Awaiting the New Heavens and New Earth

2,700 years ago, the prophet, Isaiah wrote about a new heaven and a new earth, where the past will be forgotten, and where there will always be happiness and rejoicing.  Jerusalem will be a joy and its people a delight; there will be no weeping; people will live long and full lives, live in the houses they build and eat of the fruit they plant.  (cf Is 65: 17-21).  Taken literally, this prophecy is a major disappointment; none of it has come to pass as yet.  Strife and controversy surround Jerusalem; nowhere on this planet does the serene scenario fully exist.  Is Isaiah wrong?  Should we keep believing, keep hoping, keep working toward bringing his words to fulfillment?  Yes, of course.  He provides hope in the form of a promised return to "paradise".  It's the same hope we practice especially during Lent when we make special efforts to make this Utopia happen in our own lives, in our own world.  As we go through Lent, we realize more and more that even to keep our Lenten resolutions, it requires grace, help from above. We can't seem to accomplish what we've pledged without help.  It is by faith, hope and love in union with Jesus that we will contribute to the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth.  Let us then, as we proceed into this Fourth Week of Lent, review and renew our Lenten "program" and let Jesus work the creation of a "new" us as a lead up to a New World.
Bro. Rene

Laetare Sunday

Rose colored vestments and perhaps flowers in the sanctuary indicate that "something's up", something is different from the Lenten purple we've seen in the vestments since Ash Wednesday.  Yes, Easter is closer, and as kids often say, "I can't wait!".  The Entrance Antiphon begins with the word, "Rejoice"  (Laetare in Latin) and proceeds in joy: "Rejoice Jerusalem and all who love her./ Be joyful, all who were in mourning;/ exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast." (cf. Is 66: 10-11). We are more than halfway to Easter with its joy and triumph over evil, with its waters of baptism flowing over those who have been preparing intensely during Lent for this great sacrament, so we are "jumping ahead" in anticipation of this greatest of Solemnities.
Our Gospel from the entire Chapter 9 of John tells the story of the Man Born Blind, who, thanks to Jesus, emerges from the darkness of his blindness to not only physical sight, but to the light of faith, "I do believe, Lord" (Jn 9: 38). Like him are the Catechumens who have been preparing for Baptism, as well as we who have been following our program of prayer, fasting and almsgiving: our blindness is being lifted and we are coming to see Jesus in a new light.  May we continue to scrutinize those things that keep us in darkness and in ever deepening and growing faith, ask Jesus to heal us.
Bro. Rene

Beware Self-Righteousness

So easily can we become so satisfied with our way of doing things, our opinions, ideas and behavior, that we subtly inflate ourselves into self-righteousness and, like the Pharisee in today's Gospel, place ourselves above others, especially those whose "faults" appear, in our judgment, so obvious.  Whether we pray exactly as the Pharisee did, our innermost thoughts can lift us to a higher, "better-than-thou level.  The worse part is, that we don't even realize we are thinking this way.  Sometimes a humiliating event will "put us in our place" and remind us that we too are like the rest of humankind, in need of redemption, in need of Jesus.  Our Lenten reflections on the life of Jesus and his message, can also bring us to the realization that , "Hey, I need help, I need forgiveness, even more than 'this publican' next to me."  If not, then I don't need Jesus.  He died to redeem sinners, and if I'm not one of them, I don't need his sacrificial death.  God forbid!
Bro. Rene

Witnessing for the Faith

We might not be directly challenged for our belief in Jesus, but there are people who have been hurt in the past and have "turned off" any connection to Church and to God.  A current Christian film, God's Not Dead, provides food for thought and inspiration for action, as a college freshmen confronts his arrogant atheistic professor.  Never and easy process to convince another, persistence, self-sacrifice and dedication along with the grace of God make it possible for even those among us who consider themselves the weakest, can succeed.  Our actions again speak louder than our words, and consistent kindness and concern for others can be the key that unlocks and frees hearts that have hardened toward anything spiritual.  Once inside the "fortress" of another's past,  progress can be made.  Jesus, help me to be a caring and effective witness.
Bro. Rene

For or Against?

