Gratitude

A week ago we celebrated the renowned climax of the Triduum, the Easter Vigil. In all solemnity and beauty, light overcame darkness as the Light of Christ illumined our darkened churches. The elegant praise of the Risen King, the EXULTET, was sung as clouds of incense lingered and gave a mystical ambience as well as a sweet odor to the church. It is difficult to maintain that level of joy and beauty for the 50 days of Easter, but in subtle and subdued ways, we can sustain it. A beautiful day yesterday, and another promised for today and tomorrow give us visual pause to give thanks to God for effacing the memories of a harsh winter and delayed spring. Psalm 118 puts it rightly:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,/ for his mercy endures forever./ My strength and my courage is the Lord,/ and he has been my savior./ The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just." (Ps 118: 1, 14-15). No matter what engages us today, we can echo these verses to keep the sun of Easter shining. Gratitude awakens feelings of elation, for it showcases the GIVER and in the light of his goodness, we see ourselves as the recipients of love unbounded and eternal. Let us bless and thank the Lord, remembering and keeping his gifts before us as we go about our Saturday routine, simply, effectively.
Bro. Rene

My Heart Is Ready, O God

Psalm 57 begins with this bold assertion, "My heart is ready," (Ps 57: 8), and repeats it a second time to affirm this perfect Easter Octave prayer. Jesus has suffered, died and risen; love has given its ultimate expression; God has shown us visibly that his love "reaches to the heavens, and his truth to the skies." (Ps 57:11). Two billion people today have watched the Royal Wedding in a magnificent setting of pomp and tradition, yet at root, it is the same simple exchange of vows and expression of the permanency of love in marital union that couples worldwide make in a much less splendid setting. In any case, our expression of love for another carries with it an openness of heart, a readiness to adapt, be flexible, and to put ourselves at the disposal of the other. Jesus alive and risen gives us assurance of what God's love for us is like, and evokes a similar assurance that our love for him is similar and daily looks for ways to express it concretely. As we go through this day with its unexpected turns, treats, and challenges, let us sing with the Psalmist, "My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready." (Ps 57: 8), and show it by our words and actions.
Bro. Rene

A Man of Peace and Love

When the young Pierre Louis Marie Chanel was ordained in France in 1827, he had no idea he would become the first Marist saint, and a martyr, St. Peter Chanel. Such are the surprises that remind us that our lives are not our own. Having desired to be a missionary from a young age, Pierre entered the seminary in France, but instead of going directly to "the missions" after ordination, , he was assigned to a poor parish where the faithful had drifted from the Church in those tumultous years of the Revolution. In a short time, however, he won the hearts of the parishoners and built up a strong community of faith. Still desiring to be a missionary, he joined the Society of Mary, then still in the process of being formally approved. He taught in the seminary for several years, and finally, right after the Society was approved in 1836, he sailed for the South Pacific with other priests and a Marist brother, Br. Marie-Nizier Delorme. After brief periods on various islands, he settled on the island of Futuna, whose king was uneasy with his presence, and became unnerved when his own son sought baptism. He sent his henchmen to "take care of the situation", and one man, Musumusu, feigning wounds sought medical help from Fr. Chanel, and clubbed him to death while the good priest treated him. The man of peace, was thus martyred while performing an act of kindness, so typical of him. More priests and Br. Marie-Nizier returned to Futuna, having left for safety after the martyrdom, and over time were instrumental in the conversion of most of the population, including Musumusu, who asked for baptism on his deathbed and burial on the path to the church where pilgrims would come to venerate Fr. Peter Chanel. As Jesus assured us, his peace will prevail, and love cannot be vanquished. Witness the Resurrection, after apparent failure and defeat; witness this miraculous turn of events on Futuna. Mind boggling, faith building.
Bro. Rene

Time for Jesus

The glow of the resurrection continues, but like Mary Magdalene in the garden, our eyes might be blinded and we might not recognize him. Our life goes on after the respite of the Holy Days and work, especially, gets in the way. When we are tired or over-worked, we become ineffective, even in carrying out our jobs. We can't think, we just go by rote or instinct, plowing away to meet another deadline, only to be confronted with another after that, and after that. On it goes till we succumb to the law of "diminishing returns". If it's that way with "job efficiency" how much more does our spiritual life suffer? Centuries ago, a "day of rest", the 7th day, the sabbath, was inserted into the lives of the Hebrews...by command of God. Is it true to say that we have lost appreciation for the sabbath? If we are to keep the gains made during Lent, then it behooves us to take the "Mary stance" and be with the Rabouni. We will find that periodic withdrawl from our frenetic routine will enhance our effectiveness and precede fresh "miracle working." Jesus taught that lesson to the Twelve and his disciples; St. Marcellin strongly insisted on it as part of Marist Spirituality. It is part of the Marist Way. Let us make an effort as we did in Lent to insert this necessary "time for Jesus" into our day.
Bro. Rene

