Mary's Visitation

"Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste..."  (Lk 1:39).  This verse was adopted by our General Chapter as the theme and framework for our work in this 21 century.  Haste is a key word, as the need to bring the good news of Jesus to others, as Mary did to Elizabeth, is more pressing than ever.  No time to waste. Just do it!
The encounter with Elizabeth is immortalized in two beloved Marian Prayers:  the Hail Mary and the Magnificat. Elizabeth blesses Mary as she feels the baby in her womb receiving a blessing from the baby in Mary's womb.  "Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Lk 1: 42).  Mary responds in all humility, praising God for the marvels he has wrought in his lowly handmaid. (Lk:1: 46-55).
This happy meeting of the two cousins and their unborn sons, has inspired generations to do likewise.  The Visitation Sisters model even their cloistered life after this encounter; the Congregation of Notre Dame (CND) take this as their patronal  feast, and several young adult today will be making the de Montfort Consecration to Mary.  This feast inspires us all, wherever way may be on our spiritual journeys, to share the good news of Jesus and to tell others what marvels Jesus has worked in us and can work in them.   Let us not waste time, but at every opportunity, speak openly and frankly the gifts God has lavished upon us.
Bro. Rene

Setting Goals

We are in a nine day period before Pentecost, a novena time, when we pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us reap the full benefit of our Lenten/Easter experiences and prayers.   What do we need, what do we want to set as a goal for the long period of  Ordinary Time, which follows Pentecost?   We have been nourished by our Lenten prayers, penances and alms giving and by our 50 days of reflection on the Resurrection of Jesus and our own baptism.  How can we help build the kingdom of God, how can we be better missionaries and evangelizers?  We place these questions in the hands of the Holy Spirit, as like the Apostles after the resurrection, prayerfully awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, whose inspiration and power will help us see the needs around us and help us address them fearlessly.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful...help us to enkindle the fire of your love...in our families, our workplaces, our communities, our world.  With you nothing is impossible.
Bro. Rene

Ascending With Jesus

Note...There will be two slices of bread today, since I posted yesterday's slice too late.

The Ascension.  The day is here.  Jesus returns to the Father, but as Pope Benedict wrote, "It would be a mistake to interpret the Ascension as the temporary absence Christ from the world,  but rather it expresses our belief that in Christ the humanity that we all share has entered into the inner life of God to a new and hitherto unheard of way.  It means that man has found an everlasting place in God. We go to heaven to the extent that we go to Jesus Christ and enter into him.  Heaven is a person:  Jesus himself is what we call heaven."  May we see this great Solemnity as our feast as well as Jesus's...and may we this day "enter into him" through attendance at Mass, prayer, and compassion for all who come into our day.
Bro. Rene

To Jesus Through Mary

The Theme of the recent Marist Youth Gathering was "All to Jesus through Mary," the motto of the Marist Brothers and of many of our schools.   The speaker, Br. Tony Leon from Australia, reminded those in attendance that it was Mary who gave life to Jesus, and asked them in what ways they might continue give life to him in our current age. 
A good question for all of us... Just how do we make Jesus live, thrive, and carry on his work today?  He has given us his Spirit to help us, so we have more than we need for "power" and strength to do this.  For most of us, it will be in the simple things we do in our daily dealings with each other....a student busy working at a computer yesterday, stood up to greet me and shake my hand.  Such a simple gesture was so touching and was a "Jesus moment"...His act of politeness, my recognition of it and compliment made Jesus live...as when he cured the sick and they recognized him as "a prophet" or certainly someone special.
Sometimes it's more spectacular as students spend their college vacations to help the poor in other countries.  They are Mary's giving life to Jesus.
Bro. Rene

