A Good And Faithful Servant

 

 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.

Jesus calls us to daily fidelity in the "little things" required by our state in life. Fidelity to God by our daily prayer and reflection time; fidelity to our families, communities and co-workers;  fidelity to ourselves by using our gifts as best we can to help those in need. If Jesus were to come and find us doing these things, how happy he would be, but in reality, he IS with us and does see these worthy behaviors. May we continue to be good, wise and faithful servants.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to realize that you are with me at all times and see all that I do. May it all be for and worthy of you! Amen.   

The Woes Continue

 

Matthew 23: 27-32 

 Shun Hypocrisy

²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

²⁹ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. ³⁰ And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

The woes continue as Jesus again hits us where it hurts. We can put on a false pious front but inside harbor unkind, even wicked thoughts.  We can do "all the right things" to look good and pious, but have inner thoughts "that would make a sailor blush." Jesus condemns such behavior and challenges us to concentrate on cleaning up the inner person. Then our outer actions will match the goodness and beauty we cultivated within.  Whee do I need to begin?  Am I ready to start "cleaning up my act" now? 

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to rid myself of all contradictions between my thoughts and behaviors.  Make me genuine and true through and through. Amen. 

The Martydom of John the Baptist

 

 Mark 6: 17-29

He Gave His Life for the Truth

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

John the Baptist was not one to beat round the bush. Hs message on the banks of the Jordan  had been clear and specific had won him many followers, but his message to Herod had won him the wrath of Herodias, his unlawful wife, resulting in his death. If John were alive today, how poignant would his message be to our life-style and values? Again he would at least be jailed if not executed. What can I do to critique my own lifestyle, clean it up, and then help others rectify theirs?  In every age there is a need for a John the Baptist; God, help me to step up and fill his sandals.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, John the Baptist presents a model and a challenge.  Help me to meet both. Amen..

 

Strong Words

Matthew 23: 13--22

Woe To You

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. ¹⁵ Woe 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.

Jesus speaks harshly to the Pharisees about their hypocrisy, and make us shudder as we apply these admonitions  to ourselves. We can so easily find fault in or condemn others while failing go see that we are as guilty as they. We pray then, for a true and honest picture of ourselves and our actions and for open ears to hear the advice and criticisms of others that might give us a better picture of ourselves than we are capable of seeing or admitting.

Bro. Rene

Dear God help me to avoid hypocrisy and be willing to listen to the observations others make about my behavior. Amen.

Upon This Rock

 

 Matthew 16: 13-20

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 bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Despite making this profound profession of faith, Peter has yet much to learn, from his anger immediately following  these verses, to his denial of Jesus in the courtyard outside the house of the High Priest. Such was the "rock" Jesus chose upon which to build his Church!  Evidently Jesus was looking for someone  willing to learn, not one with all the correct answers. What would be my answer if Jesus asked me the question right now, "Who do YOU say that I am?"  May I take some time today, the Lord's Day, to delve into my heart and find where I stand. I may be surprised, but no matter what I find, may I take heart that Jesus asks this question more than once; may he find that my answer brings me closer to him each time.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, thank you for being so patient with this slow learner.  Help me with time to grow in a deeper knowledge and love of who you are. Amen.

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.

This scathing observation of the Pharisees we hope cannot be applied to us, or can it? We might complacently think that we are faithful followers of Jesus, but on closer observation of our actions, we find ourselves as guilty as they are. Hypocrisy can creep in gradually and imperceptibly at first, but before we know it, we are guilty and need to "clean up our act."  May we make a good examination of our behaviors and pray to practice what we preach.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, cleanse me from my hypocrisy and set me on the path of truth. Amen. 

A Lifelong Challenge

 

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.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If we ever wondered why God put us on this earth, the answer is right here: Love him, love others. God is love, created us out of that love and wishes above all that we accept his love and share our love with others. It sounds simple and doable, but too often we allow negative feelings, prejudices and our own selfish desires to short circuit this terse but powerful command.  We find that it takes a lifetime to implement, so no matter what age we are or how many times we've tried, partially succeeded or even failed, as long as we are alive, the command holds and demands unremitting effort on our part to keep it, to live it.

Bro. Rene

Lord, with your grace I will not relax my efforts to love you and my neighbor.. Amen.

