Sunday, January 31, 2010

A Prophet to the Nations

"The word of the Lord came to me, saying: before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you" (Jer 1:4-5). These verses served as a fitting reflection as we begin CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK today. Jeremiah received his call to "stand up and tell them all that I command you." (Jer 4:7). He is one of many in a line of prophets, speakers for God. John the Baptist is considered the last of these prophets, but indeed, Jesus took up the mission to speak on the behalf of God, on HIS behalf, really, and give us a clear picture of the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to remain with his followers who would continue his teaching "to the end of the world" (Matt 28: 20). God called simple people like St. Marcellin and St. John Bosco, the great Apostle to Youth, whose Memorial is ordinarily observed on this day. We too, parents, teachers, are simple folk, set apart for the prophetic mission to proclaim by our words and deeds, who God is.
The Catholic School System provides the structure for this effective ministry, not only in our classroom presentations of the body of Catholic belief, but in our living out of it. Our involvement in service to others, our retreats, and lately, our participation in the March for Life, provide an experiential component to our teaching. I was privileged to participate in the March and the recent Junior/ Senior Encounter, and saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears what we hope will happen in the hearts of our students: an awakening to who God is, how much God loves us, and what we can do in response to that love. The whole purpose of our Catholic Schools became very visible and tangible in those events. They affirmed my conviction that the treasure of the Catholic School, like the treasure in the field, is worth whatever sacrifice we make to keep it, for it trains and nurtures Prophets to the Nations!
Bro. Rene

Saturday, January 30, 2010

With the Virgin Mary

Saturdays have traditionally been given to Mary. When there is no special Memorial or Feast on this day, the weekday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary can be offered. If we have not had time to say our Rosary during the week, the "extra time" we have to ourselves on Saturday might allow us to take fifteen or twenty minutes to pray five decades. As we near the end of the first month of the New Year, remarking at how fast it has gone, we might take some time to reflect on the blessings we have received, give thanks for them, and ask ourselves where we have allowed Mary to be part of our lives, or sought her intercession. What kind of daughters or sons have we been? Mary, as we know, is our Mother and desires that we acknowledge her in that role. There are countless tales of physical and spiritual miracles she has worked for her children over the centuries, and even in our own time. Willingly she hears our prayers. In the Memorare, we are reminded that "never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection was left unaided." As the Mother who nurtured her own Son, she does so for us as well. It is up to us to put our confidence in her. We will never be lost when we walk with Mary, our Good Mother.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Encounter

I was asked to fill in for some ill faculty members at our Junior and Senior Encounter, so I will not be avaialble to post a reflection on Thursday or Friday. Back in the bakery on Saturday.
Bro. Rene

Take and Read

"Take and read", these words, heard by the struggling Augustine, which led him to pick up the Scriptures and read the passage which leapt out at him and led him to his baptism, are a call to us as well to read a verse or chapter of the Scriptures daily. "As you take hold of the book (the Bible)...it will take hold of you. Its words, which are spirit, will penetrate into you like seeds in the earth, like leaven in bread, like trees in the sky. And it you yield yourself up to these words, you yourself will become simply a new expression of them.
"The Gospel has the power to enlighten and transform; it is a permanent and powerful gift from God. And like all of God's gifts, it is poured out only into the hands of faith; it can be received only in the depths of hope." (Madeleine Delbrel d. 1964, a French laywoman, writer and mystic devoted to caring for the poor and to evangelizing culture).
Praying with Scripture is an essential to feeding and growing our spiritual lives, our relationship with Jesus. It's like visiting with him, hearing him speak to us directly or through St. Paul and the other letter writers of the New Testament: Peter, John and Jude. Yesterday, I suggested the second letter of Paul to Timothy...it is rich, it is timely, it is worthy of re-reading and re-reading. For example: "proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship, perform the work of an evangelist; fulfull your ministry." (2 Tim 4: 2-5). Is this not a description of what we are dealing with now? Take and read.
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Willing Disciples

