Counting Our Blessings

This last day of the year is usually full of "Best Memories" of the year: news stories, people, deaths of celebrities, as well as hopes  and predictions for the New Year.  Not a bad idea to look back in our own lives to count the blessings we have received...even to remember them, for they tend to fade unless we work at calling them to mind...and to give thanks for them.  Our prayer today could be just that:  a long, and sincere thankyou for all that has brought us to this moment.  As we look ahead, we might fall into the "New Year's Resolution Trap", one that causes more frustration than progress.  But we are creaturs of hope and optimism, so it might be good to set a few goals...manageable ones...as a start.  Diet, exercise, sleep, elusive as they may be, always seem to be on the list.  Perhaps more realistically, we could put prayer as a priority, a state of mind and commitment to be open to God's daily invitation to receive his love and to give love to others in simple and small ways.  This evening's New Years Eve celebration might take on more meaning if we prepare for it during the day by this "looking back", "looking forward" and putting all in God's loving hands.
Happy New Year.
Bro. Rene

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Family Spirit is an essential characteristic of Marist Spirituality and it springs from the model of the Holy Family of Nazareth, a simple, hard-working and religious family, living in the milieu of a poor economy and according to the Law of Moses. Yet, we see that it is not just the immediate family that we as Marists focus on, but the world family.  When Jesus strays from Mary and Joseph and is found three days later in the temple, his reply indicates the larger mission for which he came from his Father to become one of us.  "Why were you looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  (Lk 2: 49).  His family was more that just Mary and Joseph, but all of us. 
While we relish the time to be with our own families, especially at Christmas, when even when there is not a religious dimension for some to Christmas and the treasure of family becomes sacred, there is a larger picture that must be looked at.  Are our families centered solely centered on themselves, or are families the schools where the faith is learned and put into practice?  Are we teaching our children to be concerned for those who have less, to share their time, their talents, and even their "things" with them?  Do we shy them away from greed and inculcate in them the truth that it is much better to give than to receive?  That justice means compassion and faireness in dealing with others? That is the Marist Family Spirit we herald as one of our hallmarks.  May the Holy Family help us to be true to it.
Bro. Rene

The Crib, the Cross and the Altar

One of St. Marcellin's favorite meditations focused on the crib, the cross and the altar; he frequently advised the young brothers in formation as well as those teaching to place themselves at these three places:  the crib, because of the awesome mystery of the incarnation:  God becoming human to show his love, a joy tempered by the shadow of the cross, where suffering, and even martyrdom, if not a daily dying to self, were foretold;  and the altar which renews the sacrifice of the cross but also feeds us with the nourishment needed along the way.  It can be a powerful meditation, sobering, humbling, challenging.  As we have noted, the Octave of Christmas has its complement of martyrs, St. Stephen, the Holy Innocents and today, St. Thomas Beckett
In the Gospel for today, Simeon rejoices that he has seen "the salvation which you [God] prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the naitons and the glory of your people Israel. (Lk 2:30-32 ) but also warns that this child is "destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, will be a sign that will be contradicted" and that Mary herself will be pierced with a sword of sorrow. (cf. Lk 2:34-35 ).  Indeed, all of this proved to be true and continues to be so in our own day. Our consolation, our strength comes from the final point of our reflection on the cross:  the resurrection.  The martyrs received their crowns, the persecuted have endured, and even the "little trials" have not overcome us.  May our faith be real and gutsy, allowing room for joy and suffering but always fortified with hope and the guarantee of victory.
Bro. Rene

Slaughtering the Innocent

Three days after the joyous birth of Jesus, our Christmas Octave meditation takes us to the murder of the innocent children of Bethlehem and its surroundings ordered by the jealous and paranoid King Herod.  St. Stephen's martyrdom was rattling enough the very day after Christmas, but here is a tale charged with even greater emotion.  The recent slaughter of innocent children in Newtown, Connecticut certainly gives us a taste of what must have been felt in Bethlehem.  Yet, the adult abuse of children, which seems to go on constantly, the use of children as soldiers across the globe, children forced by drug lords to sell drugs or act as couriers, the abandonment of children, not to mention aborting them, and the bullying of children in schools or neighborhoods make us painfully aware that the slaughering of the Innocent is not an isolated event 2000 years ago, but one that is very contemporary, sad to say. Still, the birth of Jesus, the coming of Light into the darkness which cannot comprehend it, assures us that such darkness and evil shall not prevail. The outrage over this evil will lead to action which will reverse it.  Starting with families where the greatest gifts to children can be prayer, love, faith in God and the goal of holiness, that is for each child to be encouraged to be the best possible version of him or herself, a reverse ripple effect will emerge.  Let us begin today by sharing these gifts not only with our children, but with one another.
Bro. Rene

The Word Made Flesh

As we continue our week-long meditation on the Incarnation, the Church presents to us St. John, the Beloved Disciple who in the Prologue to his lofty gospel, presents Jesus to us in the philosphical term of Logos,  the Word, spoken by the Father, loved by the Spirit and one with us in the flesh.  That means he not only had a human body, but experienced all that we go through as humans, save sin.  So he suffered malignment and constant attacks as does one of his popular and sincerest followers, Tim Tebow, who seems to be hated by some for his genuine goodness, thought to be impossible in today's world where mediocrity is held as the norm.  There were no cars to break down, but in the poor economy of 1st century Judea, Jesus knew poverty as does one of my former students in Rwanda whose car totally broke down forcing him to have to buy another (second hand), but in April, for I've taught him to save and not buy on credit, or borrow from others (especially me).  He has to WAIT, as most of us do. No doubt the Holy Family had "to go without" until they could pay in cash or had something to barter.  And Jesus knew death, as does every family.  A dear friend of mine this morning reported the sudden death of his youngest brother, a priest, a age 61...just before he was going to celebrate Holy Mass. Joseph's death was not easy to accept, so close was the Holy Family. 
This is the Jesus we know and love, truly one of us.  Let us not fear to approach him with our big or, what we might consider petty,  problems.  He knows them well.
Bro. Rene

Christmas Continues

In the Church's wisdom, the celebration of Christmas continues as an "octave" that is, 8 days considered as ONE DAY...the Nativity of the Lord....for there are so many dimensions to the Mystery of God Becoming Man and so much joy that the festivities cannot just be confined to one day...Many of us will continue with family gatherings today since we couldn't see everyone yesterday. And wasn't yesterday a grand day? The Mass of the Nativity either at a Vigil celebration on Christmas Eve, or at Midnight, or on Christmas Day itself, the endless family, food and gifts.  What a way to acknowledge and celebrate the human birth of God, an event more awesome and astounding that the whole of this vast seemingly endless universe.  May our hearts continue to be warmed by the love of God, family, neighbors and friends.  May we continue to wear our Christmas smiles and share them with all...even as we attempt to return or exchange misfitted Christmas gifts.  A necessary good sense humor will spring from a heart fired by God's love.  And, in case you need a little boost, here is the link I inteneded to send yesterday, but due again to my technological ineptitude and the expiration of time (this slice of bread must be posted before 9 am) I did not succeed in giving you access to it. Perhaps some have already seen it...it's worth another look to keep the Christmas Spirit in high gear.
Bro. Rene

https://www.centralcatholic.net/podium/default.aspx?t=52562&a=148919&rc=1&bl=%2fpodium%2fpush%2fdefault.aspx%3fs%3d533%26i%3d32143%26snd%3dcee5b28a-f34d-4ede-ad76-839a8a7ad17a

Merry Christmas

May this put you in the Christmas Spirit all day long!
Br. Rene

...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18lHMKU_9xw&feature=youtu.be

On The Threshold of Christmas

One day left, then tomorrow, the joy of the coming of the Lord, for which we have been preparing for these past three weeks.  "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will perform wonders among you." (Jos 3:5).
Yes, we may have many last minute preparations before the relatives come, or we go to them.  Perhaps ther will be a white Christmas and driving might be a concern.  All kinds of distractions can fill this day.  Yet if we can find a few moments to read the accounts of the birth of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, we will have done something that will help us recall, while we are busy about many things, who and what we are celebrating.
This morning, for example, 200 or more men will gather for prayer and breakfast, a time where the focus is on the birth of Jesus and its on-going imperative in our 21st century.  We need to remind ourselves of God's love and to renew our love for God and neighbor.  We need to restore this holy season of peace in our own hearts, homes, cities, and disturbed world.  We need to remember that alone we can do nothing, but with God nothing is impossible.  With gratitude and confidence, let us enter this holy season of Christmas.
Bro. Rene

Mary The Evangelizer

Again we take a look at Mary's Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, a visit which stands as one of the foundations of Marist Spirituality.  Mary's faith is evident as she takes the word of the angel Gabriel and set out "in haste" and without Joseph, to be at the side of her cousin.  She brings that faith to Elizabeth and to her unborn John who leaps for joy in his mother's womb, for he is aware, even before his mother, who is visiting:  the unborn Jesus!  In her role as mother, Mary is also the Evangelizer...bringing her Son to others; in this case simply by presence.  Presence...so much a part of St. Marcellin's spirituality...not only the over powering and all-protective presence of God but the presence of God within his soul and in the souls of others.  In bringing Jesus to Elizabeth and John, she brings joy...which should always be the partner of one who teaches, preaches, witnesses.  If we are not conveying joy by our words and actions, we are not evanglizing. 
These days families are gathering for meals, for church, for the exchange of gifts.  There will be hugs and lots of "Merry Christmases"...Let's make it a point to mean what we say and do so that we bring genuine joy to our families and friends, so that we, like Mary, bring Jesus to them.
Bro. Rene

