Sent Forth

The Great Solemnity of Pentecost brings us to the climax of a cycle which began on Good Friday, and continued through Easter, the 40 days, The Ascension, and now, Pentecost.  We cannot fathom the depth of this feast, for at it is the heart of God's indescribable love for us. So great is that love, that he sends us forth, fortified by the Holy Spirit, with the mission of continuing the presence and work of Jesus in our world. A formidable task as the headlines of chaos and violence these past few days demonstrate.  The Power of the Holy Spirit is the only force which can subdue the power of Evil, and we must be the instruments of God to accomplish this. When the tongues of fire appeared over the gathered Apostles, they lost all fear, flung open the doors, preached dramatically and emphatically, and on this day converted thousands.  Come, Holy Spirit, enable us to do what seems impossible!
Bro. Rene

"What About Him?"

Peter, having been forgiven and affirmed in his role as "Chief Shepherd", asks Jesus about the fate and future of the "beloved disciple."   Jesus reminds him to be concerned about his calling, and to leave John and others to Jesus. "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me" (Jn 21: 21-22). It's another illustration of the trust we must have in the plan of Jesus for us. Our hearts naturally reach out and want the best for those we love, but we are not their savior, Jesus is. If we can stay on track with him and do our best to follow him faithfully, that is a major accomplishment and should be enough to keep us busy enough for the rest of our lives.
Bro. Rene

Do You Love Me?

Peter's time denial of Jesus is reversed by his three-fold affirmation. "Yes, Lord,  you know that I love you." (Jn 21: 15). Having seen Peter's sincerity and contrite spirit,  Jesus commissions him to feed his sheep.  Nothing is too great, not even denial, to interfere with the compassion of God and the call to carry out a  task designated by him.  Peter is a model for us in this, so no matter what we've done or how bad we feel about ourselves, Jesus will accept our affirmation of love for him and put us to work.
May we outgrow our sense of unworthiness and put our trust in the God who can turn our gifts to his service and the service of the world around us.
Bro Rene

A Powerful Prayer For Unity

We continue on with the tender thoughts and feelings of Jesus in John 17. (Jn 17: 20-26). "Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying 'I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father are in me and I in you, they also may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me....I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may in in them and I in them." (Jn 17:20, 26)
Think of your most intimate human relationship or friendship to get a tangible tasted of what Jesus is describing of the love he desires for us, and for us to have with one another:  to be ONE! It's a life-long task to grow in such self-less to total love for another, but it is possible and is what makes getting up each day a challenge as well as a joy.  The love of a spouse, or friend fires us up to stretch beyond our limits and fills us with a joy we cannot measure as well as inviting us to love MORE...if that is possible, we wonder.   This love is only  small fraction of the love Jesus has for us, wants for us and offers us each day. May the Holy Spirit help us find the MORE that Jesus want to share with us, and may we willingly share it with others.
Bro, Rene

In The World But Not Of It

A faithful Christian will always be "out of step" with and even opposed to the world.  By "the world" we mean the secular godless, materialistic, hedonistic pursuit of wealth, power and pleasure. We do not mean the world of beauty, and goodness that displays the artistic creativity of God who has lavished this planet and the universe with so many overpowering expressions of his own Beauty. These we embrace with joy and gratitude as they lift our spirits to him. The "standards of the world" turn us away from him and can never be part of our lives.  We wish that we could be separated from them for good, but Jesus tells us "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One....Consecrate them in the truth." (Jn 17: 15, 17).  Our place is to witness to this truth, to live it and allow it to shed light to the "worldly" and help transform it to the Godly. A huge task demanding the unity with Jesus, that he has been speaking about in John 17 and which is the key to victory in a world so misdirected and empty. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we be "in the world, but not of it."
Bro. Rene

One With Jesus

Chapter 17 of St. John reveals the heart of Jesus, centuries later made visible to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and now an image that hangs in every Catholic Church and home:  The Sacred Heart of Jesus, the heart of Jesus exposed as if by open-heart surgery, surrounded by a crown of thorns, and a flame leaping for its top. A heart burning on fire for love of us. In extremely intimate language, Jesus expresses desire to be one with us, as he is one with the Father.  It's a desire we can hardly refuse. The work the the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit are to make this union happen.  It is the work of a lifetime but in reality is the reason why we were created. Read John 17!
Bro. Rene

Take Courage

When the disciples assure Jesus that they "get it" and appreciate his plain, direct speech, he reminds them that they will abandon him (which the did), but he offers peace to them, reminds them of a life full of "trouble" ahead of them, and urges them to "take courage" because he has conquered the world. (Jn 16: 29, 32-33).  
We need this courage today as we in the United States attempt to honor those who served their country and gave their lives to preserve it's integrity on this Memorial Day of limited ceremonies and services.  It's not that we want to abandon them, but again the fear surrounding COVID-19, is limiting our activities. Jesus remains with them and us in his unfathomable love, and that's what counts.  We offer the following prayer as a sign of our gratitude and prayerful union with our deceased soldiers who gave the ultimate gift that we might live in freedom and in peace.
Bro. Rene

“All Powerful God,

We honor today those men and women—

Our sons and daughters,

Husbands and wives,

Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers—

Who have laid down their life for their country.