Proclaiming the Risen Christ

Easter is such a major solemnity that a full week is given to celebrating it as if were a long day, eight days compressed into one. The hope that Christ's resurrecction gives us is boundless; his rising from the dead assures us that our sins are forgiven and that we too, through our baptisms, have risen and are candidates for eternal life. Many people were baptized and/or confirmed at the Easter Vigil, others will be next Sunday. There is new life in Jesus all around us. Loclally, one of our students was confirmed and made her first Holy Communiotn. The students who made the Marist Youth Encounter Christ, now have a deeper understanding of their relationship with him, and the 15 students who worked on Project Rebuild in Newburgh, New York, had a life-changing experience through service to the poor, which gave them a hands-on experience of our Marist Mission of making Jesus known and loved to the least favored. As one student wrote: "We were all touched by the Holy Spirit in Newburgh, NY and our lives were transformed by the compassion and love we witnessed among some of the worst poverty in the nation. I will never view my life or other people the same way. We pushed ourselves beyond our limits in order to carry out Jesus' mission of love, dignity, an humility. Together, we left our fingerpirnt on Newburgh that will never be forgotten." We proclaim the Resurrection by pushing ourselves beyond our limits to carry out the mission of Jesus: love, dignity, humlity, compassion. Could it be said any better?
Bro. Rene

Easter Joy

We in New England are awaking to sunshine after a cold, gloomy, rainy Holy Saturday, which lent itself to silence and a chance to slow down. Now, even the weather "has risen"! I had the grace to attend two Easter Vigils last night...each with a strong sense of joy flowing from the resurection of Jesus, and the renewal of our baptismal promises. Yet each had its own flavor and were distinctly different from each other. One was exuberant and almost "over the top" with excitement as two people were baptized right in front of us, and a dozen were confirmed and made their First Holy Communion; the other was dignified and solemn, where the joy was contained and filtered gradually to the climactic and awsome truth that Jesus was risen, and we who have been baptized with him in his death, have also risen. It was clear that there are many approaches to acknowledging and celebrating this truth. I thought of my friend Anthony and his men in Afgahnistan, and how their celebration, perhaps just a barebones, simple liturgy, must have been full of faith and love in that dangerous spot, as they clung with all their might to what is essential. Each one of us sees Easter in his or her own way, yet it is the same truth. Before we go to Easter Sunday Mass, perhaps an egg hunt with children, and share jelly beans or a chocolate bunny, we might take a moment to reflect on one of the opening prayers to be offered at Mass:
God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter Joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to men who had begun to lose hope and opened their eyes to what the Scriptures foretold: that first he must die, and then he would rise and ascend into his Father's glorious presence. May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know him in the breaking of bread and follow him in his risen life. Amen--Alternative Opening Prayer for Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter!

Keeping Vigil

Holy Saturday is an in-between day, a vigil day, as we keep watch at the tomb in anticipation of the resurrection. The Lord has been placed in the tomb, the tabernacles of our churches are empty, there remains a sense of desolation, but already, the hope of a new dawn brings to fulfillment the promises made by Jesus that "on the third day" he would rise, and bring to fruition the prophecy of Isaiah: ""When you make his life an offering for sin/ he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;/through him the will of the Lord shall prosper./ Out of his anguish he shall see light;/ he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge,/ the righteious one, my servant, shall make many righteous,/ and he shall bear their iniquities. /Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,/ and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;/ because he poured out himself to death,/ and was numbered with the transgressors;/ yet he bore the sin of many, / and made intercession for the transgressors." (Is 53: 10-12.) The grain of wheat has been planted and died, and later this evening, at the Easter Vigil, the glorious shoot shall sprout in everlasting life. Quiet reflection on the events of Good Friday during the morning and afternoon of this day, will help in the appreciation of the most dramatic of all liturgies tonight, with the lighting of the new fire and the Pascal Candle, the reading of the history of our salvation, the blessing of water, the baptisms of new members of the Church and our own renewal of our baptismal promises. This is the climax of our Lenten Journey, this is why the bells ring and the Alleluia is sung with such gusto. May we rise with Christ!

