His Mercy and Love Are With Us

Luke 1: 39-56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

The Song of Mary

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Mary's actions and words recorded in this  passage from St. Luke inspire us on this Feast of the Visitation and in the United States, Memorial Day, to do the same:  To visit the graves of our beloved deceased, especially those who have given their lives in the service of our country, and unite with them in prayer, and to gather to celebrate the gift of family, especially this year after this long period of separation, and above all to thank God for the many gifts he has bestowed on us through our family and those who gave their lives for our country.  Mary "went with haste" to be with Elizabeth and stayed with her three months.  What a gift!  Elizabeth recognized the precious Gift that Mary carried and praised God.  This is a day for us to thank and praise God for the great Gift of Jesus as one of us and for the great gift of family without whose love we would be only half the person we are now.  May we make Mary's Magnificat our own prayer of thanksgiving today.

Bro. Rene

With Us Always

 Matthew 28: 16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, accepting on faith the mystery of three divine persons comprising One God, despite our doubts, we are called "to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Trinity and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded us."  A huge task but for 2000 years the "people of God" have not relented from carrying out this mission. In our time as in all times past, this requires a sincere and steadfast commitment from each of us. May our gatherings at our churches strengthen our belief in the Trinity and reinforce our desire to make the Trinity known and loved through our words and actions.We are not alone.  God is with us always.

Bro. Rene

No Answer

Mark 11: 27-33

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Not that we try to trap Jesus, but there are times when our questions are left unanswered and we feel frustrated and abandoned.  It's not a comfortable feeling and  we don't like it. We are not questioning the authority of Jesus, as were the the chief priests and elders, we simply want help in our predicament.  Who else would we turn to except Jesus? And yet, silence.  Evidently we are being invited (forced?) into a deeper level or faith and trust.  How much more, then, does our prayer, Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief. come more sincerely from our hearts?  May we receive the grace and find the courage to believe on such a level.

Bro, Rene

 

Rock Solid Faith

 

Mark 11:11-26

¹¹ And Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple area; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

¹² On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. ¹³ Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ And He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

Jesus Drives Money Changers from the Temple

¹⁵ Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; ¹⁶ and He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple grounds. ¹⁷ And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” ¹⁸ And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and they began seeking how to put Him to death; for they were afraid of Him, because all the crowd was astonished at His teaching.

¹⁹ And whenever evening came, they would leave the city.

²⁰ As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ And being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree that You cursed has withered.” ²² And Jesus answered and *said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. ²⁴ Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you. ²⁵ And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your offenses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your offenses.”

A fig tree sandwich! Verses 11 and 12, 20-26 sandwich in the cleansing of the temple.  Is there a connection? Jesus condemns the fig tree for not bearing fruit, but it was not the season for figs, so what was the problem? As Jesus explains, faith in God, even in the most impossible situations is what matters...in season or out of season. We cannot let the clutter of the practical disrupt God's rhythm. Yes, the people who came to the temple to offer sacrifice needed to exchange their coins to buy what was necessary, but Jesus shows them that the temple was not the place to do that; it was God's house for worship, not commerce. "All things for which you pray and ask for shall be granted"...Forgive others and you will be forgiven.  There is a different order of goods and bads in the kingdom of heaven; it's up to us to tune into it through prayer and meditation on the words and actions of Jesus.  They may not make sense on the worldly level, but make eminent sense on the spiritual level. God's ways are not our ways and rock solid faith is needed to see it that way.

Bro. Rene 

Lord, That I May See!

 Mark 10: 46-52

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Even in his blindness, Bartimaeus was able to "see" and recognize that Jesus could restore his sight. His direct request came from a faith in the man he knew only by hearsay, but that was enough for him  And it was enough for Jesus to grant his request immediately.  Here we are with a lifetime of real-life instances of God's healing power and of hearing these Gospel stories, and yet our faith does not seem to be as strong and confident as that of this blind beggar.  He was rich in faith and we are poor in faith, the beggars. He is the man to ask for an increase of faith.   May he intercede for us and grant us this needed gift if we are to be witnesses of faith to others as he is.

Bro. Rene 

Servant Leadership

 

Mark 10: 32-45

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

³² Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: ³³ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; ³⁴ and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Greatness Is Serving

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

³⁷ They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; ⁴⁰ but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. ⁴² But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Again we hear the oft-repeated lesson that "no servant is greater than his master,  and the greatest master is one who serves." Death to the ego that wants the high places and the adulation of the multitudes, perhaps not physical death, but spiritual death for such ill-directed ambition can only lead to self-destruction. Jesus is the model servant leader; certainly no ego inflation is his becoming man, humbling self to learn the ways of the creature he created, being rejected and then killed by them. Has there ever been such  a perfect leader since?  Unlike James and John may our ambition lead us to the total self-emptying service of Jesus.