When confronted by the accusation that it was by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons, Jesus retorted that "Whoever is is not with me, is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Lk 11:23).  "A house divided cannot stand", is another way of putting it.  Satan does not work against himself; Jesus, in driving out demons cannot be doing so by the powers of evil; rather by the power of God.
Centuries earlier, Jeremiah lamented the condition of his times (much like our own), "They have stiffened their necks worse than their fathers.  When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you." (Jer 7: 26).  They are "the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech," (Jer7: 28).  Jesus had his challenges, as we do.  He called for a union of hearts and purpose with him. That call remains as true and challenging then as it is today.  May our Lenten prayers, penances and almsgiving help us declare that we are definitely in the camp of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Without Even Knowing It

Note:  This thin slice of bread (time constraint) today is our 1400th!  They go to 10 countries including Russian and China.  I'm fascinated by this and wonder who in these two countries are partaking of a slice everyday and how they came to do so.  Some feedback would satisfy my curiosity.

So often working with youth, or even with adult colleagues, without consciously saying, "today I'm going to make Jesus known and loved," we do it.  A young youth minister was nearing discouragement, thinking his time and efforts were going nowhere or making little difference, until he attended a retreat with his youth group and heard them speak of how they had grown in their faith and love of Jesus as a result of their experience in the group.  Jesus walks with us; we walk with him without even knowing it.  Blessed be our God who is always with us.
Bro. Rene

Courage and Faithfulness

The Annunciation of he Lord, today's solemnity, marks not only the Incarnation of the Son of God, but also the virginal motherhood of God, two events that on a human level are not only unlikely, but also improbable and even impossible.  But "nothing is impossible for God" (Lk 1: 37). And so we have God-made-man of a virgin, who also becomes our mother, as we, through baptism become children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus: a mystery well worth pondering today as part of our Lenten prayer. It took courage for Mary to agree to this invitation into the unknown, to motherhood without a husband at the time of Gabriel's appearance.  Courage and fidelity the rest of her days, as the God's plan for her son unfolded from his departure from the family, his itinerant preaching to his passion and cross. Can we imagine the depth of pain as she held the lifeless corpse of her Son at the foot of the cross? No doubt she clung on in a faith that reaped its reward at the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus himself, the Son of God, "emptying himself" to take on our human, nature, to become a bond-servant who gave his last drop of blood for us after a "career" of preaching to many a deaf ear, healing many an ungrateful person, suffering criticism and opposition that led to his condemnation to death on the cross, shows us the way of courage and faithfulness.  "Not my will, Father, but yours be done." ( Lk 22:41). How petty our struggles, our disappointments, our aches and pains of body and spirit, in light of these two great models.
Lord God, replace my weakness and pettiness with the great courage and faithfulness of Jesus and Mary, Amen.
Bro. Rene

How Gently God Works

Last evening our three Marist novices shared their vocation stories, each was unique, but a common element ran through all:  how gradually and gently God works, God calls.  No rush, no blinding visions, but almost by osmosis, these men who enjoyed working with the Marist Brothers, or in the case of one, searched and inquired, not having had any experience with the brothers, came to understand over time what brotherhood and making Jesus known and loved, especially to the most neglected youth means.  Facing the question of a lifetime commitment to living in community to do this kind of ministry, then became easier...almost like sliding into a cool swimming pool on a hot summer day.  Suddenly they were in, and not just looking from the outside.
This pattern is also how God works with each of us, gently nudging, softly calling, attracting us to a more intimate relationship with him through the ordinary things we do each day.  Lent gives us the opportunity to choose more specifically what these "ordinary" things might be, but approaching them from the heart and seeing them as ways to grow deeper in love with him will give us the closeness we seek.  We might think that we are making progress toward him, but we need to remember, that it is God's initiative, he makes the first move, and he draws us to him.
Bro. Rene