Save In The Cross

This most solemn of all the days of the year focuses on the CROSS. At the Liturgy of Good Friday, we will listen to John's passion account, lift the needs of the church and world to our Father, venerate the cross, and receive Holy Communion. No decorations, everything stripped bare so that the CROSS stands out as the main symbol of the day, a day of sorrow, a Pieta day...Jesus in the lap of Mary, Jesus in our laps. "All ye that pass by the way, stop and consider if there be any sorrow like my sorrow." (Lam 1: 12). Once the "electric chair" for the worst of criminals, the CROSS was dreaded and feared, but now it has become the "valentine", the symbol of God's love. "God forbid that we should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, by whom we are saved and delivered." To take time between noon and three to be quiet, to meditate on the stations of the cross, simply to look on the crucifix and let our imagination bring us back to Calvary, to see Mary, Mary Magdalene, and John at the foot of the cross...to feel their helplessness, anguish and pain...to look upon Jesus, forgiving, crying out to his Father, promising Paradise, thirsting and commending his spirit to the Father: "It is finished." (Jn 19:30). What else can be more important today, except to spend time before the Cross?
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Maundy Thursday

A slow and temperamental computer is forcing an very small piece of bread today.
We remember tonight how Jesus loved us to the point of giving us what he promised, his flesh to eat and his blood to drink, so completely did he want to be one with us and to nourish his Church throughout the centuries until his Second Coming. How blessed are we to be the benefactors of such love! We cannot become closer to Jesus than at the reception of the Eucharist. Not only are we one with Jesus, but also are we in communion with those who receive with us, and with the body of believers around the world. "We are one body, one body in Christ, and we do not stand alone," goes the familiar communion hymn. Our joy, our gratitude should carry through in our actions all day long, and motivate us to receive this gift as often as possible. In addition to the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper calls to mind the institution of the priesthood, "When you do this, remember me", and the example of servant discipleship, as Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles. "I have given you an example to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (Jn 13; 15). Let us drink deeply of the cup of blessing this day represents.

Loyalty and Spy Wednesday

Unofficially, the Wednesday before Holy Thursday is referred to as "Spy Wednesday" since it it the day on which Judas made arrangements to betray Jesus. With the sexual abuse scandal hovering as a perpetual dark cloud over the priesthood, we might find some perspective in realizing that among the Twelve chosen by Jesus himself, one did dishonor to his calling, was disloyal. No excuses, but the point is that among us humans, within ourselves, there is that weakness, that tendency toward evil, which could cause us in some way to betray Jesus or be disloyal to him. Not all scandalous behavior is sexual, for there is much damage we can do with out tongues, or as bad, by omission, our hesitancy, our laziness, or our lack of willingness to take a stand for what is right and good, for the Truth. In their fear as Jesus was captured, the Eleven fled, Peter denied Jesus three times, and only one, the youngest, John, stood by the cross. Where was their loyalty? Where is ours? When strengthened by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, loyalty returned to the Eleven to the point of martyrdom for all, save John. Through all of this, Jesus remained loyal to those whom he had chosen, and still does today. As a friend said to me this morning, "All I ask is loyalty." To paraphrase the Book of Deuteronomy: " I set before you betrayal or loyalty. Choose loyalty!"

Laying Down Our Lives

Peter said to him [Jesus], " I why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." (Jn 13: 37-38). What stinging words to reply to Peter's passionate enthusiasm! So often in moments of exuberance we make promises or verbally leap into vats of optimistic idealism in which we later find ourselves drowning. Reality often sinks us and can lead to frustration, discouragement and humble recognition of our limitations. We are forced to beg forgivness for not keeping our promises or reaching our goals, but are called by our all forgiving God to scrape up the scraps of our good intentions and move ahead with his help toward what is attainable. Our Lenten efforts have no doubt met with some measure of success, but most likely fell short of our original goals. We, in a sense, pledged to "lay down our lives for Jesus", but, perhaps not having gone to the extent of Peter's three-fold denial, can join him in his tears of disappintment and remorse. How this fall helped Peter become a leader after the resurrection...not perfect, as St. Paul tells us... but nevertheless, the Rock on which our Church is being built! Jesus will not reject us for our imperfections, but loves us into acceptance of them, and invites us to allow him to make up what is lacking in us. Could we ask for a better partner? "Laying down our lives" has this other level: that of laying down our pride and self-sufficiency and allowing more space for Jesus to fill.

