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