From Skeptic to Believer

 

 

John 1: 45-51 

You Are The Son of God

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

God knows us. God sees us. God has a plan for us. Nathaniel (Bartholomew) learned this lesson fast and in a dramatic way, and it changed his doubt to a firm act of faith. When we accept these steps in our own life a major change becomes a reality.  Jesus knows us, loves us and calls us by name daily. May we respond with the spontaneity, enthusiasm, faith, conviction and innocence of Nathaniel!  What God asks of us is not far-fetched or impossible as this story demonstrates.  May we walk the rest of this day in the footsteps of Nathaniel.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you for the simple and doable example of Nathaniel. May I follow in his footsteps. Amen.

 

The Last Shall Be First

 

 Matthew 20:1-16

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³ “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶ About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

⁷ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

¹⁶ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

This parable gives us a clear picture of the generosity of the vineyard owner and thus, of God himself, the Owner of the Divine Vineyard. It supports the Owner prerogative to reward as he sees fit, not according to our standards...Too quick are we to judge one another's reward or good fortune, forgetting that it is God who determines who gets what.  May learn a lesson in humility as we pray over this parable, and re-learn the lesson that it is God who is in charge, not us.

Bro, Rene

Dear God, help me to humbly accept my place in your world and not criticize you for your generosity. Amen.

Follow the Camel!

 

 Matthew 19:23-30

 Doing The Impossible

²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

²⁷ Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits 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 wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

As we celebrate the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary, we find in her the example we need to follow Jesus closely, beyond what the world might call  impossible. Here is a young teen prepared to carry and give birth to the Son of God. Could anything be more preposterous? Worldly speaking, no, but with God, YES! How God works in astounding way to accomplish his wonders!  May nothing surprise us, even in invitation to follow the camel through the eye of a needle.  Bring it on!

Dear God,help me to hear your call and please grant me the courage to answer it. Amen.

The Call To Be Perfect

 

Matthew 19:16-22

The Rich Young Man

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And 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 mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 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.

How many of us stand in the shoes of this rich young man? We may not be wealthy but are looking for that "something more" to insure our eternal life. And when Jesus proposes that we sell all and come follow him, our noble desire fades into thin air because we have become dependent or overly attaches to our possessions, our will, or our own thoughts on how we can best live our lives.  The command to separate ourselves from our "worldly goods" or our current lifestyle, is too demanding and most of us either do or would find it too demanding, and would walk away with sad faces and heavy hearts.  It's very hard to 'let go" and turn everything over to God,  but truly that's where complete happiness and fulfillment lie...Witness St. Francis of Assisi! We are not St. Francis, but there are things, behaviors, attitudes that we can throw aside and walk side by side with Jesus much less encumbered, if we want to be "perfect."   What would I cast away now?  What would Jesus ask me to live without?  

Bro Rene

Dear God, detach me from whatever separates me from you and teach me to find my true joy in you! Amen.

Increase My Faith

 

 Matthew 15:21-28

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

As we reread this familiar story, the faith and persistence of the Canaanite woman leap out at us.  She would not give up nor take no for an answer.  What boldness, what faith! Where do I stand in comparison with her? Do I believe that God is with me, knows my needs and plans and will guide me through what seems an impossible maze? Let today be devoted to increasing my faith with God's help as I look at all I hope to accomplish today and in the week ahead.  

Dear God, increase my faith. Amen.

Jesus Welcomes Children

 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.

A beautiful picture of children smiling in the arms of Jesus, feeling his warmth, kindness and love: a perfect rendering of what our relationship with Jesus should be. We should feel comfortable, happy and confident in his loving embrace as  did these children. He welcomes them and us into his life, even onto his lap! What hold us back?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to return to the innocence and trust of a child and find peace in your loving and welcoming embrace. Amen.

 

Forgiveness

 

 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.^[c] 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.

Forgiveness is an essential element in the Kingdom of God as emphasized by Jesus, "not seven times, but seventy-seven."  In our own lives, where would  we be without these multiple instances of God forgiving us? So we must learn to forgive not only multiple times, but from the heart. Not an easy thing to do, thus we need to pray for the gift of a forgiving heart of limitless bounds. Let us make this our prayer and begin living it TODAY!

Bro. Rene

Dear God, you treat me with a forgiving heart; help me to treat others likewise. Amen. 