The Pain of Parting

We've all undergone the pain of saying goodbye to people whom we love dearly, and who may only remain part of our lives through e-mail, Skype, or occasional visits; or of leaving a place where we have invested 150% of ourselves for several years and may never return again..  We look back at the good times, compressing them into a huge collage of images that preview a taste of heaven.  Funny, how in doing so, we minimize the crises or "bad times" we faced in those years and just look at the predominant good things.
We can imagine the disciples' feelings as they anticipate the final departure of Jesus.  They suffered when he was separated from them by death, but then he came back, in "Tabor Mode", and they loved those encounters with him;  treasuring ever moment with him, but knowing these were only temporary, and a point would come when he would be "gone for good."  Jesus knew their hearts and their thoughts, so he took pains to reassure them that he would still be present, in the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who would be with them and enable them to do the work he commissioned them to do.  How sensitive, how thoughtful is our friend, Jesus!  Even in our own cases, we have that same Spirit, and we have loving, faith-filled friends who make Jesus present to us, as if he were right here with us.  Yes, the pain of parting is there, even tears, but they show how much we have loved and are loved.  The presence of the Spirit assures us that such love continues and is not a victim of separation.
Bro. Rene

Rememberig Our Veterans

Across the United States people will take time to worship, pray, visit decorated cemeteries and thus honor those who sacrificed their lives to preserve the liberty and freedoms we enjoy today. We also honor and express our gratitude to those who are currently serving, and at graduation time, we pray for those who will be entering the service in the coming months. We cannot forget those veterans who returned home maimed in body or mind and who now have to fight another battle to find a place in their families and society. Of late there has been outrage expressed at the neglect of these wounded warriors. We owe them our support, gratitude and any effort we can make to assure that they are given proper care.
Most veterans are reticent to speak about their experiences, saying merely that they had a "job to do" and now that it's over, they want to get on with life. Occasionally tales of valor and courage appear in books or on the silver screen, giving us a glimpse of the terrors these young soldiers in their late teens and early twenties faced. We cannot thank them enough; we owe them a debt that cannot be repaid. May we never forget them or ignore them as we complacently enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices.
Bro. Rene

The Spirit of Truth

As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure, he promised ask the Father to send them another Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, who would be with them forever. ( cf. Jn 14: 15). This Spirit will be in them and keep them connected to Jesus. It is this Spirit of Truth who will enable them to deal with disappointments, with challenges, and obstacles from within and without that would hinder them from loving fully. It is this Spirit of Truth that will give them courage to go to distant lands to spread his good news of salvation. It is this Spirit of Truth which is enabling Pope Francis to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East by inviting Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the Vatican to discuss their differences and goals. Pope Francis is making the news with his forthrightness, sincerity and firm stand on the current "unacceptable situation."
This Spirit of Truth was given to all of us at baptism, may we like the Pope, allow Him to make bold moves to bring peace to our families and communities.
Bro. Rene

God Gives in Abundance

We all have prayed to God to ask for special favors, and have learned that it's always a win-win situation. Either we get what we ask for, or we get something better! Such is God's lavish love. Why, then, do we hesitate at times to ask? He knows us, knows what's in our hearts, so it's almost an insult not to ask and to hide behind some reason like, "oh, he wouldn't be interested in that," or "I feel stupid asking for something, which in the perspective of global needs, is so petty." No, I've found nothing is so petty for the God who loves us more than we can fathom.
Having been able to attend our Baccalaureate and Graduation, walking almost normally, I realized again the goodness of God. Why should he see to it that my desire to be there be honored when war rages in Syria, or tensions in the Ukraine, Korea and China seem to be beyond the possibility of resolution? Who can know the mind of God? Believe in his abundant generosity and live in joy, comfort and peace. Believe, Believe, Believe!
Bro. Rene

Bearing Fruit That Will Remain

Jesus has left us his "job", entrusted the mighty work of "evangelization" to us...that is, or spreading his message of love, forgiveness and self-sacrifice to generation after generation. St. John Paul II called for a "new evangelization" in 2000 and set the wheels in motion. Both succeeding popes accepted this mission and now efforts are being made in parishes, both from the pulpit and in gatherings and discussions.
Our Marist schools have always had this mission in mind, one that was set as a goal by St. Marcellin. Last night at our Baccalaureate Mass, our final Mass with the class of 2014, it was refreshingly evident that they have gotten the message and intend to live it in the years ahead.
A friend of mine sent me a draft of the evangelization talk he will be giving on June 1. It's a powerful talk, in the league of one that St. Paul would give, one that could result in the opening of a third parish in the city where he is speaking!
Jesus told the disciples that he appointed them to go and bear fruit that will remain, (Jn 15: 17) and 2000 years later that fruit needs a little tending but is still fresh and vigorous.
Bro. Rene

