Food For The Journey

As long as we stay in John 6, we will be reflecting on food, for this is the "Bread of Life" chapter.  We have been filled with hope by the Resurrection, and we continue to learn that Jesus also provides food for the journey toward eternal life.  He never promised it would be an easy journey, and today's "Lockdown Lifestyle" is making the need for hope and spiritual nourishment for our daily journey more keenly felt than ever.  Feeding on Jesus, which is even harder to do with Masses and Worship services limited to TV or Internet "participation", makes the need for Bread from Scripture or service to others in need, a necessary and viable option. Jesus remains with us as our Bread of Life, as we grow in faith, hope and love despite the deprivation of so much that was part of our daily or weekly routine. Jesus reminded his listeners that God fed their fathers with manna in the desert, food that perished, though it did keep them alive. His, bread, however, is imperishable, for it is he, himself, and will keep us alive for all eternity.
Bro. Rene

The Promise Of Eternal Life

As we move further into John, chapter 6, we get a clearer understanding of the "Bread of Life" and the commitment of Jesus to the Will of his Father, "I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and  whoever believes in me will never thirst" (Jn 6:35).  In addition, Jesus assures us that he will not reject anyone who comes to him.  "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: 37-39).  As Jesus hungers and thirsts for us, may our hunger  and thirst for him who comes to us in the Word and the Holy Eucharist,  and may we  learn to leave our wills aside, seeking only to do the will of our Father.  May we be among those Jesus does not lose, but saves, so that we may be among those raised to eternal life, which begins here and reaches its fullness beyond the grave.
Bro. Rene

The Power of Waiting

The world has been forced into "waiting mode" by the Virus...but waiting is not new to human history...The Hebrews waited for centuries for the promised Messiah, but, unfortunately thus far have not recognized him when he did come. The early Christians waited it out between persecutions until at last. the Emperor Constantine lifted the ban on Christianity. And so it has gone and still goes, as we await "the vaccine" or the lessening of our lock down restrictions.
In France over a century ago a young man had a dream of being a missionary and made his desire known to his bishop, but was made a pastor in a small town in France. When he joined the Marist Fathers, he hoped they would send him to the missions, but no, he was made a spiritual director in the seminary.  Finally, in 1836, the Marists were assigned the South Pacific as their mission field and the young priest was one of the early priests to make the nearly year-long voyage, arriving on the island of Futuna. He struggled with the language and culture, but soon became fluent and began to make so many conversions that the king feared losing his position of power.  When the king's son showed favorable leanings to being baptized, the king instructed one of his henchmen to kill the priest. On this day in 1841, Father Peter Chanel, now St. Peter Chanel was clubbed to death.  His waiting was over and within a year of his martyrdom, the entire island converted to Catholicism.  To this day, the people of Futuna, where ever they may be, remain faithful followers of St. Peter Chanel and all Marists, who continue to minister effectively in the Pacific Island...The Marist Brothers also conduct successful schools in this enormous expanse of water and islands.
As we are forced to experience patience while we await our "liberation", we might look at the example of St. Peter Chanel and take heart that a "happy ending" is in store for us if we WAIT with trust.
Bro. Rene

Food That Perishes

When the people were seeking Jesus after being fed from the loaves and fish, Jesus addressed them (and us): "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not beause you saw signs but because you ate ghe loves and were filled... Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (Jn 6: 27). The Jews then ask an unexpected question: "What must we do to perform the works of God?" (Jn 6:28) Jesus tells them (and us) "This is the work of God, have faith in the one he sent." (Jn 6:29).  Amazing how it alway comes back to centering on Jesus. We read in the responsorial psalm. "Happy they who keep the Law of the Lord!" (Ps 119: 1ab).  Following Jesus and his teachings will give us that food that does not perish.  As we are seeing visibly today, money, a good job, a yacht, fancy home..all mean nothing as we look out the window of our lock down bunker longing for liberation..  But light shines within and without when we feast on the food that does not perish:  Jesus himself!
Bro. Rene

Stay With Us

Note:  This is our 3,500th slice of Daily Bread!