 

In Harmony With Jesus

 

Matthew 18:15-20

Dealing With Sin in the Church

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

For a Christian community to be effective, there must be peace and harmony within it, as Jesus points out. If  harmony is not present, then efforts should be made to establish it. It's worth the effort for Jesus will then be able to be present. Perhaps a good look at my relationships today might reveal the need for some "shoring up" or reconciliation. May Jesus help us find harmony before it gets too late.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, your plan is for us to leave in peace and harmony with Jesus and one another.  Bless and guide my efforts to do so. Amen.

Glorifying the Lord

 

 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.

For many of us Marists who donned our Marist Habit for the first time many years ago (63 for me!) on  this day, Mary's Song of Praise is our Song too, for with her we can claim the "great things" he has done for us. It is not by chance that we as teachers have influenced the lives of thousands of students or have born witness to the power and grace of God working in us simple and humble men and thus encouraged others to  put their talents at the disposal of God.  Today let us turn our attention to the "Mighty One" and magnify his name by our lives.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, all praise and thanks to you for blessing your humble servants with your grace that we may help others come to know you through our words and example. Amen.

Take Courage

Note: I am in Wheeling, WV and was not able to connect with the internet until I was given the proper pass code. All is good now, as you see.

 

 Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

How well Peter represents us! We think we have reached the highest level or faith and trust, yes, able to walk to walk on water, but then our true colors show, and we too begin to sink. How many times have we had to call, "Lord, save me!"?  And how many time has Jesus done that? Peter was the man chosen to lead the young Church, but as we see him sinking in the waters, we'd hardly think so.  Yet, we are all called to roles for which we don't seem to qualify because of our lack of faith...but Jesus bears up with our weakness, continues to strengthen and groom us and we find ourselves doing things we never thought we could...The Peter who preached on Pentecost and who lead the early Church was a far cry from this sinking Peter!  Let us take heart from this story and open our hearts more and more to the call and plan of Jesus for us.  We will find ourselves doing things we never thought we could.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, your plan for me and the means to accomplish it surpass my wildest dreams. Give me the courage to do whatever you ask of me, even if it's to walk on water!. Amen.

Finding Life

 

Matthew 16: 24-28 

 Take Up Your Cross

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

We pray today over the great paradox of losing life in order to find it, a total contradiction to the doctrine of "the good life" proposed by today's culture.  Happiness and fulfillment do not come with money, things, power, popularity, comfort, or doing things "my way", but in dying to self, greed, comfort and control.   Yes, what if someone gain the whole world but suffer the loss of his or her soul, what good is that?  We need to be on guard constantly against the temptation to fall into or choose things that contradict the power of the cross, of self-denial or self abnegation. Not a popular stance, but one which stems from these words of Jesus and has withstood the test of time. These words of Jesus are as relevant today as when he spoke them, perhaps even more so now. Let us heed them and fashion our lives according to them.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, taking up my cross and following is is the way to true happiness. Help me embrace my cross and find life and what I am looking for in it. Amen.

Lord, Increase My Faith

 

 Matthew 15: 21-28

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

When you try for an hour to connect with the internet in the face of other deadlines...this is a test of faith...this is what I face now. Trusting that all shall be well, as always.

Bro. Rene

Lord, increase my faith!

 

He Had Compassion on Them

 

 Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

We all know what it is to be hungry, and we know that daily thousands  (millions?) go to bed underfed. The hungry, as with the poor, we'll always have with us. Not just an excuse for inaction, but a reality. Physical hunger can be addressed and many a soup kitchen can attest to this..Recently, startling facts are emerging about the amount of food wasted each day and new efforts to redistribute this unwanted food are being made. The compassion of Jesus lives yet today.  We need more of it!

What about our spiritual food?  Our prayer, our quiet reflection time..our encouraging of others to find time to BE with the Lord?  What can I do to better feed my soul and encourage others to feed theirs?

Bro. Rene.   

Dear God, you alone can satisfy my spiritual hunger. Feed me so that I can feed others..Amen.

