Fishers of Men

Walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus interrupted two fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew, and invited them to drop their nets and become "fishers of men." (Mt 4:19). Andrew, whose Feast it is today, was the first to approach Jesus when John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God and pointed him out to the crowd.  Andrew then introduced Peter to Jesus.  Now both were invited to be "fishers of men", part of the close band of Twelve who were later sent to carry on the mission of Jesus and suffer martyrdom.
The invitation to become "fishers of men" is usually associated with the call to the priesthood, and by extension to the Consecrated Life, but today, it is seen as an invitation to All to keep the Word alive in the family, community and workplace.  For some it may mean a call to go into "unknown territory"
in a parish group or organization, or even to volunteer work with the poor, or to a foreign land.  The door to ministry of some sort is now open to all.  Not all can answer the invitation to join the choir, for not all can sing well enough, but all can answer the invitation to bear witness to Jesus and introduce him to others...by our words or our works...
Bro. Rene

Frightening Imagery

Both Readings today, verses from  Revelation 18 and 19 and Luke 21:20-28, contain terrifying images of destruction.  Babylon, Rome, is emptied of music, industry, and happy voices as punishment for her long reign of conquest and oppression, and the entire universe crashes in utter destruction as the Son of Man returns in power and glory.  Writers and  movie makers have never tired of returning to these gruesome sights and sounds. 
We cannot help but feel some of the terror as we read these symbolic descriptions of the end of time as we know it.  Fittingly these appear at the threshold of Advent, the new beginning, the new coming.  Rather than induce fear, they invite us  to trust and love, that indeed the Son of Man will return to erase all hatred, violence, division and evil. May we find hope rather than despair as the plan of God eventually comes to fulfillment.  At this time we are just on another page in a larger chapter.
Bro. Rene

Pattern of Persecution

Jesus warned his followers that adhering to him and the way of life he proposed, forgiveness, love of all and self-sacrifice, would not insure popularity or success, but rather, hatred and persecution.  As it was with him, so with us. Saul (later Paul) began the first persecution of the followers of The Way, the Romans continued for centuries to eradicate Christian, missionaries suffered beatings, tortures and even death over the centuries as they tried to spread the Gospel, and in our own times, direct or subtle forces challenge, oppose and even kill in attempts to stamp out faith in Jesus. This is the way it has been, and according to Jesus, the way it will be until the reign of peace, the Kingdom of God is finally established.  What to do?  Persevere, trust, ponder the resurrection, remembering that Good Friday ended in Easter Sunday.
Bro. Rene

Facing the End

(note:  this is our 3001st slice of bread!)

Endings are difficult.  We resist as long as we can;  if it's a fight for life in ICU, or salvaging a beloved monument, our reluctance to change tightens up on us like a vice grip.  When Jesus told the people that the Temple they so admired would one day no longer exists, it was a shocker.(Lk 21:5-11).  People asked when this would happen, as if, having his timeline, they could work to prevent its destruction, which did, occur in 70 A.D. (before the Gospel of Luke was written). Jesus went on to describe the end of this world as we know it, giving signs of earthquakes, famines, and plagues. For centuries these omens have come and gone, sometimes causing people to sell all to be ready for "the rapture."  But we are still here.  The end will come, but no one knows when, only the Father. Our task is to be ever ready, as if it could occur today.  It is not something to be feared or dreaded , but the turning of a page to the final and best chapter.  Come, Lord Jesus!
Bro. Rene

