Begin With Praise

Note:  I will be away and not have access to internet until Sunday...A Happy New Year to ALL!


On this last day of the year 2014, we might take time to look back, and be moved to gratitude for the many blessings that will pop up in our reverie.  Surely, God has been good, no matter what might have seemed like a "disaster."  With his help we have survived trials, stress, and benefited from our mistakes.  God's mercy was evident, and without it, we would have been depressed, discouraged, and to a degree, "lost".  In the end, we found that everything turned out all right.  I cannot thank God enough for the people, events and surprises beyond my wildest imagination that took place in 2014, and  even yesterday itself.
We might, then, look ahead to 2015 and begin the year in the spirit of healthy and full praise, a prayer that recognizes the sovereignty, power, and absolute Goodness of our Creator, who is LOVE. In such a prayer,  we praise God for being God, not for any of his endless favors; we glorify him now, today,  as much as we can, as a preview of how we will be totally absorbed in glorifying him when we see him face to face in his full glory.  Such a prayer will take us out of ourselves while at the same time preparing ourselves to receive the invitations, graces, and blessings that we will be reflecting on a year from now.  In the Gloria at Mass we pray, "we praise you, we glorify you."  Let that be our mantra for today, a good way to end this year and begin the next!
Bro. Rene

Anna's Patient Waiting

Note:   I was not able to  cut a slice of daily bread yesterday because I had been serving breakfast at Cor Unum (a local soup kitchen) until 8:30.  I dashed over to my computer at Central Catholic, only to find some confusion with my password.  By the time it was straightened out, it was too late to post a slice.  I apologize.  Today, I'm taking no chances.


We complete the story of the Presentation in the Temple with the widow Anna's gratitude and praise, for like Simeon, she too had been awaiting the messiah.  It is estimated that her waiting time was 60 years.  We "waited" for three and a half weeks during Advent this year, and even at that, found ourselves impatient for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Now, still in the Octave, with life's routine back in place and tragic news left and right, we might find ourselves again impatient for the Second Coming of Jesus, and the final curtain on this "vale of tears."  Anna's patience is a lesson to us, that in God's good time, our waiting will be rewarded.  May we not wait for the actual "end" but may we, like Anna give thanks and praise always, in anticipation of the outcome our faith assures us will come to pass.  "Patience, people, for the Lord has come."  (Jas. 7:1)

Our Families

We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family today, remembering the love and faith that bound them together. Each member, Jesus Mary and Joseph, responded in obedience and trust to God's plan for them, and though it was not always easy for them, they remained loving and faithful to the Father, to one another, and to us.   This is OUR family too.  Perhaps we came to a greater appreciation of our own families as we celebrated Christmas.  For some, this is the only time family gets together...regretfully...for so much of who we are and what we share in common could really bind us more closely together if we got together more often. It is something that needs to be worked at, but it is surely worth it.
And, as we reflect on family, we have our spiritual families. the members of our Church, the people with whom we share faith and at times with whom we do service.  Our faith would be sterile if our churches were empty and we had to worship alone.  Or how could we serve others, if there were not others to work with us?
Besides these families, there is the call to embrace everyone in our world, even those with whom we do not agree.  They too are our brothers and sisters who need love, compassion, and perhaps, understanding and forgiveness.  Our call is act as if we are ALL God's children and, as such to love one another as members of one family.  May we find motivation for this as we reflect on the gift of the Holy Family, our blood families and our faith families.
Bro. Rene

Ending Slavery

Yesterday we recalled the Martyrdom of St. Stephen, and today, on the 10th anniversary of the Tsunami in Indonesia, not pleasant Christmas events, and today we have the opportunity to address another human aberration, slavery, which still exists around the world. We can thus help build the Kingdom initiated by the birth of Jesus.  The above short video shows a historic gathering of world religious leaders working together; a marvelous testimony that a common cause can bring about unity among people of differing faiths and traditions.  How pleased must Jesus be to see that his vision, "that they all be one," is possible. Yes, there are many differences yet remaining, but step by step, in dialogue and common effort, these can be eliminated, as can slavery.  Let us pray for unity, peace and an end to slavery.
Take a minute now to watch the video of this landmark event and share it with your family and friends.


