On Guard

St. Paul gives us some tips that, although not so intended, are good advice for us as we make our way through Lent.  "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.  Your every act should be done with love." (1 Cor 13-14). Our lives are so taken up with our usual activities, that Lent falls into the shadows or into the broom closet.  We need to remind ourselves and each other that this is a special time.  At least our meatless Fridays are one tangible reminder.  I happily overheard some teens talking about the things they have given up, and was both surprised and happy that they were conscious of this season.  One girl had given up candy and as candy was passed to her, she pushed it right by her.  Another had given up "texting", something for a teen is a real sacrifice. In their conversation they asked each other what they were doing for Lent.  A good way to keep our guard up, stand firm, and be courageous....sharing our Lenten activities with others,  a reminder to ourselves, and perhaps an inspiration to others.  No matter what we've chosen for our Lenten observance, St. Paul is on the money when he says it should be done with love...a love that will bring us closer to Jesus and to one another.
Bro. Rene

One Man Can Make A Difference

News of the death of Fr. Theodore M. Hesburgh, former and well-known president of the University of Notre Dame, who entered eternal life late last night, will make headlines for days, weeks, ahead.  His 35 year tenure made him synonymous with Notre Dame, but his involvements outside the university with Civil Rights in the sixties and world affairs made him a national and global figure of great renown.  He left office as president graciously but remained an icon of inspiration and continued to reach as many as who approached him. He personally answered the letters he received (mine included) and saw all who wished to visit with him.  When his eyesight was failing, he would ask others to read the Gospel for him at Mass, humbling accepting his limitations.  I had the privilege of doing so at a Mass in his office after a Saturday football game.  My debt to him is not the great university he expanded and which gave me a Master's degree in English, but a line from his autobiography, God, Country, Notre Dame.
I was reading it while coming to the end of my second year in Rwanda, feeling a bit despondent as I reviewed those two years and felt I had accomplished nothing. The chapter, One Man Can Make A Difference, turned up one evening when I was feeling most useless.  He reviewed his life to that point and indicated how much one person can make a difference if he continues to chip away, even though it seems like no progress was being gained.   That chapter reversed my whole "poor me" thinking and I found a new vitality that has given me energy and purpose since.  The last two years in Rwanda were very "productive" and so has every year been since then.  Thank you, Fr. Ted, for this insight and for all you have done to inspire so many for so long all over the world.  You were Notre Dame's beloved president, but truly you belonged to the world.  May you now rest in peace at last!
Bro. Rene

Do To Others

The "Golden Rule" is known around the world:  "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you" (Mt 7:12); known is different from practiced.  Would that it were observed across the globe, but it's hard to live it even in our own families, our own communities and work places.  Attempt after attempt yields little success, it seems, but like all things:  a seed germinating, a bone healing, lots goes on beneath the surface and only after TIME is actually visible.  We won't put the Rule into place perfectly, but gradually, it will take root in our behavior.  Our failings will lead to greater determination and effort, and someday people will remark how respectful and compassionate we are, and we might not even have noticed it ourselves.  Perseverance in acquiring this golden way of treating others will yield its fruit in due season.
Bro. Rene

Jesus Is The Sign

When asked for a sign Jesus said no sign would be given other than Jonah, whose preaching achieved its purpose and the conversion of the Ninevites.  The preaching and example of Jesus eventually will achieve the same end.  Even a Muslim has proposed that Jesus is the answer to ISIS and all the terror we have been witness to  for the past decade and longer. If people but knew Jesus, they would be at peace with themselves and more naturally with each other.  Rancor and violence would be replaced with self-less love and compassion...a true respect and desire for the good of "the other".   Jesus, may I come to know you this Lent through my prayer, reflection and service to others.
Bro. Rene

