Recognizing Jesus in the Ordinary

On this bonus Leap Year day, we reflect on the admonition Jesus gives to the people of Nazareth:  "Amen I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place."  (Lk 4:24).  It seems we are blinded by our expectation of seeing someone or something spectacular, but when there is no glitter, just something plain and ordinary, we refuse to accept or listen to it. People refused to listen to Elijah, and even the foreigner from Syria, Naaman, at first refused Elisha's simple suggestion to wash in the Jordan to cure his leprosy.  It was too simple a solution, he protested. But when followed, it worked.
In the currently playing film, RISEN, again we witness skepticism, and as in the cases above, we see the compelling power of God in the simple presence of  the God-man Jesus very at home in the ordinary, allowing his genuine warmth, his personal interest, his kindness, his acceptance of people as they are, overcoming and melting a battle-hardened heart.  This is how Jesus works, this is what he does; we need to pray that our eyes be opened to see him in the ordinary. And,  it is through the ordinary that we in turn will touch and heal others.
Bro. Rene

A Wake Up Call

Already the third Sunday of Lent; we are nearing the halfway point.  Not to panic, but do the harsh words of Jesus, "But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!" (Lk 13:5).  apply to me? Jesus is referring to a tragedy that killed 18 people when the tower at Siloam fell on them, something like the big crane that fell in Manhattan.  Both are stark reminders that repentance is not to be taken lightly.  This being a "day of rest", might we not make some extra sacrifice, spend a bit more time (at least) in preparing for Mass,  reading, reflecting, or just sitting silently with Jesus, who loves us so much?  Can we take some time to look into the roots of the behaviors we dislike so much in ourselves, and yank them up once and for all?  If we really want to change, we can't simply talk about it or think about it, we must DO something about it.  We begin where we are and with what we have.  With God's grace, nothing is impossible!
Bro .Rene

Our Merciful Father

In our first reading for today's liturgy, the prophet Micah asks:  "Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;/ Who does not persist in anger forever,/ but delights rather in clemency and will again have compassion on us....?"  (Mic 7:18). Jesus answers the question with the parable of the Prodigal Son, or more accurately, "The Merciful Father."
The father's love brings him to the highways day after day awaiting his son's hoped-for return.  And when that moment comes, he hugs, he kisses, he forgives, he assures that his pardon is real and calls for a feast which includes the killing of the fatted calf, a new wardrobe and a ring.  How much more could he show his  love and forgiveness?  This is the Father we approach each time we ask for pardon:  at the end of the day, in the act of contrition or in the sacrament of Reconciliation.  How much more inviting can Jesus present the truth of the clemency that is ours for the asking?
The light is on in every parish during Lent on Wednesdays in the Archdiocese of Boston, and, I presume in many others, inviting us to come, confess and receive the merciful, and measureless love and forgiveness of our merciful Father.   What's holding us back?
Bro. Rene

Contacting God

Note: On the first anniversary of the death of the revered Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, long-time president of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, national and world figure, I thought it would be fitting to offer his thoughts on "contacting God", a goal we might especially be pursuing this Lent.

"Just this week one of our students asked me a very difficult question: “How do you know God, how do you perceive him, contact him, relate to him?” I told him that God, for me, was Christ incarnate, fully God, fully man, joining in his person God and man, the hopes, the desires, the hungers of man with the transcendence of God. And when Christ left us, he promised us the Holy Spirit to abide with us, to guide us, to give us what we find as the recurring theme of St. John’s Gospel: life and light—light to guide us and life to live divinely. Nothing less is needed to find our way out of the labyrinth of human problems today—with the light of divine guidance.

 

"I pray every day to the Holy Spirit, as my friend, to give me the light and strength to do the right thing. And the Holy Spirit has never failed to show me the way, and to give me the strength of purpose to struggle on in the face of all kinds of adversity.