Bro. Rene

The Octave of Christmas

The day after all the festivities of sharing time with family, eating all kinds of "no-no's"  under the excuse, "It's Christmas!"  Yes it is, and our holy Church cannot contain it to one day, but extends it a whole week:  24 hours stretched out for 8 days.   And beyond that, the season continues until the Baptism of the Lord on January 11. It's not easy to sustain our Christmas High.  We have been intensely preparing for four weeks during Advent...some began ever before that.  Momentum increased until the Eve and the Day, and now the day after, there is a sigh of release, of relief.  Some have even gone back to work.  Today's Feast is St. Stephen, the first martyr, totally out of sync with the joy of the past two days.  Usually on the 28th, we remember the Holy Innocents, the victims of King Herod's jealousy.  This year, however, because the Feast of the Holy Family falls on the 28th, the Feast of the Innocents is suppressed:  one less gory tale to remember.  Both these martyrdoms, nevertheless are part of the Christmas package as the song of the St. Louis Jesuits, Emmanuel reminds us:  "the child on her lap so soon to be nailed to a tree." 
How then, do we keep the "Christmas Spirit" alive for this week and until January 1lth?  We'll for one thing, it cannot be the same high intensity as on the day itself, but we can retain the spirit of joy and giving by reflecting on just what a great Gift we have received:  God's own Son, whose love is immeasurable, and who looks not for a return gift; his is a gift of pure, unselfish, unconditional love.  The gifts we received, the time spent with family and realizing how blessed we are to love them and be loved by them, are only a shadow of the love that God has for us. Taking time to reflect on this cannot but rouse up more love and gratitude in our hearts and move us to share it with everyone. Even listening to our favorite Christmas CD's, not just as background music, but as prayer, we can deepen our appreciation for the Gift. In these simple ways, keep Christmas alive not only for the Octave, but for the whole year!
Bro. Rene

A Babe for the Lowly

Note:  The Christian Men's Breakfast did not begin until 7:30 and concluded around 8:45...too late for me to find a computer and create a slice of bread before 9:00 am.  I don't have the internet on my phone as many people do.  Next year I will write before I go to the breakfast.




And speaking of the breakfast, it was the largest group ever:  224 men, most of whom were in their early 20's to early 40's.  Some had their young sons, as young as three dressed in suit and tie! The faith that was evident again underscored the power of the birth we celebrate.  Our God comes to us as a baby. born in a stable, worshipped at first by simple shepherds.  The baby Jesus in most crèches lies on his bed of straw with arms outstretched to embrace ALL.  Pope Francis has addressed his cardinals and all of us with a call for childlike simplicity and simple faith that overflow into service to one another. The call is clear:  imitate this childlike simplicity and live it not just for Christmas Day, but for all days of the year.  What are we going to do tomorrow that will reflect what we celebrate today?
Bro. Rene

Christian Men's Breakfast

In case the Christian Men's Breakfast, which begins at 7:00 am is not over in time for me to give you a slice of Daily Bread on Christmas Eve, there will always be Christmas morning.  As I sit here, I think we'll  be done in time...
Bro. Rene

Surprises

In his recent address to the Roman Curia, one of the 15 weaknesses decried by Pope Francis, was "over planning", endless meetings to attend to the slightest details, leaving no room for spontaneity and surprises.  Pope Francis knows that God cannot be held to a schedule (God's time is not our time), and often works in surprises.  All of Advent we have been reflecting on the events leading up to the birth of Jesus and seeing surprise after surprise.  A young country girl and a virgin becomes pregnant with God's Son by the Holy Spirit.  Surely this was not planned by earthly minds.  Her cousin, Elizabeth, beyond childbearing years, is also pregnant and gives birth to a son, whose name, surprisingly enough, is not Zechariah, after his father, as was the custom, but John.  The Son of God, the Prince of Peace,  is not born in a palace, but in a stable.  Read the infancy narratives and see more surprises. The Cardinals were surprised by the stern and pointed critiques of the Pope. Even his election was a surprise.  Look at your own life and see how many major events came by way of surprise.  Little could our parents predict our futures when we were born, and probably asked, as did the neighbors and relatives of Elizabeth and Zechariah, "What, then will this child be?"  (Lk 1:66). What lies ahead for us in 2015?  We are assured that as with John, the hand of the Lord is upon us."  (cf. Lk 1: 66).
Bro. Rene