"I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?' "Here I am," I said; 'send me!'" (Is 6:8). How appropriate this verse is as we celebrate the Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, disciples and friends of St. Paul. Timothy, Paul's "dear child" (2 Tim 1:1), was the grandson of Lois, and son of Eunice, her daughter, long-time friends of Paul, and became bishop of Ephesus. Paul had known him since he was a little boy and had watched him grow in the faith. Titus, a natural organizer, was sent to Crete as its bishop to "set right what remains to be done" (Tit 1:5). Paul's two letters to Timothy are full of fatherly and spiritual advice, which any one of us could take to heart. "I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God." (2 Tim 1:7-8). Let us take time today to reflect on these verses, and, indeed, on the whole letter, if possible. May we become willing disciples like Isaiah, Timothy and Titus, responding to God's call as they did: "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
Bro. Rene

Monday, January 25, 2010

Conversion

The Prayer Week for Christian Unity comes to an end today with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle. We have been praying for the unity of all Christians, and eventually, all peoples, under one head, Jesus. An ambitious hope, a desire requiring an immense conversion of heart, for there have been centuries now, of mistrust, prejudice, disrespect, indeed, hatred, between religious groups based on historical, ethnic and even economic reasons. Dialogue, prayer, and token gestures of goodwill have chipped away at division, but the chasm separating us remains enormous, yet not impossible.
St. Paul "breathed murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts. 9:1), a veritable fire-breathing dragon devouring Christians, yet in a moment of LIGHT, his life was reversed, a slow process of understanding and love, began and eventually turned him into a fiery and tireless witness, apostle for the very Christ he had once persecuted. Truly, nothing is impossible with God.
Our own personal conversion follows a similar pattern: for some, a quick, epiphany, an insight that turns us onto the right path. For most of us, it is a slow, gradual process, "a willingness to see the truth of things and conform one's conduct with it." (A. Sertillanges). It's like falling in love, when we see the beauty of the beloved, and begin to let go of all within and around us, so that we might give our entire self to the beloved. We become less self-centered, less insistant on "our way, our wants." We center our thoughts, our actions, our hearts on the beloved, who must increase, as we decrease. Our conversion is a daily process, renewed with each sunrise and lived in the 24 hours of the day before us. If all of us were willing to follow this path, then the goal of unity would simply fall into place. "Lord, may your Spirit stir up within us this desire to be converted and to let love be the driving force of this and each day of our lives. Amen."
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mother of Hope

Yesterday, Saturday, Fr. Joseph, FPO, celebrated Mass in honor of Our Lady of Hope as a way of concluding our participation in the March for Life. It was truly appropriate call on Mary, Mother of Hope, after being part of the throng of hundreds of thousands of believers filled with hope that our presence, our faith, and our voices will make a difference in raising awareness of the value of life from conception to natural death, and the evil which disrespects, discards and destroys the miracle of life. It is estimated that 4,000 babies are aborted each day in this country alone. A shocking number. Yet, a growing number of believers who want to protect life and reverse the law are making themselves heard. A Rabbi from Brooklyn spoke passionately about the need for change, as did a Baptist Pastor and many others, including Congressmen and women. I was at one of the first Marches in 1975 or '76, at which there were perhaps 30,000 people who were told it would be a long "battle", but in the end, we would prevail. This year, seeing the huge number of mainly young people who reverently attended Masses in the Basilica, and who marched from the Mall to the Supreme Court, and having Mary on our side, I would say there is real Hope. We need to continue the March locally, daily, in our prayers, in our support of Pro-Life groups, in expressing the teachings of the Church about the sanctity of life. We need, Mary, Mother of Hope, to encourage, strengthen and guide us. Mary, Mother of Hope, Pray for us.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Fidelity