Holy Week

Jesus has entered Jerusalem in triumph, amidst the waving of palm branches and cheers of "Hosanna in the highest"; he dines with his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus at their home in Bethany, a couple of miles from Jerusalem; Mary washes his feet and anoints them, provoking Judas to criticize her. Jesus retorts with a reference to his burial, and in the background, the chief priests are plotting to kill him because the number of his believers was increasing. The stage is set for the events which would transpire six days later at Passover. Our own hearts, after five weeks of preparation through prayer and fasting should be ready to participate as fully as possible in the events of this week recorded in the Gospels, and lived out in the liturgies of the Triduum, Holy Thursday through the Easter Vigil. Realistically, it is a work week as usual, and making it to Easter Sunday Mass might be all we can do. If so, we can still set apart some time each day to be quiet and visualize the events of the last week of Jesus' s earthly life, by using the daily Mass readings, meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary...perhaps even one per day, or by praying the stations of the cross at home with a stations of the cross prayer book. If you have The Passion of the Christ, or Jesus of Nazareth, this would be the week to set aside time, even family time, to watch them. It is the holiest week of the year, and certainly one that demands that extra effort from us to allow it to draw us closer to Jesus. He is the reason why we have "given up" some of our favorite things: to be ready to dedicate our lives more fully to him. Think back to Ash Wednesday and those Lenten resolves. Here's where they culminate. Let this week not slip by as an ordinary week, but one that pulls everything we promised together in him.

Toward Jerusalem

Today I will be leaving Lawrence until Palm Sunday to be on an Encounter Team at the Marist Brothers' Retreat House in Esopus, NY with 60 or so teens from Central and other Marist Schools who will be making this intense retreat. We will culminate by celebrating the Liturgy of Palm Sunday. Your next Daily Bread will appear on the Monday following, so let me just call your attention to the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem where he knew that fulfillment of his mission on earth was about to reach its climax. The controversy with the Scribes and Pharisees had reached such a point, that it was deemed that it be fitting that one man die, rather than a nation perish. Jesus rode in Triumph into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, knowing that the week would not pass without their wish being fulfilled. But he also knew that it would not end in his death, but that he would rise and truly "make all things new." We need to reflect on this model, this pattern, for it means salvation for us, and deliverance from the trials and crosses each one of us bears. Without the gifted example of Jesus, we could not bear the weight of our human condition: sickeness among family and friends, poverty, suffering, unjustice everywhere. Indeed, this is NOT paradise. We all have our own personal Jerusalem with which to contend. As we bear our crosses, let us look on Jesus and find strength to carry them to the point where resurrection takes place for us as well. Indeed, it already has.

"Your Labor Is Not In Vain"

As he brings his First Letter to the Corinthians to a close, St. Paul gives some advice that resonates with us today. Because God "gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, he urges us to "be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your [our] labor is not in vain." (1Cor 15: 58). In Chapter 16, he again admonishes: "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love." (1Cor 16: 13). Facing as many trials as he did, St. Marcellin, in post-revolutionary France, with all its disruption and turmoil in the wake of the Reign of Terror, had every reason to back off and give up his enterprise of establishing a new religious congregation with a network of schools in a poor and economically deprived section of France, where religious indifference was rampant, not unlike what we are facing in our own time. As Lent draws closer to the celebration of he Pascal Mystery, we are reminded of the power and victory of the Resurrection which dispells the pervasive gloom we are expriencing as we look at world and national politics, economic uncertainty, and the closing of Catholic schools and parishes. We need Paul to encourage us to steadfastness in light of the Resurrection which can be translated into doing everything with love, the most powerful force in the world and a guarantee that our labor is not in vain.