Whether weary or emboldened, quiet or defiant,

Vulnerable or ready when You called them home,

Their sacrifice is too humbling for words

except these uttered in prayer.

Loving Lord, bless them forever in Your eternal peace…

Cherish their spirit, honor their commitment,

send them our love,

and will never forget the service that they gave.”

Mission Accmplished

In most of the Dioceses of the United States, the Solemnity of the Ascension is being celebrated; in a few others, such as Boston, Hartford, New York,Newark, Omaha and Philadelphia, it was observed on the Traditional Thursday, 40 days after Easter. We will focus on the gospel for the Seventh Sunday of Easter where Jesus speaks to us about fulfilling his mission and including us in the on-going mission. John, 17: 1-11. Spoken at the Last Supper, it contains the sentiments of Jesus as he prepares the Eleven for the next and brutal phase of his mission, his passion and death.  He has accomplished what the Father asked of him (or will soon), and has aligned these men (and us) to carry on his mission after he returns to the Father's right hand. It might seem like a daunting and impossible task, but followers of Jesus for 2,000 years have carried it out, and we too will do it because Jesus has united us to himself and has given us the Holy Spirit to animate us and give us all that we need to accomplish it in our corner of the world.  May we do all that we can in this corner asking Jesus to unite us more and more with him as well as to send us his Spirit daily.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Bro. Rene

What Is Best For Us

In his preparation discourse at the Last Supper, Jesus reminds us of his Father's love for us and assures us that our Good Father wants our heart to be filled with joy, and like a good parent knows what is best for us.
"Amen, men, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." ( Jn 16: 23). Pretty clear and direct, though many times we have asked and not received, at least what we hoped to receive. As children learn, their parents hear their requests, but for reasons that only parents know, answer in a way that is best for the child, not necessarily for exactly what the child wants. The child accepts the answer but may not like it. We all need to learn to accepts our Father's oversight and broad picture, assured that his love for us will not deprive us of what is the best for us.
Bro. Rene

The Pain And Joy Of Childbirth

Today we read of the comparison of life to the pain and joy of childbirth. (Jn 16:21). Labor times and pain levels seem to vary, but all agree that childbirth is not an easy process, but the joy of a new life, and a new personality entering the world overcome all the previous pain and anguish.
In recent months, the whole world has been in "labor", and the end does not seem visible in the near future. We carry on hour by hour, day by day in hope that life as we've known it will return.  We have just celebrated the Ascension and now pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon us as he did on that first Pentecost morning.  We wait in prayerful hope already anticipating the joy that only the Spirit can give. May we look to our own mothers or women about to give birth for assurance that the promise of the Spirit will be fulfilled.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.  Enkindle is us the fire of your love.
Bro. Rene

Beyond Expectations

Picture the disconsolate Apostles on Good Friday, Jesus dead and buried, hope gone. Then the "surprise" of Easter morning:  the empty tomb, "He has risen"...Not really a surprise of they had listened when he predicted his death and resurrection, but still a new lease on life came to pass.  Now, as he takes leave of them, he assures them that he will be with US "until the end of the Age." (Mt 28:20).  In just more than a week, the Holy Spirit will come upon them, to guarantee this promise and to affirm that Good Friday has been forever reversed beyond expectation.
May this fortify our faith and dissolve the doubts that creep in when the proverbial "monkey wrench" gets thrown in our path.  It's meant to strengthen our faith, not weaken it.  When we look back at the events listed above, we can be sure that no mere "monkey wrench" will undo all of this. Hail and Halleluia to the Risen, Ascended Christ!
Bro. Rene

Much To Tell Us

In preparation for his departure, Jesus assured the disciples that he had much to tell them, although they could not bear it at the time. but the Holy Spirit would eventually guide them in the truth. (cf. Jn 16: 12-15).
And so it came to pass: the nine days of waiting after the Ascension, the powerful experience of Pentecost, and the entrance of the Spirit-fortified Apostles into Jerusalem and into history.
As with these early evangelizers who came to understand their role with the passage of time, so too are we schooled daily in our roles, not always fully understanding, but daily seeing more clearly what is being asked of us. The Holy Spirit continues to guide and teach and open up new possibilities to us that we never imagined. Our circle of influence might simply be our families, our friends, our colleagues at work, but the joy and love we bear in the Spirit, brings that Spirit to them and could make a major difference in their lives. Let us give free reiign to the Spirit and not stand in the way.
Bro. Rene

