online resources that are available for those who want them. And I would like to offer some things online – maybe restart the Bible study we have and put it on our website? But I don't envision a daily stream of online information coming from me. Certainly not at the volume of more extroverted individuals.
I was also reminded about reflecting on the psychology – the underlying motivation – behind doing any activity: am I supposed to be doing all of these things because I'm fulfilling a true need, or am I trying to keep myself busy as a way to justify my existence? Of course, there's the flip side: am I justifying my lack of videoconferencing because I don't want to do it when God is calling me to break out of my comfort zone, or is the community not in dire need for yet another televised message?
Which brings me to the heart of the matter for me: am I a bad person for not being more active? This isn't the first time I've reflected on this, and I always go right back to the heart of the question: what does it mean to be a good person? What is the standard of good? Is it pleasing people? Is it making people happy? Is the main reason for my existence aimed toward my interaction with others?
The truth is, no. It's not. The primary reason for my existence is because God willed it. Out of the infinite possibilities of different people, God chose to create me. When He did, He knew everything about me: my temperament, likes and dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, everything. And why did He chose me over all the other possibilities? Why did He introduce me into reality and not someone else? Well, that's a mystery. But the short answer is because making me part of reality pleases Him more than the other possibilities.
In other words, the thought of my existence pleased God so much that He made me, as I am.
Now part of what pleases God is the charitable way we're called to interact with others. And so you and I are constantly challenged to grow in our ability to love. Part of my present struggle I've shared with you is determining the best way to share God's (and my) love with you in a way that is genuine – that's coming from my heart, not from a psychologically-driven desire for approval or ego-stroking. But in the final analysis, all of this is reminding me (in this very round-a-bout way) that I don't need to earn or justify my existence to God. I can't earn that, and I'm not supposed to try. God loves me as I am.
So many of our problems come about when we lose sight of this. So if I'm not meeting some expectation of yours, please communicate that to me. Maybe God is speaking through you to tell me something. This is uncharted territory for all of us. But I'm reminding myself that the foundation of my self worth is certainly not activity for its own sake, or even in serving you (as important as that is). It's being loved by God.
As you face your own challenges and fears, reflect on God's love for you. You are here for a reason. Your value is not based on your past history or present behavior. God wanted you here, in this time period, to interact with the people around you. Because He loves you. Full stop. Sit with that and let it sink in. There's been too much frenetic activity and not enough reflections on things that are really important. Like our worth before God.
On a related note, if you need to talk, please call me at the rectory. I'd love to talk. And by the way, as of now please don't try to communicate with me through Flocknote – I haven't been able (as of yet) to read or respond to those messages. So if you did and are waiting for a response, sorry! Phone or email (mtietjen2000@yahoo.com) is better.
Don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Rest assure of my prayers during this crazy time.
Sincerely,
Fr. Michael Tietjen
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March 20, 2020
Hi everyone,
It's been a little more than a week since the shutdown of Masses (and most everything else), and like you, I'm still adjusting to this new routine. Now I haven't posted anything since the shutdown because, well, I didn't feel I had anything pressing to add to the conversation. Most of us, myself included, were working out the kinks in our new schedules. But I'd like to share a few things that I believe will be helpful for all of us in moving forward from this. Most of what I have to say revolves around (surprise!) the coronavirus, and while I want to talk about our faith in God, I first want to talk about practical matters first. So bear with me. It's a bit long-winded so I apologize for the length. But then again, you've got time on your hands so deal with it. Heh.
My first concern revolves around the lockdown we're experiencing. Not just the churches, but many other establishments have been effectively shut down. My biggest worry has been not so much the virus, but the economic impact of this event. Many (most?) Americans today are either living paycheck-to-paycheck or are one unexpected disaster away from financial hardship. And so many of us are worried about providing the basic necessities for ourselves and our loved ones. I share that concern. And if you have talked with me recently (as of a few days ago), you would have heard me wondering out loud if whether the cure (i.e., the slowing of the economy) was worse than the disease. I mean, the coronavirus isn't hurting the healthy, right? Can't we just isolate those who are vulnerable and let the rest of us get back to work?
But yesterday I talked to a friend who is involved with high-level decision-making regarding this crisis, and he explained some of the details that I either didn't know or hadn't thought about before. And as a result, I'm presently a big fan of being in lockdown mode. So allow me to explain myself.
The key to good crisis management is reliable information. With good information, people can plan out the best strategies to overcoming the crisis. But with the coronavirus, reliable information wasn't there. The virus originated in China, a Communist country that refused to share dependable and verifiable information with the global community about the outbreak. True to form, I just read this morning that the Chinese government is in the process of blocking American journalists from operating in their country. So key variables like the actual rate of infection and the ease of transmission weren't known in the crucial first weeks of the outbreak. Another country hard-hit by the virus was Iran. But again there's problems with obtaining reliable intel from them because, well, Iran.
