Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Note:  I will not be able to cut another slice of bread until Sunday, January 2.  Happy New Year to All!!!              

The last day of the year always motivates me to look back on the last 364 days as well as to look ahead with hope and optimism to the on-coming 365 days of the new year.  We began 2015 with the same hopeful optimism as we wished each other Happy New Year, but little did we know of the bloodshed, the deceptions, the scandals, the suffering that would scare us and shake us to the core.  With the bold presence of an ISIS, more determined than ever to unleash its fury, fear and self-protection are occupying much of our time and energy as a world, and even in our own private lives.  Are feelings of dislike and distrust growing into hatred and suspicion?  Are we losing our peace? 
A look back also affirms the presence of God at work in this field of wheat and tares; there is much for which to give thanks, if we take the time to "count our blessings."  January 1st, is the World Day of Peace, as well as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, she who gave birth to and nourished the Son of God.  God came into this world to save it, so as bad as things might seem, we are assured that the victory has been won.  We need to begin our new year on that note and allow our faith to be the force that gives us joy, conviction and strength to restore peace and harmony in our hearts, our families, our workplaces, our world.
Bro. Rene

Respect for Wisdom

In many cultures, particularly tribal cultures, respect for the elders is an essential element.  Elders are respected for the wealth of their experience, and the fruits of many years of reflecting on the ebb and flow of life.  Their mellow approach to crises, their calmness when others panic, their wise words of advice, the sum of their own experience coupled with the wisdom given to them by their fathers and mothers, gain the respect from the young and the middle-aged. They are given the place of honor in the circle when the family or community gathers. When they speak, all listen.
So it was with the aged Simeon and Anna; when they spoke, Mary and Joseph listened, so much so that Mary was able to give Luke the details of their encounter with the holy family, and particularly with the infant Jesus.  We might do well to learn from these two elders, the wisdom of paying close attention to the words of our own elderly.
Bro. Rene

"In the Spirit"

Today's Gospel gives us a picture of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, familiar to us as the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.  40 days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph came to present him to the Lord, as prescribed by the law of Moses, but the occasion was enhanced by the presence of the old Simeon, a devout and righteous man who, evidently, "lived in the Spirit." He had been told by the Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the "Christ of the Lord," the Messiah.  He saw that Jesus was that promised Messiah, praised God and predicted his mission and the pain it would cause Mary.  The Spirit helped him to see clearly and to speak without fear.
We might have experienced the same calm, the same courage when we have prayed to the Spirit, even felt that the words we spoke or wrote did not come from us, but from him...If so, then give thanks, as did Simeon; if not, the pray that the Spirit might become more active in our lives.
Bro. Rene

Holy Innocence

Again focusing on the dark side of the events following the birth of Jesus, we recall the slaughter of the boys 2 years old and younger by the henchmen of the ruthless King Herod.  He took action out of fear against an imaginary rival....a child who would be born in Bethlehem and be king one day.  None of those slaughtered was ever destined to be a king, and the One who escaped to Egypt was a King, but not of an earthly realm.  Herod had nothing to fear, but his ignorance of the truth caused the death of these Holy Innocents.
So many battles and useless slaughters, genocides and wars have occurred because of the same kind of ignorance of the people on the "other side."  The story is told of the "Christmas Truce" during World War I, when soldiers laid down their weapons, sang Christmas Carols, prayer, attended Mass and played soccer together...Innocence had its moment.
This morning I served breakfast at Cor Unum, a local soup kitchen with two young college men who attended rival high schools, and were "the enemy" at one time.  Meeting them, working with them, revealed a whole different side of them....we were no longer "enemies" or rivals, but teammates.  How much bloodshed could be avoided if we came to know the goodness and innocence of our rivals, our "enemies"?  How do we make this happen?  Perhaps turning in weapons in innocence and trust for serving trays of food to feed the hungry might bring nations together and stop all this useless destruction.  Something to think and pray about.
Bro. Rene

The Power of Family

Note:  a very long "windows update" prevented me from posting a slice of bread on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on Sunday, but here is a bonus slice for today.  

Each year on Holy Family Sunday, we hold up the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as the ideal and challenge ourselves to make our families as much like it as possible.  Of course, we live in much different times, and our families today, though similar, are not exactly the same.  Yet the common elements remain basic: faith, love, trust, respect, mutual support, discipline, and lots of hard work.  We might examine our families to see what kind of faith-formation and example we are giving to our children...so many families these days are "unchurched";  some families neglect to have children baptized, and even if so, neglect the other sacraments since attendance at Mass is only occasional, if at all.  More are more funerals are conducted in funeral homes, or simply at graveside.  When there is a Mass, the funeral director has to indicate when to stand, sit and kneel.
Then we ask what kind of training  is given to social consciousness, justice, attention to the poor through service or aid in the form of food, clothing or money. What kind of morals, what emphasis on appearances or material goods are we teaching our offspring?  The family provides the most powerful influence for good or for bad.  How would Jesus, Mary and Joseph rate my family?
Bro. Rene

Persecution

Red  vestments, not Christmas red, but the blood red of martyrdom, remind us that the coming of Jesus, whose birth we joyfully celebrated yesterday, was for the purpose of redeeming a fallen human race through pain and suffering...the death of this child on the cross.  It's a shocking contrast to the song of the angels, the wonder of the shepherds and adoration of the Magi, but it was for our salvation that God gave us his only begotten Son. (cf. Jn 3:1 6).  St. Stephen's feast and the rampant murder of the Holy Innocents began a trend which continues today.  The beheadings of Christians by IS and even the more subtle persecutions in the United States continue this tradition of persecution, suffering and death for the sake of the name of Jesus.  It's part of the package:  Unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (Mt. 16:24-25).
While family celebrations might be continuing today and through the weekend, we might pray as St. Stephen did, for forgiveness for those who persecute, and mercy for those who are being persecuted or who have been martyred, and commend their souls to God.  We might offer up our holiday fatigue, our aches and pains for the same intention.  We might also accept the challenge to fear not to live our faith visibly and strongly within our families and workplaces, fortified by the example and prayers of St. Stephen.
Bro. Rene

Joy To The World

How many times have we heard or sung Joy to the World just this Advent and now Christmas Season?  On this day, Christmas itself, it is a fitting message, that the God who created this universe is born as one of us, has stepped into the creature he created to show us his love, and to assure us that we can move toward becoming divine.  What a great union of God and humankind, merged into ONE in the person of Jesus! Can we fully comprehend this?  It's the task of a lifetime, yet each year as we approach the Mystery from a different place in our lives, from a different angle, it becomes a bit clearer and we move a step or two closer to full comprehension and union.
Yesterday at our 31st Christian Men's Breakfast, the Rev. Lyndon Meyers helped us focus on the privilege we have to bear the name of Jesus.  If we call ourselves Christians, we bear his name...as simple as that, but ah, the living out of that privilege...not so simple.  Can we be Christ today in our families, at our jobs, in our communities?  Do people see Christ in us as we go about our daily lives?
Gives us pause.  Yet, we are celebrating the miracle of Christ's birth...a reminder that the miracle of our becoming other Christs IS POSSIBLE.  And because of this, there is Joy for the World, and no one can take it from us.
Bro. Rene

Breaking Through the Darkness

This is the day the Sun of Justice, the Dawn from on high breaks through the darkness left by the sin of our first parents.  Humbly, in a stable the Light of the world appears as a totally dependent infant.  He is first worshipped by the lowly shepherds, no strangers to darkness as they keep watch of their sheep around the clock.  They recognize and welcome the light as the angels sing "Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:14). 
During this final day of Christmas preparation, might we let the LIGHT shine on our activity to bless what we do, to give us a few moments to reflect on what Jesus means to the world, to us?  As we set up our Christmas lights (if we haven't done so already), might we not thank God for sending us the true Light....might we ask how we might be lights for the family and others tonight, tomorrow, and beyond the Christmas season?  Let us keep it simple, remembering the stable and shepherds and the profound humility and sincerity of the Magi.  A pure,grateful and humble heart shines as bright as the star of Bethlehem. Let this be our gift to him who breaks through the darkness.
Bro. Rene

Emmanuel

Finally, we arrive at the last "O Antiphon",  and address it to Emmanuel, God with us.  He is King. Lawgiver, and Savior, all summed up in this name, in this concept.  We have been readying our hearts by listening to Scripture, reflecting for four weeks on the promises of a Messiah and descriptions of what his kingdom will be like.  Each year we come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of how much God loves us.  "What are we that you have loved us so well?" Most of us will be busier than ever in our Christmas preparations, but though they must be done, while doing them, we might ask this question, and offer words of thanks and appreciation.
"O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the hope of all nations and our Savior:  come and save us, O Lord our God."
Bro. Rene