Transition Time

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere is "busting out all over." Flowers, lilac bushes, trees, grass...all showing off their newness as their bleak, barren branches transition to new life. Few would express regret at this process.
This year, the month of May boasts of two major transitional Feasts, the Ascension and Pentecost. We can sense a bit of sadness on the part of the disciples as they face major separation from their Friend, but he encourages them to see the bright side:  the Advocate, the Paraclete, who will fill the void and help with the next phase of the mission, the spreading of the Good News of Salvation to all the ends of the earth.  Jesus had to go, the Apostles had to feel that emptiness in their stomachs to appreciate the life and beauty the Holy Spirit would bring.  New life on old branches.  It takes pain, it takes "letting go" to appreciate the new. May the beauty of this month remind us of this deeper, spiritual level..
Bro. Rene

Fasten Your Seatbelts

A line from the 1950's classic, ALL ABOUT EVE, might not be known by current movie goers, but us vintage fans  still shudder as the vixen, Bette Davis, warns a group at a party to "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
In a less vindictive  but still stern voice, Jesus warned us of severe repercussions for following him. "They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God." ( Jn 16:4 ). Yes, scary, but history verifies that disciples of Jesus have been battered over the centuries from forces within and without, tempting many to "abandon ship."  But the warning has always been there and brought as we are by the Pandemic to a new and maybe disappointing response, the "Bark of Peter" is sailing through rough seas.  Do we stay on board and remain loyal, putting our trust in the promised Holy Spirit. "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father he will testify to me." (Jn 15: 26), or  do we jump ship?
Bro. Rene

Keeping Our Paschal Joy

The five Easter Prefaces have all concluded with a reference to being "overcome with Paschal Joy.". As we move toward the Ascension on Thursday and Pentecost on May 31st, we might be asking how we will retain this joy.
Today's gospel from the "Farewell Discourse" at the Last Supper. (Jn 14: 15-21), gives us the tender compassion Jesus has for us, knowing, especially with the Eleven, their sense of loss and feeling of emptiness.  Jesus encourages them to love him by keeping his commandments and  promises that the "Advocate" will come to insure their connectedness  with him. Pentecost has shown us the power of the Holy Spirit and the history of the Church with its many ups and downs verifies the Spirit's on-going presence with us. We can continue in overpowering  Paschal Joy if we take to heart the command to love one another as Jesus has loved us, and to welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts...Truly nothing to fear nothing to mourn nothing but the power and joy of the Spirit to sustain and animate us.
Bro .Rene

Being Hated for Christ

Who would ever guess that being a victim of hate would be part of the legacy Jesus left his disciples?  After all, Christianity is a religion of peace forgiveness and love. But as he said, if they persecuted him, they will persecute us. (cf. Jn 15: 20).  We are still working against evil which will go to the extreme to thwart the establishment of God's kingdom...Some have paid dearly, with their lives, for the Faith, for others, it is more subtle.  Lately, we have seen anti-Christian activities in China, such as the removal of crosses from churches; our own secularism and materialism eat away at core Christian values.  Church weddings are no longer the norm, if there ever is a wedding at all; funeral services are reduced to memories and poems...Where is God in all of this? The Evil One has just crept in an taken over.  Few stand up to refute him, perhaps for fear of being unpopular or rejected. As the early Christians and Christians through the ages have given their lives for the Faith, it's our turn now.
Bro. Rene

Friends

At the Last Supper, Jesus called his disciples his friends.  Less than a week from the Ascension, we hear these words again: "You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15:14). What a beautiful gift to be a friend of Jesus!  A friend is one who sticks by another with unconditional love, knowing the beloved's strengths and weaknesses, and standing by faithful and loving.  It is not only in the big things, forgiveness and going out of one's way for the other, but also in the little gestures and tender words exchanged between them, a tender intimacy which bonds them irrevocably together.  The love of friendship is one of the  greatest gifts God has given us.  So to see our relationship with Jesus on that level energizes us and moves us to include all in our circle of friends, as he does with us.  It must have been hard for the disciples to lose the physical presence of Jesus after 3 years daily with him, but Jesus has remained present to all of us these 2,000 years in the Eucharist and in one another. Cut off as we are because of closed churches and minimal worship services,we are invited to cherish and treasure our friend Jesus in the depths of our heart.
Bro. Rene