Magnificat Moments

When I began my 30 day retreat with the Ignatian Excersises in September of 1985, my spiritual Director told me that when I could sing the Magnificat as "my own", I could be sure that the graces of the retreat had taken firm footing.  It took perhaps 3 weeks into the retreat before I was able to do it, but for sure, I had reached a "Magnnificat Moment" when my soul was bursting with joy that came from a very close encounter with God's love.  A moment when that love was real and I was assured of God's power and presence and could sing with Mary, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he hs looked upon his lowly servant...the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.  He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.  He has shown the strength of his arm...has lifted up he lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things..."  (cf. Lk 1: 46-56). I felt that's exactly what was happening in my life at the time.  These moments are rare but occasionally there are repeats and the words of the Magnificat again well up from the soul.  Such was the case yesterday when a graduate, now a senior in college,  came into see me.  As he told me about his own Magnificat Moments, simply, humbly and gently relating his gratitude for his family, his Central education, and the grace to remain true to himself and all he was taught, I was bursting with joy. He epitomized what parents hope for their children.  And this was following our Christmas  Prayer Service which was fraught with fun  while focused on the true meaning of Christmas. What a day!  Advent is drawing to a close and if it "did it's job" has lead us to the Big Magnificat Moment, the birth of Jesus. I pray for all of you that Christmas might be such a moment for you.
Bro. Rene

Mary Visits and So Do We

After receiving the invitation to be the Mother of God and the news of her cousin's amazing pregnancy, Mary set our in haste visit her.  No doubt her excitment was two-fold...over Elizabeth's impending delivery and of her own "surprise" and astounding pregnancy.  She was quick to respond, with a sense of urgency to "be there" with her cousin and share her good news.  This journey in haste has become the theme or the current administration of the Marist Brothers and the subject of an inspiring document from our last General Chapter:  Go in Haste To Another Land.  There is a sense of urgency that the new evangelization must happen now, and that we must be willing to leave our comfortable homes and lives to make it happen.  How fitting as we approach the celebration of Christmas...the beginning of the first evangelization...that we adopt this role as we wish others a Happy New year.  It's up to US to make it happy.
Br. Rene 

Tempting God

When Ahaz, king of Judah was told to ask God for a sign, like most of us, he refused, saying that he would not tempt God. (cf. Is 7:10-14).  We love, signs, we look for them, yet we are hesitant to ask for them.  God, however, is eager to give signs:  "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel."  Quite a sign, fulfilled in the conception and birth of Jesus.  We have such signs all around us, yet we are blind to them. Our skeptical world even rejects signs, explaining them away either by science, or by psychology:  "mass hysteria," frenzy or panic.  Those who were present at Fatima on October 13, 1917 could not deny what they had seen with their own eyes, but outsiders were ready to dismiss it as mob frenzy.  Such is people's right.  If St. Marcellin, however, had not believed in signs, where would we be?  The Memorare in the Snow...the arrival of 8 candidates for the novitiate when new members had not shown up for awhile.  And today, the Marist World is fraught with signs:  Ambitious plans for CHANGE--the theme of the International Youth Meeting in Rio de Janiero this July, the six new novices in Madagascar, the provincial chapter in the province of Brazil Centro-Norte which included 5 lay Marists for the first time; and the courage of the brothers in Aleppo are a few examples.  God gives us signs all the time.  He wants us to ask for them.  He's not insulted if we do, but is if we don't!
Bro. Rene

Come, Lord Jesus

The plea and mantra of Advent is the short prayer, Come, Lord Jesus.  We say it so often that we become numb to its centrality to Advent's purpose.  Like the Hebrews since the time of the Babylonian Exile, the collective longing for the coming of the Messiah, the Savior, has been vocalized from generation to generation in many forms, but the ancient Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, is perhaps the most poignant and succinct.  It requires no effort to be remembered, and can be repeated as a personal prayer, whispered, shouted, or internalized.  It is a prayer that gathers scattered people, and our scattered thoughts, and brings them into unity.  When besieged by the distractions of Christmas preparations and more recently, of the Newtown tragedy or the "fiscal cliff" debates, by praying this simple refrain, we can refocus our minds on Jesus and the events surrounding his first coming, his many comings into our hearts in our personal history and receptions of the Eucharist; of his coming at the hour of our death, and at the end of time. If we are not asking Jesus to come into our life as its center, we become like reed shaken and broken by the wind. Come, Lord Jesus.  Come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. Rene

The Unexpected

God seems to delight in suprising us in the most unexpected places.  Moses saw a burning bush, moved toward it and encountered the great I AM, God himself.  Not a great fan of Malls, I was suprised at the emotion the video below evoked...to me a bit of an allegory on how we as Christians can "infect" our surroundings (anywhere and everywhere) with  the message of joy, and excitement, much like the scene in Luke with the angels singing to the shepherds.   Even to get this site into our slice of Daily Bread was a suprise...After many vain and frustrating attempts, I was saved by a student who came into my office randomly to make an appointment for Thursday.  I asked her if she could help me insert the link, she did it instantly, much to my, and I hope, YOUR delight.  It's less than 10 minutes and really is what Christmas is all about. It's a bit early, yes, since we are still in Advent...but in the spirit of Rejoice Sunday and in contrast to the disconcerting events surrounding us, it won't hurt to jump ahead.  You can save it an use it closer to Christmas, if you wish, but it's worth the time now to start your day with it.
Bro. Rene
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg&vq=medium

Seeking Wisdom

Wisdom, desirable, elusive, coveted, avoided...it goes through various levels of  development as we advance along the path to maturity.  Usually it comes with age and experience, but we never can put a cap on it.  As we do, it matures with the passage of time.  I've heard young people tell me they, in a sense, "can't wait to be older and wiser".  These are a rare but gifted few.  Many think they "have it" even at a young age, but often it turns out to be a brazen arrogance that needs to be tempered by the crucible of life. In the excellent film, Life of PI, young PI declares that all the he learned from his father was what saved him when cast overboard with a lifeboat and a tiger!  Yes, we learn from our fathers and mothers, despite our earlier reistance to their teachings.
 Lots of soul-searching, private and public is going on as a result of the Newtown shootings:  What is the root of such violence?  The answers range from divorce to video games.  And the solutions range from stricter gun laws, even banning them entnirely, to help for the poor, crippled families who more and more are torn by divorce, which springs from perhaps deeper levels of entitlement, being spoiled as children, materialism,  and a life devoid of God.
Today the Church prays, "O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love:  come to teach us the path of knowledge!"  (Alleluia verse, antiphon at Vespers).  Now, more than ever, it seems, this prayer at least guides us to where we should begin our search for wisdom.
Bro. Rene

What Should We Do?

"The crowds asked John the Baptist, 'What should we do?'" (Lk 3:10).  His answers were concise, direct and practical:  "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has one.  And whoever has food should do likewise." (Lk 3: 11).  John did not want to put extra burdens on people, but to free them up so that they could eventually be ready to recognize Jesus. Because of his effective preaching, the people thought he might be the Messiah, but he was quick to dispell that misconception.  No, there was someone to come after him, the ties of his sandal he was not worthy to loosen.
This Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, or in English, Rejoice Sunday.  It is a day to be filled with joy, for "the Lord is near." (Phil 4: 5).  John's preaching was preparatory, was conscious that the time was ripe for a new phase in the spiritual lives of the people who had been longing for the Messiah.  He preached an austerity and a simplicity that would help them recognize this Messiah and then find their fullest possible joy in him.  St. Marcellin's awareness of the "presence of God" near us, in us, in the hearts of our neighbors was an Advent concept aimed at helping his brothers and their students find their joy in the nearness of God. 
As we enter this Third Week, and for the most part, the final week of Advent. we might do some simple act of sharing what we have "doubles"  or "triples" of  (no need to give everything away),  find the joy that comes with giving, and become more aware of the nearness of God in the persons in need who are all around us. Let us not forget, as well, to keep praying for the deceased and mourning in Newtown, Connecticut. and other places in our globe where tragedy or violence have struck. May our rejoicing come from our giving.
Bro Rene

Comfort, Comfort, My People

The slaughter of the 20 school children and seven other adults, including the shooter, evokes thoughts of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, but this time before Christmas, not in its usual place on the 28th of December.  To parapharse Jeremiah, "In Newtown, is heard the sound of moaning,/ of bitter weeping!  Rachel mourns her children,/ she refuses to be consoled/ because her children are no more."  (cf Jer 31: 15). Echoing Isaiah, "Comfort, comfort my people"  (Is 40:1), Jeremiah continues:  "Cease your cries of mourning,/ wipe the tears from your eyes./ The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward, says the Lord,/ they shall return from the enemy's land." (Jer 31: 16).
It will take a long time, if ever, for the sorrow to be lifted from these families, the school community, ans from Newtown itself.  Such pain, intenstified by the shock of its suddenness, its extent and its untimely occurence so close to Christmas, will never go away.  However, we must believe, we must pray that in some ways, comfort will eventually come.  Each day there seems to be one tragedy or one occasion or another to bring us to our knees.  This for sure is a big one. It would be good to direct our Advent prayers and sacrifices toward these deceased innoncents for their eternal rest  and toward their mourning families, praying from the depths of our being, for their comfort.
Bro. Rene