The more we reflect on God's fidelity to us, the more we understand our call, need, obligation to be faithful to God in return. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to the present day, fidelity has been the earmark of the great heroes and saints whose lives show that such fidelity is possible. We remember St. Agnes today, whose fidelity to her vow of chastity brought her the crown of martyrdom. As Marists, we have our models in Mary, St. Marcellin and Marists who might be part of our lived experience. We see it in "pockets" of our Church where faithful gather for daily Mass, frequent Adoration, generous service to others, daily, ordinary (really extraordinary) fidelity to the Great Commandments: total love of God and love of neighbor as ourselves.
Tomorrow, the 37th anniversary of Roe-vs. Wade, thousands will march in Washington to witness to the need to be faithful to the obligation to respect life from conception to natural death. Such a march wouldn't be necessary if people understood and remained faithful to the sixth and ninth commandments. Indeed, fidelity to all the commandments would make prejudice, violence and wars, to name a few, obselete. A huge challenge to keep the commandments ourselves, and then by our words and example lead others to do the same, but in light of God's fidelity to us, and with the many who have done so and are doing so, it can be done and is not only worth the effort, but is the fruit of responding to the all-powerful, unconditional love of God for us. Dear God, help me to keep the commandments in response to your love, and by my fidelity, help others to do the same. Amen.
Bro. Rene
P.S. I will be in Washington for the March for Life, and will not be able to offer a slice of Daily Bread until Sunday. The above is plenty of food for thought for tomorrow and Saturday.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Other Champagnats

On January 21 and 22, we Marists will be remembering two "giants" from our past: Brother Francois, who joined the brothers at age 10 and later succeeded St. Marcellin as Superior General, a post he held for 20 years, and Brother Basilio Rueda, our Superior General for 18 years through the 80's and into the '90's. Both made it their goal to be as much like St. Marcellin as they could be. When the first portrait of St. Marcellin was painted, Brother Francois made the decision to be "the living portrait of the Founder". The biography of Brother Basilio is entitled: Basilio, another Champagnat. Both men are in the process leading to canonization. St. Marcellin's passion in forming young men as brothers was two-fold: to instill in them the strength and plenitude of human values, and an intense spiritual life, docility to the divine will, a hunger for intimacy with God and a generosity of responses to their questions and needs that was a constant source of inspiration to them. Brother Basilio, as Master of Novices and Superior General expended his energy to cover the entire Marist World, speaking personally to each brother, sometimes all through the night, to do the same thing. Zeal, selflessness, love, were the earmarks of these great men. Brother Basilio wrote this prayer at the conclusion of his 30 day Ignation retreat before final vows in 1951. It might become part of our daily prayer:
"I want my life to be a cry of love towards you who are my all.
May each beat of my heart, each breath, every action and exercise of my bodily or spiritual faculties say to you, Lord I love you and I want to live for you. I want to speak to you constantly of love. I want to love you, Lord, because you are infinitely lovable, because you are immensely worthy of love. I want to love you in gratitude for the love that you have had for me...Make me understand this love fully so that I can love you more and more."
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Seek His Face

As we proceed through this week of prayer for Christian Unity it might be helpful to remember that deep within all of us, there is an unquenchable longing for God.
"Of you my heart has spoken:
'Seek his face.'
It is your face, O Lord that I seek;
hide not your face." (Ps 27:8-9)

Another translation reads:
"My heart has heard you say,
'Come and talk with me.'
And My heart responds,
'Lord, I am coming.'
Do not hide yourself from me."

Where is the face of God, where can we talk with him if not with our neighbor, if not with the stranger, the client, the student, our own spouses and children? Have we ever realized that people might be looking into our faces to see the face of God? Can this mutual longing, common in the hearts of all of us bring people, nations, churches together? "When I found him whom my heart loves,/ I took hold of him and would not let him go." (cf. Song 3:4). May our eyes be open, may we not hide from one another, may we talk to all who cross our paths, may we willingly succumb to this deep longing for union with God who shows himself in everyone.
Bro. Rene

Friday, January 15, 2010

Christian Unity

As we prepare to enter the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we are besieged by news of disaster, and division, while the cloud of darkness resulting from a spreading "culture of death" hovers above us. Haiti's earthquake dominates news broadcasts and newspapers; the close election for the Massachusetts Senate seat is breeding division here and nationwide; and January 22, the 37th anniversary of Roe-vs-Wade reminds us of the millions of unborn who never saw the light of day. Sunday's Gospel of the wedding feast at Cana reminds us that there is no "crisis" that cannot be solved. Our Mother, Mary, came to the rescue of the embarrassed couple, and moved her Son to rectify the situation. Many years ago a man's voice rang out over the Mall in Washington and the reverberations of his loudly proclaimed dream continue to bring healing to the division between races. Not perfect, but in process. The nation remembers him and reflects upon his message on Monday. The thousands of persistent marchers on January 22nd annually bring to the nation's consiousness the evil that has cast a shadow over respect for life and human dignity. Much has been accomplished by prayer and action. . I wonder what would happen if Mary were to say to Jesus, "They need your help." Let's ask her to put a good word in for us, for human effort alone will not suffice.
I will be away for a few days. The next slice of Daily Bread will be cut on Wednesday. I wish you a restful, thoughtful and peaceful weekend.
Bro. Rene