Bro. Rene

All For Jesus

^{Mk 10: 38-31}

^{The Last Shall Be First}

²⁸ Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

²⁹ So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

We can imagine a bit of frustration and anguish in Peter's "What's in it for us,?" declaration, even if he was just stating a fact.  Jesus picked up on it and assured him that the reward would be greater than the relinquishment of family and job. In setting Peter straight, Jesus also encourages us to leave behind even those things we cherish the most in order to give him free and total service.  Our roots into family, fortune, friends and "my way" are tough to cut and constantly entwine us in things that in the long run don't really matter.  What really does matter is a deep love of and dedication to Jesus, even when it demands giving up what we treasure most, and for us, that's our own wills, desires and plans. Frank Sinatra's "I Did It My Way" is not the way to go to Jesus.  ALL must be his if we are to be among those in first place with him... Not easy..the work of a lifetime, but nothing here can top it.

Bro. Rene 

 

Here Is Your Mother

 

John 19:25-34

 

New Living Translation

²⁵ Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”²⁹ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ³⁰ When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. ³⁴ One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

On this Memorial of  The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, this Gospel passage seems more appropriate for Holy Week than for Ordinary Time.  But careful reading reveals its purpose:  First, Jesus gives Mary his mother to John, and to all of us believers, his community, his Church.  Secondly, the life blood of the Church is the blood of Jesus, his sacrificial offering of himself, even to death for our rebirth to new life. The presence of the Holy Spirit now animates the Church and enables her to carry on the mission of Jesus:  to live in harmony and peace with each other and to bring all of us home to our Father.  Mary, our Good Mother, you are especially close to all Marists, through your motherly love bring us home in God's good time.  

Bro. Rene 

Receive The Holy Spirit

John 20:19-23

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Pentecost, the 50th day after Easter, Graduation Day! Yes, we have been reflecting on the Resurrection for 50 days and now it's time to open the doors and let its power, through the Holy Spirit, enable us to bring the Good News which we have been contemplating and digesting, and share it with others as we see that Peter did after receiving the Holy Spirit. (see Acts 2: 1-11). This is our mission as Christians and it is needed more than ever in these days or turmoil, violence, confusion, and emptiness.   The Pandemic took its toll on Church attendance, but encouraged many to worship from home via the internet. Now, as restrictions retreat, it's time to come out of the safety of our homes and fill our churches, as well as the "market place" with the message of peace, forgiveness and the life-giving words and example of Jesus.  As he chose the Apostles and gave the the Holy Spirit, so he has done for us. 

Bro. Rene

 

True Testimony

 John 21: 20-25

The Beloved Disciple and His Book

²⁰ Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹ Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

²² Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

²³ Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

We come to the conclusion of John's Gospel on the last day of the Easter Season. Tomorrow is Pentecost followed by Ordinary Time.  This has been another historic and trying Easter Season due to the Pandemic, but now that the vaccine is spreading around the world and restrictions are being lifted, this is a hopeful time, one that we will appreciate on many levels.  We are anticipating liberation, soon to be set free to resume the life we experienced in the Pre-Pandemic era.  We will emerge much wiser and more equipped to meet future challenges and to give true testimony to the presence of Jesus among us.  We have experienced more leisure time, more quiet time, and even more frustrating times, but like the apostles who waited for the Descent of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are ready to face the next phase. Peter and the other apostles didn't know what awaited them, but having received the Holy Spirit, they went out and fearlessly spread the Good News about Jesus.  Such is our mission too. May the Spirit be with us as he was with the Apostles.  Come, Holy Spirit,  help us to bear witness for Jesus.

Bro. Rene

Follow Me

 John 21: 15-19

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

This touching dialog between Jesus and Peter is a reassurance that the love Jesus has for us knows no bounds. Peter's three-fold affirmation of his love for Jesus erases his three-fold denial and prepares him for his leadership role after Pentecost. Jesus knows Peter, his exuberance and his weakness, yet he knows his potential as well, and exhorts him to follow him. Peter's willingness speaks for itself.

How much like Peter are we in our denials, uncertainties and fears? Yet, the same question and  invitation,  command, if you will, are addressed to us.  :Do you  love me?" "Follow me." Can we do it?  A prayer to St. Peter will help.  St. Peter, help me to respond willingly and lovingly to whatever Jesus asks of me. Amen. 

Bro. Rene

 

 

Unity

 

 John 17:20-26

²⁰"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- ²³I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." 

