Thursday, July 31, 2014

What Are We Looiing For?

The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola causes us to pause for a moment to look at our lives and see what is the best way we serve God and others for the greater glory of God.  Lost in the world of a chivalrous and amorous life, the young Ignatius was wounded in the leg by a cannon ball and forced into months of recovery during which he read lives of the saints and a life of Christ.  Moved by what he read and realizing that the saints were people made of the same "stuff" as he, he determined to imitate them and turn his life around to the service of God.  He wasn't sure what that meant and after many years of prayer, study and discernment, he arrived at the conclusion that living a simple life and educating others was the plan of God for him.  Others followed his example and before he died there were 1,000 Companions in the Society of Jesus, which is now still the largest Order of priests and brothers. Ignatius found great peace and contentment in God's way rather than his way.
As we begin this day, what will strike us as "the way to go" to follow the plan of God for us?  Even in the most simple choices we make today, may we ask God to help us make the choice he would make.
"What Would Jesus Do?", a popular question these days. Indeed it is and a very helpful one..   How will we answer it?
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Finding the Treasure

Today's brief Gospel speaks of the treasure found in a field and the famous pearl of great price. (See Mt 12:44-46).  Jesus compared these to the Kingdom of God, and indeed this is the meaning that has been passed on since then.  However, we can also look upon these treasures as the wealth of goodness we unexpectedly find in people.  Only God knows the heart, but sometimes we get enough of a glimpse to see what he knows.  We can unlock the treasure by a smile, by listening carefully and taking honest interest in the other person...as if he or she were all that mattered at the moment.  They open up to such attention and reveal the treasure within.  St. Marcellin, evidently had this gift, and hence children would flock to him, and his young brothers loved and revered him for allowing them to "show off" the gifts with which God had blessed them.  Let's make this a day of "treasure hunting"
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Martha

Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, is often given a "bum shot" because of her bustling activity to prepare for the family meal, as she reminds Mary that "there's work to be done."  Jesus in turn reminds Martha that Mary has chosen the "better part", that is, to be present to him.  Later after Lazarus' death, Martha expresses her faith in Jesus in a direct and strong way, leading us to conclude that both work and faith can go together.  If we are present to Jesus in all that we do, as Mary was, we can perhaps perform even better than our busy Martha!   Why not give it a try?
Bro. Rene

Monday, July 28, 2014

From the Mustard Seed

Yesterday while making an appeal for the Marist Missions, I did a quick review of the growth of the Marist Brothers.  From the two seeds sown in Lavalla on January 2, 1817, our first two brothers,  the Little Brothers of Mary have grown to 3,330 in 80 countries with 760,000 students in our care and 73,000 lay collaborators (Lay Marists).  The faith of St. Marcellin and his reliance on Jesus and Mary enabled those seeds to bear such astounding and widespread fruit.  Jesus was not kidding when he said about the mustard seed, "It is the smallest of seeds yet when full grown, it is the largest of plants." (Matt 13: 32)
If we look at ourselves as a "mustard seed," we might at first be discouraged:  "what can I do that will make any difference to anyone?"  Not so, with faith and trust in God, we can contribute to the growth of the kingdom by simple acts of kindness, by a smile, a thank you or a promise of prayers.
After one of the Masses yesterday, I met two young men who initially appeared to be at two opposite ends of the spectrum:  One, tall, in excellent physical condition, indeed he is a senior at The Citadel and will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the army next June; the other, a very heavy man with a long beard, tattoos all over and a pierced nostril.  The tall man told me his faith is the most important thing in his life. and I told him I would add him to my prayer list so that his faith may remain strong in what he'll be facing in the future.  The other man is searching, being stripped down by God but believes God is calling him to prepare for ministry to youth. His appearance should give him a ready welcome among them, and then, whamo, what a surprise they'll find behind the cover of this book. We bonded instantly and with a hug and promise of prayers, I left him.  I know in my heart that those two simple encounters helped to fortify these  young men as they pursue God's plan for them.  It's not rocket science...it's simply responding to God's grace.  Just Do It.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Are We Teachable?