We read again the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, as we did during the Octave of Easter. (Lk 24: 13-35). In contrast to the two disciples who had Jesus with them, breaking open the Scriptures for them and breaking bread with them at their own table, we are on lock down, churches are closed and the only possibility of gathering around the table of the Lord is via internet or TV. Contact with the community is missing. It is at this time when we need Jesus to "stay with us."   To stay with us in forgiveness, in loving acts of kindness, in extended prayer, meditation and reflection on the Scriptures and how our lives measure up to them; in how we relate to one another, in how we reach out to others or welcome them into our lives, in what place we give him in our lives.  Yes, the locked church doors are giving us an opportunity to put into practice what we usually hear on the other side of them but do not heed.  Stay with us, Lord, and open our minds and hearts to welcome you, love you and allow you to work in us and bring you to others.
Bro. Rene

Mark The Lion

We celebrate the Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist and Patron of the City of Venice.  He is the first to have written an account of the life and mission of Jesus, scholars think around the year 70. A.D. Because his gospel begins with John the Baptist preaching in the desert. the lion. Lord of the Desert, was chosen as the symbol of Mark the Evangelist.  He evidently preached in Alexandria, founded a school there, was its bishop and there was martyred . His relics were brought to Venice in 828, and have remained there since...The famous and beautiful cathedral is named after him.
His gospel concludes with the command go "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16: 15-16). Jesus promised that signs and wonders would accompany their preaching and we read about them in the Acts of the Apostles.
The mission remains and it is our task to continue preaching by deed and word.  Let us be mindful of that today and find some way to implement it.
Bro. Rene

Jesus Wants to Feed Us

Again we hear the story of the multiplication of five barley loaves and two fish, certainly not enough to feed the huge, hungry crowd of 5,000 men, (more counting the women and children), but, Jesus "knew what he was going to do." (Jn 6:6).  And so taking the loaves and fish, he gave thanks and distributed them; all had their fill and twelve baskets of fragments were gathered when they had finished. Such a lavish display of care for his followers he continues today in the Eucharist., now feeding us not with bread and fish, but with himself!  He wants us to have the nourishment we need for our journey as well as to be as close to us as possible, a part of our very bodies as we digest the sacred bread.  In these days when we are unable to take Holy Communion, may we accept the presence of Jesus into our hearts by an act of spiritual communion...a union through prayer of heart and soul with Jesus. May our longing and appreciation grow until the churches have reopened and we can again partake of this great gift.
Bro. Rene 

Slaying The Dragon

When the Crusaders were fighting to regain the Holy Land from the hands of Muslims, they heard the story of a soldier-martyr, St. George, who captivated their imagination and inspired their efforts on the battle field. They returned to Europe carrying the story of this heroic figure whose example to and devotion of  the people made him one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and beyond. The tale, true or fictional of his battle with the dragon, inspired a famous painting by Rembrandt as well as the faith of believers. The image of dragon slaying can be taken metaphorically of the battle between good and evil that goes back to Adam and Eve in the Garden.
In the Acts of the Apostles, today's first reading, we hear Peter and the Apostles set their standard high:  "We must obey God rather than men,"  (Acts 5: 29), a principle sorely needed today. Many good people have lived by this and put it into practice in one way or another...St. Marcellin addressed the "dragon" of ignorance and founded the Marist Brothers to slay it, and St. John Bosco addressed the "dragon" in the streets of Turin and slayed him by rounding up "Street Kids" and giving them a home, religious instruction and trade skills. St. Teresa of Calcutta confronted the dying and neglected in the streets, showed them compassion and love and helped they die with dignity. The "dragon" is always with us and in these days of curtailed activity, can we band together to stop the virus dragon and in some simple way, by our prayer, support of suggested precautions and support of organizations feeding and comforting victims? Where does "obeying God rather than men " take us today?
Bro. Rene

