Serving The Poof

 

 Luke 14: 12-14 

¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

These two short verses pack a wallop. Who can put them into practice?  Mother Teresa did, not in terms of banquets, but in terms of health care or in simply giving the poor and homeless  a decent death, and the Missionaries of Charity, the Order she founded, continue to do so. We can join them by contributing to their ministry or to some similar ministry in our own cities or towns through donations of food, money or of our time.  As Jesus himself said,, "The poor you will always have with you,"  there is ample opportunity to serve them. The difficulty lies in our desire to meet the challenge. May we pray for the grace, strength and motivation to do whatever we can to turn our lethargy into action.

Bro. Rene

God of all consolation, your Son told the Pharisee that he should host not the rich and well known, but should instead invite the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Help us to be obedient to that command as well, so that in showing love to those on the margins, we may come to a better understanding of the mystery of your love. May we not be people who crave repayment, but instead make us people of charity and love for all your children wherever they may be. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Jesus Seeks Us

 

 Luke 19: 1-10

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

We probably have never considered ourselves as "lost" but we might fit ourselves into the category of "seeker". and today's Gospel passage assures us that in either case Jesus is there for us, seeks us and wants to come into our house, our lives, and dine with us. Jesus knows and loves us, and despite our weaknesses and failures, he still wants to be a part of our lives.  May we take heart, pick ourselves up over and over again and welcome Jesus into our lives.  He wants to be there more than we want him.

Bro. Rene

Zacchaeus, a small little plump man, climbed a tree where he could see Jesus. Jesus looked up: “Come down, Zacchaeus, I want to stay at your house today.” Salvation is here. Forgiveness is offered. Love and mercy are given even to the public sinner. Lord, look on our hopes in the midst of our occasional failures. Offer your forgiveness and invite yourself to be in our hearts today. Amen.  

Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Be Humble

 

14 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 

Take the Lowly Place

⁷ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ⁹ and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humility is not only a goal, but it is golden.  It is a virtue which expresses the reality that we , of ourselves, are no better than our neighbor, but through God's grace and recognition of our gifts, he is the one who exalts us and gives us a place of honor.  Humility is hard to practice on our own as our egos secretly seek the "higher places" of recognition and praise. Let us ask for the grace to continue being who we are, to use our gifts as best we can and not worry about what recognition we receive nor where we sit.

Bro.  Rene

 

We Too Are Called

  

Luke 6: 12-16

The Twelve Apostles

¹² One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ¹³ When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: ¹⁴ Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

We know very little about these two Apostles, Simon and Jude, yet we honor them for their acceptance of the call to follow Jesus and give their talents, and yes, their lives, to fulfill that call. Simon was part of the Zealot party, angry with Roman domination and eager to find a change.  He found it, not in the political sphere, but in the spiritual, preaching the Good News as Jesus commanded and helping to establish a spiritual and lasting kingdom, where we today find a home.  

We too are called to further establish that kingdom by attracting others to it by our lives, if not by our words. It is an honor and blessing to be singled out for this mission; may we renew our dedication to it and proceed zealously and steadfastly to fulfill our call. And may Saints Simon and Jude help us be today's faithful apostles.

Bro. Rene

Christ, before you called the Apostles, you went alone to the mountain to pray to the Father. When we face important decisions, give us the courage to approach our Father as you did. Confident in God’s love for us, we know that God will inspire us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Like Saints Simon and Jude, may we be tireless in our proclamation of your kingdom to all we encounter. We ask in your holy name. Amen.

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Seadfast On Our Mission

Luke 13: 31-35

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ ³³ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. ³⁵ Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

We catch a glimpse of the humanity of Jesus, his deep love for Jerusalem and its people, as well as his steadfast intent on accomplishing  his mission.  We know that God is love, but here we see that love so obvious in Jesus and his desire to to reach his goal.  When we are discouraged or face opposition, may remember this scene and this determination and adopt this same attitude to accomplish our mission.

Bro. Rene 

Lord Jesus, you long for us to be united with you in love, yet all too often we choose to turn away from you because of persecution and suffering. Strengthen us to trust in you and joyfully follow your will, despite earthly trials. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

The Last. First. the First, Last

Luke 13: 22-30

The Narrow Door

²² He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ ²⁸ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. ²⁹ And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Jesus gives us a sobering and harsh warning that simply by asking for entrance, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God; it takes more than that.  It takes putting the teachings of Jesus into practice, living our lives as he outlined, in love and service. Those who think they are in "First Place" will discover that their self-righteousness was not enough, but those who simply lived as Jesus taught, though they thought they were nothing special, will learn that they "got it right" and will enter that narrow door.  Lord, keep me humble and faithful to you and your teachings. 