Givng From Our Poverty

The example of the unnamed widow in the Gospel (Lk 2`-1-4) haunts, and inspires us even today.  She gave not from her excess, bur from her substance.  After giving the two coins, what was left?  We don't know, but she certainly she won the praise of Jesus and pokes at us to dig deeper, even to our poverty, be it material or spiritual.  Mother Teresa advised simple giving...giving up a loaf of fine bread and using the saved money to buy bread for a local soup kitchen.  Not much, but it could inspire others to do the same.   Thanksgiving made us aware of all the gifts we have received and encouraged us to say a simple "thank you."  Now with Advent almost upon us, what might we do to prepare for the Ultimate Gift, Jesus Christ, whose total Gift of himself has brought eternal life to us?  Can we find a gift from even our weakness or spiritual poverty to give hope to another?  Can we dig deeper into our financial resources to help provide a bright Christmas for a family in need? Can we give time to visit the sick or elderly?  Christ did not spare the cost, can we?
Bro. Rene

Christ Our King

Americans are known for their fascination with  the "Royals" of Great Britain; magazine racks abound with cover photos of the Windsors and their  lives make the headlines almost daily it seems.  Today we look at another "Royal", Christ our King, not your ordinary king, but one who seeks to rule our hearts and who calls us to follow him in creating a kingdom of peace, justice, love and truth.  He has shown the way and continues to send "the forces" of grace, saints and dedicated leaders to guide and inspire us. We take time today to honor this benevolent, loving and compassionate king, whose sword is the cross upon which he died and which he asks each one of us to bear. Let us renew our allegiance to him and do what we can day by day to strengthen his reign in our hearts  and in our world.
Bro Rene

The Dead Will Rise

The Sadducees in the time of Jesus did not believe in life after death, a stance which continues today and is growing in popularity, it seems, questioned Jesus about it provoking him  to give a clear reply, "...the dead will rise," citing Moses and his encounter with the God of the living in the burning bush. (cf. Lk 20:  37).  It is not only comforting to know that our lives continue beyond the grave but it is also the basis for hope which thus motivates us to bear up with trails, but also to do our best, even when not being tested.  The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate basis for belief in the resurrection of the dead, This belief requires faith, and with it everything falls into place. Sharing our faith, living it. spreads this hope and final purpose of our existence to others.  Lord, increase our faith, and grant it through your mercy to those who struggle with believing.  May the example of believers help to wipe their doubt away.
Bro. Rene

Cleansing The Temple

St. Luke gives us an abbreviated version of the "cleansing of the temple", but his point is aptly made:
God's house is a house of prayer not a den of thieves. (cr. Lk 19: 46).  The Temple is a sacred place for worshiping the Almighty, the All-Holy God, Creator of heaven, earth and all that is in the universe.  Should it not be maintained as a place of reverent silence  in order to hear the tiny whisper of the Lord? (cf.1 Kgs 19:13). Yet, in the time of Jesus, it became a market place and a lucrative branch for the money changers.  Have our churches lost their aura of the sacred and become social meeting halls for petty conversation?
And can we extend this disrespect for the Temple of God to the Temple of the body?  There's a place that can use the force of Jesus to drive out the "thieves, deceivers and liars who have convinced us that these are not longer Temples of the Holy Spirit, but spas catering to our ever whim and desire.
Come, Jesus,, cleanse our temples and our hearts.
Bro. Rene

The Power of Gratitude

A recent study has affirmed a long standing belief based on experience most of us have shared, that saying "thank you" helps one feel better.  Indeed, the study reveals that expressing gratitude can lift and even dispel depression.  Saying thank you is an alternative to taking a pill!   Parents used to teach their children from the beginning, to say thank you, and hopefully still do. It makes everyone feel better, the receiver as well as the giver.  Note the hurt when it is omitted:  "They didn't even say thank you!"  We've heard that too often.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving across the USA today, we recall the blessings we have received: the family sitting around table and  the traditional and scrumptious  food on it.  As we count our blessings, we see that they are almost too numerous to list.  And, of course, the greatest blessings are on a spiritual plane, faith, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary, the Mother of God, and the saints, formally canonized or not, who set the bar for us on how to live a holy life.  May we dig deep into our hearts to find the reasons for our gratitude and truly experience a powerful and  Happy Thanksgiving.
Bro Rene