The Desire of Nations

With all the fighting, violent suicide bombings, fruitless negotiations, and failed agreements, it has not dawned on us what our real desire is.  We are failing to acknowledge that the Cornerstone which binds the dust of mankind into one, is Jesus Christ, the one, true and only King and Desire of Nations. Today's Gospel gives us Mary, Magnificat in which she praises God for not only showered us with mercy, but with the strength of his arm has scattered the proud, cast down the mighty, lifted the lowly, filled the hungry and sent the rich away empty. He comes with promised mercy to bring a a kingdom of unity and peace into existence.   In our Year of Mercy, may our prayers help us to live Mary's Magnificat, and help us to illumine the path followed by Mary for all to see.  If each one of us gets our priorities straight, the ripple effect is just what the scattered dust of the nations need.
O King of the nations and their Desire, the Cornerstone who binds two into one: come and save mankind, whom you fashioned from clay.                   
Bro. Rene

The Radiant Dawn

This year a bit of irony or poetic justice occurs as the "O Antiphon", O Oriens, O Radiant Dawn, O Dayspring, falls on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day, the longest night.  At the time of greatest darkness we look to the Rising Dawn, the splendor of eternal Light and the Sun of Justice to come and illuminate us who "sit in darkness and the shadow of death."   We are reminded of John's Prologue, What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn 1: 2-3) As frightening as darkness may be for some, it is in the darkness that most often a clarity of thought, a solution to a problem, a memory retrieved, an idea for a story or invention, a moment of union with God in gratuitous contemplation.  And, or course, Jesus, the Light of the World was born in a dark stable and immediately the heavens were filled with choirs of angels, illumined by the Star which drew the Wise Men to Bethlehem.  Yes, the Light will always overcome the darkness; no need for us to fret or brush it off as wishful thinking.  It IS the truth.  Light prevails and will prevail.
O Rising Dawn, splendor of eternal Light and Sun of Justice, come and illuminate those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.
Bro. Rene

Opening Doors To Freedom and Light

Another powerful image comes to us today, a key, but not any key, the Key of David that has the power to open and shut, that can open the prison doors and allow prisoners who sit in darkness and the shadow of death to come forth into the light.  The scepter, a sign of royal power, guarantees that this key is king and ruler and that he alone leads those in bondage to freedom.  How appropriate to look upon this king, about to be born, in his ultimate role as liberator, as savior.  Jesus comes as a helpless infant, but is the one who wipes out darkness once and for all and gives us, no matter who we are or where we are in our journey, the hope and the light for which we long.  As Mary ran with haste to Elizabeth to share her joy and was met by the joyful leaping of John the Baptist in Elizabeth's womb, and heard the joyful greeting, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb", (Lk 1: 42) may we give ourselves over to this new-born king and share in his mission to bring light, life and joy to those who are still lost in darkness.
O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, who open and none can shut, who shut and none can open, com and lead to freedom the prisoner who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.
Bro. Rene

O Root of Jesse's Stem

Today's readings give us the stories of the conception of Samson and the conception of John the Baptist:  both to elderly and "barren" women. (cf. Jdg. 13:2-25 and Lk 1: 5-25).  Nothing is impossible with God and he carries out his plan in simple, yet spectacular ways.  The angel Gabriel tells the skeptical Zechariah that he will be mute until the child is born.  This is not a punishment, but a gift:  "silence is golden" goes the old proverb. Zechariah is forced into 9 months of silence to ponder the mystery of which he was a major part. 
Today's "O Antiphon" makes reference to the Root of Jesse's stem...the offspring of King David's father Jesse.  This distant offspring of the root had centuries to grow and  develop until he emerged as Jesus, "the sign of God's love to all people". Silence and time, both hard to find these days, but above all it is precisely these days that need a good dose of each.  How else do we become fruitful bearers of the Good News?  How else do we come to simplify our understanding and execution of God's plan?  How else do we fathom the mystery of Emmanuel?  Let us plan to take time to mute our lives, to ponder, so that we might more fully appreciate what we celebrate on December 25th.
O Root of Jesse's stem,/ sign of God's love for all his people,/ come to save us without delay!"
Bro. Rene

Our Leader

The second "O Antiphon" addresses "Adonai"...the substitute for YHWH, the name God gave to Moses from the burning bush, such a sacred name that it could never be fully written out nor pronounced on the lips.  We would use the term, Lord, as the translation for Adonai.  The antiphon continues, "Dux domus Israel"--leader of the house of Israel. He is seen as  the "giver of the law and the rescuer of Israel because of his mighty power."  He is a STRONG leader, one who loves order, structure and obedience to rules and regulations.  Indeed this leader is the author of the Ten Commandments, from which sprung hundreds of laws that eventually got in the way of  relationship with him.  Jesus arrives as the true leader who frees his followers from the bondage of  these multiple laws and simplifies them into two great commandments founded on love:  love of God and love of neighbor.  Jesus is the true leader of the house of Israel, of which we are members by our baptism and faith.  He leads from a position of love which engenders respect, inspiration and joyful obedience.  His power is based on who he is, rather than on a show of power.  It is this kind of leadership that rescues us.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power.   
Bro. Rene

God's Wisdom

Today during the Alleluia before the Gospel and tonight at Evening Prayer before the Magnificat, we sing the praise of God's Wisdom in the traditional "O" Antiphons.  These succinct and powerful verses help us to understand and appreciate the Event we will celebrate a week from now on Christmas Eve: the coming of our God as a child, one of us, into this world.  You may remember that we devoted our daily slice of bread to each one of these antiphons.  They are so rich, that we'll continue to draw wisdom and light from them, for as our world situation changes, their universality continues to make them relevant.
In a world where disorder, turmoil and upheaval are reaching the point of chaos, our first O Antiphon reminds us that true Wisdom comes from the mouth of God, reaches :"end to end"...of time, of the universe, and certainly of our planet, and "mightily and sweetly orders" all things.   It is God's wisdom, God's mighty power and gentleness that can settle the upheaval and resolve the disorder, if we are wise, courageous and prudent enough to accept it into our lives.  How much time are we all spending on Christmas cards and gifts, and thus avoiding this call to accept this Child, this Wisdom into our lives and becoming witnesses and evangelizers of this Gift? 
O Wisdom, coming for the from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things, come and teach us the way of prudence.
Bro. Rene

Whom Are We Looking For?

John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus asking, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" (Lk 7:18b)  Jesus responded not directly, but by a summary of his deeds: the curing of the blind, lepers, and deaf, and even the raising of the dead.  Would this not be enough to clarify his identity?  At one point in the Republican debates last night, Dr. Ben Carson said that he is not the boisterous braggadocio type, but a look at what he has so far accomplished in his life should speak volumes for him..  It is not in words alone that we explain our positions, but in our deeds.  What kind of Messiah, then,  are we looking for?  The Jews at the time of Jesus, because of the Roman occupation, were looking for a powerful  general who would raise up an army and drive the Romans out.  A pipe dream for sure,  In our times, in our lives, what are we looking for?  Who or what will be able to stem the tide of secularism, indifference, violence, mistrust and immorality that threaten everything we hold dear?  Our Messiah would have to be the one who heals, who raises back to life. Again, it comes to Jesus, the one, true Messiah.  Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus!
Bro. Rene

Voting With Our Feet

It's often said that we vote with our feet.  We may say something with firm conviction, but it's our feet that determine how firm that conviction is.  In today's Gospel, the parable of the two sons illustrates this. The first refuses his father's order to work in the family vineyard, but evidently changes his mind, and goes to it.  The second son "yeses" his father, but does not go. Jesus asked the chief priests and elders which son did the will of his father.  The answer is obvious.
Where do we find ourselves at this mid-point in Advent?  Have we been able to keep our Advent promise(s)? Where are our feet?  Did we walk  on one path and stray to  another?  If so, we can still get back on track.  Self-correcting seems to be our lot as humans.  "The things I do not want to do, I do, and those I want to do, I do not do." (Rm 7:19).  It keeps coming back to this, which reminds us of our need for Jesus, which in turn reminds us of the purpose of Advent: to prepare our hearts, make way, for the presence of Jesus in our lives...Our failures are part of the process, and by returning our feet time and time again to him, can strengthen our resolve to give him the welcome, the hospitality, in our lives that his love deserves.
Bro. Rene

Adversity Begets Strength

Adversity begets strength (if we allow it) as darkness eventually yields to light.   These dark, short December days are a trial.  Who likes driving to and from work in the dark?  Who would like being imprisoned in a small dark cell for nine months?  St. John of the Cross, Carmelite priest co-Reformer of the Carmelites along with St. Teresa of Avila, and Doctor of the Church, suffered just such a period as his own friars rebelled against his efforts of reform, cast him into a small prison cell and beat him three times a week  How dark does it get?  He escaped by unscrewing the lock on his door, and descending from a window on pieces of blanket tied together in classic prison escape fashion, carrying with him his poetry and now famous Dark Night of the Soul.  His dark period helped him to see the Light that really matters, the LOVE of our all-loving God.  His writings continue to illumine the way for those seeking a deeper, contemplative relationship with God; without his own sufferings, poverty in his youth and this period of rejection and imprisonment, he would not have been able to help others see clearly how adversity leads to strength, darkness to light   St. John of the Cross, let me use the darkness of December and the trials of daily life as the means to encountering the Light of Christ
Bro. Rene

