“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?” Well, here it is! It is Christmas Eve and whether or not we think we are ready for Christmas 2018, it is just a few hours away. Everyone will be getting ready for the many wonderful local and familial traditions, including the special foods, visits, Masses, and, of course, gathering around the nativity scenes to finally place that last missing piece of the Baby Jesus. As we move forward with joyous expectation and the hope of glancing at Christmas through the eyes of children and the child-like, let us consider the entire mystery behind placing the Christ Child in the manger of our homes and churches. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord wishes to be born and alive and living within our own hearts, a personal manager, if you will.
“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” So tonight, let us place the last few details to make this manger the most safe, warm and inviting place for Jesus. Forgive those whom you need to forgive, let go of the mistakes that have haunted you this year, and just count all the magnificent blessings that have been ours in abundance. Clear a special spot in your manger-heart right here, right now. “O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.” Behold, Christmas has arrived, and the Lord is here!
Leave a comment“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” W.T. Ellis
“Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.” It may be hard to believe that one of the most obvious aspects of the First Christmas was that of silence. Just think about that for a minute. In all of the more significant moments of this great time, there was silence before, during, and after for a variety of reasons. This is important for us to realize just days away from that “Most Holy Night.” This has been more than substantiated by the mention of Zechariah’s plight in the New Testament Gospel of today and is also revealed in the process by which silver is purified, as was described in our First Reading of today: “For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye.” Both references open the door to us about the mystery of becoming silent and still, especially today.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. The next ten days will probably seem like a blur, and then we get back to the same grind and routine that we left—if we did at all. This is why in some ways the time is really running out on the quality of our Christmas this year and perhaps for the rest of the year. When we walk into the inner room of silence, we are able to discover gifts that renew and strengthen our very souls. We find God. We chance upon compassion and humility. And we find peace if we can slow down that inner voice and frenetic pace and just breathe. God’s presence now more than ever at Christmas is beyond words. As we venture more and more into this inner quiet, we find our own lightness of being, our true selves, the end to worry, and a front-row seat at the manger. God is very close in these moments. Make yourself an appointment with the quiet.
Leave a comment“Out of the silence, there was music.
Out of the darkness, there was light.
Out of uncertainty, there was promise.
You see, Hope was born that night.”Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson
A group of high school seniors was somewhat perplexed at something they read in history class and were simultaneously frustrated by the apparent inability of their teacher to explain it to them with only his feeble (as they put it) attempt to shift their attention from the fact (as they saw it) that he did not understand it either. He said, “You’ll just have to get older and grow up first before you know what it means.” Here is the quote from Alexander the Great: “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. “My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.” In just two days, we will arrive on Christmas Eve. All that we have done or not done now comes into play as the sun sets and lights come on in our churches and homes. As we near the great and glorious Season of Christmas within forty-eight hours, we are about to be empowered for the rest of our days if we believe:
What we must continue to fight so that we may prevail with Jesus in this holy time are the issues of fear and anxiety, which have literally inundated all of Earth’s major literary works from all known cultures. Some have reported that Shakespeare wrote about fear in every one of his major works. “Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.” (Henry VI, Act V, Scene 1) It has likewise been said with numbing regularity that the phrase “do not be afraid” is found 365 times in the whole of Scripture. There is no time today to either dispute or confirm that, but only to say that it is mentioned enough to believe it, no matter how many times it appears on the pages of our Bible. The Mother of Jesus, the primary witness of the Birth of Christ, not only was comforted by the presence of Her Son and Savior in her body and holding Him for the first few moments of His life, knew exactly of which we speak: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant.”
It is time to sing because we are sheep led by the Lion of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is time to shout with relief because He did what He promised. There can be no more allowances for fear, for doubt, or for self-pity if we are really serious about this life and what great things that come out of it. Open your hearts and make yourselves ready! We are His sheep, His servants, His handmaids, His hands and feet. Let Christmas come with all its wonder!
Leave a comment“Stop trying and start trusting.” Rick Warren
Around this time of the year, a scratchy throat, watery or dry eyes, and a pounding, relentless headache could all be signs of the flu or much worse. With our information technology, the internet, and a myriad of medical shows and programs on TV, you and I have become “mini-doctors” able to diagnose and recognize everything from cancer to broken hearts just by reviewing the signs. How do we recognize the true meaning of Christmas? “Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”
Great. We are to look for the sign of the Baby born in Bethlehem and accept this as the utmost important sign of Christmas: “Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.” (Responsorial Psalm) So how do we know that we have let Him in our hearts? What indications might be present to prove such a thought? What are the symptoms of a great Christmas? Here are a few: 1. We have slowed down and begun to notice the little beautiful gifts from God everywhere, 2. We have learned to be patient with the most difficult people around us 3. We have stopped to pray for those we love and those we don’t know who need the prayers nonetheless, and 4. We have forgiven everyone. Does anyone have fear that this cannot be done?
Think again: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”
Leave a commentMany of the better-known and greatly loved Christmas carols speak of this time of preparing for Christmas with deep references to generosity and kindness, especially when there are so many who are not in that mind frame. Generosity is a willingness to give even at a cost to oneself. It expresses concern for meeting the needs of others, even if it means sacrificing something of one’s own. We are to extend ourselves to all of mankind, especially the most in need. To do so, we are emulating Jesus, who went after the one lost sheep. To love is to give. God loves us, and He gives us everything He wants us to have. When we give, as our Lord encourages, we truly deny ourselves. Generosity must be done in silence in order to merit grace from God and not merely the thanksgiving of mortal men. It is very easy to be generous to our relatives or friends, but that is not generosity since we will be repaid for that with friendship, thanksgiving, and praise. Generosity must extend to the poor and the needy. It is a quest for justice as we have the work of God to provide for those who don’t have.
The most excellent example of Generosity (after Jesus Himself): The Blessed Virgin Mary. In the fullness of grace, our Blessed Mother exhibits the fullness of love and truth. She is generous in charity, patient, kind, and gentle; she is good and faithful, chaste, modest, and temperate. Her spirit rejoices in God her savior, and she is at peace even in trying times because of her trust in the Lord: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Three times in this life, Mary was blessed in a special way by the Holy Spirit – at her Immaculate Conception, at the Annunciation, and at Pentecost – and we are the beneficiaries of the immeasurable fruits of the Spirit produced in her. Through her maternal protection and intercession, we obtain pardon for our sins, health in times of sickness, strength of heart when we are weak, consolation in the face of affliction, and help when we are in danger. Above all, she is the Mother of Christ our Redeemer, and our Mother.
Today, as we move even closer to Christmas, we recall her famous visit to her cousin Elizabeth. John the Baptist leaped in her womb foreshadowing our joy at the Birth of Mary’s Son, Jesus. She also shows us quintessentially how to evangelize, bringing Jesus to others at every opportunity. Mary also powerfully reminds us that every encounter we have has the potential of bringing the Good News to someone who truly needs it. Thank you, Mary, for your wonderful YES!
Leave a comment“The nativity mystery “conceived from the Holy Spirit and born from the Virgin Mary”, means that God became human, truly human out of his own grace. The miracle of the existence of Jesus, his “climbing down of God” is the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary! Here is a human being, the Virgin Mary, and as he comes from God, Jesus comes also from this human being. Born of the Virgin Mary means a human origin for God. Jesus Christ is not only truly God, he is human like every one of us. He is human without limitation. He is not only similar to us, he is like us.” Karl Barth
One of the fascinating aspects of our Advent Season is that we are introduced to so many intriguing and wonderful characters and personalities that, taken together, make for a remarkable preamble and preface for the Great Mystery of Christmas. At the very top of that list, we could easily find Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and Magi, and a slew of others. Among them, we would include Samson from the Old Testament and John from the New Testament as highlighted in our Readings today. Let’s start with what both Readings have in common: “You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.” (Samson) “He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.” (John) Both Samson and John were Nazirites from birth, which meant that they were permanently under this vow to keep them safe, sacred, and holy to accomplish something magnificent for God. And both certainly did!
But there is something else about these two men: Samson and John died in “seeming” defeat. When Samson died, he died a death that seemed to terminate an unsuccessful ministry, and he never lived to see the complete conquest of the Philistines. John was beheaded during imprisonment, struggling with doubts that Jesus was the Messiah. Although they were both men God used in great ways, their special roles to prepare for the Messiah were their absolute and true calling. Despite their differences, they were dramatic preludes to what would follow.
And what about us? How does this affect you and me as we near Christmas? Here are a few thoughts: 1) Everyone has a special calling. Happiness will depend on its discovery. 2) The greatest moments of our lives need both preparation and the element of surprise-filled joy. 3) Disappointments will certainly be present, but they never define the meaning of one’s life.
Leave a comment“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and moves upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.” Sigrid Undset
It seems everyone is dreaming at Christmastime: “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse/ The stockings were hung by the chimney with care/ In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there/ The children were nestled all snug in their beds/ While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.” (Clement Clarke Moore) Even amid the Holy Family: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
As we continue our spiritual journey toward a splendid Christmas moment, let us dare to dream: of a life that is truly free and devoid of hatred, arrogance or selfishness; let us dream of a world that is full of peace and understanding; and let us dream of a life that begins with each one of us serving our Lord and King of Kings: “As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land.”
How beautiful the night shines in the hue of dreams, as if lulling along a distant breeze, wrapped in a cold warmth of a solitary winter’s eve!
To me, Christmas is always about a bunch of happy moments, simple yet ornate in a colour of joy, something that connects our hearts to all that is pure and pristine, all that is beautifully simple and soulfully happy.
And if we look closely, we can find those moments, every day in our regular lives, from sipping on our early morning coffee to munching on our midnight snack, from taking a moment to gaze at the sunset to simply sitting silent listening to our soul, beautiful unfiltered unadulterated moments that often go unnoticed yet remain forever warmed up in the cold embrace of our heart, frozen in a niche of a dream called Life.
Leave a commentAfter all, Life is a beautiful dream.
La vie est un beau rêve
Stay in Love.
Debatrayee Banerjee
“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father.” At very well-placed times of the year, especially around the dates that are most famous for the gatherings of families—like right now, you will see a literal cascade of advertisements concerning the discovery of one’s family roots through DNA testing. Commercials abound with different companies competing for curious dollars to discover not only where families originated, but also identifying certain traits. Many believe they can learn significantly about where they are going by discovering where they are from. “In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.”
With just a few days away from Christmas Eve, we have been generously served the Genealogy Account from the Gospel of St. Matthew that traces the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Abraham: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” The importance of this moment is quite similar to the DNA searches that have grown into popularity in the last ten years or so. We want to know who Jesus is so as to know why He came. When we realize why He came, we will embrace Him into our hearts and families like a newborn, invigorating all of our lives with a freshness and transforming passage into a brand new year. We know where we are going because we know who is leading us. And we know exactly that His origins and final destiny are in Heaven.
Leave a comment“God walked down the stairs of heaven with a Baby in His arms.” Paul Scherer
“Which of the two did his father’s will?” What a strange situation in today’s Gospel as we move closer and closer to Christmas Eve. One son says, “I won’t,” but does; the other says, “I will,” but doesn’t. This situation reminds us, among other things, that actions speak louder than words. Think of the people in your life that you can truly count on whenever necessary. We say that their words are “golden” because they are true. Sounds like integrity to me, and Christmas is the best time to practice it.
“For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord.” This entire discussion brings us right back to the First Reading. We must be honest and forthright with each other because we are responsible to each other. Many times, our own friends will interpret our silence as approval in a wild variety of situations. “I didn’t know you felt that way” is a phrase that comes to mind when we do not risk rejection in the service of truth. Perhaps the basic message today is simple: You are what you do, not what you’ll say you do, and this Christmas is another excellent opportunity to place the joy of Christmas in our hearts and not just say that we will.
Leave a comment“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” Oren Arnold
“Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way.” Sometimes we think of Christmas gifts that come in brightly wrapped packages and delightful bows of many colors. But what about another kind of gift? In the Great Season of Advent, the Lord Jesus, through the Scriptures, asks us all to consider the powerfully wonderful and awesome gift of actually forgiving another human being for Christmas. The healing nature of letting go of past and ugly hurts is made clear by the entire life and body of teaching of Christ the Lord, whose perfect birthday gift could in fact be Forgiveness. It is safe to say that he teaches us that you and I are the ones who are being forgiven every time we forgive another person. It is like the oil of relationships that does not change the past but only the future. We can hear the energy of this awesome message in the Responsorial Psalm: “Teach me your ways, O LORD.”
This concept was also made crystal clear in the Gospel of today: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” The Baby Jesus was brought to earth to expose and propose love and Forgiveness as a means to set a prisoner free, only for us to discover that the prisoner is us! We could also call this the “Authority of Love” and accept this as one of the supreme non-refundable, non-returnable Christmas gifts of all of our lives. How beautiful!
Leave a comment“Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry-making. It is more than that. It is a time for the contemplation of eternal things. The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving.” J. C. Penney
One day on Christmas Eve, a man found himself at the very depths and the bottom of the darkest point of his life, and in the famous movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” he discovers through a Christmas “Angel” what life would have been like if he had never been born. It gave him a new sense of purpose and a joy to be alive, giving him every reasonable reason to be happy and overjoyed: “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.” This is our goal today as we near Christmas ourselves, so very soon! How do we do this?
“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.” During these last few days that we have, let us consider accomplishing the following: 1) SLOW DOWN, 2) FORGIVE, 3) REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE LESS THAN WE DO. This we do to prepare for our Jesus who comes to save, comfort, and forgive us: “…the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” This is where the wisdom, experience, and values of this Advent Season truly come into play. Only those things that we do for others, including the souls we try to rescue, will pass from this earth to the next. Everything else will burn up someday, but those things done for Christ and for His glory will endure forever. You can’t take it with you, but you can certainly send it ahead and have it waiting for you when you use your time, talents, and treasure for the kingdom of God and for the glory of Jesus Christ: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.” If we can enter into the true Spirit of Christmas, then it is truly a wonderful life!
“All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.” —on George Bailey’s office wall from the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life
Leave a comment“In those days, like a fire, there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace.” Since Christmas occurs for many of us during the winter season, a lot of chimneys and fireplaces are lit up and filled with fire, warmth, and light for the festivities to come. But that is not the only place where fire could be raging. Christmas brings us face to face with the Baby Jesus to enlighten and “jump-start” our faith. Something truly can come alive in a most exciting way if we truly find our way back to the manger this Christmas. That may take some doing given all the distractions, worries, obstacles, and hardships–just like the First Christmas! “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”
It is hard at times to imagine that this little Baby at Christmas will die for our sins and lead us all into Heaven. It is the same way with new parents who welcome their children into the world on the first day knowing that there is so much waiting for them ahead. “So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” This is why our Christmas must light the fire of faith in each one of us as we boldly face this Christmas and whatever the New Year has in store for us. Jesus is already there.
Leave a comment“The only real blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.” Helen Keller
“God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.” Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, perhaps one of the most world-wide and recognized celebrations of the place of the Virgin Mary not only in the story of Christmas but in the whole of our Salvation. She said, “Yes!” to the invitation bestowed upon her to become the Mother of Jesus, and, because the Church is the Body of Christ, she is our Mother, too.
“You are the highest honor of our race.” This particular apparition of Mary is drenched in meaning and significance, especially when one considers the horrible and destructive cult of human sacrifice that had been perpetuated in Aztec culture. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the tilma of St. Juan Diego presents a greatly different message. “I am bringing you life, life to the fullest through Jesus Christ!” is clearly the message of the Virgin for today. And always. It is yet another beautiful reminder, as we near the Birth of Jesus this Christmas, of the real reason and purpose of everything Christmas. “And how does this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”
Christmas joy can only be found in the real meaning and deep experience of the birth of a defenseless, innocent baby with a price tag on his head issued by a criminally insane, power-hungry madman bent on death. Life wins when we celebrate and protect it.
Leave a comment“I am the LORD, your God, who grasps your right hand; It is I who says to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'” It seems from the very moment of our appearance out of the womb and into this strange, new world, either someone is holding our hands or we are holding the hand of another. Just think about this: as children, we gently and securely place our hands in those teaching us how to walk or eat or just for plain security; later, we do the same for others much younger than ourselves, perhaps our children; and finally, we return to the original posture and hold another’s hand for security and safety.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” We can say with certain certainty that if the First Christmas had to face remarkable odds and the threat of violence, then every Christmas since then and beyond will be faced with the same dilemmas. And just as in every Christmas, and in the face of every day of our lives, we will have protection, guidance, truth, and hope. This must be lived and repeated to each other as often as possible: “Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Leave a comment“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future. It is a wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal and that every path may lead to peace.” Agnes Pahro
For many of us during this time of waiting and watching, the profound images of Santa and his flying reindeer figure as a larger-than-life episode in warm, comforting, and beautiful Christmas memories. “How does that work?” we might have asked. All we knew was that because of those remarkable creatures, Christmas night was to be a success every year. As we age, much of the childhood props begin to fade, and we are left with the only plausible explanation of why Christmas can and should make us very happy: “Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.”