Just A Crust Today

Time, a slow computer connection, Mass, a meeting and presentations in several classes are reducing today's daily bread to a simple reminder from Isaiah:
The Lord will guide you always, and give you plenty even on on the parched land.  He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.
(Is 58:11).
Bro. Rene

Santa Lucia

The Church sets aside its focus on Advent, in a way, to celebrate the Memorial of St. Lucy, a popular Sicilian saint who stays with us via music (Santa Lucia) candle celebrations and food!  What little we know about her justifies this centuries old devotion to her.  She made a vow of virginity as a young girl, and rather than break that vow, she ultimately gave her life, losing her eyes to the knife before actually succumbing to the sword.  Hence, she is the patron of  eyesight and her intercession is universally sought for the healing of eye maladies.  As a reminder of this role ,her statue traditionally includes a platter displaying her eyes.
Although she was martyred in Syracuse, Sicily in 304, her cult has had a major following in Scandanavia even after the Reformation and she is one of the few saints honored in the Lutheran Church.  Because her name means LIGHT in Latin, she is used as the basis for the celebration of  the longest night and Christmas Day, which was December 13th until 1753 in the old Julian Calendar.  Festive food and drink, prepared weeks in advance are served at banquest during which a young girl in a white robe and wearing a crown of burning candles makes her entry, really bringing light to the long winter darkenss.
St. Lucy and the St. Lucy Feast fit right into Advent as we look toward the Light of Christ coming at Christmas and at the end of time.  Over and over again during this season, Isaiah is quoted:  "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone." (Is 9: 1).  May St. Lucy shed light on our blindness, give us courage to give more of ourselves to Jesus, and help us through our actions  overcome the darkness and gloom of the worlld in which we live.
Bro. Rene

Roses in December

We can "fake" a Christmas in July for fun, especially if it's an exceptionally hot July, but roses in December?  Not as easily done,  and as such, a convincing sign given to Juan Diego, the simple peasant who saw a beauriful lady who wanted a church built on the hill where she was standing.  Juan was amazed to find roses in bloom at that time of year and thought sure the bishop would agree to Mary's request.  Little did he know that an even more spectacular sign was imprinted on his tilma.  That sign, which we now acknowledge as the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe still exists in all its full colorful splendor in the basilica outside of Mexico City.  Thousands will be there this day, 12/12/12, to pray for her intercession.
Mary, the roses, the tilma and Juan Diego himself are wonderful Advent figures...Mary, whose Son would bring salvation to the world; the roses, signs of hope and blessing in during the darkness of Advent; the image on the tilma of a pregnant peasant woman with the sun behind her and the evil one under her foot; and Juan, the representative of the poor, for whom Mary especially came, and to whom she continues to address the message of God's love and protection.  No wonder she has been named the Patroness of the Americas and the Protector of the Unborn...In her quiet, yet powerful simplicity, Mary underlines the message and mission of her Son:  to show God's unconditional and eternal love for us.  May Mary's presence today in our lives, as at Guadalupe, draw us into a deeper understanding  and appreciation of that love which extends into the minutest details of our lives.
Bro. Rene

Someone Finally Said It.

Terry Mattingly, Director of the Wahington Journalism Center at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, wrote a bold article, which I hope is syndicated across the nation, about the disappearence of Advent (not to mention Christmas) in the current commercialized frenzy of this interim period between Thanksgiving and December 25th.  Christmas lights abound on houses already, Christmas carols play in the stores, and the noise of "holiday clatter" overpowers the silent waiting of the season, still called Advent (toward the Coming).  Isaiah offers consoling words and images about the eventual Reign of God, but they along, with the shouting calls to repentance of John the Baptist  cannot heard in the din of what should be "the quiet season of Advent", but what is now an unfocused, blurry mixture that is neither Adent nor Christmas.  He also deplores the "new" end-date of Christmas...December 25th itself!  How often do we see those early erected Christmas trees on the sidewalk on December 26th?  The Song, The Twelve Days of Christmas",  certainly has not meaning in the very segment of time for which it was intended.  Should we just "throw in the towel" and declare a victory for the department store and on-line magnates?  No.  Let us make a concerted effort to observe Advent as intended.  This prayer might help:  "Holy Abba God.We are an expectant people, always rushing to accomplish things, only to expereince time slipping through our fingers.  We expect things to improve, hoping that somehow we will not always put you - and our relationship with you - on the back burner of our lives.
For this reason we pause for a moment in prayer.  Be with us during this season of Advent.  Help us to come to an appreciation of "holy waiting".  As once your people long ago waited for their Savior to be born, help us to enter into the spirit of celebrating the growing awareness of your Word in our lives.  Let the power of your Word not be buried or forgotten because of the press of our other obligations.
The food that we share, the relationships that we celebrate, are all signs of your love.  Help us appreciate them and enjoy your presence in each of the people, the events, and the experiences that make up our lives.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Savior. Amen."  --(Thank you, Denise).
Bro.  Rene

One Loving Heart

St. Augustine wrote that "One loving heart sets another on fire."  During Advent we are preparing to welcome that unique "Loving Heart", Jesus...at the end of time, in our daily encounters with others, and in a special way at Christmas....  Our care for others, our compassion...the writing and sending of Christmas cards, the giving of gifts, the gift or ourselves, donations to the Salvation Army, food donations to Lazarus House to help thousands who come each week for sustinence;  a word of advice, an instruction, an encouragement, a joke,  laughter, a piece of candy...all can kindle a similar fire those with whom we rub shoulders and brighten their lives and ultimately, our world. An anonymous poets sums it up succinctly: 
It hands hands to help others,
It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others.
This is what love looks like.
--Medjugore Day by Day.
Bro. Rene

Preparing the Way

"...the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert." (Lk 3: 2).  It did not come to Tiberius Ceasar, the Emperor of Rome, not to Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, not to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, not to Annas or Caiaphas, the high priests, but to an itinerant preacher, living in the desert, clothed in camel skins, and eating locusts and wild honey.  It was he who was called "to prepare the way of the Lord, and make straight his paths." (Lk 3: 4).  Typical of the way God works.  It's always the lowly, the fringe people, not those in high places, who are called to set the world ablaze.  So it was with David the shepherd, the youngest of his brothers, so it was with St. Marcellin, the second youngest of his family, the uneducated one, the shepherd and farm boy.  So it is with us.  We are not the folk of high places, but the ordinary people whose lives could be considered dull by those of wealth and power. It is in the desert of our "dullness" that we can receive the spark to ignite our lives and those of others.  What is there in the desert that can help us?  Well, there is simplicity, for sure...not much luxury, just the bare necessities to survive.  Again, simplicity, a very Marist virtue and trait.  With our "nothingness", we have plenty of fuel for the work to be done, for it becomes certain that it is not our fuel or energy helping us to make Jesus known and loved, but the energy and stamina that comes from Jesus himself through the Holy Spirit.  As we begin this second week of Advent, let us follow the example of John, let us BE John, preparing the way for Jesus to be more of a priority in our lives, and making straight the path, filling the valleys, and lowering the mountains in the circle in which we live, so as to prepare hearts to see the salvation of God so readily available to all who truly seek him with all their heart and soul.
Bro. Rene

Preserved From Original Sin

Our salvation began on this day, commemorated as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  Mary was conceived without original sin so that she would be the pure vessel to carry the pure Lamb of God who came into this world to take away our sins. The preface for today's Mass beautifully sums up the significance of this great privilege:  "For you preserved the most Blessed Virgin Mary from all stain of original sin, so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness of your grace, you might prepare a worthy Mother for your Son and signify the beginning of the Church, his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle.  She the most pure Virgin, was to bring forth a Son, the Innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offenses; you placed her above all others to be for your people an advocate of grace and a model of holiness."  This is just not Mary's feast, but it belongs to the Church, to all of us who are the Church.  Without Mary's acceptance of the invitation to become the Mother of Jesus, the Mother, of God, there would be no salvation, no Church.  Darkness would continue to prevail.  In God's plan, unhindered by the slightest blot of sin, she said YES...a little word that has changed the course of history and given us our Savior and the means to be fully united to our Creator.
Gratitude to God, to Mary, joy, relief, confidence, all are the "order of the day" as we ponder this mighty deed, this mighty plan of God.  May we not take it for granted, but show our appreciation by following our model in accepting God's plan for us.  A slow, meditative praying of the Hail Mary would be an appropriate way butter this slice of daily bread and to honor Mary by praying it frequently throughout the day.
Bro. Rene

According to Our Faith (Completed)