Generous Love

The conversation with Nicodemus continues today (Jn 3: 7b-15) as Jesus explains that he had to be "lifted up" (that is, crucified), if the rift between the human race and God the Father were to be healed. It was only the death of Jesus, who represented all of us, that could make amends for our sins. This act of generous love not only made reparation for us, but also set the pattern for our lives.  We too must be generous givers, laying down our lives for others.
Today we honor a man who did just that:  St. Anselm, abbot of Bec, a monastery in France, and later, Archbishop of Canterbury in England.  His is a Doctor of the Church being honored as one of the greatest minds ever set to explain the faith, a pillar of truth and model of charity, renowned for his kindness to the monks in his charge and to all. One story goes that he counseled a young monk who was not living the rule, and by his gentle interest and nudging, brought him back into the monastery, and later, when he was dying, was there to wait on him and comfort him on his deathbed. Anselm himself died in 1109.of natural causes.
What can I do to show my generous love to someone today?
Bro. Rene

Born Again

"A Born Again Christian" is a term we often hear, but don't fully understand. It comes from a discussion Jesus had with Nicodemus who came to him at night with a series of questions, (Jn 3:1-8). He wanted to know how Jesus could perform so many signs, unless God were with him. (cf. Jn 3: 1-2).  Jesus baffles Nicodemus by saying  that "unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (Jn 3: 3).  Jesus continues saying that  unless we be born of water and the Spirit, we cannot enter the Kingdom.  The reference to Baptism is obvious,  but the presence of the Spirit, is more challenging to grasp, for as the wind blows but we can't see ii, except for its sound and the destruction it might cause, it has "free reign".  But any baptized believer has that Spirit and finds it can do much more than once thought possible.  In this sense we are born again, into a new life in God, in the Spirit, and can continue the work of Jesus as his instruments for our time.
Bro. Rene

Divine Mercy Sunday

Today's gospel (Jn 20: 19-31), brings us an apparition of Jesus where he again greets his disciples with, " "Peace be with you." (Jn 20: 19), gives them the authority to forgive sins, and confronts the "doubting Thomas" to place his fingers into his wounds and believe that he is truly risen.  Thomas melts into belief: "My Lord and my God, " (Jn 20: 28).  Jesus then makes a reference to us: "Blessed are those who have ot seen and have believed." (Jn 20:29). Jesus, who is Merciful Love, appeared to Sr. Faustina Kowalska, saying that he wanted a painting of him with two rays coming from his heart, one red and the other white, symbolizing our redemption by the shedding of his blood, and the waters of baptism, which make us adopted children of the Father and thus making us his brothers and sisters.  He wanted the Feast of Divine Mercy to be the first Sunday after Easter, and Pope St. John Paul II established this feast on April 30, 2000 when he canonized Sr. Faustina..  In all of the above, the abundant mercy of Jesus is evident:  he gives us peace, forgiveness of sins, pardon for doubt and the  promise of his blessing for our belief. It's our turn now to show abundant mercy to all.
Bro. Rene

Believing and Proclaiming The Risen Christ

Mark's gospel passage today (Mk  16:9-15) recounts two strikes against the companions of Jesus: the did not believe Mary Magdalene's account of seeing Jesus; they did not believe the two who had encountered Jesus on the Road to Emmaus,and had begun a meal with him. Jesus appears to the Eleven, scolds them for their unbelief, but, nevertheless, charged them to "Go out the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15). A pretty heavy assignment to a group just chided for their lack of faith.  Jesus took a chance, it seems, and the Eleven came through as we read in Acts and in the history of the early church.  Their proclamation of the Good News was not only in convincing words, but in convincing actions too, such as curing the crippled and sick and raising the dead to life...just as Jesus had done.
Where do I stand?  Am I one of the unbelievers, although I say I am a believer?  Am I proclaiming the Risen Jesus through my actions?  An e-mail to a long neglected friend, a call, shopping for and delivering groceries to a person or family who cannot go to the supermarket? Small,ordinary gestures count; we don't have to make the cripple walk, but we can free up someone crippled by anxiety or on the verge of depression, by our kind concern.
Bro. Rene  