Practical Advice

On this "Rejoice" (Gaudete) Sunday, St. Paul tells us to "rejoice in the Lord always.  The prophet, Zephaniah urges us to "shout for joy....sing joyfully....be glad and exult with all your heart."  (Zeph 3:14).  John the Baptist. when asked, "What should we do?" (Lk 3:10) gives advice that is practical, doable, simple:  e.g. "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.  And whoever has food should do likewise." (Lk 3: 11).  All three advise us not to fear, for the Lord is near. No need for anxiety, discouragement, or stress.  "The Lord God is in your midst,/ a mighty savior;/ he will rejoice over you with gladness,/ and renew you in his love,/ he will sing joyfully because of you,/as one sings at festivals." (Zeph 3:17-18).  Yes, our Emmanuel is with us, embracing us, offering us the healing of his loving-kindness.  It's no big secret how to experience this....keeping it simple, as John points out...don't cheat employers....be satisfied with your wages.  If we look at the way we do the ordinary things of everyday life, we can make holy gifts out of them by doing them well, by being thorough....finishing a task or job as best we can....and by doing them as acts of love.
Making that cup of coffee...offering a cup to another...cleaning up after someone else...the opportunities abound.  Let's make this a real "Rejoice Day" not by doing something extraordinary, but by doing the ordinary, extraordinary well. as Mother Teresa and others have put it.
Bro. Rene

Guadalupe

Today, the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, millions will throng to the basilica in Mexico City to pray before the miraculous tilma of Juan Diego where her image has captured the hearts of faithful and non-believers since 1511.  Again, God's plan turned out to be a total surprise and shows us how God works.
Little did the good and humble Juan Diego ever imagine that on his way to Mass he would see the Mother of God and be asked to reveal her desire for a chapel to be built on the hill at Teypeyac.  The cure of his uncle, roses in December and her image on his tilma convinced him that the Mother of God was near to him and to the people of Mexico.  Indeed she appeared dark skinned, spoke the native tongue, and wore garment full of Aztec religious symbols that found their fulfillment in her.
When we least expect it, God intervenes in our lives, and quite often, through his mother.  The recent issue of National Geographic has a fine article on "the cult of Mary", describing some of her many apparitions and their impact.  Her image is on the cover of this issue, in itself most unusual.  As Mary put herself in the hands of God and "let it be done to her according to his word," so too let us put this day and our lives in those same loving and caring hands.
Bro. Rene

This Generation

In frustration Jesus asked with what he could compare the generation in front of him and likened it to children in the market place who played the flute and no one danced, or sang a dirge, and no one mourned. (cf. Mt 11:16).  It was a no win situation for him.
We might feel the same way as traditional values slip into the abyss and contrary values emerge.  A look at how many today regard Christmas, emphasizing gift-giving while ignoring THE GIFT which is the is the reason for our giving. The word, holiday, has replaced Christmas and in some places, even schools, the singing of Christmas Carols has been eliminated.  It's really time for Christians to take a stand and explain the real meaning of Christmas...This new song does a good job.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ln01p1M2cH0        
Br. Rene

The Violent Bear It Away

Noted American short story writer, Flannery O'Connor was fascinated by contradictions and paradoxes, hence, one of her most famous stories, The Violent Bear It Away, was based on a line from the Gospel of Matthew (cf. Mt 11: 12).  John the Baptist preached about the kingdom of heaven, a kingdom of justice and peace,  but Jesus reminded his followers that it suffers from violence, and the violent "are taking it away."  John himself was a victim of that violence, losing his head to the evil desire of Herodias and her weak husband/king, Herod.  And, as we know, Jesus suffered much violence at the instigation of the Pharisees, who used the Romans, noted for their brutality, to carry out their wishes.  This pattern continues today as Christians suffer violence from ISIS and less obvious persecutions.
We might even look into the battlefield of our own souls and see how split we are:  the good that I wish to do, I do not, and that which I do not wish to do, I do.  (Rm. 7:19),  The war with temptation sometimes rages with great violence, and, but for the grace of God, could bear us away.
Yet,  the words of Isaiah give us hope and the promise of an end to all violence:
Yes, the Lord shall comfort Zion
and have pity on all her ruins;
Her deserts he shall make like Eden, her wasteland like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness shall be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of song.  (Is 51:3)

May the season of Advent help us find this garden of peace, joy, gladness thanksgiving and song.
Br Rene

The Holy Door

Yesterday, as a symbolic entrance into the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis pushed open the Holy Door, a special door in the façade of St. Peter's Basilica, usually opened every twenty-five years to signify a Jubilee Year.  Such was the case in 2000 when Pope St. John Paul II opened it for that Jubilee which concluded in 2001. This Jubilee is extraordinary, being only 15 years after the previous one.  As he commented after stepping through, Pope Francis asked that we leave judgment behind and enter into mercy, in the hope that simple acts of mercy and forgiveness might yield extraordinary results.  Local cathedrals will open their doors in similar fashion.
We too are called to open the closed doors of our hearts that keep us imprisoned in judgment, fear, or doubt and do not allow God's mercy to heal us, nor us to bring healing to those who might be standing locked out of our doors for some reason. This is the golden opportunity, the holy opportunity to unlock our doors, mend relationships, soften our hard hearts and allow mercy to reconcile and heal where needed.  Let us pray for God's merciful grace to give us the strength to change what must be changed and make this Holy Year one that bears visible fruit.
Bro. Rene

Mother of Mercy

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this year marks the beginning of a Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, who opened the Holy Door at St. Peter's today.  Usually a Jubilee or Holy Year is every 25 years, but Pope Francis, in typical fashion, is not bound by "the way we always do it", and, I believe, inspired by the Holy Spirit has broken with tradition to focus on this timely and much needed virtue.  Fittingly, it begins on this major feast of Mary, who was the first to benefit from the Mercy brought to the human race by her Son, who IS Mercy itself. For by the grace of the forgiveness of sins he won for all of us, she was spared any stain of sin from her very conception in light of her destiny to bring forth into the world the Sinless One. She is rightly the Mother of Mercy.
Since her appearances at Fatima, mercy has been one of Mary's major themes, fostered by St. Faustina and amplified by Pope St. John Paul II who established Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter. This Year of Mercy furthers the emphasis on mercy.  In the words of Pope Francis, “mercy will always be greater than any sin, and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive. Mercy, is 'the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.'”  Let us open our hearts to receive God's mercy and in turn, through the practice of the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, bring that mercy to others.
Bro. Rene 

Miracles and Daring

On this 74th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we cannot avoid thinking of the courage and bravery of the survivors who, facing overwhelming odds, did their best to help the wounded on the spot, and in time, fight courageously till victory was achieved.  The nation rallied and sacrificed in a unified effort, fortified with bold determination, to avenge the wrong.  From the morning to December 7th 1941 to VJ Day on September 2, 1945, we might call this reversal a miracle.
Today is also the memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church.  Ambrose was governor of Milan, an erudite orator and brave peacemaker.  Upon the death of the bishop of Milan, while trying to establish peace between two opposing factions, he was acclaimed bishop by the people, even though he was not yet baptized. He was consecrated bishop a week after his baptism in 374, and is noted for baptizing St. Augustine and confronting the Emperor Theodosius and bringing him to repentance. These major events, so unlikely, miraculously became realty through God's grace and the daring courage of Ambrose.
Today's Gospel recounts the healing of the paralyzed man who had to be dropped through the roof so that Jesus could cure him., which he did, as well as forgiving  him his sins. The roof and the crowd were in the way, but the bold determination of friends overcame these obstacles to the eventual cure and absolution. 
When we think we are facing impossible odds, may we find inspiration in these historic facts to strengthen our faith and enable us to take bold and daring action.
Bro. Rene

Preparing the Way

John the Baptist appears on this Second Sunday of Advent, fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord,/make straight his paths.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight,/ and the rough ways made smooth and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Is 40.3-4)
Our own prayer should lead us to visit the mountains and valleys, the crooked ways and rough roads in our hearts.  What distracts us from the essentials in our relationship with God and with others?  Can we make straight and right the crooked values gaining ground in our society?  Can we help fill in the gaps of poverty, hunger and injustice in our own communities and cities?  Are we even aware of them?  We lament the lack of faith in so many families today, but what about the conversion needed in our own lives?  John the Baptist preaches to us too.  Let us listen to and pray over his message, then act on it.
Bro. Rene

Emmauel

What is Advent without hearing or using the title, Emmanuel, "God with us"? As we come to the end of the first week of Advent, let's take a moment to reflect on God's presence with us at all times...He gives his it freely and without limit. "Without cost you have received" (Mt 9:8).  It is this gift which should pre-occupy us these days as the antidote to all the violence and problems presented daily by the media. Reflecting on, relishing the nearness of God, his kindness, loving care, his love and peace strengthen us to hear the "bad news" and take it in stride.  Our foundation stone is this God, who is present with all of us at all times.  He is the one who turns what appears to be atrocity into blessing.  We need to learn to see with God's eyes, and only by spending time with him can we do so.   And from this encounter, we in turn can give that strength, peace and love to others.  "Without cost you are to give."  (Mt 9:8).  Emmanuel is the One who makes that possible.
Bro. Rene