Proclaiming God's Love

The rich Gospel story in St. John of Jesus' Encounter with the Samaritan Woman, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as St. Photine, "the Enligthened One", is not only fitting food for reflection for those preparing for Baptism, but for all of us who have been baptized.  Jesus shows us how to approach "the unchurched", the "fallen away", the marginalized:  with humility, sincerity, dialogue, and  a gentle challenge focused on helping them discover "the Spirit and Truth."  Jesus comes to the woman in need: he is thirsty.  He broaches convention by asking a woman (a no-no in those days, and an outcast Samaritan besides), for a drink of the water she is drawing from the well.  This leads to the notion of "the living water" and there proceeds into the heart of the woman and her past history. She is so deeply touched that she goes off to spread the word to the townspeople and bring them to hear Jesus themselves.  She in turn becomes a messenger, an evangelizer. They become believers.
“Anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love,” writes Pope Francis. “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Evangelii Gaudium, #120). Is this not our call? Can I speak about the  love that has transformed me to others in my family or workplace or neighborhood or parish? Food for thought and action.
Bro. Rene

How Far Does Mercy Go?

There is no mercy like the mercy the "merciful father" showed to his prodigal son. Have you ever met a person like this all-forgiving man? No, because he is the story image of God the Father, who is Mercy. BUT, we can strive to be like him and aim at his high-set bar.
There was a bishop in ancient Carthage in the tumultuous times of the Vandal invasions and the Arian Heresy, who reigned only three years, but made dramatic moves to live out the call to be merciful.  We now know him as St. Deogratias, a name not familiar in the United States, but common in Rwanda.  He sold all his possessions so that he could build housing for the Christians who had arrived in Carthage because of  the sacking of Rome. As if this were not enough, he went further, and turned two large churches into shelters for  refugees. He used all resources possible to show mercy in a very tangible way.
Today, many organizations around the world do the same:  Christian Relief Services, Marist Brothers International Mission Services, Habitat for Humanity, and organizations in local areas such as Lazarus House in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  These continue the work of St. "Deo" and follow the example of the :"Merciful Father."  They warrant our support, our participation (as a Lenten activity) and our prayers.
Bro. Rene

Paying Forward

Several years ago, the film, Paying It Forward, captured our imaginations and became the inspiration for a way of life that continues, as the notion and practice of community service and sharing gifts continues in healthy doses in our communities.  These, certainly are not new concepts and go right back even to the Old Testament, as Job, deprived of all his family and possessions, proclaimed. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away,   Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:23) He realized that all came from God for his USE, not as his exclusive and selfish RIGHT.
Maria von Trapp, matriarch of the famous Trapp Family Singers, who inspired the perennial favorite musical and film, The Sound of Music, loved the lines from one of its songs:  "A bell is not a bell until you ring it./ Love is not love until you give it away."
Today's Gospel from Matthew 21:33-46 describes a group of workers, who, after having leased land and raised, crops, refused to turn them over to the landowner as he requested.  They claimed them as their own, for they had labored hard to raise them, forgetting that it was the gift of the landowner that enabled them to do so. They mistook the gift for their entitled right.  We might scoff that them for their myopia, but how often do we hold back when people ask us to share the gifts we have been given?  We forget that we were so blessed, not for ourselves, but for others, and that paying forward is the best way to give those gifts lasting value.
Bro. Rene

Hope Springs Eternal

Spring begins today, officially at  12:57 EST and although wet and cloudy at this moment in New England, the warmth, so longed for, is a preview of what is to come in the days ahead, despite a few cold bumps here and there still possible.  As so much of our spirituality,  is tied to the "natural" so the coming of Spring can be looked upon as a metaphor for our journey towards God who uses the seasons to "show and tell" us how much he is present and how much he loves us.  Just this morning I received a very uplifting e-mail which illustrates this from a dear friend and graduate of Central Catholic who is on a marvelous journey toward God. It provides as much hope for the future of these "millenials" (about whom there are concerns and doubts)  and the world they will "create", as does the first day of Spring. 

Just a few days ago I wrapped up what ended up being a 43 day,  550 mile hike on the Florida Trail.

No other experience has brought me so close to God. It seemed that  every corner I turned there was a new blessing awaiting me. So frequently I encountered a new person who reminded me that God is in charge, God provides, God's will,  not mine, is underway. And so much  material generosity from the locals here in Florida. Food, water, rides, cash. You name it.

Grace has been so abundant that I must say that God's reality is undeniable.