In today's first reading, (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12), the young King Solomon is given the option to ask God for anything.  He chooses wisdom and it pleases God.  Solomon was humble enough to know that his kingship did not provide him with all the answers and he would continually need to learn over the years so as to rule justly, prudently and with the good of the people as a priority. 
As we go our merry ways, do we develop a kind of smugness that leads us to think that we "know it all" and do not need to be taught?   Usually there are enough humbling experiences to remind us that we don't, but we balk at them because they have intruded on our entitled self-sufficiency. 
May we humbly ask today, as did Solomon, for the Lord to teach us wisdom and to grant us the humility to remain teachable in the days ahead.
Bro. Rene

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Parents and Grandarents

Today's Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne is making me very aware of the debt we owe to our grandparents who, for the most part, had a more difficult struggle in some ways than we do, even if they lived "in the good old days". They stood fast in their faith, made sacrifices for their children and set the tone for the their families. In many instances they are doing the same for their grandchildren, walking the narrow bridge of non-interference and gentle hints while watching a different set of values emerge among their offspring.
Visiting a family with two young children has made me aware of the huge sacrifices of sleep and personal time parents go through seven days a week. Marvelous expressions of love and embracing of their roles as parents. feeding and forming patterns of good behavior in very strong-minded and independent children. The need for prayer, love, support, encouragement and offers to help with baby sitting has become very apparent to me. Let us all offer a prayer for families, parents and grandparents today.
Bro. Rene

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Power of Presence

The Marist Brothers' Province of the United States now consists of 154 brothers, 85 of whom are retired and 69 are still in the active work force. Over 100 participated in an assembly which concluded yesterday. It was amazing to experience the vitality still present among these men who ranged from our youngest to some in their 90's. The energy which was generated in the presentations and discussions around the topics of mission, prayer and community filled us all with hope, confidence and motivation to continue to live our Marist Brotherhood with the zeal we had when we first entered. Indeed, the theme was a "New Way of Being Brother", which translated into some basics that Fr. Champagnat instituted at our very beginnings. Strong among these is the "power of presence": being aware of the power provided by God's abiding presence and love, enabling us to "do the impossible." Again it was affirmed that God answers prayers, and works through us to help others simply by our presence and actions, not necessarily by our words. Seeing the presence of God in others enables us to bond with them as we realize that God is loving us through them as he is showing his love to them through us.
The power generated by this equation, for example, is enabling a new community to take shape in Spanish Harlem to address the dire needs of recent immigrants. Astounding too is the news that our retired brothers in Canada have opened three new communities to allow young men and women who are hungering and thirsting for silence, prayer and communal life to live with them. It seems that the "silent revolution" of the sixties, which has led to a very secular society in Canada, has reached its limit and now a reaction to the emptiness this revolution has caused is unfolding. Thank God the Marist Brothers are again present to the needs of the times and are there to supply help and guidance as we were in post-revolutionary France. Age does not seem to be a hindrance to new and exciting endeavors, but brings the wisdom gained through experience to the POWER OF PRESENCE.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, July 24, 2014

God's Mercy

"O Lord, your mercy reaches to heaven;/ your faithfulness to the clouds." (Ps 36: 1). We need to repeat this over and over to remind ourselves that there is no end to God's love, care and forgiveness, his tender mercy toward us who continually find ourselves in or create circumstances where only the mercy of God can help us. The recent hit movie, "Heaven is for Real" gives a dramatic example of how prayers for God's mercy and healing were answered. Young Colton Prebo's abdomen was full of infection after his burst appendix was removed but the prayers of the congregation moved God to mercy and Colton recovered overnight, much to the amazement of the doctors.
Each day when we awake, we experience the mercy of God who has brought us through another night and given us another day of surprises and opportunities to receive his mercy. At Mass we pray three times for this mercy; the words can become rote, but if said from the heart, they become a prayer that puts us in touch with the merciful heart of God. "Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy!"
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Born Needing Christ

"O happy fault" the deacon chants during the Exultet at the Easter Vigil. Yes, as a result of Original Sin, we are born needing Christ, and it is this need that DRIVES us toward him. He is the only one who can fulfill that need, supply our weakness and give us the strength we need to fulfill our life's purpose.
It's amazing how in story after story of the lives of saints that this becomes apparent.
Today, we remember St. Bridget of Sweden, born of pious parents in 1303, wedded at 13, mother of 8 children and later founder of the Most Holy Savior, or Bridgetines. Her husband, Ulf, must have been a special man, for after the birth of their last child, Catherine, now known as St. Catherine of Sweden, he and Bridget took a vow of celibacy and later, he entered a Cistercian monastery, where he died a year later. Was it not the need for a deeper union with Christ that drove them up these extraordinary steps to sanctity? How far can we be taken if we pay attention to our need of Christ and allow him to fill it?
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Recognizing Christ