The great transition into adulthood allows us to keep hold of the wonder and priceless chill of a star-lit sky, hoping that everyone receives what they want and need for Christmas. And isn’t that the core of belief at this time? Let everyone be lifted high to welcome the King of kings and the Lord of lords to bring us a great sense of love and forgiveness, and deep love for those whom the Lord has given to us to love. That would be accomplished not by the light of deer but of another wonderfully inspiring creature of God’s universe: “They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”
We have probably heard the great wisdom from those who lived it a while that God never promised any of us an easy flight but certainly a safe landing. That is most definitely true. And while we watch children all around us appreciate childhood again, bills, promises, and deadlines all loom as well. But it is Jesus who makes all this understandable and yes, warm and beautiful and comforting for all of us, kids and big kids alike. That’s why we can believe every word of the Gospel today: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Leave a comment“Christmas is for everyone, adults and children alike. Allow this season to fill your heart, and let go of the things you dislike.” Julie Hebert
“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” “God rest ye merry gentlemen/ Let nothing you dismay./ Remember Christ our Savior/Was born on Christmas Day./ To save us all from Satan’s pow’r/ When we were gone astray. Oh tidings of comfort and joy/Comfort and joy/Oh tidings of comfort and joy.”
Years ago, a young pastor would seize on the anticipation between Thanksgiving and Christmas to teach the history of Christmas Carols. What a joy! One evening we learned about the carol referred above. What an eye-opener! We learned that there was an almost hidden meaning behind this song. You see, back in the Middle Ages, the word “merry” meant great and mighty. Then, the word “rest” really meant to keep or make. Thus, today, to arrive at the true meaning of this carol, we should sing, “May God make you all great and mighty people!” So how would this bring us “Comfort and Joy”?
Men and women who are great are also just and kind. They follow the Law of God, but with a heart of mercy, love, and forgiveness. These attitudes help produce a clean conscience “that can sleep through storms” and spread the real message of Christmas even through all the cumbersome activities, distractions, lack of time, and money which invariably rob most people of the true Spirit of Christmas. As great and mighty Christians, we can make a difference this Christmas by living our faith before everyone we meet, especially our families. The next time someone asks us what we are doing or getting for Christmas, we can tell them and remind each other that Christ was born to die and that, in Him, we might live forever. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is more than just a Christmas carol. It can be our way of thanking God for Jesus: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
“Now to the Lord sing praises/ All you within this place/ And with true love and brotherhood/ Each other now embrace/ This holy tide of Christmas/ All other doth deface. Oh tidings of comfort and joy/Comfort and joy/Oh tidings of comfort and joy.”
Leave a commentToday is the glorious Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which has a long and complex history. It goes back to the understanding of the mystery of Mary in her privileged relationship with God and with the mystery of salvation, to which she is associated from the first moment of her existence, as being “full of grace” and love of God. In a particular way, the expression “full of grace” has been rediscovered in its most profound sense that she was prepared from the beginning of time for this remarkably pivotal role in all of Salvation: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” The very words that the Angel Gabriel addressed to Mary place front and center at the moment that Jesus Christ became incarnate in her body and as true God and true Man, sacrifice everything for our salvation to Heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it this way: (490) To become the mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel, at the moment of the annunciation, salutes her as “full of grace”. In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace. (491) Through the centuries, the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
For us today, this is truly overwhelming: God wants all of us to be saved, and only one like us (Jesus) and one like Him (God) could accomplish that. Our humanity, with all its weaknesses and damage, still has the potential of true greatness. “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.” (Responsorial Psalm) The disobedience of Eve has been forgiven, and humanity has been restored by the obedience of Mary. This is why the two will always be inextricably intertwined for all humanity: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through her intercession, to come to You. Amen.
Leave a commentEveryone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Everyone builds their VERY EXISTENCE (house) on something. You could say that every person we meet already has a foundation underneath everything they do and say. The one true revelation as to that base of life is what happens to a person when a storm or severe crisis hits. What do they do? Who do they turn to? What is their strategy? Rock (Jesus) or Sand (the world)?
Here is what St. John Chrysostom has to say about it: “By ‘rain’ here, and ‘floods,’ and ‘winds,’ He is expressing metaphorically the calamities and afflictions that befall everyone; such as false accusations, plots, bereavements, deaths, loss of friends, vexations from strangers, all the ills in our life that anyone could mention. ‘But to none of these,’ says He, ‘does such a soul give way; and the cause is, it is founded on the rock.’”
The real mystery of Christmas is quite dramatic. Imagine the plight of Mary and Joseph, the Holy Innocents, the Magi, and the countless unsung people who helped make the birth of Christ the magnificent event it was. What it can truly teach you and me, right here, right now is simple: Sometimes, you just have to bow your head, say a prayer, and weather the storm.
Leave a comment“O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep.” There once was this criminal who had been accused of a crime and sentenced. He was sent to the king for his punishment. The king told him he had a choice of two punishments. He could be hung by a rope or take what’s behind the big, dark, scary, iron door. The criminal quickly decided on the rope. As the noose was being slipped over him, he turned to the king and asked. “By the way, out of curiosity, what’s behind that door?” The king laughed and said, “You know, it’s funny, I offer everyone the same choice, and nearly everyone picks the rope.” “So,” said the criminal, “Tell me. What’s behind the door? I mean, obviously, I won’t tell anyone,” he said, pointing to the noose around his neck. The king paused, then answered, “Freedom, but it seems most people are so afraid of the unknown that they immediately take the rope.”
“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” As we continue our journey throughout the wealth of Daily Scriptures, let us examine the place and power of fear in our lives and adopt the childlike trust and faith in our loving God:
I read once that people really do not fear the unknown; rather, they fear what they think they know about the unknown. That always made sense to me: fear is truly useless. It has stalled great decisions and prevented great people from rising above the wickedness and pettiness around them. Do you remember how much damage was inflicted when people allowed fear to decide their future? Religious leaders plotted and conspired to murder; healed people turned on their Healer; strong Apostles (for the most part) fled, denied, and betrayed their Master. However, now, the scenes have changed: the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus has allowed once fearful people to change their thinking and readjust their life paths. The words of the Alleluia Verse have become the lyrics of a new song in the hearts of those who believe: “The LORD is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King. It is He who will save us.”
Leave a comment“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” Nhat Hanh
One morning, I stopped on my way to work at a local gas station that also is a 1. convenience store, 2. vegetable market, 3. breakfast and lunch counter, and 4. a stage of on-going human drama. Of course, I arrived when there was a long line already formed for everything from unleaded gas to lottery tickets, so I purchased a cup of coffee and some other items and placed them on a small table toward the back while I realized that I had left my wallet in my car. As I returned, I witnessed a man of about 25 years of age stumble by the table, sit down, and literally spill the coffee onto the fruit and the newspaper, which I was about to purchase. “Breathe, breathe…” I continued to think to myself. I began to walk over to the table and once again, “breathe again, it’s the beginning of your day….please God help me right now…” Slowing down, I was glad the hot coffee had not spilled over his clothes, and with no one else was around, I guess I could’ve just left everything as it was, but that’s really not my way of doing things. I saw a mop in the nearby closet and just accepted the fact that this nice, freshly ironed and dry-cleaned yellow shirt of mine would be less than crisp and ready for my desk work today. When I turned around, I was so thankful for God’s grace and mercy. That young man was blind.
As I neared the table with the mop, I began to say as gently and as slowly as I could, “I’m sorry about all this. It’s my coffee. Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up. No worries.” He tried to apologize as well, and before you know it, it was all better and all cleaned. I suggested that we thank God that no one was burned or hurt and that we were both able to walk and still make this day good, no matter what. “Jesus defeated death,” I said, “and he can surely take care of little spilled coffee.” One of the attendants, who apparently had been up all night on the graveyard shift, suddenly appeared and barked at both of us, “Who’s going to pay for the coffee and all this other stuff?” I looked up and surveyed the man who was easily half a foot taller than me and who obviously played football in high school: “I guess I will, sir.”
“NO YOU WON’T!” came a fierce response from the refrigerated coolers around the corner. It came from an older woman, dressed for work, and apparently for action, who continued, “I saw the whole thing. Get away from there! I’ll take care of it!” And with that, she not only paid for my items but yet another set for me and for my blind friend and a coffee for herself, and all three of us sat for about 10 minutes just talking about nothing…”
Today we are celebrating this great Season of Advent, a time of transformation and growth when there will be no doubt many opportunities to learn something new and find new fellow Christians struggling as much as we are. What could we learn from what God has exposed us to open our hearts and minds? Let’s take a look:
“And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Let us not rush to judgment and quickly rely on the appearances of things. Treasures are lurking. “Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.” When we trust in Jesus, even through the toughest of moments, light will shine. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” We can never be lost if we follow close by the Light of the World because that is precisely why he came to us: “And their eyes were opened.”
Leave a comment“The only thing worse than being blind is having no vision.” Helen Keller
These days, we hear of the time-honored, child-revered, legend-laden St. Nicholas. Let us celebrate as co-travelers through what is left of mystery and grace in our world! Something is certainly different about today, and perhaps this is why. The one everyone knows as Santa Claus has a remarkable history all his own, reaching all the way back to the 3rd century to a monk named Nicholas. Most historians place his birth around 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey and describe him as someone much admired for his beautiful generosity and kindness. Many sources reveal that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, including three poor sisters who were being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father, by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. For the next 17 centuries, Santa Claus has evolved and become the virtual symbol of happy, childlike, innocent fun together with an almost magical sense of giving, receiving, and spreading goodness throughout the entire year. It is the kind of existence that is painted by our First Reading today: “Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.”
Without drifting needlessly into cynicism, let us state that St. Nicholas is still alive and well in the hearts of those who love Christmas and who never forget the true source and power of the season, Jesus Christ. If we accept the Lord Jesus into our everyday thinking and acting, then St. Nick is alive THROUGH us because Jesus is alive IN us. In this first week of Advent, waiting and watching for the Birth of Jesus, consider how Christmas both amazes and mystifies our families and friends, especially children. Let us be the miracle people are seeking, the hope they look for, and the true spirit of love and peace that we all need to experience. It is clearly straight from the mind and heart of Christ: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
Leave a comment“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart. “— Santa from the Polar Express
There is a very interesting bit of Christmas trivia that should be part of our collected batch of important points of reference as we move closer and closer to this Christmas and beyond. It has to do with the name of the ever-so-famous little town where our Savior was born: Bethlehem. The actual name in Hebrew sounds more like Betel-lehem, which are two different words basically combined to make the phrase, “House of Bread.” “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples, A feast of rich food …”
“Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied.” This Christmas morsel is quite significant because of the nature of Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life for the world. Christmas can be a time when we can look to experience not only healing but also a moment of nourishment for our tired souls and the remedy for problems we might be experiencing here and now. Do you realize that God wants all of us to be happy? This is one of the deepest, most wonderful goals of the season to make things bright, both internally and externally. Open your heart to accepting this wonderful invitation to receive the Body of Christ and be filled with a divine love that knows no end. This is precisely why Christmas is merry.
Leave a comment“Christ knew that by bread alone you cannot reanimate man. If there were no spiritual life, no ideal of Beauty, man would pine away, die, go mad, kill himself, or give himself to pagan fantasies. And as Christ, the ideal of Beauty in Himself and his Word, he decided it was better to implant the ideal of Beauty in the soul. If it exists in the soul, each would be the brother of everyone else, and then, of course, working for each other, all would also be rich.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
For many adults during this time of waiting and watching, the profound images of Santa and his flying reindeer figure as a larger-than-life episode in warm, comforting, and beautiful Christmas memories. “How does that work?” we might have asked. All we knew was that because of those remarkable creatures, Christmas night was to be a success every year. As we age, many of the childhood props begin to fade, and we are left with the only plausible explanation of why Christmas can and should make us very happy: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”
The great transition into adulthood allows us to keep hold of the wonder and priceless chill of a star-lit sky, hoping that everyone receives what they want and need for Christmas. And isn’t that the core of belief at this time? Let everyone be lifted high to welcome the King of kings and the Lord of lords to bring us a great sense of love and forgiveness, and deep love for those whom the Lord has given to us to love. That would be accomplished not by the light of deer but of other wonderfully inspired messengers and equally important for Christmas: “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.”
We have probably heard it said that God never promised any of us an easy flight, but certainly a safe landing. That is most definitely true. And while we adults watch children all around us appreciate their own childhood again, bills and promises and deadlines all loom as well. But it is Jesus who makes all this understandable and, yes, warm and beautiful and comforting for all of us, kids and big kids alike. That’s why we can believe every word of the Gospel today: “For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Leave a comment“He always knew he was a little different, but he let his light shine regardless of what others said. Be more like Rudolph!” from An Autistic Christmas
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Here in the first week of this great Season of Advent, we are greeted and challenged by this very familiar phrase from the Scriptures, which are recalled during the Sacrifice of the Mass right before the Body and Blood of Christ are to be received. The term “under my roof” refers primarily to the authority that one is called to acknowledge and respect when living or even visiting someone else’s home or abode. At the core of all courtesies known to us is the deference and dignity we show to those whose homes we enter, that is, while we are “under their roof.” What is at issue for us today is that of authority, or in other words, the power to achieve something great. When we enter under the Lord’s roof/kingdom, great things happen.
“And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.’ And at that very hour, his servant was healed.” We have, in fact, witnessed something great happen as the Gospel continues: a miracle! Perhaps we could say that the centurion told Jesus that He did not have to come under his own roof, but rather, the centurion had to submit, believe, and trust by living in the Kingdom, virtually, under God’s roof. When each of us lives our lives so completely in trust in the wonderful grace that God provides, with the ultimate assurance that all is well and all will be well, we, too, will have our own miracle, right under our roof. This is a great Advent lesson, learning how to live truly in the Kingdom and still walk in the world. What is really important to me? Who is really important to me? All these very important life questions must be answered if we are to truly enter into the Christmas Mystery.
Leave a comment“God will always give us more than we deserve.” St. Padre Pio
Brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus! We are here again at yet another installment of this adventure we call life, sandwiched between the two memory-seeking holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Although those super-technically astute would not agree, time is about to move faster and faster right about now. This we know from previous experiences of these days that are so filled with grace and opportunities for growth that there could be a time where time itself stands still. This is now the Advent Season, which has its own character and texture, and if we understand it and move forward with it, we not only stand to have an awesome Christmas but also an amazing year and life ahead. What do the Scriptures beckon us to accomplish?
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” Have you ever climbed anything really tall and overwhelming? There are several aspects of such a feat that are also applicable to our reflection. You’ve got to prepare, you must know the terrain, and you must decide that you are going to finish. During this spiritual season of Advent, our whole focus is on preparation, preparing to prepare, as it were. We are getting ready for yet another Christmas, but it cannot be the same old same old. Our hearts must be open to wonderful moments of grace and beauty, and yes, joy as we await these beautiful celebrations.
“Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day.” Have you ever noticed how our lives can be divided into two segments of our 24-hour existence daily? Light and darkness. The Scriptures are clearly referring to good deeds and evil deeds, of which temptations constantly surround our day-to-day living. It appears we are going to have to make choices all day and all night long. It is precisely in these choices where we will find the recipe for deep happiness or disaster. And thank God we will have the Scriptures to guide us through these moments leading up to the great experience of Christmas.
“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Carry on with our eyes wide open and ready for anything. In many ways, Advent is like a dress rehearsal for our last breath before seeing God face-to-face. Just think about the image for just a second. Christmas is the First Coming of Christ. The Second Coming will arrive when our time on this planet is finished. Will we be sad or worried? If we approach Christmas with the joy and love of a child’s heart, then we can hope to face our own death in the same way.
Leave a comment“The problem is solved. Now go and utterly enjoy all remaining days. Not only is it “Always Advent,” but every day can now be Christmas because the one we thought we were just waiting for has come once and for all.” Richard Rohr
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” One of the hardest things we have to learn to do as human beings is waiting and yet it is something that we do each and every day. We wait for the green light, we wait for the toast, we wait for lunch hour, and we wait to go home at the end of a long day. According to Taylor Forbush who is a traffic engineer in Utah, we spend about 5 months of our life waiting in traffic at the red light. That is certainly quite a bit and yet we are called upon to wait for the Lord without becoming drowsy or listless.