It's  amazing how being on the road and throwing yourself at the world can bring the lessons of the Bible to the forefront so naturally. 
May the path we have chosen this Lent bring us to these same very true and solid conclusions.
Bro. Rene

Joseph's Obedience

Note:  Yesterday I could not publish what I had written, but it will appear as a "double feature" today.  I don't know how or why the slice on the Presidents popped up again.

NBB:  Not sure if you received this whole slice yesterday, I saw that part of it was posted, but the remainder, composed later, but failed in posting might not have appeared in your e-mail. I think I tried to post it too close to the deadline.   Will try again.

St. Matthew gives us a vivid picture of Joseph's dilemma when he learn that his fiancee (in today's terms) is with child.  The answer comes in a dream in which an angel of the Lord appears to him, tells him that the child is begotten of the Holy Spirit, that he thus should go through with the wedding, and give the child the name of Jesus. Joseph takes the message to heart and does just what the angel said.  He then obeys the decree to return to the village of his ancestors to register for the census despite Mary's late stage of pregnancy.  Later, when an angel warns him to take the child for safety to Egypt, he complies and leaves by night.  When it is time to return to Nazareth, an angel again informs Joseph and he obeys.  It appears that his faith grows into unwavering trust and helps him best serve the family as God wants him to.
Most of us do not have angels telling us what to do next, but we do have the same need to be attentive to the people and circumstances that appear in our day-to-day lives.  Many a time there is a call to listen to someone who devours the time we had planned for something else, or there's a desperate request from someone who just doesn't seem to understand that we don't have time to add one more thing to our day. On and on...we all know it well.  Joseph's life would have been much simpler if he put Mary away, as he planned to do. Yet, his acts of obedience gave him a place in the plan of salvation that has given him a place of honor as not only the guardian of the Holy Family, of the entire Church. as well as a model for us who want to do God's will as best we can.  May we go to Joseph for inspiration and the help we need to obey when God calls and do, as Mary advised, whatever he tells us.
Bro. Rene

Practicing What We Preach

Jesus was not a fan of the Pharisees, especially when he saw that their lives contradicted their teachings. They burdened the people with rules and regulations they themselves did not follow, and they did their "good deeds" in order to be seen, recognized and rewarded by others. They loved high places of honor at banquets and synagogues and greetings in the market place and on the streets. These things swelled their heads and gave them a larger opinion of themselves than they were worthy of.  We don't want to be like them.  We might even say, "I'm not like that!"  But it's an easy trap to fall into.  Walking in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday and being greeted enthusiastically by the crowds on the sidewalks, and with the up-coming Kiwanian Humanitarian Award I'm receiving on April 30th, I have to remind myself with St. Paul that if I am to boast, it is of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  (cf 2 Cor 12: 9).  Jesus says bluntly, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."  (Mt 23: 12).
Part of our Lenten purification and personal renewal process might be to look at how we ourselves practice what we preach, even to ask others if they see us doing so.  We might be in for a surprise.
Bro. Rene

St. Patrick the Missionary

The month of March in the United States is becoming the Month of St. Patrick.  Today is his actual feast day, but celebrations, particularly this past weekend, have taken place already with great enthusiasm, as alway, and will conclude at the end of the month. In all of this, there's an Irish Pride factor as well as on-going admiration for the saint himself.  If St. Patrick were here, he would capitalize on the large enthusiastic crowds to help him spread the knowledge and love of God, for that was the main focus of his life.
Kidnapped from his family, he spent six years as a shepherd on those green Irish hills.  There he learned to pray, to love being with God, and to come to an implicit trust in him.  His escape was filled with danger, and even starvation at one point, but his trust never wavered and was a cause for emulation by those around him.  Having been reunited with his family, he then left them again to study for the priesthood, was ordained a bishop, and, because of his knowledge of  Gaelic and Irish culture, he was missioned to Ireland, the land of his captivity.  He began his ministry with a 40 day "retreat" on the very mountain where he had prayed as a young teenager.  Opposition and death-threats followed him; it was not a "quick victory", but eventually he won thousands over to Christianity and helped establish a strong church and monastic network.  Monks from these monasteries later spread the faith throughout Europe. The Irish brought their faith to wherever they settled and their presence in the United States has been unmistakeable.
Amidst all the "wearin' o' the green" there should be a strong element of gratitude as well as a desire to imitate this courageous saint's work of evangelization.
Bro. Rene