The Year of Faith begun on October 11th is approaching the two month mark as we move toward the end of the First Week of Advent.  Appropriately, being healed from blindness is the theme of today's readings for the Liturgy.  Isaiah writes, "Out of gloom and darkness,/ the eyes of the blind shall see."  (Is 29: 18)  and in the Gospel, two blind me cry out for healing. Jesus asks the telling question, "Do you believe that I can do this?"  "Yes, Lord,", they answer.  Jesus touches their eyes and says, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." (cf Mt 9: 27-31).  Evidently their faith even in approaching Jesus to ask, is strong enough, and they are healed.
God does not want us to walk in darkness, rather, he wants to touch and open our eyes, but our faith must come first. Admittedly, our faith is weak and needs strengthening.  That's what Advent and the Year of Faith are for.  By reflecting on the events of the First Coming of Jesus, we can be better prepared for our personal meeting with him at the hour of our death, and for his Second Coming at the end of time.  If we can humbly join with the shepherds in their belief in and worship of a little child, thus accepting that if God can become human, then anything is possible, even with us. How different would our lives be if lived every moment in this framework.  How different would our world be.  There would have been no Pearl Harbor, nor would there be a looming "fiscal cliff."  "Son of David, have pity on us (Mt 9:27) that we may see."
Bro. Rene

A Good Advent Model

Today the Church remembers St. Nicholas...a very popular saint in Europe and in the Eastern Church.  He is kept in his role as Bishop and protector of youth, whereas in this country, he has morphed into Santa Claus, a cheery old man who lives at the North Pole and delivers toys to GOOD children on Christmas Eve.  Much lore has arisen about Santa, including a wife, and elves...even the names of the reindeer who pull his sleigh across the sky.  Stories abound as well about St. Nicholas which emphasize his true role as a compassionate bishop and shepherd of his people during the persecution of Diocletian.  One moving story is told of a young boy, Basilius, who was kidnapped and forced to be a cup bearer for the Emperor.  His parents mourned his disappearance and kept prayerful vigil on its anniversary.  One year, while they were praying, the long-dead St. Nicholas snatched Basilius from the palace and brought him home to his praying parents while he was still holding the emperor's cup!  What joy to be reunited so miraculously with their son.
As we prepare for Christmas, we might keep in mind that little "miraculous" acts of kindness that we can do for others, especially the needy, during Advent will help us appreciate the great act of kindness that God has given us in sending us the gift of his Son as our Redeemer.
Bro. Rene

Accepting Our Poverty

Povery of spirit and, yes, material poverty, are necessary ingredients of a well-spent Advent.  Our waiting, our longing, our careful listening to the Prophet Isaiah, our "pondering these things in our hearts" with Mary are stark reminders that we are indeed dependent creatures...poor creatures, who need to be filled from outside ourselves, and ultimately by God.  The empty platter which we present to God as we beging Advent presupposes a willingness to accept whatever he places on it, with whatever he fills it.  Most often it's not what we would choose, but always, is better than what we would have choses.  This acceptance of our need, of our poverty allows us to become rich in the things that matter.
And again, on the material side of poverty...especially now with pressure building for Christmas shopping and gifts, do we NEED more material things this Christmas?  Do those on our Christmas list need more THINGS?  What other ways can we show our love?  Can we wrap a kind act, an offer to do something special with our time for them?  To pray for them, to have Masses offered for them?  One of our readers shared this beautiful prayer with me, which I would like to share with you:  In the midst of our busy world, our busy lives, we need your help to remind us Lord of what is important and necessary. While many of those things that we do not need will come to us in packages gleaming and bright, the one gift that will last comes from you alone, gracious God as we grow in our awareness of your love.

Bless us, our family , friends, and the food and the company that we share. Increase in us a growing urgency to celebrate the birth of your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.
A first Christmas gift!
Bro. Rene

It's The Now That Counts

Advent begins today.  It's now.  Now is the time to rouse from slumber, "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor 6:2).  The two letters of  St. Paul to the Thessalonians attempt to quell their anxiety about the Second Coming.  Like children on a trip, "Are we there yet?" they were plagued at the seeming delay of the Coming.  Paul reminds them that no one knows the day nor the hour, and advises them what to do in the NOW:  "We urge you, brothers and sistes, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one returns evil for evil, rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all.  Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing." (I Thess 5: 14-17).  If we haven't decided what to do for Advent here is a full list. Take your pick...all if you can.  Advent is a time for purification, yes, "And he shall purify the Sons of Levi that they may offer unto the Lord an offering of rigtheousness. "  (Mal 3:3)  He shall purify us most certainly if we take Paul's advice seriously.  Let's not delay, let's "JUST DO IT" NOW!
Bro. Rene
PS I will be in Esopus at Sharing our Call so there won't be a slicfe of Bread until Wednesday.

Being Aware

We all know how inefficient we become when drowsiness comes upon us, whether it be that long period of waking up till the first jolt of caffene jump starts our brain, or when in the late afternoon or early evening, our biological clock winds down and we become useless...the pillow being our only comfort.  Sometimes this drowsiness, due to an overcharge of activity can also make us oblivious not only to the time of day, but what day it actually is. For example, today is December 1st, that we might be aware of, but it is also the last day of the liturgical year as well as the First Saturday of the month.  And the world is commemorating it as World Aids Day, whose purpose is to make the world aware that a concerted effort might bring about a HIV -free generation by 2015.  So much goes on without our being aware of it. Hence Advent, when we set aside time to become aware:  "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkeness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.  (Lk 21: 34).  "That day" means the day when Jesus returns. but it can also mean with it's our turn to meet Jesus face to face.  More than carousing and drunkeness, for most of us, it's the anxieties of daily life than numb us.  So Advent then becomes a time for us to WAKE UP, pay attention to what is going on within and around us. 
Being the first Saturday, traditionally dedicated to Mary, we might take her as our Advent model:  Her pregnancy caused her to be very AWARE of the life within her as well as the life around her to insure a healthy birth.  As her focus was on the baby within her womb, Jesus, so too, our focus on Jesus within our hearts and in the hearts of others can keep us awake. The extra time we take for the next 3+ weeks can help further quicken our relationship with Jesus that might be suffering from spiritual drowsiness.
May we set some concrete goals for Advent, goals which will help us be vigilant, awake and aware.
Bro. Rene

Leaving All Behind

Reflecting on the little we know about St. Andrew, whose Feast we celebrate today, we might find the most telling description of him in the line from Mark:  "Then they (Peter and his brother Andrew) abandoned their nets and followed him". (Mk 1:18).  Walking away from the source of their income to follow Jesus could not have been an easy thing.  Who among us would be so free?  Yet, they saw something in this itinerant teacher that enabled them to take this risk.  Andrew remains loyal throughout the public life of Jesus and after his ascension, brings the Gospel to several countries around the Mediterranean Sea, dying a martyr's death on the X shaped cross, known as  "St. Andrew's Cross" in Achaia (Southern Greece) during the reign of the Emperor Nero.  The leaving of his nets to follow Jesus, in truth, symbolizes his total dedication to Jesus, even to the point of giving his life for him.
It is a basic tenet of the spiritual life that "leaving our nets", abandoning our wills, our plans, our opinions, what we hold most "sacred", when asked by Jesus is necessary if we are to grow into our full stature, into the best version of ourselves that is possible, into the saint that God intends us to be.  Because this is so hard to do, we are given opportunity after opportunity each day to leave something behind, set something aside, in order to Jesus to find a place in the space thus made available.  If we look at the GAIN rather than the LOSS, we might more readily be able to follow in the footsteps on Andrew and the other saints.
Bro. Rene

The Second Coming of Christ

Caught up as we are in our current events and concentrating on "just making it through the day", or "one day at a time", we need to be reminded, as the Church is doing in this phase of the Liturgical Year, that we are moving to a point where Jesus will come again to turn over all of creation to the Father and establish the permanent "Reign of God."  Christ will come again, and with him there will be no sorrow, no wrangling, violence, injustice or despair. We need to remember this as the doom and gloom "conspiracy" penetrates more and more into our view of the world with its multiple problems.
The readings at Mass currently are featuring the Book of Revelation and Jesus' "last discourses" which describe the "end times".  Revelation was written when the young Church was already under heavy persecution and the promised return of Jesus was becoming apparently less immanent than first believed.  Talk about discouraging times!  Yet this book is full of hope because it sings the praises of the triumphant Lamb and the arrival of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, as a bride adorned for her bridegroom...the Church as the Bride of Christ.  2000 years later, we still await his coming, which will happen, but striving and struggle are evidently still needed to prepare for it.  Hence the seasons of Advent and Lent, which call us to make a special effort to "get with the program"...tune up, as it were, our spiritual engines, and live the challenges of the Gospel with more sincerity and authenticity.  That is, not just with our lips or thoughts, but with our behavior. Come  Lord Jesus, take over my life and strip me of all that stands in the way of following you as closely as possible. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Remaining Faithful

A recent survey of young adults revealed that there is an increasing number of people for whom God is "not on their radar screen."  We see this stance reflected in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday frenzy as well as in our empty churches.  It's not as if there were a major persecution driving people underground or scaring them away from public worship...it's more like a gradual melting away of the fervor that was generated, for example, by the real need and feel for prayer during World War II.  Prosperity, change, and apathy might be counted among the factors that have brought us to this present state. 
As we prepare for Advent, the Church looks at Jesus description of persecutions to be expected.  When the Gospels were written down, these had already begun.  "You will be hate by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." (Lk 21: 18) Jesus reminds us of his fidelity to us in the midst of persecution.  If so then, surely in these times of indifference, he is present also. "By your perseverance, you will secure your lives."  (Lk 21: 19).  Our own meditation and personal prayer which deepen our knowledge and love of Jesus will help us remain faithful.  Let us not hesitate to pray:  "Lord, keep me humble, keep me faithful; increase my trust and I will return your love with mine."
Bro. Rene

Joyful, Joyful 2

To see the video, click on the site .  Sorry for the delay...The wait will be worth it.