We've all heard the adage: "A house divided cannot stand." Yes, Jesus prays for unity among his followers right from the beginning; it is one of the foundation stones he left for his followers for it makes the love he commanded visible and guarantees a fruitful future. .  What a powerful statement:that would be: billions of people loving one another!  Unfortunately, such unity has not yet been established, much to our shame, but also the result of the brokenness of our human condition. To help this prayer become a reality, might we start within our own families and communities to mend the divisions and fuse the fragments into ONE through prayer for one another, listening to each other and serving one another.

Bro. Rene

Sanctified In Truth

 

^{John 17: 11b-19}

^{That They May Be One}

¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Sanctified in truth, made holy in truth.  Don't we want that for ourselves, for our families, for our best friends? Our "job" here on earth is to become holy..."Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy"  What is "holy"?  It is being fully who God made us to be, stripped of all selfishness, pride and fear. It is doing what God asks of us, even when it hurts;  it is being at the service of others despite the cost to ourselves. It is living in harmony with God and one another. It is being authentically who we are. It is being the face and heart of Jesus. As such, then we may be one with Jesus and the Father, as the Holy Spirit works in us to make this happen.  What a calling! It is the prayer of Jesus for us.  How blessed we are!

Bro. Rene

 

Eternal Life

 

 John 17:3-11 

All I Have Is Yours

³Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. ⁶"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

We are the beloved of God, there is no doubt, as we hear Jesus pray to his Father on our behalf. His loving words pierce our hearts with their warmth, sincerity and assurance.  It's not easy to put love into words, but Jesus succeeds in expressing his love and unity with his disciples (us). By reflecting on his words, pondering them, letting them sink in during the quiet of our prayer we can strengthen that bond of love and reciprocate, making his words ours and repeating them slowly and lovingly to him.  The fruit of prayer is union with God; how blessed are we to have the God-man, Jesus, make that union possible through his words and actions. Let's spend more time with him, as we have been recommending for the past several days.  Our lives will be transformed.

Bro. Rene

I Have Overcome the World

 Take Heart

John 16:29-33

  ²⁹Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." ³¹"Do you now believe?" Jesus replied. ³²"A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. ³³"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

We need to hear these consoling words during this time of upheaval and straining for stability.  No matter where we go or what we try, the peace that we seek comes only in God.  Like the disciples, we think we know this, but our faith needs to be tested; like the disciples we need to grow in our faith, a day-to-day slow process. Time spent in prayer daily with the Scriptures, or simply in quiet peace with Jesus allows us to become more confident in the ways and timing, the ever-important timing, of the Lord.  May we find time TODAY to experience HIS timing and presence.

Bro .Rene

That They May Be One

(Note: Most Dioceses celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today, but here in the Archdioces of Boston, we celebrated it last Thursday. This is the Gospel for the 7th Sunday of Easter.)

 John 17: 11b-19

Sanctify Them In Truth

¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost so that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁵ I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Pope St. John XXIII prayed and worked for union in the Church and among all Christian Churches, and, although the future looked promising at the time,  many years and three popes later, we are still not there; it seems we are perhaps more divided than ever. "If only", a phrase often used in looking at our broken and imprerfect selves and world, we project our ideal resolution to all our problems, but find that "if only" takes a lot of time, giving up of self, and hard work to achieve.  Perhaps if we concentrated on loving one another as Jesus has loved us, we might become one.  May this prayer of Jesus be fulfilled as we willingly surrender ourselves and our self-centeredness and shift our energies toward the unity that comes with embracing Truth and living in Love.

Bro. Rene

Ask Anything In My Name

^{John 16:23-28} 

^{Confidence, Peace and Joy}

^{And 23} On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Peace for the Disciples

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. ²⁶ On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”

See the warmth and compassionate care of Jesus for his disciples as he prepares them for his departure! His mission at this point is almost over and soon he will suffer, die and leave them.. The bond with them had been very tight, as we might well imagine, so breaking it physically would be very hard, yet the love of him who washed their feet gives them assurance that he will still be with them.  He's theirs for the asking. 

2000 years later, we can feel that gap and often feel we are drifting by ourselves, dealing with "impossible" situations, seeing no way out and feeling totally alone.  In assuring his apostles, Jesus is also assuring US that he is with us, and as he so often said, there is nothing to fear. May once and for all come to accept it, believe it and live it.

Bro. Rene

 

 

Love One Another

 

John 15: 9-17

As The Father Has Loved Me

 ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

It seems like we just read this passage,(and we did), but we can't reflect on it enough.  The Father's love knows no bounds; Jesus showed us that love by the total gift of himself.  He was not accepted by all, obviously, as the cross testifies, but knowing that, he still gave his all.  We find some people easy to love, they are receptive and giving, genuine and humble.  But there are others who are self-centered and bullish.  These are the ones who need our love the most.  May our reflections on these verses help us to continue loving them despite the rebuffs from them we might encounter.