Simplifying Our Prayer

Jesus tells his disciples (us) not to babble on when we pray, thinking that our many words will make our prayer heard. (cf. Mt 6:7). Multiplying words does not help.  He assures us that God knows our needs even before we ask him. (Mt 6: 8).  The pressure is off, no need to convince, persuade, or coax, God already knows...of course, he's God!  Jesus then gives an example of a simple, direct, honest prayer, which covers all the bases succinctly: The Lord's Prayer, or Our Father, as it is known today.  Notice that it first concerns itself with and focuses on God...recognizing his infinite holiness and goodness, his sovereignty and kingship, and command of all that is and is to be.  Our job is to conform to his will.  Then we list our needs:  daily bread, the need to forgive if we are to be forgiven, and the need for his help to overcome temptation.  In a few words, all that we need to say to God is covered.   May we come to treasure this prayer by praying it from the heart frequently and not letting it slip glibly from our lips by rote.
Bro. Rene

Formation of the Heart

In his Message for Lent, Pope Francis, in his typical way, speaks clearly, simply and directly.
As a way of overcoming indifference and our pretensions to self-sufficiency, I would invite everyone to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in what Benedict XVI called a formation of the heart (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 31).  A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart.  anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God.  A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters.  And, ultimately a poor heart, one which realizes its own poverty and gives itself freely for others.
During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us all ask the Lord:  "Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum: "Make our hearts like yours".  (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).  In this way we will receive a heart  which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalization of indifference.
It is my prayerful hope that this Lent will prove spiritually fruitful for each believer and every ecclesisal community. I ask all of you to pray for me.  May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you.--Francis...
Bro. Rene

Resisting the Wild Beasts

We are at the beginning of Lent, with the first full week ahead of us.  Mark presents us with a brief but stark picture of Jesus as he began his forty-day stint in the desert before initiating his public ministry.  He is "sent" into the desert where he faces hunger, wild beasts, three major temptations that we know of, and in the end is ministered to by the angels. (Mk 1: 12-15). Jesus withstood the onslaught which both tested and clarified his mission and sets the pattern for us. 
Is our Lenten observance "observable'?  Are we doing something positive, are we structuring in something to distinguish this time from the rest of the year?  Are we facing the "beasts" within us that resist change?  Are we slacking off already on what we set as our Lenten goal(s)?  Temptations abound during this special, holy time, and the Evil One works overtime to convince us, for example, that Lent is not necessary for us; we do enough already...that dealing with the snow is Lent enough, etc."  It's amazing how many excuses can slip into the mix to water down this season until it is no different from the weeks since those "New Year's Resolutions."  But Lent is more serious than  half-hearted resolutions, it is a given time to cleanse, renew and prepare for our Easter Renewal of our Baptismal Promises, and thus live more according to the mind of Jesus.  Like Jesus, we are SENT into this period, which should have desert elements to it, in order to be purified and strengthened in our faith and practice.  We will face the beasts who try to detract us, but like Jesus, we must hold steadfast.  In good time, the angels will come to minister to us as well.
Bro. Rene

Lenten Prayer for Renewal

This prayer, said slowly and thoughtfully, followed by 10 minutes of silence at the feet of Jesus in the "inner room of our hearts" might help us keep focused on Lent in the midst of a busy day and anxiety over another impending winter storm (New England readers take heed).  For those in other parts of the world, the storms of busyness and anxiety are always present, not matter what the weather is like.
Lord God of Mercy
You call me during these 40 days of Lent to renew my commitment to you, my Creator and Redeemer.  Help me, by your grace, to turn to you deep within the inner room of heart, so that I may truly become an "ambassador for Christ" through your gifts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Speak tenderly to me during this time of reflection and renewal, and help me to remember how you have always led your people through trial and affliction to the Resurrection.  Reveal and remove all obstacles that impede me from truly seeking and following you.  Roll away the heave stone from the tomb of my sinfulness.
Let the light of the Resurrected Christ radiate through my every word and action, so that all people may know your love that saves the world and gives eternal life.  Raise me from the darkness; open my eyes to your light and my ears to your voice, so that my heart overflows with the inexpressible delight of love as I drink in the dawn of Easter glory. Amen.  --Pathfinder Books
Bro. Rene