But then it hit Italy. And now, I'm sad to say, we have reliable information on what this virus can do if proper precautions aren't taken. Because it's pretty bad in Italy right now. I know this much isn't news to many of you as it's made the headlines amongst the mainstream media. But they're not giving actual detailed numbers. If you can, check out this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Italy#cite_note-Min_Salute_Situazione-1 . It's the link to the “2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy” Wikipedia webpage (if the above link doesn't work then just search for it online). It has up-to-date information regarding what's going on. The first thing you'll see is the map of Italy showing the provinces hardest hit by the virus, with northern Italy bearing the brunt of the outbreak. But if you scroll down you'll see a diagram titled “COVID-19 cases in Italy.” The first confirmed cases in Italy happened on January 31st with two people. You can see how things have progresses since then – it's been exponential growth. In seven weeks they've gone from two to over 41,000 confirmed cases.
Now by itself this isn't a real concern. For example, look at the statistics for the flu here in the U.S.. According the CDC website (link here: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm ) there have been at least 36 million cases of the flu in the U.S. From October 2019 through early March 2020. Of those, around half a million had to be hospitalized and between 22,000 and 55,000 people died. Now every death is sad, but no one is panicking over this. This happens every year, and we don't shut down the economy over it. Aren't we overreacting?
Well, let's look at the numbers. 55,000 deaths out of 36 million gives a worst-case-scenario death rate of 0.15%. In other words, low. But go back to the Italy Wikipedia webpage and scroll down until you see the “Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy by gender and age” table. According to this table, as of March 16, 2020 there have been 25,058 confirmed cases. Out of those, 1,697 have died. That's a 6.8% death rate. That's not trivial.
Now before I say anything else, let me say that no one, including me, is expecting a 6.8% death rate here in the United States. But you need to understand why. If people have access to proper medical care the vast amount of people will recover from this. Yes, it's more deadly than the flu, but it's not the plague.
But you have to have access to proper medical care. This virus doesn't attack your GI-tract like the flu; it attacks your lungs, making it hard to breathe. For people who develop a severe case of the coronavirus they need to be put on a ventilator so they can recover. But if everyone gets sick all at once, then the hospitals become overwhelmed. In Italy, for every ventilator there are multiple people who need them. The doctors are forced to watch most of their patients die because there aren't enough ventilators for everyone. Again, according to the Wikipedia website, you can see the death toll. On March 1st, there were five deaths in Italy. A week later there were 133 new deaths. A week later (March 15) there were 368. Yesterday there were 427, and the numbers will only continue to climb. This is clearly heartbreaking.
So is there anything that anyone can do? For Italy (and soon, Mexico – if you have the stomach, go look up the Wikipedia page on “2020 coronavirus pandemic in Mexico.” They haven't taken proper precautions and will suffer the same fate as Italy, I'm afraid.) For these countries, I'm afraid there's little anyone can do, except to pray. And clearly we need to pray. But let me finish my thoughts on the practical measures before I get to the spiritual. I'm almost done.
The key to getting a handle on this is to break the cycle of infections and flatten out the “spike” in new cases. It's not that people won't get sick – they will. But if we can spread it out so that everyone doesn't rush the doors of every hospital, we'll have enough equipment and resources for everyone. The way to do that is to isolate ourselves from everyone for about, say, 30 days. This hasn't been done yet here in the U.S., but from my perspective, it needs to be done. This means that supermarkets and other essential businesses would remain open, but non-essential businesses and activities would shut down. For this to work, the Government will be required to give direct aid to those who are financially unable to pay their bills (that is, basically everyone). But without new people to infect, the virus should basically disappear, or at the very least be brought down to manageable levels. When the 30 days are up everyone goes back to work.
This is clearly easier said than done and I know there's much more involved than my grossly-oversimplified version of things. My intention is not to come across as flippant. Nothing about this will be easy or without heartache. Long-term ramifications are a given. But the alternative is to risk our medical facilities being overwhelmed. Italy has roughly one-fifth the population of the United States – if the events that are playing out in Italy were to happen here, we could potentially be looking at millions, maybe tens of millions of deaths. Are we as a nation ready to face that possibility?
Now maybe you disagree with my assessment, and that's fine. I don't pretend to be an expert at any of this. But I'm hoping that you at least can appreciate why those in power are making these type of restrictive actions. Again, this isn't the flu. It's not the plague either, but it's not a trivial bug. So as much as I would like to celebrate Mass with all of you and to participate in the Stations of the Cross again, I will continue to take the restrictions seriously because the alternative is, well, almost unthinkable.
Which brings us to the spiritual. Remind yourself that God is real, He has not abandoned us, and that with Him at our side we can get through anything. There will be many in the coming weeks who will blame and curse God for allowing this to happen. There will be many who will state that we deserve this, as God is punishing us for our unrepentant ways. There will be many who will give in to temptation and commit selfish and hurtful things to others. Some will take their lives in despair.
We must avoid these ways of thinking. We are Christians who have been redeemed by God through great suffering, and empowered by that same God to proclaim the Good News that God is very much with us today. More than ever. We must remind ourselves and others of the importance of prayer during these trying times, and we need to reach out to those in need – with the prudent use of the resources we have available – and assist where we can.