Today we honor Mary Magdalene whose repentance, faithfulness and love brought her first to the empty tomb, and first to see the risen Jesus. It was not an immediate recognition, as the story unfolds, and it is quite astounding that she who spent so much time with Jesus did not recognize him. It took HIS initiative to awaken her powers of recognition.
How often each day do we walk past people, even talk to them, and yet not acknowledge that Jesus is present in each one of them? It takes a poke from Jesus, or perhaps a slice of bread to remind us of the great truth that we meet Jesus daily in each other. May Mary's faithfulness and passion for Jesus rub off on us, open our eyes, and move our hearts to loving recognition of our Lord and best friend, Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Monday, July 21, 2014

Reform and Renewal

Reform and Renewal are patterns that date way back to the Old Testament, especially in the period of the Kings, when one king would drift towards idolatry and lead the people astray. Punishment would come by way of defeat in battle, and the next king or prophet would lead the people through repentance to reform. So too in the history of the Church and its religious orders and congregations.
The Marist Brothers of the United States, along with all the 3,500 brothers throughout the world are assembling in the next few years before our 200th birthday in 2017, to take a good look at ourselves and see if there is a new way of being brother. Close to 130 brothers have gathered at St. Alfonzo Retreat House in Long Branch, NJ to do just this. We ask for prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide us and remind us that the answers we seek are usually found not in abstract theories, but in the realities of the heart. This is true for all Christians who seek to lead a more sincere and deeper Christian Life. And, it is by banding together, sharing our collective wisdom, and seeking strength and courage from Jesus that we move ahead with confidence.
Bro. Rene
Note: The last few days have not allowed access to the internet, but so far it looks like St. Alfonzo will help us stay on line.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Caring for the Sick

After a troubled youth, Camillus was converted by the kindness of a Capuchin Friar, and wanted to join the order. He was refused because of a chronic ulcer condition on one of his legs, so he volunteered at a hospital in Rome.  Finding the help there sorely uncompassionate and incompetent, he founded his own Order to care for the patients.  The Order thrived and continues today.   St. Camillus de Lellis is the patron of the sick, hospitals and nurses.
Today with so much concern for health care and, despite all our technological and medical science advances, there seems to be a greater need than ever for caregivers for those suffering from illnesses of all sorts.   Having had more contact with doctors and hospitals since Easter than ever in my life, I am aware of the great services they provide and am grateful for them.  We might make it part of our prayer today to pray to St. Camillus in behalf of those who are in the medical field, and, if we can, send a card of gratitude to our doctors and nurses, and perhaps visit someone who is in the hospital or homebound.
St. Camillus, pray for us!
Bro. Rene

Monday, July 14, 2014

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

The "Lily of the Mohawks," the first Native American saint was canonized two years ago, after a long gap since her death in 1680. Notable about her life was her desire for baptism, her love of the Eucharist, and her service to the ill. She suffered persecution for her faith and had to leave her native village in order to practice her faith. She was baptized at the age of 23 and died the year after. She lived out the works of St. Paul. "Whatever gains I had , these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ." (Phil 3:7-10). May she help us to find our fullness in Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Abundant Sower

The Sower went out to sow his seed...we never know how much, but knowing that the Sower is our loving Lord, we can imagine that the supply is limitless...He lavishes it on the thorns, on the hard ground, over the shallow beds and on the deep fertile ground.  He just keeps throwing.  What an image for us who might want to "be careful" "not waste", "make sure"...
Not when it comes to love.  That just comes in endless abundance.
A story of Pope Francis might help illustrate his interpretation of the parable and of how we should live out Christian lives.  When he was Cardinal of Buenos Aires, he would walk once a week through the Barrios, the very poor neighborhoods.  People flocked all around him in the narrow alleys.  Children would be in front of him and behind him.  At some point, he'd come across a card table set up as an altar ready for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  Right there, in the dirty alleys among the poorest of the poor, he would celebrate Mass and distribute Holy Communion to All, not asking the questions about their current marriage status, or even their membership in the Catholic Church.  His philosophy was that they were hungering for Christ and that He who came for the salvation of ALL would want him to sow and distribute as described in the parable.  We sing a hymn at Mass:  "All are welcome, all are welcome at this feast."  We might look into our hearts today to see if they are welcoming hearts, if they are loving hearts, ready to cast love everywhere and on everyone.  Let us pray that the spirit of the Sower find deep roots within us.
Bro. Rene

Friday, July 11, 2014

Prayer and Word

The Memorial of St. Benedict, a holy, simple, powerful figure whose common sense approach to spiritual growth by integrating prayer, work and silence, shaped the culture of Europe and continues to influence the lives of Christians around the world, is a call to us to put into practice these elements of his Rule in our own lives. We work constantly and, unfortunately devote much less time to prayer, but how different would our lives be if we reversed these two. As with the custom of Marists to remember the Presence of God, we can move toward the Benedictine ideal by blending our prayer and work together. We used to pray before and after meals, we used to being a meeting or activity with a short prayer. If we have slipped away from these practices, today would be a good time, in honor of St. Benedict to retrieve them and start doing them again.
Bro. Rene
NB. I'm in Wheeling, where the Brothers do not have Wi-Fi....so slices of bread will be sporadic for a good while. I'll be back in Lawrence by July 28th...