Patronness of Desperate Cases and Difficult Marriages

St. Rita of Cascia lived a life of disappointment and pain, yet never lost faith. She wanted to remain a virgin but her parents arranged a marriage for her to a man who was abusive and unfaithful. They had twin sons, and Rita's prayers were answered when her husband repented before his died of stab wounds. Not long afterwards, the two boys died of natural causes. Rita then applied to the Augustinian Nuns in Cascia, but was refused because some of the nuns in the convent were related to her husband's murderers. She persisted and was finally admitted and pursued a life of penance and prayer. She had had great devotion to the Passion of Jesus from her youth and one day asked if she could participate in it. She was given an open wound in the forehead similar to a wound caused by the crown of thorns and suffered severely from it for 15 years, never complaining. Her last four years we marked by illness and more pain, yet again, her faith and capacity to love increased. She died in 1457.
So many people lead lives of "quiet desperation" yet do not have the faith and ability to love and forgive as did Rita. She discovered that the greatest gift we have is the ability to love, and like St. Therese of Lisieux, devoted the whole strength of her being to love and found strength to bear with all these difficulties. To love is to experience God, for God is love and makes all things possible.
Bro. Rene

Abiding With God

Note:  Because this reflection from FAITH ND is so apropos, I've assumed that Fr. Ed Shea would not  object to being our guest author today. Bro. Rene

There is a great myth that is popular among many young people. I have heard some say that they are "spiritual but not religious." It seems to me that a person who is spiritual is also religious by necessity. In other words, no one can be spiritual in a vacuum; one needs some kind of expression of that spirituality, some concrete way to make that spirituality real. That is what religion does—it connects us to God through a community, and through ritual and prayer and song. These things make real what we believe. And we need those kinds of connections; we need to connect with God through habits and fellowship. Today's Gospel is focused on the seventh (of seven) "I am" statements in the Gospel of John. Over and over again, Jesus is essentially saying, "Whatever you need, I AM. Are you hungry? I am the Bread of Life. Are you in the dark? I am the Light of the World. Are you lost? I am the Gate and I am Good Shepherd, who will seek and find you and call you by name. Are you caught up in death? I am the Resurrection and the Life, and I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." Today Jesus says to us, "Are you disconnected? I am the Vine, you are the branches, and my Father is the vinegrower." In other words, we all fit together in God's world—this is where we belong and are connected, where we live and abide. Apart from that source, apart from that energy, eventually we cease to exist. "Abide in me," Jesus says, "as I abide in you." The word "abide" appears eight times in these few verses, so it is obviously an important concept in this Gospel. The original word is also translated as "stay" or "remain," and this is what prayer is all about. The challenge of prayer is to "stay" with God, to connect and remain connected. To rephrase an old dictum, "Don't just do something, sit there!" Often we find ourselves busy about many things when we are called to stop all of our activity and simply "abide" with God. In the end, as Jesus keeps telling us over and over again, all we really need is God. Father Ed Shea, O.F.M, ‘78

Peace of Soul

In the fifties, the book, Peace of Soul by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was a best seller. If you can find a copy of it, you would find its message as relevant and assuring today as it was then. The search for peace of soul is universal and necessary, especially in today's tumultuous times.
Jesus, knowing the disciples' anxiety over the future, especially his absence after the Ascension, said to them, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. (Jn 14: 27). When he appears to them after the resurrection, again it's, :Peace be with you." (Jn 20:19), for he knew their confusion and mixed emotiions. He had to restore them to peace so that hey could receive him and be ready for their mission.
Noted French spiritual director, Fr. Francis Philippe, use the image of a lake to help describe the necessity for peace. When the waters are calm, the sun beams off the surface like diamonds, in full blinding radiance as if we were looking directly at the sun. When the wind is blowing and the lake surface is churning with white caps, the sun's light is so distorted that it cannot be reflected.
So too, the soul, when at peace, is much more apt to reflect the God than when it is agitated.
Jesus knows us as he knew his disciples and offers us his peace daily. May we be wise enough to accept it.
Bro. Rene

