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Reflection for Palm Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Palm Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Palm Sunday 2025

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for Palm Sunday 2025

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us.

This week God provides more than just images, but rather a whole movie filled with a cast of characters illustrating exactly what Jesus came to save us from.

Brandon Lake appeared on the Grand Old Opry last night. He is a Christian artist and his song; Daddy’s DNA carries this refrain: ‘all I’ve given you is trouble all you’ve given me is grace.’

Certainly, true for each of us. In big and small ways.

Jesus came to solve those troubles we offer God and most particularly their consequences. As St. Paul reminds us In Romans 6:23: the consequence of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We could spend some time here recalling the big and small sins of all the characters in the Passion, we could see ourselves in those sins, think about the ways we have bought in to wrong, but let’s not do that.

Instead, let us focus on our Daddy’s DNA – the image of God that He has placed into each of us. Let us look to the beauty we have in God’s eyes and give thanks for what Jesus has done to make us beautiful. Let us further exhibit in worship and praise our gratitude for God’s outpouring of grace that renews us when we fail and fall, grace that restores our beauty.

All God gives us is love, great grace, restoration, and an amazing promise. All the proof we need of what God gives us is in our bibles and on that cross.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for Passion Sunday 2025

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us.

This week God’s set of images call us to self-reflection and a merciful attitude toward all.

As many of you know, and occasionally see, I get emotional when I proclaim certain of the gospels. I mentioned this last week, and those who were at our Seniorate Lenten Retreat may have picked up on that as I led the Seven Last Words devotion.

We call this conviction. Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit where an individual is confronted with what God sees. We face the guilt we know we have and realize we are unable to save ourselves. Further, we get overwhelmed as we consider our guilt in light of God’s tremendous mercy. His love overpowers the sentence we deserve.

In the Passion we see Jesus telling the good thief that he will be with Him in paradise. The good thief’s effort to seek forgiveness is enough for Jesus to welcome him. In the parable of the Prodigal, we see both sons’ sinfulness set aside by a father whose forgiveness and mercy is limitless. We see the image of our heavenly Father waiting for us as we return.

Today we see two sets of sinners standing before Jesus. The prostitute, obviously being manipulated as sex workers so often are, is used here to trap Jesus. That does not discount her sin, but it is minor compared to the allegedly righteous who brought her there. The others, they are masters of manipulation, deceit, and an inner anger that causes them to hate God Himself. A stark reminder that we must not judge.

Jesus attempts to break through. By ignoring the accusers, He points out His knowledge of their evil. In His mercy He attempts to convict them of their sin, but they will not accept that conviction. They merely walk away. What a loss!

For the woman Jesus does indeed break through. He doesn’t question or interrogate her. She does not make excuses. Rather, she accepts His mercy and His instruction: from now on do not sin any more.”

Over this Passiontide, listen and allow Jesus in. Then accept His mercy. Finally, like St. Paul, forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.

Homilies,

Reflection for the 4th Sunday in Lent 2025

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter as light.

This week God’s set of images call us to reliance on His mercy. I, for one, can barely get through the proclamation of this gospel without breaking down because I see the image of God’s infinite mercy as He welcomes me back over and over, embraces me again and again despite my failures.

The richness of God’s imagery in this parable of the Prodigal makes it a sort of movie. We can see what is happening, how each person acts and reacts. Despite the things that are pretty evident, God as the perfect artist has inserted some less obvious images.

In movies and games this is often referred to as an Easter Egg. The term was first coined around 1979 by Steve Wright at Atari Computers to describe a hidden message in a video game. Since then, creators, like our Creator, have inserted things we must search for in their creations.

Let’s look at some Easter Eggs in the Parable of the Prodigal.

The younger son is unwilling to wait for his inheritance. He exhibits selfishness. Once he has wasted everything the Parable tells us he went to care for the swine. The slightly hidden thing is that the swine owner was probably a Gentile. If he were a Jew, he would have let his servants take a portion of the feed for themselves (a commandment in the Law), but here he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. The son’s selfishness is confronted by the owner’s.

As the son returns, he has no need to search for his father. The father is shown waiting. Imagine that, from the moment the son left the father stood in the road waiting for his return. Prodigal means extravagant – and the father’s love was indeed extravagant.

Finally, the older son is upset. It is not just the father’s extravagance. It is the fact that all that remains of the estate is his, yet he feels unable to enjoy it.

We are called to confront those areas where we are selfish, to seek the less than obvious ways God shows us where we fall short thus taking the lesson to heart. When we turn around and return, let us recognize God’s extravagant love and accept His embrace. Finally, let us enjoy God’s Kingdom here on earth and spend time rejoicing with all who find their way home. In all things let us seek Him so never giving up we may find Him.

Events, PNCC, ,

2025 Scholars Conference Program

The History and Archives Commission of the Polish National Catholic Church announces the program for the 2025 Scholar’s Conference.

