A fractal is a mathematical set that often appears in self-similar patterns, in other words, they may appear the same at every scale from the grand to the microscopic. Where can you find them? They occur in nature, e.g., in clouds, crystals, certain types of broccoli (perhaps to the dismay of President George W.H. Bush, aka 41), lightning bolts, blood vessels, DNA, oak trees, and its leaves, and all other matter of things. Consider the snowflake. No matter how far one zooms into a snowflake, one finds a repeating pattern. It is like finding a snowflake within a snowflake, within a snowflake, in a never-ending pattern down to the microscopic level. Really quite fascinating.

You can even find “fractals” in Scripture. In last week’s second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12:12), St. Paul is describing a body, within a body, within a body – all a part of a body, all the body in itself: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” This is why we can say all believers are part of the Body of Christ, the Church. And when speaking of the Body of Christ, we can answer the question, “Is the universal Catholic Church the Body of Christ?” Yes. “Is the Diocese of St. Petersburg the Body of Christ?” Yes. “Is Sacred Heart Parish the Body of Christ?” Yes. And yet none of them are apart and on their own. The mystery of the fullest meaning of the Body of Christ is likely beyond the limitations of human language. But it seems to me, the image of the fractal gives us some glimpse into the mystery of it all.

It is this mystery of the Body of Christ that binds us all: the individual – the parish – the diocese – the Church – all with Christ as Head. In our best days one should be able to “zoom in” to any level of the “snowflake” called church and find the same pattern of faith, hope, and love – and in the end, above all, find love.

My point is that this “snowflake” is intrinsic to who we are as a people, a worshipping community of faith, able to call ourselves the Body of Christ here in downtown Tampa. We are mystically and practically part of the Diocese and worldwide Catholic Church. It is the reason why we have second collections for Catholic Charities, the Campaign for Human Development, and several others in the course of a year. The recipients of your donations are parts of the same Body of Christ and in the mystery of “fractal snowflakes” are at the same time the Body of Christ. And as members of the Body of Christ have needs, the other members of the Body respond in charitable giving – because this is what it means to be Catholic. That as a parish and individuals within the parish, someone can “zoom in” and find caritas, Latin for “love” or “charity.” And love is never passive; it gives itself away, knowing there is a fountain full of love that can never truly empty itself.

Why am I telling you this? It is because of the 2013 Annual Pastoral Appeal (APA). It is the time of year when the appeal begins, and it seems to me – in chatting with folks in the parish – that we sort of view the appeal as “other” rather than part of the Body; something we do for others as apart from us. And true, others are helped by our giving, while at the same time, we as a parish benefit directly and indirectly. But it seems to me, while the benefits can be reported and explained, at the deeper level, it is the mystery of the Body of Christ that should compel us to participate. No matter how far we “zoom in” to the “snowflake” of Sacred Heart, there is that intrinsic aspect of who we are that simply responds because of our deepest identity: we are parishioners, we are members of the diocese, we are members of the church universal – we are Catholic.
This weekend, and the two that follow, we will be talking about APA as a community, building towards the weekend of Feb. 23rd and 24th. We will talk about the charitable aspects of APA donations this weekend. Next weekend we will talk briefly about the direct and indirect benefits we receive as parish, and the difference it makes in our ability to pastorally respond to the needs and opportunities within and outside of the local community. The weekend of Feb. 16th and 17th, the conversation will continue with a concrete discussion about APA giving and what this means in terms of Stewardship.

During this and the coming weeks, we would ask you to take all of this into prayer and reflect upon the mystery of the Body of Christ, our identity as Catholics, and stewardship. Then on the weekend of Feb. 23rd and 24th to come together as a community to “do what is ours to do.” We are asking you to bring with you that weekend the APA pledge cards/envelopes you received in the mail (we will also have extra cards/envelopes). Then, as a community, during the Mass, to make our commitment of a donation, prayer and/or volunteering for the success of this year’s APA. We hope to make this “one and done.” During the weekend of Feb. 23rd and 24th we all will have done what is ours to do for APA, and then in the time that follows will continue to do what is ours to do here at Sacred Heart, in our part of the “snowflake.”

Thanks for listening.