God's Advocates

The law profession, unfortunately, in these days of lawsuits upon lawsuits, has suffered in public esteem. Once a revered profession, it is looked upon by many as simply a money-making business. Of course, this was not always the case, and there are many good and honest lawyers, as we know; further, today, not only does Jesus mention sending the Advocate, but it is also the memorial of St. Ivo (also Yves) a 13th century lawyer, who even as a layman, advocated for the poor at his own expense. When he became a priest, he used his law background to help the poor. He is the patron of lawyers.
Jesus promised that the Father would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who would teach us everything and remind us of all that he told us. (see Jn 14: 26). As the Advocate guides us, so too, in the example of St. Ivo, should we become, as best we can, advocates for those who have less. Our mission as Marists is to the "least favored", so if we take this seriously, we are God's Avocates. St. Ivo, pray for us!
Bro. Rene

Whoever Sees Me Sees the Father

In anticipation of his Ascension and return to the right hand of his Father, Jesus, at the Last Supper, assures his disciples that their hearts need not be troubled. They had no idea what was coming in just a few hours, nor in the course of their earthly lives, but they must have hearkened back to these words as events unfolded. And further, in answer to Thomas, Jesus assured them and us) that in seeing him, his forgiveness, mercy, compassion and love, that they have seen the Father. Again the call is to set sights totally on Jesus, "the way, the truth and the life." (Jn 14:6).
In his wisdom, God commanded that one day a week, the sabbath, be set aside for reflection, contemplation, worship, family time and rest, so that we don't lose sight of him. We have Jesus as the visible presence of the Father to aid our reflection, and we have those wonderful people in our lives who show forgiveness, compassion and love as further manifestations of God's presence among us. Let us open our eyes, look, see and appreciate God and his extreme efforts to reveal himself to us.
Bro. Rene

Extraordinary Promises

As Jesus was preparing his disciples at the Last Supper for his imminent suffering and death, as well as for the days beyond, he made two extraordinary promises that, unfortunately, we often forget: "Amen amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." (Jn 14: 12-14). Dare we be so bold as to presume that we will perform greater works than Jesus, or dare we ask "anything" of Jesus? This is where our faith seem threadbare. No we really don't believe these promises, do we? Yet if King Herod could keep his promise to Salome, for "anything she wanted," is not Jesus a more reliable keeper of promises? We need Mary's example to spur us on to a deeper faith. Her act of faith at the Annunciation and her living out of that faith as the mother of that growing child, that suffering servant, that resurrected Christ, almost shames us into believing. Let our prayer be: Mary, as you believed, help me to believe that truly, nothing is impossible with God.
Bro. Rene

Prayer Changes All

It's a fact that our prayer fluctuates between intense (when we really need something) to tepid, lukewarm, or rote. When our prayer IS answered, we might resolve to keep praying at that level, or we might slack off again. We need to be reminded by events that lead to regret that we have prayed so little.
St. Marcellin learned the value of prayer as he grew more and more into it over his life. Setbacks, attempts to undermine his establishment of the "Little Brothers of Mary", poverty, ups and downs in recruitment, poor living conditions in some of the residences provided for the brothers where they taught, illness....all of these helped Marcellin move steadily along the path of faith, trust and prayer. For in adversity, we grow, and if we pray in these times, we find new life, and over time, as in the healing of an injury, an irresistible desire to pray pulls us to the point where it becomes a habit which we can't resist. Eventually, our prayer leads to spontaneous praise, a smile is almost always on our face, and love and laughter become the outward signs of our deep relation with God. St. Paul urges us to pray without ceasing with good reason.
Bro., Rene

Explanation

I learned last night that yesterday morning I hit a button on this I-Pad which brought up a Polish Keyboard, hence my dilemma in typing a "y" and getting a "z". Back to English now.

