Casting Out The Evil One

 Luke 4: 31-37

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon

³¹ And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, ³² and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. ³³ And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴ “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ³⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. ³⁶ And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” ³⁷ And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Jesus taught and acted as one in authority, commanding evil spirits to depart from those whom they possessed. Amazingly enough, these evil spirits recognized Jesus while the ordinary folk didn't. Are we not prone to the same blindness or hardness of heart?  We have the Scriptures and the teaching authority of the Church, two solid pillars of truth, yet, we doubt.  We need  the cleansing that only Jesus can give. As we end another month that seems to have gone by too quickly, let us ask Jesus to cleanse us from the mind-set that refuses to accept his authority and presence in our lives, even in its most basic aspects. 

Bro. Rene

Fickle Fame

Luke 4:16-30

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

¹⁶ When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” ²³ He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” ²⁴ And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. ²⁵ But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; ²⁶ yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. ²⁷ There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Isn't it amazing  that in verse 22, "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth"  but by verse 28 the people were filled with rage and were ready to hurl him off a cliff? So much for human acclaim. Jesus, knowing "what was in man," learned early on not to put too much stock in popularity, something  we all need to learn over and over.  It's nice to be accepted, to be popular, and to think we're winning over our audience, but how easily the wind can shift and put us in danger.  The lesson here is to put our trust in Jesus, and not t be led by popular opinion.  Look at our world now and see where such a view has led us.  Jesus, help me to keep my focus on YOU, not on popular opinion.

Bro. Rene.

 

Defilement Comes From Within

 Mark 7: 1-8

The Tradition of the Elders

1 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, ² they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴ and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. ⁵ So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶ He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me;
⁷ in vain do they worship me,
    teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

Mark 7:14-15

¹⁴ Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”

 Mark 7:21-23

²¹ For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, ²² adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

 

Our Gospel passage today is like a patchwork quilt, but in the end holds a significant message for us to ponder today:  Defilement comes from within. May we be on guard to keep watch what goes into our minds as well as what goes out of our mouths. We used to pray for "purity of intention," not a bad practice to revive again. Beware of the onset of selfish and proud thoughts that block the full meaning of these words of Jesus.

Bro. Rene

Faithful To Our Gifts

 Matthew 25: 14-30

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.^[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

God has doled out talents to each of us.  Some have received many, and in comparison, others, just a few, but all of us are responsible for using them. Today we celebrate St. Augustine, a man of many talents, but who for a good part of his life, did not put them to full use. Led by God, he learned slowly until "the dam broke" and he was totally swept away by God into his service.  Then did his talents for thinking, writing, speaking, leading, and shepherding let loose and for a thousand plus years, continue to impact Christians around the globe. What if he had not responded?  We'd all be so much poorer, for sure.  But God prevailed and won the heart and mind of this true pastor. His story, his conversion, his contribution to our lives as Christians are epic,  and provoke not only gratitude but wonder at the power of God as well as the call to use and be faithful to whatever gifts God has given each one of us.  May we be fertile soil for God's seed to take root in us as it did in St. Augustine.

Bro. Rene

Keep Watch

 Matthew 25: 1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

We need this reminder to keep watching and praying, even if the answer we seek remains hidden.  St. Monica, whose Memorial we observe today, prayed for 17 years for the conversion of her now famous son, St. Augustine.  Where would the church be if she had stopped after the first year? Jesus urges us to keep watching and praying, for we do not know the day nor the hour...We believe that he answers our prayers, but we do not know when. From this parable and from St. Monica's life,, we learn that it is best to not to stop, but to persevere. St. Monica, help those who have strayed to find their way home.  Encourage us who pray for them to remain faithful and trusting that in God's good time, our prayers will be answered as were yours.

Bro. Rene

A Stern Warning

 

Matthew 24:42-51

⁴² Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Note: Apologies for yesterday's slice of bread, which was based on today's Gospel...Somehow I was a day ahead. Here is a word on yesterday's Gospel.

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 

Is it just the scribes and Pharisees who are the hypocrites, the white-washed tombs full of dead men's bones and all uncleanliness?  Might we too be guilty of putting on a false front?  What runs through our minds when we are alone or at the door of the internet which opens to all sorts of garbage? May we pray daily to be true to Jesus and to the graces he has so lavishly given to us over the years.  Let us banish hypocrisy from our hearts and lives, and with God's help be true and clean servants of the Lord.