Br. Rene

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be> 

Unfortunately, I could not find the edit button in time to correct a typo above and to add that sadness often comes on the edge of joy, yet joy abides deep within and eventually stabilizes the outer distress.  For instance, we began on such a happy, upbeat not as we watched, those who succeeded in opening the link, but at the end of the day, the very sad news that St. Agnes Boys High School in Manhattan will close at the end of this academic year. It began as a grammar school in 1904, one hundred and eight years ago.  178 brothers taught there and many vocations were sprung from its student body, most notably, Br. Sean Sammon, former Superior General of the Marist Brothers.  No brothers are on the faculty currently, but the school continues a strong adherence to the Marist Mission and definitlely bends over backwards to serve "the least favored."  It's demise is truly like the death of family's loved one.  The joy of knowing that it has faithfully kept the vision of St. Marcellin alive for over a century, and that it's mission is accomplished, counterbalances the sadness of this loss to future generations.  God will provide, but I still needto click on the Joyful link.
Bro. Rene

Joyful, Joyful

This morning's written slice of bread will be very short so that you might relish what you are about to see on the YouTube site.  One note, one smile, one kind word can have a huge symphonic effect on people of all ages.  This is a good pre-Advent preparation for the movement from darkness to light, the Light of Christ, the light of Christmas.  It is a reminder of the power of goodness, of the risen Christ, our King.  Enjoy.
Bro. Rene
Som Sabadell flashmob - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be>  

Are You the King of the Jews?

George F.  Handel's Messiah comes to mind as we celebrate the the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  We are all familiar with the verses from the book of Revelation which he encased in his sublime score:  "The kingdom of this has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever." (Rev 11:15) And further:  "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Rev 19: 16).  We imagine a triumphant king to whom all of creation bows in homage.  Yet, when Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus was not wearing a crown nor royal robes and, yes, affiirming that he was a king, he pointed out that his kingdom was not of this world and that he had come into the world to bear witness to the truth--he came to introduce the love and justice of God into a world that was built on corruption and lies.  Earlier in his ministry Jesus had said, "If you remain true to my word, you will know the truth and the truth will make you free."  (Jn 8:32 ).  Such was his kingdom and such is the King we laud today.
Jose Pagola writes, "Being faithful to the gospel of Jesus is a unique experience, for it leads to a liberating truth, which is able to make our lives more human.  Jesus Christ is the only truth we are entitled to live."  Today we might look into our hearts to see what is true and what is false in the way we are following Jesus.
So many other things creep so subtlely and easily into our lives that we don't even see them. Lord, let me know the truth and live it.
Bro. Rene

Always Hope

An e-mail from one of my former students in Rwanda describes a situation that is not necessarily front page news in the USA.  Because Rwanda has been accused of aligning with the rebels in north eastern Congo, the United States and several European countries have cut back on their aid and now the effect is being keenly felt with people dying of starvation and banks cutting off credit.  What I saw this summer as a prospering, vibrant country is not beginning a downslide.  Where and when it will end remains to be seen.  This young father of two has asked for our prayers for Rwanda and its people.
In contrast to this, the class reunion of 2007 was filled with Central alumni who are working, or still in school pursuing medical or masters' degrees.  Taking what they learned about service to the least favored,some have been engaged in service trips to the Third World while in college, and are organizing such trips among their colleagues where they work.  How satisfying is that? The gathering was charged with youthful energy, optimism and generosity.  While things on one hand seem bleak, then comes something like this to remind us that there is always hope.  The Holy Spirit is at work; Jesus has conquered all evil and death. What we see as "bad" is often a call for us to turn our eyes on Jesus for the solution and to pull ourselves back from where we have wandered spiritually to the "golden road" of Faith, Hope and Love.
Bro. Rene

Lest We Forget

Thanksgiving might have overshadowed another event which is etched in our national memory, the assisination of President John F. Kennedy 49 years ago on November 22.  Columnist Rick Holms and official town historian of Derry, NH, reminded us or yesterday's anniversary in an article which caused me to pause and reflect.  He quoted the editor of the Derry News who wrote after the funeral, "The passing of President Kennedy came to remind us of ourselves, of our national direction and of our institutions.  It brought this nation together for the past five days in thoughtful introspection as might only happen once in a lifetime.  And in so in passing, this tragic, untimely death still might serve some purpose--if we will but let it."
Much food for thought nearly 50 years later.
Today the Church,, as is its custom, remembers three saints, Pope St. Clement, St. Columban and Blessed Miguel Pro.  Father Pro, a young Jesuit, in his short life, inspired Catholics under persecution in Mexico and as his story was told, inspired us in the United States.  I remember our Sister in grammar school telling us the story of his martyrdom kneeling with arms outstretched in the shape of a cross, with a makeshift cross in his hands and with the words, Vivat Christo Rey...Long Live Christ the King reverberating in the courtyard where he was shot. As kids of the '40's we talked among ourselves of our own willingness (or not), to die such a martyr's death.
It's odd, isn't it, how we can find inspiration and the desire to imitate in the lives and deaths of those who have gone before us.   Hence the wisdom in presenting these models to us daily or on their anniversaries, lest we forget.
Bro. Rene

Thanksgiving 2012

The First Thanksgiving celebrated a frutiful harvest after a long, arduous struggle for survival and the establishment of a colony where this daring group of settlers we now call Pilgrims could practice their religion in peace.  It meant adapting to a new climate, methods of farming, and making friends with the "First Americans" whose land they encroached upon.  Despite the challenges and difficulties, all were able to share a meal together and give thanks to the Almighty for the blessing which brought them to this point.
Thanksgiving 2012, a long time since Thanksgiving l621, still contains elements of struggle, challenge, and unsettledness even on a much wider scale.  Peace throughout the word is fragile, to say the least, the loss of values, and for some even the loss of the religious nature of Thanksgiving now overshadowed by the recent monster, Black Friday,...the list can go on...but they all point to the need to STOP and really take time to use the day as it was intended:  to give thanks to God for all the blessings that have brought us to this day, symbolized by the food on the table, and realized in the people gathered around it.  A prayer for those who have less and for a return to the values upon which this celebration was built would also be in order. Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, proclaimed this National Day of Thanksgiving to be the fourth Thursday in November in the middle of the Civil War, seeing the need for thanks and for God's mercy,...
Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic Bishop of the United States,  composed a prayer in 1791that is still relevant today.  May it become our prayer as well.
We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
Bro. Rene

The Presentation of Mary

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary, appearing in the Eastern Church, Jerusalem, to be exact, in the sixth century is based on the story appearing in the apocryphal Gospel of St. James, and thus has no real historical basis, but theologically, it fits with Mary's total dedication to God stemming from her Immaculate Conception to her complete compliance and availability at the Annunciation.  Mary is God's chosen instrument from the beginning of her existence, indeed from all eternity, for we read in  Jeremiah 1:5 "Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you."  If such could be said about a prophet, how much more about the Mother of God?
So it is very plausible that all her life, Mary's heart belonged to God and that the story of a three-year old being presented in the temple symbolizes this dedication.  It also is a reminder to us that our origins were seen and blessed by God before we were conceived and that our full happiness and completion of our being comes with total dedication to God...whatever God wants from us, we freely give. The poetry and rich imagery of St. Germanus, the Patirarch of Constantinople (715-730),  might help us appreciate the beauty of this feast and help us appreciate and love Mary more.
"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory, jewel most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for the whole world, heaven showing forth the glory of God. Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise, sanctuary dedicated to God and raised above all human condition, virgin soil, unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain pouring out waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing man, hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your most acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of motherhood, to our Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son who was born of you without a father, steer the ship of the Church and bring it to a quiet harbor" (adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the Presentation of the Mother of God).