Bro. Rene

Go Into All The World

Mark 16:15-20

The Ascension

  ¹⁵He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." ¹⁹After the LORD Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the LORD worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

With a tinge of sadness we bid farewell to Jesus with the Apostles.  Their friend was gone and the future unclear until the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Mark's Gospel, the first to be written was composed around 70 A.D., forty or so years after the ascension, and briefly summarizes what the apostles and disciples of Jesus experienced over that time. 2000 years later there are many more tales to tell of how the mission of the Apostles developed and continued. 

We carry on the command to preach to all nations, and to show by our faith how real the Presence of Jesus is through the power of the Holy Spirit. None of this, as flawed as it might be at times, could have happened Jesus had totally abandoned us. May we not get lost "looking up to heaven" but roll up our sleeves to preach the gospel by our lives.

Bro. Rene

Guidance In The Truth

 John 16: 12-15

When The Spirit Comes

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension, Jesus assures us that we will not be left "high and dry". but that the Spirit will be with us to guide and direct us.  We have nothing to fear. Don't we need this reassurance in this Covid and tumultuous era?  We need to hear it over and over again...Taking the "Farewell Address" of Jesus in small bits as we have been doing over the past several days, gives us just enough on which to chew, reflect and digest.  May we take the opportunity today to re-read these few verses, along with those of the previous days, and find the gumption we need to keep moving forward.  The Spirit is ever with us.

Bro. Rene

The Coming of the Advocate

 John 16: 5-11

Jesus Must Leave

⁵ but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

After three years of being with Jesus, learning from him, being sent on "practice preaching", agonizing with him as he was betrayed and condemned to death, rejoicing at his resurrection and now faced with the prospect of losing his physical presence for good, the grief of the apostles is understandable.  How would we feel losing that physical, assuring presence?  Doubt, fear, uncertainty all enter into this picture, and Jesus, in his tender pastoral care, explains the "why" and reassures them that "the best is yet to come" with the Gift and Presence of the Holy Spirit.  Indeed, for 2,000 years of "ups and downs" the Holy Spirit has helped generations of "apostles" (you and I included) to carry on Jesus's mission. We might feel a bit of a twinge in our hearts as we face the departure of Jesus (the Ascension on Thursday), but we might also listen to Jesus speak to us as he spoke to the apostles. Let us open our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit and commit ourselves again and again as his witnesses, instruments and channels of his grace.

Bro. Rene

Waiting

 John 15: 26-16:4a

The Work of the Holy Spirit

²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. ² They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. ³ They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴ I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, so that when the hour comes you may remember that I told you"

Our lives are so rushed, we need to take time to allow the Spirit to work in HIS good time.  Jesus will not fail us; his Spirit is ever with us.

Bro. Rene

 

So Have I Loved You

 John 15: 9-17

Remain in my love

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

This beautiful passage sets the tone for our celebration of Mother's Day.  Where else have we learned what love is, if not from our mothers?  The self-emptying, the loving guidance the tender hugs and endless hours listening to and guiding us to become who we were intended from all eternity to be.  Our mothers, did this along with our fathers, our parents whom we cannot thank enough.  As we reflect on God's endless love for us, may we be graced to see that love mirrored in our mothers' love, and do our best to show them our gratitude and gratefulness.

Bro. Rene

A Challenge

 John 15: 18-21

The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

Assured by Jesus's profession of intimate love for us, as we have read over the past few days, we are now challenged with the painful reality that life as a disciple of Jesus is not all sugar and roses. We stand in contrast to the world's standards and values and incur the jealously, if not hatred of the world, even as Jesus did.  That is part of our calling to be his followers. When tempted to resist the resistance, and even abdicate our position as disciples, we need to remember that this is part of the plan. Rejection and suffering are not easy to swallow, but looking to the Master, we find the strength to bear all that comes are way.

Bro. Rene

Friends

^{John 15: 12-17} 

^{Fruit That Will Last}

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

One of the most tender and beautiful passages in the Gospels, is this not? We are no longer servants, but intimate FRIENDS of Jesus whom he has CHOSEN and with whom he has shared his all. No wonder people over the centuries have been inspired  to dedicate their entire lives to him and go to the ends of the earth to invite others into a relationship with him. May the grace of God enable us to carry out the mission to widen the circle of friends and produce this blessed, everlasting fruit! Let us begin right where we are to "love one another."