When Prayer Is Dry

Prayer goes through patterns of ups and downs; St. Ignatius of Loyola refers to these moments as consolation and desolation. Consolation is the warm, fuzzy period when God is so present that joy fills the heart, tears overflow, all doubt is gone and it seems as if heaven has come to earth. Desolation is the opposite, nothing works, no words, no feelings, emptiness, dryness, and God seems absent, only a word, but not the warm, welcoming person we once conversed with so easily. Even in Lent, with our hearts and minds bent on closer contact with God, a period such as this can set in without warning. Oh, there may be warning signs, such as stress, fatigue, overwork, overextension, all contributing factors for sure, but not enough to blame entirely for this desert experience. No, it is part of the process of growth in faith. Do I keep praying even when I don't feel like it or when "nothing happens"? There's the test, there's the proof of our love and trust. One way to deal with this dryness is to take the Scriptures and let the words of the Evangelists or the words of St. Paul become our words. St. John's chapters 14-17 or Chapter 1 of the First Letter to the Corinthians read slowly and meditatively, with frequent pauses to let the thoughts sink in, can be the fuel that's needed to re-light the fire. Just sitting quietly and "resting in the Lord"...no words, just being there...bringing the emptiness to God, is a beautiful prayer in a different form. Listening to the breeze, the birds, looking at the early crocuses...these affirm our faith and can water our barren hearts. Let not our hearts be discouraged when dryness comes. It too is part of "growth in the Lord."

By Their Fruits

Our Lenten journey this week prepares us for the holiest of weeks when we will re-live the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus during the Triduum A gradual platform leads us to this climax when the grain of wheat is buried but rises into new life. The pattern of the past weeks since Ash Wednesday has been to bury that grain, those things that separate us from each other and Christ, so that we might see new life in our own souls. In our work as Marists, be we parents, educators, or business people, we sow, sow, sow, and in faith trust that those seeds will break through the earth and produce fruit. It is a rare gift to see the actual fruit, but when we do, how reaffirming it is, how reassuring that our labor has not been in vain. Such was the Chicago experience this past weekend, when I had a chance to reconnect with young men who had been in our Contact Program in the '90's. It was a program of prayer, visits, events, and accompaniment that would enable graduates from our Marist schools to nurture a possible vocation to the brotherhood. In its initial years, it was quite effective, but as time went on, the program grew in numbers, but yielded fewer brothers, and finally, none, so it as dropped. But I had a chance to see what effect the program DID have: a profound love of Marist Spirituality which became integrated fully in the lives of these men who now work with "the least favored" in public schools, implement our Marist standards and qualities, and thus spread the vision and charism of St. Marcellin into areas where the brothers cannot go and reach the very children for which we were founded. These men live the Marist virtues of humility, simplicity and modesty and educate through loving the students, as St. Marcellin instructed, and which they experienced in our Marist schools. It was most encouraging to witness, and provided motivation for continuing to walk the path of faith, that all that we do bears fruit. So, if we think that our Lenten practices are not doing what we hoped, let us not be discouraged or grow weary. In time we will see the fruits of our efforts.

Marist High School Reunion

I am visiting with Marist High School alumni as you read this, but I'm jotting a few notes before I leave on Friday. We are entering the 5th week of Lent...once called Passion Week. Still called Passion Sunday. In some churches, statues are covered so that we can fully focus on the sacfrificial offering of Jesus for the remission of our sins. Our Lenten journey to this point should have prepared us to be more appreciative and receptive of the GIFT of himself that Jesus gave us and keeps on giving. This weekend, with Spring in the air, might give us time to look at the cross and see love crucified to a tree. I highly recommend the viewing of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST sometime this week or next week...Holy Week.

The Good I Can Do

"It's a Wonderful World" sings Louis Armstrong; true, without a doubt, but also a challenge. The prophet Isaiah spoke of it centuries before Jesus: "Go to this people and say:/ You shall indeed hear but not understand./ You shall indeed look but never see./ Gross is the heart of this people;/ they will not hear with their ears; /they have closed their eyes,/ so that they may not see with their eyes/ and hear with their ears/ and understand with their heart/ and be converted,/ and I heal them." (Is 6: 9-10). A French spiritual writer, Elizabeth Leseur, who died in 1914, asked, "What can be done in the face of evil and indifference by someone as obscure as I? Nothing of myself, no doubt, but all through and with God. I believe that in the good there is a great expansive force; I believe that no humble, unkown act or thought, seen by God alone, is lost, and that all, in fact, contribute to the good of others. I believe, according to the saying...that 'when we do good we know not how much good we do.' What we have to do is to work on ourselves, to accomplish our own inner transformation , to fulfill our obligations and do all the good that we can, each day and each hour. Above all, we must ask God to fill us with an intense charity". St. Paul lived this with a dynamism that converted the Mediterranean Basin; St. Julie Billart, whose Memorial we observe today, despite her 22 year long paralysis, founded the Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, whose influence in education is still felt currently. These "great movers" began with themselves, began with the positive outlook described by Madame Leseur. Let us not short-change ourselves and the good we can do in the simplest of tasks we face today.