Bro. Rene

Giving at Thanksgiving

With more people on "hard times" this year, pantries and soup kitchens are being stretched beyond what they thought were their limits.  One pantry in Boston is even given chickens, instead of turkeys, because they are cheaper and will go futher to meet the need.  People are rising to the occasion, and see this as an opportunity not to give because "I am better off than you," but because "you and I are really in the same boat"...totally dependent on God and others for what we have and what we need.  Givers usually have a hard time receiving, or accepting their dependence on others, so it's helpful to put oneself in the shoes of the receiver and realize what humility is needed to be a receiver.  In so doing, we receive a valuable lesson, one that can help us become more cheerful, less focused on ourselves as we give, and more centered on the good achieved in the lives of the receivers.  Lord, banish all self-centeredness from my heart, and help me to see myself as a receiver, especially from you, the giver of all good gifts.  In that spirit, let me more willingly and cheerfully give to others and in so doing acknowledge my gratitude to you.  Amen.
Bro. Rene

Looking Up to the Mountains

Psalm 121 begins with a look at the mountains:  I will lift up my eyes to the mountains/ From where shall my help come? (Ps 121: 1). Older translations leave out the question mark and make it declarative:  "from thence comes my help.  But all translations affirm that My help comes from the Lord, / Who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121: 2)  Anyone who has looked at a mountain cannot deny that it is truly an awesome, beautiful sight...it is might and strength in an undeniablly visible form, and could easily be seen as a source of strength.  Because a mountain allows us to come closer to the heavens, it has been a traditional place of worship, or for the Oglala Lakota, the site of a "vision quest", a four-day experience of listening to the voice of God.  Any mountain climber knows the challenges a mountain offers, and the exhilirartion that comes from reaching the summit.  Yet it is from beyond the mountain that help comes.  It is the Creator of the mountain who is the real source of strength and ultimate satisfaction.  Reaching the heights of God himself is our real goal and purpose.  May we not be led astray by the mountains of materialism or false values. Let us keep focus our eyes beyond these mountains.
Bro. Rene

The End Times

As we move closer to the end of the Liturgical Year (Christ the King, next Sunday and the First Sunday of Advent after that), we become aware through the change of season, the "empty" trees, and hype about Black Friday, that indeed life moving on..  But to what?  Today's apocalyptic images of the sun darkening and the stars falling from the heavens only add to the bleakness we already see and the gloomy future that looms ahead of us globaly, but this preparatory season rightly calls to mind that in the end, it is Christ who will reign, the new heavens and new earth will come to pass and accompanied by the angels, we will arrive at our heavenly home where there is no time of space.  "But the wise shall shine brightly/ like the splendor of the fimrmament,/ and those who lead the many to justice/ shall be like the stars forever." (Dan 12:3).  This is not a time for cringing or fearing or despair, but a time to remember the consoling words of Isaiah, "The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not affliction./ You will call upon me, and I will answer you,/ and I will lead back your captives from every place." (Jer 29: 11,12,14). Sometimes on a cloudy night the glow of the moon can be partly distinguishable, but then the clouds break and there in soft splendor is the moon itself; or the same during the day, when the sun breaks through the clouds...so it is with the end of time.  The darkness will be dispelled forever and Jesus, the Light of the World Shall Reign... "May the Lord rescue us  from every evil threat and bring us safe to his heavenly kingdom. Amen " (2 Tim 4:18).
Bro Rene

Our Marian Face

Brother Emili Turu, out Superior General, has underlined our Marist Mission with a Marian Face.  Not only does he want to see this in our schools, which for so many are the primary places where students encounter the Church in which they were baptized, but he would like to see us advocate for and evangelize the Church itself to put on a Marian Face.  By this he means a more loving, compassionate, motherly community in which all feel welcome, all find encouragement and support to allow the goodness God has placed in their hearts to blossom.  What mother does not want what is best for her child?  What mother does not strive to DO what is best for her child?  Witness how mothers protect, guide, inspire.  She may be stern when the situation warrants, but she is usually not the "cold administrator."  Why do children always want to cuddle up to their mothers?  For the warmth, for the security, for the assurance that all shall be well. The New Evangelization is not simply a re-learning of facts, but of LIVING out the Gospel of compassion, and love.  On this Saturday, a day traditionally devoted to Mary, let us ask her that we, and thus the Church, become more like her.
Bro. Rene

United To Serve

The Sandy Calamity has made us aware of the fragility of our existence and the need for others to support us in concrete, tangible ways, as well as by listening, advising, and praying.  To have "lost everything" a refrain uttered by many on the Jersey Shore and even inland...to have had trees crush houses and cars, to have lost electricity for two weeks...these certainly take their toll.  Thanksgiving food drives remind us that for some, living from hand to mouth is not an occasional reality, but a year long way of life, a life which would be unbearable without the presence and help of others. Daily we hear stories of spouse abuse, child neglect, homelessness.  Begging hands are reaching out on all sides for helping hands.  Each of us, organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary and Exchange, schools, churches, the Salvation Army are helping to do what we can.  We may not reach all, but it becomes clear that together, united, we can serve to bring healing and help to those in need.  Let us not turn our backs on the bell ringers in front of stores or on street corners; let us not refuse to share extra food, let us find time to bring the compassion and love of Jesus to those who have so much less than we or who are in dire straights because of natural disasters of the loss of jobs.
Bro. Rene

The Universal Teacher

Although he lived in the 13th century, St. Albert the Great, whose Memorial we celebrate today, spans the centuries with the message of his teaching and life to retain without question the title of "The Universal Teacher."  His interests and writings are encylopedic and include, beside biblical and theological works, treatises on logic, metaphysics, ethics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, human anotomy, animal physiology, geography, geology and botany. He is admired for his recognition of the power and potential of human reason and experience, but he always gave top priority to the Scriptures as the source of human spirituality and wisdom.  What a statement for us today when humanism to the extreme is more and more arroganrly separating human wisdom and knowledge from Divine Faith!  Such a division can only lead to the brick wall of despair and hopelessness, for the created will never satisfy the quest for the Creator.  A cursory look at our world today and the direction in which it is headed, unfortunately, substantiates this fact.  Pope Benedict's call for a Year of Faith comes at a crucial time; a return to the basic tenets of our Faith is needed to repair the gap between faith and reason.  St. Albert must have prayed thus, giving us an example for our own prayer:  Lord, I hear you say, '"Trust in me.  Have a boundless faith in me, and you will see, and seeing, will give me all the glory.  Remember and say often, 'Not by might, nor by power nor by knowledge alone, but by your Holy Spirit will I find what I seek.'" Lord, please give me this humility and trust.
Bro. Rene

Serving the Least Favored

"Superstorm" Sandy has left an indelible mark on the coastal areas of New Jersey and New York.  Destruction and disruption are the word of the day, and, no doubt, for many more days to come.  Huge relief and reconstruction efforts are underway, and in time most of the physical scars will be gone, leaving only those in the psyche's of Sandy's victims. With all this chaos right on our own shores, we can imagine a bit more realistically what suffering people in other parts of the world are undergoing, say, for instance in Syria and Haiti.  Word from FMSI (Marist International, our organization which serves the world's poor) informs us of distructive and disruptive situations which have no end in sight.  Yet, our Marist Presence there is offering some rays of hope.
In Syria, the "Marist Blues", lay volunteers working with a few Marist Brothers are providing food and other necessities to refugees who have come to a "safe quarter" in Alepo...relatively safe, as rebels move closer and mortar shells fall more and more frequently.  A bright note was sounded when Moslems came to volunteer to help the Marist Blues with their mission.  Working side by side at this level, Christians and Moslems are demonstrating that a peaceful yet diverse community is possible.
Haiti recently observed the second anniversary of the earthquake that changed life in Port au Prince dramatically. Right there in the midst of the lingering ruins of the city, the Marist Brothers are engaged in their mission of education, seeing to it that orphans farmed out to "host families" are given the opportunity to receive at least a basic education.  The brothers are pressuring the host families to enroll in schools the orphans known as "little domestic workers" (in some cases, a euphemism for "slaves") in their care.  The brothers are also encouraging these families and civil authorities to make known the wherabouts of other such children so that they too will have the opportunity for an education. 
The charism and energy of St. Marcellin lives on in these dedicated brothers and in the generosity of the world-wide Marist Family, which is helping to fund these projects. Something else to add to our gratitude list on Thanksgiving.
Bro. Rene

The Weak Things of the World

When looking at ourselves, it's usually our weaknesses and faults that dominate our self-assesment; these often become the excuse for our unwillingness to step out of our boxes and "go forth to make a difference."  If great founders such as Mother Cabrini or St. Marcellin had let their "poor me" attitude, paralize them,  the world would be much poorer, and, for one thing, you would not be nourishing your soul on Bro. Rene's Daily Bread.
 We honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini today, the first American citizen to be canonized.  I well remember the excitement among Catholics in 1946 when her sainthood was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII.  Looking at her origins, this shouldn't have happened.  When as a young girl she tried to enter the convent, she was refused due to poor health.  She returned home to work on the family farm with her brothers and sisters, and later taught catechism in an all girls school so successfully that her Bishop asked her to found her own congregation, which became known as the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She had founded several schools in Italy before Pope Leo commissioned her to come to the United States to minister to Italian Immigrants, which she did for the next 28 years.  So much for her poor health!  She was gifted with the grace of bi-location, being present in two cities at once on several occasions.  She founded hospitals, schools and orphanages from New York to Seattle, as well as schools  in Agentina, Brazil and Nicaragua  Her legacy continues to this day.
She, like St. Marcellin, reminds us of the oft-quoted verse from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians:  "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Cor 2:7). Such being the case, none us has an excuse behind which to hide.  Mother Cabrini, St. Marcellin, help us to place our foolishness and our weakness in God's hands so that he can use us to help others enter the Reign of God.  Amen.