Healing Our Blindness

Sometimes we get bogged down in the messiness of life and fail to see the presence of God in the mess.  Yes, he's there and can help us see if we ask, if we believe.  Todays' Gospel (Mt 9:27-31) recounts the cure of two blind men who cried out to Jesus for pity and because of their persistence and faith, were healed.  It seems they had to express their faith unequivocally before Jesus acted, but seeing their sincerity and depth of faith, he touched them and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." (Mt 9:29).  They could not see Jesus physically, but they were not blind to what he could do for them.
When the messiness in our own souls, augmented by the messiness of the world around us, blinds us,  there is only ONE person who can rescue us. May our pride, or our despair not prevent us from seeing  the healing power of Jesus nor prevent us from calling out to him for the help we need.  He is not blind nor deaf.  Why hesitate to ask?
Bro. Rene

Building on Rock

Reference to God as a Rock is an image that appears frequently in the Bible, and today's Gospel passage presents the image of the house built on rock, as opposed to sand.  We are called to reflect on the contrast between empty words, "Lord, Lord" and the action which should follow, a blending of the two as a solid foundation.   Are our prayers just wishful thinking: "I'm-a gonna", or do we actually DO what we say in our prayers?  Is our house built on the God-Rock or simply on the sand of our hollow words?
Bro. Rene

Our Compassionate Jesus

Jesus heals the blind,  the lame, the deformed, the mute and feeds the hungry, constantly moved to pity, and further, is ready to forgive our sins, knowing our contrite hearts. If we have doubts or anxieties about confessing our sins,  St. Faustina has passed on the words of Jesus to us,“Tell me about everything, be sincere in dealing with me, reveal all the wounds of your heart. I will heal them.”  Part of our heart's preparation for Christmas is to cleanse it with the sacrament of reconciliation.  Let us not hesitate.
Bro. Rene

Trust Wait and Serve

Trust, wait and serve, three very "Advent words, themes" that will help us make good use of these four weeks.  As Mary and Joseph learned to trust during the months of Mary's pregnancy, the social pressures, the many unanswered questions, the daily routine of work and keeping their simple household together, and then the census with it's forced trip to Bethlehem, we too who face similar challenges must grow in trust.  God's plan unfolded gradually as they waited, and we who have not all the answers need to wait in trust, while continuing to serve others as best we can, even if in what we might consider little insignificant ways.  In the loving eyes of God, nothing is insignificant.  During these weeks we might become more aware that meeting God in the silence of waiting and trusting is the most important outcome of Advent.  Let us embrace this time with trust, patient waiting and loving service.
Bro. Rene

Advent Model

As we begin this first week of Advent, the Church fittingly celebrates the life and ministry of St. Andrew, the first to respond to the call of Jesus (along with an unnamed disciple of John.  See Jn 1:39).  Later, Andrew told his brother, Peter, that they had found the Messiah, and took Peter to meet him. We also learn that when Jesus passed by their fishing boat, he beckoned them to come and follow him.  They dropped their nets and followed.  Andrew continues to BE THERE as the liason, the man Jesus calls upon for help...he comes up with the loaves and fishes, for example when Jesus asks about feeding the multitude. It seems that his whole life was one of such service to either Jesus, and after his death, the message and mission of Jesus.  He evidently evangelized in Greece and Russia, and is the patron of those countries along with Scotland, where his relics were transported. (Others are located in  Amalfi, Italy.
Andrew serves as a model for us in being so quick to respond to Jesus, to leave all to follow him, and to be his "right hand" in the details of his ministry.  Can we leave behind the busyness of our pre-Christmas days; can we ignore the pressures the media put on us to shop and spend so far ahead of Christmas?  Can we take advantage of the invitation to "Come and see."  and spend time, with Jesus, time that is, no doubt, more worthwhile than bargain hunting at the mall or on the web?
Bro. Rene

Signs of Advent

Advent is here. Even with the hoopla surrounding Thanksgiving and the shopping sprees that evening and continuing even now, Advent might still seem like a surprise, "What already?" and we might not be ready for it.  Perhaps it's best not to fret over it, for we do not need more anxiety or stress, but we do need peace, and that's what these weeks are for.  Yes, they are countercultural, opposed to the hype and frenzy the media feeds us. We need to take time to look ahead and at the WHY of our existence, and, yes, the WHY of all this preparation.  We are preparing our hearts and our world for the COMING of Jesus, as a child and at his second coming at the end of time.  Our Gospel today speaks of the signs of those times, "in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves...the powers of the heaven will be shaken."  (Lk 21: 21-23).  St. Paul outlines what might be the signs of our preparation for Christmas, a plan for our Advent observances:  We urge you brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one returns evil for evil, rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all.  Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing."  (1Thess 5:14-17)  Let us pick something that we can do consistently that, without adding pressure, we bring peace to us and to others, and allow Jesus to find a warm place of welcome in our hearts at Christmas.  Go Advent!
Bro. Rene

Be Vigilant

On this day, which concludes the liturgical year and moves us closer to the First Sunday of Advent and the new liturgical year, we hear Jesus telling us to be vigilant. "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." (Lk 21:36).  Again, the busyness of the past few days might distract us from the arrival of Advent, and Sunday just becomes another day and the weeks ahead full of the frenzy of shopping, baking, sending Christmas cards,and decorating with little time left for absorbing the beautiful texts from Isaiah, or paying attention to the prayers and events that will lead us to welcome Jesus at Christmas with ready hearts.  Let us not be hardened to the "holy longing" that is deep within us:
Deep within us and all of creation, there is a longing for union with our Creator, with Jesus:  "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  And not only this, but also we ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." (Rm 8: 19, 22, 23). Is not Advent the time for waiting and for longing? May we stir up our hearts to be vigilant and attentive to what God has placed within us.
Bro. Rene

Helping the Poor

Those of us who were blessed with a Thanksgiving Day full of family, food and love, are still reeling from the feasting.  We, perhaps, don't have to eat today...well, certainly not as much as yesterday!  But what of those who were not so blessed?   Churches, organizations, agencies, made efforts to give them some sort of Thanksgiving meal, but today it's back to hunger and seeking shelter.  So frequently in Scripture, these poor are looked upon as those favored by God, and certainly they occupy a special place in the heart of Pope Francis who has said,  "A Church not including them is not a Church."Their plight is a call to action from God.  Perhaps sharing some of our left-overs with these soup kitchens will help a bit.  Perhaps cleaning out our closets before the rush of Christmas shopping takes over. (For some, Black Friday, begun at midnight or before, has taken care of the shopping.  If so, then more time to spend sharing our abundance with those who have less, or nothing.)  Canned Food drives need to continue.  At Central Catholic, the focus now is on our Christmas Project, to provide food and gifts for families at Christmas.  And after that what?   Helping the poor does not stop with the calendar.   The need continues day after day.   May we accept the call to be our "brother's keeper."
Bro. Rene

Thanking God

An appropriate passage from the Book of Tobit for our Thanksgiving meditation follows:

Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory.  Before all the living acknowledge the many good things he has done for you by blessing and extolling his name in song.  Before all men, honor and proclaim God's deeds and do not be slack in praising him." (Tobit 12:6).

We in the United States retreat from our ordinary schedules to gather the family around a sumptuous table (if possible) and take time to give thanks for the many things we enjoy but take for granted:  our faith, our families, our friends, our homes and the food that sustains us daily.  Many of us begin this day appropriately by attending the Liturgy of the Eucharis, Holy Mass, which is THE prayer par excellence of thanksgiving.  May we pay attention today to those "little things" we usually overlook, or even those things that are thorns in our side, and give thanks for them.  "All things work to the good", St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28.  Let us acknowledge God's goodness that comes to us in so many ways and in so many people.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Bro. Rene

An Undivided Heart

This eve of Thanksgiving might be putting more pressure than normal on those of us who celebrate this day of giving thanks to God by gathering with our families.  Based on the tradition that the early pilgrims, after a hard beginning at their Plymouth, Massachusetts colony, served their tribal friends a meal to thank them for their help in adapting to their new home, Thanksgiving has since become a national holiday.
Today we travel with great difficulty, in many instances, to be with family, gather around a sumptuous meal, and offer prayers of gratitude to God and express our gratitude to our family for the love they give us.
In order to do justice to this admirable custom, it might be good to relieve the stress and pressure by approaching it with an undivided heart, focusing on the love we wish to share and not on the problems we experienced traveling, or the things we could be doing, or which "have to be done".  Now that another custom has crept in, that of "Black Friday" bargain shopping for Christmas, we deal with another pressure. It has now even invaded  Thanksgiving Day itself, with stores opening up in the afternoon and evening of Thursday, just as dessert is making its way to our stomachs, pulling us away from family, dividing our loyalty to them to save a few dollars.  If we want to please them with a special gift, why not give them the gift of our time, of the gift of ourselves by BEING with them.  No THING can replace a "heart full of love."  What can we do today to make it less stressful and help us to be more present tomorrow?
Bro. Rene

Looking For Good Signs

Note:  I failed to cut a slice of bread yesterday as I took part in a surprise early morning celebration of a friend's birthday.