I was trying to forward a desperate message from Br. George in Aleppo asking for help to move the international community to do something to help with a critical situation due to lack of water. It has been over ten days that there has been no water in the part of the city where the "Blue Brothers" are shielding refugees. The link below (if you can open it) gives further explanation of the situation. I'm hoping that someone might know how to get something done about this.
Thank you.
Bro. Rene
http://www.champagnat.org/400.php?a=6&n=3242

Something Wrong

I hit something on the kezboard and different things print, as in the word, kezboard...the z comes up. Cantät proceed till I get help.

Our Lady of Fatima

On this day in 1917 in the tiny village of Fatima, the Blessed Mother appeared for the first of six apparitions to three young children. The First World War was still in its devastating progress and Pope Benedict XV had just made an appeal to Mary to end it. Mary's message to the children and to us was simple enough: "reform your lives, do penance for your sins and pray the rosary every day." On October 13th of that year, the apparitions concluded with the astounding "miracle of the sun" when 70,000 people saw the sun spinning wildly to the earth in bright colors and the rain-soaked believers and scoffers found themselves dry after a soaking rain while they awaited the promised "sign". The war ended the next year, but as Mary predicted, it was followed by another and the "battle" with Communism, a "war" at one point seemingly over but now apparently still smoldering. One of the lessons of Fatima is that through the weak, (Mary chose to give her message to illiterate children), through fidelity to living according to the mind of her son, and by prayer, particularly the rosary which focuses on the life of Jesus, will evil be overcome. The recent tensions and the tangible presence of evil in our world today are a call to all of us to put her simple message into practice.
Bro. Rene

Honoring Mary Our Mother

Having just honored our earthly mothers, living and deceased, yesterday, it might be fitting today to remember our heavenly mother, Mary and find simple ways of giving her the love we give our own mothers. The month of May has traditionally been dedicated to her and here we are already at May 12th! We might honor her by the family rosary, or by attending the praying of the rosary at church, usually before or after weekday Mass. Our personal rosary would suffice if these others are not possible. We might set aside a statue of Mary in our homes and set fresh spring flowers before it...the traditional May Altar....or we might bring fresh flowers to the statue of Mary in Church. But perhaps the greatest way of honoring her would be set our hearts to doing the will of God as she did and make YES our word of the month.
Bro. Rene

Good Shepherds

Today is a triple celebration: Good Shepherd Sunday, Mothers' Day and the Word Day of Prayer for Vocations. All can be looked at in the light of the Good Shepherd. Certainly we look at Jesus as THE Good Shepherd, who leads us to green pastures and calm waters, who lays down his life for us. Mothers do the same, don't they? Always there for us, protecting, nourishing, patiently listening, teaching by word and example, leading (along with their husbands) their families with care. How fittingly we take time today to honor and thank our mothers for the many visible and hidden ways in which they shepherd us! And finally, we pray that the Good Shepherd guide those who have vowed their lives to serving others as priests, sisters and brothers, and call others to embrace these roles. God's grace will touch hearts now as in the past and lead generous souls to leave all and follow him if we ask God daily, not just today, and if we encourage those in whom we see the potential of a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. May we live this day with gratitude, joy, peace and love.
Bro. Rene

To Whom Shall We Go?

While still celebrating the joys of Easter, the new life of Baptism and the presence of Jesus continuing in the Holy Eucharist, today's Gospel reminds us that these gifts can be rejected. Even some of Jesus' own followers found his explanation of the Eucharist...the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood, too difficult. "This is saying is hard; who can accept it?" (Jn 6: 60). Sadly, "many of his former disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him." (Jn 6: 66).
God gave us freedom of choice and unfortunately, all of us, at some point, make a wrong choice.
Very disturbing is the recent news of a very wrong choice being made at Harvard University to hold a "Black Mass" ...a mockery of our liturgy honoring Satan. What kind of "choice" is this? Cardinal Sean O'Malley has called for prayers to ambush this plan or to counterbalance it. We still have people turning their backs on what Jesus so lovingly offers us. Jesus turns to us as he did to his own disciples and asks if we too with turn away. May our answer echo Peter's: "To whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life." (Jn 6: 68).