Here is the point: Waiting for the Lord is not idle laziness nor is it an abandonment of effort. What it means is that waiting can and should be an active process, that is, we are actively looking forward to hearing and listening and following Jesus and making sure that the normal distractions of this life do not block or confuse that peaceful, active waiting period which we call life. It is also very possible that we must let go of the life we have planned so as to accept the one that He has waiting for us. “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Leave a comment“Vigilance in oneself is very important. Vigilance means to be alert to what happens inside, so you can catch an old, collective habit pattern.” Eckhart Tolle
“In a vision, I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others.” Here, we are treated to Daniel’s vision of four world kingdoms replaced by the Kingdom of God. The four beasts out of the sea prepare for the new kingdom led and ruled by “one like a son of man.” So amidst the clamor and uproar of the background scene, the hope of Jesus is shown through the chaos for all to welcome or fear, depending on the disposition and readiness.
“Jesus told his disciples a parable. ‘Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.'” In the Gospel of today, a different kind of imagery takes shape. This time, it is the fig tree that is quite obvious in its appearance when it is ready to burst out with fruit for those patiently waiting.
So you must see the pattern: amidst the chaos, there are those who patiently wait for fulfillment, and they are not disappointed. It all depends on which chaos you choose and how much patience you can muster. The time to prepare is now. Let us resolve to take stock of our lives and see what is important and what is not. Jesus is coming!
Leave a comment“I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which, now and then, men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these, the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.” W. Somerset Maugham
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a tin can at his feet. He emptied it to see if he had enough to buy some food for dinner. There was a sign next to him which said: I am blind, please help. There were only a few coins in there. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the can. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the can began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon, the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?” The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said, but in a different way.” I wrote: “Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it.”
Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were blessed that they were not blind. Their generosity increased exponentially as their gratitude grew within their hearts.
Our First Reading today gives us this inspiring thought: “Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will!” What we can learn from this passage is the power and crucial place that God’s will has in the life of the Christian. His Will that takes precedence over everything and everyone. Psalm 145 reiterates this for us: “They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works.” With this in mind, we can certainly trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—to be perfect, albeit in a strange, mysterious way. The Portuguese have this wonderful saying, “Deus escreve direito por linhas tortas,” which basically translates as, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” I’ve also heard it expressed like this: “Not everything that looks good at first is actually good, and likewise, not every seemingly bad thing turns out that way.” The Second Reading underscores that rich idea when it assures us, “He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Gospel certainly reminds us that there are still so many ungrateful people in the world that make it very hard for us to fully understand and experience what it means to live freely with God’s amazing grace. God does not need for us to say “thank you.” We do. If we are not grateful, we will stop appreciating all that is around us, and when that happens, we begin a path along the road of total destruction. Maybe it is because, for some people, life has been hard and disappointing. For these, the great mercy and generous heart of God our Father must be sought and found constantly. Terrible, bad, even horribly tragic and disappointing things will happen to us, but that does not mean it’s the end of the world. A close friend of mine used to invest way too much of himself in relationships, and when they went sour, he thought his world was over. It was just the world he built, a delicate and unbalanced universe of wayward feelings and crushing emotions. He says today with confidence, “in the end, it’s all going to be OK; and if it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”
So Today on Thanksgiving:
Be thankful for what you have.
Be creative. Be innovative.
Think differently and positively.
When life gives you 100 reasons to cry,
Show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
The words “gravity,” “grave,” and “gravitas” all come from a basic concept. If you say that someone has gravitas, you mean that you respect them because they seem serious and intelligent with reserved dignity and good taste in behavior and speech, thus they are “heavy,” as in the concept of gravity. They carry a lot of meaning and importance. They mean a tremendous amount to an individual or to a society. We would unreservedly trust their opinion and take their advice without question. This is bad news for King Belshazzar, who threw his legendary feast for all his friends only to be visited, without invitation, by the original and thereafter proverbial “writing on the wall” with some very harsh and bad news: “…you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”
How would you and I then gain weight, gravitas, that is? We know we will be put on some kind of scale when it is all said and done. So how will this work? “By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.” Here are some examples: Keep your promises, especially if it takes more effort than anticipated; never betray a friend’s trust; avoid gossip; remain true to your friends and spouse; return money that you have found without expecting a reward; always know that Jesus is present when making any choices, big or small.
“You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” This is of extreme importance in our walk with God because many times our lives seem out of order, unorganized, and even chaotic. Bad and disappointing things happen, which may tempt us to believe that somehow the Lord has abandoned us, which is precisely why we constantly need to remember what marvels God has done and keeps on accomplishing. How do we translate this into our spiritual lives?
Here are some examples: Keep your promises, especially if it takes more effort than anticipated; never betray a friend’s trust; avoid gossip; remain true to your friends and spouse; return money that you have found without expecting a reward; always know that Jesus is present when making any choices, big or small. These are just a few, and there will certainly be more revealed throughout the day. This is how the Lord would put it: “Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life.”
Leave a commentAfter a quick review of human history, it seems as if there has been a long and protracted preoccupation with the idea of how a person’s life and the world will end. The end of the universe as we know it has been a fascination of all cultures and all peoples for a long time, including the Scriptures today: “The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure.” (Nebuchadnezzar was concerned about his own demise). In the Gospel, the worry about the last days was becoming neurotic: “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!”
Imagine spending a pretty penny on a novel or movie only to be told, as you begin reading and/or watching, how the plot would be resolved and who would die, survive, marry, get arrested, etc. You would probably be thinking: “Spoiler Alert!” Why did you bother spending money on this? That concept works with entertainment venues, but it does not work with regard to our Salvation. Jesus has already set the stage for our triumphant and glorious entry into Heaven, but we must take the necessary steps to get there. So this is what we know about the end of our world: a) it is going to happen, 2) it is going to happen when we least suspect, 3) there is no need for fear, just action: “Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life.”
Leave a comment“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach
There are many of our readers who undoubtedly have heard the phrase, “you are what you eat,” in several venues and circumstances, most likely in nutrition-based conversations. It seems to have its early beginnings in 1826 in a book about physiology, which is better translated as, “tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” Without straying too far from our intent here, let us all agree on this much: what we allow into our lives, physically or spiritually, even emotionally, will have tremendous, even life-changing effects. Daniel must have known that in our First Reading today. “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table and treat your servants according to what you see.” The result there was amazing.
The opposite is also true: what we do NOT allow into our lives also has similar results. Take the poor widow in the Gospel: “…but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” The poor widow lived on a diet of trust and confidence in the Lord for her every need and want. Her selfless act has been sung throughout history, and all because she knew how to live, how to give back, how to depend on God, and how to avoid selfish foods that just make one arrogant and selfish. What’s on your plate?
Leave a comment“The best things in life aren’t things.” Art Buchwald
“King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.” What a marvelous and glorious way to end the Church’s Calendar Year with the Feast of Christ the King! Next Sunday, we begin all over again with the First Sunday of Advent, but for now, let us finish a full year of faith and hopefully much spiritual growth since the last time we were at this “Movable Feast.” Why “movable”? Because in a very mysterious and providential way, we take this moment with us wherever we go, preparing one day to stand, as it were, face-to-face with Jesus when everything is said and done. So my friends, one day it will indeed be our last reflection, our final use of our intellect on this planet, and the final moment to use the time we have been given to discover our purpose in this life and to uncover the courage necessary to meet the challenges we daily face.
“He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” What will they write upon your tombstone or grave marker? How will people remember you? How do you remember the people you have loved and missed and cared for? The Gospel today gives us the most impeccable clue.
“Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”We will be remembered based on all the times we sought and found the face of Jesus in the lives in which we were situated, especially the people we did not always see eye to eye or get along with. When did we ever turn and actually see Christ the King in our midst? Every day we got up from sleep and began our day!
Leave a comment“When your life flashes before your eyes at the end, make sure it’s a good movie you’re watching.” Stewart Stafford
There seems to be a common thread woven throughout all of our lives, especially when it comes to the issue of death. There certainly exists a vast disparity in the experience of one’s own end versus the concluding hours of someone we love and over whom we will certainly grieve. That thread expands from deep isolation to outright anger. Worry is another casualty harbinger. Still others miss the mark completely when confronted with the heaviness of dying and loss, as we saw today in the Gospel: “Now at the resurrection, whose wife will that woman be?” There was Jesus standing right in front of these “learned” people with the very answer to life’s most perplexing question, “Why do we have to die?” and the only intelligent remark offered was hardly astute. This was because the larger picture was not appreciated because of their lack of faith and grave suspicion of Jesus. “Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.”
The truth is simple. Jesus is Lord of life and death. Everything He touches will be completely transformed and even better than we could ever imagine, both here on earth and in Heaven: “They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.” We could certainly learn a tremendous truth here. When we stand in front of Jesus, without the bothers and cares of this world, we simply won’t have any questions, except perhaps, “Do you know who I am?”
Leave a comment“Because I could not stop for Death
He kindly stopped for me.
The Carriage held but just Ourselves
And Immortality.”
Emily Dickinson
“Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” The entire wealth of the Holy Scriptures is replete with celebrations. Sacrifices, parties, and gatherings of all kinds literally strewn the panorama of scenes set before us to highlight the kind of activity that accompanies all the experiences that humanity provides as a result of following the Lord and living in His presence.
Such was the episode when the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus, steps into the Gospel with riveting action: “Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, ‘It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” For this and many other actions and confrontations documented throughout the Gospels, the elite class of religiosity and other power-enthused leaders wanted to put Christ to death but could not find the effective means or vehicle “because all the people were hanging on his words.”
As we near the great and vigilant Season of Advent, this sweet and sour serving of Scripture has all the potential of the world to prepare us for great things ahead. Realizing that well done is always better than well said, let us begin the gargantuan task of bringing both the attractiveness and inspirational nature of the Word of God and fusing it with good and effective deeds every day we are given. In this way, we will begin to understand Heaven as the celestial banquet and live lives of grateful service to one another.
Leave a comment“Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.” Robert Louis Stevenson
Perhaps there are some among us who have come across people in our lives who, as we might say, “just don’t get it.” We should point out quickly, before time and comfort get the better of us, that we are most certainly in that very same category at least a few times in our lives. Why is it that the most profound answers and solutions to life’s most perplexing problems are right in front of us, and we don’t seem to notice? The answer to that may be found in the question that creeps upon us in the daily doses of Scripture which we also have today: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
“As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it.” This apparent spiritual blindness was not just a simple, arbitrary aspect of human nature. It made Jesus cry. “How sad!” we might think, but let us be careful. Am I making Jesus cry right now as well? We would hope not because that would be an even sadder chapter of the fabric of our lives today. How could this be in a time when we want to be open and disposed to all that the Lord wants to give us and bestow upon us on a daily basis? The only explanation is the daily distraction of life that keeps us from thinking and praying about the things that really matter.
Leave a comment“An unexamined life is not worth living, and an unexamined faith is not worth holding.” Ergun Caner
Our First Reading today is one of the most dramatic, heart-breaking scenes in all of Scripture: “Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.” The depth of faith and true integrity of life that existed in the mother of the seven sons is, unfortunately, sparsely witnessed today and is desperately and sorely needed. What is integrity? Some have stated that it is the choice we make when confronted with paths of doing what is convenient or what is right. It is how Jesus lived and died and thus calls us to emulate: “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.”
If the central theme of our Readings today is the integrity of life, then the Gospel makes perfect sense: “I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
“While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately.” The gift and presence of integrity in a person’s life give true and lasting freedom. Why? Because if we live complete and honest lives, we have nothing to fear because we have nothing to hide. Therefore, we are guided by such a strong inner principle that we move toward the right thing to do in every circumstance and every opportunity, because there is no pathetic guilt to stand in the way. Selfish, weak, and dishonest folks lose what little self-respect they have just to get by and be liked. You see, “image” is what we want people to think of us and work hard to maintain; integrity is the real story. It is who we know we are before God.
Leave a commentThere are two very stellar examples of faith and integrity we have today whose names are also very telling: Eleazar, from the Hebrew meaning “my God has helped,” and Zacchaeus, which means “pure.” “This is how (Eleazar) he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.” Zacchaeus so wanted to see Jesus that he climbed a tree to catch a glimpse and so much more. Let’s take a look at the invitation from Christ and the tree-climber’s response:
The Invitation of Jesus: “Zacchaeus (calls by name), come down quickly (there is urgency), for today (now in the present moment) I must stay at your house (upfront and personal).”
The Response of Zacchaeus: “And he came down quickly and received him with joy (fruit of the decision brings deep happiness). When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” (There is always opposition.) But Zacchaeus stood there (he faces the opposition in front of and with Jesus) and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.'” (Action follows commitment)
Both men stood their ground with the Lord in their midst. Both men believed their only long-term (eternal) happiness would depend on one simple decision to follow God. One was at the end of a long life of integrity, and the other was just beginning it. Jesus went home with Zacchaeus, while Eleazar went home to God.
A happy ending, wouldn’t you agree?
Leave a commentSince the dawn of all ages, there has been this remarkable and dramatic contest of strength between light and darkness, clarity and delusion, sight and blindness. These are all eternally wrapped up in our human existence, which by definition means they all have deep, spiritual roots over which our sweet Jesus holds sway. If all this is true, and we all know that it is, then each time we approach the Bible and the treasure lode of wisdom found there, we must address the issue of blindness in our lives and the ongoing resolutions to this plight. The Psalm begins to prepare us for the only solution in sight: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”
For any of us struggling with the day-to-day pull of responsibilities, deadlines, or even seemingly endless worries, the Gospel is relief and a miracle all bound up into one passage of pure magnificence. Let’s take a closer look at this: “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.” Blindness of all sorts creates this mindless inertia and apathy within us which creates an empty life full of taking and no giving. “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.'” Jesus is always speaking to us, and just the slightest whisper from Heaven can make all the difference in the world, to which our only response is to cry out to Him with everything we have in store of our being, to which the Lord promises a response. “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more.” There will be negative and unbelieving voices in our lives trying to move us away from the battle victory we desire in prayer, but we must not stop or give up. “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” And there will be sane and rational people who believe with all their hearts and minds and who continue to encourage and nourish us with their prayers. This is exactly the prayer point where we must be solidly aware of our true needs, trust 100% in the Lord, and then ask boldly with faith: “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God.”
May it be done unto us according to His word.
Leave a comment“Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire.” As we move closer and closer to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time and the great Feast of Christ the King, the official end of the Liturgical Calendar, we will be hearing more and more about the final things, the last days and our fulfillment of the time we have spent here on the earth trying to follow Jesus and find our way with all the Saints, all the Holy Souls and live forever in Heaven with Jesus: “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.” Hopefully, our waiting time should not be something of fear or fright, but rather the kind of anticipation of waiting to see someone that we truly love and miss.
“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Still, the end of anything as wonderful and full as life itself is almost by definition more than a little traumatic. Questions and tears abound, so we are in little need of being convinced to be vigilant. We can always be better and we can always keep asking for forgiveness and forgiving especially members of our own families. “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” It then becomes overwhelmingly apparent that we must live our lives in the present moment, always knowing that this could be our last day. But why so sad? So much more is waiting for us than we can ever imagine! How are we going to die? We are going to die the same way we live, so today is the day we live to the fullest and make each minute count.
Leave a comment“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” St. Pope Paul VI
“Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.” I don’t know about you, but every time I hear someone tell me, “Pay attention!” I tend to stop what I’m doing and take special notice. The judge is being “pestered” by the widow to hear her complaint and do his job. Clearly, the judge is NOT God, and this is no ordinary widow. “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?”
You see, with the proper attentive reading of today’s word of God, we will come to realize that God is the one who “pesters” us to answer and act in this adventure we call life. “Will he be slow to answer them?” God is always poised and ready to answer all of our prayers. “I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”
Talk to God now. He can’t wait to hear from you. “Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders.”
Leave a comment“Many Christians have the mistaken notion that eternal life begins when they die. But that is not biblically accurate. Eternal life begins when we are born again into the Kingdom of God.” David Jeremiah
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” In the Gospel of today, a different kind of imagery takes shape. This time, it is the totally unexpected turn of events that takes everyone by surprise.