The Consecrated Life

The priesthood is not the only way of following in the footsteps of Jesus. Over the centuries men and women have looked at the life of Jesus in the framework of his obedience to his Father, his poverty--total reliance upon the providence and goodness of the Father to take care of his material needs-- and his celibate, chaste lifestyle which enabled him to give his heart to ALL who came into his life. These qualities have been solidified as the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, which religious pronounce publicly and which set them apart in a state of life called the Consecrated Life, or more commonly known, the Religious Life. The focus of this state of life is Jesus. Religious put themselves under vow to imitate Jesus and by their lives make him present to the world. Some imitate Jesus at prayer, their whole day, their whole lives being devoted to silent adoration and contemplation (always with a mixture of work and study). We call them contemplatives. Others, while devoting a certain amount of the day to prayer, serve the Church through education or health care. Most religious also find support from living in community with the other members of their congregations. In unity there is strength. Common-unity makes the living of the vows and the daily work viable and visible. The impact of these non-ordained, set-apart men and women cannot be measured. This weekend I will be visiting a student I taught 45 years ago, and when I told a young aspirant to the Marist Brothers about the trip, he said, "I hope that my students will remember me 45 years later." Come to think of it, that is quite a testimony to the value of the brotherhood.
For the past 40 years sisters and brothers have experienced a steady decline in membership as it became evident that the work we do can be done and is being done very well by our lay colleagues. By returning to the heart of our call, the imitation of the three-pronged lifestyle of Jesus, we will again attract new members. Pray that we have the heart and courage to live our vows. Thank you.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Year For Priests

As part of Vocation Awareness Week, a look at the vocation to the priesthood is an obvious topic for reflection. When Jesus commanded the Twelve to "do this in memory of me" (Lk 22: 19), he gave them the power to make the Eucharist available after his death and resurrection. In a real sense he ordained them that night, and, as we know, for over two thousand years, this commission has been passed on to those called to follow in the footsteps of these first apostles.
On June 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI established a "Year for Priests" which will continue until June 11, 2010. It is a year for each priest to reflect on his mission not only to give the Eucharist to the faithful, but also, as the Pope said, "to become more aware that through his own humanity, he is bringing to the world Another, God himself. God is the only treasure which ultimately people desire to find in a priest. The priest is called to be expert in divine intimacy so that he may be able to lead souls entrusted to him humbly and trustingly to God. He is called to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth Lord and Savior, crucified, risen and Sovereign of time and history." The Holy Father prayed that this Year would "help all priests to grow towards the spiritual perfection essential to the effectiveness of their ministry and enable the faithful to appreciate more fully the great gift of grace which the priesthood is: for priests themselves, for the Church, and for our world." He held up St. John Mary Vianney, the Cure of Ars, whose 150th anniversary of death was in 2009, as the exemplar of the good, simple, holy priest who understood his vocation and lived it in every fiber of his being. Our part in this Year is to pray that priests truly understand their call to be holy, to be true pastors, that is, caring, compassionate spiritual guides, who will inspire us to constant conversion and lead us to intimate union with God. May this be our intention today, and for the rest of his Year for Priests.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Adoration

In addition to "praying always", the option of taking time before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed now in many churches for adoration provides a solace and healing that cannot be experienced elsewhere. It is a time for nourishment, listening, reverence, healing, love and grace. It is a time when our hearts can commune, often without words, with Jesus, who urges us to abide in him and to let him abide in us. We don't often allow that abiding to take place in our busyness, preoccupations, worries, and plannings. There are always other people kneeling or sitting in the Adoration Chapel; their faith, their devotion, their simple presence provide inspiration to us and confirmation that this is indeed holy ground and sacred time. A man recently told me that since he's begun daily adoration, he's experienced a peace and even a new energy that he never had before. Occasionally, Jesus would say, "Come apart and rest awhile." We are all familiar with the beautiful invitation: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Can we not watch one hour with him, even fifteen minutes?
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Called To Pray Always