Mary's Song of Praise

When you think of it, Mary might not have had a clear cause to sing her Magnificat, her Song of Praise.  She was with child, but Joseph did not know it, and as such she faced severe consequences in his eyes and in the eyes of the Nazareth community; she had just completed a fairly long journey from Nazareth to Ain Karim, where Elizabeth and Joachim lived, and she must have been pondering not only what motherhood would mean, this being her first child...could she be a good mother,etc.?  And above that, the child she carried was the Son of God! How does one bring up God's Son?  She had to have doubts, fears, concerns and some fatigue, yet we hear this magnificent song expressing her total joy in God her Savior, and focusing on him and his marvelous deeds toward the poor, lowly, and humble, she is able to praise and glorify him, rather than calling attention to herself.   By turning everything toward him, whatever might have been on her mind, faded away, and it was totally God's plan and God's goodness that caught the limelight.
What a lesson for us, who so often get caught up in our own worries and needs. When we can sing our own Magnificat, our own Song of Praise, then not only has Advent been a success for us, but our journey home to God is well on its way.
Bro. Rene

God's Gift

Again we hear the Gospel of the Annunciation on this Fourth Sunday of Advent.  We are drawing closer to the Holy Night when Christ was born.  This year we have a good part of the week to finish up our preparations, our decorating, our cooking, our shopping, before Christmas.  We might find in those days more time to pay fuller attention to what Christmas is all about:  The birth of Jesus is announced to an insignificant young country girl in her early teens, in a village of no renown. No great hoopla.   In a great leap of faith, she accepts this mysterious proposal of becoming pregnant, not in the usual way, but by the power of God and thus becoming the mother of God.  Her child is not of her and Joseph, but of God!  He is the Gift of God not only to Mary and Joseph but to all of us.  He enters our humanity, our world, fulfills his mission of redemption through his passion and death, leaves us a pattern of behavior, "rule" to follow so that the true love of self-sacrifice can build a Kingdom worthy to be returned to God the Father at the end of time.  When his work was done, he does not leave us, by stays with us in the Eucharist and is present in our hearts through our baptism.  In addition he leaves us his mother to continue to nourish us and lead us to her Son.  How immeasurable is God's Gift? How worthy of all the praise and glory we can muster in our Christmas festivities!
Bro. Rene

The Focus Is On Mary

The  last week of Advent, beginning with Vespers this evening, focuses on Mary.  The story of the Annunciation both this morning and tomorrow call our attention to this important event, without which there would be no Christmas.  The repetition of this Gospel passage is an invitation to us to read it over and over and to ponder it.  Each time we do, we will find something that hasn't struck us before.
A line expressed over and over again in the film, Captain Phillips, by the pirate leader has become a favorite with me lately, and has proved true time and time again:  "In the end, everything will be all right."  Yesterday I could not find my credit card in its usual slot in my wallet, and I thought that I must have lost it somewhere between the gas pump, barber shop, school and home.  Typically, I called, I searched, I retraced my steps.  No panic, although I was being admonished by "everyone" to call Visa and cancel the card.  I remained calm, prayed to St. Anthony, convinced that it would turn up, and continued with the evening plans.  When I finally got home, another search of the wallet uncovered the card with the bills...where I NEVER put it.  I still don't know how it got there, but it all turned out right, without having to cancel the card.
Can you imagine Mary facing the proposal to become the mother of God?  What thoughts went through her head?  Yet she said yes, and indeed, despite the mixture of joy and swords of sorrow, "everything turned out all right" so far, and we are assured that it will "in the end."  Ponder the annunciation and see what God says to YOU!
Bro. Rene

Zechariah's Doubt

The father of John the Baptist was struck mute when he questioned the angel Gabriel's announcement that he would become the father of a child.  It was a natural thing to doubt, perhaps even ridicule this thought, especially with his wife being barren all their married life, and now certainly passed the child-bearing age.  One author suggests that if Zechariah had paused to reflect on his own experience and knowledge of the Scriptures, he might have come to the conclusion he was forced to accept: "Nothing is impossible with God." (Lk 1:37 )  He had plenty of time to reflect while unable to speak, and when his tongue was loosened proclaimed a magnificent hymn of praise and faith, which we now refer to as the Benedictus.  "Blessed be the Lord and God of Israel, for his has come to his people and set them free."  (Lk 1: 68)
And so it is with us, we are not muted, but we are blunted by our lack of reflection and faith.  May we take some time in these hectic days before Christmas to reflect on God's workings in our lives; to reflect on the story of Zechariah and the other events surrounding the birth of Jesus, and proclaim in word and deed our own Benedictus.
Bro. Rene