Bro. Rene

Gracious Lord, we strive to do your will, although we often stumble and fail in our efforts. Help us in our weakness to know the path we should walk, and help us in our journey to find the narrow gate. Grant us, in your great love, the strength to enter into your kingdom where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Small But Powerful

 

 Luke 13: 18-21

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

¹⁸ He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Small is beautiful, small is powerful. The kingdom of God grows in us from our daily prayer, our daily living of the Gospel as best we can, and as we grow in spiritual stature, we inspire others to do the same.  Let us not underestimate the power of "little things", small acts of kindness, a simple word of encouragement, a listening ear...these are our leaven, these are our mustard seeds.  Not rocket science, as the expression goes, but powerful enough to help build the kingdom of God.

Bro. Rene

Dear Lord, when time drags on and prayers go unanswered; when our hard work seems so futile; when we wonder what difference we’re making, remind us of the mustard seed. Though it appears so insignificant, so incapable of bringing forth life, we know it finds its purpose and serves magnificently. Bless us with great possibilities and increase our faith in your presence in all we do. Amen.

 Rev. Steve Gibson, C.S.C.

Jesus Heals

 

Luke 13: 10-17

A Spirit of Infirmity

¹⁰ Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. ¹² But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” ¹³ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

¹⁵ The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” ¹⁷ And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Those of us who suffer from some malady or another, and we are legion, can take heart from today's Gospel passage:  Jesus can and frequently enough, does heal us, even today. Craig Keener's book, MIRACLES, THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ACCOUNTS, tells us that millions of miracles continue to occur around the world. What we need to do is pray with faith and confidence that Jesus will heal us.  There's where we are usually lacking and why it seems our prayers are not answered.  May we then concentrate on increasing our faith, perhaps the miracle most needed, and thus experience the healing most needed.

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, we come before you, stooped and burdened with troubles, worries, and fears. We look to you for healing, for assistance, or at the very least for the hope that healing and help will come. Let nothing in our hearts stand in your way. Amen.

 Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Keep It Simple and Humble

 

 Luke 18: 9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It's easy to slip into the "I'm So Good" trap exemplified by the Pharisee, even without knowing it.  We get get taken with ourselves, full of ourselves. unless we be reminded from time to time, by this parables for example, that we too are in need of correction and a reminder to look at ourselves with humility.  May we follow the example of the tax collector and make his prayer, ours: "God have mercy o me, a sinner."

Bro. Rene 

 God of mercy and compassion, you justify the humble and humble the self-exalted. Look upon us poor sinners with the gaze of your love. Grant us the wisdom to recognize our sins. Convict our hearts so that we make seek true contrition. Fill us with a burning zeal for conversion, and bestow on us the grace to seek your forgiveness. O God, be merciful to me a sinner! Amen.

Rev. Matt Fase, C.S.C.

 

 

God Is Patient With Us

 

 Luke 13: 1-9

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Second chances can be life-giving. How many stories have we heard of people who learn from their mistakes, start over, and come out better than before, victorious in their new life. How grateful must we be with God's patience with us as we fumble and tumble over and over again.  He gives us more that one second chance, as well we know.  May we take advantage of his generosity while not abusing it.  He loves us and wants nothing more than having us share eternal life with him, but we must do our part,attempting with all our power to love him in return.

Bro. Rene

 

Our sinful actions, words and omissions make us like barren trees. They deserve harsh consequences. And yet, you, Jesus, offer us hope and healing, a hand of reconciliation and restored relationship. Your love for us must be incredibly great because you never tire of forgiving us.

Help us to appreciate that forgiveness, not taking it for granted, but not shying away from it either. Thank you for your patience with our weakness and your healing forgiveness of our sins. Amen.

Rev. Matthew Kuczora, C.S.C.

Signs Of The Times

 Luke 12: 54-59

Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Settle with Your Accuser

⁵⁷ “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

The daily headlines and newscasts give us a grim picture of the of our times. Almost daily shootings, half the world starving, inflation skyrocketing, political mud-slinging, moral principles squelched by  dishonesty and greed...the list can go on and on.  We don't have to be geniuses to see that something is amiss.  It's time to rise up and restore order, to put the lessons and values that Jesus gave us into practice in our circles and contacts with others. Jesus conquered evil and sin by his death and resurrection; ours it to extend that victory into our daily lives and actions. One little step, one little action at at time and eventually things will shift to the positive, affirming and life-giving. Let this movement begin today with you and me!