Transformation

As we begin the second week of Lent we might want to think about the transformation we are hoping to bring about.  Behaviors don't change overnight...usually it takes five months from the "aha!" moment of insight to a noticeable deviation from our usual patterns of speaking or acting. We hope to become more like Jesus, as we spend time with him quietly, reflecting on his words in the Gospels, using some of the many Lenten books of reflections, making the stations of the cross, attending daily Mass, and walking the extra mile in community service.  Wanting to change, praying from the depths of our being, asking Jesus from those depths to make us more like he is are the keys to making the slow, gradual process of renewal a reality that will last.
Our Sunday Gospel story brings us to Mt. Tabor and the blinding presence of the transfigured Jesus who allowed his glory to be visible as a means of encouraging Peter, James and John to keep faith in him in the dark days to come.  Peter exclaims, "It is good for us to be here." (Mt 17:4).  Yes, it is good for us to be here in Lent, making that extra effort, feeling the little pinch (or big) from the sacrifices we are making.  (No pain, no gain.)
Like these three disciples, our focus must be on Jesus, even though we don't see tangible results immediately, trusting that he, seeing the sincerity in our hearts, will transform us.
Bro. Rene

Love Your Enemies

Jesus' command to love our enemies is a radical departure from the Old Law of "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  It is a "turning of the other cheek", and a blow to our own ego, which desperately and sometimes violently seeks revenge.  Now, we are not only called to forgive our enemies, but to LOVE them as well.  This calls for a lot of energy from deep within, a lot of swallowing hard, and a lot of WILLINGNESS to shift from hate, or near hate, to LOVE.  The willingness is the key.  Do I want to forgive and LOVE this person?  Do I WANT healing to come from my heart and flow to the heart of my enemy, or person who has stepped on my toes, or taken my job?  Not easy.  Yet, if we remember the love and mercy that we have received from others, from God, then it becomes a bit more doable.  How many times have we confessed the same sins and yet received absolution?  If God has so loved us, then that's how we must love one another, even our enemies.
Bro. Rene

Reconciling With Self

One of the major themes of Lent is reconciliation, the making of peace between opponents;  the settling of disputes or misunderstandings between neighbors, colleagues, friends and relatives as well as mending our relationship with God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Jesus is very firm on the importance of reconciliation:  Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5: 23). But in the reconciliation equation, there must also be forgiveness of self, "self-reconciliation", if you will. It's hard to approach another looking for peace if we still cringe at or duck from the things we have done and have not forgiven or turned over to God, who does forgive them and who urges us to do so as well. Lord Jesus, take my wounds, my weaknesses, the stupid and sinful things I have done and wash them in your blood that my soul and memory be freed from them once and for all. Then, make me a channel of your peace and reconciliation with others..  Amen.
Bro. Rene

The Natural Inclination to Pray

The theme of prayer in the readings of today's weekday Mass spikes our attention:  Queen Esther prostrates herself all day before God, pleading from her inner depths for the protection of her people; Jesus tells us to "ask and we shall receive, knock and the door will be opened to us." (cf.  Mt 7:7).  An old adage has it that "there are no atheists in foxholes", that in times of desperation, recourse to prayer comes even to those who ordinarily do not pray, consider prayer useless, or do not want to admit any sort of dependency on God or any force outside themselves.  Yet, these are the very people who know how to give good gifts to their children, and in the case of an emergency regarding their well being, would resort to prayer...of some sort. They too have the natural inclination to pray without, perhaps, even realizing  it.
Queen Esther's prayer, on the other hand,  is a model for ours:  "Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God." (Est C12:14). A Queen prays thus, body out flat, a sign of total acceptance of her lowly state before God and of her total need for him, and words emanating from her gut.  Such a prayer has the humility that goes with the asking and knocking that Jesus talks about.
We acknowledge that most of our prayers are of petition (followed by a few prayers of gratitude at least), but in so doing, we are giving glory and praise to God by admitting that all comes from him and without him, we can do nothing.  God, evidently is pleased with this attitude and is quick to respond, even if it's "No.  I have something better in mind."
Bro. Rene