Joseph's Compassion

Luke's account of the birth of Jesus is told from Mary's point of view; Matthew focuses on Joseph.
Without Mary's YES at the annunciation,  the Word would not have become flesh, Without Joseph's YES, the story would not have been able to proceed.  His expectations of Mary, his whole life had been turned inside out by Mary's pregnancy, but his willingness to believe the angel who spoke in a dream, that this child was of the Holy Spirit and would be the Savior of humankind demonstrates his faith, his love and compassion for Mary and his generous compliance to God's plan. He accepts the child as his own and proves to be a strong husband and father.  He brought Mary to Bethlehem; at the prompting of an angel, fled to Egypt to protect the mother and child from Herod's jealous wrath; settled later in Nazareth and provided for his holy family.  Spiritual writer, Barbara Taylor Brown writes:  "God's birth requires human partners--a Mary, a Joseph and you, a me--willing to adopt it and give it our names, accepting the whole sticky mess and rocking it in our arms."   "In the mystery of Christmas" Deacon Jay Cormier reminds us, God's "yes" depends on our "yes.'
How willing are we to take on the role of Joseph to be father to Jesus, to give compassion and forgiveness to ourselves and others?
Bro. Rene

Wisdom Comes From God

We hear the word, wisdom, over and over; we search for it, we long for it, we listen to elders and teachers, we read extensively, hoping that we will acquire it and meld it into our bones and DNA, yet it eludes us.  What is it, if not a sense of balance, a perspective, a serenity, a guiding light that enables us to accept, to choose rightly, to find joy in all.  It is a gift, that try as we might, we cannot earn, nor buy, nor does is necessarily come with age. We cannot manufacture it nor achieve it on our own.  It comes from God, who IS Wisdom and who shares it with us;  there are some young people who are already wise, who have the above qualities, and there are senior citizens who do not have them. Wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit that comes with Confirmation and is cultivated through a life of prayer, fidelity to the Gospels, and participation in the sacraments.  Our daily contact with God enables us to blend our will with his, to experience his nearness and loving presence, and trustingly place our lives in his hands, knowing that his plan and vision are the best ways to deep inner peace and the "sweet ordering" of all things. Wisdom assures us that in the end, "everything will be all right."   The call for the coming of Wisdom, becomes more explicit in this final eight days before the arrival of WISDOM, the birth of Jesus at Christmas.  O Wisdom, coming from the mouth of the Most High....come and teach us the way of prudence."  "O" antiphon for December 17th.
Bro. Rene

A Joyful Noise

https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gIoSga7tZPg

A click on the above site will bring a joyful noise into your day and perhaps a tear as the beauty of the music overtakes the Aerospace museum and your heart.  The USAF can bring happiness and peace through music and shows us how one small action can multiply.  Let us proceed this day to bring a joyful noise into our world by one small deed.
Bro. Rene

Space For Silence

This morning our celebrant at Mass sat down in his presider's chair in silence instead of giving a homily.  It was a welcome moment that needed no introduction.  We could hear the silence; how blessed it was and such a contrast to Friday night when dressed as Santas and Elfs, members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lawrence sang their way into several local restaurants, announcing on a bull horn that we were there to raise money to help continue the projects we sponsor to help the youth serviced by the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and Lazarus House. A noble, and enjoyable task.  For the most part we were welcomed with warmth, laughter, joyful singing and amazing generosity.  At one crowded restaurant I was distracted, however, by at how the patrons were being bombarded by several large TVs on all sides screening a football game, an army of waiters and waitresses addressing the needs of the tables, which were nearly on top of each other, and us with our Rudolphs and Frostys.  Noise pollution at its best.  The sad thing is that noise has become a way of life, we are used to it and accept it because few of us remember anything different.  The contrasting silence this morning was soothingly deafening and spoke of the need this Advent to make space in our lives for more of it.  How else can we think, let alone reflect on the meaning of Christmas and our need to prepare for it? More silence, less noise. Amen!
Bro. Rene