The Purpose of Fasting

Fasting, plain and simple is "doing without"; it is usually applied to food...doing without a favorite, or just not eating....going, doing without.  Such fasting results in a hungry feeling, a desire to eat.  Fasting, says, NO, not now, not this particular food.  Fasting can also be applied to a preoccupation with self..."our way"..."MY WAY...MY NEEDS....ME...Fasting allows us to divert our attention, to free us from self-preoccupation to prayer and charity. This is why we fast.  Isaiah lists some of these works of charity that turn our self-deprivation into something positive:  releasing those bound unjustly, untying  the thongs of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, ...sharing our bread  with the hungry sheltering the oppressed and homeless, clothing the naked...not turning your back on your own. (Is 58: 6-7)  Such acts certainly help us love our neighbor and bring us closer to Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Choosing to Follow Jesus

Lent does not make a gradual entrance.  Yesterday, we were hit with fasting and abstinence topped off with ashes in the shape of a cross on our foreheads and the injunction:  "Repent and believe in the Gospel."  Today it's choose life or death, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus.   No messing around with soft platitudes.  This is hard nails and "in-your-face" challenge.  After all, there are only 39 days left to work on this self-renewal to which we committed ourselves.  If we want to be "reborn", to choose life, we need to get to the core immediately.  Denying self is one of the hardest paths to new life, but it works.  Crosses come our way daily; do we shun them, or accept, even kiss them?  "..whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Lk 9: 24). If we find ourselves already not keeping up with our Lenten program,  we must say NO to what's in the way in order to say YES to Jesus.  That's self-denial.   Lent is not for sissies, but Jesus is there to help.  Nothing is impossible with him, so let's just ask for his help.
Bro  Rene

Prayer, Conversion, Penance

As Catholics, we receive blessed ashes on our foreheads on this, the first day of Lent, to signify our desire to deepen our relationship with God, cast out obstacles that impede that relationship, and make an effort to incorporate actions which will help us and the Church grow to a greater fidelity to the Gospel.  Prayer draws us closer to God, penance, fasting and abstinence help us "clean house" spiritually and thus turn our lives back to God.  Our good actions, good works, are directed to helping the poor through financial donations, donations of goods or time.  This is the "giving to" aspect of Lent, while the "giving up" is the sweeping clean of attitudes or actions that stand between us and God and our neighbor. 
Lent is also the final preparation time for those who are preparing to enter the Church through baptism or a profession of faith.  We who have been baptized already, join them by renewing our baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil or on Easter Sunday.
To have a "successful Lent" means a shuffling of our usual routine in order to give enough time to prayer, penance and good works.  It is a six week period when we have to make the adjustments to accommodate extra time for reading, prayerful reflection and service.  This is where we usually flub it up, for we are so busy or so in a rut, that we find it very difficult to adapt our schedules to the goals of this holy season.  Let these ashes on our foreheads sink into our hearts and enkindle the flame of commitment to a "Lent well spent".  We owe it to God, to ourselves, to the Church, to renew ourselves and come alive again.
Bro, Rene

Changing Our Diet

Mardi Gras is here.  New Orleans, Rio, many other places have been reveling in pre-Lenten bashes...food, parades, dancing, music, letting all decadence "hang out" before the austerities of Lent.  Perhaps we're contemplating a Mardi Gras Meal before the Fast and Abstinence of Ash Wednesday, but beyond food, it might be the time to change our mental diet over the next 40 days and fill it with readings, reflections, music and art that will edify us and fill us with substantial spiritual nourishment and give us the fortitude to follow Jesus wherever he is asking us to go.  We often "give up" deserts, chocolate, or some food we really relish as a sacrifice for Lent.  This is good and has worked well with many for years, but how about filling in the void with a good, high-protein diet that will help build a stronger relationship with Jesus, our family, our community, our co-workers and friends?  John XXXIII Publications, Loyola Press, Notre Dame and other websites have suggestions that might help us change our diet. Can't hurt to look; we might find something helpful.
Bro. Rene 