God's Mercy

The well-known story of Jonah is being read at weekday Masses currently and reminds us about the effectiveness of prayer and penance...as well as gives a lesson on humility.  Jonah preached repentance, and as he had intuited, Nineveh would not be destroyed because the people actually LISTENED, did penance and repented.  In case we are wondering about the effectiveness of our Lenten prayers and penances, this story teaches that they work.
 Jonah is upset that he looks like a fool, or like the weatherman who predicts a storm that doesn't materialize. He pouts and seeks shelter from the sun under a large plant, which eventually withers and leaves him unprotected. God reminds him that HE is in charge, and that Jonah must bow to God's way.  A very hard lesson, as well we know when it comes our turn to be "taught."  Persistence during our Lenten days, trust, obedience and humility, will help us be renewed and bear fruit that will last.
Bro. Rene

Collecting Stories

St. Angus the Culdee (Hermit), an Irish Monk and later, Abbot,  back in the latter half of the 8th and early part of the 9th century was inspired to start collecting stories of the saints to inspire the people of his day.  We take for granted the memorials of saints in our liturgical calendar, but, perhaps spend little time learning more about them. There are hundreds in the Roman Martyrology updated in 2004, whose names and stories never make it off the pages of this huge tome.  And there are "saints" in our own families, in our own lives whose stories can be a source of inspiration for us.  At funerals, it is customary for family members or friends to give a "eulogy", now simply termed, "words of remembrance", of the deceased, usually laced with funny tales of quirks and anecdotes, as well as expressions of sincere love and admiration.  These are the roots of family history and sources of inspiration for all, but especially the younger members of the family.  It's amazing how little the young know of, or appreciate the lives and deeds of their relatives, even their own grand parents or great grandparents.  As part of our Lenten reflections, it might be good to take time to remember and retell the stories that have been passed down, lest they be forgotten for good.
Bro. Rene

A Life of Service

One of the key aspects of the Marist Mission of making Jesus known and loved, is to direct this effort to "the least favored," of those most in need.  If they are to know and love God, they must experience him in us, who show them that love in very concrete ways that satisfy their simple but immediate needs.  St. Matthew outlines them in chapter 25:  feeding the hungry, slaking the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned or shut-ins. On April 3rd, Central Catholic Sophomores will have a retreat day on the theme of service, with speakers in the morning and actual service in the afternoon.  This will be a tangible way of bringing home the message. Pope Francis has reminded us that we need to get "involved by word and deed in people's daily lives," and in his now famous words, taking on "the smell of the sheep" we serve. (The Joy of the Gospel, #24.)
The example of the compassionate, warm, loving Jesus in the film, Son of God, is the perfect motivation for putting Matthew into practice.  In addition to our personal prayer, this film is another way of spending time with Jesus; the more we do, the more we will become like him.
Bro. Rene

Famished

After fasting for 40 days in the desert, the Matthew tells us that Jesus was hungry, (Mt 4:2) more likely "famished" as one translation has it. His was a physical hunger, but indeed, his spirit had been so fed and strengthened by his prayer and fasting that he was able to dismiss the three temptations posed by Satan with clear and decisive dispatch.  He was certainly not "famished" spiritually.
However, we might have come to Lent spiritually famished, and need these days to fill up what is wanting in us, lest we fall prey to the Tempter, who scores his greatest wins when we are tired or spiritually empty.  Our resistance is low, as when an Energizer batter finally runs down. It is then that the Evil One can run circles around us, run us over, flatten us.  It is then when we are vulnerable and susceptible to "giving in".  We can rationalize that we are tired and need the boost, which can be provided by a temporary "fix", or that we "deserve a little fun or pleasure" because we have been working so hard.  Worse:  "Oh, this is not a sin, everybody's doing it these days.  Come on, get with it." It is then that we need to look at the cross, or a holy card of Jesus, or touch our rosary...to do something to remind us of who we are and what Jesus has done for us.  Spending time with him, slaking our hunger on HIM rather than on what he Tempter presents to us is what our 40 days in the desert are about.
Bro. Rene