Bro. Rene 

 

Be Ready

Matthew 24: 42-51

 Keep Watch

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is fascinating and frightening to be on guard for the coming of the Lord to take us from this life. We are not to live in fear, but in readiness, that is, faithful to what Jesus asks of us as his disciples. We often hear of the person, apparently in good health, who drops dead totally unexpectedly, a reminder that we know not the day nor the hour. The admonition to be ready serves as a stabilizer in our busy lives that can swerve so easily off the course. Even as I write, I pray that I might be faithful today to the God who is so faithful to me.. I know not what lies ahead in the ensuing hours, but am making a conscious effort to remember the shortness of this life,  the small price of holding on to what is healthy and helpful, and rejecting what is distracting and useless. Dear God, let me live faithfully and confidently in your loving Presence, and banish from me all that would lead me away from you. Amen! 

Bro. Rene

Bro. Rene

 

Rushing To Judgement

 

John 1: 45-51

 Come And See

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Nathaniel immediately categorizes Jesus, whom he has never met, as one of those good for nothing Nazarenes, but takes a chance and goes with Philip to meet him. Evidently Jesus wanted Nathaniel's friendship and dropped a few convincing facts in his lap to win him over.  It worked and Nathanael made an profound act of faith.

Don't we often find such skepticism, even cynicism, lurking in the closets of our minds? We are not privileged to receive direct encounters with Jesus to shoo those doubts away, but a daily "I do believe, Lord; help my unbelief" can be just as good.  May we renew our faith often by some simple Act of Faith; perhaps a prayer to St. Nathanael (also called Bartholomew) will help as well.

Bro. Rene

Open My Eyes and Heart

 Matthew 23: 13-22

Woe To Me!

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. ¹Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

It's easy to read this passage and point the finger of woe to "the other guy," for it's so easy to see the flaw in others and not see it in ourselves. Let's take a moment and see the finger pointing at us.  A different story.  Who is going to open my eyes so that I may see what others see, and who will help me act on it?  Seeing and accepting are one thing, but changing a behavior is another. It takes not only awareness, but time as well.  Let's find ONE thing that stands out as needing correction and begin on that.  One step at a time.  Let's not be afraid to admit we are guilty, but let's not forget the mercy of God and his grace which are there to help us take the necessary steps.

Bro. Rene

To Who Shall We Go?

  

John 6: 60-69

The Words of Eternal Life

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

We have been reading John, Chapter 6 for the last three Sundays and today we come to its challenging and sad conclusion. Sad, because many of the disciples turned away from Jesus, unable to accept his teaching on the Bread of Life, that it is indeed through his miraculous generosity, truly his flesh and blood, given to us to enable him to become one with us on this difficult journey to eternal life in heaven. Peter speaks for those who want to remain faithful followers: "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have to know that you are the Holy One of God." (Jn 6: 68-69) 

Challenging because faith in the word of Jesus and the power of the Spirit that are necessary  to accept this teaching. May we be blessed by the Spirit to take Jesus at his word and accept this great gift of himself into our lives.

Bro. Rene   

Practice What We Preach

Matthew 23: 1-12

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Reading this passage, it's easy to pick out  what kind of  disciple we would want to be. Certainly not the hypocrite but definitely the humble "servant leader". Good choice, but how do we make it a reality? Those with whom we live and  work can help with their honest feedback as can our own self-examination at the end of the day, and faithful reflection on  the situations in which we find ourselves.  Are we the type that has all the answers?  Or the one to point out the flaws in someone else and not see them in oneself?  May God help us learn to see ourselves as we are and to practice what we preach.

Bro. Rene

Keep These Commandments

 (Note: due to a "computer glitch yesterday, I was not able to post a slice of Bread. Today you are receiving two slices.)

Matthew 22:34-40

The Greatest Commandment

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.^{' 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus did not hesitate to answer the question with two simple statements which serve as the template for his followers.  Simple statements  that take a lifetime of trial and error to achieve. May we keep them before us by meditating on them frequently and reflecting on our interactions with others during the course of a day. We will find ourselves on the "short end of the stick" often enough, but can use this failing as motivation to begin again.  God is infinitely patient.  May we learn to be as patient with ourselves and not fall into discouragement.  No, let us ask for God's help and keep trying to put this great commandment into practice.

Bro. Rene 

 

Many Are Invited

 Matthew 22: 1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

⁴ “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

⁵ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. ⁶ The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

⁸ “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹ So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ ¹⁰ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹² He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

¹³ “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

¹⁴ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Do we see ourselves in this parable?  How often during the day are we invited to "the wedding", a large or small act of charity, such as listening to someone's problem and offering a word of comfort, or giving up "my plan" to take care of the needs of someone else? The invitations are many, but the acceptances are few.  What am I going to do about it?