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Healing Presence

Each day seems to present itself with people and situations where help is of the essence.  Often, the requests are beyond  our ability to do much, so overwhelming is the difficulty.  One of my former students in Rwanda had set up a photo copying business, which was providing him and his family with an adequate income.  Two days ago, he arrived at the business and discovered that robbers had broken in, taken his computer and copy machine.  His business was sabotaged.  Being young, he failed to take out insurance.   He asked for $800.00...of course, I am not able to give it to him, especially as I'm traveling.  I offered him some words to soothe his panic and to remember  rely on God, who has brought him safely thus far through many an ordeal to reach this point in his life.   People who work in pregnancy centers, sometimes can offer only advice, and let the clients make their decisions.   In any case, our willingness to listen, even without giving the actual solution, can be a healing presence.  It's the panic that is worse than the actual situation.  All of us can be present as healers.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

God's Timeline

"Above all, trust the slow work of God."  --Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.  We often say, "In God's good time", and surely it both acknowledges the slow process that God seems to revel in and the sweetness that can accompany this process if we put our trust in it.   Look at creation:  billions of years to arrive at where we are;  look at our own lives, a slow, slow journey that remarkably seems so short as we ask, "Where did the time go?"  And yet the waiting, the anticipation makes the road sweet and the arrival even sweeter.   May we become more accustomed to HIS time rather than OUR time.  For it is indeed HIS gift to us, not something we earn or deserve.  "Father Knows Best", a popular TV show in the 50's and an oft quoted dictum of fathers proves to be right time and time again, and certainly it becomes clearer as we live,  Our FATHER knows best.  "Trust the slow work of God."
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Idols

Todays' first reading from the prophet Hosea is a scathing attack on the sin of idolatry.  Nothing new under the sun.  In those days it ranged from the establishment of a kingdom to the actual erection of gold and silver statues of false Gods.  The Jews wandering in the desert, made a golden calf hundreds of years earlier than Hosea; they were punished, but the lesson, evidently was not learned, "There shall be no false gods." (cf Ex 20: 3-4).  Today, in more subtle forms, idols continue to creep back into our lives.   Ambitions, dreams of wealth, power, and unlicensed "freedom" over-the top adulation given to entertainment celebrities and athletes,  Stadiums are the new temples, sports the new god.  Witness our nearly empty churches on Sunday mornings and huge gatherings at the athletic complex.  There is no Hosea to cry out against today's idolatry as there was even in the 30's 40's and 50's with Fr. Coughlin and Bishop Sheen.  Pope Francis is stepping into their shoes as he minces no words against the sins of our times. May we look into our own hearts, find the idols there, and cast them out; then give our support to Pope Francis and others who will follow his lead. Perhaps we can even step up to this need.  There's a long road ahead, but ignoring our problems will only make them worse.
Bro. Rene

Monday, July 7, 2014

Testing

There are days when nothing seems to go right.  The computer is slow or non-responsive; a needed phone number can't be found; the wind blows over  several flower pots, spilling dirt all over the porch; an appointment is forgotten and missed...on and on it can go.  These may be little obstructions in the grand scheme of things, but they get under our skin and bring out the worst in us.  But as in the training of newcomers to any field, it is the little things that count, that prepare us for the bigger things. Most of us are not familiar, except by hearsay, of the intense training candidates for the Navy Seals face;  We imagine the most grueling of tests, and for sure, most of what they do is far beyond the reach of most of us.  But among the torturous ordeals they face for six months, making their beds properly stands out first and foremost.  Their day begins with inspection of their correctly made bed.  What does that have to do with fighting an enemy deep in the jungle?   It's the attention to this little thing that when all else has gone wrong during the day, the mission, at least the soldier can look back and say, "I did one thing right today!" 
The days when things don't go right are the testing days for us, not to torture us cruelly, but to prepare us for the greater challenges, perhaps even our life-work. Remembering the goodness and kindness of God, we can come to the realization that he's always looking out for our greater good, and find the fortitude to deal with these little testings.
Bro. Rene