The Vocation of a Teacher

It is amazing how in every age, God finds, calls people to step up and meet the need of the current day. Even more amazing are the people God chooses to take up this task. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, whose memorial we observe today, is such a man. Born of a noble family and assigned as a Canon of the Reims Cathedral, assuring him of a plush existence for the rest of his life, he was gradually moved to abandon all his wealth and his position to enter the field of Catholic education, particularly among the poor. He spent his life in work for which he felt no natural attraction, and as founder of the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools, also known as the Christian Brothers or the La Salle Brothers, had a profound impact on modern pedagogy and Catholic education. He served as an inspiration and model for St. Marcellin, who modified some of the La Sallian teaching practices and focused on rural rather than urban settings for his schools. Both men were unlikely candidates initially for their missions. There are times when today's teachers have that same feeling: preaching to the indifferent, perhaps even hostile masses born of today's culture. The "I-don't-need-this" thought comes to mind often; it is a real temptation, plausible and understandable. It occured to St. Jean-Baptiste and his followers, and all teachers at one time or another in the course of the centuries. He reminds us of our vocation with directness and clarity when he writes: "You should not be concerned about anything for this present life except to make God reign in our heart by his grace and by the fullness of his love. you should be living for him; the life of God ought to be the life of your soul." He goes on to stress living in the presence of God, seeking his will, loving him and causing him to be loved by others. "Often recall to mind the purpose of your vocation, and let this inspire you to do your part to establish and to maintain the kindgom of God in the hearts of your students." Parents as well might take to heart these principles, for they are the first teachers of their children. Let us pray for teachers and parents, asking God, through the intercession of St. Jean-Baptiste and St. Marcellin for the grace to be faithful to our vocations as teachers.

On My Own?

Deep into the heart of the Lenten Season, we might be asking ourselves if we are making any progress. We pledged a course of action on Ash Wednesday, determined to deepen our relationship with Jesus through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Perhaps not all has gone according to that plan, but it is important to remember that we build a new day on yesterday; what we "gained" then provides the foundation for what we will do today. Day after day of even "little steps" means that we are moving forward. And, more importantly, it is essential that we remember that God is our leader, the God who is merciful, gracious, of great kindness, and compassionate. If we are in danger of discouragement due to our apparent "lack of progress", we need to remember the haunting question God asks us, "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?/ Even should she forget,/ I weill never forget you." (Is 49: 15). God is constantly with us. Jesus himself said, "I cannot do anything on my own." (Jn 5: 30). It is this God who leans toward us, supports us, draws us. It is God's initiative, God's program more than ours. We do our best, and God does the rest.

Secondary Schools Festival in Nigeria

A glimpse of our Marist World outside of the United States, such as provided by the article below, helps us to appreciate the extent of Marist influence in countries where our schools are located. Weeklong festivals featuring the fine arts, oratorial contests, and sports events take place not only in Africa, but also in South America, where all the Marist Schools come together to celebrate their Marist Heritage and compete with each other in a friendly way, under the patronage of St. Marcellin. Marist spirit "being Marist" become ingrained in the hearts of Marist students and alumni who continue to live and spread their Marist Spirit after they graduate. Americans traveling to countries where Marist education has been long-rooted find not only welcome but also reinforcement of their own Marist formation. Something for which a prayer of gratitude is always appropriate. "The All Marist Secondary Schools Sports and Arts Festival (AMASSSAF) took place from Monday 7th March to 12th March, 2011, at Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje Anambra State, Nigeria. The occasion began with a Mass celebrated by the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Val Okeke. In attendance were the Executive Governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, many Commisioners, priests, religious, among them the Provincial of Nigeria Bro. Joachim Ezetulugo. The Archbishop in his homily commended the Marist Brothers for their wholistic nature of education. The Governor promised his continued support to the school. All the Marist Secondary schools in Nigeria took part. At the end, Marist Brothers Juniorate Uturu emerged highest on the medal table in the boys category, followed by Marist Comprehensive College Uturu, and MCC Nteje. In the female category MCA Uturu came first, followed by MCC Ezzagu, and MCC Nteje. Sacred Heart Marist College Ejule, Kogi state emerged the best behaved school. The occassion was a huge success." --Taken from Marist News, #150. Bro. Rene