The Conference will be held on Saturday, April 26th both in-person and via Zoom. To register please call the Rev. Dr. Jim Ploskonka at 570.466.4069 or contact him by E-mail.

Program Session For 2025

  • Christ and the Coal Mine: Francis Hodur and the Labor Movement, 1897-1905 by Gavin Moulton, Ph.D. candidate in History at the University of Notre Dame. He is a cultural historian with research and teaching interests in religion, migration, and architecture, especially Slavic diasporas in the industrial United States. Gavin holds an M.A in History from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture and Near Eastern Languages with a secondary field in Italian from Harvard University.
  • History of a Canadian Parish by Father Ted Zawistowski. Father Theodore L. Zawistowski, born in Philadelphia, is a respected theologian, social psychologist, and educator with a distinguished career in religious and academic circles. He earned degrees from Savonarola Theological Seminary, Southeastern Massachusetts University (B.A.), the University of Connecticut (M.A.), and Marywood College (M.A.). He served as pastor of Blessed Virgin Church in Fall River, MA, and later as editor of Straz. He also taught at Savonarola Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania State University, and Marywood College. Recognized for his contributions, he has received multiple grants, scholarships, and awards from religious, academic, and cultural institutions, including the Bishop F. Hodur Order and the Kosciusko Foundation’s Medal of Recognition.
  • “Struggles and Service: The Polish National Catholic Church in Poland and the Ministry of Bishop Józef Padewski (1930–1951)” by Father Damian Heratym, graduate of the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw, Master of Theology, Ph. D. candidate of ChAT.
  • The 1700th Anniversary Of The First Ecumenical Council Of Nicaea: Reflections From The 2025 Union of Scranton Theological Conference, Mainz, Germany by Most Reverend Mikovsky Ph.D. and Very Reverend Robert M. Nemkovich Jr. The The Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, Ph.D., is the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church. He previously served as Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese. Ordained to the priesthood after theological formation, he has held various pastoral and episcopal roles. Bishop Mikovsky holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, bringing academic depth to his leadership. He represents the PNCC in national and international ecumenical and theological engagements. Very Reverend Robert M. Nemkovich Jr. is the Ecumenical Officer of the Polish National Catholic Church. He serves in various capacities within the church and is pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Fall River, MA and Holy Cross Parish in Central Falls, RI. He is deeply involved in outreach and ministry work in his communities.
  • A Retrospective View Of The Innovations In Organization, Liturgy, Theology, And Culture Of The Polish National Catholic Church 125 Years, A Round Table Discussion, Moderator Rev. Jim Ploskonka, Ph.D. Reverend Jim Ploskonka received his Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky. He previously completed academic studies at Boston University, Mansfield University, Harvard University, and the New England Conservatory. He currently serves as a visiting priest at All Saints Parish in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Reverend Ploskonka brings a diverse background in higher education, music, theology, and pastoral ministry to his work, reflecting a deep commitment to both academic excellence and spiritual leadership.
Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Lent 2025

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

In last week’s reflection we concluded by praying that our Lenten disciplines strengthen us for the work we must do in the chaos, bringing light to overcome darkness.

This week God’s set of images call us to the charge of overcoming barrenness.

Jesus begins by issuing a set of very stark warnings, and the warning slightly hidden in the parable of the fig tree.

These kinds of warnings concerning consequences are the subject of vast theological and philosophical dances. We might regularly hear pastors saying – Well, Jesus didn’t really mean that, He was actually saying…

People tend to shy away from the idea of consequences, from the idea that they have to lie in the bed they made, that we can set aside God’s justice and take His mercy for granted. It is the very reason the word sin and the concept of hell are rarely if ever brought up – especially in churches.

In Jesus’ parable, the owner of the fig grove is God. He arrives expecting results and when He finds the tree that produces nothing, He orders it cut down – literally cut off from life.

The picture of barrenness is a stark one. Today’s image of the barren fig tree is not the only occasion for Jesus addressing a tree’s failure to produce. In Mark, Chapter 11 we see Jesus cursing a fig tree for failing to bear fruit even though it was out-of-season.

God expects us to bear fruit and to do so both in and out of season, to always be at the top of our game, in the action.

The other message we receive today is the assurance of help in the process. The owner, God, has waited for fruit for three years. He agrees to wait yet another year. The gardener, Jesus, will provide the tree with His grace by tending it, cultivating it, and fertilizing it. But there too we must take care not to take that grace and time for granted. Jesus’ tending, cultivation, and fertilization must be taken into ourselves so we may reach the result He wants.