Called to a Deeper Love

An endearing resurrection story greets us today: disciples not recognizing Jesus on the shore, a net full of 153 fish after a night's fishing with 0 results, and Jesus, cooking breakfast for his awestruck friends.(Jn 21: 1-14). These 14 verses give us another convincing picture of a loving Jesus. What fisherman would not be delighted with a full net, after a long night and an empty net? Then the disciple whom Jesus loved, acknowledged: "It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7).  What a "discovery"!..To recognize that Jesus is always with us, caring for even the smallest detail! Peter is so excited, he jumps from the boat and wades to the shore. And who among us would not delight in preparing a delicious omlet and bacon for the family or a friend for whom we cannot do enough?  And who would not delight it being treated to such a gesture of love expressed in a simple breakfast?  The tender love of Jesus shines like the morning sun and encourages us to do likewise. His love calls us to deepen ours, to spread it lavishly to all in simple, but throughful deeds. What can I do today to be Jesus the cook?
Bro Rene

The Gift Of Peace

When the disciples returned from Emmaus to join the other disciples in Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to them. (Lk 24: 35-48). They were frightened at seeing what they thought was a ghost , and perhaps fearful of an angry reprimand, for they had abandoned him in his greatest hour of need. But no, Jesus immediately offers them Shalom, peace, shows them his wounds and eats with them, knowing it would take a number of "proofs" to convince them that it was really he, risen from the dead.  We see again, the gentle, understanding, loving Jesus, calming the fears and doubts of his friends.  Being human himself, he knew how fragile their faith, our faith, can be and how doubt can easily enter our hearts and undermine what we thought was an unshakable faith.  He works with us, he builds slowly and patiently, not overwhelming us, not demanding too much at one time, often in direct contrast to us, who want everything done NOW!  We need to deal with ourselves as well as with others the way Jesus dealt with his disciples on this Easter night.
Bro Rene

In The Breaking Of The Bread

One can easily understand the dismay of the two disciples who walked the road to Emmaus, their home. (Lk 24: 13-35). Their hopes had been dashed with the death of Jesus.  It was over, no Messiah, no  glorious kingdom; how confusing this must have been.  When "the stranger" joins them in their walk and chides them for their foolishness and slowness to believe, he explains to them why things happened the way they did. A fire was ignited in them and they begged him to stay with them... It was during the meal and his breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened and they recognized this gesture from the Last Supper and made the connection to the sacrifice on the cross. Indeed, Jesus was alive as the holy women had said, and present in the breaking of the bread, a meal extended till the end of time.
We walk not the Road to Emmaus, but our daily walk with our family, friends and neighbors,  so close these days, demands listening and recognizing the presence of the Lord in them. They help make Jesus present to us as, we hope, we can make him present to them. We are forced to make a "spiritual communion" with our churches being closed, and in hope that our longing for communion with Jesus will again take place sacramentally, but in the meantime, may we remember that we are bread for one another and can have communion with him through them.
Bro. Rene

Clinging To Proclaim

Today we find Mary Magdalene alone, distraught over the absence of Jesus.  Even the words of the angels cannot console her. It isn't until she hears her name spoke in a voice she recognizes and answers "Rabbouni!"  She evidently hugs Jesus to the point where he has to ask her to "back off."  Yet there is an intimacy there, a great love between the two that cannot be dissolved.  Jesus asks her to go to the others and tell him what she has seen and what he wants. (Jn 20: 11-18).
We might hear the same command...proclaim what you have seen and heard, but we cannot do it convincingly without an intimate relationship with Jesus.  May we put ourselves into the garden with Mary today, and search for Jesus until we hear him call our name, and then, so recognized, loved and fortified, let us live as "Easter People", joyfully bringing the good news to others.
Bro .Rene