Called To Replace The Betrayer

We honor St. Matthias, chosen by lots as the Holy Spirit worked through this very human method, to replace Judas.  Fittingly, the gospel passage today (Jn 15: 9-17)emphasizes the deepest dimensions of love.  Matthias was chosen to continue to bring God's love and joy to others. Jesus reminds us that the greatest love lies in sacrificing one's life for another, as he did. Matthias did not balk at his election to the Twelve, but, as tradition has it, preached to the Greeks who crucified him.
We are not the subjects of lots, but God does call us to be messengers of joy and love. May we find inspiration in the generosity and courage of Matthias to accept God's choice.
Bro. Rene

Stayng United To The Vine

Note:  My stay in the hospital ran from May 4th till May 12th...few days longer than planned due to common complications and the professional care of the staff a Brigham And Women's in Boston. I have a deeper understanding of and  appreciation for the words, "patience", "wait" and "slowly". My brain was in limbo for many of the hospital days, but I hope it is now functioning well enough to produce a good, solid slice of daily bread.

We hear Jesus talking about the Vine and the Branches, (Jn 15:1-8) and an occasional pruning so that the vine might produce more fruit.  Pruning is painful, no doubt to the vine and to us when we are forced to part with a familiar routine or habit so that we might improve in other areas of our lives. The Corona Virus lock down and curtailment of social connections have made this very clear. We have lost somethings only, we hope, to gain others.
We can use this pruning opportunity to become more closely connected to the Vine, Jesus or we can squabble this golden opportunity in negative complaining or self-pity. But we have an ally who can help with the pruning and uniting.  Mary... Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima who, on this day in 1917 appeared to the three children and gave them a simple message to pass on to us:  reform our lives, pray the
Rosary daily, and pray for the forgiveness of us poor sinners. These simple tools will ameliorate the pruning process and unite is more strongly with Jesus...After all, Mary's role is to bring Jesus to us, and us to him.
Bro. Rene

Laying Down His Life...Willingly

Note:  This will be my last slice of bread until Saturday, as I will be recovering from surgery at Brigham Women's in Boston.  All Shall Be Well!

We continue with the role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. (Jn 10: 11-18),, focusing on his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep: "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life i order to take it up again...No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." (Jn 10:17-18) Jesus knew the oncoming pain of the passion and death on the cross, but found joy in giving of himself.  We too can find that joy in willingly putting ourselves out for others or "laying down our lives" (in some way) for them. May we follow the example of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Good Shepherd Sunday

The oldest extant image of Jesus lies in the catacomb of St. Callisto beneath the city of Rome.  It the Good Shepherd. Similar images appear a century later in the catacombs of St. Priscilla and St. Domitilla.  It is interesting how this image persisted in the minds and hearts of the early Christians and found its way to the walls of these catacombs.  Was it because it showed Jesus and one who cares, one who is the gate through which the sheep pass to the Father, or because this Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep?  We are invited to reflect on these aspects of our risen Jesus, to follow in his example of care for, and of even lay down our lives for others.  A pretty tall order, the work of a lifetime, but if HE did it, so can we!
This is also Vocation Sunday; let us pray that many will follow the call to the priesthood, ministry  and consecrated life.
Bro. Rene

Turning Backs On Jesus

We read today of disciples who after hearing Jesus's explanation of eating his body and drinking his blood, found this too much to take and turned their backs on him. It was too "cannibalistic" or too far-fetched for them to accept.  When Jesus asked the Twelve what they would do, Peter immediately spoke up for them: "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." (Jn 6: 69).
We might find ourselves struggling with some of the teachings of Jesus as did many in the past 2,000 years, but prayer, reflection and study of the Fathers and theologians who have struggled themselves and been inspired with credible solutions, will help.  As Peter put it, there is no other alternative when we realize that the teachings of the Son of God cannot be wrong. We need to humbly turn our brains to wrap around them and not turn our backs to him.
Bro. Rene

Working With Joseph

In 1955, Pope Pius XII created the optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st, as a means of counter-balancing May Day celebrations that had become celebrations of industrial progress, and in the case of the Soviet Union,  a chance to show off its military might,  the power of Communism and scare the rest of the world. A few years ago, May 1st was also declared National Brothers Day, to honor those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus by consecrating our lives to him and living as he did in obedience, chastity and poverty. We have a great model in St. Joseph, who lived these virtues as a layman, head of the household, and teacher of Jesus.  While Joseph always remained in the background, while the limelight shone on Mary and Jesus, of late, more attention is being given to him as a model for men, husbands, fathers, and all who seek to know and love Jesus better, because of his FAITH, tender loving care f the Holy Family and trusting obedience to the will of God. In 1870, was declared Protector of the Church. To bring him into greater prominence,  Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, is promoting a consecration to St. Joseph, with a 33 day preparation period similar to the de Montfort Consecration, which is now enormously popular. In this day and age when the identity and role of men seems to be "compromised", it is THE time for a strong man  to stand out and lead the way.. St. Joseph is that man.
Bro. Rene