The image of barrenness and death is juxtaposed with God’s image of life and fruitfulness. Which image we reflect is up to us.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 2nd Sunday in Lent 2025

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

Last week we encountered the tremendous set of images where we saw with the eyes of our heart the fasting Jesus, tired and hungry in the dessert. There He was put to the test by Satan. We saw the rocks – would they be turned to bread, the mountain top with a supernatural view of all the kingdoms of the world, and the parapet of the Temple high above Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Today, the eyes of our heart are taken to another mountaintop, Mount Tabor, where Jesus is Transfigured, appearing in all His glory, and standing between Moses and Elijah. The Patriarchs and Prophets give testimony to God’s Son come among us.

The three Apostles overwhelmed seek to react. We might have the same thoughts they did – what can we do and how will we do it.

Wait, let’s build three dwellings right here, then we can stay here with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Indeed, it is good that we are here. I will leave everything else behind just to remain.

The linchpin in the Gospel is the statement: they spoke of his exodus. Jesus’ path is made very clear. He is going to Jerusalem where He will be arrested, tortured, and killed, and on the third day rise.

The apostles wanted none of that bad stuff. How much better to stay on this mountain then to descend into the coming chaos.

Brothers and sisters, in this place, in this church, we ascend the mountain, and we commune with Christ Jesus. We experience His glory and are safe from the chaos out there. How lovely it would be, and I often picture this, to remain here, to rest here, to be in the Lord’s presence continually. Lovely yes, but not God’s will for us.

St. Paul, as he always does, makes it real for us. We must go out into the chaos filled with the grace we have received here and be those who thus conduct themselves according to the model [we] have in Jesus and His Apostles.

Through our Lenten disciplines let us strengthen ourselves for the work we must do in the chaos, bringing light to overcome darkness.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 1st Sunday in Lent 2025

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

This past Wednesday we entered the Great Lent. I pray that the Pre-Lenten season has prepared each of you for this journey we are now on together.

As we have discussed, God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. 

May God’s imagery help us to achieve the vision He has for us and help us to arrive at Easter no longer ash, but light.

We see a tremendous set of images in today’s Gospel. Jesus, having fasted for forty days and nights is put to the test by Satan. You see, all Jesus must do is give in just a little to gain bread for His hunger, power in the world, and ultimately provide a show for Satan by throwing Himself off the parapet of the Temple.

In resisting Satan, Jesus quotes Scriptures, “One does not live on bread alone.” and “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve.”

In the third temptation, Satan quotes back two consecutive verses of Psalm 91, verses 11 and 12. In resisting Satan, Jesus recalls the next verse of that Psalm, verse 13: ‘You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.’ By resisting, by not giving in just a little, Jesus is victorious over Satan’s temptations. As the Gospel tells us, Satan will wait for another day.

Temptation is very real, and it gets redoubled during this holy season of the Great Lent. 

Think of the many small compromises we may be tempted to make. Consider still more how we might use Holy Scripture to justify our compromises and forego our disciplines.

Lent calls us to an enhanced level of care in our lives.

In our first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses speaks about the obligation of the Israelites to worship, to bring the first fruits of the soil, recognizing that they were given to them by the Lord, and to literally recite out loud the history of salvation. This wasn’t a mere exercise. It kept before the people of Israel the true center of their lives – God and His saving power.

The power of evil in this world calls us to forget God, to give in, to backslide, justify, and place God on the back back back burner – out of sight.

This Great Lent calls us to overcome all that. We are, like Jesus, to resist and persevere. Ultimately, Psalm 91:14 gives us assurance. If we cling to God, if we resist giving in just a little, we will be delivered, we will be set on high with Jesus.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for Ash Wednesday 2025

“Jesus said to his disciples:
When you give alms…
When you pray…
When you fast…”

As I have mentioned over the past several Pre-Lenten weeks, God speaks to us in images. We see Jesus setting out very clear pictures as to what good and worthy almsgiving, prayer, and fasting look like.

It is interesting that society at Jesus’ time and to our day see these virtuous activities as difficult, a chore, or as perhaps a way to earn cheap kudos from others. They and we tend to miss the point of these exercises.

Certainly almsgiving, prayer, and fasting work against the worst of sins. Almsgiving fights against our tendency to greed. The habit of prayer – having conversations with God whether in formal or informal words – brings the grace to resist pride, envy, and wrath. Fasting trains us for, and is a direct counter, in the fight against gluttony, lust, and laziness. Those are practical remedies. But consider, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting more importantly as an intimate experience of God being with us as we work to become more like Him.

Jesus, in telling us to go into our rooms to pray and in His other directives concerning fasting and charity sets a picture of a place where we and God commune and work together in the fight against sin. Jesus is telling us that these practices are a real occasion for joy – because in them we work toward victory.