Presenting Ourselves

Today's Memorial of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, although based on the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, nevertheless foreshadows Mary's total dedication to God as she accepted the invitation to allow God to take her entire being to himself and bring forth his Son, Jesus.Her total gift of self is the model for all of us to embrace, to present and make ourselves available to him for whatever purpose he may have in mind.  Little did Mary know that entering the Temple would one day make her the temple which God himself would enter and dwelt for nine months.  Little do we know what putting ourselves totally at the disposition of God will yield, for "he fills the hungry with good things and lifts up the lowly" (cf. Lk 1:52-53).  As he worked through Mary to send Jesus to the world, so, weak, wounded and broken as we are, he can work through us to make Jesus present to it.  This is Mary's day, but it is ours also.  Happy Feast Day.
Bro. Rene

Climbing A Tree

The story of Zacchaeus (Lk 19: 1-10) fits well into the recent pre-Advent readings we have been reflecting on.  He bears visible witness to the longing for the coming of Jesus that comprise a major theme of the "End Times"  and the coming of Jesus.  Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus so much, for one reason of another, that he even climbed a tree to compensate for his short stature and allow him to see Jesus.  His desire, his effort was rewarded not only by recognition but also by a self-invitation to share his supper with Jesus, much more than he bargained for.  It also resulted in a major change in his life as he promised to repay those whom he had cheated and give money to the poor.  He stands as an example what longing for Jesus can do. 
The question for our Advent prayer then comes to us, "How deep is our longing to make Jesus the center of our lives, to make him our focus and purpose?"  Do we want to see him, serve him, love him enough to be willing to climb a tree to give him THE place of honor in our lives?
Bro. Rene

How To Ask

The blind man who encountered Jesus on the road to Jericho (Lk 18:35-43) had to shout for attention, bear with the crowd who urged him to shush, and then explain to Jesus, who knows all things, what exactly he wanted.  In a sense, he had to "work" for his cure.  It didn't just come to him out of the blue.
So it is with us, we need to show with faith and persistence that what we are asking for in our prayer is worth shouting for, bearing rebukes, and explaining clearly what we want.  This blind man passed the "test", displaying a depth of faith that moved Jesus to cure him immediately. And he simply did not see and run away, but "followed him, giving glory to God, moving the onlookers to praise God." (Lk 18: 43). His cure was not for himself, but for the glory of God and the inspiration of others.
As we pray for healings, conversions, and safety, we might keep in mind the need to "shout" and pledge a "follow-up" of praise,  thanksgiving and witness to others of the goodness of God and the power of prayer.
Bro. Rene

Nothing to Fear

Today's Gospel, with its imagery of falling stars, darkened sun and moon, presents a frightening picture of the end of the world as we know it.  It is meant to startle us out of complacency and remind us that there is a plan and a power far above ours, and that the course of events in God's good time will change...It is also a call to work in unity and to provide hope as we look at a world, already in chaos and darkness, for there are individual "Spiritual Seals"  and battalions of them living their faith with vigor and strength from above to "prepare the way of the Lord", to give us hope that the "New Order" brought to us by Jesus can and will take place.  Let's not wait for the planets to fall, but take up the challenge now to live and act according to the plan of God, and be channels of love that will dispel the darkness and evil that constantly attempt to consume us.
Bro. Rene

Weariness in Prayer

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about persistence in prayer, giving the example of the widow who plagued the local judge for a favorable decision.  Her relentlessness finally moved the judge to grant it, if only to rid himself of this woman...Not that God plays deaf to our pleas, though sometimes it seems that way, but he does not always answer us immediately, or in the way we want.  St. Augustine tells us that they delay is intended for us to expand our hearts.  We truly discover if we are seeking God's will, or simply playing out our whims. God's ways are not ours, and we need to be assured that he is not there to torture us, but to help us grow in deeper compliance with his will, his ways...Weariness may set in , a feeling of futility; this we need to guard against and grow in our trust of God's unlimited mercy.  He will answer our prayer in his time and in his way.
Bro. Rene