Asking For Signs

When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, Mark records that Jesus "sighed from the depths of his spirit." (Mk 8: 12).  A sigh of exasperation and impatience, no doubt, for Jesus clearly seems frustrated as we often are when someone asks a question about something we just explained, or asks a question about something which in our minds is so obvious, it doesn't need explanation.  We all tend to want assurance to bolster our weak confidence, and Jesus understands that, but it is also natural for him to think and say, "Isn't it clear enough yet?   Look at all I've done, and still you ask for a sign?"  We remember the story of Gideon and the wet and dry fleece.  He "tested" God twice to "make sure" and God was very patient with him.  So too is he with us until we reach that level of trust and confidence he hopes to instill in us. Looking at our own impatience with others, we might make an effort to trust in the many signs we have already received, thank God rather than test him, let him give or not give signs, and acknowledge them when they do come unsolicited and freely from his loving hand.
Bro. Rene

Reaching Out

Today's Gospel from Mark (1:40-45)  gives us a beautiful picture of the compassionate Jesus.  A leper, obligated by Jewish law to dwell apart, breaks the law and approaches Jesus on his knees to beg for healing.  Perhaps he is both ashamed of his condition as well as of his breaking the law, as he makes his plea.  Jesus, also obligated by law not to touch a leper, but also filled with compassion "reaches out and touches him." (Mk 1:41).  The law of compassion is above the law of the rule books. 
Jose Pagola notes that Jesus wants to cleanse the world of "those exclusionary actions that negate his Fatherly compassion. It is not God who excludes anyone, but our man-made laws and institutions that exclude people." (Following in the Footsteps of Jesus B, p. 87) And we must come to see all people as "clean" and worthy of our love and compassion.  St. Francis had a terrible aversion to lepers, but as part of his conversion, he met a leper on the road and fighting back his natural revulsion, kissed the leper, and himself felt cleansed.  He and his companions later cared for a colony of lepers. 
Following Jesus means reaching out beyond our anxieties, aversions, and dislikes to bring compassion and help to ALL who need it.  May we be graced to live a life of such fearless compassion.
Bro. Rene

Celebrating Love

The commercial world has taken over Valentine's Day with suggestions for gifts and cards that began right after Christmas.  What's the best way to show your love? A trip, chocolates, flowers, dinner at an expensive restaurant, diamonds?  Oh how the list can go on and on.  There is a touching story on the web of a love letter written 71 years ago that showed up stowed in a record album and was returned to the writer and his daughter, revealing the simplicity and purity of young love. Such love is in a world of its own and can stir thoughts of gratitude and wonder that it can be so innocent, selfless and totally focused on the other.  Real love certainly contains these elements, but is also ready to bear its share of disagreements, disappointments, pain and tragedy. 
Jesus calls us to love as he loved:  unconditionally, looking out for the good of the other,  self-emptying. It's a love of nearness, of presence, immeasurable and intangible, but most lasting and effective   We tend to thing that DOING things for Jesus is how we show our love for him, but in reality, it's BEING with him in all we do that deepens our relationship.  If so with him, then yes, with our spouse, family, community, friends.  May we make this happy Valentine's Day (and every day) by our nearness, our attentiveness to others.
Bro. Rene

