Saturday, January 31, 2015

Jesus Calms the Storm

Again we read about another storm on the Sea of Galilee in today's Gospel (Mk 4:35-41); this time Jesus is in the boat asleep.  How tired he must have been!  Many of us know the feeling!  The disciples, seasoned fishermen, some of them, are again worried, and wake him.  The storm stops, but the rebuke from Jesus is the same:  "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" (Mk 4:40).  The YET is important for them and for us...  How many times have we let fear terrorize us after many years and reassurances that there is nothing to fear.  God is with us, has a plan for us, takes care of us better than we do for ourselves, will not let us perish or bear a burden beyond our strength (his strength, if we give the fear over to him) and in the end, everything will turn out all right?  Again and again we have to be rebuked and taught; but God never seems to tire of us and our slowness to learn.
May we humbly ask him to bear with our "disability" and continue to repeat the same lessons until we finally grasp them.
Bro. Rene

Friday, January 30, 2015

"Wilderness Rejoices"

If a mustard seed can grow into large bushes or trees where birds can find refuge, and if seed sown on the earth can sprout and yield an abundant harvest of grain, how much more can God's grace transform the wilderness of our hearts, illness, death of a loved one, or a tragic accident into a bright meadow where flowers sparkle in the sun and indeed, the "wilderness rejoices?"  So it is here at the beginning of this Marist Youth Encounter Christ retreat in Esopus, NY where 56 eager juniors and seniors have entered into such a transformation.  We pray and sacrifice that by Sunday we will witness a harvest of joy.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Letting Our Lamp Shine

Whatever gifts we have been given, are not just for ourselves.  That would be like hiding them under a bushel basket, as we read in today's Gospel from Mark (4:21-25).
 A touching story on this morning's news describes a popular football player asking a handicapped classmate to their senior prom.  What joy filled that girl's face; his face too was radiant with joy, for he saw that he had made a major impact on her and her rather restricted life. Whatever ridicule he risked never happened; rather his simple action inspired his whole school and millions of viewers who saw the story.  That's letting the light shine!
We can all find something to do today, a word or encouragement, a promise of prayer, a phone call, and e-mail, that will let the light of Christ we have been given shine in the life of someone else.
Beginning tonight at our Marist Center in Esopus, NY, over 50 students will begin a Marist Youth Encounter Christ retreat, where college age students will share their faith, let their light shine to these high school students.  You can be part of the light, by offering a prayer or sacrifice for us.  Thank you.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Nurturing the Soil

No, we're not talking about spring planting...yet!...but as we remember St. Thomas Aquinas today, it seems appropriate to see what we can do to make the soil of our souls more welcoming to the seed of God's Word.  In today's Gospel, Jesus describes the seed falling on the path where the birds ate it up; other fell on rocky ground where the lack of soil caused the shoots to wither in the hot sun; some fell among thorns and were choked to death without producing grain; finally, some fell on rich ground and produced a huge harvest. (cf. Mk 4: 1-8).  Thomas spent his life studying, pondering, teaching and writing about the Seed, the Word of God, and did his best to prepare souls to receive it.  Seeds don't flourish without tilling, watering and weeding.  So too must the soul be stirred by study, watered with love-in-action and purged of what prevents it from doing both. We listen prayerfully and reflectively to the Word; we share our thoughts about it with others, and we live it. In so doing, we provide the rich soil that will bring forth the hundred fold harvest.  This prayer composed by St. Thomas will help and serves as a guide for Catholic Schools as they celebrate their unique mission this week:


Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your brilliance penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born—an obscurity of sin and ignorance. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

We Need A Winter In Our Lives

As we in New England sit imprisoned in our homes where we cannot leave nor can anyone enter, and as the winds howl and swirl the snow in circles around us, this day can be a precious gift, as is the season of winter.  A friend sent this poem that can give added meaning to this day:


Heavenly Father,
We need a winter in our lives
a time of rest, a time to stand still
a time to acquaint ourselves with the faith in which we live.


It is only then that we can draw strength
from the one in whom we are rooted
take time to grow and rise through the darkness
into the warm glow of your springtime


to blossom and flourish
bring color to your world
your garden.


Thank you Father
for the seasons of our lives.


