After Mass this morning I had the golden opportunity of flying (most Turkeys do not, at least on Thanksgiving). I flew in a Cessna single engine plane from Carlisle to Harford County airport in Maryland, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay -- not far from Havre de Grace. That's a quick flight, only 30 minutes or so each way, but on such a clear day it was wonderful to look out and see the Chesa

peake Bay spreading out beautifully. When I called FAA Flight Services for a weather briefing prior to takeoff, the briefer said that the skies were "severe clear" and it would be a good day for flying. How right he was! It had been 6 weeks since I'd had the opportunity to fly, and I was reminded today how much I enjoy it. As I was preparing to take off from the airport in Maryland to return tio Carlisle, another Cessna ahead of me taxied for takeoff on a grass runway. "Sounds like fun," I thought, and I radioed, "Cessna 75621 is also taxiing for departure on runway 01" (the grass strip). I had not done a "soft-field takeoff," as it's called on an unpaved runway, for a few months (last one was at Piper Field in Lock Haven, PA, in late August), so taking off on a grass runway was challenging but fun. Although my landings have been a bit rough over the last few months, today's 3 landings were perfect -- if I must say so myself -- squeaking to a stop on the runway just as it should be.

So today I have much to give thanks for: the gift of faith, the Grace of God, a wonderful parish family, and the gift of flight to see the world as few do -- all of which open my eyes to the wonder of God in awesome ways.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

 

November 22, 2012

Msgr. William J. King

Our souls bent heavenward, simply saying "Thank you" places us in right relationship with God.

November 22, 2012
Msgr. William J. King

All are welcome: prepare for the Season of Advent with a quick mini-Retreat on Saturday, December 1st, from 9 to 11 AM at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church, 310 Hertzler Road, just off US Route 15 and the PA Turnpike in Mechanicsburg (near Messiah Village). With 2 local organists (Steve Stringer from our parish, and Tony Ciucci from the Church of the Good Shepherd in Camp Hill), we'll reflect on the beautiful and very spiritual musical motifs - short phrases of a few notes each, repeated to empohasize spiritual themes - in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. This will be a very unusual event, yet very spiritual, as we reflect together on how the texts of the hymns and the musical motifs work together to lead us closer to the spiritual meaning of the hymn. There will be a coffee/donut break in the middle, so some only if you can only stay for about an hour.

November 18, 2012

Msgr. William J. King

I spent last week on Retreat at a Trappist Abbey in Kentucky. It is impossible to enter or exit the abbey church or guest house without walking through the cemetery. It struck me, with the Bible readings at Mass today foretelling the end time, as a way of getting us ready for next week's celebration of Christ the King, that walking into the abbey church was itself a rehearsal for death. As I stared a little longer at the graves, it occurred to me that living each day is a little rehearsal for death. We wake from darkness and unknowing, walk a few hours in the light, and when darkness comes upon us at night we fall back into slumber, not knowing what awaits us in dreams. We have only a limited number of these rehearsals until the real thing comes our way. May we live each day wisely and with prayerful awareness of God's good grace carrying us, prompting us, healing us. One day the most glorious dawn will break, the true light will come, and we shall see God not in grace alone but face to face. So, Lord, help me to make today's rehearsal a little better than yesterday's.

November 18, 2012

Msgr. William J. King