Jesus The Healer

Life is fragile. This morning I will attend the funeral of a once energetic, vivacious, loving and generous wife and mother who died suddenly on March 5, Ash Wednesday of a massive coronary at the age of 49. My own mother died at the same age on March 5, 1955 of cancer.both too soon.   A plane with 239 people crashes in the South China Sea, presumably killing all aboard.  How quickly life can change!  Similarly, life can be restored, a positive change can turn things 180 degrees in an instant, as when Peter found new life after his denial when Jesus forgave him and he made the threefold affirmation of his love.  Zacchaeus's life changed completely when Jesus invited himself to dinner at his house.  The woman taken in adultery found new life when Jesus forgave her.
Lent is the time for this kind of contact with Jesus the Healer of our souls. Our prayers and sacrifices are steps to this kind of conversion if they flow from the heart and not simply from rote or habit.  Mary pondered things in her heart; she shows us the way to the healing hand of Jesus.  May she help us today as we follow our Lenten observances to make them be foundation stones to a deeper, more real Christian life.
Bro. Rene

False Fasting vs True Fasting

Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence, that is, no meat but not necessarily a days of fasting, when we refrain from eating between meals, and really eat only one full meal, with two lesser meals in the course of the day.  Fasting can also mean the things or activities we give up:  our favorite TV show, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate. etc.  The idea is that we create a hunger for a closer friendship with Jesus, we create time and space to develop that relationship, for example, by replacing the hour of that TV show with quiet prayer, silent prayer, reflective reading of the Bible or a good spiritual book.  Isaiah warns us not to go through the mechanics of fasting but then act obnoxiously toward others, even quarreling or fighting with them.  He warns us not to feel entitled to a reward for fasting; we are not manipulating God by fasting. It's not "I do this" so you "must do that." No, it's to make us more like God in a very tangible way.  Isaiah describes it very bluntly:  This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:/ releasing those bound unjustly,/ untying the thongs of the yoke;/ Setting free the oppressed,/ breaking very yoke;/ Sharing your bread with the hungry,/ sheltering the homeless;/ Clothing the naked when you see them,/ not turning your back on your own. (Is 58: 6-8).

Lord, purify my motives for fasting and abstinence; help me to put Isaiah's advice into action this Lent.
Bro. Rene

Our Daily Cross

When Jesus admonishes:  "Unless you take up your cross daily and follow me, you cannot be my disciple, he does not mean that we should literally find a cross and carry it, but that in choosing the will of the Father, as opposed to our own, we can thus follow him.  It would be much easier to carry a wooden cross than it is to yield our wills to God, as manifested through the wills of our supervisors, spouses, codes of conduct, dress codes or laws of the land.  Our free will is our most precious gift, and yet it can be the obstacle that keeps us from growing as God would have us grow.  We are free to choose between life, and death, good and evil. Deuteronomy strongly urges us to "choose life." (cf.  Dt )  It does not have to be as dramatic as that, but in the little choices we face daily...will I answer the phone when the ID indicates it will be a solicitation, or someone who will talk for a long time? Will I cave on some Lenten sacrifice I have promised to make? Will I spend "my" time listening to another who has come for advice?  Will I follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to spend more time in prayer, even to go to a chapel and spend time in Adoration?  Will we respond to an unplanned request that will throw "our" plan for the day out the window?  These are the "crosses" we are challenged to take up daily.  Focusing on a crucifix will help us make our choice.
Bro. Rene

Ashes and Attitude

Catholics will flock to Churches in droves today to receive ashes, the very visible sign that marks the beginning of Lent.  They remind us that indeed we are dust and to dust we shall someday return. Thus, the need to repent and believe the Gospel becomes more imperative, for someday we will face our Creator and have to give an account of our stewardship of the many gifts and blessings he has bestowed on us. Rather than be a sign of gloom and rigor, these ashes should remind us  that Lent is a time to live our Christian life to the fullest and thus should be a time of joy and generosity:  joyful in the presence of God with whom we try to spend more time; joyful presence to others as we move "out of ourselves and selfishness", to serve them and give alms to help them.  As Jesus warns us, it is a time to do these things quietly and without fanfare, so that our Father who sees in secret, will be the one to repay us, not the audiences of our contemporaries. (see Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18).  Our ashes and our joy are visible to all, but let our prayers and penances be visible only to our Father.
Bro. Rene