Bro. Rene

All-knowing God, we see all around us the signs of your will in our lives. At times it may be difficult for us to recognize for ourselves what those signs point us towards. Grant us the grace we need in order to know your will, the wisdom to understand it, and the strength to carry it out. May our efforts to know your will lead us not into pride and self-importance, but give us an ever greater love for you, who reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Igniting Our World

 

Luke 12: 40-53
⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Strong words: fire, division, families at war with each other.  What?  Is this the God of Peace?  Our "loving God"?  There is an urgency here, we cannot sit back and "let it happen"; we need to take a fiery, passionate initiative to MAKE IT HAPPEN!  No room for complacency, but passion, zeal, courage and sacrifice must guide us if we are to spread the message of Jesus effectively to as many people we can; we must be a forest afire.  We must teach, motivate and ignite others.  We must allow God to ignite us!  "Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the fire of thy love!"

Bro. Rene 

Father all-powerful, you sent the Holy Spirit into the world to set our hearts on fire. May the grace we receive through your Spirit help us to heal the divisions that separate us from our brothers and sisters. Help us to be zealous advocates of your undying love for humanity, so that all people will work to make you known, loved, and served. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

  Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Be Faithful, Be Ready

 Luke 12: 39-48

^{Much Will Be Asked} 

³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ 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. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

We celebrate the North American Martyrs today, St. Isaac Jogues and his companions among whom  was St. Rene Goupil, the first to be martyred.  He incurred the wrath of some of the Mohawks for teaching the children how to make the sign of the cross and for making it over them as a blessing. Seven more Jesuits  were killed between 1642 and 1649. Our Gospel passage reminds us that much will be asked of us as we try our best to remain faithful to to our everyday duties, and especially to the teachings of Jesus.  We might think that this is too bland and humdrum, "we are only doing our duty"...but it is our fidelity that pleases God more than what we accomplish. We know what we have to do, but we do not know when God will come for us. Let us pray for the grace to be ready.

Bro. Rene

Let us pray:

Protect our land, O heavenly patrons, which you have bedewed with the rich treasure of your blood. Watch over our Catholic Faith which you helped to establish in this new land. Bring all our fellow citizens to a knowledge and love of the truth. Make us zealous in spreading abroad a knowledge of Catholic teachings, so that we may continue and perfect the work which you have begun with so much labor and suffering. Pray for our homes, our schools, our missions; for vocations, for the conversion of sinners, the return of those who have wandered from the fold, and the perseverance of all the faithful. Amen.

Like Lambs Among Wolves

Note:  apologies are in order for the absence of yesterday's slice of bread due to a technical problem, now, obviously solved.

Luke 10: 1-9

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Jesus clearly outlines the mission of the Seventy-Two, urging them to be aggressive, fearless and focused on what they are to do: proclaim the kingdom of God, not their own. It is a stark message that has worked for centuries and is much needed today when so many have lost their Faith and are fumbling blindly and unhappily, without purpose, or direction, or God in their lives.  Material wealth, power and prestige do not bring stability, happiness or lasting joy, as they tragically discover.  May we not follow in their footsteps, but like lambs among wolves live our faith and see to pass it on to them.

Bro. Rene 

 Loving God, we give thanks for the way you entrust your work to us and let us share in your mission of bringing about your Kingdom. You send us among wolves wielding nothing but peace. Bring peace to the troubled parts of our lives so that we can more and more depend on it and then begin to witness it to others. We ask that you continue to call more people to join us in your work. Amen. 

Drew Clary, C.S.C.

Persistence In Prayer

   

Luke 18: 1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

In this age of "instant gratification" we might find ourselves unnecessarily frustrated when our prayers are not answered immediately.  Today's Gospel passage teaches us that persistence and patience are necessary and effective ingredients in a wholesome prayer life.The more we pray, the more time we spend with God, the deeper our relationship, our friendship, grows with him.  That itself might be worth more than what we are praying for.  Yes, as the parable illustrates, in time our petition will be granted but let us not discount the added bargain of a more intimate love between us and God. Is not that what our life's journey is all about:?