“For they indeed have gone astray, perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find him. For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.” So you must see the pattern: amidst the chaos, some patiently wait for fulfillment, and they are not disappointed. It all depends on which chaos you choose and how much patience you can muster. The time to prepare is now. Let us resolve to take stock of our lives and see what is important and what is not. Jesus is coming!
Leave a comment“In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, clutter sides with chaos every time. Anything that you possess that does not add to your life or your happiness eventually becomes a burden.” John Robbins
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson went on a camping trip. After sharing a good meal and a bottle of fine French wine, they retire to their tent for the night. At about 3 AM, Holmes nudges Watson and asks, “Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?” Watson said, “I see millions of stars.” Holmes asks, “And, what does that tell you?” Watson replies, “Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, it tells me that it’s about 3 AM. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Holmes?” Holmes retorts, “Someone stole our tent.“
“For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.” Perhaps the most disturbing hurdles Christians face in following the Lord are distractions. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the most expected places to the most surprising. The issue here is how to spot the obvious signs and wonders which Jesus places right in front of our eyes.
When one follows another, the journey cannot be lonely because at least two are involved. What is required of all of us is not being brilliant or clever or even knowledgeable. What is needed is faithfulness and courage. The disciple of Jesus sets out for the land of absolute freedom when following the Lord into his destiny as the most awesome and divine Hero. “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.” Jesus lets us all know that it may not be so obvious that it is hidden. Just take a few minutes to fathom how wonderful life is while He is in the world. Then, look at the stars and tell Him what you see.
Leave a commentAt the core of being fed daily by the Word of God, we have once again been reminded of the terrible affliction that spanned both the Old and New Testaments, that of leprosy. If we were to look upon this frightful and dehumanizing disease that attacks the skin and bones, it becomes an excellent metaphor for the lack of faith and vain trust in the self and its effects on the soul. One horrible aftermath of leprosy was the exclusion of the sufferer from the rest of the community. They became outcasts and wholly rejected. So, too with the seeds of sin and death that undermine a true and loving attachment to the Lord: we become outsiders to life and seemingly never able to be part of the community again. This is where the touch of Christ means everything. He wants us close to Him; He desires our reunion with the Church and the community of believers. He truly wants us closer to Him than we are to ourselves. We must die to pride so we can live again. “Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.”
“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Perhaps there is no other depiction from anywhere in the Bible that illustrates and highlights the depth of ingratitude. The sick, horribly-looking lepers came to Jesus with desperate longing and need; he cured them all, and nine never came back to give thanks. So often, once a person gets what he or she wants, they never come back. What a painful experience to be on the receiving end of such selfish, egotistical behavior. Have you ever wondered what causes that?
The current level of detachment in our society could be a clue. We seem to be facing reality through a screen of some sort: i phones, lap tops, i pads, computers, television, etc., all train us to take an almost inhuman step away from reality so as not to become too immersed in any real internal and integrated approach to life, you know, the way Jesus approached everyone in the Scriptures and how he deals with you and me right here, right now.
We can take our cue from the one leper who did, in fact, come back to give thanks to Jesus. He knew what had happened to him. He knew what his healing meant for the rest of his life. He truly knew who healed him. Can you imagine what kind of life he lived after that? Jesus gave us the answer: “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
Let us consider some ways to learn how to be grateful:
*Take your focus off of yourself and consider the people God has placed around you (we need each other)
*Count your blessings from God (you will be amazed)
*Accept your emotional state: Feel-Deal-Heal
*Welcome time alone as precious for growth with Jesus, who did the same
*Avoid comparing your life to others: you never really know what goes on behind the smiles
*Shake the Green Monsters: envy and jealousy (open wounds of insecurity)
*Fight the desire to isolate and seclude yourself from others (wounds just fester)
*Avoid negative voices and situations (misery loves company)
“Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love.” Although it may be debatable, it is clear enough to say that each of us begins our day with both reasonable and unreasonable expectations. We can reasonably expect that the day will have the same amount of hours, there will most likely be enough ups and downs to keep it interesting, and one way or another, it will have an end. Unreasonable or unrealistic expectations, however, sometimes seem to find their way into the fabric of lives and usually involve the behavior of other people. We might, for example, expect another person to change their ways or at least to help us make our day better. This, as we know, is a recipe for deep disappointment.
“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'” There can be no disappointment when we look at the expectations we can expect from our Lord. He has made us out of love with every ounce of good intention and deep hope that exists in the universe. Therefore, not only can we expect the goodness placed deep within our souls to surface with practice and determination, but we can also expect great help from God to be good and stay that way until He comes again. This means we trust Him with every fiber of our being.
Leave a comment“Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable, and confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple, joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions or expectations of man.” Joyce Meyer
“It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” The Gospel, per usual, does not mince words today. Temptation is hard enough for each of us to encounter as we search for better ways to follow the Lord Jesus, which makes a strong case that we certainly do not need any help from our friends or from anyone else, for that matter! However, by extension, think of all the good you can do for one another, especially in our daily routines and casual conversations. We can actually help each other get to heaven!
“Because God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart and the listener to his tongue.” Clearly, as always when reading the Scriptures, we are presented with an awesome choice to go forward: either we help or hurt. Every relationship can be viewed in this light as well. Is this helping me move closer to heaven or not? This is why wisdom from the Holy Spirit is so critical and pivotal. Life is good. It is better with Jesus in it.
Leave a comment“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is… A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.” C. S. Lewis
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome/History and Background: Each diocese has a cathedral. The cathedral church in Rome is St. John Lateran. When Emperor Constantine officially recognized Christianity, he made generous gifts to the church, one of which was a palace and grounds formerly belonging to the Laterani family. In 324, he added a large church on the grounds. Later, a baptistery was added and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. In subsequent years, the entire edifice became known as St. John of the Lateran Basilica. It is our oldest church. Despite many fires, earthquakes, and wars, it has survived, thereby becoming a symbol of the endurability of Christianity. The observance of this feast connects our local church with the Church of Rome, which is the center of our unity. The dedication of any church recalls the heavenly Jerusalem that all church buildings symbolize.
The Apostles are the pillars of the Church, and Christ has given them the spiritual authority to teach and guide, which the Chair, cathedra, symbolizes in every cathedral. All this is seen within this magnificent structure. The people are the Church, the living Body of Christ with many members: that much is clear, but that concept or expression of unlocking the mystery of the Church is not exclusive. We are also a “Sacramental” people who have enlisted art and architecture, literature and music to embody and describe tangibly, that is, to the touch and all the senses, what great mystery we not only celebrate but also actually see. The church building is not just a tent or skin in which the People of God gather, but in and of itself is of great symbolic and sacramental importance. This is why we celebrate the Feast of the dedication of that first structure in Rome, from which all the many millions of structures have been built and dedicated since then.
The Church building is meant to be the Temple. The First Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel describes that. The Psalms, too, were actually composed to be chanted and sung as people made their way to the Temple for worship. Today, just as in the Temple of the Old Testament, there are areas that are set apart in Catholic Churches where we find the Tabernacle, where the Body and Blood of Jesus are conserved, as the “Holy of Holies,” the living presence of God. This is why we bow and genuflect upon entering this space. It also explains why many make the Sign of the Cross when passing by the Church from the outside. We also have altars predominantly and immediately seen in a foremost position. You see, the church building itself is not just a gathering place or hall. So why is there an altar? Because there is a sacrifice to be conducted. And those sacrifices are offered by priests. So you have the same Temple structure that clearly exhibits the elements that were first established in the First, or Old Covenant. The Church, in addition to being a structure that helps gather people, also reflects the mystery of the People as well: Tabernacle, altar, priests, and sacrifice. So when the temple/church building is rightly ordered, then water will be “flowing out” for the renewal of the world. (First Reading)
The Church building is to symbolize the New Jerusalem. In Revelation, the vision describes a magnificent new heavenly city coming down to earth to be complete and restore all humanity with God at the end of time. Thus, in addition to a gathering space, Church buildings should attempt to draw us into another world, a heavenly experience like the jeweled walls of the New Jerusalem, with sparkling and vivid colors that are filled with signs and symbols of heavenly realities. We see figures of Angels and Saints everywhere in the Church because they are citizens of Heaven, the New Jerusalem, and we join with them in singing praises to God:
This great company of witnesses spurs us on to victory,
to share their prize of everlasting glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With angels and archangels
and the whole company of saints
We sing our unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord…,
The Church building is meant to signal Noah’s Ark. Since the early installments of Church History, the ark has been seen as a symbolic type of the Church. In the same way that Noah and his family were spared the destruction of both the spiritual and physical world around them, so too are we safe and saved in the Church, the boat, as it were, atop the waters of Baptism. This is an ongoing occurrence in every age throughout the centuries, and the Church is the ongoing, continual, and steady “rescue mission for humanity” (Bishop Robert Barron). When we gather for Mass, we remain close together, huddled for the Eucharist, and waiting for “floodwaters” to recede and then go out to the world to begin again.
“The Church is like Noah’s ark that was full of both clean and unclean animals. It must have had an unholy smell, and yet it was carrying eight persons to salvation. The world today is tearing up the photographs of a good society, a good family, a happy, individual personal life. But the Church is keeping the negatives. And when the moment comes when the world wants a reprint, we will have them.” —Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
It is also very interesting to go back to the Scriptures and examine the orders that God gave Noah to build what is most likely the most popular boat in human history found in Genesis, 6:19: “This is how you shall build it: the length of the ark will be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.” For St. Augustine and other early Church Fathers, these dimensions of the construction plan for the ark suggest a human body, specifically, the body of Christ: “For even its very dimensions, in length, breadth, and height, represent the human body in which He (Jesus) came, as it had been foretold. For the length of the human body, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, is six times its breadth from side to side, and ten times its depth or thickness, measuring from back to front.” The City of God, Book 15
The Church building is meant to symbolize the Mystical Body of Christ. It’s really amazing, when you stop and think about it, so much of both the human and spiritual dimensions of our lives actually happen inside the Church building itself. New life is always being announced with the smell and sound of babies at Baptism, children sing and serve Mass, teenagers are confirmed, marriages are celebrated, and yes, when the circle of life is completed, there we are again, at the Church where it all spiritually began, tearfully saying goodbye and “until we meet again.” It is more than a theater stage or a meeting hall. It is Life.
From life’s start to finish and all the wonderful episodes in between, being Church and in the Church building comprises the place and time in which we hear and experience what some have speculated are three basic sentences that summarize all of Christianity: Please, Thank You, and I’m Sorry. And just like the Temple, in both the earthly and heavenly Jerusalem, where there is a convergence of costly, precious, and holy stones, so too, the Mystical Body is made up of living stones — the people who are transformed by Grace, the Word of God, and the Food of the Eucharist day after day, age after age. We become that NEW TEMPLE.
Leave a comment“The Church is the Body of Christ, and as such, it is both heavenly and earthly. The Church is the communion of saints, and it includes as members both angels and shepherds – cherubim and seraphim, and you, and me.” Scott Hahn
“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.” Conflict is certainly part of life, but an excessive amount is never good for the soul. This is exactly why Jesus warns us and tries to prevent any of us from falling into divided loyalties. The pull and lure of this world with all its empty promises can create a severe split in our lives that spells certain trouble, not to mention a chaotic and frenetic lifestyle trying to please everyone, living a two-faced lie, and secretly maintaining a hidden life that costs much more than it is ever worth.
Perhaps some of our readers and followers find themselves at a point in their spiritual lives where they know they want to grow deeper and with more integrity, but there is a weakness in the human condition, and often we can clearly commiserate with St. Paul, who longs to do the right thing but also experiences the pull of selfishness. This is where this great Biblical writer, who has penned the majority of the New Testament, is so brilliant. “Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Clearly, when we accept our humanity and the people we truly are, we will see the great need we have for the Lord Jesus. Nothing and no one else will ever satisfy.
Leave a comment“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” Abraham Lincoln
“What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your Stewardship because you can no longer be my steward.” God gives us resources such as finances and time, talents such as culinary skills or musical ability, and spiritual gifts such as encouragement or teaching. We should ask God for wisdom on how to use those resources and commit ourselves to expend them according to His will so that He may be glorified. This is simply responsible stewardship.
“I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.” We have been given much, and God desires us to use what He has given to further His Kingdom and proclaim His glory. It’s what we were created to do. We are living sacrifices, giving the things God has given us in service to others, and in that, we actually find life. Be thankful for what you have. How can we nurture and develop these talents? Based on the clever and wily steward in the Gospel, let’s take another, more noble route and consider the following: 1. Be creative. 2. Be innovative. 3. Think differently and positively. 4. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. 5. Face your past without regret. 6. Handle your present with confidence. 7. Prepare for the future without fear. “Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”
Leave a comment“In whatever way you can do so, according to the talents and gifts God has given you, you are to be salt, and light, and whatever part of the Body of Christ you were made to be. You need to tell us what’s going on with you so the rest of the Body (of which you are a part) can work together with you.” Chris Manion
Amen.
“Brothers and sisters: None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.” Some might agree with the assertion that a relationship is like a job. You have to work hard to get in it, and you have to work even harder to stay in it. Whether or not that aligns with your own experiences with friends and family, one thing is for sure. Love does require work, and some days are easier than others. Today, the Scriptures seem to underscore that perception. “Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.” We could even go a little further: the depth and quality of our human relationships have much in common and directly correspond with our relationship with God and He with us.
“In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” We all know how it feels when something is going wrong in a friendship, relationship, or even with a close relative. Nobody is happy, and nobody wins. The days look grim and dark. But imagine how wonderful it feels when we make amends, ask forgiveness, and restore things back to an even better level of love and respect. “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep”, and “Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.” That’s right, rejoice, we have our friend back. Peace has been restored. It is beautiful. And it all comes from the Lord to whom we are called. Let us respond to that today: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.”
Leave a comment“Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) was the penultimate metaphor of people trying to reach heaven without the assistance of God. That is precisely why they were thrown into a huge and overwhelming state of confusion where no one could understand each other. That scene prepared us for Pentecost and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which endow us with the potential to understand everyone in their spheres of life because of the presence of Love in their lives. Thus, the reference can be made to the twoer that someone starts to build but cannot finish.
“In the same way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” 10K troops vs. 20K troops? Is this a battle hard to call? The answer is absolutely “no,” but this passage is not about military exercises. It is about the impending confrontation that each of us has with death. Will we be ready? It is time for “peace terms.” Thus, the Gospel of today gives to all of us the specifics of those terms. Before the final call, you and I must be sufficiently detached from this world, but at the same time attached to living in the world, walking in the light of truth. How is that done?
Love.
Leave a commentToday, we have the conclusion of the three-part, truth-laden, event-filled description of one powerful dinner attended by Jesus and many other characters that make up Chapter 14 of St. Luke’s Gospel. You may recall that recently, parts one and two were presented: the first involved the man afflicted and cured of dropsy, and the second was about people scrambling for the best seats at the table, partly because of honor and partly because they would be served first. Part three is about excuses and why we make them.
Time for Vocabulary: Concupiscence. This term can refer to any intense form of human desire. It comes down to anything that impels us to act or make a choice that is against the use of our reason and rational abilities. Concupiscence was born out of the Original Sin of disobedience and induces us to commit sins. St. John describes three kinds of this craving:
1 John 2:16: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, (1) sensual lust, (2) enticement for the eyes, and (3) a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticements are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” (numbering mine)
Now, let’s return to the dinner in the Gospel: “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many…”Here is the image of the banquet again, clearly pointing to the great invitation to live in the Kingdom of God here on earth to live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. That man who prepares the feast and invites many is Jesus, who came to save the lost in Israel and all of humanity. (“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” –John 20:21) Jesus sent His Apostles to call and invite, but many did not accept: “he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come…’ but one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.”
Take a look at the excuses that are presented in light of the new word we learned today, Concupiscence: “I have purchased a field and must go to examine it.” (3) a pretentious life; “I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them.” (2) enticement for the eyes; “I have just married a woman” (1) sensual lust.
Please keep in mind that all these things are good in and of themselves, but remember that these are the “excuses” that are given that are being held up as more important than accepting the invitation of Christ to each of us: “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.” The sixth Commandment addresses our need for a pure heart “to see God,” while the ninth describes the struggle with carnal desires, and the last Commandment about greed and the preoccupation over possessions.
Given a talent by God is tantamount to being invited to dine with Him in the Kingdom. The First Reading helps focus our attention on how to live day by day using all that He has given us not only to discover His will for us, but how to love, and live and build up the Body of Christ: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”
LIFE BEGINS ONCE JESUS BECOMES THE REASON YOU LIVE IT.