May we be open to the gifts of time and rest that this day will bring.
Bro.  Rene

Monday, January 26, 2015

Catholic Schools Week

Ironically,  Catholic Schools Week begins with the threat of cancellations due to weather, but at least we are here today.  Fittingly, the Memorial of the Day is Sts. Timothy and Titus, dear friends of St. Paul and early bishops.  Paul urges Timothy recall that his faith was nurtured by his grandmother and mother, something to be noted as we in the schools, merely continue and enhance what should be the duty of the family:  to educate their children in the faith and to model it for them.  We do our best in these areas, but it is really in the Catholic Family that Catholic Education begins.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Abandoning our Nets

Mark's Gospel is the shortest and most direct of the four.  Today's selection from the first chapter (no time wasted with prologues or introductions), he gets right to the heart of the matter:  "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mk 1: 15) The kingdom of God is Jesus himself:  the union of God and us...the goal of our entire lives.  "Repent" means change your heart, turn to God. Jesus then calls the first four, fishermen, who leave behind their nets, boats and families to follow him.  A huge step into the unknown, yet they took it, a true leap of faith, as when a tightrope walker abandons his or her safety nets to walk across the wire, relying on the hours and perhaps years of practice to help them across.
Those fishermen left all, but as we read later, it took TIME for them to fully grasp what their call was. Peter begged Jesus to leave him for he was sinful, and indeed denied him three times.  Jesus did not abandon him, which helped Peter regain his fidelity to Jesus.  In our quest to become disciples, what do we need to abandon?  What "safety nets" can we, do we need to cast aside?   How patient are we with ourselves when it seems like progress is slow or when we are tempted to abandon our mission because some unforeseen obstacle has crossed our path?  When we come to know and love Jesus more and support each other, we can do as much as these first four.  The key is to abandon what prevents us from giving hearts totally to Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Amazing Grace

Note:  The hotel did have internet access for guests, but time was then the next impeded factor.  Glad to be back.


How graced we were to be among the 700,000 who marched for the lives of the 57,500.000+ who have been aborted since 1973 and for the 3,000 that will be aborted today.  Staggering numbers, yet to see these huge numbers of people from Middle School and up gave hope and affirmation again that "we shall overcome," as the song goes and as Cardinal Sean reiterated.  The faith and conviction of the marchers was evident as we walked from the Washington Monument to the Supreme Court where we could hardly move, packed so tightly as we were.  Some marchers traveled for 24 hours to be a part of the march.  There were contingents from Canada, Ireland  and almost every state in the Union.  Many student who were "on the fence" about pro-life made firm choices to favor LIFE.  Mass, prayer, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation were woven into the three day event.  Discussions on the bus, informative videos helped solidify convictions.  Amazing grace was evident everywhere.  Thanks be to God that we have the right to express and live our faith so publicly and, we hope, so effectively.  The fight for life is not done but there is great hope.
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

March for Life

Might have to take a bye on the slices of daily bread from Wednesday to Saturday...the hours at the March for life barely allow for sleep...so I don't promise anything, but will bring my I-pad just in case.
Please pray for us.
Bro. Rene

Basil Moreau

There isn't a Catholic in the United States, I would venture to say, who hasn't heard of the University of Notre Dame, but few would recognize the name of Basil Anthony Moreau.  Who is he?  The founder of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and the man who sent Fr. Edward Sorin and seven brothers to Indiana to found a school, which grew into the University of Notre Dame.  Moreau was born in France in 1799, just ten years after Marcellin Champagnat, was ordained a priest, became a teacher and founded the Holy Cross Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in 1835, for the purpose of making Jesus known and loved:  the same mission of the Marist Brothers, founded 18 years before. Fr. Moreau loved to say that his role and  the role of the Holy Cross Congregation was to speak of God's love.  We can speak of in words but by a life of love we can show this message in a much more effective way.  As one friend wrote recently, living love says more to others than Bible thumping.  Again, the message comes to us...show love, live love, BE love.  Such a message needs no bullhorn.
Bro. Rene

Monday, January 19, 2015

New Wine

Jesus wisely admonishes us not to put new wind into old wineskins, for the new will break the old skin and both will be lost. (see Mk 2: 21-22).  Not many of us these days use wineskins at all, but the image still holds if we take the new wine to be LOVE, the new message that Jesus came to give.  It implies a fresh approach to living; we cannot keep the "old ways".   If we treat everyone with love, there would be no racism, prejudice or bigotry:  a fitting truism for Dr. Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Day.  This week is dedicated to prayer for unity among Christians; again the message of love can bring the unity that has eluded us for centuries.  And the March for Life will take place in Washington, DC on Thursday if the rule of love were followed, there would be greater respect and reverence for the gift of life from conception to natural death.  May we in our own lives push for love, show love, be love for all.  It is the most powerful force in creation for it is God himself.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 18, 2015

They Stayed With Him

Note:  The quote below was pasted from an e-mail I received..I wanted to put it in Italics, but it didn't work and I seem to have no control over the spacing.  Bear with it; it's worthwhile.