The Mustard Seed

Jesus challenged us to have the faith even the size of a mustard seed and so be able to move mountains. (Luke 17: 6).  We might think this is quite impossible for us, being familiar with our "lack" of faith.  Yet, in may ways, we do have that faith, and have moved mountains, perhaps without even knowing it.  Our fidelity to who we are, to our daily prayer, to the sacraments, especially to the Eucharist, the kind words we speak or write in e-mails, texts, or letters.  The phone calls, the converations in the parking lot, our politeness at the check out line...these all touch people and perhaps are the answer to their need or their prayer. 
As we remember our Veterans today, we reap the benefits their faith in and duty to our country.  We still have the freedoms for which they fought and died, we have their example of selfless service, of sacrifice. Many are in VA hospitals, handicapped from their wounds, on-going witnesses, living mountains built  from the seed of their faith.  Let us continue to honor them;  let us not belittle our own simple sacrifices and gifts of self to others.  We are the mustard seed.
Bro Rene

Giving

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, as frightening as that may sound, so it's time to look at the GIVING that makes up part of the word and the reason for the celebration.  This is also Veteran's Day, when we set time aside to honor those who have given years of their lives, and in some cases, their lives themselves, for the sake of others.  Providentially, the readings for today's Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary time speak of incredible giving, not of huge amounts of money such as Donald Trump or Bill Gates might provide, but a giving that far surpases that of these wealthy men.  The prophet Elijah, despite knowing of the Widow of Zarephath's dire poverty, has the gall (and the confidence) to ask for a cake.  She willingly shares her last bit of flour and oil to satisfy his request and provide one last meal for her and her son.  Her gift immediately comes back to her and she never runs out of these items for the duration of the drought.
The Widow in the temple, noticed by Jesus, gives her last two coins to the temple treasury with the intention of helping those who have less.  She receives the acclaim of Jesus and is immortalized as the model of giving:  from substance, not from surplus. 
These examples should stir us to look deeply into our hearts and to our own motives for and practices of giving.  Yes, it seem we are plagued daily by mailings from one organization or another to support the hungry, seminarians, retired religions, orphans, etc. etc.  Yet right in our own communities, there are soup kitchens and organizations who are providing meals for those who would not otherwise eat.  It's time now, as we plan our own Thanksgiving meals, to determine how  we can GIVE to provide others with a reason to give thanks.  It might be money, food, or time, but if it comes from our substance and not simply our surplus, we are in good company, and though we are not looking for it, it will come back to us in way we cannot imagine.
Bro. Rene

Temples of the Spirit

Today's Feast, the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the "Mother Church of Christendom" the real See of the Bishop of Rome, not St. Peter's, calls us to look at "temple" from several points of view.  First, there is an obvious reference to the Temple of Jerusalem, the designated dwelling place of God, where the Ark of the Covenant was honored in the Holy of Holies.  Jesus referred to himself as the temple which would be destroyed and raised up in three days, a thought totally missed by the Scribes and Pharisees and their followers. Since the temple was located in Jerusalem, there is a close association with Jerusalem itself as a symbol of God's dwelling place, now the Church, also known as the "Bride of Christ."  Finally, there is the level of looking at each one of us as temples wherein dwells the Holy Spirit given to us at Baptism.  This last category carries huge implications especially relevant today, when a disbelief in God, (for some), and certainly of the Indwelling of the Spirit, has reduced the human body from a magnificent temple, to a temporary vehicle for an earthly existence that ceases with death.  When there is no reverence for the body as the temple of God, life becomes cheap, "anything goes", that is, "if it feels good, do it" and "if it's painful, end it."  We just have to look at the recent passage of laws to see that this view is becoming more and more prevalent.  Let us deepen our belief in the sacredness of life, our bodies and our eternal destinies and help others by action and conversation to become more open and accepting of the truth that God has created each one of us as a temple in which he can live and move and give us the fullness of our being.
Bro. Rene

A Needed Sign of Hope

We look beyond the Province of the United States this morning for a needed sign of hope.  Thank God for our global Marist World.  Recently in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 800 boys and girls from the Province of Rio Grande do Sul attended a day-long conference to educate them about their role in the larger community. The topics presented and discussed touched the real issues that are part of the lives of teens:  proper and positive use of social networking; the neurological effects of drugs on the ability to learn and on the formation and exercise of conscience; the power a person can have on him or herself and others; and respect for life from beginning to natural end.  A workshop on sign language as an example of how the handicapped can be integrated into society. Prayer also found an important place on the agenda:  in small group prayer and in the larger celebration of the Divine Office of Youth...a lively adaptation of the Prayer of Christians to make it a helpful experience of communal prayer for youth.
 Often, when things in our own yard seem to be out of control, we look over the fence and receive inspiration from our neighbor's beautiful and orderly yard and then implement what we've seen in our own...or at least take consolation in seeing that something better is possible.  Instead of a myopic despair, we can rise again with the strength of the larger community and the grace of the Spirit at work in it.  Lord, thank you for our Marist World and the power of the Spirit at work in it. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Putting Faith to the Test

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" wrote Charles Dickens in describing the climate of the French Revolution in his classic,  ATale of Two Cities, and that phrase has been borrowed many a time since he wrote it.  One might apply it to our own country as we plunge ahead for the next four years under our re-elected leadership.  One of the regular contributors to our Marist Young Adult Newsletter, Luis Ramos, a deeply spiritual and faith-filled young man, wrote a piece this morning looking at the election as a personal call to a deeper faith.  How different would elections be if guided by faith rather than by partisan politics and lust for power!
And on the social issues, the near victory for the "death with dignity", doctor assisted suicide referendum in Massachusetts is a shocking statement of a wide drift from Judeo-Christian morals and beliefs.  The pursuit of truth urged by Pope Benedict's call for a Year of Faith becomes more and more necessary as we see uninformed voters attempting to legalize one former taboo after another, based a short-sighted view of existence, i.e. that life on this planet is all there is, and that we simply evaporate when die.  Life after death?  Life with God?  What is that?  Who is God???
The spread of such ignorance of the truth calls for, demands a deepening of our knowledge and practice of the "Faith of our Fathers."  Lord teach me to live and move by faith.
Bro. Rene

A Call To All

Recently, Br. Emili Turu, Superior General of the Marist Brothers, addressed the Synod on the New Evangelization as a guest who heads a Congregation of 3,700+ vowed educators and 60,000 lay Marist colleagues.  This cohort of Evangelizers can and should be making a profound impact on the lives, attitudes, beliefs and practices of their charges, and thus serve as a leaven in the loaf of the entire mission of the Church.  Br. Emili reminds us that "The Catholic school is right at the "heart of the Church": it participates in the evangelizing mission of the Church and is the privileged environment in which Christian eduction is carried out." (The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millenium 11)  He went on to say,   "There is an urgency in this epoch for Catholic parents, educators and "each baptized person to take seriously their Christian vocation and live it in depth, not as a burden, but through the conviction that is the path that leads to full self-realization: to be disciples of Jesus, called to live in community, who witness above all by the quality of their lives and their commitment. And it also seems to me extremely important to be very attentive to the signs of the times, through which the Spirit speaks to us."  He noted attitudes that should be abandoned if our efforts at evanglization are to ring true and touch the hearts of others, for example: "the arragonce of presenting ourselves as persons or institutions that already know it all, that have answers for everything and don't need to learn from anyone.  We should learn to be humble, to approach other people with respect, and be disposed to be evangelized by them.  Dialogue is fundamental, not as a strategy, but as a basic attitude."  Holy Spirit, let this message penetrate to the depth of my being so that I may act on it and live it as part of who I am.  Amen.
Bro. Rene

"Let The Truth Find You"

Pilate's question to Jesus, "Quid est veritas?". "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38) has a universal and timeless base.  Something deep within us asks that same question over and over again.  In these times when lying and deception seem to be the order of the day, the quest for the truth is even more poignant.  So many young people are growing up "uninformed" because basic truths are not being taught.  They search all over from the latest fads to ancient philosophers and other religions for the truth. Thank God they are searching; at least that is a sign of hope.
The recent film, Restless Heart, based on the Confessions of St. Augustine, vividly and unashamedly depicts Augustine's search for truth and his ultimate conversion.  A line that leaps out even today, as it did for him, came from the lips and heart of St. Ambrose, who spoke with authority:  "Man doesn't find the truth. Man must let the truth find him."  The Truth is a person, the Truth is Jesus Christ.  "I am the way the truth and the life." (Jn 14:6). When Augustine met and accepted the truth, how his life changed, how strong and happy he became, how ready to be the Bishop of Hippo whose writings and thoughts influenced thinkers for a thousand years, and to some extent, still do today. During this Year of Faith, making Augustine's quest our own, looking deeper into what we believe and why we believe it,  even reading his Confessions, might help us grow in our understanding and acceptance of the Truth, in our relationship with Jesus, and become a powerful force and guide to those who are seeking the Truth.  St. Augustine, remove the obstacles that prevent the Truth from finding me.
Bro. Rene