Rejoicing Always

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near." (Phil 4:4-5).  We'd like to do this, and sometimes it is very easy.  For the sixth year, The Hatherly Players, a talented local group of friends presented a delightful Christmas Concert entitled "Stepping into Christmas" last night at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall.  Not only do they fill the hall and our hearts with joy, but they donate all the proceeds along with the toys that people bring, to charity, having raised over $10,000.00 so far.  There is much cause for rejoicing in this and in so many other good deeds being done this Advent.
But, since we can't always be going to such concerts or raising funds to help the needy, how can we sustain such rejoicing?  The real meaning of rejoicing is "to find your source of joy and express your thanks."  If that Source is Jesus, then we can rejoice always.   John the Baptist, despite the good he was doing in attracting to many to repentance, pointed to Jesus as the ONE who would baptize with the Spirit and fulfill the promises of the prophets.  If Jesus is at the center of our lives, joy, deep within us, will always be there. Without Jesus, all the shopping, baking, gift-giving, etc. are meaningless. Let us rejoice today and in the remaining time of Advent in the Source of all joy, Jesus Christ, our Savior and God.
Bro .Rene 

A St. Lucy Prayer

Lucia was a 4th century native of Syracuse, Sicily who, as a child had made a secret vow of virginity, who, as a child cured her own mother, and who, refusing to marry a nobleman who wanted to marry her, was declaimed as a Christian, tortured, her eyes being torn out, and finally killed with a sword.
Her name is derived from the Latin, LUX, light, and as such is the patron of Scandinavia, whose shortest day is today.  The days begin to get longer and light slowly comes to remove the darkness that accompanied the sun's descent to the southern hemisphere.
Lucy is also the patron of the blind and those who suffer from diseases of the eye:  macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc.  "Blindness" can also be caused by anxiety, suffering, fear, anger, frustration, and greed, leading to untold violence.   We certainly can use the intercession of St. Lucy.
And in the mysterious ways in which God works, this prayer from a close friend, kindred spirit and soul-mate,  David H. Beazel, appeared in my "inbox" just before I put together this slice of bread.  He thought it would be appropriate, and so do I.  I hope you do too.


"I once was blind but now I see. The people have seen a great light! The light of life that came to us.... Jesus! Open the eyes of my heart, Lord! Open the eyes of my heart! I want to see you. I want to see you.

In the beginning was The Word. And The Word was with God, and The Word was God. Jesus is The Word. The Word is love. God is Love! Jesus is God!

The eyes of my heart are truly open, I am no longer blind! I, now can see! I see the Great Light that was written about. The light is love! I see God everywhere because I see love everywhere. God is love. The eyes of my heart are opened!"


Matthew 6:22-23
Thank you Lucy, Thank you David
Bro. Rene

A Mother's Love

On a cold December morning on the hill called Tepeyac, Mary called the attention of the 55 year old Juan Diego and asked him to go to the bishop to request that he build a church in her honor on that hill.  We recounted the story just a few days ago on the memorial of St. Juan Diego, but today we focus on Mary's motherly attention to our human condition.  When asked for a sign, she gave it; when Juan went to see an sick uncle, she found him and reminded him of his task and gave a further sign, her miraculous image on his coarse tilma that still, 500 almost 500 years later attracts millions of pilgrims each year.  Tepeyac is now within Mexico City and today is jammed with pilgrims who will walk on their knees to pass by the image.  Mary knows that simple faith needs simple stimulants; her detailed image of her as Mother of Jesus, speaks volumes and continues her mission to present Jesus to the world.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Bro. Rene

Hope

We are graced today with another familiar reading from the Book of Consolation (Is 40-66) which inspires hope.  Water will quench the thirsty, prayers will be answered, deserts turned into marshlands, trees will grow tall on the wastelands, all poetic symbols of change for the better, for the achievement of the ideal world and reasons for confidence and hope:  "Fear not, I will help you." (Is 41:13.)
We need to hear and heed this message in our time of pessimism, frustration, and despair. Yes, on one side of the coin things  look bad, almost beyond redemption, but in Isaiah's time and the years following, it was bad also.  On the other side of the coin, Jesus has come, the battle is won, there is truly reason to "fear not."  Yet we do.  Hence, the annual need for Advent, to remind us that hope is here, but it is up to us to bring about the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies and the teachings of Jesus.  We are to be the instruments of the "new order," of the Kingdom of God.  Humbly we admit our hesitation and weakness as we half-heartedly respond, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."  May our personal prayer, our families, our friends and communities and especially our reliance on Jesus all work together to strengthen us to accept the challenge to convert our desert into a fertile field.
Bro. Rene