Good To Be Here

 

 Matthew 17:1-9

The Transfiguration

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Today we accompany Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor, The Mount of the Transfiguration, when the glory of who Jesus is knocked these men to the ground in fear and awe. The Son of God in all his glory, appeared as he would after his resurrection in a preview to strengthen his Apostles to face the ordeal to come. There would be suffering, crucifixion and death, but then resurrection would negate these for the triumph would be won.  We need to be reminded that despite today's divisions, angers and confusions, our muddle has already been settled: Jesus has risen and taken his place at the Father's right hand.  It is we who need to see, listen and believe. How blessed are we to be here on Tabor with these men and the Transfigured Jesus! Let us celebrate this feast with extra prayer and joyful hearts.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, may your transfiguration strengthen, fortify and transfigure me into an effective, trusting and loving disciple. Amen

Standing Up for the Truth

 

Matthew 14:1-12

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Standing up for the truth is a dangerous position. John the Baptist did it and lost his head. In today's world of misinformation and lies, how do we know, as Pilate put it, "What is truth?" Every now and then, the lies are exposed and due action taken, but how many persist for years until they are exposed? We must pray to know what is truth, try our best to be informed by reliable sources, and pray for the courage to stand up for the truth. Ir might not make us popular, and we might lose our credibility with the world, or even our heads, but John did it and is a saint. So can we.

 
Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to know what is true and give me the courage to stand up for it. Amen.

Carlo Acutis once said, “When we face the sun, we get a tan, but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist, we become saints.” St. John the Baptist, intercede for us. Help us reflect Jesus’ face in a world desperately needing God’s light and love.

Skeptical Reception

 

 Matthew 13:54-58

Hometown Reception

⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Jesus was not a hit in his own hometown as he was met by skepticism from those who knew him from his childhood into his adulthood: Joseph the Carpenter's son...who was he to be teaching and expounding on the Word of God? Their lack of faith prevented them from hearing his message and accepting him as a teacher. As a result of their lack of faith and trust, he could not work many miracles there.

Is my faith thin, fragile, and untrusting? When I pray do I really believe God hears me?  We can never say I have enough faith; there's always room for it to grow and deepen.

Bro Rene

Dear God, increase my faith, remove any sense of cocky complacency, I humbly pray. Amen.

 

Have I Understood?

 

 

Matthew 13: 47-53

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.

As Jesus has been explaining, the Kingdom of Heaven is offered to all, but it is we who make the choice to accept or reject it. To a new convert, all is new, fresh and exciting, like running on a trail through a beautiful forest for the first time. For those who have been on that trail for many years, it often seems to lack its initial luster, and we can slide into the dangerous "take it for granted" or "I deserve this or better" stages. To maintain the openness and outlook of a a "first timer" requires humility and effort.  Letting prayer time slide or diminish is not healthy. Spending time to find the treasures new and old is the ideal. Let's go for it!

Bro. Rene

Dear God, no matter how busy I am, may I understand the importance of  and  not slack off on the precious treasure of spending time with you in prayer. Amen. 

 

Bless Me With Ears To Hear

 

 Matthew 13:34-46

Jesus Speaks in  Parbales

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”^[a]

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Our daily reflection or meditation is essential to keeping our excitement and fervor for the Word of God alive. These parables are familiar and we heard them recently, so the tendency is to react: "Been there, done that."  But pondering them over and over gives them a new freshness as they apply to where we re at THIS MOMENT in our faith journey. Have the weeds grown up in my field?  Have I found the pearl of great price and am I willing to unload all in order to obtain it?  Where are my values, my priorities?  Do I take the time for prayer that a pearl of great price would warrant?  Jesus challenges us and encourages us to seek the things that really matter.  Am I listening to him?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to set my priorities in the order you want and are best for my spiritual growth. Amen.

Work For The Good Harvest

 

 

Matthew 13: 36-43

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The parables Jesus told are ageless. Just look at the "field" today:  lots of weeds growing, almost overtaking the wheat. But we have the assurance that the good see will prevail and "the righteous will shine like the sun." Now playing in theaters is a moving and challenging film, Sound of Freedom, exposing the horror of child trafficking and abuse. While the credits roll, Jim Caviezel, makes a heart moving plea that all viewers try to do something, be it a letter or simply urging viewers to urge others to see the film and grow in their awareness of this huge problem and do whatever to erase it from our world.  The film has been seen by more than what was expected and has already been given a voice in Congress to take more stringent action to eliminate child trafficking...a huge undertaking, yet we are assured that the good seed will prevail and bear lasting fruit.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, let us not be discouraged by the rampant evil and injustices that grow in our field, but let us take heart and act on the belief that the good seed will prevail. Amen.