Bro. Rene  

Remain In My Love

( Note: This is the daily slice for May 6.  I could not compose it on my school computer.  The slice for May 7, will also be included today (I hope).

John 15: 9-11

True Joy

 ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

These three  verses serve as the core of the message of Jesus and of his presence in our lives. They are as challenging as they are consoling. We strive to live in this framework, but fall short, day after day.  May we not give up, but make every effort through prayer and action to remain in God's love, to find the true joy that so often eludes us.

Bro. Rene

Pruning

(Note:  I evidently missed the deadline yesterday. Find two slices of Daily Bread today.)

John 15: 1-8

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Anyone involved in gardening or orchards, knows the value of pruning:  stronger plants and more fruit.  We don't know, however, how the plant or tree "feels" when our cutters or saws remove what appears to be healthy branches. Perhaps there is some pain, and yet, the end product brings them (and us) joy and satisfaction.  

So too with us, when some sort of cleansing of soul, or attitude, or relationship, or even of prayer, takes place. It hurts, we shy from it, we put it off to a later date, yet despite all the cringing we bear it and in the end turn out better for having gone through the process.

In our relationship with Jesus, look at the benefits of pruning and cleansing.  Let's spend some quality time with this passage and yield to the Lord's pruning knife. He knows what he's doing.

Bro. Rene 

 

Not As The World Gives

 

John 14:27-31

Peace I Leave With You

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

In a troubled world or a troubled life, PEACE becomes the commodity that is worth more than gold, for we find that gold, nor power, nor any kind of sense-pleasure can satisfy the need and the desire for peace.  Jesus gives us his peace, the very peace we long for, the peace that the world cannot give.  He gives it to our souls, our inner being, and from there it touches our whole being, our sense of who we are and our relationships with others. We can imagine the fear that the Apostles felt at the prospect of losing the physical presence of Jesus, to which they had become so accustomed over the past three years of their lives.  What were they going to do without him?  How could they ever continue their mission? Jesus knew what was in their hearts, (as he knows what is in our hearts) and calmed their fears (and, hopefully, calms ours). Let us take his advice and be glad that he's again with his father and pray for an abiding sense of his presence with us, in all circumstances, even the most difficult, or with the most difficult people. Let us open our ears and hearts so that his promise, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you" might take root in us, and let our hearts not be upset. .

Bro. Rene

Whoever Believes In Me

 

John 14:6-14

The Way, Truth and Life

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus chides Philip, "Don't you know me, even after I have been among you such a long time?"  Could Jesus ask that same question of each one of us?  We continue to question, to doubt, especially when difficulties and tests of faith become more demanding and we seem like we're back in the "kindergarten of the spiritual life". Don't we know, haven't we experienced the tender loving care of our God that we should be so fragile, so tentative?  Jesus was giving a quick lesson on the Trinity, staring with Persons One and Two...and the apostles did not comprehend; we think we've understood that part, but still have difficulty trusting in his loving care...Shame on us!  If we believe, we will do even greater things than Jesus did; if we ask anything in the name of Jesus, he will do it.  Why, why, this hesitation, this timidity, this lack of faith? Is he really OUR Way, truth and life?  Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief! 

Bro Rene

 

Bearing Fruit

 John 15: 1-8

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

This wonderful image of the vine and the branches enables us to see clearly what our relationship with Jesus can be, and, indeed, must be.  He is the source of our life, the root that gives us sustenance, enables us to live and give sustenance to others through the fruit we bear.  Like any vine whose roots draw moisture and nutrients from the earth and then bud forth fruit, when rooted in Christ, we draw our strength and spiritual nutrition from him. We nourish ourselves in prayer, study of the Scriptures, and service to others.  There's no other way to do it. Let us take time to visualize ourselves as branches on this vine and ask Jesus to help us bear fruit today and in the days ahead.

Bro. Rene

Whatever You Ask

 John 7: 7-14

Jesus and the Father Are One

⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

May Day!  A military call for help.  Also, May Day, the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, and the International Religious Brothers Day, and the beginning of the Month of Mary. A plateful, along with the consoling words of Jesus underscoring his relationship with the Father who works through Jesus to accomplish his work, makes himself known to us, and makes the astounding promise that whatever we ask, he will grant. What a powerful day this is! And, if the sun is shining, so much the better! Can we be in a better place?  Jesus is with us, he offers his Father and his foster Father, to us and honors (though the Church) those who have dedicated their lives as brothers, educators or health care givers, to make his Presence visible.  A day for gratitude and a day to renew our confidence in God's loving care.  May we share in the silent strength of St. Joseph to be brothers and sisters to one another, no matter what the cost.

Bro. Rene