Ephphatha--Be Opened

The cure of this deaf man who also had a speech impediment has fascinated the followers of Jesus since it happened in the district of the Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus puts his fingers in the man's ears,  spit on his tongue, groaned from within and uttered the command:" Ephphatha, Be opened." (cf. Mk 7: 34)  We might say that Jesus went out of his way to show his physical connection to this man,  and the need to engage the senses of feeling, touch and hearing. We are reminded that we too in our prayers need physical things:  a posture such as kneeling, perhaps a prayer spoken out loud, perhaps holy water, a relic, crucifix, or an image:  things that will help us focus and remind us that Jesus works through tangible things as well as intangible.  It might take some praying and reflecting to admit this, to be open to the way that Jesus might want to address us, or answer our prayer.  May we be open today to the ways God works in us, speaks to us, heals us.
Bro. Rene

Loving One Another

St. Paul gives us a succinct summary of how we can fulfill the command of Jesus, "Love one another as I have loved you."  (Jn 13:34).  Paul says, "Put on then, as God's chose ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.  And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection." (Col 3:12-14). The list sounds simple, but examining each virtue, we see that we have a bucketful, too heavy to handle by ourselves.  Remembering that Jesus is near, trusting in him, and finding our strength in him, we can put each of these into practice.  That's the key: practice.  Things won't be perfect right away, but if we keep at them, as players on any team will tell us, "practice makes perfect."
Bro. Rene

Mary, Health of the Sick

The Church observes the 23rd Word Day of the sick in conjunction with the Memorial of  Our Lady of Lourdes.  The shrine at Lourdes, France is renowned for the miracles that have occurred there since Mary instructed Bernadette to wash in the spring, which appeared after she dug in the ground and water started to flow.  It has been flowing abundantly since 1858 and there are 69 official miracles recorded in addition to the thousands of other physical and spiritual healings.  Mary, who nurtured the young Jesus, fixed his cuts and scratches is known for her compassion toward the sick and is also called "Comforter of the Afflicted."  If asked, she will come to the aid of all who invoke her for healing and relief.  Let us not hesitate to ask.
Bro. Rene

Made In His Image and Likeness

Our busyness allows little time for us to reflect on the wonder of who we are.  We take it ALL for granted and just keep plowing away day after day without acknowledging the miracle of being made in the image and likeness of God, and worse, not thanking God for this wonder.  How differently would we treat ourselves if we kept our true nature before us.  How could there be such a thing as low self-esteem,  fear, lack of confidence, lack of trust, lack of faith?  Our wounded nature blinds us to the reality God had in mind for us and seems to allow the shadows to cover up the truth.  To be made in God's image and likeness means intelligence, but above all, the ability, the power to love...and be loved.  As such we share his beauty, his creativity, his mercy ability to forgive.  Above and beyond the wonder of what keeps us alive...breathing, a pumping heart, an intricate digestive system, an immune system, the ability to walk, play sports, paint, sing...all these wonderful things on a physical level, it is the ability to know and love that make us most like God.  May we treat ourselves with the dignity this great privilege gives us...and treat others with that same respect, for they too are made in God's image and likeness.
Bro. Rene

God's Abundant, Creative and Healing Love

We begin the reading of the Book of Genesis in our weekday Masses today.  We've heard the creation story countless times, but its succinct and simple explanation of the creation of our world, our universe, never fails to fascinate.  It also shows the love behind the genius which continues to fascinate scientist, mystic and each one of us.  We did not ask to be created, God made the first move to share the love which is the essence of his being by creating this wonder in which we live and which culminates in the masterpiece of creation, the human person.   How can we grasp such a love?  
The Gospel for today (Mark 6:53-56) shows that love at work again as people reach out just to touch the tassels of Jesus's garments and receive healing.  He longs to cure all, can't physically get to each one, but his healing power still reaches them by a light touch of his clothes. Creation, re-creation continues.  Do we not take this love for granted,  do we ignore it or do we try to come to appreciate it and make it the basis of our actions and dealings with others?  St. Marcellin saw love as the basic foundation of education:  "To educate, you must love the children and love them all equally" To be partners with Jesus, we must love abundantly. We thus will share in God's creative, healing power.
Bro. Rene