Today's first reading and gospel focus on seeking the Lord, or better, the Lord seeking us!  Young Samuel hears his name called and is told by the wise Eli, to say "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." (1 Sam 3:18).  John's Gospel tells to story Andrew and John are listening to John the Baptist pointing out the "Lamb of God."  Without words, they follow Jesus who asks the poignant question, "What are you looking for?"  Their answer doesn't quite follow, "Where are you staying?" Jesus reply invites them to "Come and see."  And they end up staying from four o'clock on...Is it odd that the precise time is given?  Not so, when something of significance happens:  we can describe where we were at the time of the 9/11 attack, for example. 
These readings are often used at the beginning of a retreat, but certainly can apply to us each day:  Come, see, listen, stay.  Abide with Jesus; he invites us to abide with him.  What happens during that time? Does anything practical result?
It's like the complaint that we often hear:  "I've been going to Church for X number of years; I can't remember one sermon or homily.  What good did it do?  Here is one man's answer that might help us to see that time spent with Jesus in prayer or in church is not wasted.
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked
some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire
menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all
nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my
wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be
spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing..... God is UP to
something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and
receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual
nourishment!
Bro. Rene

Saturday, January 17, 2015

A Lamp For My Steps

Note:  Apologies are in order for spreading the e-Rumor about the pending ISIS threats to Pope Francis and the Vatican.  A reader checked the story on Truthorfiction.com and the Vactican website (which I should have done) and found it to be false.  If you did say a Hail Mary for Pope Francis, I'm sure he appreciated it; as it was, his greatest threat was from a typhoon which has cut short his visit to the Philippines).


"Your word is a lamp for my steps,
and a light for my path"  (Ps 119: 105).


Here's where we find the real truth, the truth that would move young Anthony of Coma in upper Egypt to sell all his property and goods, give the proceeds to the poor and go spend the rest of his long life, (he died at age 105) in prayer and fasting in the Egyptian desert.  It's what inspired movie director, John Ford, to make films that lift the soul, or what led a country boy to enter the seminary, and as a priest, found a congregation of teaching brothers, known as the Marist Brothers of the Schools.  God has spoken to us in Scripture and, taken seriously, it is the light that will guide us through the darkness in which we often find ourselves, and even change our lives and those around us for the better.  Young Anthony heard the  Gospel of the Rich Young Man, (Mt 19: 16-22) took it seriously and acted upon it. What do we need before we listen and respond with such courage?  May we take some time today to reflect on this passage  or  Mark 8:34-37) and  generously put it into practice.
Bro. Rene

Friday, January 16, 2015

Prayers for Pope Francis

Pope Francis is on the road; first Sri Lanka, now five days in the Philippines.  He has asked us to pray the Hail Mary for his safety, especially since Isis has evidently made a threat on his life and on the Vatican.  The Goal is ten million Hail Mary's globally.  Below is a prayer that might be helpful at this time and any time:

 Weep not for what you have lost, fight for what you have.
> Weep not for what is dead, fight for what was born in you.
> Weep not for the one who abandoned you, fight for who is with you.
> Weep not for those who hate you, fight for those who want you.
> Weep not for your past, fight for your present struggle.
> Weep not for your suffering, fight for your happiness.
> With things that are happening to us, we begin to learn that nothing is impossible to solve, just move forward.

Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Partners With Christ

"We have become partners with Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end."(Heb 3:14)  It seems the more challenges we face even the little daily challenges of icy windshields, or "lost" keys, the more Jesus invites us to work more closely with him.
St. Paul the Hermit, a contemporary of St. Antony of the Desert, lived to be 113 and spent close to 100 years in the desert in prayer and fasting. He was orphaned at age 15, and when about to be reported as a Christian, he fled to the desert to hide and found life there so compatible that he spent the rest of his long life there in the "partnership" of prayer with the God who filled his heart with love and, according to legend, even sent ravens to bring him bread.
St. Emily of Vialar, a little known saint outside of France, was born in 1797, while the Reign of Terror was coming to an end.  She met opposition from the start as her father opposed her desire to help the poor.  Eventually forming a little congregation of sisters devoted to this task, she went to Algiers but after a few years was sent back to France by the Bishop.  Upon arriving home, she found that a trusted associate had embezzled the funds of the order, leaving the sisters so destitute that they had to go to a soup kitchen for daily nourishment.  She held steadfast, nonetheless, to the words of Jesus she had heard in prayer:  "Remain in my Presence.  If you stray, from it, I shall recall you."
Later, Bishop Eugene Mazenod (later Saint), who founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, invited her to come to Marseille where things turned around, and the congregation spread throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. 
Tenacity, faith, trust, love, prayer...we cannot have partnership with Jesus without them.  When splinters kick up today, let us remember this.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Jesus the Healer

Those of us who bear pain, infirmity, depression, anxiety would, no doubt, be willing to travel anywhere for a guaranteed cure.  Such were the crowds who followed Jesus...but not always.  In today's Gospel, we read that when Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew, he wasted no time in healing her of the fever which was keeping her in bed.  Where there was a need, there was a cure, such was his compassion and lavish use of his gift of healing.  No, we need not always fly to Lourdes for the cure we seek, but simply from where we are we can present our case, or the cases of so many who are ill physically or spiritually, and trust that our prayer will be heard.  If the desired cure does not happen, then it's for a reason, but the prayer is not "lost"; it brings the grace that we or the sick person really need, such as an increase of faith or trust.Sometimes, the greater healing is growth in the realization that God is God and his plan is always better than ours.  Not being in control is a tougher burden to bear than the sore back or whatever ailment plagues us.  Jesus,  help me to  trust in your healing power and your insight into where the most important cure is needed.
Bro. Rene

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Casting Our Demons

Demon possession is something we associate with the time of Jesus, as in today's Gospel, he commands an evil spirit to come out of a man in the synagogue at Capernaum; we do not think that it happens today, perhaps because we never hear of it, but inevitably, pilgrims to Medjugorje see or hear a person in such a state.  All the "symptoms" are there:  the deep voice, the screaming, groaning, cursing, writhing, and when the unclean spirit leaves, the peace and return to normalcy.  But "possession" does not have to be such a dramatic and visible phenomenon; it can be more subtle as when a person leads a life that would make the Prodigal Son blush.  When they convert, when they are cleansed, a new and awesome person emerges.  Such were the cases of John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace after his conversion, and more currently, well-known actor and signer, Kris Kristoferson.  He describes his conversion in a song he wrote; it might resonate with us:
Why me Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known?
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving you or the kindness you've shown?
Lord, help me Jesus, I've wasted it, so help me Jesus, I know what I am.
Now that I know that I've needed you so, help me, Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Try me Lord, if you think there's a way I can try to repay all I've taken from you.
Maybe, Lord, I can show someone else what I've been through myself
On my way to you.
Lord, Help me Jesus.

Bro. Rene

Monday, January 12, 2015

Walking Bibles

"Be careful how you live, you may be the only Bible people ever read."  (William J. Toms)  Mr. Toms is given credit for this familiar thought, but I'm not sure if he is the first to say it.  Yesterday, the Baptism of the Lord, a young friend of mine looked optimistically to the day, saying he was going to be a walking Bible, starting with attendance at Church.  He, William Toms and many others use this theme, so appropriate for the beginning of Ordinary Time, as a way to continue the graces gained during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, to overcome the possible gloom of the removal of all the colorful ornaments and religious symbols that adorned our homes and churches might be causing, and to be a light to a world where dark is now admired for light.
Yesterday, I saw a movie, Foxcatcher, which I knew from reviews to be "dark" but did not expect to see BLACK! It pointed out the extent of evil we as humans are capable of. The bright piece is that I can warn the wrestling team and others NOT to see it...nothing to be gained except depression.  Watching a few minutes of the Golden Globe Awards, again I saw accolades going to darkness.  No sense asking, "What have we come to," the real question is how can I be a "walking Bible" in my circle today?
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Let the Spirit Work