"The Holy Spirit is the light and strength of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. My best daily prayer, apart from the Mass and breviary, continues to be simply, 'Come, Holy Spirit.' No better prayer, no better results: much light and much strength."  --Fr. Ted Hesburgh

 

Bro. Rene

A Sacred Time

In the second Preface for Lent, we read the phrase, "a sacred time", a time given to us to renew and purify our hearts, to allow God to free us from disordered affections, and realize the distinction between the things of this passing world and the things that endure eternally.  Jeremiah presents the image of a barren bush in the desert, "that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth."  (Jer 17:6).  This is the person who "trusts in human things, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord" (cf. Jer 17:5) ; who has cast his or her lot with the "things of this passing world."  In contrast, the person whose trust and hope is in the Lord, "is like a tree planted beside the waters, that stretches out is roots to the stream.  It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green." (Jer 17: 8).  Our hearts, which are "more tortuous than all else" (Jer 17: 9), are given the opportunity during this "sacred time" to make the choice between the bush and the fertile tree. Unlike Dives in the Gospel passage for today,  (Lk 16: 19-31),  may we not choose what appears to be the fertile tree, but in reality is the barren bush.  May our prayers, reflection and fasting help us distinguish  between the two and choose the one that gives us life.
Bro. Rene

A Ransom for Many

How often when we are overwhelmed with requests or we feel we are being stretched beyond our limits do we remember this telling description of the Jesus's role, and ours too:  "...the Son of Man did not come to be served and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt 20: 28)?  Jesus gladly gave of himself...to the last drop of his blood... as the ransom for our redemption.  He did not count the cost nor hold back, but looked with love at US, found us worthy and just kept paying the ransom. Likewise, following in his footsteps, we join in this ransom payment by plowing ahead through our daily routine as well as through the unexpected events that seem to require more than we can give.  Keeping our eyes on him, remembering his love, and the love he has for those who "impose" on us, can we do any less than he did?  Serving him through serving others brings joy to us as well as to them.  Indeed, if we saw the face of Jesus on those who ask and ask and ask, would we be able to refuse?
Bro. Rene

Teamwork

Jesus speaks to us of  "servant leadership" in today's selection from St. Matthew's Gospel:  "The greatest among you must be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Mt 23: 12).   A successful leader, captain of a ship, or head surgeon in OR sets the tone of respect for one another and collaboration making it clear that the task or mission will not be accomplished by ONE person, but by the many who work together in harmony.
Competing with one another, or setting oneself above others merely because of a title does not insure success.  St. Paul gives a striking description of a good team: 
By the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has appointed.
Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.  Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.  (Rm 12: 3, 10, 16).
Let's digest this and put it into practice today and in the days ahead.
Bro. Rene

Peter's Chair

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle dates back to the early Christian community in Rome when Peter would sit in a chair to welcome the newly baptized dripping wet, and anoint them with the holy chrism.  Even after his death, an empty chair would be brought out in his memory.  Over the centuries, naturally, the chair has disappeared but the feast is still kept to represent symbolically the teaching authority of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. We are reminded in today's Gospel that Jesus gave the keys of the Church to Peter and promised to build his Church upon this Rock:  Peter.  (cf. Mt 16: 18).  He entrusted Peter and his successors with the authority to loose and bind with the assurance that heaven would confirm these decisions.  In today's world of skepticism and relativism, we need to renew our faith and trust in this guarantee, asking God to help us stand firm in the Truth.
Bro. Rene

Identifyng Jesus

The Transfiguration story appears in all four Gospels, highlighting its importance in the early Church and in our Church today. Even the three chosen apostles who were right there are not fully aware of what is being shown to them as they equate Jesus with Moses and Elijah and want to build a tent for each of them.  But no, the Father's voice intervenes and identifies Jesus as his "chosen Son".  He's the one to be listened to, over and above the two other prominent figures. (Cf. Lk 9: 35 )  This event gradually sinks in and when the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, its meaning becomes clear:  Jesus is the Son of God who calls us all to a transformation, a conversion, a "transfiguration", if you will.  Our lives given over to Jesus give us a "new look", so that our mere presence reflects a new joy, a peace, a welcome that can transform others. as they ask themselves, what makes so and so different?  A life committed to and inspired by Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Loving Our Enemies