No Escape

As we prepare for the end of the Liturgical Year and the Beginning of the New, with the First Sunday of Advent on December 2, the words of Jesus leave no doubt, that he will be coming, no one will escape, and that, as Shakespeare wrote, "the readiness is all."  The author of the second letter of Saint John warned the people of his time (and ours) that "many deceivers have gone out inot the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.: (2 Jn: 7)  ).  The deceivers of our day try to melt down the message of Jesus and the very person of Jesus, the Son of God.  Jesus warns them and us that  we must be ready, that is, practitioners of his Gospel.  Be ready at all times, for we know not when he will come.
Bro. Rene

Where Is The Kingdom of God?

When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he replied: "The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or 'Thee it is', for behold, the Kingdom of God is among you." (Lk 17:20). Yes, it is present in the love that Paul had for the runaway slave, Onesimus, whom Paul converted and instructed in the faith.  He called him his brother and urged his "owner", Philemon to accept him back, not as a slave, but as a brother.(cf. Philemon7-20).  It is present in the life, learning and good works of St. Albert the Great, teacher of Thomas Aquinas and Bishop of Regensburg, whose Memorial we celebrate today.  It is present in the outreach and financial aid we give to those who have less; it is present in the acts of kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness that punctuate our daily interactions with one another.  Truly, we are not far from the Kingdom of God; it is among us in the simplest acts of love.
Bro. Rene

Gratitude

Today's passage describing the cure of the ten lepers, only one of whom returned to say thank you, (Lk 17: 11-19) reminds us that gratitude should always be part of our prayer.  Our busyness and our need (real or created) to move quickly through our activities tend to cause us to rush through prayer, and often eliminate this essential ingredient. Jesus doesn't chide or punish the 9 who didn't say thanks, but his treatment of the one who did certainly indicates that he appreciates, as we all do, an acknowledgement of the gifts he daily showers upon us.  We might stop between tasks to look back, see that hand of God in what has transpired already, and say thank you.  At the end of the day, as we offer our night prayer, gratitude should be a major thread.  If we haven't been doing this, or if it's only half-hearted, and fast, we might start, and give ample time for our gratitude to resonate within us and in the heart of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Unprofitable Servants

Day in and Day out, we strive to remain faithful to our loving God; some days are more successful than others, and we might tend to feel entitled to a treat of some sort for our good behavior. Jesus reminds us today that we are entitled to nothing.  If we do receive a "treat", it's because of God's goodness and generosity, nothing we have earned or deserve.  "We are unprofitable servants, we have done what we were obliged to do." (Lk 17:10) This is the humbling truth and bears repeating often, lest we fall into complacency  or arrogance, and it will help us appreciate God's benevolence and our call to be uncomplaining servants.

Bro. Rene

Increase Our Faith

When besieged by problems to the left and to the right; when demands made upon us seem impossible to meet, and our world seems to be falling apart, we can hearken back to this morning's Gospel when the apostles themselves seemed overwhelmed, even with Jesus right there with them, and join them in their prayer-request, "Increase our faith." (Lk 17:5).  Even if it were faith the size of a mustard seed, it would suffice to straighten out our lives, take away our anxieties, calm our fears and give us the confidence we need in the loving care of the Father.  We just can't take this faith for granted; we need to ask for it repeatedly.  The God who created us, knows and gives strength for every step of our day will not let us down...Dear God, increase our faith.
Bro. Rene