Living Our Faith

Our faith cannot be real unless it is based in love, complete love of God with all our being.  Our love of God cannot be real unless it includes love of neighbor, a love of respect, concern and readiness to give up comfort, time, our self-centered thinking and behavior, and even, when the occasion arises, our lives.  Such a real faith, as Blessed Charles de Foucauld has written, "inspires all one's actions,...strips the world of its masks and reveals God in all things...abolishes the notion of 'impossible' and empties the words 'anxiety', 'danger', and 'fear' of their meaning...gives life calm, peace, and deep joy."   Certainly these are the prizes we seek.  If our prayer time is "quality time" we will find ourselves "putting on Christ" (Rm 13:14) and becoming more like him and through his Spirit, enabled to live our faith in these real and tangible ways.  What can I do today to grow in my love of God, neighbor and deepen my faith? After all, it is "the Lord's day."
Bro. Rene

Being Attentive

The familiar psalm 42 speaks of our longing for God:  "As the hind longs for the running waters,/ so my soul longs for you, O God./ Athirst is my soul for God, the living God." (Ps 42 1).  With confidence we can reverse this longing and use these words to describe God's longing for us:  As the hind longs for the running waters, so do I, your God, long for YOU!  God manifests his longing for us by his words spoken in the beauty of nature, our Fall-colored and falling leaves, the last roses of summer, the beauty of friendships that never die, the answering of our prayers, the example of parents, teachers, simple people whose loving response to God has raised them to sainthood, the Word of God itself, the sacraments which make God's presence and action visible.  We simply need to hone our senses to be attentive to these countless methods God is using to say, "I love you, I am with you each step of your way, and assure you that MY WAY is a thousand times better for you than what you think it best for yourself.  Be attentive, listen, I will show you that best way. No one is too insignificant for me to ignore.
Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Martin de Porres, the illegitimate son of a Spanish Knight and black woman, born in Lima, Peru in 1679. His love of all peoples, or animals and his use of his medical skills on all, as the "slave of the slaves" who who came to the shores of Peru from Africa, have won him the titles of Patron of the Poor and Patron of Social Justice.  Did he ever dream of such honors as he went about treating wounds and illnesses?  No, but he was certainly attentive to the voice of God calling him to such a ministry.  He was the vessel of God's love for these thousands who never would have otherwise experienced God.  May we be attentive today God's voice, and become more aware of how he wishes to be part of our lives.
Bro. Rene

Praying for All Souls

Funerals are difficult, even with our faith and hope in life eternal.  Yet we "move on" as they say, eventually arriving at a comfortable level of inner peace, believing for sure that "the souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall affect them". (Wisdom 3:1)  In its wisdom over the centuries, the Church has set aside this day and this month to urge us to REMEMBER and to PRAY for those who have gone "to the other side," for even with the best of intentions and the depth of our love for our deceased, our memories of them can fade, and as generations pass, ancestors can be completely forgotten.  So we take this time to call to mind our faithful departed and pray that their journey to God, if not complete already, might be helped by our prayers.  Catholic belief includes a time for purification, for readying to stand before God face to face.  Purgatory is the name given to this stage of the journey and Masses for the happy repose of these souls are offered for all souls and in particular for those written on envelopes or in Books of the Dead, a custom growing in popularity.  Central Catholic has made it possible to e-mail the names of deceased members of our families through a link on our website:  www.centralcacholic.net. These names are written in a book which is placed in our chapel and which will be used at the Marist Nite Mass on November 7th at the Brothers Residence at 12 Sheridan Street.  In addition to this opportunity, it is our family duty to pray daily for the souls of all the faithful departed during the whole month, as busy as it can get.  Let us be in tune with our Church and our loved ones during this month of the Holy Souls.
Bro. Rene

Our Invitation to Holiness

As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, we not only remember the thousands of saints who have gone before us, whose trials, purifications, extraodinary self-giving, and full development of their gifts have been recognized and rewarded, we also face the challenge of living our lives in such a way that we become the best possible version of ourselves,  of the full person that God intends us to be.  The example of the saints encourages us and helps us realize that yes, we too can love generously and go beyond the bare minimum to reach levels  beyond what we thought possible for us.  With God's grace, we can correct those faults which separate us from others, or cause annoyance or even pain.  We can walk the extra mile or bear the  unbearable burden. We can bring cheer and hope to others by recognizing their goodness.  We can help them deal with their worries or fears.  We know not yet the full power of our own presence. And we are not alone; we are part of the Communion of Saints.  As part of our Year of Faith,  we might take  time with our patron or favorite saint, reflecting on their lives, or praying to them for the graces we need to imitate them and thus walk more closely with Jesus.  This day has been set aside no simply as a "holy day of obligation," but as one that can help us grow in holiness, if we make good use of it. 
Bro. Rene

Sandy's Aftermath

The huge storm known as Sandy, has had an impact that will be felt for months to come.  Some are still without power (as is the case in our residence, knocking out our internet connection for a time--hence no daily bread yesterday), some without homes, having lost everything, and many questioning a God who could allow such devastation to happen.  When our lives and our routines are disrupted so radically, we tire, we are disoriented, "lost", becoming forgetful of time, obligations and even our usualy courteous behavior. Our ugly side comes to the fore.  Yet God speaks to us despite the darkness and chaos:  "Christ is our Light",  or "For you who fear my name, there will arise/ the sun of justice with its healing rays." (Mal 3:20).  As I write the sun has begun pouring through my window.  The new and refreshing "tomorrow" always comes.  "At the end of a long night of sleeplessness or suffering, sunrise brings joy and hope for the day to come." (Magnificat p. 294). There couldn't have been a darker or more chaotic moment than when Jesus died on the cross, yet three days later as the sun rose, so did Jesus from the tomb.  It's a leap from a devastated home or crushed car to the empty tomb in Jerusalem, but the truth is, there is always a brighter side, a brighter day.  Sandy has taken away, but also has given us the opportunity to grow in our faith, hope,trust and, the  love we may be called  upon to give to those who suffer more than we do.Sun of Justice in all our dealings with loved ones or strangers, enlighten our hearts with faith and the light of your love. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Shelter From The Storm

How often does it happen that a Scripture passage just leaps out at the appropriate moment?  Time and time again,  the Living Word appears to assure us that God is very much in charge and we have nothing to fear.  Such was the case earlier this morning in the midst of the media bombardments about Sandy, the Superstorm, that this passage from Isaiah was the antiphon for Psalm 5 in Magnificat's Prayer for the Morning:  "Over all, his glory will be shelter and protection:/ shade from the parching heat of the day,/ refuge and cover from the storm and rain." (Is 4:6).   And again before the Canticle of Zechariah:  "You are a refuge to the poor,/ a refuge to the needy in distress;/ shelter from the rain,/ shade from the heat." (Is 25:4).  How blessed are we to have these reminders of God's loving care and protection, especially when a constant diet of predictions of rising tides, coastal floodings, power outages and anticipatory cancellations is bound to raise the anxiety level of even the most serene psyches.  Our true shelter is in the God who made heaven and earth and promises shelter and refuge even in the worst of situations.  We simply need to see storms from God's perspective, as with illness, as with other challenges that are part of our human condition.  "The eyes of the lord are upon those who love him;/ he is their mighty shield and strong support,/ a shelter from the heat, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling." (Sirach 34: 16).
Bro. Rene

Jean-Baptiste Montagne Day

Today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, so the memorial of Sts. Simon and Jude is supressed.  Unnoticed in the liturgical year is today's anniversary of St. Marcellin's visit to the dying sixteen-year old Jean-Baptiste Montagne, an event which has huge signficance in our Marist Spirituality, since it prompted the young priest to move quickly on the desire he had had to start an order or teaching brothers.  Young Montagne had no idea of God, the sacraments, the after-life, Mary, etc...a situation which St. Marcellin found intolerable and sought with all the energy of his remaining 13 years of life to rectify.   We, his disciples, continue this mission.

The blind Bartimeus in today's gospel recognized his need for healing and reached out to the "Son of David" for it, and received it.  So many of today's youth, like Jean-Baptiste, don't even know what they are missing, for their lives are full of material things and values that are decent enough, though in some cases, not, to satisfy them. When they do hear, about Jesus, then, like Bartimeus, they reach out and are ready to receive.  In our roles as disciples of Jesus and Champagnat, it is our obligation to bring the healing knowledge of the faith, above all, of Jesus himself, to these young people, who, we hope, like Bartimeus, will throw aside their "security blankets" and follow him along the road.
Bro. Rene

Mother Teresa on Faith

As we are called in this Year of Faith to reflect on our Faith and deepen it, this simple meditation from our "guest writer", Mother Teresa might be helpful.
Bro. Rene
THE FRUIT OF PRAYER IS FAITH
If we pray,/ then we will believe.
If we believe,/ the we will love--
because the fruit of Faith is love,
and the fruit of love is service.
Similarly, if we want to deepen our Faith, we must deepen our oneness with Christ.

Without seeing him/ we pray to him,
we turn to him,/ we cling to him,
we love him/ without seeing him.

FAITH
is the most beautiful gift God can give to a human being--
to believe that he IS/ and that Christ IS...
God from God/ Love from Love,
true God from true God,/ begotten, not made;
one in substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made...

And yet he became so small,
he became a human being like us,
to make it possible for us to believe.
To increase our Faith
he made himself the Bread of Life--
even a child can break that Bread,
even a child can eat that Bread.
This is humility in the action of Faith,
and Faith in the action of humility...
                    --Blessed Teresa of Calcutta