Leave a comment“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Today’s Gospel passage has an amazing amount of richness for each of us. Consider the following very poignant details nudged within a few short phrases:
When: This refers to the right time to be good. When opportunities and blessings are obvious
Hold a banquet: This is your life, and how you conduct it.
Invite: These are those you love, take care of, pray for, and help.
Inability to repay: This begs the question as to our motivation for life. Why do we do anything? To get something back?
Resurrection: This is the promise to all the Faithful. There will be an entirely new chapter of our lives, and we are writing it right now.
Righteous: These are those who understood the power of love and forgiveness, the wealth of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and could not ever wait to share that. We could call this the “Great Company” in eternity.
So when do you want your reward? Now or Later?
Leave a commentToday, as many of us already know, is also referred to as the Day of the Dead, and although that may seem remarkably somber and even morbid, it is the truth. Life is good, but it certainly has a beginning and an end with great filler in between, and today we are called to reflect on the weighty and sobering aspects of its conclusion. The Scripture Readings for today may, in fact, sound familiar to some because they are the same, in part, as many of the Funeral selections, and they are meant to give witness to the mystery of life and death, so we may go forward in faith and love. Let’s take a look at a few gems:
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” We are made timely aware of the truth of things as we experience them, that is, even in death, we are with the Lord who loves and comforts us, especially in our moments of sorrow. “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” No matter where our lives take us, the one constant is change, which includes the dark day of death, but the constant presence is Jesus, who never abandons those He loves. “If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” What a remarkable statement that is being made here! Death is actually something we share with Jesus, and because of that, we also share in His victory over death and all the contraptions that accompany our experience of it, especially grief and dark isolation. “And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Perhaps the most poignant and pertinent of all the passages comes to us from the Gospel today. We have been given the opportunity to reach out to Christ in each other every day we have been alive. It is as if we have been either depositing or withdrawing from a spiritual bank account filled with love, kindness, and generosity. When the bank closes for good, we spend eternity based on the final reckoning. Be hopeful and generous today and pray for those who have died with those you love, knowing full well that they, one they, will be praying for you.
Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – ’tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ Heads
Were toward Eternity –
Emily Dickinson
Leave a commentThe set of Scriptures we have today is simply breathtaking and inspiring on the Feast of All Saints and critically necessary for us who are trying to “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) in the Lord Jesus without losing hope in the face of all the challenges we face.
Let’s start with the First Reading, which is taken from the last book of the Bible, Revelation. I can’t think of another sacred book more controversial than this one; also known as the “Apocalypse.” This fascinating and mysterious text, ever since it was written, has been the topic of countless theories, teachings, movements, books, commentaries, and, more recently, films and multimedia television series, episodes, and documentaries. Unfortunately, most of them have strayed from the Theological and Scriptural meaning of the intent of the Apostle John and have clearly done much more harm than good. Because of these wild theories, it seems as if every 10 years or so, people have been trying to predict the end of the world every time a certain number lines up in a particular order or because of the discovery of some ingenious mathematical equation that spells horrible and imminent destruction. Remember the Year 2000 scare? Or do you recall the December 21, 2012, prediction based on some data from an ancient calendar chiseled on some huge stone that would run out of days on that date? People, just get a new rock!
G. K. Chesterton was so right when he wrote, “Though St. John saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as his own commentators.” St. John is clearly speaking to all Christians, all over the world, and all over time. “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” His great and marvelous vision for us, however, was also shaped by the immense suffering inflicted upon the early Church by the great persecutions of the Roman Empire. The Apostle himself was exiled to the island of Patmos, from where he actually wrote the book of Revelation. It was that same political and military power that was complicit in the death of Jesus, who many thought would be the kind of leader that would overthrow these invaders and give His people power beyond all imagining. But the real force and strength bestowed on all who would follow the Lord in every age is that, “Beloved, we are God’s children now.” And even though “what we shall be has not yet been revealed,” it most certainly will be revealed in the glorious Resurrection of those who die believing in Christ. “They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.”
This is all beautifully brought together with the proclamation of St. Matthew’s Gospel. As God’s children now and joyfully anticipating our own resurrection, we reasonably ask, “What do we do and how do we act?” Just as Moses in the Old Testament came down the mountain with the Law in the form of the Ten Commandments, Jesus walked up the mountain and fulfilled what the great Law-giver started and mapped out the way to survive “the time of great distress” for each and every one of us. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, the meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted and insulted. The Beatitudes create the blueprint for living a beautiful, Christian life. These eight blessings are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching and respond to the natural desire that we all have for true and lasting happiness. This is how we become saints! “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors to Christ! Do not be afraid to become the saints of the new millennium! ~Saint John Paul the Great. The Beatitudes also proclaim the blessings and rewards that have already been secured for those who love Jesus. Just imagine, there’s a place in Heaven for you, and it has your name on it. So once again, happy Feast Day, everyone.
Leave a comment“If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire.” Saint Catherine of Siena
Let’s begin today with St. Luke’s description of a casual but remarkably significant dinner gathering on the Sabbath somewhere in Jerusalem. On that invitation list are Jesus, a leader of the Pharisees, presumably more members of that group, lots of onlookers and curiosity-seekers, and a man suffering and then healed from dropsy. It is the only recorded instance of the healing of this particular disease by the Lord in the New Testament. Dropsy (ύδρωψ), derived from “hudor,” the Greek word for water, is essentially an abnormal swelling of fluids in different parts of the body, mainly the abdomen, and is known today as edema. As we look around the room, there is certainly a clear parallel being drawn between the Pharisees inflicted with a spiritual disease and the man suffering from dropsy, a physical disease.
Here is another interesting detail that supports the parallel in the text: “In front of him, a man was suffering from dropsy.” Why doesn’t it say “in front of them?” The room was apparently crowded, so this detail is critical to unlocking the deeper meaning. It says only him because Jesus was alone in seeing right before him what the others in the same room could, or would not see in themselves. Jesus could see the dropsy, the swelling of water and fluids in the body, the physical sickness of the suffering man, and, he was keenly aware of the spiritual dropsy of the Pharisees: “a drunkard’s thirst, a glutton’s hunger, water (like the swelling bodily fluid) that was on fire,” referring to their self-righteous hypocrisy that increases rather than quenches the spiritual thirst of the soul.* You see, the Pharisees added burdens for the people to follow because they used religion as a cover to do whatever they wanted. Rules, regulations, and commandments are all good guides and clear posts to follow the Lord, but if one’s heart is full of pride and sin without love, grace, mercy, and freedom, it is then full of disease, empty of virtue, overflowing with evil, and completely devoid of wisdom.
And here is the underlying application for our spiritual lives: we know the Pharisees are the real diseased folks in that room because they did not recognize Jesus, even as He was standing there right in front of them, ready to recline among all of them to eat. Imagine further, the moment when the man with all the swelling was suddenly healed: it must have been an astounding sight. And all they had to say was that he shouldn’t have been healed on the Sabbath? I’m sure the man with dropsy was sure glad he was!
One thing is for certain in this Christian life we are trying to follow: we will face rejection, endure conflict, and either be harshly judged or even be the one who is judging. And through it all, we pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that wants to recognize the face of Jesus as often as possible.
Leave a commentEvery so often, we are blessed to have the words of our very first Reading offered to us today as we consider where our lives are going in this ever-changing world. “Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us?” What does that mean, and what are we to learn from these powerful messages of the Bible today? Here are a few clear and accessible clues:
We are strongly urged to make sure our speech is not embarrassing or obscene: We are likewise challenged to harbor no hatred or animosity toward anyone even to those whom we believe, along with the opinion of others, has merited justification for our personal hatred. And perhaps the most telling of all, live a life of integrity and avoid hypocrisy at every juncture: “But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Imagine just one day of your life when all these are in place! How about one week? One year? One life?
Leave a comment“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Today, we are served with one of those excellent morsels that deserve to be placed in the mind’s library, suited for memorization if at all possible. It is one of those deep and lasting promises that are comforting just at the right moments of our lives when things get away from us and leave us sighing in the dust. St. Paul assures us that no matter what happens all around us, everything will find a solution and turn out in ways that we could never have imagined. There is, however, a slight stipulation to all this: what we are about must be accompanied by our love for God and the most sincere desire to follow Him and listen carefully to His will for our lives. We must treat each other as the Lord asks us to act as children of the same Father/Master.
“For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” The one great constant in the universe is change. There can truly be an ongoing debate over this. Just recall the events of life in the last 24 hours. Get ready for change because here it comes! And part of the nature of that change is that it is seldom what we expected. I guess that is what makes life interesting, intriguing at best. However, as believers, we view these shifts in the folds of reality as ways that God’s plan for us is revealed, not always easy, but always leading us to Heaven, where our final destination lies. This is why so many are not comfortable with death, because they are not comfortable with change, and vice versa. But somehow, someway, even without our understanding it, things always work out because that is the kind of God we have.
Leave a comment“I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about?” Henry Ford
“Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.” This Feast of the Apostles, Sts. Simon and Jude is indeed a great day to reflect upon the intrinsic and deep relationship between what it means to have good, close, and encouraging friends, the freedom it takes to maintain those friendships, and the faith in Jesus that makes us friends with Him. Review once again what Jesus accomplished throughout the New Testament: The depth of love in his heart for friendship gushed over into the way he dealt with his enemies: with total and complete mercy. In many ways, you can tell how great a friend will be to the extent that he or she can forgive and show compassion. This is certainly true with everyone the Lord ever met, especially Judas, Peter, and Thomas.
This element is underscored in the Gospel of today: Jesus knew that one of the friends/apostles He would choose would eventually betray Him, and still, in perfect freedom, he asked Him to follow Him, that is, be His friend any way: “When the day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them, he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” The application for us today is simply stunning. In order for love to grow within any relationship, there must be faith in the One who is love and the only One who will sustain that love until eternity, and especially for the grace both to forgive and show mercy. What is also remarkable is that love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion never leave us empty-handed or return with nothing. It is a classic “win-win” situation:
Leave a comment“And friends are friends forever/If the Lord’s the Lord of them/And friends are friends forever/If the Lord’s the Lord of them/And a friend will not say never/’Cause the welcome will not end/Though it’s hard to let you go/In the Father’s hands we know/That a lifetime’s not too long/To live as friends.” Michael W. Smith
Have you ever noticed how differently we address other people in our lives and how that sometimes differs dramatically from the way others call them? Let me give you an example. Let’s say your little daughter calls you Mommy. That’s all she knows. But then, an old friend of yours comes to the house to see you and calls you “Linda,” well, because that is your name. Now you wouldn’t expect your daughter to call you “Linda,” and you certainly wouldn’t want your friend to call you “Mommy,” either.
It all depends on the relationship.
That is why in the Letter to the Romans, a very similar distinction is also made. If you are a slave, you call your God, “Master.” But if you are adopted, you call your God, “Abba.” That is a beautiful name because it just doesn’t mean “Father,” but rather it is so much more intimate and endearing. It’s really like calling our God, “Daddy,” or “Pops,” or something close to that.
It all depends on the relationship.
In the Gospel today, a woman who had been seriously crippled for a very long time, hence the 18-year time frame, comes before Jesus. She desperately wanted healing, which would explain why she was in the synagogue, and everyone knew her poor, almost pathetic condition. Jesus sees her, calls out to her, and addresses her as “Woman.” Perhaps in some circles of society and among some cultural differences, this may seem odd. But remember this address is how God called out to Eve in the Old Testament, and to Mary in the New Testament, obviously linking the two in Salvation History (Eve, Mother of all living, and Mary, Mother of the Church.) So this was a loving relationship that the Lord wanted to exhibit and in turn, straightened her life out, literally. Can you imagine the reaction from the people when they saw her stand up and praise God? It must have been beautiful and awe-inspiring. Right?
Well, not for everyone.
Enter the leader of the synagogue, the “official” religious person. He seems pretty upset at the whole scene, even though this woman can actually walk upright and not hurt anymore. No, that was apparently not the most important item to notice today. This remarkable healing had taken place on the Sabbath when no work was to be done. Really? Do you call this work? It’s more like a miracle, a sign of God’s great love and mercy, especially for this bent-over woman, and by spiritual application, for each one of us.
So how do we respond to our “official” Well, to say the least, it wasn’t pretty. Hypocrites!…when he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated.” That’s what happens when you don’t see how incredibly God is working in your life or in the lives of others. It is the expected consequence when we hide behind the Law and miss the Law-giver in our midst. The people who got it rejoiced; the one who didn’t was humiliated.
It all depends on the relationship.
Leave a comment“The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.” Last year at a Christmas dinner, a very proud and loving father sat next to his future daughter-in-law, who was sitting across from her future husband, the man’s amazing son. After dessert and before presenting her with his Christmas gift, he turned to her and gently said, “All I want for you to remember today is that I have been praying for you even before I met you. That means I have been loving you without knowing you all this time.” What he did for her and his son, and by extension, all of us, is to give a poignant example of pure love that extends all the way into Heaven. It means that trust and love and responsibility go hand in hand with developing a powerful and lasting relationship with God and with all who believe that love is the answer to the question of how we arrive in Heaven forever: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”
In the Gospel passage, however, we saw the supreme ugliness of hypocrisy even being practiced in a holy place: “The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.”
The result was disastrous. No faith, no miracles, no healing, and no justification for the proud Pharisee. The lesson seems clear enough: when we overstep our own relationship with the Lord, either by trying to “play God” or reduce faith by arrogant grabs for wisdom and insight, nobody wins. Thank God we have a God who loves us and is always ready to forgive. As we continue our Sabbath experience and begin a new week, let us pray for faith that is built on trust in the One who never stopped loving us, even while we were in the womb.
You’d never know. There are people who pray for you without your presence and without your knowledge. Perhaps those prayers save you many times in your life. You’d never know. Stay humble.
Leave a comment“For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” You can always tell a whole lot about a person or, for that matter, a group of people by listening to the conversation. In some cases, the high price of gossip seems to take center stage at any given time, and if we are not careful, there we are, too, enveloped in a miasma of treacherous talk that does no good for any of us. We are then painfully reminded that the people who gossip with you will indeed, at a much later and convenient time, gossip about you. This is because, as the Scriptures of the day clearly remind us, we encounter two diversely different kinds of people each and every day. Those who live in the flesh and those who live in the spirit. What are we to do?
The solution is simple but not simplistic: it is simple in its formation but high on the charts in terms of operation and achievement. We must die to ourselves daily throughout the day, really finding every opportunity to dig deeper and find the ways to true holiness and sacrifice so that we might follow Jesus in every situation, especially the difficult ones. In this way, we may find the joy of living the Christian faith in good times and in bad, in and out of season. “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.”
Whether it is the parking space that someone “stole” from you or the lack of recognition for a job well done, take every opportunity, whether unseen or appreciated by those in authority over you, to simply find that time and space to grow your faith and bear fruit. It is truly amazing! Open the possibilities for yourself this very day! You will be very happy you did.
Leave a comment“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” C. S. Lewis
“The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” Throughout the long breadth of human experience, there has been this deep-seated tension in each of one us pulling at us between wanting to do the right thing and falling into temptation. It is as if there are two groups of people pulling on a rope with us in the middle, trying to get moving in one direction or another. On “good” days, we would say, our better intentions and better selves win. But then on those days when we were weak or angry or hurt, our petty emotions got in the way, then things went south. And this is how it goes, well, until the end of eternity.
“I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” But this is not pessimistic in the least. This inner spiritual struggle is what makes us who we are. We get up every single morning to face what it is out here with the ability that God has given us and to give it our very best shot. We already know what we have to do. Start the day by forgiving, loving, and practicing patience. And in all those situations that need extra faith, extra care, extra patience, we remember the greatest tension on earth and remember that the reward is worth it all.
Leave a comment“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.” David Allen
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” What is behind the use of setting the world aflame by Jesus in the Gospel today? Keep in mind that the Bible is to be seen as a complete unity, the Old preparing for the New, the New ratifying the Old. When the Lord uses the image of fire, then it is advantageous for us to go deeper into the meaning and purpose, and background of certain words and phrases to truly grasp all the spiritual wealth that is waiting for us, ripe for the picking. Here are but a few:
Exodus 3, the Burning Bush: God is truly present, “you are standing on Holy Ground.”
Ezekiel 1, a cloud of fire: God’s glory is magnificent.
2 Kings 1, fire from Heaven wiped out 50 soldiers: Power over life & death.
Matthew 25, Eternal fire is a destination for devil and demons: Hell is real & horrible.