The Consecrated Life

The Church celebrates the World Day for Consecrated Life, and at the behest of Pope Francis, the Year for Consecrated Life.  We will be taking time to honor those whose vowed life still gives strong witness to the Gospel, as well as taking time to explain this way of life and encourage others to enter it.  50 years ago with thousands of Catholic Schools, Sisters, Brothers and Priest Religious, Religious Life was very apparent and an integral part of Catholic life.  Any explaining that needed to be done was part of inviting the many young people who willingly "gave it a try" or who actually became devoted and dedicated members of religious congregations.  The term, "consecrated life", came about to clarify the call for all men and women to be "religious", that is dedicated to living a total Christian life, but with some vowing publicly to do so for the rest of their lives in community with others.  They consecrate their lives to God in communion with others.  With dwindling numbers of Catholic Schools, Sisters, Brothers and priests, it has become necessary to educate the faithful to this way of life, as well as to invite them to join.  These slices of bread go across the globe and reach all levels of people in Russia, the Czech Republic and Bangladesh, so nothing can be taken for granted.  We are all called to follow Jesus in his prayerful relationship with his Father, to live according to his teachings, to bring healing and forgiveness through our presence, and above all, the truth of how much God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit love us.  This is what it means to be a Christian;  those of us who are "consecrated", profess this mission as our main goal, our main purpose of our lives.  It is truly our "Profession," our life, till death take us to our heavenly union with God.
Bro. Rene

Resting With Jesus

Mark's telling comment, "People were coming and going in great numbers and they [the disciples] had no opportunity even to eat," (Mk 6:31) describes the lives of many (most?) of us.  Busy, busy,  busy, if not directly with people face to face, then with internet, and social media all so available on "hand-held devices".  We used to call them cell phones not too long ago.  We are bombarded all day long.  It's not uncommon to see people at lunch with their phones right in front of them.  Mark was "right on".  This cannot be healthy,  Even a power lawn mower needs a break, lest it overheat and freeze up.  So, what do we do?  Turn the thing off from time to time. Give us some peace.  We take phones away on our school retreats, at first causing some consternation and "what if's?" However, by the end of the retreat the students reluctantly take back their phones and comment on how they enjoyed the time without them. 
Jesus told his disciples, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mk 6:30).  We can do that too, as we find that we can do anything we want to when we put our minds to it.  How about giving ourselves and Jesus 15 minutes together just being near each other, loving each other in silence?
Bro. Rene

A Fire That Cannot Be Extinguished

Martyrdom always seems to triumph.  From the vengeful beheading of John the Baptist, through centuries of persecution, the faith not only persists, but thrives and expands. Roman emperors sought to squelch the new religion that was seen as attacking the very core of the Empire, and after three centuries of intermittent persecution, Christianity became officially recognized and eventually the religion of the Empire.  St. Francis Xavier brought Christianity to Japan in the 1540's and by the '80's, there were over 200,000 Catholics, so much so that the Japanese Emperor tried to extinguish it by persecuting and executing priests, seminarians and lay people.  26 were killed in 1587;  Paul Miki and his companions are commemorated today.  Japan closed its borders to foreigners for 300 years to prevent further evangelization but when the borders were open to the West in  1868, thousands of Catholics emerged from hiding.  The fire had kept burning.
Today as we worry about secularization and empty churches, we might take heart and persevere in the hope that not even the gates of hell will prevail. The Fire will keep burning and spreading
Bro. Rene

Buiding a Destiny

Legends about St. Agatha abound, but despite the embellishments, she remains a model of fidelity to her faith.  She was able to resist physical and mental encroachments on her integrity and after much suffering, was crowned with martyrdom.  A friend sent a formula for reaching such integrity and it's worth sharing.
Be careful of your thoughts. for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.  (Author unknown)
Through the intercession of St. Agatha, may we reflect more frequently on our thoughts, words, action and habits, and become stronger in our faith and character.
Bro. Rene
PS.  Some astounding statistics:  The number of page views of Bro. Rene's Daily Bread last month was 1,101; the overall number since 2009 is 57,063 and the most readers are in Russia and the USA!