One of the basic foundation stones of the message of Jesus comes through strong and clear in today's Gospel passage from Matthew. 5: 43-48,  and, perhaps one of the most difficult not only to accept, but also to live:  Love your enemies! You mean love those ISIS cutthroats who are wreaking such havoc everywhere?  Or the likes of those Benghazi assassins portrayed so graphically in the film, The Thirteen Hours?  With all the venom being exchanged between our political campaigners it's almost unavoidable to choose camps and join in the fray. Or even to bring it closer, the taxi driver who can't count at a four-way stop and always has to be first, or the neighbors who blast loud music on summer weekends till the wee hours of the morning?  Love these?  Jesus says:  "I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father."  (Mt 5: 44-45).  St. Paul elaborates on this in Romans 12: 14, 17, 20 and 13: 8.
Bless those who persecute [you], bless and do not curse them.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.  Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one  who loves another has fulfilled the law.
This is not the task for just today or this Lent, but for a lifetime.  Only with God's grace is it possible.
Bro. Rene      

Beyond The Minimum

Jesus calls us to rise above the minimal "letter of the law" to a higher level:  "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill, and whoever kills will be liable to judgement. But I say to you whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna," (Mt 5: 21-23).  The spirit underlying the command not to kill is RESPECT for the dignity of the other person.  By not killing him, I am showing respect.  Three cheers, but beyond that is the day to day civility of treating another with kindness and due respect for his or her rights as an individual.  Bullying, mean language, unfair judgments, indifference, engaging in name-calling and angry shouting do not equate with respect. Quite the contrary.  So, Jesus calls us to look carefully at these behaviors and avoid them as much as murder.
Bro. Rene

"Ask and You Shall Receive"

We are good at the prayer of petition; it seems like it's the one we use most.  We are always asking, even pestering God, for something or for someone, and, maybe, from time to time, even for ourselves,  Does God mind?  No, he welcomes it...Not to ask would be to insult him, who like a good mother, always wants to provide the best for her children, and even, at times would be happiest if they would simply put their needs in her hands and, presuming she will take care of them, run out to play. God doesn't want us to be nagging beggars, but trusting children.  Our first reading from the Book of Chronicles chapter 12, presents the very eloquent but direct and simple prayer of Queen Esther, which can serve as a model for us.  In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to "Ask and it will be given, seek and we shall find, knock, and the door will open." (cf. Mt 7:7).  Let us not be bashful, but, I repeat, trusting children whose faith will tickle the heart of our Father, our Brother, Jesus and our Consoler, the Holy Spirit.
Bro. Rene

Are We Making Progress?

In some of our "low moments" we might find discouragement encroaching upon us.  "A week into Lent, and already I find myself unfaithful to my Lenten promises", we might be saying.  But do we look at how we responded to the unexpected requests that surprise us each day?  There are only so many hours in the day, and when we respond to an unforeseen need and thus have no time for that extra Lenten reading or prayer (I just had such an interruption!!!) perhaps what was more important was the act of kindness that was required of us.  Rather than measuring our progress, and punishing ourselves for our lack of it,  we might rely on the "law of love", for it is on how much we loved that we will be judged, not on how much we've done!
Bro. Rene

As Jesus Taught Us

During Lent we are attempting to tone up our prayer life, searching for time and ways to commune more directly with God, to find direction in our lives, to refocus on essentials and thus prepare our hearts for the renewal of our baptismal promises so that the "new person" who had "put on Christ" at baptism can now don the baptismal garment which has been forty days at the "dry cleaners." and now is as clean as new.  At least this is our dream, our wish.
So, how do we tone up our prayer life, how do we clean and purify that garment?  Fasting, almsgiving and prayer are the traditional three-fold recommendations.  Today's Gospel passage from Matthew gives us a simple lesson on prayer so that we do not babble on uselessly like the pagans. Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer, the tried and true Our Father.  Praying is slowly and attentively, we find that it contains all we need in prayer:  a recognition of who God is, and a recognition of our basic needs and dependency on him.  Seeking his will and doing it, "as it is done in heaven", will nourish, cleanse us and bring us into the communion with God that we seek from the depths of our hearts.  Let us top this little slice of bread by praying, Our Father, who art in heaven.....   
Bro. Rene