In reflecting on our call, our vocation, one of the fundamental aspects of it is "to know love and serve God on this earth and be happy with God in Heaven forever" (remember the Baltimore Catechism...question 2 --I think--?), one of the ways we achieve that is to "pray always".
How can we, though, when we can't even keep up with appointments, the daily newspaper, obligations of family and work, and the backlog of burdens of things undone and needed to be done...all together producing migraine material, even if we "don't let it get to us" (as we mistakenly fool ourselves in thinking) ? Whew! Yes, we can easily be overwhelmed and become paralyzed in thought, word and action. Time to stop. Remember who's in charge. Every breath we take, thought and experience we've had, all the loving people in our lives, our faith, our relationship with God begun at our baptism and nourished along the way by countless Masses and Holy Communions...all of these are GIFTS. Words of thanks cannot be repeated enough. Then our needs, the needs of others...matter for hours and hours of prayer, so multiple are they. How many steps to we take a day, how many breaths? How many heartbeats? If we offer each one of these to God at the beginning of the day, during the day, at the end of the day as our prayer of gratitude and petition, we have begun to "pray always."
Bro. Rene

Monday, January 11, 2010

Vocation Awareness Week

We are now in the first week of Ordinary Time. This interim season, lasting until Ash Wednesday on February 17th, focuses on the mission of Jesus after his Baptism in the Jordan. He begins proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News: "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel" (Mk 1: 15). Today's Gospel from Mark continues with the invitation, call, to Peter and Andrew, James and John, to leave their fishing nets, follow Jesus and become fishers of men." (cf. Mk 1: 16-20). Jesus begins to gather helpers for his mission, foundation builders for the Kingdom. That call still goes out today and the Church has set aside this week to emphasize it, for certainly, the need for kingdom builders today is critical.
Each one of us has this call, this mission, and it is a remarkble phenomenon that so many lay people are responding with great sincerity and generosity. The ranks of the priesthood, sisterhood, and brotherhood, however, are not swelling as quickly, if at all. We are all lamenting the merging or closing of parishes and schools, and thus the decline in active, educated faithful. Indeed, there are so many unchurched, the need for widespread evangelization resembles the times when saints went to great pains to evangelize the barbarians who took over Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire. They were hugely successful, but now fervor has waned, secularism, materialism, indifference and unbelief are running rampant.
We can help by praying to the Holy Spirit daily for a renewal of the faith, for generous responses to the invitation to "Come, follow me". Proposing full-time service to the Church to children, teens, young and even older adults takes courage and conviction, but it is clear that the simple question, "Have you ever thought about being a priest, sister or brother?" has planted the seed in the hearts of many of today's consecrated religious and priests. The Holy Spirit does the rest...even years after the question has been asked. Let's make it a point today, this week, to ask one person a day...and yes, to continue beyond this week to pray and ask.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 10, 2010

You Are My Beloved Son

We are here: the final day of the nearly month-long celebration of the Coming of our God into our world as one of us. The glorious moment in the ministry of Jesus, his Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, reveals to the world for the first time, the Trinity. Jesus in the flesh, the Father in the booming voice from heaven, and the Spirit in the form of a dove above the head of Jesus. This defining moment confirms in our eyes as well as in the heart of Jesus, that He IS the Son of God. He humbles himself to this baptism, despite John's declaration that "he is not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals" (Lk 3: 16) in order for us to see, as John did, our own littleness. This "littleness" is no reason to back away from Jesus, but rather a reason for us to experience and embrace God's love to an even greater degree, for our own baptism lifts us from our "nothingness" and makes us a child of God. He can see his image and likeness in us, and we can now be included in his proclamation: "You are my beloved son (or daughter); with you I am well pleased." (Lk 3: 22). In this light, today's feast is also a celebration of our own baptism, our own kinship with God, and a reminder that we share not only the life of God within us, but also the mission of one who is a child of God. Let us simply give thanks for this great gift and privilege, renew our baptismal promises, and pledge to live them under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Bro. Rene