Resistence to the Faith

While we might be appalled when we read criticism of believers who "in this day and age" still believe in a magical sky daddy", it remains true that in all ages there have been and will be people who resist the faith.  Jesus faced it in the synagogue in his own town:  "Where kind of wisdom has been given to a carpenter's son?"  (cf. Mk 6: 4-5)  Happily there are some contemporaries who have won respect in their fields of expertise who can stand up and defend their faith.  Russell Wilson, quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks is such a man, taking it on the chin for saying:
In terms of my legacy on the field I want to be considered a winner. That’s ultimately the goal in terms of playing quarterback is win, win.
In terms of my legacy off the field, I want to be a Christian man that helps lead and change lives and helps serve other people. It’s not about me, it’s not about me. It’s about helping other people. And that’s where I keep my focus more than anything.
Sports really comes last for me. Even though I love the game of football and I love watching film and all that, it’s going to end at some point.
Bro. Rene

The Faith That Heals

The Church honors St. Blase (also Blaise), who is remembered for curing a young boy who was choking to death on a fish bone, and who is, because of this, invoked for ailments of the throat as well as every other illness.  Usually people receive a blessing of their throats with candles blessed at yesterday's Mass, but because of the near impossibility to get to a church (at least in New England) I will include the prayer to St. Blase as the crust on this daily slice of bread.
The Gospel today recounts two healing miracles: the woman with the hemorrhages who touched the hem of Jesus' garment, and the daughter of Jairus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.  In both instances, Jesus refers to the need for faith.  The woman showed it by reaching out to touch even Jesus' clothes, and when Jesus enters the house of Jairus, he tells him:  "Do not be afraid; just have faith."  Whether its a sore throat or acute Achilles tendonitis,  it's hard to believe that a simple prayer and active faith can take away the pain; our faith is that weak.  Let us pray that we not only be physically healed, but that our weak faith might be healed as well.
Bro. Rene
Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop  and martyr, may God deliver us from every disease of   the throat and from every other illness,  in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A Light and a Sword

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, formerly called the Feast of the Purification of Mary, still contains those elements as well as the prophetic words of Simeon regarding Jesus as  "light of revelation to the Gentiles" and the sword which would pierce the heat of Mary. (Lk 2: 32,35).  The candles to be used for the next year in the church are blessed, and in some places there is a procession with lighted candles because of Simeon's reference to light.  Candlemas  Day is another name for the feast.  And his prediction about the sword has been encased in the Seven Sorrows of Mary. 
Jewish law required the presentation or consecration of the first born male to God and the purification of his mother.  We might put ourselves in the position of the child and offer this day (and our lives) in a special way to bringing "light" to others: our wisdom, our experience, our love, and we might ask that God purify our intentions and actions so that "light" might be genuine.  This feast, which in times past brought the Christmas Season to its conclusion might remind us of the practices we observed during Advent and renew in us a desire to continue our own mission to be a "light of revelation" to others
Bro. Rene

God's Word Is Our Salvation

With all the hoopla surrounding "Super Sunday":  the TV ads, the food and drink at the "Super Parties", the victory, we might forget the every Sunday is a "Super Sunday" as we attend Mass and feed on the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist.  These are what nourish, bring us together, give life and victory. Here at the Encounter we heard a moving testimony of how the gift of a Bible changed a man's entire life:  he went from atheist to devout, energetic youth minister who touches the hearts of others with his faith and music.  In our small group, we gave out copies of the New Testament to each student, with highlighted passages that seemed tailor-made for each person.  The students were amazed at how apropos the verses were for each of them (the Holy Spirit was with us when we made the choices) and were sparked into wanting to delve more into God's Word, pledging to read a chapter a day.   May their enthusiasm rub off onto us and lead us step by step daily to our eternal salvation.
Bro. Rene