Carrying Our Burdens

A visitor to Rwanda (or any African country) is always astounded at the first sight of people of all ages carrying "payloads" of potatoes, avocados, water, or bundles of firewood on their heads, without stopping to steady them, walking barefoot on stony ground without any concern of losing their cargo, and even stopping to greet people along the way.  They behave as if their burdens are light, even non-existent.  Yet, they all carry inner burdens: concern over the lack of money for medicine, food and school fees; a son serving in the military, the jealousy of neighbors;  the fear of violence.  We too carry burdens within which weary and drain us and which seem beyond solution.
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us the comforting words we need but often forget:  Come to me, all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy and my burden light. (Mt 11:28-30)   Again, the "burden" is on us, that is the humility to turn to Jesus for the help we need to carry our inner pains, longings and disappointments, our frightening inadequacies and shortcomings, our doubts, fears and anxieties, our questions and confusions.  "How will I ever get through this...even this day?"   This is where we need to "take it to the Lord in prayer" as we sing in the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus.  His invitation to let HIM carry our burden and learn from him the meekness and humility that we free us of our burdens or make them more bearable, as He will be carrying them with us,  is a perfect Advent prayer, one to be repeated and repeated till it finds a permanent place in our hearts.
Bro. Rene

A Simple Message

St. Juan Diego, an indigenous native of Mexico was baptized at the age of 50 and six years later in 1531, was chosen by Mary to go to the bishop and ask that a Church be built on Tepeyac, a small mountain,  in her honor.  He felt he was "not important" enough to go to the bishop and that Mary should choose another.  She insisted on him.  The bishop asked for a sign but on the day appointed to receive it, Juan went to see his uncle who was ill instead.  Mary caught up with him, assured him that the uncle was cured, and sent him to the hill where he found roses blooming in December.  We know the story of the miraculous image that appeared on the tilma, a more spectacular miracle than the December roses. For the rest of his life, Juan remained the guardian of the image in the church that was built at Mary's request.
Not a spectacular life, yet Juan's fidelity to a simple request, gives us the simple message, similar to the one Mary uttered at Cana:  "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5)
Bro. Rene

Mary's Special Role

Today we celebrate the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, Anne. We use the term "Immaculate Conception" but it is often misunderstood as the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary through the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit, an event commemorated on the Solemnity of the Annunciation.  No, today is Mary's day.  She was chosen to be the immaculate receptacle to carry and bring to term the Son of God.  She fittingly needed to be totally without sin and so she was conceived without the stain of Original Sin, which in which "the rest of us" are born.  She was, as it were, the perfect human being as were the first parents of the human race before the Fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. Thus, she was more inclined to live in harmony with the Will of God and hence could accept the ineffable honor to become the Mother of the Savior, the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.  She was the ultimate in faith, love, trust and compassion...the qualities for which we all strive so hard all of our lives to attain.  As loving mother so close to her Son, she is also close to us with a clove we can barely comprehend.
A recent film, Mary of Nazareth, depicts Mary as described above along with beautiful photography and music, a credible script and compelling acting.  Pope Francis loved it.  It will be shown for $5.00 at noon at St. Joseph' grammar school gym in Salem, NH on Sunday, December 14th, in case local readers would like to see it.
For all of us, we pray, O Mary, conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Bro. Rene 

Called To Change

John the Baptist appears in his role as messenger and baptizer.  He is dressed in camel's hair and a leather belt; he eats locusts and wild honey and proclaims that one mightier than he is to come, one whose sandals he is not worthy to untie, one who will baptize in the Spirit. (cf Mk 1:1-8).  Can you picture lines of people confessing their sins and waiting for the cleansing waters of baptism to wash over them as they were immersed in the river Jordan.  St. Mark waists no time in his first chapter and verses to get right to the heart of the matter.  John calls for a change in life-style with the strength and directness of a man with a mission, a man with a passion.  He is intense, he lives what he preaches, as evidenced by his "clothing" and diet.  He means business, he means to inspire.  Do we see ourselves in the multitude awaiting the baptism of repentance he offers?  We are blessed to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation as our equivalent to John's baptism.  Is it on our "to do list" for Advent?  Christmas music and Christmas programs put us in the "Christmas Spirit" but do they do so as effectively as following the Advent Preparation offered by John the Baptist?  If we take Advent seriously and want to change our behaviors, we cannot ignore his message.
Bro. Rene