Embracing The Feet Of Jesus

It is good to remember that the Resurrection is such a major even and foundation stone for our faith, that it cannot be celebrated adequately in one day.  This week called the Octave of Easter, is considered as an extension of Easter Sunday...8 days treated as one and the same.  And, to boot, the Easter Season continues for 50 days, till Pentecost.  We can't dwell on it enough nor exhaust its significance.
In today's gospel selection (Mt 28: 8-15), we read of the encounter with the risen Jesus by Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary", most probably, the wife of Clopas.  They fell at his feet, embraced them  and did them homage, similar to the woman a few weeks before who washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. A beautiful act of love.
In contrast to this act of love and adoration, the gospel continues with the chief priests bribing the soldiers who guarded the tomb to say that while they slept. people came, rolled back the stone and stole the body, in a sense verifying its mysterious disappearance which believers understand as the resurrection, predicted by Jesus, and preached with solid conviction by Peter, Paul and the other disciples.  As Paul said, if Jesus had not risen, vain would be our faith. (cf. 1 Cor 15).We do not believe in a dead man, nor a symbol, but a real person come back from the dead and fully alive.  With joy we too can embrace the feet of the Living God, the Living Jesus.
Bro. Rene

He Is Risen

Last night, the Church celebrated the Easter Vigil from the Pope in an empty St. Peter's Basilica to small country churches, also empty, across the globe. This is an Easter foreign to us: no packed churches, no family gatherings. Lockdown prevails. We have only the words of the Evangelists to heighten the reality that Jesus, who died on Good Friday, was no longer in the tomb; he had risen.  Mary Magdalene was the first to see the stone rolled back from the empty tomb.  She ran to tell the Apostles. Peter and John. who, in disbelief, also ran to the tomb and found it as Mary had said.  Going in, they found only the shroud and other burial cloths. Can we put ourselves in their shoes? Rising from the dead was not a usual occurrence, so thinking that someone had stolen the body makes sense, for awhile, until the words Jesus himself had spoken about rising the third day began to make sense, and then to convince and cap off the doubt for sure, Jesus appeared to them on Easter evening.
We are being forced into the shoes of these questioning and amazed disciples as we rely on the internet or TV to put us in touch with this momentous event.  May we take the time today to read the gospel stories of the Resurrection, look at as much as we can on what is offered on screen, and reflect in our forced confinement what it would be like to be "free" again.   We will have some inkling of what Jesus did to free us from the bondage of our sins...For this we cannot sing Alleluia enough.
Bro. Rene 

Awake, O Sleeper

Today is a day of emptiness, waiting, mourning.  No Mass, no gatherings until later tonight when the Easter Vigil will take place...for most of us, virtually.  We have a real sense of the absence of Jesus, whose body lies in the garden tomb.
Yet, as the ancients believed, he had one more task to perform before rising at dawn on the Third Day.  He wanted to visit and set free all those righteous ones who lived before him, from Adam to the Baptist.  A beautiful ancient homily captures the moment of his entry into 'Sheol', the abode of the dead as believed by the Jews, except the Sadducees.  He goes to Adam and Even first  Grasping Adam's hand he raises him up saying, "Awake, O sleeper. and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.  I am your God, for your sake I became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.
Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.
Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image.
Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.
For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave;
I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth."
May we find consolation and hope as we reflect again on the great loving plan of God for our salvation.  Not even the Corona Virus can prevail against such a powerful love.
Bro. Rene