Armistice

A hundred years ago on this date at eleven am an armistice was signed ending the horrific hostilities of the Great War, "the War to End All Wars." It was a world war and the world remembers it today;  it will be officially observed in the United States tomorrow.  So many generations removed from those dark days, we cannot fully appreciate the the bloodiness and faith-shattering impact of so many deaths, the cruelties visited upon the souls psyches and bodies of those who served, and even those who observed. We admire the men and women who, like the poor widow in today's Gospel, (Mk 41-44) gave all they had for the benefit of others.  In Flanders Field, the poppies still grow and widows and the like still give of themselves to make this a better world.  The Great War did not end all wars, as we know all too surerly, but the notion of the complete gift of ourselves for the good of others still holds true. What sacrifice can I make today so that another might benefit?
Bro. Rene

Strength For Everything

Looking at Saul's life after his conversion on the road to Damascus, we might wonder where the reborn Paul got his strength.  His zeal took him around the Mediterranean basin three times, he preached tirelessly, wrote extensively, and even when housebound in Rome, never stopped being a source of inspiration and encouragement.  His letters carry on his mission 2000 years later.  A man for all seasons, a man for others, from whence came his energy, power, and strength?  He tells us in his letter to the Philippians:  "I can do all things in him who strengthens me " (Phil 4:13).  This could be the mantra for all of us who are called to discipleship through our baptism.  We too are to go out to all the world bearing witness to Jesus.  No excuses allowed, no hesitation, no fear, not if we allow Jesus to empower and strengthen us...Let this simple verse become part of our daily prayer, one which we repeat often during the day as we move from one task to another.  We'll find that everything falls into place and we can do more than we ever thought we could.
Bro. Rene

We Too Are Temples

We celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, the Pope's official church as Bishop of Rome. It dates back to the time of the Emperor Constantine who built it on land donated to the Church by the Lateran family, and it was the residence of the Pope until the 1300's. It is a magnificent building and houses what is said to be a portable altar used by St. Peter.
As we remember this holy edifice we might also remind ourselves that we too are "holy edifices," temples of the Holy Spirit, of more value than this revered church.  As such, with what respect, dignity and care should we treat bodies? All the attention given to our health, to exercise, proper diet, sufficient sleep, etc, takes on even greater importance when we look upon ourselves and others as sacred temples where God dwells...a needed view in light of the multiplication of mass shootings, increased drug addiction and frightening frequency of suicides, which, among other symptoms, display a total disregard for the reverence and respect owed to these temples.
Bro. Rene

Keep Searching

Who of us has not lost something?  From keys, to checks, to addresses, glasses and cells phones, it seems like we never stop searching.  If we had a dollar for all the hours we spend looking for things, we'd be rich.  Seems to "come with the territory", the busier we are, the more things we have and the older we get.  Jesus touches this basic instinct  to find what we lose when he answers the Pharisees and scribes who criticize his  hobnobbing with sinners."This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Lk 15: 1).  He reminds them that people would go to any means to find a lost sheep or coin.  How much more important is it to encourage people who have "lost their way", sometimes not even aware of how far from the right path they have drifted, or what exactly they are searching for?  As we would not stop until we found that lost sheep, coin or key, so we should not stop searching for ways to help people find their way again.  God never stops searching for us or helping us find our way back
Bro. Rene

Terms of Discipleship

Jesus lays down stiff terms for his followers: He must come FIRST, before family, and even self; the cross is an essential part of the relationship, and possessions must be renounced. (cf. Lk 14:25-33).  Is it possible for anyone to be a disciple under such conditions?  Evidently, yes...Look at the list of saints, look at the people today striving to fulfill these requirements in our parishes, families and religious communities.  Becoming a Marine requires discipline, strength, effort, conviction, determination, but there are and have been men and women who have successfully complete the training and proudly wear the honor of being United States Marines. The same with being a disciple:  not something to be accomplished over night, but over a lifetime.  The morning star rises in the darkeness before dawn and grows brighter the higher it rises, slowly, gradually and surely illuminating the sky until the rising sun takes over. Let us take heart and be assured that with our acceptance of these terms, we too will join the ranks of disciples that have served faithfully till they were taken up by the Son.
Bro. Rene