As we bring the Advent/Christmas Season to a close, we focus on the mission that was the reason behind the coming of Jesus as a human being:  to show us how much God loves us, to make God's love the strongest force in our lives, and to show us how to pass that love on to our neighbor. Jesus emptied himself, in a sense, became weak, so that it would be evident that the Spirit working through him would accomplish this mission.  He accepted the gift of the Spirit as he rose from the baptismal waters of the Jordan, and after further clarification during his desert retreat, he went ahead to live out the purpose of his birth.
So too with us, who as children were baptized, received the Spirit, further underscored at our confirmations, and gradually are coming to understand the full implications of these sacraments.
It is evident that we can only live and proclaim the Gospel mission in humility and "weakness", for when we are weak, then we are strong (cf. 2 Cor 12:10) and it becomes clear to us and to all, that it is not by our power alone but with our gifts enhanced by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can be effective witnesses and evangelizers.  As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, let us also celebrate our own, open our hearts to the working of the Spirit  and commit ourselves once more to living out our baptismal promises.
Bro. Rene 

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Winding Up the Christmas Season

If you haven't taken down your Christmas decorations, this weekend is the time.   You might want to leave the crèche up till Sunday evening, when "Ordinary Time" begins with the conclusion of Vespers.  Those ubiquitous needles from the Christmas tree will keep popping up for months as reminders of the season of joy, giving, and celebrating, but hopefully a deeper appreciation for the goodness of God in sending his Son to be one of us in order to show his love and give us the blueprint for salvation will remain strong and life-giving rather than be a nuisance like the needles.  The first letter of St. John in today's epistle concludes with the instruction: "Children, be on guard against idols.: (1 Jn 5:21)...not idols of metal or plaster, but people, ambitions, opinions or material goods that can blur the truth and realities we have just celebrated and pondered during Advent and for the past several weeks since Christmas Day. We might continue some of the helpful Advent practices we observed, on we might keep a small nativity set up to remind us in the days ahead of the great mystery that God has become one of us, and remains with us.  Instead of relying on God to be close to us, why not take the initiative to be close to him?
Bro. Rene

Friday, January 9, 2015

Proclaiming, Curing, Praying

We might think we are busy, but a glimpse of today's Gospel from Luke 5:12-16 describes a busy day in the life of Jesus:  "The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments... " ( Lk 5:16).  We know how crowded clinics or doctor's offices are, or how a powerful speaker can fill a lecture hall or auditorium, so we can see these crowds in our imagination.  Jesus, evidently, remains tranquil, speaks "with authority", takes compassion on the many sick, even lepers, like the one in this passage, who sees Jesus, prostrates himself, and begs for a cure, when usually lepers remained withdrawn from others.  It would seem Jesus rarely had a moment's peace and was exposed to contagious diseases, but never flinched.  The secret?  "....he would withdraw to deserted places to pray."  (Lk 5:16)  Peace, quiet, communication with his Father, these enabled him to maintain a balance which he rarely lost, save for the two times he cleansed the temple, showing his strength and anger unashamedly in defense of the sacredness of his Father's house.  The lesson for us is to find those "desert places" and pray. Jesus, help me to follow your example and not lose myself in excuses.  If you did it, so can I.
Bro. Rene

Thursday, January 8, 2015

God Loved Us First

In his first letter, St. John tells us bluntly:  "Beloved, we love God because he first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19)  Blessed Mother Teresa echoes John: Jesus wants me to tell you again...how much love he has for each one of you--beyond all you can imagine.  I worry some of you have not really met Jesus--one to one--you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in chapel--but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how he looks at you with love?  Do you really know the living Jesus--not from books but from being with him in hour heart?  Have you heard the loving words he speaks to you?  Ask for the grace; he is longing to give it.  Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not  be able to hear him saying, "I thirst" in the hearts of the poor.  Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person--not just the idea.  How can we last even one day without hearing Jesus say, "I love you--'impossible. (Magnificat, January, p. 113)
Both quotations attempt to explain God's tremendous love for us; words fall short, even our dearest relationships which mirror God's love, come no where near replicating it.  Some of the great saints, like Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Francis and John of the Cross have experienced it perhaps as purely as humans can, but even their attempts to describe it fall short.  May we not be discouraged because of our indifference or our inability (yet) to immerse ourselves totally in it, but instead, be confident that the thirst for it will eventually lead us there.
Bro. Rene

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Theophany

Note:  Yahoo was experiencing some technical difficulties all day yesterday, so I was not able to post a slice of Daily Bread. The Eastern Church, Catholic and Orthodox celebrated the Theophany...a great feast combining Christmas, the visit of the Magi and the baptism of Jesus by John:  all three were manifestations exposing the humanity and divinity of Jesus.