Acts 2, tongues of fire descend on the 12: The Holy Spirit “enflames” the Church.
Revelation 21, a lake of fire and sulfur awaits the faithless: a second death.
From this small sampling of fire images from the Scriptures, we can safely determine that Jesus clearly wants to purify and cleanse all of humanity, instill a reverent and holy fear in us (awesome approach to God), and establish His Kingdom where there will be both judgment and serious consequences to our responses, both here and now and much later.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of His Reign over us and remembering the dire consequences of the refusal to love, there will be division starting in one’s own family, household, and beyond: when the word ‘family’ is used in the Bible, it usually means either the clan or the extended family group, and could very easily include as many as two hundred people or as few as fifteen. Thus, Jesus is describing the essence of a true disciple as one who loves God above all else and is willing to forsake all for Him. He insists that His disciples give him loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse or relatives or circle of friends.
Leave a comment“Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you get neither.” C.S. Lewis
What we have today could make the supreme difference in our day at this very moment. This is but a small slice of the awesome power of the Word of God: “But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.” What did slaves and thieves have in common in Roman Antiquity? They were both branded on the forehead with a mark, called a stigma, and thereby said to have been “engraved” like a coin or a medal. Both types of individuals were certainly known to the culture of the time when today’s Scriptures were written (Romans around 56-58 AD and Luke’s Gospel between 80-100 AD). They also shared common punishments: lashes and beatings, forced to carry a piece of wood around their necks, and, in some cases, crucifixion. Of course, these are the same afflictions endured by Jesus as an integral part of the Paschal Mystery by which we are justified, redeemed, and saved for a great future in Heaven.
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” These specific references can help us realize several things about living the Christian Life, being a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ: We have been marked in this life and claimed for someone or something. Our choice now is to determine for whom by how we live. As Christians today, we can expect to be punished as was Our Savior, in the court of popularity, greed, hatred, and the godless. Remaining faithful to the end, which comes secretly or unexpectedly and without being seen, “like a thief in the night,” we are promised to take our place with the Lamb who has been slain and led to the “springs of life-giving water.” (Rev 7:17) Because the Victory is so great and the reward eternal, to those whom much is given, much is expected.
Leave a comment“Every person is endowed with God-given abilities, and we must cultivate every ounce of talent we have in order to maintain our pinnacle position in the world.” Dr. Ben Carson
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.” Over 30 years ago, there was a ship off the coast of Massachusetts that was reported lost at sea. There were a reported 45 men on board, most of whom were residents of a small fishing town near Plymouth. For the first week, wives, children, and family members set up make-shift camps along the seashore to wait and watch for any signs of recovery. After 10 days, some of those grew tired and even discouraged and began to make their way back to their homes, still leaving a smaller remnant of those who would stay vigilant. Finally, on the 15th day of their disappearance, the vessel sailed back into the harbor, all aboard hungry and tired, but certainly safe and alive. It was said that one of the men looked sad as he disembarked. He just shrugged and walked his way to his little cottage to the surprise of his wife and children. But he still looked upset. “What’s wrong, dear?” asked his wife. “Why weren’t you out there with the other families on the shore when we arrived?” he responded. “We were waiting for you, honey,” came his wife’s explanation.
“But you weren’t watching…”
“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” Do you think that’s splitting hairs? Maybe. However, the slight difference in the words can be of dramatic importance when we apply them to waiting for the Lord. Waiting seems to be passive, as if I can have many other priorities or concerns, because, after all, “When He comes, He comes, right?” Watching implies vigilance, continued hope, and deep resolve. Watching is active, ongoing, and, yes, life-changing. Let’s be sure. Whether you and I are waiting or watching, it will be the same Lord. But, how will we be different?
God is worth waiting for; His time is always best. Watching for Him makes our hearts ready and open and joyful to meet Him at any given moment, and that makes a difference in how we live.
Leave a comment“I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something… It’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.” Joyce Meyer
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Several famous people have been quoted as saying that too many people today know the price of everything and the value of nothing. These people would be classified as cynics. The idea that anyone in the “real world” should even consider ethical, moral, philosophical, or cultural values to be on a par with financial or economic ‘value’ appears whimsical, sentimental, even romantic. Hard-nosed, sensible, rational, practical people know otherwise. It’s all about money, “they” say…But is it really? The words of the Gospel make it very clear to us that God will have the first and last word. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
The spiritually dead are all around us. They may look alive and have plenty of possessions, even looks and money, but this does not ensure life, especially eternal life. It is precisely the “age of this world” that promotes the misguided philosophy that you are what you have. We do not belong to things. We do not essentially consist of material realities because, in the end, all we will have could never be measured, touched, or counted. Our soul is what is of supreme value.
Greed makes us servants of possessions. We could easily remember this by the quote that “we can’t be possessed by our possessions.” Yet it happens all around us precisely because people have already decided which God they will serve. Greed makes the false and empty promise that things and possessions can save and bring us to eternal happiness and peace. The best way to avoid all this is to pray in thanksgiving to the One who gives us everything we have. If we keep remembering that all I have comes from God, then I cannot and will not forget how wonderfully generous my God is to me.
Leave a comment“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” Socrates
Before moving forward on these beautiful Sunday and Sabbath experiences, let us take a look at the mention of the widow in the Bible: 56 times in the Old Testament and 26 in the New. Not just a casual passing reference, wouldn’t you say? With these many occurrences, clearly something beautiful is going on, and we need to examine this if we are to gain spiritual benefits from these powerful Readings from Holy Scripture. In the Old Testament, the common words associated with the mention of widows were: weeping, mourning, desolation, poverty, and indebtedness. They were especially vulnerable because they were absolutely dependent on everyone and thus had known both the joy of love and the anguish of loss more than any other member of society. And because of this particular life experience, widows probably reflected the image of God much more significantly than others.
In the New Testament, widows were prominent such as Anna, the long-time widowed temple attendant who was uniquely privileged to greet the infant Messiah; A widow who received the miraculous gift of seeing her son healed by Jesus because of His deep and warm compassion for her; Today, there is the remarkable persistence from a widow who keeps demanding justice from a corrupt judge and the great meaning and value of persistence in prayer with our Loving God. “While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me, I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.”
This life is it. There will be no “second-chance,” or “let me try this again until I get it right.” Instead, it appears that before our final, earthly, and physical death, there is an urgency for us to face a spiritual dying to oneself, to empty oneself of attachments and obsessions, and to recall the example and image of the widow who clearly provided a lifetime example: “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Spiritual poverty begins with depending on God completely, letting go of the non-important pettiness we encounter, and contributing to the core of our livelihood, which is the deep desire to follow the Lord Jesus. This takes us to the border between life and death, where there are no guarantees – only hope, where there are no answers – only faith, and where there is no security – only love. This is where the poor widow lives. This is where God lives. And they live in union as one. In the face of the poor widow – the face of spiritual poverty – Jesus sees and recognizes Himself—and we see Him.
So my dear friends, what are we to do as we bathe in the grace of these powerful proclamations from Scripture? First, practice the faith. Of course, the spiritual life is a struggle, but within that grind, we find ourselves and our road to holiness. Second, be generous in the things of God and pray for the spirit of detachment. The widow lived this remarkable spirit and even though in monetary terms, her offering didn’t amount to much, her intention and her heart certainly did, as she was poised for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. Finally, reject discouragement and dedicate your speech to encouragement: “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile, Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”
Leave a comment“Difficult and meaningful will always bring more satisfaction than easy and meaningless.” Maxime Lagace
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” Everyone has a mission in life. Everyone spends their life searching for that mission, and when one finds it, they hang on for dear life. Others never discover it and live out their days in less than quiet desperation. This is what we can gather from the readings today. The Lord has fashioned us and sent us forward into this world for a definite purpose, and that purpose has everything to do with bearing fruit that will last. That means eternal fruit.
“But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” This directive is never easy. There will always be those around us who will fight and attempt to destroy the harvest. The First Reading assures each and every one of us that He will be there to strengthen and guide, and yet, even to protect us from the plotting of those who would pull up the wheat instead of the weeds.
“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” We are all called to respond to this great invitation. Every day, but especially on today’s Feast of St. Luke, it presents itself with a new opportunity to spread the Gospel and the message of love and forgiveness that is contained right there all the time.
“Don’t wait for a feeling or love in order to share Christ with a stranger. You already love your heavenly Father, and you know that this stranger is created by Him, but separated from Him, so take those first steps because you love God. It is not primarily out of compassion for humanity that we share our faith or pray for the lost; it is, first of all, love for God.” John Piper
Saint Luke the Evangelist, Pray for us!
Leave a comment“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.” We can and should say often that the life we have been given, the Christian way toward Heaven, is definitely a work in progress. In some circles, this is called justification. Justification describes the transition from the original state in which we were born into this world (sinfulness) to the state of grace and adoption through Jesus Christ, our Savior (holiness). It is a process. It is something that begins when we first become a Christian, which continues in our life, and which will be completed when we stand before God at the end of our life and on the last day.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” And since it is a process, there are certain powerful consequences: First, no one that we meet today will be at the same point at the same time in this process. Second: It can be lost. Third: It can be found again when a believer returns to the faith; and Fourth: It’s probably not a good idea to criticize or judge others based on these previous three points. You see, when it is all said and done, and we all stand before God for the Last Review, EVERYTHING will be out in the open: “Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.” What is crystal-clear is that God loves us more than anything He has created and can’t wait to get us all Home again. See you there!
Leave a comment“Learn to dance, so when you get to Heaven, the Angels know what to do with you.” St. Augustine
“Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you stopped those trying to enter.” There is a strange occurrence in this journey we call life that happens, not to all, but to some, and for those individuals, it is an experience that is hardly forgettable. It involves the selfish, tireless attempt on the part of the spiritually immature, especially those with a little authority, to keep from others what they themselves cannot or will not have. This is what explains, in part, those who seem to make it their life’s work to make other people miserable, especially if they have any perceived power over them. They reason, quite insanely and ineffectively, that if they can not be happy, then no one will be happy. Pathetic. This explains in part why the Pharisees were the virtual enemies of the Lord and, by the matter of extension, of the whole of Christianity, and that is because when one finds the ultimate happiness in one’s relationship with Jesus, the only other response is to share and include as many people in that friendship as possible. The Pharisees and scribes were sort of gnostics who thought they alone had all the precious knowledge necessary for happiness. Wrong again.
“For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.” Unfortunately for us on this great road, the Pharisees still sashay among us with equally morally squalid and foul attitudes of arrogance and condescending acts. But even more fortunately for us, Jesus remains in the world for us to find our way to Heaven with a fullness of mercy and compassion which in turn, is ours to share with each other. Find Jesus and share Jesus. This is the core of evangelization and a very happy way of life.
Leave a comment“No matter what has happened to you in the past or what is going on in your life right now, it has no power to keep you from having an amazingly good future if you will walk by faith in God. God loves you! He wants you to live with victory over sin so you can possess His promises for your life today!” Joyce Meyer
“Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” So how does Jesus respond to our “old friends” today? Well, to say the least, it wasn’t pretty. Why the harshness of the reaction? That’s what happens when we don’t see how incredibly God is working in our lives or in the lives of others. It is the expected consequence when we hide behind the Law and miss the Law-giver in our midst. The people who understand this always rejoice, but the ones who judge and criticize and try to “fix” everyone else except themselves are almost always humiliated. It all depends on the quality of the relationship we have with the Lord Jesus. This is what is meant by this powerful image of walking over someone’s grave, unknowingly. You think you are in the right, but obviously, someone else is being disrespected.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” Today, let us first give thanks that Our Lord loves us so much that we are constantly being exposed to the truth in our lives, ugly at times, but always liberating. Second, let us ask again for the courage to see Jesus in others as we look for Him in our own souls. This is definitely the recipe for true happiness.
Leave a comment“Sometimes, you will go through awful trials in your life, and then a miracle happens–God heals you. Don’t be disheartened when the people you love don’t see things like you do. There will be Pharisees in your life that will laugh it off, deny that it happened, or will mock your experience based on righteousness they think you don’t possess. God won’t deny you a spiritual experience because you are not a spiritual leader. He loves everyone equal. The only people that really matter in life are the people that can “see” your heart and rejoice with you.” Shannon L. Alder
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” There are many among us who swear by the deep, internal cleansing and detoxifying process whereby the poisons and noxious substances are purged from the bloodstream. And while this is neither the time or place to have an intelligent conversation about these purported benefits, it is safe to say that there is a deep and beneficial connection to our spiritual lives. Using another medical analogy, sin and selfishness can creep into our lives like plaque upon our gum lines. Following the Lord and being completely honest with ourselves is like floss, which seeks to go deep and eradicate the hidden filth that seems to accumulate without our realizing it. The Alleluia Verse today also opens the heart to listen carefully in prayer to the promptings and inspiration from the Scriptures: “The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart .”
“Oh, you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” Another crucial part of a spiritual life filled with integrity is humility and honesty. Many have to come to understand that we are only as sick as our secrets, which basically means that a secret which is kept in the dark usually grows and festers and ultimately destroys a person. The good news is that once it is exposed to light and released, all its ugly power is gone. This is real, long-lasting, and sustainable freedom. Unfortunately, there are people who are proud and refuse to admit that there are issues and areas that are in need of a spiritual detox in order to clear and eradicate this lack of self-knowledge. Tragically, this leads to a growing negativity and self-loathing while keeping them sick and trapped in sinful behavior. The awesome truth about life is this: we are sick and we need Jesus. Once we accept this fact, invite Him into our lives -in every aspect- the battle is more than half-won as he revealed so beautifully: “Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?”
Leave a comment“The spiritual freedom we seek cannot be found by grasping at, retreating to, or protecting our perceived safe spaces. Our freedom lies in remaining open continuously, not only to Life’s changes but also to the Divine Light within us and others. This is our choice. Although often perceived as a weakness, being open and surrendering to the experience of the present moment is our greatest strength. By authentically living Life in the Now, we submit to Divine guidance where we find the freedom to see everything equally and sacred in Truth.” Peter Santos
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” What a powerful image we have been given today as we begin a brand new day in walking with the Lord Jesus! To be so attuned to the voice of Christ and to be so drawn and driven in listening to it, no matter what the cost, is the goal of all who want to find their way to Heaven with the great and powerfully loving assistance of the Good Shepherd. However, this search must not become one of superstition and doubt: “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.” There is no website, Twitter account, or Facebook page that accomplishes the value and depth of speaking and listening directly with the Lord in prayer, strengthened by our daily dose of the Scriptures and Eucharistic nourishment. Let us decide today to make the time and listen intensely to our Master’s voice. He is always ready to start a conversation.
Leave a comment“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” Roy T. Bennett
“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Perhaps there is no other depiction from anywhere in the Bible which illustrates and highlights the depth of ingratitude. The sick, horribly-looking lepers came to Jesus with desperate longing and need; he cured them all, and nine never came back to give thanks. So often, once a person gets what he or she wants, they never come back. What a painful experience to be on the receiving end of such selfish, egotistical behavior. Have you ever wondered what causes that? “His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.”
The current level of detachment in our society could be a clue. We seem to be facing reality through a screen of some sort: i phones, laptops, i pads, computers, television, etc., all train us to take an almost inhuman step away from reality so as not to become too immersed with any real internal and integrated approach to life, you know, the way Jesus approached everyone in the Scriptures and how he deals with you and me right here, right now.
We can take our cue from the one leper who did in fact come back to give thanks to Jesus. He knew what had happened to him. He knew what his healing meant for the rest of his life. He truly knew who healed him. Can you imagine what kind of life he lived after that? Jesus gave us the answer: “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
Let us consider some ways to learn how to be grateful:
*Take your focus off of yourself and consider the people God has placed around you (we need each other)
*Count your blessings from God (you will be amazed)
*Accept your emotional state: Feel-Deal-Heal
*Welcome time alone as precious for growth with Jesus, who did the same
*Avoid comparing your life to others: you never really know what goes on behind the smiles
*Shake the Green Monsters: envy and jealousy (open wounds of insecurity)
*Fight the desire to isolate and seclude yourself from others (wounds just fester)
*Avoid negative voices and situations (misery loves company)
“But if we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”
Leave a comment“Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Although our Gospel passage today is quite small, it packs a punch! It should not amaze any of our readers how many times people use words and have no intention of following through with promises or even do anything more than offer empty compliments that go nowhere. This clearly is not of God or the ideal or natural approach to the great gift of speech and communication that we have been given. The situation in our Gospel of today reminds us, among other things, that actions speak louder than words. Think of the people in your life that you can truly count on whenever necessary.