Bro, Rene

 

A Generous God

Matthew 20: 10-16

The Laborers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵ When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶ And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. ¹⁰ Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. ¹¹ And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

We might find ourselves among the grumblers as we look around our world today. The same dilemma exists: others who don't apparently "pull their weight" as I do, fare as well as, if not better than I. We want to cry, :"It's not fair." Who knows the mind of God, a generous God who loves and has a plan for each one of us? The truth is none of us can "earn" our wage, it's all gift...Peace of soul and contentment come when we accept this and stop measuring and comparing. May we learn to focus on his kindness rather  than on what we, with our limited vision, consider what is fair or unfair.

Bro. Rene

 

 

Detachment

^{Matthew 19: 21-30}

 ^{The Reward Is Jesus}

²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷ Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

We live in a material world and the temptation is to put more emphasis on material goods rather than on what really matters. The rich young man, as much as he wanted to do "more", could not release himself from his "treasure." and "went away sad." Yes, it is sad when we place more value on the material than on the spiritual.  We can touch, hoard and use our material goods for immediate pleasures, but even more satisfying are the spiritual heights that become accessible when we turn aside from the material.  Yes, we need food,clothing and shelter, and "things" to enjoy and with which to work, but when they interfere with our relationship with others and with God, they have overstepped their bounds. A balance is needed, a "detachment" which will free us to put God first, and use our "wealth" or material goods to serve him and help others. May our reflection on this passage help us move closer to achieving that balance.

Bro. Rene

 

Total Giving

 Matthew 19: 16-22

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

¹⁸ He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

²⁰ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

We might not be as wealthy as the rich young man, but each one of us has something that stands between us and the total commitment or gift of self that Jesus asks for..  What is it in my life that keeps me from selling what I have, giving the proceeds to the poor, and following Jesus with a free and full heart? St. Francis of Assisi did it, and countless others followed his example.  It can be done.  And if it's not money or possessions that are interfering, what is THE OBSTACLE that prevents me from making  a complete offering of self to Jesus?  Surely, in our materialistic world, and the world in which I have so much say and control, the notion of giving all that up,  is repelling and has caused many to turn away sad as did the man in this story. How can I change my possession-clinging self to a freely giving response to this invitation?  Guide me,O Lord,  along the path of generous giving to you of all that I am and possess.

Bro. Rene.

Blessed Are You

 

Luke 1: 39-56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

.We celebrate Mary's Assumption into heaven  with one of the early scenes in her life: her visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. Her Magnificat, her song  of praise, gives glory and praise to God; as Mary recognizes her lowliness and the marvels that God has worked in the hearts of those who have believed in him and have done his bidding. Mary stands as our example as we attempt to live his will for us.  And for many of us Marists, this was the perfect day to take on our Marist identity by accepting the religious habit of the Marist Brothers and a year later pronouncing our First Vows. Three of us continue to wear that habit we took 61 years ago, and pray that we might remain faithful to the vows we made 60 years ago, as well as pray that others might accept the invitation to do the same. Fr. Champagnat often said, "We need Brothers", and put his trust in Mary to provide them,  She never failed  With joy, we celebrate her day and pray that we might, along with many new brothers,  continue to live our own Magnificat by making Jesus known and loved.

Bro. Rene

Let The Little Children Come To Me

Matthew 19: 13-15

The Little Children and Jesus

¹³ Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

One would not think that little children would gain such recognition from Jesus, a recognition that merited inclusion in Matthew's Gospel. Was it their innocence? their spontaneity, their genuineness, their warmth, their total acceptance of the affection Jesus showed them, that won his heart? A combination of all with the addition of their gleeful laughter and joy.  They are models for us who let life's "burdens" take the spark out of our lives...Today, let us pray for a return to the purity of our childhood and allow Jesus to place his hands on us.

Bro. Rene

 

What God Has Joined Together....

 Matthew 19: 3-12

No Longer Two, But One Flesh

³ Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

⁷ “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” 

In the light of today's practices, these verses could easily register: DOES NOT COMPUTE.  Jesus cites the way it was "in the beginning". and categorically states "marriage is a state of union between one man and one woman for life. One might ask on which planet does this exist, so far afield have we humans gone, but in God's plan for the perpetuation and good of the human race, this is how things are meant to be. It's not a matter of "bend the rules to suit me," but bend me to comply with "the rules", i.e. God's plan.

Bro. Rene

Forgiveness: No Easy Matter

 Matthew 18: 21-19:1

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.  He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

19 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.

It's appalling to read how the servant whose huge debt was forgiven treated a fellow servant who owed him money. Evidently the lesson of mercy which benefited him did not resonate enough with him to treat others as he had been treated. Yet, such is human nature. which centers on the principle of "me first." We all act this way.  The answer lies in the simple question: "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" May our re-reading of this parable and our prayerful reflection on it, help us to learn how and how often to forgive. May God grant us the grace and will to begin this kind of forgiveness TODAY!