Mardi Gras

Carnivale in Europe is taken seriously with as much festivity as possible...and in the United States, New Orleans has become the Mardi Gras Mecca of the country.  This year, however, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, at least in Massachusetts, seem to be posing stronger competition than ever.  These last "flings" would be fitting if, indeed, Lent were taken as the stark opposite:  fasting, abstinence, sacrifice, almsgiving...In out secular culture, it's hard to make the contrast noticeable, but we can try. 
Today, if we haven't done so already, would be the day to write down on paper (so we won't stray from the path we wish to walk) the things we have decided to observe during Lent.  We can look at how we might adjust our regular prayer schedule to include more quiet prayer, perhaps daily Mass, more "fasting" from the things that distract us, and more time for "almsgiving", which can take the form of service to the poor as well as financial contributions.  One further helpful practice, if we want to get to know Jesus better, is to read a chapter of the New Testament each day and go as far as we can into the forty days.  I have an audio version  called The Word of Promise, now several years old, from Thomas Nelson..available, no doubt, via Amazon.  There are other versions now as well.  I listen as I'm driving...even short distances, and inevitably make it from Matthew to Revelation's final Amen before Easter.  Nothing like having someone read to you, especially when it's the Word of God. 
My prayers will be with all of you in a special way during Lent.
Bro. Rene

Small Sacrifices

Mother Teresa gave us a simple word of encouragement that might well be our guiding principle during Lent:  "Most of us will not do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love."  As we approach Ash Wednesday, we might reflect on the little sacrifices we might make during the 40 days and begin to select the ones we can keep.  Sacrifices are a sign of our love for another, for God, for we gain nothing for ourselves but direct our action toward the well-being of someone else.  We might volunteer to help at a soup kitchen, in our local school or church; we might visit the elderly in nursing homes and just chat with them.  We will be sacrificing our time, but others will benefit.
Or we might consider the traditional "giving up" of desserts, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, a favorite TV program. This latter might provide the time for our extra quiet prayer, our sitting with Jesus, our heart to heart conversation with him.   We might substitute a "soup and bread meal" for our regular fare and donate what we "save" to a Lazarus House, or a Bread and Roses...organizations that aid the poor.  If we think about it, we can come up with other options that might "hit the nail on the head" for us.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote:  "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  (Heb: 13: 16). Whatever we choose to do or give up, let us do it with love and remind ourselves each time why we are doing it.
Bro. Rene

Setting Our GPS on God

Not everyone believes in a GPS.   Yes, there are times when it has told me to take a left, when it should have been a right, but overall, I continue to remain amazed at how it can find me, even a cemetery, and direct me to the location I seek.  I've driven down roads I've never heard of, or through city streets and around "roundabouts" that I never could have found myself. It takes trust. And so, when Jesus advises us to put our trust, not in riches but in the Providence of our Father, he is asking us to set our GPS on him and believe that he will lead the way. It sounds simplistic, but it is not easy as we look at ourselves and take stock of where our trust and loyalties lie. We find that "I" occupies the space that "you" should: "me first", and then you, maybe, and then God. How much anxiety is built up when "I" don't get "my way"?  When our GPS is set on God, the priorities are reversed:  God, you, me.  Can we operate on the injunction of Jesus, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrows will take care of itself." (Mt 6: 33-34)?  Very freeing, very challenging.  Lent gives us time to set our GPS on God.
Bro. Rene

An Inspiring Entry Into March

March 1:  First Saturday in honor of Mary; St. David of Wales, archbishop and monk, meteorological first  day of spring (hard to accept), lion-like entry into a new month.  Many contrasting themes as we begin a new month; we can look back in gratitude for the events of February that feasted us or challenged us; we can look ahead to Lent and what we intend to do to make it a significant time for us, and as always, we can remember that all of it comes from our loving God.  A friend sent this inspiring video, which I'd like to share with you.  If you copy this link and paste it to the space where https addresses go, and click on the arrow to move it, it should open up.  It worked for me.  God luck. May it help you to pray yourself into a peaceful day and month.
Bro. Rene
 http://www.flickspire.com/m/WalkTheTalk/PowerOfLove?lsid=65d97d8846cf5024e117781206dcd336