Bro Rene  

 

Do Not Worry

 Note:  I will be in Pittsburgh for the Confirmation of one of my Godsons, Marcellin and his brother, David.  Not sure if I will be able to compose slices of Daily Bread on Sunday and Monday.  If not, they will appear again on Tuesday

   

Luke 12: 8-12

The Holy Spirit Will Teach Us

⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. ⁹ But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

¹¹ “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

So far, there's no danger for us to defend ourselves and our faith in public arenas, but often in conversations we back off and let the loudmouths who might not be as knowledgeable as we, dominate.  It's not that we are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, it's just that we are not standing up for the truth or our faith.  How do we develop a confidence that will allow us to live and defend our faith in "the market place"?  Time in prayer and trust in the Holy Spirit will give us the courage we need.  After her awakening and realization that she was not fully living or taking seriously her life as a nun, St. Teresa of Avila make a huge turn around in her life, reformed her order and left writings that have helped countless others do the same.  It can be done. Just ask, and the Holy Spirit will teach us what to do and how to do it.

Bro. Rene

Trust!

 Luke 12: 1-7

Warnings and Encouragements

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Can we picture this scene: huge crowds trampling one another to see and hear Jesus?  Jesus was a magnet and his teachings even more attractive:  fear nothing, trust, we are worth more than many sparrows.  Yes, this is the message we need to hear, take to heart, live and shout from the housetops. May we begin today, if we haven't already, to live this call to trust and shout it from the housetops so that others may see, hear and live it.

Bro. Rene.

Almighty and ever-loving Father, you know us better than we know ourselves. Too often, we place our trust in things of this world, failing to place our full trust in you. Your Son proclaimed to us that you know even the number of hairs on our heads. Help us to behold the great love you have for us, and all of our brothers and sisters, that we may more faithfully place our trust in you. We ask this through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Jesus Is The Center

 Ephesians 1: 1-10

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Jesus is the center.  All things come from, return to and focus on him.  We can get sidetracked on minutiae, do's and don'ts and miss the point.  It's all about Jesus, knowing and loving him. God the Father chose us for this; let's get back on track if we have slipped away.   Praise and thanks are good places to begin.

Bro. Rene

Jesus Hits Hard

   

Luke 11: 42-46

Against Hypocrisy

⁴² “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

⁴⁴ “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

⁴⁶ Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

Jesus minces no words as he "calls out" the Pharisees, the religious leaders whose actions contradict their teachings.  It's easy for us too to give generously to the Church, or to needs and causes, but at the same time "neglect justice and the love of God". Or to lap up the best seats and impose expectations or burdens on others that we cannot bear.  We might look into our behavior, our interactions, our relationships with others in the family, our community, or at our work.  Are we clean and authentic, or do we simply "put on the dog" to impress?

Bro. Rene

 

Be Generous To The Poor

 

 

Luke 11: 37-41

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

³⁷ When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

The message is clear, "be generous to the poor and everything will be clean for you."  Like the pharisees we might easily get side-tracked with non-essentials, but learning to be generous with whatever gifts and talents we might have will "cover a multitude of sins."  Why hesitate?  

Bro. Rene

 

What Am I Looking For?

 

 Luke 11: 29-32

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

This short  passage offers a huge challenge to us now as it did to the people in the time of Jesus. Universally and in every generation we fail to focus on the obvious, and look for the extraordinary, the famous "sign" that will convince us once and for all. We fail to see the obvious sign as people saw Jonas and heeded his word, or the queen of Sheba who traveled from the South to hear the wisdom of Solomon. For us, it is Jesus, who far surpasses them but is yet ignored by so many, including ourselves.  How much time do we spend "surfing" those enticing stories on the internet?  They go on for pages, and hook us day after day.  What am I looking for?  Wouldn't it be better to supplant that wasted time with a more fruitful quiet and prayerful time with the Word of God,  with Jesus?

 Bro. Rene

 Rev. Terry Ehrman, C.S.C.

Father of mercy and forgiveness, you are patient with our obstinate hearts. Stir us to be receptive to your Word, Jesus Christ, just as the Queen of Sheba sought the wisdom of Solomon and the Ninevites responded to the prophetic words of Jonah. May we hear your Word and keep it. Amen.

Remembering To Give Thanks

 Luke 17: 11-19

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

When we are in need of a favor from God, we certainly find the time to ask over and over.  When a favorable answer comes, where do we stand, with the ONE or with the NINE?  Today's passage is a reminder to give thanks, not only for the big things, but for the many, many little things that God sends us each day...from a restful sleep to a bright sunrise, to the love of family and friends, to the availability to become one with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Let this be a THANK YOU DAY, and a pattern for the days to come.