Bro. Rene 

Fraternal Correction

Matthew 18: 1-20

 Your Brother Sins Against You

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Very practical but very difficult advice.  Who likes to stir up the possibility of an angry response such as an accusing finger pointed at one's own faults, as in "who do you think you are to point our my faults, when your life is full of blatant shortcomings?"  We take a risk when we enter this territory, so calmness and humility, as well as the support of others are necessary. When we think of how the person might improve his or her life because of our intervention,  we begin to see how it is important not to hold back. Prayerful preparation for the guidance of the Holy Spirit is an important ingredient in a task we hope will not happen too often.  Often enough, love for our brother or sister is costly, but worth the price.

Bro. Rene

Whoever Loves His Life....

 

John 12:24-26

Unless a Kernel of Wheat dies..

  ²⁴Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

This Gospel is fitting on the Feast of St. Lawrence, of gridiron (not football) fame.  "Turn me over, this side is done."  A sentence uttered by the willing martyr who was being roasted to death.  His humor and courage inspire us today, reminding us that a true follower of Jesus like a grain of wheat, must be willing to "die", be transformed, if he or she is to be granted everlasting life. For most of us, it's small, daily "dyings", that can make or break us.  May we be open to whatever God asks of us today, with the cheerful dispostion of St. Lawrence.

Bro. Rene 

Death and Taxes

Note: Daily Bread time yesterday was consumed by urgent business.  Hence, two slices today!

 Matthew 17: 22-27

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

²² Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

²⁴ When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the ^[c]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

²⁶ Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

These two apparently unrelated passages are indicative of the complex life Jesus led 2000 years ago, matching anything we experience today, from the delivery of a long overdo chair to the installation of a simple light fixture. Death on one hand and the payment of the Temple Tax on the other, hardly a combination one would concoct on the spur of the moment. Yet this is our human condition and Jesus was as much a part of it as we are and still is.  May we never lose heart, especially when it seems our prayers are falling on deaf ears. The fish with the coin in its mouth will appear just when we really need it!

Bro. Rene

This Bread Is My Flesh

 John 6: 41-51

.The Bread of Life

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

If we have ever fasted from all food for a day, we know how hungry we become, and if beyond a day, how weak we feel...We need food.  Jesus knew this and planned a simply solution for our spiritual hunger:  his own body and blood as THE nourishment of the soul.  And how would we be able to eat his body?  Under the appearances of common bread and wine, as simple as that. If God could create the universe, could he not make Jesus accessible to us in this familiar food and drink?  The Eucharist, Holy Communion, not just a symbol, but the "real thing"!  What a great gift! May we not starve ourselves, but receive it weekly, if not daily.  Jesus hungers for intimate union with us even more than we long for him. Why deny him, why deny ourselves?

Bro. Rene

 

Increase My Faith

 Matthew 17: 14-20

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

1as Jesus scolds his disciples for their lack of faith, so could he easily do the same for us.  "Unbelieving and perverse generation.", very strong words that echo through the centuries to us.  Jesus doesn't ask for  much, just faith the size of a mustard seed...yet we can't even come up with that!  How much more do we need to learn, and accept the power of God to those who believe...Lord, I pray this a thousand times, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"

Bro. Rene  

Listen To Him

 Mark 9:  2-10

The Transfiguration

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

With all the splendor of the bleached white robe and the presence of Moses and Elijah leaving us awestruck,, the key moment of the Transfiguration  is the command, "Listen to him.: (Mk 9: 7). We need to hear this day in and day out, for too soon do our ears get clogged with the noises of the day  and our heads, with worries and fears. May we learn to set aside some "quiet time", some "listening time" and allow God to pour what we really need, not what we think we need nor would like to have, into our heart.

Bro. Rene

(Note:Trying  to post 2 slices of Daily Bread today, since "business" interfered with yesterday's posting.)

Who Do You Say I Am?

 Matthew 16: 13-23

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Good news on one hand:  Peter's faith-filled declaration of who Jesus is, contrasted on the other hand with the first prediction of his  passion ad death. A tough Gospel to stomach as are many of the trials we face daily, such as a notice that someone has hacked into your credit card account...and the dreaded and too oft repeated request for a new card, just when the account number of the old card is as familiar are the family name. Ugh! It's not facing crucifixion, but it is annoying.  

As we celebrate Our Lady of the Snow today,  we might think of Mary and draw strength for our little trials from her and be able to pick up our daily cross and carry it with Jesus.

Bro. Rene