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

Psalm 22 begins with this desperate question, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" and finds itself on the lips of the dying Jesus on the cross.  It's not hard for us in these times of abandonment and separation from our accustomed lifestyle because of the COVID-19 virus danger, to imagine how Jesus must have felt. We are feeling, if even in a small way, that same feeling...abandonment, separation, acute loneliness, emptiness. We might be asking, "where is God in all of this?" Even our churches are closed and we are forced to rely on TV or the internet to bring our beloved Triduum Services to us.
God certainly did not abandon Jesus on the cross, for Jesus, in total obedience and love of the Father and love for us, CHOSE to hang there, feeling abandoned,  thirsting for us, forgiving those who condemned him, giving us his most prized love, his mother...giving all for us. By this great act of love, he assures us that he will NEVER ABANDON US!  May we come to understand and appreciate this even more this year as we identify our plight with his. May our gratitude pervade this day and our lives from now on.  Vivat Jesus Christus!..Long Live Jesus Christ!
Bro. Rene

Selfless Love

Here we are on the day of the Last Supper, often called "Maundy Thursday", from the Latin "mandatum", commandment...the commandment of Jesus to love one another as he loved us.  Not only did he speak the command, but showed it by his actions.  Facing arrest, a skewed "trial", beatings, the carrying of a cross to Calvary, and three hours of agony hanging on it, he takes the time to wash the feet of his Twelve, institute the priesthood and give us his Body and Blood in the Eucharist, to assure his presence among us till the end of time. Only God could be so selfless, so full of love for others...us, you and me!!! If we knew what were ahead for us that night, wouldn't we be hiding somewhere? No Jesus, he put us before himself. Can we not find even one one hundredth of such selfless love to give to one another, even those who have hurt us or spoken ill of us? This is a day to read and reflect on John, chapters 13-17. the spiritual last will and testament of Jesus to us, his beneficiaries.
Bro.Rene

Keeping Our Commitments

On this "Spy Wednesday" named such in honor of Judas Iscariot, who took the 30 pieces of silver and looked for an opportunity to hand over Jesus to the Jews, may we use this last day of Lent (for the Triduum begins tomorrow at the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper) to review our use of the past 40 days, our commitment to extra prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Have we kept to our plan? Have we become more aware of God's mercy and our need for mercy toward others, even the most troubling (or troubled),or the most needy? Have I grown in my own realization oof my need for God's mercy in my life? Jesus, full of mercy, gave Judas more than one opportunity to "change his mind" but in refusing to accept that mercy,  he imploded in despair and hung himself, leaving the mercy of Jesus in the dust.  Jesus' commitment to mercy is unshakeable, and a reminder to us not to despair, but to come again and again to drink the cup of his mercy. May we be as committed to a life of mercy as he was.
 Bro. Rene

Betrayal

In today's gospel, (Jn 13: 21-31, 36-38). we hear Jesus talk openly about his betrayal and give Judas the green light to go and do what he planned to do quickly. Judas left into the darkness of he night, the darkness of his evil betrayal.   Jesus also gave Peter an indication of who the betrayer was, and when Peter protested that he would never betray Jesus, Jesus told him he would deny him three times before the cock crowed. No doubt Peter was disturbed by this prediction as any of us would, but as we know, Jesus was right.  We might be saying, "Well so much for Peter, but never me!" How do we know?  How many times have we already done so in subtle and unassuming ways?  A quick examination of conscience will reveal our own inadequacies and contradictions, and, we would hope, lead us to a humble and contrite confession of our guilt and the absolute need for the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash us clean...After all, that's why he came and died for us.
Bro Rene

Extravagant Waste?