On Living Matt 25:31-46

Carrying on the themes of practical fasting and almsgiving introduced by Isaiah at the beginning of Lent, Jesus in Mat 25: 31-46 also gives very specific examples of how to give alms:  feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirst, shelter to the homeless, clothing for the naked, caring for the ill and visiting prisoners.  Just doing any one of these could be a full time job, and for some, it is.  Questions arise, such as, "How can I do any of these with my busy life?  How do I know that the person with the beaten up piece of cardboard announcing in pencil a "homeless veteran in need of food or a job" is legitimate?  What do I do when a homeless person near a McDonalds asks for coins for a cup of coffee?  Or how about the endless mailings from Feed the Children, the Salvation Army, this or that shelter?  Sometimes we give, sometimes we hold back in doubt, frustration or anger.  A couple of suggestions:  Mother Teresa said something to the effect that we can't help ALL who ask, but we can help ONE.  And it is always helpful to somehow see Jesus in the faces of those who ask, and let our kindness be done to and for HIM.  We can offer prayers and our own sacrifices and fasting for the correction of a system which fosters such rampant poverty even here in the land of plenty.
Bro. Rene

Temptations

Temptations help us come to know who we are and force us to make decisions that reinforce our thoughts and words and turn them into action.  As Jesus was tempted during his forty day desert experience, his identity, announced at his baptism, "This is my beloved Son" was clarified:  he was not be a magician, turning stones into bread, nor would he worship anyone else but his Father, even though all kingdoms would be his and his work curtailed on the spot.  And neither would he provoke his Father by random acts of daring with no purpose other than to draw attention to himself.  No, as Son of God, obedience to the Father's will and fidelity to his mission to be the bridge between God and the human race, reuniting creature with Creator after the breech caused by the disobedience of the first man and woman, were his focus.
So too with us as we walk with Jesus in our Lenten desert:  we will be tempted, but focus on the Father and his will for us will help us overcome these temptations, strengthen our identities as his disciples and renew our resolve to live as Jesus taught us.  May we not fear these temptations, but embrace them as tools for our renewed Christian faith and life, which will become visible in our actions.
Bro. Rene

Jesus Calls Sinners

The story of Levi's call to follow Jesus in today's Gospel perhaps does not seem like such a "big thing", but taking a deeper look at it, we see that it is.  Tax collectors were mistrusted and despised because they were working for the Roman "Establishment" and often themselves cheated the tax-payers.  Sound familiar?  For Levi to leave his coins behind and become a follower of Jesus meant more fodder for the already wagging tongues, and a decrease in income, assuming that Levi did his share of "skimming the pot".  And like Zacchaeus, this move had to cause Levi to look into his soul and admit his sins.  Ah, this is the part of the story for us today.  For it is this recognition of our sinfulness that allows Jesus to forgive, forget, and re-channel our gifts to his service.  Levi moved from tax-collector notoriety to the popular Matthew whose Gospel for two thousand years has helped people come to know and love Jesus. What a dramatic switch in the direction of his life!  Do we want to make such a switch?  Can we do it?  How do we do it?  It begins with a humble acceptance of our sinfulness, to seeing our sins as reminders that without Jesus, we are going to continue walking the wrong path. Repentance turns us around and brings us to the point of rejoicing in our weaknesses, for as St. Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong", (2 Cor 12:10), because it is the strength Jesus supplies that gives us our strength. "For I live not I, but Christ lives within me." (Gal 2:20). Let us rejoice in our weakness then, for because of it we have Jesus as our Savior.
Bro. Rene