Strong Is God's Love For Us

A consistent theme in the Psalms, "Strong is God's love for us." (Ps 117:2), Jesus affirms it with the sacrifice of the cross, and further by the on-going gift of himself in the Holy Eucharist. Realizing that we are weak, in a constant battle with our selfishness, and ever plagued with discouragement, he feeds us with the "Bread of Life", always there for the taking. Receiving Holy Communion, as with our prayers, can become rote, unless we gear up each time to realize what we are doing and how privileged we are to have him come sacramentally into our hearts. He brings his love and his strength as he physically bonds with us and under the appearance of bread and wine is digested into our systems. So strong is God's love for us, that he submits once again to become incarnate in our flesh. What a source of blessing, what a source of power! When we are "down" on ourselves for our failings, let us hasten to the Eucharist for the strengthening experience of God's love.
Bro. Rene

"Catching God."

Recently, Ms. Immaculee Illibagiza spoke at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, MA, telling her story of survival from the 1994 Genocide by hiding 91 days in a small bathroom with six other women in the home of a protestant minister. That story is spectacular enough, but even more astounding is the lesson of forgiveness that she learned and is spreading world wide by her books and lectures. "if you want to catch God," she said, " you have to love everyone and forgive everybody." This is not just a glib truism, but comes from a heart that had to be touched by God, for although she survived, most of her family did not. She learned in that confined space that the only way her heart could be free was to forgive those who killed her family and so many others.
The same theme weaves its way through the popular musical, Les Miserables. As Jean Val Jean was forgiven, so he vowed to live a life of forgiveness and compassion, learning that to love another is to "see the face of God." Is not this why we were created? Yet we might stubbornly cling to grudges, or prideful self-pity, or animosity that separates us from others. Let us listen to those who have suffered and learned the way of forgiveness and with them, "catch God".
Bro. Rene

He Does Not Want To Lose Us

Jesus states very explicitly that his mission is to save us, rescue us, not let us slip away. "And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it up on the last day." (Jn 6: 39). It's amazing to see how he does this, using us as his instruments to catch others before they stray too far. A college sophomore wrote and told me how he has been bringing his room mate and another friend to Mass during their Finals, and how last night they walked the stations of the cross outside playing Catholic Trivia! A high school senior, filled with Holy Spirit gave the sermon in his church the Sunday after Easter. Another senior, filled with the Spirit, spoke convincingly at a retreat and helped the retreatants come to a greater love of Jesus. How many times is this pattern becoming more and more visible as Jesus makes every effort not to lose any one of us? How is he using you and me today?
Bro. Rene

When It's Not What We Expect

There's nothing as disappointing or frustrating than when we set our eyes on a goal that seems plausible and find the complete opposite happening. A baseball team, for example, can win the World Series one year, and then be at the bottom of the list the next year. A runner can break records in one race and then only "place" in the next. A business venture can seem a sure thing and suddenly end up in bankruptcy. How do we deal with these things? Not very well, I'd say: sleepless nights, depression, a sense of utter failure, to name a few. But is that all, is there not something that can lift us back to normal?
Praying to accept that we are not in control, that we are dependent ultimately on God, and turning the whole thing over to him to let him take the lead is a big help. We learn humility; we gain perspective as to what is really important in life; we realize the to breathe and walk normally are great gifts. What if these were taken away? We can also identify with Jesus, who, in human terms, was a failure.....What was going through his mind for all those hours on the cross? Yet it all had to be that way for the greater good of our salvation. Having experienced this total emptying of self, he knows our feelings and treats them with a love and compassion that gives healing and meaning to what we are suffering.
Bro. Rene