Spurning the Invitation

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses.  Today's parable about the invitation to the wedding feast (Lk 14:15-24) sounds like a replay from our own dialogue with Jesus when he invites us to treat us to a new level of relationship with him. Because we are entrenched in our own ways, our own will, we often spurn his invitation and turn our backs to what can be a new delight, but one we'll never see because of our fear of change or our complaisance with the status quo. We fail to realize that God wants nothing but good for us and would rather risk becoming an outcast than by taking the risk to accept his invitation. It's time we examine those fears, those blocks to a freer life in Jesus, and ask for the courage to come to the table that HE sets, rather than our own.
Bro. Rene 

Nationnal Vocation Week

As the Church sets aside this week to promote awareness to the need for good leaders, priests and consecrated religious, and actually to do some inviting, the selection from Paul's letter to the Philippians as the first reading in today's liturgy fits perfectly (cf. Phil 2:1-4)  And in light of the scandals and abuses that have come to light, presents an ideal and needed picture of the kind of Church we should be:  a community of love, compassion, mercy, joy, unity, unselfish, humble, not self-promoting, but always seeking to promote the good of others.  Indeed, this is what our Bishops, priests and religious should be, not to mention each one of us. We are urged to pray for such leaders, as well as to  recruit, invite, and encourage.  This is not a "let Joe do it" time, but one for positive action.  God works in his time and in mysterious ways, but he also works through us.  Let's not be shy about broaching the topic of priestly or religious vocation to someone who has the qualities Paul singles out.
Bro. Rene

Linking The Two Commandments

When one of the Scribes asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment, Jesus gave him a bit more than he might have expected.  The Shema, from Deuteronomy 6:14,  yes, he probably expected that, but Jesus linked it with Leviticus 19:18, the commandment to love one's neighbor. Jesus binds these two together, which makes eminent sense, for how do we love God, whom we do not see, unless we love those whom we see and with whom we live? The two match and complement one another. We cannot love God without loving our neighbor, without loving one another.  How do we measure up to this commandment?   Food for reflection on this day set aside for rest and reflection.
Bro. Rene

Humility and Exaltation

Today we hear the familiar, haunting and ego-pinching passage that is meant to guide us in the right direction:  "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 14:11).  When things are going well, it is easy to slip into self-exaltation, thinking that because we are so good, so "perfect" that our good fortune is due to us.  A  humbling, sometimes humiliating  "take-down" of some sort gets us back on track and  realize that it's NOT simply by our
actions or self-righteousness that things are falling into place in our favor, but that it is all gift from God.  God is the one who feeds, nourishes, supports and guides us along the right path.  Humility lies in recognizing this and giving God the credit rather than claiming it for ourselves and thus falsely exalting ourselves.  Dear God, help me to see and accept myself as I am and to realize that it is you, working with so little who accomplish so much.
 Bro. Rene.

Hope For Eternal Life

All Souls Day asks that we pause, remember our beloved deceased and pray for their entrance into Eternal Life.  Consoling words from Jesus assure us that a happy ending is his intention:  "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.  And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day." (Jn 6:37).  The abundant love of God for us overrides our weakness and sinfulness and gives us the solid hope that if we believe, in Jesus, we shall have Eternal Life.  We pray with this in mind as we offer our prayers for the souls of all the faithful departed.
Bro. Rene



































































































































































39)

Let The Saint Within Grow

Today is the second day of the "Allhallowstide" Triptych on which we honor those who have publicly been declared as citizens of heaven, but we also include those who have not been so publicly acknowledged.  We don't have to dig too deeply to bring up family members, teachers, and people whose lives have inspired us to be better persons.  Of course this day and these memories remind us that "the saint" dwells within us and our job it to let that holy person develop into full stature as God has intended for each of us.  Every smile, every little act of kindness, every second spent listening to another, or in some way giving of ourselves and our time, allows that inner saint to come closer to the door of public eye.
Bro. Rene