Genuine Fasting

Fasting entails reducing the intake of food per meal, per day whereas abstinence means avoiding, going without, for example, meat.  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days when we limit ourselves to one full meal, and two smaller ones and do not eat meat.  Fasting, however, can be more than just limiting the amount of food we eat.  The prophet, Isaiah, describes the kind of fasting that is acceptable to the Lord, perhaps even preferred: 
releasing those bound unjustly
untying the thongs of the yoke;
setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hunger,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Yoke can be understood to be whatever burdens.  These suggestions demand effort, sacrifice, a giving of time, energy and self.  They mean getting involved, getting hands dirty, and making a difference in our lives and the lives of others.  What can I do today and the rest of Lent to FAST in this way?
Bro. Rene

I Am The Immaculate Conception

Thursday of the First Week of Lent overshadows the Commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, but today's Gospel call to take up our cross, follow Jesus, and in the reading from Deuteronomy, the invitation to choose life, can easily be tied into Mary, the Immaculate Conception.  In view of her role as Mother of God, she was preserved from any stain of original sin:  she had no inclination to sin, and remained sinless from the moment of her conception to her assumption into heaven. Yet she knew the cross, and is regarded as the First Disciple of her Son.  And, surely,  as she gave her FIAT to the archangel Gabriel, she chose Life, the life of God himself who came to dwell in her and through her, brought life to us. She stands as a fitting model as we begin our Lenten Journey toward a deeper and closer discipleship with Jesus.  When we are tempted, or when we fall into doubt and frustration at our behavior, or question, "Why me, Lord?" when the cross weighs heavier than we'd like on our shoulders, a thought of Mary and her life, a Hail Mary, slowly prayed, can help stabilize us and keep us on our Lenten path. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Public Ashes, Private Penance

All Catholics who can will attend Mass or a Prayer Service today and receive ashes on their foreheads for all to see during the course of the day. Ironically, Jesus advises us to do quite the opposite with our Lenten observances: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them;" (Mt 6:1). So, no trumpets, bells and whistles, just private prayer, almsgiving and fasting.  Our Father sees us and will reward us accordingly, Jesus reminds us.  However, leading a more serious, fuller life of prayer and good deeds will eventually become obvious and be an inspiration to others.  Let the ashes, then, be an outward sign of what is going on in our hearts and in our private lives, and help others to remember that they too are called to repent and put the Gospel into action.
Bro. Rene

Mardi Gras

Although not recognized liturgically, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) has become a tradition of holiday proportions, especially in New Orleans.  Carnivale is celebrated in Europe and South America with gusto almost matching the nearly weeklong New Orleans fling.  These celebrations date back to the Middle Ages and by contrast help prepare us for "the rigors" of Lent, as we used to say. 
Looking more positively at the next 40 days, we see them as an invitation to greater prayer; more frequent Mass attendance; earnest efforts at peace and reconciliation; almsgiving to help the growing number of poor in our communities; opportunities to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; fasting and abstinence; spiritual direction and participation in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Indeed, let us feast all we want today, but the real feast will be an Easter for which we have dutifully prepared.
Bro. Rene

Transformation Vs Tweaking

Sometimes we feel as if we are "cage fighting" with our worst opponent:  ourselves!  St. Paul said it years ago and it's still true today:  "For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do"  (Rm 7:19).  In order to win this battle, we need to do two things:  transform our lives, not just simply some cosmetic tweaking, and, admitting that we can't do this alone, as past efforts have shown us, ASK our Father to do it for us.  With Ash Wednesday right around the corner, we have 40 days ahead of us for some serious work on ourselves, especially on breaking down the "pride barrier" and humbling asking him to do in us what needs to be done.
Matthew Kelly gives us a simple but powerful prayer, which, when said from the heart, can give us the blue-print for our Lent.  I don't think he'd mind if I quote it:
Loving Father,
Here I am.
I trust that you have an incredible plan for me.
Transform me.  Transform my life.
Everything is on the table.
Take what you want to take and give what you want to give.
Transform me into the person you created me to be,
so I can live the life you envision for me.
I hold nothing back;
I am 100% available.
How can I help?
Amen.    (Matthew Kelly, Rediscover Jesus, an Invitation....p. 103.)
Bro. Rene