St. Luke's chapter 21 speaks of the signs of  the end times...the transformation of the world as we know it to the establishment of the reign of Christ.  That in itself is desirable, but the events leading up to it could be frightening with earthquakes famines and plagues.  We live in a time of frightening signs even now, with terrorists threatening us everywhere.  To balance this lopsided picture, we might look for the positive and encouraging signs that signal what this Kingdom of Christ will be like.  Bells ring in front of large businesses reminding us to share what we have so that those who have less might have a merry Christmas;  agencies are preparing Thanksgiving food baskets and meals; students are volunteering generously locally and around the world; Pope Francis fearlessly attacks the woes of the world and the Church, separating the wheat of Christ's  message from the chaff of bureaucracy and corruption.   Good things are happening; we simply need to open our eyes, and yes, find the courage to join in with them.
Bro. Rene

Serving Christ Our King

Jesus often spoke of the Kingdom of God, and in answer to Pilate's question, "Are you the King of the Jews," Jesus eventually answers that his kingdom is not of this world and that he was born to be a king and to testify to the truth. "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (cf; Jn 18: 33b-37).  As followers of Jesus, we are not subjugated as disenfranchised slaves, but rather, raised up to share in his mission to live and spread the truth and to make the kingdom a reality.  Most of us are not in high positions of leadership or influence, but in simple, grass-roots ways, we can serve our King and make his Kingdom a reality even in the smallest ways.  Instead of throwing stones at the Church, which is much in the headlines these days for gross corruption, we might "make church (community) happen by listening twice as much as we speak, and when we do speak, make it constructive.  Look at others as people who have something to teach us.  We can all be quiet examples of Christ to others.  We might even step up to teach CCD, become a Lector, or Eucharistic Minister, or join the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  In small ways we can serve Christ make extend his reign in our family, our parish, our time. (Thanks to Stand Firm, and editors Matt Erickson and Tammy Drolsum for some of these ideas.)
Bro. Rene

Presenting Our Children

Although today's Memorial of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is based on an apocryphal Book, The Infancy Gospel of James, it is one of the 12 major feasts in the Eastern Church, for it set the stage for the nativity of Jesus.  Mary is presented in the temple and herself later becomes the temple which receives the incarnate Son of God. Her years in the temple help set the stage for her gracious acceptance to be the mother of God; her "Fiat" (be it done to me) becomes the foundation of her discipleship and the model stance for all Marists.
St. Marcellin said over and over again that to educate our charges, we must love them, and love them all equally.  We might even go so far in that love as to present them to God, to lift them up, to dedicate them to him, to give them over to him as Anne and Joaquim did with Mary.  With so many contrary values bombarding our children every day, it becomes more imperative that we place them in God's hands to be loved, protected and guided toward him.  Let us take a few moments now to offer our children, all those entrusted to our care, and, especially the most neglected, to God, asking that HIS will for them be done.
Bro. Rene

Rebuilding

As the Jewish Community prepares for the annual celebration of Hannukah, the 8 day feast of the re-dedication of the Temple, a time of candles and light in our dark, December days, we might reflect on the need for hope and the truth that no matter how bad the situation might be, there is always the possibility of rebuilding, moving forward, and ending up with something even better.  
Raising teens has never been easy, but it seems to be ever more challenging these days.  Multiple choices (not all good) face them on all sides, and being "kids" they succumb.  And who's to say that we don't either?  But as it took time and patience to rebuild the temple, so it will take time and patience to help our offspring learn from their mistakes. Our first instinct is anger or even sadness at how they have taken our love and slapped it in the face by doing the opposite of what we've taught them or what our expectations have been.   We all, then, have to start from scratch and build block by block, principle by principle, value by value.  In the end we have young adults who are even stronger than previously, having learned valuable lessons from their poor choices.  They have become a light in the darkness and a cause for rejoicing.
Bro. Rene

Courage

In these days when fear of terrorism is mounting as a result of the recent bombings in France and threats of more; when daily, it seems, the spread of evil is overpowering goodness, we as a Church are taking a long, hard look at "the last things", heaven, hell and judgment. We have seen the courage of the Maccabees and today's first reading tells of Mattathias, a zealous Jew who resisted the orders of the king to worship false gods.  His courage influenced the people to live according to the Law and their ancient customs.  We also remember Fr. Raphael Kolinowski, a Polish priest who founded several monasteries and helped spread the faith in Poland after suffering 10 years in the salt mines of Siberia.  Marists around the world continue to live the vision of St. Marcellin to protect poor children as well as lead them to come to know and love Jesus.  As Marists, all of us are called "to act with urgency to find new creative ways to educate, evangelize, advocate for, and to be in solidarity with young children, teens and young adults" (from a prayer form the Province of Australia to Universal Day of Children's Rights).  How can we better do this in and outside our schools?  The Holy Spirit is at work and soon we'll be seeing the results of the efforts we are making to give new vitality and dimension to our mission. At this time of the closing of the Church year and the beginning of a new,  may we follow the courageous leaders who have gone before us and trust that as he did with them, God will help us profoundly influence others to accept and live the gift of faith.
Bro. Rene

Steadfast In Your Paths

With tales of violence and counter violence filling the media these days, or with glitches, big and small, or challenges besieging us on every side, we turn with the Psalmist to God for help.  Where else can we go?  Slowly, prayerfully, pray these verses from Psalm 17 and find calmness and peace again.
Hear, O Lord, a just suit,
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.

My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God.
Incline your ear to me; hear my word.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold our face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.  (Ps 17: 1-8 )

Bro. Rene

Relinquishment

Time and time again from the time of Jesus to the present day, people have heeded the invitation to relinquish their wealth or position to serve God either directly or through the poor.  The rich young man refused the invitation, but Zacchaeus accepted it with joy, giving half his possessions to the poor and repaying four times over those he might have extorted. (cf. Lk 19:1-10).  St. Hilda,  one of England's greatest women, abandoned her noble status to become a nun, and was the abbess of monasteries in Hartlepool and later, Whitby.  St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who died at the age of 24, left her castle to become a Franciscan Tertiary, giving abundantly of her wealth to the sick and the poor.
A mark of the Thanksgiving season in the United States, is the ringing of the Salvation Army bells at large stores, to remind us that there are many sick and poor who need help at all times, but particularly as the holidays roll around. Lazarus House has had to downsize its Thanksgiving program due to the enormous drain on supplies this past year. Is it too late to help?  When we want to hold back, we might think of these three who gave so generously of themselves, and follow the spirit of their example
Bro. Rene

Ask Big

Today's Gospel relates the cure of the blind man on the road to Jericho. (cf. Lk 18:35-43).  He was not afraid to ask for what was his dearest and biggest desire:  to see.  He serves as an example for us to do the same:  not be afraid to ask "BIG", to ask for what is deepest in our hearts.  His faith was indeed great, for even without seeing where Jesus was, he shouted over and over again, "Son of David have pity on me," so that Jesus would at least hear him.  The crowd urged him to be quiet, but he called out all the more.  Nothing was going to stop him.
Do we let the fear of ridicule or the power of values gone sour, or the danger of looking foolish stop us from asking for what we really need?  Our faith must be stronger that that if we expect a positive answer to our prayer.  Let us not be blinded by the opinion of others, or the contempt of the worldly, but in faith cry out with this blind man for the pity and mercy we so deeply desire.  Fear not, follow your heart, ask big!  Our world needs this kind of faith more than ever.
Bro. Rene

Making All Things New

As the Liturgical Year winds to a close in two weeks, we turn our attention to the reality that this universe, this world as we know it will itself end and something new will replace it.  In Greek it is called the Parousia, the Second Coming.  Christ will reign and the message of love. compassion, forgiveness, joy and happiness will be the "law of the land." It sounds enticing and relieving as we reel from the recent acts of evil in Paris.  "What is this world coming to?' is the mantra we hear everywhere.  It is coming to an end.  It can't continue on this track for it is dooming itself.  Yet, the glimmer of hope remains:  the promise Jesus himself made:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Mk 13: 31)
Advent will give us the opportunity to reflect on the promised kingdom of Christ as we prepare to celebrate his first coming.  If we can somehow escape the commercialism and hubbub of these weeks before Christmas, we might focus on what we can make new in our lives.  Our individual newness goals can become a collective newness and we can add our share to the entire newness Jesus guarantees.  What can I do today to help this process along?
Bro. Rene

Without Becoming Weary

In the light of the horrific attacks in Paris, we might wonder if our prayers for peace and an end of violence are ever heard. But events such as this should provoke us to "pray always without becoming weary" (Lk 18:1), as Jesus illustrated with the parable of the widow and the reluctant judge. (Lk 18: 1-9). Mary herself pondered the events in her life and that pondering became her prayer more and more for God's will, not hers to be done.  Everywhere we go, we hear of great needs, horrible suffering, cold indifference, some sort of bullying, be it racial slurs, political bias, or actual statements of hate.  Turmoil within leads to words and acts of violence.   Ceasing to pray because evil is so prevalent or doesn't SEEM to work is not the answer.  Yes, it is wearisome to pray for the same people and the same things over and over, but as the parable illustrates as does Mary's life, that eventually our prayers are answered, usually in ways that are better than we ever expected or asked for. Dear God, help me to continue to pray always without becoming weary.
Bro. Rene 