“Then shall you know that I, the LORD, am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain; Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall pass through her no more.” The selection we have from the Prophet Joel gives us an even more powerful incentive to practice integrity of speech and action. When we give our word, when we make promises, and we extend our trust in the commitments we make, we have the opportunity to confirm who we really are in this world: we belong to Christ!
Leave a comment“People of integrity and honesty not only practice what they preach, they are what they preach.” David A. Bednar
“When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: ‘By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” This encounter that was presented to us today in the Gospel truly relays to us the sense of viciousness and ferocity of the climate into which Jesus Christ (and our King) began His ministry. What we have here is an excellent example of character assassination in the Bible. Jesus addressed the issue in a very beautiful and Messianic way. He confronted evil by the sheer power of his own truth and love and invited those present and us this very day to enter a deeper reflection on the mystery of His Kingdom and the invitation to live there for all eternity.
“Gird yourselves and weep, O priests! Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God!” You see, when individuals are not aware of the evil within their very heart and personality, they project it onto others whom they believe to be the very existence of evil in their own twisted and malformed perspectives. Because the scribes were blind, they were trapped and looked completely foolish and pathetic. We often despise in others what we despise in our own lives. Make sure Jesus lives and moves and breathes in yours.
Leave a comment“Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.” St. Thomas Aquinas
“Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively.” One of the greatest truths and comforting aspects of our journey with the Lord Jesus is that we have been assured time and time again that God listens to all of our prayers all of the time with all the intensity of divine love and immense care for each and every one of us. This is why today we must re-commit and renew our efforts to pray. Prayer is the life of the new heart (CCC 2697). Christians throughout the centuries have maintained three main expressions of prayer: Vocal, Meditation, and Contemplation. Together, they make a phenomenal path to peace and holiness, not to mention sanity:
Vocal: We are body and spirit, so it is important to express our spiritual feelings outwardly [we speak]. Meditation: The mind searches to understand what God is saying [we think, imagine, desire, and feel]. Contemplation: “We are alone with the One who loves us.” [God speaks, we listen and experience]
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” The one who asks through vocal prayer receives; the one who seeks through meditation finds; and the one who knocks at the door of contemplation can change the world one soul at a time.
Leave a comment“A beginner must look on himself as one setting out to make a garden for his Lord’s pleasure, on most unfruitful soil which abounds in weeds. His Majesty roots up the weeds and will put in good plants instead. Let us reckon that this is already done when the soul decides to practice prayer and has begun to do so.” Saint Teresa of Avila
As we prepare for yet another wonderful installment of grace and direction, we are served with the timeless and excellent anthem for our spiritual journey in the words of the Lord’s Prayer, known to most of the world as the “Our Father” prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it brilliantly as it teaches that The Lord’s Prayer is truly the summary of the whole gospel. Since the Lord . . . after handing over the practice of prayer, said elsewhere, ‘Ask and you will receive,’ and since everyone has petitions which are peculiar to his circumstances, the regular and appropriate prayer [the Lord’s Prayer] is said first, as the foundation of further desires. (2761)
“Our Father who art in heaven,” We acknowledge we are His children.
“hallowed be thy name” We acknowledge the power in His name.
“thy Kingdom come.” We acknowledge and desire His Kingdom.
“thy will be done” We desire to follow God.
“on earth as it is in heaven.” We realize there is this life and the next.
“Give us this day our daily bread,” We ask for all of our needs.
“and forgive us our trespasses,” We beg forgiveness.
“as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We pledge forgiveness.
“and lead us not into temptation,” We ask for courage and strength.
“but deliver us from evil.” We ask for protection from the devil.
Sometime today, even late this evening when all is said and done, reflect slowly on the words of this incredible gift of a prayer and allow the Lord Jesus to hold you safe within his most Sacred Heart.
Leave a comment“When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” One thing is very clear and actually demanded from the one who hears the call of discipleship to follow Jesus and wishes to answer it: it will always involve a leap of faith, an extra helping of courage, and a sometimes small, sometimes monumental act of faith. Such was the case of Jonah which we heard in our First Reading after he was first charged to warn and issue an apocalyptic message to the Ninevites: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” This was no easy task, and neither was the awesome, even unexpected outcome: They changed their ways, trusted God through the words of Jonah, and were saved.
In front of this all-encompassing mercy of God that marvels as well as redeems, we can understand and agree with the Psalmist who is so insistent with the only recourse we have when we have made that tumultuous leap of complete trust: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD, LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.”
The benefits of this leap of faith are then made crystal clear and even more desirable in the Gospel today. The scene there is similar to the many experiences that we have had when something happens to us, which we believe is simply not fair. This is certainly true today in the Gospel with the two famous sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha begins with Jesus suggesting that somehow all of the present tasks and responsibilities have fallen in her lap, while Mary gets a pass. However, in what might be seen as a surprise response, Jesus invites her to be ready to make that leap of faith and trust with all her heart and mind as to the outcome. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is a need for only one thing.”
Perhaps we could agree with a statement that was posted in a church lobby some years ago: “When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully because two things will happen. Either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly.”
Leave a commentIn an obvious, sincere, and hopeful attempt to avoid any sadness for us as we move forward in this new month, the Scriptures provide us with an even better reason to continue to work toward a generous, giving heart and a life dedicated to the mercy of our loving Father. And this is wonderfully found in such delightful and poignant details that are found wedged gently within the phrases of the parable that Christ presents to us in the Gospel: That is important when we ask Who is the Good Samaritan? To answer that, let’s look at the story: “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.” The words, a man, in Hebrew, is the same for humanity. That changes things, doesn’t it? So if the story is about humanity that has been jumped by the evil one, then it is Jesus who is the only One who can help, seeing how the Old Priesthood (the unhelpful cleric) and the Old Law (the Levite) cannot help by themselves. So He approaches the victim, coming down as He did from Heaven in Bethlehem (Christmas), pours wine and oil in the wound (Sacramental Life) lifts the wounded, lifts him upon His own animal (becomes Human through the Incarnation), takes him to an inn (The Church), leaves two coins, (Scripture and Tradition) and then utters those immortal words by promising that He’ll take care of everything “on my way back” (The End of the World, or Apocalypse). So in a phrase, what does this all mean? The Psalm gives us the words for the prayer that will lead us to lasting joy: “In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness: in your great mercy turn toward me.”
Jesus gifted us with the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Look around everyone at work, school, and in your immediate and not-so-immediate circle of friends and family. There they are. Those who are near to you (nigh) are your neighbors. Be the Good Samaritan to them. Be Jesus!
Leave a comment“The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.” Mr. Fred Rogers.
“The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.” This morning, we have been served a most excellent meal of wisdom and insight that cannot be wasted. The morsel of truth and clarity is buried, as it were, like a pearl among the refuse of shell and sand waiting for us to discover its most precious beauty. Enlightenment that is true and sustainable does not come at the hands of sorcery, pills, or clandestine self-help puzzles but by suffering and self-emptying of selfishness and ego-driven lives. We know this to be true because Jesus lived in this very same way producing not only our salvation but the very path upon which we would find hope and serenity for the days and years to come, however more we may have left. “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.”
The Gospel of today also provides for us a time-honored image for the Kingdom for which we need this clarity and insight: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” This ever-popular Gospel passage should also enthuse those cooking aficionados among our readers. Is anyone aware of the various uses of mustard, other than being spread on hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches? The following may send you searching through the internet to secure the validity of these claims. It has been used as a mild burn relief; a cosmetic face mask for skin rejuvenation; relief for sore muscles and sore throats; and the removal of the toxic and awful odor of the shrewd skunk in case you find yourself ever-too-close and sprayed with mayhem. Living in the Kingdom means relief from the scorching rays of a hostile world and facing it with renewed vigor and the glow of the Spirit. It means relief from the wear and tear on our bodies as we desperately travel the moral roads through unknown lands while bravely clearing our throats to preach the Gospel, in season and out. It also means throwing off the stench of sinfulness and accepting the sweetness of forgiveness freely and mercifully offered in confession. Accept all the wonderful promises Jesus has made to you and those you love and ask for the courage to walk in light and carry your faith to all aspects of your life. We follow a crucified Lord and Savior who found His way out of the grave to set us free from all the other elements of death and sadness that are placed in it. May today’s reflection put a smile on your face and help you keep going. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
Leave a comment“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.” John Piper
Every year for about nine months or so, children of all ages return to the classroom at their prospective schools. Every morning, the ritual of preparation and departure is being formed and lived out, only to serve as a lifelong format for these soon-to-be adults trekking out into the real world of hard knocks and challenges. How did you prepare for school? How do you prepare for life? The First Reading has a very wonderful insight into this question for us. “Fear not, my children; call out to God! He who brought this upon you will remember you.”
When you think about it, the way we start, spend our days are nothing more than dress rehearsals for the very life we are offering to God. How we prepare has everything to do with how we end. What were the instructions of Jesus? “Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.” Not the advice you were looking for, was it? However, pull back the covers and the levels of thought within this passage, and what do you find?
Basically, Jesus tells us all that no matter what you put in your suitcase for the journey or even what you forget, you must surely remember to trust Him with everything and for every circumstance and eventuality that you will face. In a word, make sure you take Jesus along for the trip. You will be very glad you did, especially as you enter the final stage of your journey.
Leave a comment“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” So how does Jesus respond to those living in these New Testament lake towns who should have known better and acted differently? Well, to say the least, it wasn’t pretty. Why the harshness of reaction? That’s what happens when we won’t see how incredibly God is working in our life or in the lives of others. It is the expected consequence when we hide behind the Law and miss the Law-giver in our midst. The people who understand this always rejoice, but the ones who judge and criticize and try to “fix” everyone else except themselves are almost always humiliated. It all depends on the quality of the relationship we have with the Lord Jesus.
Today, let us first give thanks that Our Lord loves us so much that we are constantly being exposed to the truth in our lives, ugly at times, but always liberating. Second, let us ask again for the courage to see Jesus in others as we look for Him in our own souls. This is definitely the recipe for true happiness.
Leave a comment“Sometimes, you will go through awful trials in your life, and then a miracle happens–God heals you. Don’t be disheartened when the people you love don’t see things as you do. There will be Pharisees in your life that will laugh it off, deny that it happened, or will mock your experience based on righteousness they think you don’t possess. God won’t deny you a spiritual experience because you are not a spiritual leader. He loves everyone equally. The only people that really matter in life are the people that can “see” your heart and rejoice with you.” Shannon L. Alder
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” Do you want to be the greatest at anything? I can only imagine that in this highly competitive yet entitlement-minded society, people are either trying to get ahead or just exist and coast. Both are extreme ways of living. Some would call this “all-or-nothing” thinking, which has traditionally led many down a dark and lonely path. You see, Jesus changes all that: “Do you want to be great?“ He asks. And before answering, Our Lord places right in front of all the readers of the Gospel throughout the centuries, a child. An innocent, loving, trusting child cries when he or she is angry or has acted selfishly.
Trust the Lord, He loves you! And if you need a little more help, guess what? It will be there: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Did you catch that? Every child has their own personal angel constantly in touch with the Father. You and I were all once children, so we still have them. This is precisely what the Scripture says and what the Church teaches today on the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Name you, angel. Take a deep breath and move forward. Trust Jesus. Now, that’s great.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this night/day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Leave a commentKnowing how much God loves us, especially in sending us His Only Begotten Son, it must be quite clear that Jesus has that same desire: spiritual intimacy. “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Maybe there are some of our readers who want to cry out, “Lord, I am here for you. Rest with me!” Perhaps the message here is that we avoid being distracted by anything else while we are on the course of loving, knowing, and serving God. It may sound rude for Jesus to tell us that we should not bury our dead or departed loved ones, or we should not bid our family and friends goodbye when embarking on a journey. But the salient message here is, do not give other people or things more preference over God.
Why do you think we stumble and fall at times? What nervous and erroneous mental distractions come between us and true happiness? What excuses do we offer? It will inevitably come down to whether or not we are people who pray. Some have assembled the main reasons why we do not pray: We think we do not have the time, or that it is important, and or that we think it makes no difference. All these excuses are beyond silly; they are not even true. Today, let us be fed with the wisdom of the Scriptures and make and find the time to pray. The rewards are literally out of this world.
Leave a comment“Intimacy with God is the way to true fulfillment. How do you keep the Enemy from sitting at your table? You keep your eyes on Christ.” Louie Giglio
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Human nature is truly a mystery. It is clear that very often, good people who inspire others to find greatness in themselves often elicit pettiness and crass remarks from others who either do not have the courage to change or are just too lazy to lift a finger to help inspire anyone else, including family members. Clearly, the daily choice has to be made: #TeamGod or #TeamEvil?
“On the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.” And as if we needed any more examples of this ongoing and unfolding drama in this life, the Gospel has presented us with an amazing case in point. Imagine you miss an opportunity to meet Jesus in person because you don’t like the people He also loves and needs to love. The result for these people was not good, and it is still not a great situation for those who still let their prejudices and hatred get in the way of their way to Heaven. Be sure you prepare a heartfelt welcome for Jesus today. Turning your back on Him is clearly disastrous.
Leave a comment“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
“War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.” (First Reading) “In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.” (Responsorial Psalm) “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Gospel)
In the great scheme of things in which God has created everything that is and ever will be, we have Angels. Their name comes from the word that means “messenger.” Since that is true, we can safely assume three very important elements about the Angels and Archangels:
1. There is a Sender of the message
2. There is a recipient of the message, and, finally, and perhaps most importantly
3. There is a message
Today, as we commemorate the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, there may be many things around you that you simply do not or cannot understand. Perhaps you may feel that God has been quiet for an unbearable amount of time. Today’s Feast calls us not only to celebrate the great mystery that is ours and comprises a very personal and wondrous gift, but also to call out to the realm of Angels, clearly led by the great Saint Michael. Be open to receiving grace and help. If it’s at all possible, see if you can find some quiet time. Then Listen. You and I have got more than just mail: we have a powerful message!
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
Thrust into hell, Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Leave a comment“Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!” The pages of all the Scriptures literally shout out with warnings and desperate pleas concerning neglect for the poor and hungry in our world. This seems also to be a theme that has never been applied to just one culture or time period but for all of humanity in every age. The words of the Prophet Amos are as fierce as they are clear about the pride and selfishness that produce this kind of woeful abandonment of the most vulnerable around us: “Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.”
The Gospel today makes even a stronger case for realizing our responsibilities for the poor and neglected in this world and the serious consequences that await those who live very selfishly and even hatefully while they walk the earth with the many blessings abounding. “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime, while Lazarus likewise received what was bad.” The rich man in our passage literally had to walk over Lazarus who was literally covered with sores and longed to eat scraps that fell from the opulent table of the palace in front of which he was begging. This is a powerful lesson for each and every one of us. Let us all carefully look around our lives to make sure we are not “walking over” people who need us. Negligence is a terrible thing that brings much worse than sores and scraps for those who remain blind.
Leave a comment“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” St. Augustine
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.” There once was this criminal who had been accused of a crime and sentenced. He was sent to the king for his punishment. The king told him he had a choice of two punishments. He could be hung by a rope or take what’s behind the big, dark, scary, iron door. The criminal quickly decided on the rope. As the noose was being slipped on him, he turned to the king and asked. “By the way, out of curiosity, what’s behind that door?” The king laughed and said, “You know, it’s funny, I offer everyone the same choice, and nearly everyone picks the rope.” “So,“ said the criminal, “Tell me. What’s behind the door? I mean, obviously, I won’t tell anyone,“ he said, pointing to the noose around his neck. The king paused, then answered, “Freedom, but it seems most people are so afraid of the unknown that they immediately take the rope.”
“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.“ As we conclude yet another day, month, and year of our lives, our thoughts and attention will draw ever closer to the gifts awaiting us in the days we still have left here on earth. Today, without worry or anxiety, let us examine the place and power of fear in our lives and adopt the childlike trust and faith in our loving God:
I read once that people really do not fear the unknown; rather, they fear what they think they know about the unknown. That always made sense to me: Fear is truly useless. It has stalled great decisions and prevented great people from rising above the wickedness and pettiness around them. Do you remember how much damage was inflicted when people allowed fear to decide their future? Religious leaders plotted and conspired to murder; healed people turned on their Healer; strong Apostles (for the most part) fled, denied, and betrayed their Master. However, now, the scenes have changed: the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus has allowed once fearful people to change their thinking and readjust their life paths. The words of the Alleluia Verse have become the lyrics of a new song in the hearts of those who believe: “Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.”