Set On Jerusalem

The Fourth Week of Lent witnesses the beginning of an emphasis in the readings at Mass on the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, the instensifying conflict with the Pharisees, and the final phase of his mission: his passion, death and resurrection. There are only two more weeks before Palm Sunday and Holy Week. How fast it is going! Jesus set his face like flint, steadfastly toward Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. His firmness of purpose is the model for us in our Lenten observances, especially those which are helping us to know and love him better and to serve him by serving others. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving take on greater weight these final weeks as means of achieving this end. It might not be too early to turn to the Gospels and read the various accounts of those last days and meditate on aspects of them both as increase motivation and in preparation for Holy Week itself. I have found Chapters 12-20 of John particularly helpful in getting a fuller picture of Jesus, his relationship with "our" Father, and of his deep love for us. He's speaking to the Eleven, but also to us. There is much to be absorbed, and given our busy lives, we know realistically that we will only have time to take in little bits at a time. This is fine, for it will those little bits a chance to sink in and become part of us. Let us set our face steadfastly on Jesus as he set his on his arrival at Jerusalem. Bro. Rene

Seeing Is Believing

Is seeing believing? There are at least two levels of blindness: physical and then spiritual. Jesus cures a man blind from birth, restoring his sight at first, and then calling him to see even deeper on the spiritual level. "'Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "'Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.' He said, 'I do believe, Lord,' and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said to him, 'I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.'" (Jn 9: 35-39). The Pharisees who opposed Jesus and questioned the man born blind saw with their eyes, but their hearts were blind and prevented them from seeing the Son of Man. The blind man, now with the eyes of faith, saw Jesus as the Son of Man. Seeing was believing. Lord, keep me from spiritual blindness that I may see with the eyes of faith who you are and where you are in my life. Help me to see you as I pray, as I receive the Holy Eucharist and cradle you in my heart, as I greet all with the welcome and love you greet me. Open my sometimes blind eyes that I may see with the eyes of the man born blind, and believe, believe, believe. Amen.

Disguises and Surprises

We begin a new day, a sunny one from where I sit; the First Saturday of the Month dedicated to Mary, as is every First Saturday. We might have mixed feelings about yesterday, and might be wondering how we will get through today "with all that we have to do", but none of us knows for sure what disguises God will be wearing today and what surprises God has in store for us. A simple prayer of readiness along the lines of "OK, God bring it on, I'm ready" might be our morning offering as we commit ourselves to comply unflinchingly with the design God has in mind for us. A clean and open heart, the heart of a child who finds delight in the simplest things, a piece of string, a cardboard box, a little rubber ball, is what we need to make this a joyful, unburdened day in which God becomes visible everywhere and in everyone. We might be more sensitive to the person who "talks our ears off" when we really don't have the time to listen, realizing that their need for healing or support through my listening is more important than what I have to do. It takes faith to see God's plan, but we can be sure that there is a plan for us, one that will both purify us, service others and draw us closer to God. I'm ready, Father, don't let me miss the fun." Amen. Bro. Rene

Taking It In Stride

April Fool's Day. Looking out the window, I wonder if the weather forcasters over the past few days were not pulling off an April Fool's joke on us. From the hype of a "good ol' fashioned Nor'Easter with high winds, falling trees, power outages and a foot of snow, we now see an inch of slush before us. Yes, there were delays, the streets are not pleasant, and the snow shovels we put away had to come out again, but again, the reality was much less than forcasted. It makes me wonder about other dire predictions: the future price of gasoline, the end of our oil supply, etc. If we let all these "predictions" overtake us, we won't have a moment's peace. Certainly a life of worry and agitation is not the life God intends for us. So, taking it all in stride, again let us "return to the Lord," a familiar refrain dating back to the prophets who saw Israel as a growing child, faithful at one phase, slackening off in another, definitely out of step at another, and finally repentant when the "botton" had been hit. The prophets accurately foretold this (with a better record that our weather"persons"), and were always on hand to hold out a helping adminishment, like a good parent, to bring the errant child back into tow. Their words ring home with us, thousands of years away from them, for they bore the Word of the Lord, a living Word, that is never outdated. Today is a First Friday, and a Friday in Lent, when we especially remember the Death of Jesus. Let us heed the call to turn to him, and look to him for the peace that the world and the forecasters cannot give. Bro. Rene