A Missionary of the Sacred Heart

A diminutive, "sickly", Italian woman named Frances Xavier Cabrini gave her heart totally to Jesus and in so doing "lost" her life in Jesus and showed the world in spectacular ways, how much the heart of Jesus loves us.  At first refused entry into a convent because of her fragile health, she stayed home to help care for her parents and work their farm.  She taught catechism so successfully that the local pastor urged her to start her own religious order which became the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Leo XIII urged her to come to America to care for Italian immigrants, and so she did, founding 67 schools, orphanages and hospitals until her death in 1917.  She was the first American citizen to be canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1946.
Her story points out again what God can do with the "least of his children" when they abandon all they once held dear in order to follow a higher call.  May we hear God's call today and fear not what he is asking us to do for him.  We too can spread the love of the Sacred Heart even in the smallest ways. May Mother Cabrini be our inspiration.
Bro. Rene

Giving It All Up

We read in St. Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Cor. 12:), and sometimes think, "yes, for others, but not for me."  Today we honor St. Josephat, a Ruthenian who entered a monastery in present day Ukraine in 1604.  After his election as Archbishop of Polotsk, he spent his time and energy trying to bring his fellow Orthodox Ruthenians into communion with Rome, which occurred only after his martyrdom.  We also remember St. Didacus (Diego), a Franciscan Friar for whom San Diego is named.  With minimum education but with a grace-filled heart, he brought many to the faith.
We think that this only happened centuries ago, but the Marians of the Immaculate Conception have men whose stories are similar:  men who when younger were "beach bums", druggies, businessmen with top-dollar worldly ambitions, who gave it all up, thanks to God's grace, and are now happy, faith-filled, zealous priests.  Fr. Donald Calloway is the vocation director, and Fr. Michael Gaitly is a prolific writer and popular speaker.  Many are familiar with his books, Thirty-Three Days to Morning Glory and No Turning Back.  The Marians have 25 ordained priests, and 30 men in the seminary.  They attribute their bounty to God's grace showered upon them through Mary.  
As Marists, we have special devotion to Mary, and should be overflowing with vocations.  Let us deepen our prayer and faith that God's grace with enable many to give up their present ambitions and life-styles to come to Jesus through Mary as Marist Brothers.
Bro. Rene

A Soldier for Christ

The story of the Roman soldier cutting his cloak in two to share it with a poor beggar, and then in a dream that night learning that he had given it to Jesus, continues to fascinate us.  Now known as St. Martin of Tours, he was still a catechumen at the time, but sought baptism right away. He then refused to continue in the Roman Legion and was imprisoned for a time.  When released he sought solitude as a monk; others soon joined him and he thus became the founder of monasticism in Gaul. He later was made bishop of Tours by popular acclaim and devoted the rest of his life in the service of the Gospel and paid special attention to the poor, living very poorly himself.
As we honor our veterans this day in the United States, recalling the end of the First World War at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, let us pray in gratitude for those who have served in the military, millions of them giving up their lives; let us pray for the safety of those in the service today, and let us pray for a lasting peace that might enable our soldiers to exchange their weapons for the sword of faith as St. Martin did.
Bro. Rene

Courage and Trust

Today we remember Pope St. Leo the Great (one of three bearing the title "Great" along with Gregory I and Nicholas II) whose courage and bravery in the face of opposition remain a challenge and an  example for us.  When controversy over the nature of Jesus reached a head, he called the Council of Chaldedon, resolved the issue by proclaiming two natures (human and divine) in one person, the formula we still adhere to today.
When Attila the Hun arrived at the gates of Rome, Leo went out to meet him face to face and persuaded him to "back off".  Attila did, for an annual fee, but legend has it that he reported seeing a giant figure behind Leo with a sword pointed right at him, presumably St. Michael the Archangel.
Leo is called the GREAT because he fearlessly acted with trust in God's protection amidst doctrinal and physical threats.   St. Leo, pray for us when we feel too weak to withstand those kinds of challenges in our lives.
Bro. Rene

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

More formally known as the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior in honor of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, or more commonly called St. John Lateran,  this most important and oldest of the four basilicas in Rome has a long history dating back to 324 A.D.  The emperor Constantine received the basilica, owned by the Laterani Family,  through his second marriage and gave it to the Bishop of Rome who placed his cathedra (chair) in it, making it the cathedral of Rome and the Pope's Church. It has been destroyed by earthquake and fire, rebuilt, renovated, and embellished many times over the centuries, a symbol of the endurance of the Church till the end of time promised by Jesus.  (Cf. Mt 28: 20)
St. Paul likens each one of us to God's building built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  As such we are "the temple of God" in which the Spirit dwells, which thus is holy.  (Cf. 1 Cor 3: 9-17).  Buildings are important, tangible signs of  God's dwelling amongst us, places of worship and centers of sacramental life; they contain family memories of the sacrifices made to build them, and the marriages, baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Ordinations, and funerals celebrated in them, but they are not the Church.  We are!
Bro. Rene

The Poor Widow's Mite

In today's Gospel, Jesus praises and holds up as an example for us, a poor widow who quietly and unassumingly places two small coins in to the temple treasury.   What makes her give special is that it was all that she had to live on. (cf. Mk 12: 44).  She was "bankrupt", and yet trusted enough in God's generosity to match her own; God would somehow take care of her.  She realized that it is God's generous and unbounded love that counts, not the pennies in her pocket.  Quite the reversal of so many of us today, when "money talks" and becomes our prime motivation.  It's time for us to realize and accept our own bankruptcy, for such is the case if money and things have become so important to us that we think they will make us happy, or give us power over others. If we learned to live from our poverty, we would enjoy the freedom and the happiness of admitting our dependence on God and relieve ourselves of the stress that ties us down and clouds our lives with restlessness and gloom.
Bro. Rene

A Holy Kiss

In closing his longest epistle (Romans), St. Paul lists a number of people who are close friends and to  whom sends a "holy kiss".  ( Cf. Rm 16: 16).  His affection runs deep and he's not afraid to express it.
How pleasant the world would be if we greeted one another with a "holy kiss":  an act or word of kindness.  We are often pre-occupied with the day's agenda, or worried about something to the point that we don't even say "good morning" to our family as we hastily fix breakfast and dash to the car, bemoaning the traffic all the way to work.  We enter our place of employment like a bear, and set the tone for a very stressful and unhappy day.  Time to say, "whoa"...what am I doing?  Is this the way to treat people whom God loves, and in whom God dwells?  A smile, a warm greeting would make a difference to those we live with and work with.  If Paul, who can be so caustic and sarcastic can express his affection with a "holy kiss" (and he shows it even more through his travels, beatings, bearing with criticism and tears), cant' we?  From this moment on, let's greet one another with "a holy kiss."
Bro. Rene

Good Stewards

We have been blessed in the United States with a beautiful country, and the resources to provide a healthy life-style for over 300 million people, if indeed, these resources are husbanded properly and fairly.  We have also been blessed with the gift of freedom:  freedom to develop our own gifts and talents, to chose our careers, to speak without fear of reprisal, and to practice our faith, to name a few. Such blessings need careful stewarding lest they become lost in selfishness, entitlement or misunderstanding.  In passing on our faith, for example, rather than just setting up rules for our children and stressing punishment for breaking those rules, or learning heaping up piles of doctrines into their plates, we mustn't lose sight of the main themes that should permeate these rules and doctrines:   love, generosity, compassion, humility, acceptance of others, respect for self and for others, forgiveness and patience.  If we are not seeing these qualities in our children, then we are missing the point of religious education, which, of course, begins in the family.  As we attempt to be good stewards of our material blessings and  the blessing of our freedom, let's be good stewards and  good models of our most precious resource:  our faith.
Bro. Rene

Finding the Lost

We all know the agony of losing something necessary such as keys, wallets, passcodes, favorite photos.  How we search up and down, try to retrace our steps, remember when we last used or saw them, how we pray to St. Anthony until we find them.  Then, what a feeling of relief, what a joy!
Jesus reminds us today that when the sinner repents, when that lost sheep or lost coin is found, the angels themselves rejoice.  Perhaps we could make their day by looking into our lives to see where we are losing ground, subtly slipping away from prayer or our commitment to service, and finding ourselves again.  Most of us are not guilty of losing the Big Things, but it's those small things, which unless found, could lead to a major loss, a major breach with God.  Lord help me to seek and find so that I will bring joy to you and the angels today.
Bro. Rene

Fulfilling The Law Of Love

St. Paul states clearly in Romans 13: 8, 10 that love is the fulfillment of the law: "Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another ha fulfilled the law....Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law." As challenging as it may sound, it is not impossible to do.
Small of stature, hindered by a speech impediment, and a man who struggled with his studies , St. Charles Borromeo made these words of Paul his way of life. His uncle, Pope Pius IV,  made him a Cardinal before his ordination to the priesthood, and asked him to help reconvene the Council of Trent which eventually concluded with its reforms that guided the Church for the next four hundred years until Vatican II.  After his ordination to the priesthood, he was named Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, a See that had been vacant for 80 years, Charles restored order and initiated the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) which still exists today for the education of young Catholics.  When famine and plague struck the city, he used his own money, even going into debt, to feed and care for the hungry and the sick.  He "emptied himself" out of love for his people, dying at the age of 46. His love was not sentimental mush, but concrete action, his best and most powerful sermon.  His example demonstrates and assures us that we too can fulfill the law by meeting the needs of others out of love.
Bro. Rene