Today we read of the moving gesture of Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha,  (Jn 11: 45-56) who anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfumed ointment...a whole liter full, enough to fill the house with its soothing aroma.  Judas expressed his dismay, proposing how the cost of the ointment would have better benefited the poor  Mary paid no heed and continue with her loving tribute.  After all, he is God and worthy of all love and respect. At the same time, is not his death on the cross a "wasteful" expression of his love for us? He did not spare the cost to himself to show his extravagant love. We cannot match this gesture, but we can come to appreciate it and strive to imitate it in our dealings with one another and in a daily deepening life of prayer.
Bro. Rene

Sunday Of The Lord's Passion

Today begins the final week of the public ministry of Jesus.  A fine welcome is given to him with a procession, palms and resounding Hosannas as he enters Jerusalem.  In five days the tide will have turned and the Hosannas become "Crucify him!" Jesus knew this, knowing that his mission would include the enormous suffering of scourging, beatings and crucifixion...three hours of agony hanging by nails banged into his wrists. Loss of blood, and suffocation caused him to die without having his supportive legs broken.  It was finished.
Among the amazing facts of his death, was that he CHOSE to do this...he could have avoided Jerusalem, knowing what was in store for him, but he remained steadfast in his desire to enter the city.  He did it because he loves us...because our sin is so great that only the death of the Diving One could expiate it.
For most of us, there will be no palms of processions, no gatherings in our churches, but we are united with one another via TV or the internet.  May the Hosannas resound in our hearts throughout this day, and may we remain steadfast in our commitment to Jesus as he remains steadfast in his love for us.
Bro. Rene

From Our Weakness Comes Our Strength

When we feel weak, and powerless, we call on Jesus for strength.  We cannot go it alone. He is our
Savior.  We are not, even as much as we'd like to think we are. He alone is our strength and salvation. He took on our sins in order to seek the forgiveness or our Father for us.  He knew we would like to save ourselves, but he shows us we cannot.. He is our Savior.  How blessed we are that he took our sins upon himself, otherwise, we'd be lost.
On this eve of Palm Sunday, let us join our Hosannas to God for all he has done for us during these five weeks of Lent, and for what he will do for us as we proceed this next week into his passion, death a resurrection with gratitude and with hope for a bright Easter of rebirth in his life-giving grace.
Bro. Rene

The Son Of God

The gospel passage from St. John, 10: 11-42,  finds the Jews still grappling with Jesus' claim to be the Son of God, a notion totally foreign to a people faithful, for the most part, to the idea of ONE God.  They could not "get their heads around" the idea of a Son of God...equal to God.  Would this not totally contradict their long-standing belief?  No wonder they fought so hard to defend it and refute the claim of Jesus.  They were ready to stone him, as we read today, and eventually they would have him crucified for it.  We take it for granted and have accepted it as a reality, though it took three centuries to clarify and explain it in human terms, for it is a Mystery beyond our fathoming...Not only two Persons in One God, but Three: the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We find consolation and joy in our understanding of God, and really don't thank him enough for being who he is and giving us the gift of faith, to believe, as many did, even while he was on this earth. May we offer our "sufferings" and inconveniences of these days as an act of gratitude for our own faith, and as a a prayer for those who do not yet believe.
Bro. Rene

Fixing Our Minds On Jesus

St. Francis of Paola, writing in the late 1400s speaks clearly about the sufferings of Jesus and their application to our lives, especially in today's COVID-19 world: "Fix your minds on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, he came down from heaven to redeems us.  For our sake he endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient in adversity." (Magnificat, April, p. 37). May we have the grace to take the advice of St. Francis.
Bro. Rene

The Truth Frees Us

Today's gospel passage contains the famous verse, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Jn 8: 31). The truth is that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to us so that we might know and see his love in action, and that despite our own sinfulness, God loves us and wants nothing more to embrace us forever in his arms. Whatever we have done in the past, are doing now, or will do in the future, God's love is still there for us...We can't lose.  Hence, the freedom Jesus speaks of.  The Pharisees refused to believe that they needed Jesus, and thus remained in bondage.  Our call is to accept Jesus into our lives as our healer, savior, love of our life.  Then we will be free to basque in that love, to love and laugh and bring hope and joy to others. Our faith is not a faith of doom and gloom, but of Easter Joy.  May we never forget this.
Bro.Rene