St. Nicholas and Giving

Santa Claus appears everywhere these days, but St. Nicholas, from whom he is derived, appears only in Churches, it would seem.  Yet how many people do you know with the name of Nick? In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is the greatest saint after the Apostles.  A monk and later an Archbishop, he remains so widely venerated and "legendized" because of his charity to the poor, a quality which, so close to the message of Jesus and now, Pope Francis, that it has to be recognized as one of the most enduring qualities we can have,  "Everyone loves a cheerful giver", a household phrase, and undeniable truth.  We give gifts at Christmas inspired by the Gift given to us by our Heavenly Father; we follow the example of St. Nicholas, (even if we associate Christmas giving more with Santa than with St. Nick), but we can also bestow the gift of ourselves and our time to others.  Some people I know, in seeking to give a meaningful gift to people who "have everything", are making donations to organizations that will provide goats, chickens or cows to people in the poor countries of Africa; others are give hours of their time to soup kitchens, or nursing homes.  They indicate on a card to the receiver, "At such and such a time in such and such a place, I will donate son many hours in your name as my Christmas gift to you,"  This practice might relieve the tensions surrounding Christmas shopping and be an inspiration to the person who receives it, as a meaningful gift truly in the spirit of Christmas.
A college age yet very spiritually mature friend of mine recently wrote, "The only way to find happiness is to give it freely away. I am happy because I serve, because I love because I share my presence with others." ~ David Beazel   St. Nick would like this. A gift worth more than a Black Fricay bargain!
Bro. Rene

Searching For Honesty

As we proceed into Advent with prayer and sacrifice to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus into our hearts ad Christmas, we need to remember that no relationship with God can be solid, unless it is based on honesty.  I present myself as I am, with no false masks or disguises and ask God to accept me as I am.  It is risky, yes, and demands courage, for most of us see ourselves in the dim light of inadequacy, if not failure.  "What would God want with me if he really knew me?" The truth is, he does, and can only relate to the "real me."
A little parable arrived on the internet yesterday and bears retelling to illustrate this point.
A CEO of a large, prosperous company announced his retirement and rather than depend on a search committee to find his successor, he gave a seed to each of his subordinates, told them to plant it, and the next year, show him how they had nurtured and cultivated the seed. Whoever had the best plant would be the next CEO.  Eagerly, the staff took their seeds a planted them in the best potting soil they could find, and watered them diligently day after day.  Soon the buzz in the cubicles was about how well "my plant" was doing.  One man, however, despite all his TLC found nothing growing in his flower pot.  Month after month, nothing, while the others bragged about how well their plants were doing.  Finally, the day of reckoning came, and the man with the plant-less pot only brought it in at the urging of his wife, but stood ashamed in the back of his room because of his apparent failure.  When the CEO came to judge the plants, he called this man with his empty pot to come forward, and declared him the next CEO.  Much to his amazement the man asked WHY ME?  The CEO explained that he had boiled all the seeds before giving them out, so that there was no way they could grow.  All the staff had cheated by planting another seed and thus revealed their dishonesty.  He went on to say that only with honesty and the courage to proceed when all appeared to be lost, could the company thrive.  If our Advent is to be fruitful, we need such honesty and courage.
Bro. Rene