Willingness to Follow

Our Liturgical readings today provide us with the examples of three men who, acknowledging their sinfulness and unworthiness, left all to follow the call of God:  Isaiah, and 700 or so years later, answering the call of Jesus, Peter and Paul.  Isaiah claims to be "a man of unclean lips, living among men a people of unclean lips".... (Is 6: 3).  Peter protests: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." (Lk 5:8).  Paul protests, "For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (1 Cor 15: 9).  The amazing thing to note is that God, while hearing these excuses overcomes them, symbolically with a burning coal to cleanse Isaiah's unclean lips;  with Peter, an astonishing catch of fish; and with Paul, simply grace:  "By the grace of God I am what I am and his grace in me has not been ineffective." (1 Cor 15: 10).
God continues to call, we foolishly continue to look for, or find, or make up excuses. God is simply asking all of us to live out the gift we have received in baptism; for some, the call goes deeper:  to leave all, as Peter and his companions did, and follow Jesus directly in mission as consecrated religious or priests. If we try to resist, we will find the call more intense, more irresistible.  This is a perfect mediation for us on this Sunday before Lent to focus on what God is calling us to do, and to use the time and grace of Lent to answer the call with willing and generous hearts as did Isaiah, Peter and Paul.
Bro. Rene

Being Stretched

St. Mark give us a picture of the very human side of ministry, one to which we can all identify from the ministry of parenting to teaching, to nurturing souls and healing bodies.  There is no end to the demands made on us and even our best intentions to go "apart and rest awhile" are thwarted:  the child who awakes with a fever in the middle of the night, the client or patient who calls at all hours for help, the phone call just as we are about to leave work. We are all to familiar with this.  Jesus and the apostles were no different.  After the apostle reported to Jesus all they had done, he thought it best for all of them to withdraw to a deserted, quiet place to recoup, for they didn't even have time to eat, so busy were they.  Hoping to sneak off in a boat, they set sail, but the people saw this and met them  in large numbers at their destination.  So much for the time apart to rest.  Jesus, moved with pity began to teach again. (cf. Mk 6:30-34).So it is so often with us:  "forced into continuing" as if there were a designed plot to keep us from needed rest or sleep.  Day after day, night after night this seems to be the case.  Yet, somehow we do it.  We are given the strength and stamina we never thought we had, and somehow find ourselves refreshed from the extra giving. God sees us in our plight and takes care of us.  When we feel we are being stretched beyond our capacity, may we remember that Jesus has "been there and done that" too, and will give us what we need to continue.
Bro. Rene

Sacrificial Love

Note:  Yesterday's slice should carry over to today, but since we have no school today, here is a brief bonus.

Matthew Kelly states the obvious (to some, but perhaps not to all) that "Life is a course designed to teach us to love." (Rediscover Jesus, p. 97.)  He describes the love of family members for each other, friendly love, romantic love and finally, totally unselfish, unconditional love, in Greek, Agape.  Jesus is the ultimate model of Agape, and he invites us to follow in his footsteps.  This can be a stretch for us, but certainly is not beyond our capacity.
Today we remember St. Agatha, about whom there are many legends, but again the core truth of her life is that she had this unconditional love for Jesus.  She suffered much for her faith and her commitment to chastity, from being placed in a brothel to having her breasts severed, and finally dying from her tortures.  We most likely will not be called to such extremes, but in loving and serving one another we might ask for the grace to love all with great abandon and unselfishness.
St. Agatha is invoked as the patron of sufferers and survivors of breast cancer, and for protection against earthquakes.
Bro. Rene

A Bit of Good Advice

Note:  This was intended as yesterday's slice, but 9:00 am (posting time) came "too soon."
Bro. Rene