Using Our Gifts

St. Paul is not one to hold back on saying what needs to be said as directly as possible.  He reminds us today in the first reading of today's Mass from Romans 12: 5-16b, that although we are one body, there are many parts and many gifts that make up that body.  Our gifts are meant to build up the Body of Christ.  Today's saint, St. Martin de Porres, though born in poverty and, as a mulato, on the fringe of society in Lima Peru at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries, he used his gifts without reserve for the good of all.  As a barber, and thus a surgeon, he ministered to  the sick, founded an orphanage, and catered especially to the slaves who arrived from Africa. He did the work of several men "with great generosity, promptness and attention to detail", living out the directives of St. Paul and serving as an example to us:
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.  Do not slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hop, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who week.  Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but association with the lowly." (Rm 12: 9-16)
Bro. Rene

Remembering the Holy Souls

As yesterday we remembered that group of the Communion of Saints who experience eternal bliss in the presence of God, today we remember those who are on their way, but still need purification before seeing God face to face.  We take time today to remember them, tell their stories, do sacrifices for them and pray for them that God's mercy release them from their detainment and take them soon into his presence.  Many of these souls have no family, no one to pray for them, and these, like the "most neglected" we serve on earth, are the ones to whom we might give particular attention. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that "Purgatory strips of from one person what is unbearable and from another the inability to bear certain things, so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed, and we can see that all belong together in one enormous symphony of being." They are our brothers and sisters needing our help.  May we use this day and all the days of the month of November, which is dedicated to them, to pray that they reach their final destination in heaven.
Bro. Rene

The Call To Holiness

The celebration of All Saints marks not only those who have gone before us and been officially canonized, but includes those family saints or others we know who have committed their lives to the biblical injunction: "Be holy, because I am holy." (Lv 11:4).  The same call goes out to us.  God has done so much for each one of us in an attempt to show his love and desire to take us into his loving care if we would but let him.  And he's not talking just about our final end in heaven, but even here on earth, when opening up to his love, we can begin to participate in the fullness of his presence and love in eternity.  These saints we honor today are proof that this is the plan, this can happen if we love one another, follow the example of Jesus, and live out the "syllabus" of the Beatitudes.  It's all there, all we have to do is incorporate these guidelines into our lives.   May we take time to reflect on them and ask God to help us live them.
Bro. Rene

Spontaneous Responses

Note.  Apologies again!  A very early flight out of San Antonio and a late night Wednesday, prevented me from sending off a slice of bread yesterday.  Warning that meetings this weekend in Mariandale, NY may mean no computer access, but if there, is, there will be a slice in your inbox!

So often we attend a gathering or plan some simple errand and out of the blue there appears someone pleading for assistance.  How do we respond?  Jesus was quick to meet the need as he is shown with the man with dropsy at the home of a leading Pharisee who had invited him to dinner.  Jesus uses the occasion not only to cure the man, but also to teach all of us that we need to be flexible in our observance of the Sabbath.  When charity requires "work" on the Sabbath, it is the Law of Charity that supplants the Law of the Sabbath.  May we be ready to respond in charity to whatever or whomever appears unexpectedly, knowing that everything happens for a purpose, and that a greater good can always be found, for "all things work to the good." (Rm 8:28)
Bro. Rene

Zeal and Hope

Note: At last we can provide a thin slice of bread after several days of no internet access at the Oblate Retreat House in San Antonio where I'm attending a conference.  Then, this morning the door was locked till just a few moments ago.  However, here is a thought.

We celebrate the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two of the chosen Twelve.  St. Jude, patron of hopeless cases, is well known and has  great following, but we can't forget Simon the Zealot, whose desire to right the wrongs inflicted upon the people of Israel drew him to the group known as Zealots even before he was chosen by Jesus to follow him.  No doubt his vigor and energy attracted Jesus to him.  Hope in what might seem a "hopeless age" as we look around us today, and zeal for bringing the Good News to this sad world are needed as much today as in the days when Simon and Jude lived, or when St. Marcellin found ignorance of the faith in the Jean-Baptiste Montagnes of his day.  Things have not changed much over the centuries; the mission and the need for zealous apostles filled with hope impel us to dig in and bring the message of Jesus to all, especially those whose paths cross ours today.  Sts. Simon and Jude, pray for us and make us strong and faithful apostles of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

God Is Calling Me

Even though I might feel overwhelmed with demands of family, work and my own self-imposed expectations, or just tired from routine and lack of stimulation in what I do for a living, if I stop and realize what blessings I do have, and who is giving them, I might hear the voice of God calling me to a deeper level with him.
I once saw a tall, strong-looking teenage boy slump and sleep during Mass, oblivious to the mystery into which he is called to participate.  He was in church because his mother and father made him come, but he was blind to the why and what of the Mass.  I am that boy, at times, "sleeping" through the day where beauty surrounds me, or the call the help  others invites me to wake up and come alive.  How patient God is with me, as he calls most of the time, gently, but occasionally, startlingly, so that I hear the call loudly and clearly. Our Sabbath day, when in theory we take time for God and for self, is an opportunity for me to hear God's call, to rise up,  ask, "Lord, what do YOU want me to do?" and respond with the generosity and energy his love for me and in me makes possible.
Bro. Rene

The Call of the Blind

The blind beggar, Bartimeus, could see enough through his inner eye, that Jesus was near, and could cure him.  Let not our blindness keep us from reaching out to Jesus who wants to heal and forgive us.  His care and love can cure our blindness, our hardness of heart, our "hostility toward God" which St. Paul describes (cf. Rm 8: 7); let us pray for the simplicity of Bartimeus and be unafraid to ask Jesus to have pity on us and heal us.
Bro. Rene

The Year of Fourviere

In preparation for the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Little Brothers of Mary, now recognized as the Marist Brothers of the Schools, three years prior to 2017 have been designated to recall key moments that contributed to our origins:  the encounter with Jean-Baptiste Montagne, the dying 17 year-old which prompted immediate action from St. Marcellin; the Fourviere Pledge made by 12 newly ordained priests, which became the foundation of the Society of Mary; and finally,  the establishment of the first community at LaValla.  This is the Year of the Fourviere Pledge, commemorating the sincere promise to begin a Society of priests, sisters, brothers and lay people as four branches of the larger Society of Mary.  As time passed and due to Rome's intervention, the envisioned society became four separate ones, who all kept the name Marist.  The lay component, The Third Order of Mary, is under the auspices of the Marist Fathers, but their place among the Marist Brothers is evolving at a growing pace since the inception of The Marist Family Movement in the 80's. More and more lay collaboration is becoming the norm as the number of Marist Brothers, especially in the First World, diminishes.   Taking on the charism and spirit of St. Marcellin, these lay people have picked up the mission and have begun to run with it with the vigor and energy of youth. The Year of Fourviere will lend itself to greater understanding of their role in the Marist Mission and participation in it.  It is like a second founding, hence we celebrate and rejoice that the vision of St. Marcellin is guaranteed a long, effective future.
Bro. Rene

Lighting Fire

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!'"  He was passionate about his mission and anguished as it seemed to move so slowly.  We who have suffered injuries know that impatience, that desire to be fully healed and back to normal, as it seems that the healing process drags on and on.  Pope St. John Paul II, an athlete, an actor, a man of action as well as a philosopher and theologian had all the components to set the world ablaze and did so till his voice  and strength failed him.  He told us to "Feat not." and lived it.  His motto, Totus Tuus, (all is yours) demonstrated the extent of his desire and expanse of his energy.  Just remembering him, we can see the flames burning and hear the wood crackling.  Even ten years after his death, and with his recent canonization, we still feel his impact and are moved to let him light our fire. May we take some time today to google some of his words and apply them to our lives.  May the flame of his example enkindle new fire in us.
Bro. Rene

More Will Be Asked

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." (Lk 12: 48).  We might not like to hear this, for it puts pressure on us to be ready to "give up" as well as to give more.  Our days are so full, that being asked to do one more thing seems to throw everything off.  "How can I do all this and still find time to eat and sleep, let alone enjoy some leisure to read the news paper or watch my favorite show?", we ask as we shy away from this passaged.  We need to remember that we were created from nothing out of love, for a purpose:  to know, love and serve God.  If we reflect on our experience, we discover that anytime we've been asked to "do more," we've done it, and have been energized by it.  We need to grow in the confidence that God knows all our needs, yes, but he has lavished each one of us with unique gifts, not for ourselves, but for others. We run into so many people asking for prayers, for example.  Can we refuse them by saying "I have too many people to pray for?"  If we have he gift of prayer, such a blessing is not for us alone, but to serve others.  We say over and over, "Nothing is impossible with God."  Do we believe it?  If so, let's act on it, and willing take the sure chance that God will help us to give more.
Bro. Rene