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Suffering in Aleppo

With all the hype over the World Cup and other headlines, the suffering in Aleppo, Syria goes on with little notice, somewhat like the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.  This brief paragraph lists some of the horrors that continue in this city where there were once 300,000 Christians.  Our brothers struggle to help the children and refugees whom they house in our school.  Pray for a peaceful and just resolution to this atrocity.
Bro. Rene

Death everywhere
The people are suffering. Assad’s air forces strike the areas under rebel control with missiles and barrel bombs; in the meanwhile the rebels bomb the other districts with mortars and handmade rockets. The people are starving and missing medicines. The jihadist groups threaten the city by stopping the water. The war is terrible, and death comes from all directions. Through underground tunnels, “enemy” buildings are mined. How can people survive? This slaughter has lasted two years: it must stop. An international intervention is necessary to free Aleppo from the siege. The governments involved need to take responsibility: Turkey, on the rebels’ side, Russia, which holds an authoritative position for Assad. Saving Aleppo is worth more than the victory of one side or the other on the field! Humanitarian corridors need to be established and supplies for the civilians provided. Then it is necessary to negotiate, setting no deadline, the end of the fighting. A UN peacekeeping force would be appropriate. Of course, it takes time to assemble it and it would require collaboration from Damascus. In the meanwhile the people of Aleppo die. Peace needs to be imposed, in the name of those who suffer, establishing a kind of “Aleppo, open city”.
- See more at: http://www.champagnat.org/400.php?a=6&n=3312#sthash.g1pExGRe.dpuf

Friday, July 4, 2014

Celebrating Freedom

We sang "God Bless America" at the end of Mass today, having given thanks for the freedoms we enjoy  in this beautiful and vast country.  We gave thanks for the men and women who founded these United States of America as well as for the millions who gave their lives to preserve the ideals set forth in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  Myriads still serve today either in the military or in law enforcement, or as teachers and parents, passing on the legacy to the next generation and keeping enemies of every type at bay.  The freedom we enjoy had to be won and the battle goes on to preserve what has turned out to be a great gift, one that can easily be taken for granted.  It's only when one goes outside the country that one realizes what we enjoy.  As we celebrate our holiday with family and friends, may we offer a prayer of thanks to God and may we resolve to live our freedom as God would have it.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Glorious Wounds

Doubting Thomas Day.  Who among us will be the first to cast the stone at him?  None of us can claim to be doubtless, so we welcome on his feast, this notable companion whose doubt give us further proof of the reality of Jesus' resurrection along with the simple but moving exclamation:  "My Lord and My God." (Jn 20:28). Thomas's doubt was so healed and his faith so strengthened, that tradition links him to the evangelization of the Parthians, Medes and Persians as well as to the Malabar Coast of India where dwells a large population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas." His life ended in the supreme witness of faith, his martyrdom.
The medieval mystics loved the image of the glorified wounds where the incredulity of Thomas was healed.  Here also we can find healing for our own incredulity and uncertainties and a safe place to find companionship in the fidelity and personal love of Jesus.  Lord, Jesus, by your wounds we are healed.  Let us not be ashamed to come to them for refuge, solace, and a deeper sense of your love.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Child-like Faith

St. Marellin's great love for children stemmed from their innocence, their unwavering trust, their curiosity, their loving acceptance of others, their openness and their fearlessness.  No wonder he went to such measures to insure their education in the faith and in the subjects that would lead them to be good citizens.  No wonder why in art, he is surrounded with them, and from the early stories, was evidently a magnet which drew them to himself wherever he went.  His association with them in turn increased his own faith and trust, en-fleshing  the words of Jesus:  "Unless you become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
May we seek in every way to become child-like, to become again a trusting child, to find the joy of a child, a child's laughter, lack of criticism and a desire to share with all.
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Asleep in the Boat

We begin the month of July with the Gospel story of the storm on the lake and a sleepy Jesus, totally unconcerned  as opposed to his frantic disciples who awaken him and plead for his help.  He chides them for their lack of faith and calms the furious storm.  They reply, "What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?" (Mt 8:27). The disciples still had a lot to learn about their Master.  Are we not like them, in near panic stage over the smallest things?  Do we still not know "what sort of man this is."?  Perhaps it's a life long lesson, but we can make daily progress by spending time with Jesus quietly and asking him to reveal himself more and more.  If he can calm the wind and sea, can he not show who he is and calm to storms within us?  Let this be the focus of our prayer during this new month.
Bro. Rene