Saturday, January 9, 2010

He Must Increase

Our thoughts today lead up to the culmination of the Christmas Season to the second "ephiphany" of manifestation of Christ, his baptism by John at the river Jordan. John came to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus, and today he helps us prepare our hearts for a deeper understanding of tomorrow's feast. He has been a successful preacher, bringing many to repentence and a change of life, signified by his baptism, a cleansing in the river's soothing waters. He was acclaimed as a prophet, and rightly so, for he carried God's word and plan to the people. But he turns the spotlight from himself, steps into the background as does the best man at a wedding, and focuses on the bridegroom, "the one to come after him, whose sandal he is unworthy to untie" (Mt 3:11). "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete" (Jn 3:29 ). What a beautiful attitude for us to incorporate into our spiritual lives. Our relaltionship with Jesus must center on HIM..."Look to him and be radiant with joy" (Ps 37:6). Listen to him, rejoice in his word, empty ourselves of our own importance, our worries, our complaints, our physical or spiritual aches and pains. Truly JOY in HIM!!! "He must increase, I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). The key to a humble, healthy life and readiness to understand the deeper implications of the Baptism of the Lord and our own.
Bro. Rene

Friday, January 8, 2010

God Gave Us Eternal Life

"God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possess the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
"I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God." (1 Jn. 5: 12-13.)
As we continue our reflections with St. John on this Child adored by the Magi, and revealed to the nations, we see him today as the door to eternal life. The key to the door is FAITH. If we want the fullness of life in eternity, and even more proximately here on earth, we need faith, even faith the size of a mustard seed. "For I tell you, if you have faith, the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Mt 17:20). Mustard seeds are tiny, so Jesus is telling us that we don't need mountains of faith, but just a tiny bit. No excuses for us; we can move mountains, we can do the impossible. "Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief" (Mk 9:24).
Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 7, 2010

God First Loved Us

Our meditation on the Incarnation continues with the aid of St. John the Evangelist and Isaiah the Prophet. There is so much to be absorbed, that the Church's daily readings give us little bits at a time for us to bite into and digest. Hence this slice of Daily Bread.
At the end of his life, St. John summed up the coming of Jesus and his message in the mantra he repeated over and over: "Love one another." His disciples , understandably tired of hearing the same thing, asked him why he did this. He told them that those three words summed up the entire Law and the Prophets. In his first letter, he expands on his mantra, including obedience as a way of manifesting love. "In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. An the victory that conquers the world is our faith." (1 Jn. 5: 2-4) When we hear "commandments", we think of the 10 commandments, yes, but St. John asks us to look at them under the umbrella of love. Isaiah's words further explain how we are to "keep the commandments": "to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, free the oppressed and proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." (cf. Isaiah 61: 1-2). All this makes sense and becomes doable, when we remember that God first loved us. How shall I return the love of God today? To whom shall I bring glad tidings, set free or enable to see?
How will my actions proclaim this New Year as one acceptable to the Lord?
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

If God So Loved Us

With just a few days remaining in the Christmas Season on Sunday, it's time to take a long, loving look at the infant Jesus before we put the creche away for another year. We've had it up for several weeks now and it easily could have become just another decoration which we don't even see now. God so loved us that he sent his Son among us, beginning as we did as a simple, totally helpless and dependent baby. What an amazing contrast...the Almighty becomes a fragile, vulnerable infant. "He humbled himself, becoming a slave, coming in human likeness:" (Phil. 2:7) "If God so loved us, we also must love one another." (1 Jn. 4:11). In so doing, "God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us." (1 Jn. 4: 12).
It is this deep, fundamental truth that inspired St. Marcellin to urge Marists to take the first places at the crib, cross and altar. It is this reality that moved Blessed Andre Bessette, a Canadian Holy Cross Brother, to allow God to bring his love to perfection in him, and through his simple, humble, loving approach to life and people, affect millions seeking to find the path to God.
Brother Andre was a sickly child whose health prevented him from attending school, and, although admitted to the brotherhood, was assigned as doorkeeper because of his lack of ability to do anything else. His humility, his acceptance of who he was, his warmth and compassion, however, were gifts that most of us lack, and won the hearts of those who knocked at his door. His reputation for holiness drew countless pilgrims to that door, asking for prayers of intercession with his favorite saint, Saint Joseph. After forty years at this post and at the age of 88, he died, but his legacy lived on in the magnificent Oratory of St. Joseph, still a favorite place of pilgrimage in Montreal. How God's love transformed his life. How it can transform ours. Yes, let us contemplate the Child in the manger and humbly realize that in our own weakness and simple fidelity to who we are, God's love can sanctify everything we do and effectively touch the hearts of others.
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Where Your Treasure Is