Bro. Rene

 

Doing God's Will Is Best

 

 

 ^{Luke 11: 27-28} 

^{Holy Obedience} 

²⁷ And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

²⁸ But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Succinctly, Jesus sums up the key to spiritual growth: "listening and doing".  The same principle comes from the lips of Mary at the wedding reception at Cana:  "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2: 5 ) It's a call to take the time daily to sit quietly and listen with as few distractions as possible and hear God's voice speak to our hearts. Why not take some time NOW to do just that?

Bro. Rene 

 

Unclean Spirits Prowl

 

^{Luke 11: 15-26} 

^{Whoever is With Me}

¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶ while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ²² but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. ²³ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

²⁴ “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Today's Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary was instituted in 1571 by pope Pius V as Our Lady of Victories after a huge Rosary campaign resulted in a victory for Christian forces over he Turks in the Battle of Lepanto.  Three years later he changed the feast  to Our Lady of the Rosary and today with so much turmoil in our world  it remains a strong and much needed weapon against the powers of darkness. As the unclean spirits continue "to prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls" the rosary remains a solid and effective defense weapon.  May we renew our efforts to pray the Rosary daily and encourage others to do the same  

Bro. Rene       

Ask And It Given Will Be Given

^{Luke: 11: 5-13}

^{Pray With Trust And Audacity}

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

It seems like we are always asking God for something, that our needs are endless or that we are never satisfied.  Should we be ashamed of this? Evidently  not.  Jesus is clear.  ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.  The WHEN is what bothers us and makes us wonder if he hears our prayers or will ever answer them.  Jesus assures us that we need to trust and just keep asking.  God is "in charge" and in "HIS TIME" or for OUR GOOD he will EVENTUALLY answer our prayers.  May we grow in trust and audacity, as we ponder God's loving, Fatherly care for us, remembering that FATHER KNOWS BEST!.

Bro. Rene

 

Luke's Lord's Prayer

  

Luke 11: 1-4

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
³ Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.

 Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer is direct and succinct.  Fr. Robert Barron sums it up crisply. Between the two writers, we have much food for prayer today.  Let us come back often to this slice of Daily Bread.

Bro. Rene

 Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.

Bishop Robert Barron

The Better Part

  

Luke 10: 38-42

Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

We all have things to do, too many things.  We want to serve, we want to please; we have  Martha genes keeping us busier than we ought to be.  In this Gospel passage, we see how Jesus appreciates Martha's contribution to the evening meal, but praises Mary for her attentiveness to his presence and the feeding of her soul. The meal will be over and done, but a relationship with Jesus is on-going and lasting. Choosing to nourish it is "the better part" and a call to us to set it as a top priority. St. Francis of Assisi, whom we  honor today, dit it. Let us spend some extra time along with him and  Mary at the feet of Jesus and see for ourselves why they made the better choice.

Bro. Rene

Do Likewise

Luke 10" 25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This striking and perhaps most well-known of Jesus' parables clearly states that no sacrifice is too much to help our neighbor or even a stranger in need. The Good Samaritan (Jesus himself) is the model par excellence for us to follow. No expense, no time limit is too much for the sake of another.  What a world this would be if we all lived with this ideal in mind.  We are selfish, we set limits, we are not Good Samaritans, for the most part, but we can learn, we can change.  May our prayer and reflection on this parable help us to "go and do likewise."

Bro. Rene

 

Keep It Simple

 

Luke 17 5-10

⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

⁷ “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹ Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

 

Don't we often feel inadequate when we look at all we have to do or WANT to do.  The days speed by, we allow distractions to divert us from our daily goals, needs, or obligations and we wonder how God can put up with us.  Jesus indicates here that we don't have to be mountain movers, but like the servants, simply do our duty as unworthy servants.  Yes, Lord, increase my faith, and help me do the best I can with a humble and simple sense of duty, trust and love,

Bro. Rene

Let us not boast, Lord God, about our accomplishments in your service. What good we have done has been due to your help, grace, and inspiration. Let us be aware of your assistance through fidelity, honesty, courage, and faith. If we are at peace both with ourselves and with others, it is due mainly to your help in keeping us from bitterness, hate, or jealousy. Let our kindness to others reflect your kindness to us. Amen.

 Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.