Dressed For Action

Jesus tells us today to have our loins girt and our lamps lit, and to be ready for action when he knocks. (cf. Lk 12: 12:35).  Complacency can so easily creep into our lives, especially when things are going well and we think, "Ah, I've made it.  It's a smooth plateau from here on in;  I'll just coast along".  Little do we know what "interventions" the Lord has planned for us.  It is not necessarily the BIG knock at the door before our final exit for which we need to prepare, but for the little ones, the unexpected phone call for help across the street; a visitor from out of town who "takes a chance" to see if we're home to chat and catch up; a slight twist of an ankle or a mis-step off a curb, which can change our lives for weeks, even months ahead.  It is also the "knock" and request to give more of ourselves than we had planned, to relinquish not only material goods, but a goal we had set for ourselves, or to accept a challenge that we had not anticipated.  We have experienced these knocks, and for the most part, have answered generously, if not reluctantly at first, and found that God's Knock, when answered positively, opens more doors than we ever thought possible.
Bro. Rene

Passion for the Gospel

Note:  Apologies again for missing yesterday's slice.  Early rising for an early flight, and a day previously of visiting and celebrating Bishop Donahue High School's 60th anniversary made it impossible to cut a slice. An early physical therapy appointment, for which I'm late, necessitates this thin slice today.

The desire to spread the Gospel to Native Americans in what is now northern New York state and parts of Canada spurred seven Jesuit priests and two lay brothers to give their lives as martyrs for the faith after years of painful adaptation to the climate of these regions and the customs of the Hurons and Mohawks.
May they inspire us when tepidity or discouragement creep into our practice of the faith. May we burn with the fire that motivated them.  The same Spirit that lived in them lives in us.  Let that Spirit do its work!
Bro. Rene

Celebrating 60 Years

Note:  Written from Wheeling, WV after much searching on the web. Time is limited, so this will be a slim slice.

60 years ago, the pastors from Moundsville, McMechen, Benwood and Glen Dale convinced Bishop Swint that a local high school would enable more students who could not travel to Wheeling Central Catholic to receive a Catholic Education.  The new high school was named after Bishop Donahue, a man who himself was well-educated, gregarious and sincerely interested in the education of youth.  Never intended to be a large school, at max its enrollment topped at 200 for a few years and remained at best around 150.  Just before celebrating it's 50th jubilee, enrollment had shrunk to 68 and rumors were rampant that it would have to close.  Determination, hard work, the presence of the Marist Brothers,, the kindness of Bishop Schmidt and lots of prayer kept the school going.  Just a few years ago when Bishop Bransfield endorsed the school saying he would never close it, the rumor dust settled once and for all, and enrollment has steadily been increasing.  Gathering last night for part one of the 60th celebration, alumni and friends affirmed their love and loyalty and marveled again at how "the little school that could" has now reached its 60th anniversary.   It is another testimony to the power of prayer and the power of community.  When in doubt about the efficacy of prayer, just remember Bishop Donahue High School, and keep praying.
Bro. Rene

Even The Hairs Of Our Heads

We often are tempted to wonder if God is there as he said, if he cares enough for us to help us even in what might be considered trivial matters  We do not hesitate to call on St. Anthony to find a lost object for us, or to pray to our Guardian Angel and St. Christopher  for a safe trip; their reputations are well established, but to call on the Creator for other than cosmic needs seems to belittle the Almighty.
Yet Jesus assures us:  "Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.  Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.  Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows." (Lk 12: 6-7).  I have found over the years that indeed God does care about the smallest details of our lives, working things out for us when they seem to be in an "inoperable" tangle.  He can be the Master Travel Agent, the most effective retreat director, the best "ghost writer" we could ever find.  The Hebrews saw God's intervention in everything, from drought to flood, from feast to famine.  Seems simplistic, but Jesus didn't change that approach, but rather encouraged his followers to believe in it.   May we not lose sight of the God of Details.
Bro. Rene

The Gift of the Great St. Teresa of Avila

Not to be confused with St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower), St. Teresa of Avila is known for her profound writings on prayer, The Ascent of Mt Carmel and, especially, The Interior Castle, and for her reform of the Carmelite Order.  This year we celebrate the 500th anniversary of her birth and look to her legacy and counsel with gratitude and hope.  May these succinct thoughts help us grow in prayer, and, as she did, balance a contemplative life with an active life.

Let nothing disturb you
 Let nothing frighten you
 All things are passing away:
God never changes.
 Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

St. Teresa of Avila, let me not shun the injunction to "pray without ceasing" (I Thess 5:17), but learn as you did, how to be aware of God's presence as I go about my busy days.  When I can grab some quiet moments, let me spend them in my "interior castle" and learn that "God alone suffices."
Bro. Rene

Missing the Point

The sharp eye and tongue of Jesus catch and challenge the Pharisees and scholars of the law who have missed the point in their religious observances and let minute observances of the law keep them from hitting the target on what really matters.  They pay tithes on herbs, but ignore love for God.  They love instead greetings in the market place and seats of honor in the synagogues. The place burdens on others but duck for carrying them themselves. 
If we look carefully at our own behavior, we qualify for a scolding ourselves.  We can so easily slip into self-righteousness or justify our crassness by excusing our bad behavior to fatigue or busyness.  Indeed, the Pharisee lives on in each of us. The remedy would be to admit our faults and like the Publican ask for mercy, express our desire to get back on track and humbly request the grace to do so.  Without God's help, we might easily miss the point again.
Bro. Rene

Simplicity, Transparency, Trust

Today's brief Gospel passage brings to mind the virtue of simplicity, one of the three "violets" that characterize Marist spirituality.  St. Marcellin urged the early brothers to be themselves, no duplicity, no hypocrisy as Jesus admonished the Pharisees with the familiar observation:  "Although you cleanse the outside of the cup an the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil." (Lk 11:40).  So often WE hide behind the façade of goodness a person we would not want to be seen.  The Marist virtue of simplicity seeks to match the outside with the inside, so that  what people see is what they get directly and transparently from our hearts.
Similarly, the University of Notre Dame is celebrating Founder's Day today, the memorial of St. Edward the Confessor, for whom the founder of Notre Dame, Fr. Edward Sorin was named.  He was a man of strong faith and determination like St. Marcellin, and his words written in an early letter from Notre Dame reveal his steadfast faith and simple trust and hope in the Providence of God, much like that of St. Marcellin. “Yes, we are happy. We have the Lord with us. Only tonight we hung our sanctuary lamp where none had hung before... They tell us we won’t be able to afford to keep it burning. But we have a little olive oil and it will burn while it lasts... We can see it through the woods and it lights the humble home where our Master dwells. We tell each other that we are not alone, that Jesus Christ lives among us. It gives us courage.”
My we find such simple, trusting faith in our own hearts.
Bro. Rene

Searching The Heart

As we celebrate Columbus Day today, the theme of searching seems to be appropriate.  The journey in those three small ships was not easy, not at all, and the crew attempted to mutiny more than once so they could give up the quest and return to the comfort of Spain.  Columbus coaxed them on by asking for a little time more..."Give me three more days."  In the end it paid off.
We pray in Psalm 139:23, "Search me, my God, and know my heart, test me and know my concerns."  This is as powerful and as scary an adventure as faced Columbus and his sailors.  Do we really want God to "go there"?  Do we really want God to test us?  Won't we rebel, want to turn back and not be discovered, or not discover what's in the core of our being?  Yet, if we benefit when others reveal things they see in us, and are grateful for their insights, how much more would God's insight help us?  He alone knows us and, to boot, accepts us as we are.  He loves us and his love should encourage us to open up completely to him and allow his Spirit to point gently to areas of strength and areas of weakness.  If we want to change, if change is needed, whose help can better guide us.  Yes, search me Lord God, and help me to grow in self-understanding and become more like you.
Bro. Rene.

Yearning For Something Deeper

Today's Gospel story of the Rich Young Man (Mk 10: 17-30) touches a chord in all of us.  He kept the commandments, was a good person, but still was unsatisfied.  Just doing the basics was not enough, he yearned for something deeper, causing him to run to Jesus and seek counsel from him.  Jesus was touched by his sincerity and looked lovingly at him, seeing that goodness in his soul, as we often do when we meet sincere and genuine people.  Wanting to help him in his search, Jesus was very specific:  sell his goods, give the profit to the poor and follow him.  Sadness filled the man and he turned from Jesus, a prisoner of his "many possessions." 
Jesus invites us, if we are searching for MORE, to do the same, but in our world so occupied with THINGS, we might be finding it as hard, or even harder to "let go" of them, give to the poor and follow Jesus.   When I approach young men or women about considering the consecrated life, their plans for the future are their "possessions."  No room even to consider changing them to help the poor by following Jesus more closely.  All of us, consecrated religious or not, are invited to sift through our things, our wealth to help the poor, and thus follow Jesus more intimately.  Can we find the courage to do so,  and find that deeper relationship, peace and happiness for which we yearn, or would we rather go on iving with our sadness, and yes, even emptiness?
Bro. Rene