Leave a comment“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” Nhat Hanh
“Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the LORD of hosts; And in this place I will give you peace, says the LORD of hosts!” This passage from the Prophet Haggai reinforces the claim that there is an overall, far-reaching providential care that always accompanies our walk in this life and that by trusting this assertion, we can be assured of great peace and the seeds of a happy and fulfilled life. No longer can we ask with the air of disappointment and despair, “why do all these things happen to me?” By trusting in the heavenly care God has for us and the ultimate sacrifice paid by His Son, Jesus, we do not ask, “Why me?” but rather, “What now?!”
“But who do you say that I am?” This larger-than-life question that yields magnificent results is found in only one and basically rudimentary position. Who we think Jesus is surpasses any philosophy or self-help mantra in existence. Once we realize who He is, we will come to find the most wonderful peace and happiness ever imagined because we will have discovered why He came. He came for me!
Leave a comment“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Leo Tolstoy
“And he kept trying to see him.” The ravaged conscience of Herod the Madman was apparently no match for the bright celestial light emanating from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You see, the insane and inane king thought he had calmed his evil heart by beheading John the Baptist, but that was not going to happen. “John, I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” This is why it is of tantamount importance to remain in the state of grace and always in deep spiritual and prayerful communication with the Lord. We must be persistent in this way because eventually, our own hearts will not rest until they rest with Jesus.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!” The First Reading substantiates this thought and direction by reminding us that all things will pass, and the vain and proud things we attempted to accomplish will amount to nothing in the greater scheme of things. What we need today and every day we are allowed to breathe is wisdom. Persistence and trust in God during the course of our spiritual lives will yield eternal benefits and help form us into true, loving people. We must never give up or surrender. The prize is too great and awesome: “For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory.”
Leave a comment“The art of love is largely the art of persistence.” Albert Ellis
“Thus he has given us new life to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins, and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.” It is important to remember that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah played an important role in encouraging the Jewish people and their leaders to return to their homeland and rebuild the Jerusalem Temple following the Babylonian Exile. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are also key literary sources on the Restoration of the Jewish religious community. What our First Reading underscores is both quite simple and beautiful: The ultimate depth of any of our prayers must slowly and surely reach the ultimate surrender of everything to the One who made us out of pure love. This sentiment is captured throughout the Psalm of today and is echoed brilliantly and with great comfort throughout the Gospels. The rain must fall, but with dawn comes rejoicing because of the very One who died for us.
“Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.” And how do we know all this is true? Jesus lived it and won for us the crown of victory, which is custom-shaped to each one of us depending on our own situations and life settings. We also have countless examples of Saints like St. Vincent de Paul, who lifted up the poor and hungry and sought to educate the clergy. Suffering will always be with us, which means that we must always seek to understand the deep misery of despair, unite those sufferings to Jesus, and thus reach the other side of glory. Consider this from St. Teresa of Calcutta on the occasion of her first visit to the United States:
I suppose that some of you are feeling that you would have to buy a plane ticket and travel to India if you were to give effective help to the poor. There is no need. The poor are right here in your own country… In developed nations like yours, there is an abundance of food. But there is often a famine of the heart due to a lack of love. The victims of this famine of love are the new poor. And who are these poor people? They are the people sitting next to you.
Look around you today. There are others who are hurting. Together we are going to win this. Jesus promised.
Leave a commentAre You My Mother? is the story about a hatchling bird. His mother, thinking her egg will stay in her nest where she left it, leaves her egg alone and flies off to find food. The baby bird then hatches and does not understand where his mother is, so he goes to look for her. As he lacks the ability to fly, he walks, and in his search, he asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow if they are his mother, but none of them are. This quaint and well-known children’s story helps us remember the nearly same kind of question hurled at Jesus in the Gospel today. People thought that since the Virgin Mary and other close family members were asking for Him, that Jesus would respond immediately; however, His response was nearly puzzling on first impressions: “He said to them in reply, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.'” We could repeat with the cute story the same question in an entirely different and mesmerizing context: “God, are you my mother, my brothers, sisters, family?” The answer, however, is as mystifying as it is clarifying: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” You see, it is not the family tree replete with flesh and blood nuances and connections that brings us closer to God, but our fidelity to what He says and following what He does.
“I rejoiced because they said to me, ‘We will go up to the house of the LORD.’ And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.” All of us want family, and we seek security in one way or another. We need intimacy to discover our place in the world and make a healthy connection with others, especially with God. What is the foundation of such levels of relationship? Fidelity and obedience. We feel and exist closer to the Lord the more we follow Him and live in the light of His love, starting with our desire and success to forgive even the deepest of pains in this life, especially betrayal. Interestingly enough, the way the little short story ends and the way our own lives will find their conclusion are very similar. In the children’s book, the little bird dramatically returns to its nest just as its mother returns. The two are reunited, much to their delight, and the baby bird recounts to his mother the adventures he had looking for her. Imagine your own homecoming to Jesus in Heaven and all the stories you’ll share as you spent a lifetime looking for Him, too.
“Of course, God does not consider you hopeless. If He did, He would not be moving you to seek Him (and He obviously is). What is going on with you at present is simply the beginning of the treatment. Continue seeking with cheerful seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.” C. S. Lewis
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“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.” With age, I hope I can see the world much more clearly. There are a good number of people that I love and cherish dearly, and while there are a good many others that have seemingly dropped out of my life, there is a definite pattern that has emerged that deepens respect and admiration for all the people who have populated my life. I have loved them because they have shown me Jesus. Their ways of handling death, disappointment, fun, friends, and family have all slowly formed a clear picture of character that is unmistakably the mark of one who truly loves God. Imagine how the crowd in today’s Gospel must have felt when they heard that they must live their lives in the light of truth before the world! What goes through your mind? “Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.”
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Today, no matter what you have to face or confront or carry, keep those words of Christ alive in your heart. Perhaps you could ask yourself, “Who do people see in me?” If we can honestly say that others have seen or heard the Lord in something we said or did, then we can sleep calmly and without fear.
Leave a comment“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” St. Francis of Assisi
“What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your Stewardship because you can no longer be my steward.” God gives us resources such as finances and time, talents such as culinary skills or musical ability, and spiritual gifts such as encouragement or teaching. We should ask God for wisdom on how to use those resources and commit ourselves to expanding them according to His will so that He may be glorified. This is simply responsible stewardship. There is also a definite divine disdain for anyone who would use or defraud the poor and anyone over whom they have influence: “The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!”
“It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.” We have been given much, and God desires us to use what He has given to further His Kingdom and proclaim His glory. It’s what we were created to do. We are living sacrifices, giving the things God has given us in service to others, and in that, we actually find life. Be thankful for what you have. How can we nurture and develop these talents? Based on the clever and wily steward in the Gospel, let’s take another, more noble route and consider the following: 1. Be creative. 2. Be innovative. 3. Think differently and positively. 4. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. 5. Face your past without regret. 6. Handle your present with confidence. 7. Prepare for the future without fear. “Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”
Leave a comment“In whatever way you can do so, according to the talents and gifts God has given you, you are to be salt, and light, and whatever part of the Body of Christ you were made to be. You need to tell us what’s going on with you so the rest of the Body (of which you are a part) can work together with you.” Chris Manion
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name.” What does it signify or suggest when we take a walk? First, we can safely assume that we need to get outside of our routine and even ourselves to achieve a fresh perspective on our lives, and even cleanse the soul of any negative or destructive attitudes or thoughts. Secondly, we walked where it was safe and perhaps even invited someone we trusted and loved to accompany the stroll with us. And finally, and by no means the end of possible answers, we knew that something good would come of this walk if only to find peace and comfort, even exercise. All this applies beautifully to the image of entering the gates of the Lord and making sure that our deeds are worthy of light. This is what it means to live a healthy and holy life.
“When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. ‘A sower went out to sow his seed.” In the Gospel today, there were many people “out for a walk,” and this time they met Jesus. He told them a great, meaningful story about yet another person who went out on a walk, this time to sow seeds. Depending on where the seed landed determined the outcome. Here again is yet another wonderful image of life itself. We are all walking through many different situations and circumstances. What we do during these “life walks” and what we plant will determine not only how the day will end, but also how each life will finish and be judged: “But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Leave a comment“Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn, and you will.” Vernon Howard
“Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.” This Gospel passage is interesting because it is another mention in the Gospel of Luke where we hear about demonic possession. The ancient world believed that the air was thickly populated with evil spirits which sought entry into everyone. Often, they did enter through food or drink. All illness was caused by them. The Egyptians believed there were thirty-six different parts of the human body, and any of them could be entered and controlled by one of these evil spirits. There were spirits of deafness, of dumbness, of fever; spirits that took a man’s sanity and wits away; spirits of lying and of deceit and of uncleanness. It was such demons that Jesus exorcised here.
“For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” However dramatic or dark, this topic of confronting evil and evil spirits is good for each and every one of us because every day is a challenge and a struggle to live this life and walk this walk. We live in a world where darkness and terror can overcome us unless we hold the Light of Christ within us; we will indeed be swallowed up in despair. Thus, the battle of light and darkness is not just outside of us; it is also within us. And we have Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, to help us move forward in faith. Evil is not sustainable because it has already been defeated. It is now up to us to join the winning, victorious team.
Leave a comment“Be careful when fighting against evil that you don’t become evil yourself.” Marty Rubin
“Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” St. Paul makes it very clear, most emphatically, in his Letter to Timothy that humanity is lost without the Gospel. And yet, he warns all of us Christians that we cannot hide behind precepts and regulations and mount some kind of superior plane or landing from which to judge people and forget that we, that is, all of humanity, are in the same boat. Clearly, we have no right to judge other people just because they do not sin like we do. St. Paul explains that the final judgment will be a review of performance, not of privilege. From this perspective, everyone stands on an equal footing with each other, and thus, we cannot realistically condemn others without condemning ourselves.
“Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” St. Luke continues and completes this thought for us by making sure that the Pharisees know that mere possession of laws is no evidence of virtue. Mark Twain once responded to a man who was going to the Holy Land to see where the Ten Commandments were given with, “Why don’t you just stay home and live them?” Good point, Mr. Clemens.
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” “The worst prison,” St. John Paul wrote, “would be a closed heart,” and this is precisely why you and I must know the difference between judging and admonishing. Arrogant judgment condemns because it is motivated by pride; admonishing the sinner liberates because it is motivated by love. Each produces very different results: “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”
Leave a comment“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” St. Teresa of Calcutta
“We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we sang a dirge, but you did not mourn.” Unfortunately, there are many around us who hear the refrains of hope and salvation that you and I hear, but continue to go forward blindly. We must pray for each other constantly until that day that we all see clearly what Christianity and following Jesus really means, and what greatness in Heaven and eternal life is just waiting for us. Today, you and I must be that voice, that speaker to announce the Good News: Jesus Christ is Lord!
“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” Life has a lot to do with listening. Think of all the different sounds we hear every single day. We listen for important announcements and information that we deem pertinent to us. We also listen to the voices of those whom we love. So does God: What we hear during this great adventure following the Lord is the call to get real with our lives and with each other. There are many other voices shouting out at us all year long. Only one voice matters: “I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights.”
Leave a comment“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia
“Do not weep.” Today, the Scriptures give us what may appear two very different topics and issues to examine and apply to our spiritual lives. However, after some considerable time resting with each of them, one from the Letter of Timothy and the Gospel from St. Luke, there is in fact a very deep and moving connection. Let’s begin:
The first selection is really all about the qualifications for service. What it takes to be a good bishop and a good deacon are at the center of the instruction, and in this piece of advice, we can spot at least one important similarity. To be effective and integral in ministry, the very hand of Christ to all, there must be two areas of life that are solid and sincere for the would-be bishop or deacon and (by means of deduction) all who would rise to authority in the Church. Their own family life and their worldview, that is, the understanding of human nature and how Jesus seeks even today to redeem it. Why the need for this? Consider these three possible inerrant and unhealthy desires for service:
1. There is the desire for prestige. When anyone works for God, prestige will be the last thing that should enter the equation. A servant in the Church does not want the approval of everyone, just God.
2. There is the desire for position: There are those who serve within the Church who really not think of those they serve, but only themselves. This is selfish.
3. There is a desire for importance: Anyone entering ministerial service and expecting constant thanks and recognition has clearly lost the mark. If anyone gives only to gain something out of the giving for themselves has unfortunately undone anything good that was attempted, especially comforting the afflicted.
This is fundamentally crucial because the world that desperately seeks the face of Jesus must address and manage the relationship between love and fear. Perhaps our point of departure could be the investigation of their opposites. Many believe that the opposite of love is hate, but I think there would be an overwhelming gush of contrary opinions about that analysis, especially from those who have lived more than a handful of years. The opposite of love is really apathy. Apathy has been described in several places as a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. What about the opposite of fear? Again, in some places, that answer has been revealed as assurance and/or confidence.
What about the opposite of fear? A person who is unafraid has the assurance that there is no real basis for fear. We could call that confidence or true acceptance of how things are. That does not mean that we do not experience the emotion of fear, but rather we confront it with assurance, no matter how we feel. The great General Patton said, “All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty.”
Let’s hold on to those thoughts as we move to reflect on the meaning of the Gospel today: “Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.“ Anyone who wishes to follow the Lord, serve His Church, and comfort the mourning and suffering must have their heart in the right place. Otherwise, the world will just keep on suffering and even worse, fall pathetic prey to the wolves of the world.
You and I face storms every single day. Sometimes they take the form of horrible traffic jams, excruciating headaches, disappointments at work and in our relationships, even “life or death, “do or die“ situations. It’s dark and terrifying. So are we afraid and why? If the opposite of fear has to do with having God “in us,“ then perhaps the remedy for you and me not only has to do with seeing and experiencing Jesus walking on the stormy water towards us but also getting up, shaking off the emotional baggage and walking toward Him as well. This is why Jesus came and called and keeps calling gallant and selfless people to serve the Gospel and wipe the tears from our own faces and lives.
Perhaps He is calling you.
Leave a commentBoard Member
Everyone needs to have a Ray “Redfish” for a friend or at least to meet one like him before you leave the planet. He has never been known to interrupt a single person, say an unkind thing, although he did come close during the last Dallas Cowboy game, or leave any food on his plate. Ray wants to live in a world where Jesus is Lord, life is sacred, and blessings never end.
Board Member
Grateful for an amazing group of friends and a life that has been blessed and enriched by so many, Andrea brings a deep joy and dedication to the mission of CityOfAgape. She is detail-oriented and uses her experience and foresight to proactively address the needs of those around her. When you speak with Andrea, you feel like you’re the only one in the room.
Board Member
Father David comes from the land of Iowa where you can get sunburn and frostbite all in the same week. He has the mind of an architect and the soul of a musician. Father David has given his heart to Jesus and truly lives in the Kingdom. An accomplished guitarist, drummer, phenomenal preacher, he has the voice of a baritone angel. His prayers are powerful and his humor, well… it’s Iowan.
Secretary/Treasurer
Every day, for nine months, an intermittent light rain falls in Seattle, Washington. Those days are brightened by the warm smile and hopeful outlook on life that Angelyn brings to every encounter. Her financial expertise and engaging conversation has ensured great things ahead for CityOfAgape. Her life is filled with a constant welcome that is focused and friendly.
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Jacqueline’s life epitomizes hard work, creative service and complete dedication, not only to CityOfAgape, but also to her husband, Joshua, and her beautiful children. Her smile, even when things are difficult, is refreshing and comforting. In most currently used English dictionaries, under the word “energy,” you will find Jacqueline’s picture.
Secretary/Treasurer
Janice is not only meticulous in reviewing records and requests for Scriptures, but her eyes well-up with joyful tears when you ask her about all the letters she has received from the thousands of Bible recipients over the years. She loves gardening and listening to the earth; her life is like a long stroll through an intriguing and engaging nature center.
Board Member
Father James’ priestly service has taken him to four different countries, many parish settings, and in contact with more friends that rivals most politicians. One of his favorite quotes is by G.K. Chesterton, “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” If there are sounds of a lively discussion, mixed with hearty laughter and the aroma of a good cigar, Father James can’t be too far way.
Founder and President Emeritus
The minute John walks through the door, your IQ goes up. He embodies the remarkable talent of grasping the bigger picture while juggling multiple points of view, in a world where many are very one-sided. Always happy, even when he is sad, John is ready to challenge and comfort all in the same breath. Where some only see problems, John sees the bright promise of tomorrow. His inspiration and memory will outlast his years on earth. John always says, “there are always miracles where there is great love.”