When it comes to the way we speak about God, we need to do so with a great sense of humility. Without humility, we place ourselves above the Almighty and inevitably lecture God on what He should do. When it comes to God's motivations and plans, we must be very careful – His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
I think it's very dangerous to speak for God. God can speak for Himself, and in fact He's been speaking to us for quite some time. We know through the Bible and the teachings of the Church that God will eventually give us what we want. If we want a life without God, He will allow us to experience that desire. If people reject God's loving plan and bad things happen as a result, is that God's fault? It's common for immature teenagers to blame their parents and others for the effects of their bad choices. Many people blame God in the same way. But maybe God isn't so much spanking us for our bad behavior as allowing us to reap what we have sown? Maybe He's trying to treat us as adults and giving us the chance to grow from these experiences?
I believe our nation needs some time for self-introspection. As bad as the virus is, it also is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our lives. How many people have good answers to these or similar questions:
- Who am I? Am I capable of defining myself or is there more to me than what I believe about myself?
- What is my purpose in life? Is there such a thing, and if so, how do I determine it?
- Where am I going? Is true change possible?
- What are my true priorities?
- Are my life choices leading me towards community, friendship with others, and a greater acceptance of God's plans for me? Why do these things matter?
- How do I view suffering and difficulties? Is there any value to suffering in this life?
Human nature being what it is, most of us need some sort of hardship to force us to think about these things. Perhaps this is one of the hidden blessings of this time.
One big lesson we all need to learn is to make sure we own our decisions. We must not “pass the buck” on our mistakes. Frankly, it is not God's responsibility to piece our lives back together after we've shattered them through our own stupidity. But even though God is under no obligation to help us in our sinfulness, He still does! He cares. So while I am very hesitant to speak for God, I do know that His love is everlasting, and those who humble themselves before Him will experience this mercy.
This is getting way too heady and exhausting to read so I'll stop. Let us continue to pray for an end to this pandemic. I would recommend (at the very least) a daily rosary offered to God for this intention. Please rest assured of my prayers, and we'll talk soon.
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. Michael Tietjen
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March 13, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
At this point we are all too aware of the Coronavirus and how this event is impacting us all. We here at Immaculate Conception Church have been receiving feedback from the Archdiocese of Washington on how best to proceed. This letter serves as the latest update.
Given the recent decree by Governor Larry Hogan forbidding large groups from congregating, Archbishop Wilton Gregory has made the decision that Masses open to the public in all archdiocesan parishes, missions, and campus ministries will no longer be celebrated starting this Saturday, March 14th, until further notice. Weddings and funerals are permitted, but with the understanding that those attending should be limited to immediate family. It should also be noted that Archbishop Gregory has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass during this time to all parishioners of the Archdiocese of Washington.
With this understanding, I have made the decision to further cancel all activities linked to Immaculate Conception. Again, all programs, activities, and meetings at Immaculate Conception are cancelled until further notice. We have been hosting several Alcohol Anonymous groups for several years; given the important and unique role this organization provides to members of our community, I’ve allowed them to continue to meet for the present time.
Our staff will be working from home, so the physical Rectory Office will also be closed until further notice. If you have something that needs to be addressed during this time, please either email Deacon Bill (Deacon.Kyte@gmail.com), Mari (MariMKyte@gmail.com), or Clare (Clare.ICC20659@gmail.com), and they will assist you to the best of their abilities.
If you have a sacramental emergency, please call the rectory (301-884-3123) and leave a message on my (Father Tietjen’s) extension (x13). Clearly state your name, a good phone number to reach you, and what the sacramental emergency is.
We will continue to post updates to our website (ICChurchmd.org). More information can also be found on the Archdiocese of Washington’s website (adw.org/coronavirus/).
I would be remiss if I did not remind all of us on the importance of prayer during this time. Much effort has been spent crafting the best human response to this event, and rightfully so. But we need to invite God into this situation through our own prayers and sacrifices. This is not the first time the Christian community has faced serious adversity. The world, by and large, is worried and stressed over this pandemic. We fear the unknown, and the strong response behind locking down our facilities is an acknowledgement that there are many unknowns about this virus – how contagious it actually is, it’s actual lethality, and how one can spread it to others without showing any symptoms. Better safe than sorry, and all that. But our faith in Jesus Christ reminds us that God has the final say in all things. From the time of Abraham to the present day, God has guided people toward the Father in spite of unforeseen difficulties. In fact, it is precisely through our crises that God does His best work with us.
So yes, pray often during this time. I would especially recommend praying a Rosary every day for the ending of this outbreak. And while we are dispensed from our requirement for attending Sunday Mass, we should still take an hour on Sunday to pray, watch Mass on television (see adw.org/tvmass), read the Bible, or otherwise sanctify the day. And don’t forget to look in on our neighbors who are often alone or in need of assistance.
Rest assured of my prayers during this difficult time.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Michael Tietjen
Pastor
Immaculate Conception Church