Patience With Pain

Advent is the season of waiting, and patience.  St. James reminds us of the farmer who sows seed in springtime and waits for it to break open somehow mysteriously in the "womb" of the soil and the burgeon forth into a small sprout, which grows into a plant, and in time bears fruit for the harvest. (See Js 5: 7-8).  Today's culture can't wait, can't bear pain, needs instant gratification, leaving us torn between two opposite poles.  Some of us know physical pain and debilitation and the hope we place in doctors and physical therapists.  Happily, again, over time, healing takes place as we notice simple things like going up and down stairs normally (or almost normally) again.
All of us bear some spiritual pain, either in our unsatisfied longing for a deeper relationship with God, or in some spiritual trial in which we find ourselves.  The remarkable story of Servant of God, Elisabeth Leseur (1866-1914) is an outstanding example of patience with suffering.  Her husband, Felix, a doctor, declared himself an atheist just before their marriage, was very public about his atheism and taunted his wife throughout their marriage.  Elisabeth bore this, prayed for him, and offered her suffering from breast cancer for his conversion.  After her death, he found a letter she had written to him requesting that he not only become a Catholic, but a priest as well.  Shocked and angry, he went to Lourdes, the hotbed of these "foolish miracles", to publicly debunk the childlike faith of his wife and once and for all "prove" that atheism was the only path that made sense.  It took courage to choose Lourdes for the location of his refutation, and sure enough, in God's plan, he was converted, and served 23 years as a Dominican priest.  Elisabeth's patience and sacrifice "paid off" and serves as a model for us in our desire for instant answers.  No, constant prayer, faith and patience do not go unnoticed.  Let us put them into practice even more so this Advent.
Bro. Rene

Feeding on the Word

There's nothing like food to bring people together.  We just feasted around our Thanksgiving tables, and many of us were involved in bringing food to those who could not afford a Thanksgiving meal. My experience on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rwanda, where despite the poor economies, people shared together what little they had to celebrate a birthday, a death or a wedding.  So much food appeared that there was enough for everyone to take some home at the end of the gathering.
Isaiah speaks of a banquet on the holy mountain complete with rich foods and choice wines.  It is a victory feast in thanksgiving for the salvation won by God. (See Is 25:6-10).  Jesus twice feeds the multitudes with a few fish and loaves of bread.  All are satisfied and baskets of food fragments remain.
We honor St. Francis Xavier today, a true Advent saint, who, though he fasted, lavishly fed the hungry with the Word of God, traveling to the Orient and almost into China itself.  He fed with the food that lasts, that satisfies our deepest hunger.  His life calls us to satisfy our hunger in the Word of God, the Scriptures and especially the Word made flesh, Jesus.  This is the time to feed ourselves with more prayer with the Bible and more attendance at Mass.  Why waste our time on anything else?
Bro. Rene

The Ideal World

Our Advent Prophet, Isaiah, presents the picture of the ideal world with the startling yet comforting images of animals who are natural predators of each other, but who "on THAT DAY" now get along with each other, sharing their food and beds with one another.
The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
 the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them....
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord,
as water covers the sea.  (Is 11: 6-7).
All of this because of the shoot that springs from the root of Jesse, and upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests:  the Messiah.
Isaiah wrote 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, and it has been over 2000 years since his coming, yet the lion still devours the lamb and justice only thinly reigns and that in only a few places on the globe.  We are far from seeing the prophecy fulfilled.  Even in our own lives, we see (and often we cause) division and the absence of peace.  This is what Advent is for, to beg for the full reign of the Savior and to do what we can in our own lives, families, workplaces and communities to make that reign possible.  Look at the turmoil in Ferguson, the tension in Syria, Israel, Iran, North Korea... would these be hotspots if each person's heart in these places were filled "with the knowledge of the Lord?"  We who claim to know the Lord, might give the example to the world by what we do today.
Bro. Rene

Advent's Call For Faith

The first reading of today's Mass from a familiar and beloved chapter from Isaiah, which calls for the beating of swords into ploughshares, a quote which appears on a statue at the UN.  Yes, Advent is a season of peace as we prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace, so this reading is highly appropriate food for meditation and action.  However, the gospel relates the story of the centurion who begged Jesus to heal, not a member of his family, but one of his slaves, a rather startling situation. What does this have to do with Advent?  Reflecting more on this man, we see him as a man who does not let station in life interfere with his love and compassion, and indeed, his faith which brought him to the feet of Jesus for help. Jesus does not shoo away this "pagan" but instead commends him for his faith.  Here is a model for us:  a deeper faith which will put us at the service of ALL, no matter what their social, ethnic, or economic status.  Are we as willing as the centurion to "go out on a limb" for others, even when they are not part of our families, or community?  We don't know the centurion's name, but his deep faith might put us to shame. Is not his example what Advent is about?  May we learn from him how to help others and in so doing bring about peace in our corner of the world.
Bro. Rene