There is a beautiful Orthodox Hymn sung at this time of the year: “Open To Me The Doors Of Repentance” It is short, and the lyrics as follows:

Open to me the doors of repentance O Lifegiver; for my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy Holy Temple, bearing the temple of my body all defiled. But in Thy Compassion purify me by the loving kindness of Thy Mercy. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lead me on the paths of Salvation O Mother of God, for I have covered my soul in shameful sins and have wasted my life in lazy acts. But by your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity. Have mercy on me O God according to Thy Great Mercy and according to the multitude of Thy Compassions blot out my transgressions. When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretched I am, I tremble at the fearful day of Judgement, but trusting in Thy loving kindness, like David I cry to Thee. Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me O God, Have mercy on me O God according to Thy great Mercy.

The picture drawn here is of one who seeks God, who is self-aware of their failings, and the true darkness those failings entail. It shows that one approaching the Temple of God – the Holy Church – and with the help of our Blessed Mother’s intercession placing their full reliance on God’s mercy.

As we begin this journey let us rely on our true Lifegiver. As we take these ashes, a sign of where we are right now, let us rely on Him Whom the hymn calls the Lifegiver for that is Who our God is. We pray that He open to us the Doors of Repentance to us so that with the help of His mercy we receive the full and joy-filled benefits from our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting this Lent and arrive at Easter reflecting the image of what God has called us to be – no longer ash, but light.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for Quinquagesima Sunday 2025

“A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Welcome to the third Sunday of the Pre-Lenten season.

The Holy Church gives us this season so we might not jump into the Great Lent unprepared, but ready for a spiritual journey of transformation. What we are at the end of Lent needs be quite different from what we are now.

This season is akin to the stretching exercises an athlete does before they head out onto the track. This season of stretching ourselves helps in preventing spiritual injury – regrets and disappointments – because we were unprepared for our Lenten Walk.

I have noted that God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us. We will continue this study of God’s imagery throughout the Great Lent. We will see God drawing all sorts of pictures that at the most basic of levels create for us a vision of where we are to be, the choices we have along the way, and the destination God desires we arrive at.

As we prepare to enter Lent, God uses imagery to call us to humility derived from self-reflection. We are asked to take account of ourselves and in all honesty to turn from those areas where we do not meet God’s vision for us.

Sirach reminds us that what we truly are will be revealed. It is a warning and an opportunity. Through Sirach, God calls us to take account and work to meet His vision so all we are lines up. If we do so, our words and actions, our character, integrity, and centeredness as we face troubles – as Sirach says – tribulations will show forth virtue. We must work to know God’s vision for us and work to bring it closer to completion.

St. Paul reinforces this call to taking account and the work of necessary change by telling us to be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord. In other words, to stay focused on meeting the painting God has created of us – the best image of ourselves.

Jesus words are a formula of opposites. Will we be a blind person trying to lead the blind or will we open our eyes to the work of necessary change? Will I pretend to be teacher in my pride or will I be a disciple and learn from Jesus’ vision. Will I have the humility to address what is in my life, the log in my eye, before I begin nitpicking others? Will I be a rotten tree with bad fruit, will what I produce be covered in thorns? Or will what I offer be good.

As we begin our Lenten journey let us take account of these questions and commit to meeting God’s vision.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for Sexagesima Sunday 2025

“Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Welcome to the second week of this Pre-Lenten season.

The Holy Church gives us this season so we might not jump into the Great Lent unprepared, but ready for a spiritual journey of transformation. What we are at the end of Lent needs be quite different from what we are now.

This season is akin to the stretching exercises an athlete does before they head out onto the track. This season of stretching ourselves helps in preventing spiritual injury – regrets and disappointments – because we were unprepared for our Lenten walk.

Last Sunday I noted that God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us.

In our first reading we see David presented with an opportunity to get rid of Saul who wanted David dead. Saul and his army was in search of David for that very reason. Saul’s anger was motivated by jealousy. Yet, despite what would have been expedient, David did the faithful thing, refusing to kill Saul. 

David trusted that God would save him. David didn’t need to take matters into his own hands. We see a picture of faithful David on a bluff above the army holding Saul’s water jug and spear which made the point better than any other solution.

Which do we want for our self-vision? Will we be Saul, acting on negativity, assembling an army to do damage to another, or is our self-vision one of faithfulness and doing right even if the wrong is easier and speedier? How do we want God to see us as He looks at us?  Who do we want to present before God on the day we meet Him?

Jesus paints a strong picture of the people He wants with Him, the people He will welcome into eternity. He wants loving, forgiving, tolerant, and faithful followers. He wants the Church to be those who walk the long walk, take the hard road, and because they do are outstanding examples of what it means to be God’s children.

If we take this Pre-Lenten opportunity for reflection and for a re-evaluation of our self-vision, we take the first steps toward being true children of the Most High Who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, Who is merciful to all.

Jesus came to show us the road to life, and to remind us of what God desires we pursue. So let us set to work in meeting His vision for us and reap a full measure of blessings.

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