Climbing the Lord's Mountain

"Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?" asks the Psalmist (Ps 24: 3) addressing a question we all have posed at one time or another, or in one way or another. There is a innate desire to "go up higher", to take the next step, to avoid stagnation, complacency and worthless desires. This is the desire that emerges from the core of our being and is as universal and ageless as the human race. The answer provided by the Psalmist under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is simple:
"The man [person] with clean hands and pure heart, / who desires not worthless things,/ and has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor./ He shall receive blessings form The Lord, / and reward for the God who saves him." (Ps 24: 3-6).
The ONE true "pure of heart" is Jesus, so in following him to the cross and resurrection, we walk the path of love up the holy mountain. But more than that, we don't realize how the journey of each one of us is sacred to him and how he provides the Holy Spirit who gives us everything we need with great delight, filling us with more than we ever anticipated. "What is lovely, I delight to give to you." (God Calling, p. 97). Indeed he says, "set no limits, whatever is beautiful you can have. Leave more and more the choice to me and you'll have no regrets." (op. cit, p. 97). So the question of climbing the mountain is resolved in a total turning of our lives over to the God who whose love will whisk us up to the top.
Br. Rene

Making Our Hearts Burn

As the two disciples reflected on their long walk and talk with Jesus, they exclaimed, "Were our hearts not burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Lk 24: 32 ) It's not often enough that our hearts burn when we heard or read the Gospel for the day, or a random chapter of Scripture. It is really a gift when the Word leaps out at us and seems to be written explicitly for us. When it happens, we know it, and feel that burning sensation, that closeness to Jesus as described by the disciplies. We can't make it happen, but we can predispose ourselves to it by calming ourselves before we pray with the Scriptures, by casting aside our distractions and pre-occupations,, and by focusing on the Word in front of us. We can also ask for the grace to be touched, to see or hear clearly, and thus be ready for the burning. A cursory, rushed reading will not work. Hungering to hear what God wants to say to us, will.
Bro. Rene

Easter Continues

As we approach the Third Sunday of Easter tomorrow, it seems that Mother Nature is finally "getting it" and gives us greener grass, budding trees, spring flowers and warmer weather. Now we see and feel the "new life" of Easter around us. The Feast of Sts. Philip and James also reminds us that it is not simply a natural rebirth that we are celebrating, but one of the Spirit who moves us, as it moved them, to spread the word, preach the Gospel both in verbal testimony and in action. Philip asked Jesus to "show us the father" and received Jesus' curt question, "Have I not been with you this long and still you do not see that the Father and are one?" So too can we miss the obvious, that of knowing who Jesus is and being able to see his actions in our lives or working through others. Preaching and teaching are going on all around us and we are part of it too. May we open our eyes to see and our hearts to respond to the presence of the Word around us. Saints Philip and James, guide us through this Easter Season and beyond.
Bro. Rene

Thoughts from a Wheelchair

How little attention do we give to our ability to walk on two feet, to bend down and pick up something we've dropped, to kneel in prayer, to get in and out of a car, to drive, to get right up from a chair...to go and do whatever we want, whenever we want. When these routine things are taken away, then do we appreciate them. We become even more aware of the goodness and kindness of others as they shower us with cards,e-mails phone calls and prayers.
Last night I was able to attend a bit of the Art Expo and all of the band concert at Central Catholic. How I appreciated what I saw and heard as well as the well wishes from students, faculty and parents.. This is all part of the "gift" that was this accident on Easter Sunday.
I will walk again, and do all of the above, but I hope I don't lose the perspective I now have from this wheelchair.
Bro. Rene

St. Joseph's Simplicity

The Church honors St. Joseph as the Worker today, a feast instituted by Pope Pius XII to counter the May Day celebrations of Communist Russia. Proves that St. Joseph has more power than all the military might of the now defunct Soviet Union. What he did with his life, was simply to put his gifts at the disposal of God and not hold back from using them to do what he had to do daily...protect Mary and Jesus, provide for them as an ordinary husband and father would do, and just be ready for the next "assignment" from God. He was a "Yes Man" in the best sense.
He offers us a pattern of life that is doable, within our reach, and, if we ask his help and intercession, he can see to it that we follow his example and defeat the shadows of self-doubt, laziness, or indifference that keep us from achieving our full potential as he countered the power of the USSR. St. Joseph, help us to use the gifts God gave us with joy, confidence and love.
Bro. Rene
On a personal note, I've been slowly recovering from a severe knee injury sustained on Easter Sunday. Surgery was a week ago but the residual effects of the anesthesia through me for a loop. Head is clearer now and the incision is healing. Rehab will take nine weeks! A time for all of us to unite in prayer..