On his deathbed, King David gave some simple and direct advice to his son and successor, Solomon. "Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways...." 1 Kgs 2: 1).  In being true to himself, being fully a man with all that implies, and following the ways, the law of the Lord, he would find success.  This proved true until, unfortunately, later on in life, Solomon strayed, letting power, wealth, and the temptation to be like other kings lure him away from his father's admonition. 
As we look back to the advice of our parents and our early formation in Catholic elementary schools, (if we were, indeed, fortunate to attend one), we can see that David's message was the one we received: sound, solid, timeless advice. As we look at our lives today, do we see that we have kept it, enhanced it, and let it grow to full fruition?  If we say, "yes," then let's praise and thank the Lord; if "no", may we find the courage to reverse it to a yes.
Bro. Rene

Blessing of Throats

February 3, the day after the blessing of new beeswax candles, is the traditional day for the blessing of throats through the intercession of St. Blase (also Blaise), bishop and martyr.  Attendance at weekday Mass (and even Sunday Mass) has dropped dramatically these days, but the blessing of throats, especially when colds and flu are "in vogue" at this time of year, remains so popular that many parishes transfer it to their weekend Masses to give more people an opportunity to receive it.
St. Blase was a bishop in Armenia in the 4th century noted for his miraculous cures. Some think he might have been a physician before becoming a bishop.  On one occasion a woman came to him with her son who was choking on a fishbone caught in his throat.  Bishop Blase cured him.  Hence the origin of seeking his intercession for illnesses of the throat, and because of his other cures, all illnesses are lumped into this blessing. Blase was later beheaded and thus is listed among the Martyrs.
The use of the X shaped double candles stems from the candles brought to him while he was in prison by a woman whose pig he had rescued from the clutches of a wolf.
If we can't receive the blessing from a priest, we might want to pray it on our own.
Through the intercession of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr, may God heal you from disease of the throat and  from every other illness.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Joining Simeon

On this feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Simeon, a man about whom we know little, except that he was "righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by he Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple" at the time Joseph and Mary arrived with Jesus. (cf. Lk 2: 25-27a).  Evidently his prayer had brought him close to the Holy Spirit who revealed this wonderful news to him, but we don't know when in his faith-journey this happened, or if there would be any telling detail that would help him recognize the long-awaited Messiah.  Did he expect to see a baby or a handsome, charismatic, commanding,  natural leader?  If I were told I'd see the Messiah, I certainly would have expected the latter, in the tradition of David, the "ruddy", handsome young man chosen by God.   The Spirit was definitely at work that day, calling Simeon to the temple at the time Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus arrived, and pointing out to him that this was the Savior.  With great joy, Simeon breathes more than a sigh of relief, but again in the Spirit expresses his joy and exhilaration at the fulfillment of this prophecy by proclaiming a new canticle which has become a staple in the Church's night prayer, Compline,..."Now you can  dismiss your servant in peace, for I have seen the salvation prepared for all...a LIGHT of revelation and glory..."  (cf. Lk 2: 29-32).  We ask Simeon to help us recognize the Messiah as he works in our lives and in the lives of others, and that we too may be a light for the people around us wherever we are.
Bro. Rene

Catholic Schools Week

The annual observance of Catholic Schools week begins today.  It's theme is Community, Faith and Service.  We take time to reflect and celebrate the gift of Catholic schools where we can talk about God freely in a supportive, and in the case of our Marist Schools, a FAMILY atmosphere.  At Central Catholic, in addition to the prayers at the beginning and end of the day and before each class, we will have Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and an all-school liturgy, gathering us all in community to participate in Holy Mass, the source and summit of our spiritual life.
 We are able to bring students together from our Marist Schools for an intense experience of encountering Christ, where students who have drifted from their belief in God and practice of their faith are brought back.  How moving and encouraging it is to see faces which were stressed and detached, come alive as that faith returns, thanks to the prayers and loving concern of the many who make these encounters possible.
Service projects, or mission collections add the hands-on dimension that put our faith into action.  At Central Catholic, we will be collecting for the people suffering in Beirut, Lebanon, and  for our new school in poverty stricken Bangladesh.  The school is under construction and we are trying to help them build the dormitories needed for the students who come from all parts of the country.  Thus we are participating in our global Marist community.  Our Catholic schools system, and our Marist schools network,  make all this possible.  Surely something for which to be grateful and to celebrate.
Bro. Rene