The three kings brought treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor the King of kings. Later in his life the King would teach, " Don't store up treasures here on earth where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will be." (Matt. 6:19-21) This nugget of wisdom has spawned many a saint, perhaps the most notable, St. Francis of Assisi.
Today we honor another man, St. John Neumann, an immigrant from Bohemia who came to the United States in the 1830's and was eventually consecrated Bishop of Philadelphia. He lived simply, giving of whatever material treasure he had, and more importantly, the treasure of his heart, to the building of parishes and schools for the waves of immigrants then flooding the shores of the United States. His understanding of this passage from St. Matthew enabled him to do great things.
A contemporary example: A young teenage penpal in Rostock, Germany, Peter, does not send Christmas cards and uses the money thus saved to give to the needy. As he observes the nonchalance with which people buy expensive clothes and then dispose of them year after year, he wishes he could "rescue" these items and give them to the poor. Peter's treasure is not in THINGS, but in a young heart sensitive to the needs of others. Where is my treasure? What can I do TODAY to put it where it belongs?
Bro. Rene

Monday, January 4, 2010

Mother Seton

During this final week of the Christmas Season, several saints are honored for the light they have shed on the mission of Jesus. They have followed the star, as did the Wise Men, found Jesus and then found ways to broadcast the Good News to the people of their times and beyond. Elizabeth Bayley Seton, a convert from the Episcopal Church, responded to Bishop John Carroll's request not only to use her educational skills to open a Catholic school, but also to begin a Congregation of Sisters who would spread Catholic education beyond the first school in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Sisters of Charity became well known as far west as St. Louis, Missouri, and their schools became the model for the Catholic system we know today. Like St. Marcellin, Mother Seton saw the need and the immense impact a Catholic Education would give students, and followed the Spirit as a chosen instrument. Little did she guess earlier in her life as a mother of five children and wife of a husband who died young of tuberculosis and left her in poverty, that this great work would be her legacy. The same Spirit calls us in various ways to be instruments that will bring light in some way to people in our path. What is the Spirit saying to each one of us today? St. Marcellin, St. Elizabeth, help us to listen and respond with courage and generosity as you did, even to the slightest prompts the Holy Spirit gives us.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Epiphany of the Lord

Epiphany, observed on this Sunday, rather than on the traditional date of January 6, seems to be sooner than usual. In some countries it is called "Little Christmas" and gifts are exchanged today in imitation of the gifts brought by the Magi to Jesus. In the Eastern Churches, it is observed on January 6th and is called the Theophany of the Lord: a three-fold revelation of Jesus: to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi; the Father's revelation, "This is my beloved Son", at his baptism in the Jordan, and through his own first miracle at Cana. The revelation is clear: This Jesus is the Son of God, the long-expected Messiah.
Yesterday, January 2, we celebrated the 193rd anniversary of the founding of the Marist Brothers. How fitting that it coincides so closely with the Epihapny. We, as Maritsts, consecrated or lay, are part of a vision and a reality that makes Jesus known and loved. We reveal Jesus by our teaching and our actions. And, in a sense, our gifts are acts of love, of effort, of searching, of finding, of acknowledging, of adoring, as were the gifts of the Magi. Let us renew with the early Marists part of their pledge of service: "Mother of the Lord Jesus, we pledge ourselves to endure sufferings, hard work, difficulty and if needs be torture, because we can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens us." (Fourviere Pledge, 1816).