Today's Gospel recalls the storm that the disciples experienced after the feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus had told them to sail Bethsaida while he went off to pray.  The storm was bad enough, but seeing a figure walking on the water, whom they mistook for a ghost, scared them even more.  Jesus spoke to them above the noise of the wind and waves saying, ""Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid." (Mk 6:50).  The storm subsided and Jesus got into the boat to be with the men who had just witnessed the miracle of the feeding but, because their hearts were hardened, their faith yet undeveloped, the feared and doubted.  Jesus had obviously manifested his supernatural powers on land and sea, but his chosen, his friends, were still too blind to comprehend the presence of God with them.
So often in our own lives, we miss the manifestations of God's presence in the events and people around us.  We pray for the sick, or some special favor, and even when our prayer is granted, we still lack faith when something else arises that is beyond our control. Thank God, Jesus is as patient with us as he was with his disciples, but may our prayer today help us to open our eyes to the theophanies that bless us at every turn.
Bro. Rene

Monday, January 5, 2015

Catholic Schools and Jesus

As we in the United States return to school after our Christmas break, we find the Memorial of St. John Neumann on our liturgical calendar and a very interesting Gospel of Jesus truly "working the crowds."  Most of us probably don't know that St. John Neumann established the first diocesan  Catholic school system in the United States.  He was the bishop of Philadelphia and under his leadership, the number of Catholic schools increased from two to one hundred. Catholic schools thrived from the mid-nineteenth century till the mid-twentieth century, when we began to see a struggle to keep the system going.  We lament the closings of thousands of schools, but those that are still open remain so only with a lot of hard work and especially a faithful relationship to Jesus.  Our Marist Mission is to make Jesus known and loved and really should be the mission of every Catholic school.  Why put in all the money and effort if not to teach Jesus?  What brought the crowds in droves from all over, if it was not to see and hear Jesus?  Frank Santoni, a Notre Dame graduate, describes the scene: What drew a crowd in Jesus’s day—and what still draws them today—is a longing for the truth about life. The search for purpose and belonging draws together people from all sorts of places and backgrounds. Jesus’s message was a powerful one of forgiveness and inclusion—this is the “great light” seen by “the people who sit in darkness” foretold by Isaiah. This is the same truth, joyfully and freshly re-asserted, that draws crowds to Pope Francis all over the world and on social media.  And this is the same truth that should be the foundation of our Catholic schools.
Bro. Rene

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Following the Star

"O Star of Wonder, Star of Light, Star of Royal Beauty Bright...Guide us to the perfect Light."
We are all familiar with this traditional Christmas Carol, but what was it like for those Wise Men, unfamiliar with the promise of a Messiah and other teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures, to leave their homes and families and trek an estimated thousand miles on camels, merely on the scientific calculations that indicated the birth of a king somewhere in the West?  They packed up treasures of gold, fankincense and myrrh along with other supplies and, in a sense, blindly followed the star.  Most of us would want more information and directions before leaving on such a trip.  How long it took, we don't know, but Herod took no chances in ordering the slaughter of boys two and under.  Matthew says they found the child in a house, so the Holy Family was no longer in a cave or animal shelter.  The Wise Men "prostrated themselves and did him homage", or in another translation, "bowed down and worshipped him"  (Mt 2: 11) They opened their gifts, presented them to him and left by another route, being warned in a dream. 
A simple story, but fodder for ample reflection on this day:  Do we have the trust to leave my security behind to follow God's call or this invitation to put aside our plans to lend a hand to someone in need? Jose Pagola asks, "to whom do we bow down in worship?  Who is the God we worship in the depths of our being?  We call ourselves Christians, but do we live worshipping the Child of Bethlehem?   Do we place at his feet our wealth and prosperity?  In our lives there is always a star that guides us toward Bethlehem." (Following in the Footsteps of Jesus, B p. 43).  Do we have the faith and courage to follow it and all it implies?
Bro. Rene